The rapidly shifting landscape of technologically networked space is the locus for new and old cultural productions, political collisions, economic battles, and collective collaborations that are dynamically redefining certain social values and institutions, reinforcing some traditional systems, and totally trashing others. This seminar will explore as many aspects of this topography as possible, as well as contemporary and historical concepts of presence, movement, living, and working as a networked being. Through a series of critical dialogues, case-studies, readings, discussions, and exercises, participating students are encouraged to explore existing modes of thought concerning the net-cultural scene as well as develop their own point of view. The seminar will attempt to answer the question "What does it ALL mean?"
The seminar will require concentrated presence combined with attentive and sensitive focus. Participants are expected to freely contribute their energies in collective dialogue, collaborative presentations, and projects. Stylistically, the course will rely on the spontaneous possibility more often than it will involve prepared discourse. Just as the networked space is a dynamic and changing system, so will this seminar be. Participants will be encouraged to not only talk the talk, but walk the walk: connecting their awareness of their be-ing with their creative practice. A final project or presentation (details TBA) on a specific topic will conclude formal aspects the seminar. The mailing list fine-4316@lists.colorado.edu will be an active forum for the duration of the seminar. Attention and participation on the mailing list is as much a part of the course as in-class meetings. Attendance is mandatory for all sessions.
KEYWORDS (this list to be added to following the start of the seminar): art, energy, self, Other, concentration, focus, attention, telepresence, broadcast, technology, mediation, creativity, Fluxus, Int'l Networker Congress, mail art, community, email, usenet, IRC, list-servs, majordomo, industrial networks (electric power, telephone, telegraph and precursors), architecture of cyberspace, borders, globalization, MUD, MOO, edges, navigation, WWW, browsers, interactivity, streaming media, hypertext, avatars, demo-scene, Y2K, surveillance, suppression, control, hacking, code-warriors, cyberpunks, network politics, media activism, economics, economy of attention, dot.com, information warfare, digital audio/video, digital divide, expert systems, knowledge management, A-to-D, database architectures, data-filtering, data-mining, interpretation, participation, cyberfeminism, copyright, copyleft, open-platform, database, archiving, mp3, napster, ICANN, INTERNIC, immersive environments, bandwidth, AARPANET, privacy, cryptography, Linux, open source, threads, filters, coding, interface, machine language, GUI, etc...
proceeding directly in the concept of distributed networks, the seminar will rely on the spontaneous energies of all the participants. the specific operation will not always follow a plan; participants should be comfortable with indeterminate states of being in the process of change. with this in mind: the syllabus for the course IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. this is in order that the course situation itself might evolve dynamically , reflecting the interests and directions of the participants. one of the most powerful creative motivations is unforseen necessity. if you find change to be a stimulus, this course is for you! in the words of organist E. Power Biggs, "be prepared to have a happening, if not, MOVE BACK!"