What is Culture24?

February 9, 2010 at 2:57 am · Filed under art, communuity informatics, digital humanities

Culture24 exists to promote and support the cultural sector online and to serve the needs of online audiences. We are a not-for-profit online publisher, working across the arts, heritage, education, and tourism sectors.

A wonderful initiative. Also, check out there data-feeds that contain data from 4300 cultural venues across the UK…wow! (link).

Comments

Facebook URLs ?

July 15, 2009 at 2:32 pm · Filed under art

(thanks to Geek and Poker blog for the link)

Comments

The Shahnama Project (Iran)

June 15, 2009 at 9:20 pm · Filed under art, digital humanities, digitisation, humanities computing

One of my favourite projects within the broader Digital Humanities field; a masterpiece of Persian art and a damn fine piece of Digital Humanities scholarship as well.

Firdausi’s Shahnama (Book of Kings), completed in eastern Iran in around A.D. 1010, is a work of mythology, history, literature and propaganda: a living epic poem that pervades and expresses many aspects of Persian culture. Thousands of manuscript copies of the text, the earliest dating from 1217, exist in libraries throughout the world. Many hundreds of these are illustrated with miniature paintings, some of them among the most magnificent masterpieces of Persian art (link).

Comments

30 Full-time PhD Studentships available

May 13, 2009 at 4:02 pm · Filed under art, digital humanities

This may be of interest to budding undergraduates out there. Especially the most excellent opportunity to work at the Lansdown Centre for Electronic Arts. Thanks to Julie Tomlie for the link.

Middlesex University is currently advertising 30 full-time PhD studentships, some of which
are in Arts and related fields.

Guardian advert here: http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/856185/30-research-studentships-
art-and-education/
Job.ac.uk advert here:
http://www.jobs.ac.uk/jobs/GH572/Research_Studentships_in_Art_and_Education/

Of these, one or two (depending on the quality of applications) may be based in the
Lansdown Centre for Electronic Arts, a university research centre working in the
intersection of technology and creative activity. A list of possible themes is here:
http://www.cea.mdx.ac.uk/?location_id=106

Comments

GRIT 02: Illusions of Homogeneity

April 20, 2009 at 4:37 pm · Filed under art, eresearch

Let’s hope that the grand dreams of eResearch aren’t about ‘research homogeneity’ as cultural homogeneity may have become the case in other areas of cultural activity (thanks to Andrew Garton, the performer, for the link).

GRIT 02 examines the death of analogue broadcasting by way of readings from numerous sources describing the process of enclosure on public spectrum, the airways and the cultural diversity it affords humanity. The digital spectrum promises to further the spread of sameness the world over.


GRIT 02: Illusions of Homogeneity / Illusionen von Homogenität from andrew garton on Vimeo.

Comments

New Muslim Art: Saatchi Gallery

April 17, 2009 at 2:05 pm · Filed under art

(picture taken with my crap Samsung 1.3 mega pixle thingees phone)

The Saatchi gallery is a free private gallery in West London (near Sloan Square and owned by Charles Saatchi), that exhibits new contemporary art.  Charles Saatchi is a co-founder of the mammoth advertising agency Saatchi and Saatchi that has close links to the Conservative party. The exhibition of New Muslim art is worth checking out; my favourite piece is of Muslim woman at prayer made out of foil.

Comments

Sydney never looked so special…

April 14, 2009 at 3:09 pm · Filed under art, video

Here is a movie by an Australian film maker, Keith Loutit, on  Vimeo.  It uses  a time-lapse technique to render real footage in an almost cartoon style. It made me feel homesick, even though I have never really liked that city because it is all mouth and no bay.


Bathtub IV from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

Comments

Interview with M83 on Last.fm

April 9, 2009 at 10:02 am · Filed under art, video, web2.0

One of my favourite electronic artists, M83, has a interview on that fabulous social media site; Last.fm. Enjoy!

Comments

Geert Lovink: Resolution for Digital Futures

January 29, 2009 at 4:45 pm · Filed under art, politics

Subject: [-empyre-] Geert Lovink: Resolution for Digital Futures
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 08:50:47 -0500
From: Timothy Murray <tcm1@cornell.edu>
Reply-To: soft_skinned_space <empyre@lists.cofa.unsw.edu.au>
To: soft_skinned_space <empyre@gamera.cofa.unsw.edu.au>

Geert Lovink
Seven Resolutions for 2009

1. Radical makeover of Indymedia into an irresistible network of
networks, aimed to link local initiatives, worldwide, that aim to
bring down corporate capitalism. In order to do this Indymedia needs
to go beyond the (alternative) news paradigm. This is the time to do
it. If not now, when? The debate should be about the possible
adaptation, or perhaps transcendence (think negative dialectics) of
the social networking approach. Is it enough if we all start to
twitter? Perhaps not. A lot of the online conversations at the moment
circle around these topics. There is a real momentum building up
here, and that’s exciting.

2. Renaissance of theory, radical texts that appeal to young people
and help them to dream again, aimed to develop critical concepts,
cool memes and audio-visual whispers that can feed the collective
imagination with new, powerful ideas that are capable to move people
into action. Theory, in this context, means speculative philosophies,
not academic writing or hermetic bible texts, aimed to exclude
outsiders and those with the wrong belief system. Overcoming
political correctness in the way that beats populism would be the way
to go.

3. Dismantling the academic exclusion machine. With this I mean the
hilarious peer review dramas that we see around us everywhere, aimed
to reproduce the old boys networks, excluding different voices,
discourses and networked research practices. We need to have the
civil courage to say no to these suppressive and utterly wrong
bureaucratic procedures that, in the end, result in the elimination
of quality, creativity and criticism (and, ironically, of innovation,
too). In the same way we need to unleash a social movement of those
who dare to say no to all these silly copyright contracts that we’re
forced to sign. We should stop signing away our ‘intellectual
property’ and begin to radicalize and help democratize and popularize
the creative commons and floss movements.

4. Overcoming media genres and expertise prisons in order to
productively connect our knowledge and experience. With this I do not
mean diplomatic gestures to open up token channels for
interdisciplinary dialogue. Any formal attempt to bring together
people from different backgrounds is bound to fail. What might be a
solution is to go for hybrid-pervert situations in order to
investigate the absurd edges of the knowledge universe. Again, any
model that somehow wants to move towards a synthesis (or convergence)
is doomed to be irrelevant and will only be instrumentalized in
institutional restructurings in which the creative-subversive
elements are the ones that will be excluded.

5. Squatting the overlooked ruins of the 2009 crisis. There is an
enormous economic infrastructure that is being abandoned at the
moment, ripe to be socialized. The problem, however, is that we do
not really ’see’ it, in the same way as in the 1970s and 80s many did
not see the subversive potential of squatting warehouses, factories
and old housing stock. Luckily this is merely a matter of start
wearing the right pair of glasses. Put them on and you discover an
abundance of abandoned resources, ready to be re-used.

6. Global crackdown of the corporate consultancy class. We have to
get a better understanding of the dubious role that the Ernst &
Young/PricewaterhouseCooper etc. consultants are playing, from
downsizing firms, coaching NGOs and global civil society
professionals, privatizing public infrastructure, to running entire
education sectors. Not only are they experts in cooking the books
(see the dotcom crash). Their role as (invisible) advisers, speech
writers and PR managers needs some serious investigative journalism a
la Naomi Klein.

7. Opening channels for collective imagination. It’s not enough to
say that another world is possible (we know that). Radical reform
plans are available-and are being implemented as we speak-by the
bankrupt neo-liberal elites, in a desperate attempt to somehow make
it to 2010 or 2011, when the recession will be over and old policies
can be continued again. It’s not enough to be satisfied with the
promise of a green GM car, made in the USA. We can think, and build,
so much more. For this to happen, the corporate elites need to be
dispossessed of their power. Calling for ‘change’ comes with
consequences: dethronement. Sorry, you fu*ked up badly. It’s time to
step down and move on. Exit.

–

Geert Lovink (Netherlands) is a Dutch-Australian media theorist,
author of Zero Comments, and director of the Institute of Network
Cultures in Amsterdam, where he also teaches at the new media masters
program of Mediastudies/University of Amsterdam.

Comments

Creative King’s

January 22, 2009 at 10:36 am · Filed under art, collaboration

This site was developed by my collegue Torsten Reimer.

Creative King’s is a College-wide initiative exploring the notion of creativity and its place in academic life at King’s. The series invites King’s academics from across the disciplinary spectrum to discuss creativity in their own field and to explore interdisciplinary linkages.

All at King’s are warmly invited to attend and contribute to discussions, both at the events themselves and via the website (link)

Comments

Arts Birthday (and Craig’s too!)

January 12, 2009 at 1:56 pm · Filed under art

It is my birthday next weekend. And i am going to Vienna to celebrate as it is also ‘Arts Birthday‘ . Kunst Radio is holding a party in Hainsburg near Vienna where my good friend Andrew Garton will be playing a 100 year old electronic instrument. Art is 1,000, 0045 years old.  I was born on the same day; minus a million years or so.

And what is the best birthday song ever written. Changes By David Bowie

I still don’t know what I was waiting for
And my time was running wild
A million dead-end streets
Every time I thought I’d got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
So I turned myself to face me
But I’ve never caught a glimpse
Of how the others must see the faker
I’m much too fast to take that test

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don’t want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Just gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can’t trace time

I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence and
So the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They’re quite aware of what they’re going through

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don’t tell t hem to grow up and out of it
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Where’s your shame
You’ve left us up to our necks in it
Time may change me
But you can’t trace time

Strange fascination, fascinating me
Changes are taking the pace I’m going through

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Oh, look out you rock ‘n rollers
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Pretty soon you’re gonna get a little older
Time may change me
But I can’t trace time
I said that time may change me
But I can’t trace time

Comments

SENSORIUM RE-CONNECTED by Andrew Garton

January 11, 2009 at 8:29 pm · Filed under art

From 18 August through to 26 September 97, ABC Classic FM’s The Listening Room presented Sensorium Connect / Body Morph, a generative composition by composer Andrew Garton comprising of sounds sampled from performances by Stelarc.

On 11 January 2009 KunstRadio will broadcast an entirely new version of this work. Sensorium Re-Connect commemorates the work of The Listening Room and the contribution this piece made to furthering radio and sound art online in Australia (link).

Comments

What is Aus-e-lit?

November 17, 2008 at 11:17 am · Filed under art, digital humanities, humanities computing

(Thanks to the Arts and Humanities eScience support centre at King’s for the link)

The Aus-e-Lit project aims to address the eResearch needs of researchers involved in the study of Australian literature and Australian print culture. AustLit is a non-profit collaboration between the National Library of Australia and twelve Universities. It provides an important resource for scholars undertaking research into many aspects of Australian literary heritage and print culture history. The Aus-e-Lit project will enhance and extend the AustLit web portal with (link)

Comments

Nothingknown

October 9, 2008 at 12:52 pm · Filed under art

Andrew Garton, a good friend of mine from Melbourne, is in Graz Austria hosting a art exhibition. Here is some of his recent work.

NOTHINGKNOWN -Version 3 from andrew garton on Vimeo.

Comments

Winners Portable Film Festival

September 2, 2008 at 9:32 am · Filed under art, media, mobile

After a month of deliberation, fandom, and some pretty abject name calling, Portable is proud to announce the winners of its 2008 festival, chosen by the likes of you!

Specially designed robots, working an algorhythm between total views, total ratings, and overall rating for each film, have worked night and day in front of one of those Good Will Hunting-style whiteboards with intimidating looking equations on it to work out the following…

Congratulations (and free stuff) goes out to (link)

Comments