[-empyre-] Week three and thank you to Ana

[Renate Terese Ferro]

Hello empyreans!
 I am just getting back and caught up on the last three days of posts.  I just wanted to respond to Sarah’s post to point out that when you reach out to those who may have more knowledge, more experience or even a different point of view you are connecting through a network of acquaintances.  When Melinda first envisioned a soft-skinned space she invited a VIRTUAL network of artists, technologists, writers, about fifty in the beginning, all who were friends and acquaintances.  -empyre - allowed this group to exchange ideas and even coding information during the early days of html.  In the spirit of that early network, -empyre- continues to share knowledge, information, and most importantly perspectives from many.  A listserv is simply a tool.  It’s a coded platform that enables text based sharing.

Jake wrote <snip> 
...why one thinks that empyre is a useful resource when conducting research or learning from
others. Im wondering, won't the information sometimes be biased or incorrect ...
<snip>

 Jake that is why the listserv has proved to be useful for so many.  For example a few years ago I was interested in learning about wearable technology.  I gathered together a list of artists and technologists whose work intersected with the topic.  For an entire month the group shared ideas, information, links, and images with many of our -empyre-subscribers joining in.  Of course not all 2000 subscribers ever participate at any given time but there are groups within the membership that self-organize around the topics that are featured and interested to them.  

When information is printed or published tt it may contain a bias, take for example our news sources today that are being informed and delivered by social media.   The listserv platform is a discussion space and in any discussion there are always complicated but interesting layers that can be checked, discussed, and even debated as Murat pointed out in his post.  

A huge shout out to Ana for joining us this past week.  I know that all of my students gained so much from sharing your experiences and you probably noted that Lauren has become a Stumble upon fan.  

Thanks also to Alan, and Murat, Johannes, Catherine, Nicole, Craig, Brian, and Melinda for adding so many historical references for our newer subscribers who may not be aware of the early history of online information sharing.  

More a bit later this after noon.  Wondering if any of you have technology and art blogs that you visit or write for regularly. Thanks to all Renate


Renate Ferro
Visiting Associate Professor
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Department of Art
Tjaden Hall 306
rferro at cornell.edu