[-empyre-] effusion and miscommunication

[Johannes Birringer]

dear Geert, Alexander, Renate and all

the public response in germany and several other european countries was the expected mix of outrage, analysis, critique, puzzlement, astonishment, anger at the US (and Britain)?, laughter at Angela Merkel's cell phone being monitored, etc, etc (just observe the equally predictable mixed and vigorous reaction to the Russia-Ukraine crisis),  and I am sure you noted all the facets (after what should not have come as a surprise); nor did the reactions in the media and public sectors in the US follow an unusual pattern;
watershed moments and revelations aside - and I doubt that the effusion is ever as total as you assume Geert (your total penetration theory, into every aspect of life and every corner of the planet), what exactly are we meant to do with the (catholic? mystic?) notion of excommunication...?

>“…we pursue not so much a post-media condition but rather a non-media
condition, not so much the extensions of man but the exodus of man
from this world. Our task is not so much a reinvigorated humanism no
matter how complicated or qualified it might need to be, but rather
glimpse into the realm of the non-human.  We seek not so much a
blasphemy but a heresy, not so much a miscommunication but an
excommunication.”


what realm of the "non-human" do you propose for our social and political and personal activities?  and how do you intend to get rid of media or convince others to join your sect?
Just wondering.


respectfully
Johannes Birringer
Dap-Lab, London





[Geert schreibt]
Subject: [-empyre-] effusion and essence

Dear all,

thanks for the opportunity to discuss my essay here. The 'spirit' of the text is in particular directed by the great public response in Europe, and in particular Germany, to the Snowdon affair. Many actively involved activists, geeks, designers and artists see the revelations as a watershed. For me this goes in two directions: on the first hand back to the days before 1984, which Simon has further elaborated upon, the military origin of the Net (and as many of you might agree, roots are also destiny…). The other direction in which this development is going is that of the 'Vergesellschaftlichung' of the Net, the becoming-society, the generalization of net standards and protocols, the peneration (if you wish) of internet (of things) into every aspect of life, every object and (social) relation, to control and monitor any movement of any person or object.

It could be that not every society, not every corner of the globe is sensing these two parallel and paradox developments in a same way. In his response Ken Wark wrote that inside the USA 'Snowdon' is not felt as a big deal. I respect that point of view. However, this is not the same in Central Europe. Maybe there the first movement (back to the origin) is felt more stronger than the second one. Certainly here in the Netherlands it is true that the generalization theses is more obvious here than the military aspect. However, in my view it remains important to discuss the two tendencies as one: effusion and essence.


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