[artinfo] Reality Engineering and the Computer (fwd)
C3 Information
info@c3.hu
Mon, 25 Jun 2001 20:15:30 +0200
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 12:25:26 +0200
From: Justine Smithuis <Justine.Smithuis@amsu.edu>
Subject: Reality Engineering and the Computer
Dear Sir/Madam,
In collaboration with the Mediamatic Foundation, we are delighted to present
the following seminar as part of the 2001 Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer
University curriculum:
BETTER THAN FANTASY: REALITY ENGINEERING AND THE COMPUTER
31 August - 2 September 2001, Amsterdam
This symposium follows the success of last year's debut event, "Playstation
meets Organism: Emulation in a Cultural Context" (1-3 September 2000). This
year's event deals with the lively exchange between fantasy and reality,
concentrating particularly on the role of computers and computer networks.
Through a series of lectures and discussions led by leading practitioners
and theorists in the field, the participants will be introduced into the
world of net, trip and sound.
Full details including application information are enclosed. Please feel
free to pass this on to friends, colleagues and associates who might be
interested to participate.
For further information on The Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer University and
details of our general curriculum please go to our website: www.amsu.edu or
contact the course co-ordinator at the numbers listed. Further information
on the Mediamatic Foundation can be found on website www.mediamatic.net.
I hope we have the pleasure of meeting you at the seminar in August.
With kind regards,
Justine Smithuis
Co-ordinator
*******************************************
B E T T E R T H A N F A N T A S Y:
R E A L I T Y E N G I N E E R I N G A N D T H E C O M P U T E R
31 August - 2 September 2001
INITIATORS
Mediamatic Foundation, Amsterdam
The Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer University
INTRODUCTION
The symposium Reality Engineering and the Computer provides a glimpse into
the past and the future of the computer-assisted construction of reality. *
It will consider different aspects of the provocative and lively exchange
between fantasy and reality, concentrating particularly on the role of
computers and computer networks.
One could, for instance, see computers as waystations on a track running
from idea, to design, to experience (from the imagination of things to their
representation) and back again. The symposium covers three days, each of
which will concentrate on a separate theme: Net, Trip and Sound.
--Net--
On the first day, Net, the symposium will examine the 'protocols' with which
reality is 'engineered'. How do Mercedes Bunz, essayist and editor of the
German cult magazine de:Bug, and Jodi Dean, author of Aliens in America, see
the information politics of the World Wide Web? In discussions with other
speakers chaired by Arie Altena and Noortje Marres, they will tackle
questions such as: How are specific realities coordinated on Internet? How
do protocols enable other kinds of knowledge? and What are the
micro-politics of ICT?
--Trip--
The second day, Trip, will look at various aspects of reality engineering as
promulgated in the books and works of George Dyson and Bert Mulder as
'science faction'. The scientists Arjen Mulder and Dirk van Weelden will
guide us through the cool language of the computer, the gentle world of
drugs, and the unbounded environment of outer space. George Dyson, renowned
for his study of the origins of the computer, Darwin among the Machines,
lets us in on a secret 1950s American plan to build a space-ship powered by
nuclear bombs. Bert Mulder explores, in his own inimitable way, the space
between fact and fiction.
--Sound--
The third day is given over to Sound. Under the direction of Paul Groot and
Roland Spekle, science fiction, music and the plastic arts will be reviewed
as products of the computer. Guest of honour is Miltos Manetas, the Los
Angeles-based artist whose site www.manetas.com embodies his own,
particularly personal, reality. Other artists, composers and musicians for
whom electronic fields are means to artistic ends will also be presenting
their work.
* See, for instance, Paul Edwards' book The closed world, a study of the
birth of the computer from the perspective of the Cold War of the '50s and
'60s. Mediamatic will be devoting special attention to this in a later
symposium.
APPLICANT PROFILE
This seminar is intended for free-floating academics and joystick
intellectuals.
LANGUAGE
English
LOCATION
The seminar will be held at Felix Meritis, Keizersgracht 324 and Club BABY,
Keizersgracht 676 in Amsterdam.
FEE
NLG 1250 (Euro 567.23), including lunches and free access to the cultural
and social evening programme of the Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer University.
APPLICATION
Applicants should return the completed application form before 1 August 2001
to the Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer University, P.O. Box 53066, 1007 RB
Amsterdam, the Netherlands,
tel: +31 (0)20 6200225, fax: +31 (0)20 6249368.
There is a limited number of scholarships, covering the course fee,
available for participants from Central and Eastern European countries.
Please contact the course co-ordinator at The Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer
University for more information. If you wish to apply, send a letter of
motivation, curriculum vitae and a letter of recommendation along with your
application form. Please note that all materials should be written in
English.
REGISTRATION
Participants are expected to register for the seminar on Thursday 30 August
from 4 to 5 p.m. at Felix Meritis, Keizersgracht 324 in Amsterdam. At 5 p.m.
a welcoming drink will be served to all participants and trainers.
P R O G R A M M E
Friday 31 August
Net
10.00 - 10.15 Introduction
10.15 - 11.00 Noortje Marres
11.00 - 11.15 break
11.15 - 12.00 Mercedez Bunz
12.00 - 13.00 lunch
13.00 - 13.45 Christiaan Alberdingk-Thijm
13.45 - 14.30 Jodi Dean
14.30 - 14.45 break
14.45 - 15.45 discussion
Saturday 1 September
Trip
10.00 - 10.15 Introduction
10.15 - 11.00 George Dyson
11.00 - 11.15 break
11.15 - 12.00 Bert Mulder
12.00 - 13.00 lunch
13.00 - 13.45 Dirk van Weelden
13.45 - 14.30 Arjen Mulder
14.30 - 14.45 break
14.45 - 15.45 discussion
Sunday 2 September
Sound
10.00 - 10.15 Introduction
10.15 - 11.00 Miltos Manetas
11.00 - 11.15 break
11.15 - 11.30 Roland Spekle
11.30 - 13.00 'Clicks and Cuts in Post-digital Music': Kim Cascone
13.00 - 14.00 lunch
14.00 - 15.15 central discussion
in Club BABY
16.00 - 18.00 the EUREKA moment of...
COURSE LEADERS AND LECTURERS
Christiaan Alberdink-Thijm (NL) is an Internet-lawyer and attorney in
Amsterdam.
Arie Altena (NL) is editor of Mediamatic Magazine. He writes about
20th-century literature, new media arts and the WWW.
Mercedez Bunz (D) is a culture critic and editor of the German magazine
de:Bug.
Kim Cascone (US) is a recording artist and head of "Silent Records".
Jodi Dean (US) teaches political, feminist, and cultural theory at Hobart
and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York. She wrote: Aliens in
America.
George Dyson (US) is a historian of technology and author of Baidarka (1986)
and Darwin among the Machines (1997). His is currently completing a history
of Project Orion, the 1957-1965 attempt to build a space ship powered by
nuclear bombs.
Paul Groot (NL) is editor of Mediamatic Magazine and art critic.
Miltos Manetas (US) studied Visual Arts in Brera-Milan, Italy. Lives and
works between Los Angeles and New York. As an artist he is especially
interested in the world of computer games.
Noortje Marres (NL) is currently doing research on the philosophy of science
and technology at the University of Amsterdam (UvA).
Arjen Mulder (NL) is biologist and essayist. He published several books on
media, bodies, literature and photography.
Bert Mulder (NL) is director of 'De Informatie Werkplaats' and lectures
throughout Europe on new media and the architecture of information systems.
Roland Spekle (NL) organises concerts and cultural events in Holland and
abroad.
Dirk van Weelden (NL) is a novelist and writes for several newspapers.
COURSE CO-ORDINATORS
Justine Smithuis (The Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer University),
tel. +31 (0)20 6200225, fax +31 (0)20 6249368, e-mail justine@amsu.edu.
Jans Possel (Mediamatic Foundation)
MEDIAMATIC FOUNDATION
Mediamatic Foundation was established in 1983 as a meeting place for video
artists and TV dissidents. In 1985, it started Mediamatic Magazine, which
has evolved in today's illustrious quarterly on art, media and the changes
being brought by techno-culture, hypermedia and virtuality. From spring 2000
onwards, Mediamatic Magazine is only available on the Internet.
The Foundation also organises workshops, under the title of Designing
Behaviour, which focus on the way media behave. The current programme is
aiming at the development of the fundamental aspects of interactivity in an
interdisciplinary way.
In addition to these activities, Mediamatic arranges public presentations of
new media art and design. These presentations draw on various disciplines:
theatre, visual arts, music, literature, television and architecture.
*******************************************
APPLICATION FORM
I wish to apply for the course: Better than Fantasy: Reality Engineering and
the Computer (MEDIA-4)
family name
first name
Ms/Mr
address
state/country
phone
fax
title/profession
e-mail
nationality
date of birth
I declare I will be medically insured during the period that I attend the
Summer University.
signature
date
PAYMENT BY BANK:
The course fee of NLG (EURO ) will be remitted to:
account number 6093074
Postbank Amsterdam, The Netherlands
swift code: INGBNL2A, or IBAN.NL76 PSTB 0006 0930 74
on behalf of AMSU, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Please mention the course title!
PAYMENT BY CREDIT CARD:
O American Express
O Euro-Master Card
O Visa Card
number
expiry date
card holder name
card holder address
state/country
card holder signature
date
There is an additional charge of NLG 25 (EURO 11,50) if payment is made by
cheque, to cover the transfer commission charged by the bank, and if payment
is made in two installments.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS REGARDING APPLICATION:
All participants in the courses are bound by the Board's Standard
Conditions, which will be sent with the confirmation of your application.
Please note that cancellation of participation in a course can only be made
in writing. If cancellation is made no later than fourteen days before the
course starts, 15% administrative expenses will be deducted. Cancellation
made later than fourteen days before the beginning of the course does not
entitle the participant to any refund.
PLEASE PRINT THIS FORM, SIGN IT AND RETURN IT TO:
The Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer University
P.O. BOX 53066, 1007 RB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
F +31 (0)20 6249368
*********************************
ACCOMMODATION FORM AMSTERDAM
I wish to make use of the accommodation service of the AMSU
course title: Better than Fantasy: Reality Engineering and the Computer
(MEDIA-4)
family name
first name
Ms/Mr
address
state/country
e-mail
phone
fax
PREFERENCE AND REGISTRATION
Please mark your preference:
O A private room in shared apartment, 50 NLG (23 EURO)
O B private apartment, 115 NLG (52 EURO)
O C Small hotel in city centre, 155-170 NLG (71-77 EURO)
O D Large hotel in centre, 170-150 NLG (77-114 EURO)
Approximate prices per night including breakfast (hotels) and 6% VAT,
excluding hotel tourist tax, handling fee, and bed linen in apartments.
date of arrival
departure
number of nights
smoking yes/no
PAYMENT INFORMATION
No deposit is required for the accommodation, but a bank account or credit
card number is needed to guarantee your reservation.
O bank account
O American Express
O Euro-Master Card
O Visa Card
number
expiry date credit card
name on card, account holder
signature card holder
date
The exact amount of the accommodation fee, including NLG 15 (7 Euro)
handling fee and the hotel tourist tax, will be sent to you as soon as
possible in a separate voucher confirming your accommodation.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS REGARDING ACCOMMODATION:
All participants in the course are bound by the Board's Standard Conditions,
which will be sent with the confirmation of your application. If the
requested accommodation is not available, we retain the right to reserve
accommodation in a higher price bracket. Please note that cancellation can
only be made in writing and no later than seven days before arrival. When
cancellation regarding hotel accommodation is made later than seven days
before arrival, the costs of the first night may be charged. When
cancellation is made regarding apartment accommodation, and in the event
that AMSU cannot find a replacement tenant, the total cost for the reserved
night may be charged.
PLEASE PRINT THIS FORM, SIGN IT AND RETURN IT TO:
The Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer University
P.O. BOX 53066, 1007 RB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
F +31 (0)20 6249368