[CTRL]: Technology: Art: Society
So here I am in la belle province, attending this art, music and technology symposium called a [CTRL]: TAS - Politics Under Fire, organized by the grads from Media at McGill. The first session I attended was called Democracy, Art & Media. Dru Oja Jay spoke on progressive/activist uses of the Internet and the link to traditional media. He now runs Fair Trade Media, and edits this online publication, The Dominion. I first came across him when writing my thesis. I read with interest and used his article on Open Publishing (doesn’t seem to be online anymore), wherein he develops some interesting solutions to the persistent problems of OP.
Then Michael Lenczner, from Ile Sans Fil spoke about the importance of technological infrastructure. Unfortunately, time ran out and he didn’t get to fully explain about his project, which installs wireless “hotspots” about Montreal, in parks and other unlikely places.
Lenczner briefly discussed the infrastructural influence on society, suggesting that though we first shape our technological tools, the tools always shape us, in ways we are typically unaware of (critical theory of technology, anyone?). We are forced to use the infrastructure but the feedback loop is long, such that it’s difficult to see the social influence. He described this account as “not quite deterministic” but neither would he concede that the socio-technical relationship was mutually constituted. I wanted to hear more, but the session ended, out of time as usual, and we all shifted venues for the keynote, by MacKenzie Wark, author of A Hacker Manifesto, and the just-published Gamer Theory. More on that in a bit…
After the session I said hi to Marc Raboy, who was there, and who gave the 2005 Spry lecture at SFU. He mentioned to me that my main man, Andrew Feenberg had just been to McGill; this is the interview Darrin Barney, (a Vancouver native, incidentally) did w/him. The world jes keeps getting smaller.
An aside: my walk over to McGill from St. Laurent, where I’m staying, was intoxicating. I got so excited to be “back east” as they say in Vancouver, and also in an old city. I felt it on the cab ride in last night. Despite the dark, I recognized the lights, the architecture of the highways. Right away I was at home. Vancouver is young, in terms of its development (if not years). Montreal has that same feel as Toronto - that grit, that inner city narrowness and colour, that “olden days” feel of row houses, psuedo-gothic churches, industrial architecture. There’s brick everywhere, which I so miss living in Van (where bricks can’t withstand the rain). I miss the city - it’s where I belong. The pigeons, the forgotten parks, the dense living, the congested streets where bicycles reign supreme. I breathe this city in, locating it deep within me. As I walked, I felt my feet connect w/the sidewalk in a way they hadn’t in a long time. I felt the vibe of the city surge up through the concrete, enter me through the soles of my feet and diffuse through my body. In my dreams I return.
I feel my way instinctively around this city; I intuit it. I don’t think I can ever get lost (unlike Van where I still lose my sense of direction on occasion, despite knowing the mountains are “north”). One irony: it was raining when I arrived. And cold. 4 degrees. Two days ago it was sunny and 25 in Vancouver. I need to fly 5 hours for weather worse than Van’s most miserable winter day?! Hah!
October 13th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Ronco Showtime Rotisserie…
Start eating healthier with the Ronco Showtime Rotisserie….
October 14th, 2007 at 10:50 pm
ex pic revenge wife…
ex pic revenge wife friends…
October 15th, 2007 at 7:11 am
free horse layout myspace…
Actual articles about free horse layout myspace and more. …
October 15th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
guy suck cock…
guy suck cock info and more…
January 12th, 2008 at 2:28 am
Digital Studio Modeling…
good stuff…
March 11th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
$anchor$basketball Betting,final Four,final Four Betting,final Four Gambling,final Four Sports Book,final Four Sportsbook,march Madness,march Madness Betting,march Madness Gambling,march Madness Sports Book,march Madness Sportsbook,ncaa,ncaa Betting,…
$anchor$basketball Betting,final Four,final Four Betting,final Four Gambling,final Four Sports Book,final Four Sportsbook,march Madness,march Madness Betting,march Madness Gambling,march Madness Sports Book,march Madness Sportsbook,ncaa,ncaa Betting,nc…
October 11th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
texas hold em poker games…
A person should gamble every day, because think of how bad it would be to walk around being lucky and not know it….
October 12th, 2008 at 1:42 am
Win playing baccarat…
The strong point in poker is never to lose your temper, either with those you are playing with or, more particularly, with the cards. There is no sympathy in poker. Always keep cool. If you lose your head you will lose all your chips…
October 12th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Play Here…
The deal is of no special value, and anybody may begin….
October 12th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Best Roulette Casino…
It’s easy to be a tough competitor and still be the kind of person with whom people love to compete….
October 13th, 2008 at 6:35 am
Online Casino…
Opportunity may knock, but it seldom nags….
October 14th, 2008 at 3:46 am
Best Online Casinos…
If you know poker, you know people; and if you know people, you got the whole dang world lined up in your sights….
October 22nd, 2008 at 2:17 am
Sports Betting Secret Winning Strategies Revealed !!!…
Sports Betting Secret Winning Strategies Revealed !!!…
November 19th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Free Adult Friend Finder…
Interesting topic! I really enjoyed your discussion points and plan to share your blog with my friends! I didn’t quite agree with everything but I do like to see other peoples points of view. If you want to learn how to get 100% free access to Adul…
January 18th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
pokerbot…
I don’t recommend a lot of other blog posts but found this one today very interesting……
February 4th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Sports Betting…
Sportsbook. com is a trusted, world renowned operation that has earned top ratings by all major sportsbook review sites. Considered among the gaming industry’ s most reliable, easy– to– navigate sports betting experience, making it the perfect ch…
March 3rd, 2009 at 3:55 pm
salmon fishing…
This is a good post that many of you should enjoy. In fact the whole blog is interesting……
March 10th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
trojan horse…
This is a good post that many of you should enjoy. In fact the whole blog is interesting……
January 18th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
[…] In all, it was a great trip. As I tromped around Kingston, to-ing and fro-ing from the workshop, I did my usual trick of imagining I lived there. I typically do this upon arrival in a new town that seduces me with its promise and novelty. Just as I haven’t moved to New Orleans or Montreal or New York, however, I likely won’t be moving to Kingston any time soon. But it’s good to dream. […]
May 26th, 2010 at 12:16 am
american poker 2…
american poker 2…