Social protest has become almost inseparably linked to a plethora of
media images and messages distributed via internet, mobile phones,
social media, internet video platforms and of course traditional media
outlets such as newspapers, radio and television. A popular category to
have emerged recently is the 'twitter-revolution'. In almost all cases
(Iran, Tunisia, Egypt, London) the role of the platform turned out to be
less than essential in retrospect. Protests mostly manifested on the
streets and particularly the public squares ('Take the Square'). Deeply
rooted blogger-networks did however play a mayor role, preparing the
protests that have now been dubbed the "Arabian Spring'. And internet
played a crucial role in the organisation and co-ordination of the
European 'anti-austerity' protests (Spain, Greece, UK, Italy).
This
international seminar brought together theorists, artists, designers,
activists and media specialists to develop a critical analysis of the
new forms of social protest and their media dimension. The program divided into two blocks. The first block focused on an in-depth analysis
of the evolving WikiLeaks-saga, while the second block examined the
remarkable string of protests in the Mediterranean region. These
discussions were interrupted at times by startling artistic
interventions in current social and political debates.
Participants in the program:
Daniel van der Velden (Metahaven), Geert Lovink (Institute of Network Cultures, INC), Aalam Wassef (Ahmad Sherif), Omar Robert Hamilton (Mosireen / Tahrir Cinema, Cairo) Nat Muller (independent curator), David Garcia (Chelsea College), Jodi Dean (Hobart and William Smith Colleges / Blog Theory), X.net & Democracia Real Ya - Barcelona, Gahlia Elsrakbi (Foundland), Nadia Plesner (Darfurnica), Florian Conradi and Michelle Christensen (stateless plug-in), Oscar Pretel (15 M .nl).
Moderator: Eric Kluitenberg (Tactical Media Files)
The
seminar is part of an on-going research into Tactical Media, the fusion
of art, media, politics and cultural activism, centred around the
"Tactical Media Files", an on-line documentation resource of Tactical
Media practices world-wide.
[ www.tacticalmediafiles.net ]
Program Overview:
10.30 - Opening / Introduction: Eric Kluitenberg (Tactical Media Files / De Balie)
Part I - Repositioning WikiLeaks
11.00 - 11.20 - Presentation: Daniel van der Velden (Metahaven)
11.20 - 11.30 - Responses
11.30 - 11.45 - Discussion
11.45 - 12.05 - Geert Lovink (Institute of Network Cultures)
12.05 - 12.15 - Responses
12.15 - 12.30 - Discussion
Respondents:
Jodi Dean (Hobart and William Smith Colleges / Blog Theory), David Garcia (Chelsea College of Art & Design)
12.30 - 12.45 - Artist presentation: Nadia Plesner - Darfurnica
Part II - Revolution in the Mediterranean
14.00 - 14.20 - Presentation: Aalam Wassef (Ahmad Sherif)
14.20 - 14.30 - Responses
14.30 - 14.45 - Discussion
14.45 - 15.05 - Presentation: Omar Robert Hamilton (Mosireen / Tahrir Cinema)
15.05 - 15.15 - Responses
15.15 - 15.30 - Discussion
Respondents:
Ghalia Elsrakbi (Foundland), Nat Muller (Independent Curator)
15.30 - 15.45 - Artist Presentation: Florian Conradi and Michelle Christensen (stateless plug-in)
16.00 - 16.20 - Skype session with X.net & Democracia Real Ya, Barcelona
16.10 - 16.10 - Responses
Respondent:
Oscar Pretel (15 M .nl)
16.25 - 17.00 - Closing Discussion
Links:
Metahaven & Jeff Khonsary: Smashing Windows with Windows: Transparency, Design, and WikiLeaks
http://fillip.ca/content/smashing-windows-with-windows-transparency-design-and-wikileaks
Twelve Theses on WikiLeaks - by Geert Lovink & Patrice Riemens
www.tacticalmediafiles.net/article.jsp?objectnumber=49391
Hans Ulrich Obrist in Conversation with Julian Assange
(includes proposals for WikiLeaks corporate identity redesign by metahaven.net)
www.e-flux.com/journal/view/232
Tahrir Cinema:
www.cinerevolutionnow.com/2011/07/tahrir-cinema.html
Mosireen:
http://mosireen.org
Take the Square:
http://takethesquare.net
Democracia real Ya!:
www.democraciarealya.es/manifiesto-comun/manifesto-english/
Nadia Plesner - Darfurnica:
www.nadiaplesner.com/Website/darfurnica.php
stateless plug-in:
http://statelessplugin.net