The Division Bell Artwork
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"The result of Wiener's book (Cybernetics) was that the notion of feedback penetrated almost every aspect of technical culture. Though the central concept was both old and commonplace in specialized circumstances, Wiener gave the idea legs by generalizing the effect into a universal principle..."
-Kevin Kelly, Out of Control
A world of faces in screens reflecting light.
The universal theme - feedback.
Can you see yourself in there?
You could be on the inside looking out.
Consider the mechanics of a mirror ball.
Where does the light come from and where does it go?
Now, look at the
screen in front of you.
Primitive communications technology/media.
Communication is the core of human civilization.
Notice the recurring shape and form.
Can you recognize the
pattern?
Also, notice the ship in there.
Here's another variation from the
UCLA Department of Cybernetics page.
The theme is
feedback.
"Why would the newspaper be crumpled?", asks Publius.
The anwswer is right in front of you.
Maybe it's becoming obsolete.
The message is the shape and form, process and format.
"The Medium is the Message"
This tree doesn't have any leaves on it now.
That'll change come spring and summer.
Or maybe the tree is just plain dead.
Oops! Sorry. I don't know where this came from.
Just ignore the above images.
Sorry, programming error again, it seems.
Strange how these things work, huh?
Could it be the "sea of random images"?
Maybe there was a shipwreck.
Each boxers' behavior is determined by that of the other.
(i.e. feedback, interaction, interdependence, networks, etc.)
Boxing is a fairly violent mode of interaction.
The gloves: extensions of the body, translators, like this computer.
The gloves are now hung up.
"It was an initial idea that we had for TDB.
To do with boats...It is called 'The Boatman'."
'cybernetics'- from the Greek word 'kubernetes'
meaning steersman, helmsman, - to govern.
'cybernetics'- the science of communication and control.
"Its a, a division bell, it divides the yeses from the noes."
For artwork related to 'the division bell' concept,
check out Homage to Norbert Wiener.
I like this image from The Computer as a Communication Device,
a seminal article written over thirty years ago (1968)
that acutely describes the world of networked computers
that you and I are connected through here.
Like I said, watch the Pulse video.
The balls are the messages.
Imported from Estonia (bonus image)
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