On 9 Apr 2010 at 8:58, ERIC P. CHARLES wrote: > Lee, > Not sure what you are ranting about
Example follows. > It was a clever video, that didn't seem to be advertising anything > other than the company that made it *Every* production of a system-ostending-behavior (I originally had "exhibiting", which is undoubtedly clearer, but I couldn't turn down the opportunity to suggest a useful abbreviation; as to "behavior", I throw that back at you for explication--I certainly want the term S.O.B. to include *at least* all "higher" life forms, probably all life forms, but I also want it to include various social and silicon-based systems) is advertising something. [<--- That is a proposed axiom. AKA proto-rant.] Birds, bees, and babies are constantly advertising "themselves", as you well know. The question is, what kinds of "protective measures" (against the "advertiser" taking control) are afforded to the "advertisee"? I don't think humans have adequate "protective measures" against Moving Pictures (in particular) and other "push media" (in general). My problem with "push media", particularly "art in the age of mechanical reproduction" (although Walter Benjamin in fact doesn't anywhere, at least in that essay, talk about either sound recordings [music, speechifying, what have you] or motion pictures) is that they (by definition) make the relation between "advertiser" and "advertisee" *much* more asymmetric than it is In Nature (that is, in the world where life-as-we-knew-it evolved). Live music, live poetry recitals, plays being performed on stage, dancing, religious services, sports, production and consumption of food and drink (either vernacular or at bars and restaurants--even McDonaldses) and all such sorts of "traditional" "expressive media" always involve negotiations between the musicians/poets/ actors/dancers/celebrants/sporters/foodfolk/etc and the "audience". (Don't for a minute think that actors aren't aware--not necessarily always "consciously"--of who else is there.) Yes, the relation is asymmetric, but "information" flows both ways. Plastic arts like sculpture, painting, jewelery making, architecture, and so on, are a bit harder for me to deal with in this way, but not impossible. Books on the other hand are no trouble at all, but there isn't room in this margin to give the proof. ...Dammit, my rant is running down before its time (and showing cracks in its foundations, to boot--dammit^2). Must be low blood sugar taking its toll. Off to breakfast! Really, what it comes down to is, I disapprove of these new-fangled Moving Pictures! Not to mention all of those Records the young kids listen to!! Get off my lawn!!! Lee Rudolph ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
