mind map (so far) of week 1 of Technologies of Persuasion online course.

Why Johnny Can't Program audio lecture - mind map notes. most of these notes are what the speaker, Douglas Rushkoff mentioned in the lecture - I've paraphrased some of it whilst taking notes.

files attached. remove the .txt from .html.txt files (drupal upload seems to be adding the .txt)

one of the other class members, monster (Caroline Jack) has transcribed the audio lecture!, so this would be a more complete / accurate account of it.

I'm starting an online course tomorrow called " The Crazy Wisdom of Philip K. Dick". I'm not sure how I'm going to go, but I enjoy his books so it'll be interesting to find out more. the lecturer is Erk Davis who's well known for his studies on the author. I've just logged into the course page and read the intro and it sounds really interesting. I have a feeling I'm going to need to take it twice!

there's another one by Douglas Rushkoff which sounds interesting also - he sent the note about his course via his blog mail list, so that's how I came across the PKD one. there's others by R.U. Sirius of Mondo 2000 fame which I wouldn't mind checking out also. some of the others on the site seem a bit out there! but it's interesting to find out about things I don't know much about.

I have these books back home, but I'm going to have to find new versions here - I can't read hebrew and most of the book titles are in hebrew so I can't even tell if the book's in the stores here! time for amazon I think. we have to read a couple of books and watch Bladerunner (one of my favs) & A Scanner Darkly (saw this in sydney when I was home last)

the course site is http://www.maybelogic.org/ and the forum lives at http://www.maybelogic.net/

(the promo blurb from the site in case anyone else is interested)
http://www.maybelogic.net/

" Once a purely cult figure, Philip K. Dick (1928-1982) is now widely recognized as a pulp visionary of the highest order. This course will approach his work not as science fiction but as crazy wisdom. We’ll explore how his texts seem designed to illuminate our posthuman problems and our most ancient philosophical questions — and to then scramble those insights with a cheap ray gun. We will read two of Dick’s major novels, both chosen for their heavy gnostic themes. We will discuss drugs and archons and machines that break down, including, possibly, yourself. We will also explore the two greatest examples of the many PKD movies to date — further evidence that Dick’s spirit will only continue to permeate the culture at large. "

The program MediaArtHistories starts this November for the second time and is currently accepting applications. MAH conveys the most important developments of contemporary art through a network of renowned international theorists, artists and curators like: Steve DIETZ, Erkki HUHTAMO, Lev MANOVICH, Christiane PAUL, Paul SERMON, Edward SHANKEN, Jens HAUSER, Christa SOMMERER; Gerfried STOCKER, Knowbotic Research, Charlie GERE, Oliver GRAU and many others. Using online databases and other modern aids, knowledge of computer animation, net art, interactive, telematic and genetic art as well as the most recent reflections on nano art, CAVE installations, augmented reality and wearables are introduced. Historical derivations that go far back into art and media history are tied in intriguing ways to digital art. Important approaches and methods from Image Science, Media Archaeology and the History of Science & Technology will be discussed. visit the MediaArtHistories website for more information and to apply

Watch the video

part of the video, audio performance by Somaya Langley who uses gestural movements combined with accelerometer sensors attached to her outfit, and David Wolf who provided the visual feast to accompany the soundscapes. part of Electrofringe 2006 festival in Newcastle, Australia, on sunday 01/10/2006.

http://www.thisisnotart.org/

http://www.thisisnotart.org/Members/ben/david-wolf-and-somaya-langley-tba/

TBA explores sonic city spaces through a gestural interface. In the current sociological climate, the city can be an alienating yet sonically rich space. Individuals potentially relate more closely to the city, the buildings and architecture than they do to the other inhabitants. However, the city is an ever-changing environment demolishing buildings, resurrecting monuments simultaneous moments of destruction and resurrection. Using footage of Newcastle as well as abstract and generative 3D systems, elements are combined and manipulated in real time using custom built applications developed with Quartz Composer and Max/MSP.

I went to 2005 electrofringe a few weeks ago in Newcastle, Australia. I haven't finished going over my notes or posting some of the links to the artist's projects, but one of the workshops I went to was on Quartz Composer hosted by dpwolf. The software runs on a MAC, which unfortunately I don't have. :( perhaps if we get a project bonus this year I might be able to save up for one so I can try the software (and also max / msp }. anyway, I also came across the name dpwolf on the videoblogging mail list and low and behold it's the same person. he seems to do some work with Adrian Miles, who does some great projects with video and interactive quicktime and media in general. small world. I'd love to do the course Adrian teaches but can't afford to give up work to do it fulltime. due to excessive work commitments, I had to drop the Internet Communication course I was doing at CQU. now that I've finally upgraded my (this) site and moving most of my projects online (so as not to be so dependant on my laptop in case of travelling without it), I'd like to experiment more with blogging, videoblogging, podcasting and digital art and music projects (in addition to listing other people's projects on the site), hence, why the blog posts here have now become more personal. I've been reading about and been across these media for a while but haven't had much time to play myself, so that's the goal for the next year (& hopefully continuing onwards).