01/unimodernism/UnimodernUnimedia/Thereareanexponentiallygrowingnumberofpeoplewhocannotbutseetheworldasinformationitself/Thisisthekeytounderstandingtheaestheticeffectsoftheculturemachine/Thischapteroffersalargervisionofhowthecompu/terbecomesthecentralnodeofcultureitself/ArtistJohnSimonJrripsapartthegutsofaPowerBooktocreateadisplayspacefortheevolvingsoftwaresimulationofComplexCity/Designe 02/rsIODcrafttheirWebstalkersoftwaretogivevisualformtothesprawlofthenetworkandLisaJe/vbrattmapsouttheWebasaninteractivecolorfield/AaronKoblinmakesaliveactionvideoforRadioheadssongHouseofCardswithoutcamerasorlightsusing3Dtrackingtechnologiesthatcreatedatastreamsthatviewers/userscanthenremixwithnewanglesandvisualstoposttoYouT/ube/ThegreenonblackdatascapesinTheMatrixfilmssimultaneouslyvirtualizeandreali 03/zetheWachowskiBrotherspopmysticism/EvenFrankGehrysGuggenheimBilbaoandDisneyConcertHallthosemostsensuousoftwentyfirstcenturysignifierscanbeseenasmanifestationsofthe/CATIA3Dsoftwareusedtodesignthem/Ubiquitouscomputingandgeographicinformationsystemsarevirtualfiguringmachinesconstantlypoppingoutnewdatapointsfrompreviouslymutespacesandmaps/Howarewetodescribetheseproductsoftheculturemachine/Theculturema 04/chin/ewasoriginallytaggedastheultimateinpostmodernism/Thecollageaestheticdecenteringandobfuscationofbothauthorandauthoritythatthenetworkedcomputerofferedseemedlikeaperfectfitwiththosewhosawtheendofthehighmodernmomentasbeingsupersededbythepostmod/ern/ButIwouldarguethatratherthanearlyhighorpostweproduceandconsumeaunimodernism/Ourmomentisunimoderninthesensethatitmakesmodernisminallitsvariantsuniversa 05/lvianetworksandbroadcastsuniformintheireffectifnotaffectandunitaryintermsoftheirexisti/ngasstringsofcode/Intheunimoderneraasbitsonlineandindatabasesaphotoisapaintingisanoperaisapopsingle/SIDEBAR/AfterAllieMaeBurroughs/Arrangethreeportraitsonwhateverscreenishandy/Theyareatoncethesameandnotthesamebutitistheirsamenessindifferenc/ethatwillprovecrucialtounderstandingourmoment/Thereisasubjectoftheseimag 06/eswholooksoutatyouinstantlyrecognizablethoughstillanonymous/Herbrowisfurrowedherlipspursedherrawskincrisscrossedwithcrowsfeethereyesdarkandtired/Whenyoufindoutthatsheis/onlytwentysevenyearsoldyouareremindedofthetollthatpovertytakesonthebody/SheisAllieMaeBurroughsasharecropperswifefromDepressioneraHaleCountyAlabama/AndthroughvariousquirksoffateartandtechnologyAllieMaeBurroughsremainsrelevantwellint 07/othetwent/yfirstcenturyaposthumousheroineofunimodernunimedia/ThefirstimageonourscreenisaphotographtakenofBurroughsoutsideherclapboardhouse/In1936WalkerEvansoneofthetoweringfiguresofmodernistdocumentaryphotographyaccompaniedthewriterJamesAgeeonanassig/nmenttodocumentruralpovertyintheDeepSouth/FiveyearslatertheprojectbecameabookwiththeevocativeandbiblicaltitleLetUsNowPraiseFamousMen/Thebookopenedwit 08/hdozensofEvanssimagesincludingitsmosticonicthephotographofAllieMaeBurroughsthoughhereAgeega/veherthefirstofhernewidentitiesthepseudonymAnnieMaeGudger/AnidiosyncraticmixofreportagebellelettrismandwhatmightbecalledAmericanseculartheologyLetUsNowPraiseFamousMenwasacriticalsuccessbutacommercialfailuresellingjustoversixhundredcopiesin1/941andthenpromptlygoingoutofprint/Reissuedtwentyyearslaterandstilli 09/nprinthalfacenturyonLetUsNowPraiseFamousMenbecameasensationinspiringgenerationsofaspiringphotographersandjournaliststogooutandcapturethetruthoftheirworld/Thebookalsohelpedce/mentEvansasoneofphotographysgreatpatriarchs/ThesecondimageisaphotographofEvanssphotographofBurroughs/Onourscreenitlooksexactlythesameasitspredecessoryetwhenthisnewimagewasfirstshownin1981atMetroPicturesgalleryinNewYorkCityitwa 10/scalledUntitle/dAfterWalkerEvansandcreditednottoEvansbutinsteadtoayoungartistnamedSherrieLevine/LevinesrephotographingofEvanssiconicimagehasbeeninterpretedaseverythingfromablatantactofplagiarismtoadaringmoveofappropriation/IsidewiththelatterviewtakingUnti/tledAfterWalkerEvansasaquintessentialpostmodernworkusingmediatochallengemediaauthorshiptochallengeauthorshipanddareIsaygeniustoquestionwhatwemea 11/nbytheterminaculturethatalmostneverbestowsitonwomen/TheEvansestatehoweversawLevinesinterventiona/stheftitsuedwonandpreventedthepublicpresentationofLevinesseriesformorethantwodecades/ReturnonefinaltimetothescreenforthelastofourimagesofBurroughs/ThisoneisadigitalscanoftheLevinerephotographyputonlinebytheartistMichaelMandibergin2001aspart/ofaprojectcalledAfterSherrieLevine/com/Thescansareat850dotsper 12/inchthesameresolutionasLevinesworkthoughmuchlowerthanwhatcouldbedonewiththeEvansoriginals/EachcanbedownloadedfromMandibergssitewithacertificateofauthenticityproclaimingthattheyar/erealMandibergsanironicripostetothosewhotookLevinesworkmerelyastheproductionoffakeEvanses/EvenifAfterSherrieLevine/comislesscompellingthantheworkofLevineherselfitdoesprovideasuccinctreminderofexactlyhowunimodernunimediafu 13/nction/Becausewhent/hethreeimagesofBurroughsarelinedupinwhateverformatbeitdesktoplaptoponacellphoneorfloatingintheetherasaretinalprojectiontheirdifferencesarewhollysubsumedbytheirnewtechnologicallymediatedequivalences/Indeedquestionsofauthenticityprimacyandown/ershipdissolveastheimageissimultaneouslyautonomousandmediatedunitaryyetboundless/WalkerEvansisdead/SoisJamesAgee/ButAllieMaeBurroughsliveso 14/ninthecollectionofNewYorksMuseumofModernArtwhichpurchasedboththeEvansandLevinephotographsnottomention/onaninfiniteandinfinitelyproliferatingnumberofunlicensedscreensnearandfarfromyou/Figure/ground/Theunimodernculturemachineproducesvastdatabasesoftextsimagessoundsandothermedia/Downloadingmindfullyfromthisenormitymuchlessuploadingtoitinanymea/ningfulwayrequiresaswehavebeendiscussinginearlierchapters 15/thedevelopmentofnewhabits/Onewaytodevelopthesehabitsofmindistothinkintermsoffigureandgroundrelationships/Gestaltpsychologysfigure/groundexperimentswereprovocativethedrawingthatcanbeei/theravaseortwofacesinprofiletherabbitthatsaduckthatsarabbittheoldwomanwhoisayoungwomanwhoisanoldwoman/WhenyoulookatanimagethefigureiswhatissupposedtohavethedefiniteshapetheprominentcontourandtousethepeculiarGermanicp 16/hrasingbelovedofGestalti/stsagreaterthingcharacterthantheground/Inthebestofthefigure/groundillustrationsthereisamomentwhenyourperceptionpopsandwhathadbeenthegroundflipsinstantaneouslyintothefigureitbecomesthingy/Thisisatransformationsimultaneouslymagicalandquotidia/nandafterthepopitseemsimpossiblethatyoueverdidnotseethefigureinpreciselythatway/Thiskindofpopcansignalamajortransformationinculturesom 17/ethingemergesfromthegroundwhileformerlyprominentfiguressinkbackintotheamorphousperiphery/Thedynamicbetween/figureandgroundisakintoaparadigmshiftbutitislessaboutthesingularfigureexplodingthesystemthroughinventionthanthecollectiverecognitionofthingsthatwerealreadypresentalthoughnotcentraltotheculturesperceptionofitself/Thepopbetweenfigureandground/isascontemporaryasMalcolmGladwellsnotionofthetipping 18/pointandasancientasthestoryoftheemperorsnewclothes/Acrucialdifferencebetweentherevolutionarymodelandthefigure/groundflipisthatintheformerthereisnogoingbackwhileinthelatterthefigureandthegr/oundcanoscillate/ThegreatdesignerPaulRandonceclaimedthathisprocesscouldbedescribedasanendlessseriesoffigure/groundproblems/Everythingis/Allartisrelationships/Theserelationshipsareevenmoreimportantinanerawhentogg 19/lingbetweenfigureandgroundcan/happenatthetouchofaswitchtheshiftofanelectron/AfterthePop/OneoftheloudestpopsofthelasthundredyearsoccurredasaresultofthepublicationofSigmundFreudsInterpretationofDreams/Withinagenerationwewerenolongerunconsciousoftheunconsciousthegroundofun/acknowledgedmotivationsbecamethecentralfigureforacultureinthralltopsychoanalysis/ItisnotthatartistsbeforeFreudwereoblivioustoinex 20/plicablemotivationsandhiddenmeaningsthinkofMacbethsdammedspotbutratherthatafterFreudthosefactorsthatformedthegr/oundforartistsfromAeschylustoShakespearetoHonorédeBalzacweretransformedintotheveryfigureofthework/UncoveringtheunconsciousinpostFreudartandculturewaseasierthanfishingwithdynamite/JustthinkofthewaythatAlfredHitchcocktreatedpoorJimmyStewartin/filmafterfilmcrippledcastratedandfrustrated/Ify 21/ougolookingfortheunconsciousinRearWindowRopeandVertigohowcouldyounotfindit/Psychologistscallthisselectiveperception/Onceyoubecomeawareoftheunconscioushowcanyoumissitoritsabsencewhereveryoulook/Afterthepopthenewrelationshiptakesonthemantleofcommonsenseofnaturalperceptionandtranscendenttruth/Wecouldwithequaleasequestionhowmiddleclassstriversinthe1920scouldhavedemandedsomuchVictorianbricabracintheirh 22/omeswhenthemachineaestheticwassoc/learlyascendant/Butthatignorestherealityofthesituationthatconfrontedthefirstgenerationsofmodernists/Thegeneralpopulationknewthatindustryandthemachinewerethegroundonwhichtheirculturewasbuilttheyjustdidnotwanttoseeitascentral/Theywantedartnou/veaucurlicuessymbolistsyphiliticfemmesanddeadearnestartsandcraftswallpaper/Itwaslefttothosesmallcommunitiesofthelikemindedand 23/loudlydebatingthecubistsfuturistspuristsconstructivistsandotheravantgardiststoflipaworldinwhichtheindustrialmachine/wasthegroundfromwhichthefiguresofcultureweredrawn/ThinkoftheincendiaryindustrialchicofMarcelDuchampsfountaintheantihumanismofLeCorbusiersmachinesforlivingthescopicmechanizationofVertovskinoeyeFilippoTommasoMarinettiswholesaleembraceofspeedi/ngplanesandmotorcarsandOttoNeurathsuniversa 24/lizeddesignisotypes/Overthecourseofmorethanaquartercenturytheseartistsforcedustoconfrontthemachineasthesalientelementoftwentiethcenturyvisualculturenotsimplythebackdrop/Thevisionariesoftheearlytwen/tiethcenturytransformedthelookandfeelofculturenotsupplantingtheoakandmarbleedificesofthepastsomuchasaddingthesheenofindustrialmaterialslikeconcreteglassandsteel/Bythe1920sand1930stheaudienceformodernism 25/wasequallyanaudienceforthemachineaesth/eticthehardunembellishedlinesofElLissitzkysgraphicdesigntheclanksandatonalityofAlbanBergsoperaWozzeckthesensuouscurvesofMarcelBreuerschromedsteeltubinginhisModelB32chairtheassemblagesoftubespistonsandleversthatcomposetheFernandLégerpainting/NudeonaRedBackgroundtheseverityofRudolphSchindlersuntreatedwoodenbeamsintersectingwithunadornedcanvascoveredslidingdoorf 26/ramesandthecomicyetsinisterfactorywhereCharlieChaplinworksinthefilmModernTimes/Regardlessoftheirmediaartistssensedthecha/ngeandfilledtheirworkwiththesightssoundsandevensmellsofindustryfiguringthemachineascentraltothecultureofthetwentiethcentury/Whileindustrialmachinespoppedahundredyearsagoinformationhasemergedasthekeyfigureforthisnewcentury/Therearehistorical/parallelsbetweentheemergenceofthemachi 27/neaestheticinthefirstdecadesofthetwentiethcenturyandthenascentaestheticsofadigitizedunimoderncultureinthetwentyfirst/Thesecondhalfofthenineteenthcenturydevelopedamarketeconomythatproducedandconsumedmach/ines/Theearlydecadesofthetwentiethcenturysawartistsarchitectsanddesignersrespondingtothisfeverofmaterialproductionbyfiguringthemachineintheirartarchitectureanddesign/Thesecondhalfofthetwentiethcent 28/uryinturnbecameaneveracceleratingfeedbacklo/opofinformation/Thusweshouldnotbesurprisedthatthepastfewyearshaveseentheculturemachineproducinginformationbasedartarchitecturedesignandmediaadigitizedinterconnectedsocietyproducesobjectsandsystemsthatdealwithsoftwaredatabasesandtheinvisible/flowsofcommunicationstechnologyandcomputingalgorithms/ThegreatgrandchildrenofthoseobsessedwithVictorianainthe1920sm 29/aylookbackwithbemusementontheirforebearsarchaictastesbuttheyaretheonesflockingtomodernistemporiumsliketheConranShopandDesignW/ithinReachtopurchasethehighestexpressionsofthemachineageattheverymomentthattheinfoaestheticisonus/Ifweacceptthatintheeraoftheculturemachineinformationhaspoppedtotheforefrontofourconsciousnessthenusingfigure/groundrelationshipscanhelpusunder/standhowunimodernismselectronicda 30/tabaseshavetransformedourexpectationofstylisticprogressandwarpedourculturalmemory/Whenimagetextphotographicandallmannerofaudiovisualrecordsareavailableatthetouchofabuttonanywhereintheunimodernwiredworldtheor/deredprogressionthroughtimeisreplacedbyablendedpresentnesswhatliterarytheoristswouldrefertoasthereplacementofthediachronicbythesynchronic/Soitisthattherehavebeenthreeorfourdistinctiterationsof 31/thepunkaestheticsinceitfirstappearedinthe1970s/T/hischurnisnotsomuchanaccelerationofnostalgiaasareworkingofmemoryitself/Inthecenturyandahalfsincetheadventofthewidespreadreproductionofimageswehavebeenthroughthreedistinctmediaregimesandareenteringthefourth/Thefirstwasthatofphotographydomina/tingthesecondhalfofthenineteenthcentury/Thephotographiceffectwasutterlytransformativeamechanicaltechnologythat 32/cametodominatetherealmofimagesutterly/Photographyaffectedthehumanunderstandingofeverythingfromtruthvaluetothefluidityoftimetotheve/ryconceptofwhatitistobecreative/Pictureperfectamomentintimeandanimageattheclickofabuttonmovedfrombeingmarvelstoclichés/Thefirsthalfofthetwentiethcenturywascinematicwiththemoviescreatingthedreamworldsofthetheirviewerstheireconomiescreatingan/ewbreedofhumanthatwecametoca 33/llstarsthelogicofmontageandthesynergisticeditingofmovingimagesequencesreframingtheverywaywelookedatlife/AsIhavearguedextensivelyherethepost–WorldWarIIeraacceptstheallatoncenessoftelevisionandadaptstoitsfragmentin/gzappingdramaturgyofthesupermarket/Wearethefirstgenerationhowevertohavethecomputerasourculturemachineandmuchwilldependonwhatwemakeofitsnetworkedcapacities/TheRomansenatorCicerowasfamedfor 34/hismnemnotechnicsorthepracticeofmemory/Twentyyearsafterthefacthecouldrecitewordforwordspeechesthathehadheardonthesenatefloor/Inaperiodbeforethewideavailabilityofpaperfortakingnotesatrainedmemorywasofinestimab/levalueingovernanceandcommerce/PrinttransformedthissituationandbytheEnlightenmenttheartsofmemorywerealreadyobsolete/Ifanythingtheculturemachineallowsforeventheoutsourcingofourmemorieswithaudi 35/ofilesimagebanksandvideostorageaddedtothearchive/Theeffectsofallofthisstoragegowellbeyondthememoryofpersonalexperiencetoencompassourmemoriesofmediatedexperienceaswell/Theuniversaldatabasetransformsthedirectlinkagebetweentheobjectintimeandtheactualmemoryofthattime/Televisionledthewaywithch/ildrenwhogrewupinthe1980snownostalgicfortheirfirstviewingsofILoveLucyashowthatmaywellhavepredatedtheirownparen 36/tschildhood/Inotherwordsbythestartofthetwentyfirstcenturyauniformtemporallymeldedpopularculturenowexiststhatnolongerneedsstratific/ationbydecades/UnimodernculturalproductionfollowsanarcfirsttracedbyDuchampandhisreadymades/WithFountain1917Duchamppresentedassculptureamassproducedurinalturnedupsidedownandmountedinagallery/AfterDuchampitisthepresentationoftheobjectthatdefi/nesthatobjectsfunctionwithin 37/culturewiththeshapingandmoldingofcontextcometothefore/Thisisnotnewsandinfactthosedefiningthedifferencesbetweenthehighmodernmomentandwhatfollowedithingedtheirdefinitionpreciselyonthiselevationofcontexttoparitywith/thetextitself/Ithasonlybeenwithinthepastdecadethatthecombinationofcomputersandcommunicationnetworkshasbeenrobustenoughtocontributetothecreationofcontext/Thiscontexttakesmanyformsespeciall 38/yinrelationtopopularmediafromthepreplannedmarketingof/tieinsfrommusicCDstelevisionspinoffsandlunchboxestotheefflorescenceofdiscursivecommunitiesgeneratedbyfans/Incertaincasestheseallcombinetocreatesomethingfarmoreinterestingthanthebackstoryandmorecomplicatedthansynergisticmarketing/Thisisthehy/percontextadynamicinterlinkedcommunicativecommunityusingnetworkstocurateaseriesofshiftingframesandcontent 39//Theadditionofgreaterlevelsofinformationtoanobjectorsystemisnotsimplyanadditiveprocessitisatransformativeone/Ittransformsobjectsbyaugme/ntingthemandsituatingtheminvastlylargerhypercontextsandwhendoneintheproperspiritmakesthemstickier/Beingabletotellfigurefromgroundinthisenvironmentofhypertrophiedtranstemporalbricolagebecomesavitalpartofnegotiatingtheuseoftheculturemachine/W/henthewholeofpopularcul 40/turefromthelasthundredyearsisfinallybroughtunderthedisciplinarityoftheuniversaldatabaseitallbecomesgroundandtherefigurationofitspartsbecomesaveritableeconomicnecessity/Thosewhoarecapableofrefiguringinawaytoattractanau/diencebecomefantasticallypowerfulwealthgeneratorsfromhyperstylizeddirectorQuentinTarantinotohyperintellectualizedarchitectRemKoolhaasfromJapaneseSuperflatartistTakashiMurakamitoUSlif 41/estyleguruMarthaStewart/Howthisfigurationoccursandhowthisp/rocessaffectsitsmeaningsdefinesthescalefromTeflontosticky/Ihavementionedartistsdesignersanddirectorsherebutbeingabletoflipbetweengroundandfigureiscentraltoeveryonesuseoftheculturemachine/Whatweallfromworldfamousdesignertoweeklybloggertoocca/sionaltakerofdigitalsnapshotsneedisacatalogofstrategiestohelpusunderstandwhatwedownloadandcontribute 42/towhatweupload/Thewaysthatwefigurewordssoundsimagesandobjectsfromthegroundofinformationwilldefinehowandwhatweareabletoproducewiththeculturem/achine/Thekeyistounderstandunimediaastheresultandunimodernismastheaspiration/Unimodernunimediarenderscertaininheritedcategorieslessusefulaswemoveintothefuturebutnotwithoutvalueasweanalyzethepresent/Howmeaningmanifestsitselfviatheculturemach/ineoftenlinksdirec 43/tlybackintothespecifichistoriesoftheindividualmediabeingsimulatedandtheirtraditionsofauthorshipandreception/Whatfollowsherecatalogssomeofthestrategiesthatthesemediahavefollowedinthisnewera/SIDEBAR/TheSovietManWhoFelltoEart/h/OfallthedelightfulthoughtexperimentsthattheoreticalphysicshasgivenbirthtofromErwinSchrödingerscattoRichardFeynmansBrownianratchetmyfavoriteisAlbertEinsteinstwinsparadox/Thisst 44/oryoftwobrothersexplainstherelativityofspaceandtime/Thefirstbro/thertravelsintospacewhiletheotherstaysonEarth/Thespacefarerisonafastrocketandgoesonatenyearjourney/Whenhereturnshomethoughhefindsoutthathisbrotherhasagedtwentyyearsduringhistrip/Thisseemingparadoxcanbeexplainedbecauseofthewaythattravelingcl/osetolightspeedshiftsthevantagepointfortime/Sciencefictionsqueezedthisstoryforallitwasworthwith 45/thetravelerlosingdecadesifnotcenturiessothatonhisreturnallthatthespacemanknewhadbeenconsignedtoadustypast/IlovedthisstorywhenIwasyoungerinthatway/thatcertainchildrendreamofthefreedomsandpowersofbeingorphaned/Ifiledthisspace/timeparadoxawayforyearsbecauseIneverexpectedtohavetodealwithitatleastuntilthatunlikelymomentthatweachievedclosetolightspeedtravel/Whatphysicsproposedhoweverhistor/ydeliveredint 46/hesingularformofcosmonautSergeiK/Krikalev/Krikalevhasspentmoretimeinspacethananyotherhuman803days2yearscombinedandcounting/In1991duringhislongeststintinorbitthisheroofthespaceagealsocameasclosetoexperiencingtheEinsteiniantimepa/radoxasonecanwithoutaclosetolightspeedengine/WhentheLeningradbornKrikalevleftinMay1991hewastheUSSRsbestknowncosmonautlaunchingsafelyfromaSovietbase/WhenhereturnedtoEarthten 47/monthslatertheUSSRwasnomoreLeningradhadbeenrenamedorbetterrerenamedS/aintPetersburgandwhilehelandedinthesamespotfromwhichhehadlaunchedthebasewasnolongerintheSovietUnionbutratherinthenewlyindependentstateofKazakhstan/InotherwordsKrikalevwentupaSovietandcamebackaRussian/Krikalevissomethingofamascotorperhapsbet/teryetaniconforthisbook/Heisapoweruseroftechnologywhatspacefarerisnot/andcompletelyencapsu 48/latedbythatsametechnologyforagainahumaninthefrigidvacuumofspacecannothelpbutbeso/Heactsandisseenonboththelocalandglobalscalehewasselectedtobethefirstc/osmonauttojointhecrewofaNASAspaceshuttlemission/Hehasbeenbothaparticipantinhistoryandanobserverwithaparticularlystunningvistaofit/Oneofthecentralideasofthisbookisthatinordertounderstandtheimpactoftechnologyoncultureweneedtoregularlyshiftour/percepti 49/onoffigureandground/Thatistosaythatwemustlookatthethingsthatenvelopussocompletelythattheybecomethebackgroundobjectsofourlivesandthenforceourselvestoconcentrateonthemassubjectstofigurethemoutoftheground/Accustomedtoswitchingtheground/ofEarthforthefigureoftheskyKrikalevsuniqueandtrueperceptionofourplanetcanserveasinspiration/WordsTheUnendingWonderofHypertextuality/Wearenowsodeeplyentrenchedintheerao 50/fwordprocessingthatwehaveforgottenhowrevolutionarythedevelopmentofdynamic/textwasfortheproductionofliterature/Thattheculturemachinecanreformatyourworkwhileyouaretypingitthatyoucangrabchunksofitandrearrangethemthatyoucansearchfortermsandreplacethemandthattheprocessofaddingandeditingisessentiallyoneofunfinishthesea/reallthemodesunderwhichweworksoinstantlyingrainedthatwehaveforgottenjusthownewtheyare 51//Whenyouaddinhypertextualitytheabilitytolinkandjumpfromonesectionofatexttoanotherorfromonetexttoanentirelydifferentoneyouhaveoneofthedefiningqualitiesofthe/unimodernculturemachine/Hypertextshowedthewaybymakingthelinkintegraltotheconstructionofthemeaning/Thecreationofmeaningviajuxtapositionisancientofcoursebutthemodernerasrefinementofcollageinstillimagesandthenmontageinthecinemaelevatedthestatu/sof 52/themeaningsproducedthroughtheseprocesses/Thetelevisualeraintroducedarandomnesstothejuxtapositions/IfSovietfilmmakerEisensteinsdialecticalmontagewasaboutthedeliberateproductionofeffectthroughcinematiceditingchannelzappingontelevisionwascl/osertotheexperimentalcutupfictionofBrionGysinandWilliamBurroughsinthelate1950s/GysinapainterandBurroughsanovelistcreatedtextsandthenliterallycutthemupintopiecesre 53/assemblingthefragmentsatrandomgivingupalargemeasurethoughnotbyanymeansallautho/rialcontrol/Theearliestattemptsathypertexttriedtomarrytherandomnessofthecutuptechniquetoarestricteduniverseofpotentialconnectionstherebyestablishingthetechnoliteraryequivalentofaforcedcardinmagic/Youhadchoiceasauser/readerbutyourchoicesandp/athswereoftenpredeterminedbytheauthor/TheadventoftheWorldWideWebbrokeopenthesecl 54/osedtextworldscreatingthefreedomtojumparoundwithrealrandomness/Oneoftheearliestnet/arttextpiecesunderstoodthenewenvironmentperfectlylinkingeverywordonaWebpageto/adomainthatcontainedthatwordafarmoreinventiveconceptin1996whentherewerethousandsratherthanbillionsofpagesinetherspace/Whatisnewintheworldisthattextmoreandmorebecomessomethingthatislinkedtoanythingwordsbecomethebuildingblocksofaugmentations 55/t/hewholeworlddevelopslabelslikethoseatmuseumexhibitionsandeachlabellinkstoanotheronedescribingadvertisingorcommentingonanothertextanotherimageanotherobject/Thehyperlinkingthatstartswithtextasfarbackasthe1940sexperimentsofBushandTuringbecomes/thedefaultmodeoffiguringmeaningintheworld/Whathappenswithtextmovesontosoundsthentoimagesandfinallytophysicalobjects/SoundsMixandMash/Fortheculturemachineitis 56/asthougheverythingthathappensintherealmofthevisualhappensyearsbeforefirstwithtextan/dthenwithsound/Soundischeaperandeasiertostoremanipulateanduploadthanimagesandsoithasbeenthatdigitaltechnologieshavetransformednotonlythemediathatthemusicarrivesonbutalsotheveryaestheticsandcontentofthatmusic/Theshiftfromanalogtodigitalisabo/utmuchmorethantheshiftfromvinylalbumstoCDsandthentofreefloatingfilesharing 57/Theproliferationofcheapsynthesizersandeditingsuitesenabledbydigitaltechnologiesspreadthismemetomusiciansandproducersworldwideandthemusicitselfbegantochange/Bythetime/theculturemachineeventuallysimulatedandsubsumedthesesoundgeneratingandsoundorganizingmodalitiesanentiregenerationoflistenerswerecreatingsampledremixeddigitallyprocesseddigitallyaccessedmusic/FromthenowquaintYouveGotMailAOLvoicecodergr 58/eeting/totheadventofaudibleinterfacesandgamesoundscapestothepopularityofpopsnippetsaspersonalaudioidentificationsincellphoneringtonestherehasbeenaproliferationofaudiocueswithinworkplayandmobileenvironments/Theunimodernsoundscapeowesahugedebttohiph/opculture/Theoriginsofhiphoparetobefoundintheanalogarena/Inthe1970sdiscjockeysintheBronxcutbackandforthbetweenturntableswithvinylrecordsonthemmasteringt 59/heirabilitytodropsamplesandusetheturntablesthemselvestogeneratenewsoundstheubiquitousscr/atchingofthatera/Butwithinadecadetheculturemachinestartedtoabsorbandsimulatetheseanalogtechniquesandthedigitalsamplebecamethemusicsbuildingblockandremixingbecametheaestheticstrategyofchoice/Hiphopandhightechareinextricablyboundtogetheroffer/ingasterlingexampleofthestreetfindingitsownusesfortechnology/Thenowdef 60/unctmusicfilesharingserviceNapstermakesforagoodcasestudyofsoundspioneeringmediastatus/Peoplehadbeenusingelectronicnetworkstotradeandcollectsongsandevenwholealbumslongbefo/retheadventoftheWebbutitwasonlyafteraNortheasternUniversitystudentinBostonnamedShawnFanningcreatedadecentralizedeasytousesystemfororganizingmakingavailableanddownloadingmusicthatthepeertopeerphenomenonreallytookoff/Napstermadeitm 61/uchsimplerf/ornetworkuserstolookthroughotherpeoplesdigitizedmusiclibrariesdownloadwhatinterestedthemandopentheirownlibrariessothatothersmightdothesame/Theeffectonthemusicindustrytheintellectualpropertyissuesthelegalprosecutionofdownloadersandtheimpassi/onedpositionstakenbyartistsmusicexecutivesandfanshavegeneratedmegabytesofcommentaryandthebusinesshistoryofNapsterhasbeencoveredinlegaljournalsandbe 62/enthesubjectofashelfsworthofbooks/IntheendthoughwhatNapstermanagedtodowaseffectaqualitativedi/fferenceinthewaysinwhichpeoplethoughtaboutthenetworkandtheWeb/Thenetworkwasnowopenforsharingtothewiredmassesratherthanbeinganexclusivepreserveofdedicatedhackers/Thememeofsharingregardlessoftheissuesofcopyrightbecameembeddeddeeperanddeeperin/tothehabitsofuserspreparingthewayforYouTubeandotherparticipatorys 63/ites/OneplacetoseethehiphopcollageaestheticcollidewithpostNapsterfilesharingisthephenomenonofthemashup/MashupsmeldtwoormorerecordingsintoanewentitymostfamouslydonebyDangerMous/ewhenhemashedtheBeatlesWhiteAlbumadefiningworkofthe1960srockerawithJayZsrapepicTheBlackAlbum2003tocreateTheGreyAlbum2005/TheresultwaswidelydistributedbecauseoftheWebfilesharingandtheproliferationofsoundandimageeditingtools/T 64/heabilitytodownl/oadvastarchivesofmusicwhetheraccessedlegallyormorelikelyillegallyallowedforanexplosionofmashups/ThefadforitwasafadeventuallydieddownasWebdrivenphenomenafrequentlydobutthemashupswereproofthathugeaudienceswereplayingwiththeirculturemachinesmi/xingmatchingpastingandthengettingthatunimodernmaterialoutintotheunimodernworld/ImagesWYSIWYGorWhatYouSeeIsWhatYouGet/Whathappenedintextandsoun 65/dinevitablyspreadtotherealmoftheimage/Theexplosionofculturalproductionthatmashupsreflecthasinturnt/ransformedourunderstandingofthemeaningsofwordslikeprintandpublish/Weprintmuchmorethantextthesedays/Thefirstmajorshiftcameintheeraofdesktoppublishing/Inthedigitalrealmtextandimagearejuststringsofonesandzerosindistinguishableasinformationandm/ademanifestonlybythemediuminwhichtheyareeventuallyreleased/S 66/oanimagecouldbefluidinananimationprintedonpaperasascreenencompassedinaresizablewindowwithsurroundingtextorblendedinagraphicwiththosesametypographicelementswhichcouldthemselvesbeani/matedasamotiongraphic/ThedesignerBruceMaureferstoPostScriptWorldwhenhediscussestheradicaltransformationthattheculturemachinebringstoourvisualenvironment/WiththedevelopmentofpagedescriptionlanguageslikePostScriptfromAdob 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87/thbeautyfreedombutaboveallthingsthisstoryisaboutlove/SobeginsBazLuhrmannsMoulinRouge2001whichforallitsreferencestothepastandeventoloveisthefirstgreatstudiomovieabouttwentyfirstcenturyunimodernculture/WhatLuhrmannwho/hadearlierdirectedahiphopversionofRomeoandJulietandcametoacclaimwithafilmaboutballroomdancingcreatedwasthefirstmajoropensourceoperaevenifhehadtopayforeverybitofitwithstudiomoney/Thathi 88/sfindesiecleParisisspectacularlyphonydoesnodisservicetot/helayersofsocalledoriginalmaterialhesodeftlyreworked/Firstthereistheenduringmythoftheavantgardeofartistsinthegarretswillingtodieforloveandofthemadnessofcreationandthetragedyofcommerce/TheseweretheworkingconceptforFrenchnovelistHenriMurgerwh/enhesketchedouthisScenesdelavieBohemein1846/MurgertookhistitlefromthepoorCzechimmigrantsfromtheprincip 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91/ksEastVillageintheeraofAIDS/WhatdistinguishesLuhrmannsfilmist/hewaythatitdeploysthismythfromthenineteenthcenturytoanalyzedissectandrecombinethepopularcultureofthetwentieth/Thefilmprovidestheantithesisofpurityprofferinginsteadaspectacularhodgepodgeamélangeandaremixersdelight/Luhrmannsinsightisthattheki/ndofdevotedandminutedissectionoftwentiethcenturypopularculturebydecadeandstyle1920sfashion1950smu 92/sicand1980shairwasdisappearingthroughthepassageoftimeandundertheweightoftheevergrowingarchive/Thereferencesinhisfilmmoveeffortlesslyfromplaceto/placeanddecadetodecadeParisianstreetscapesofthe1880sanArgentinetangostraightoutof1933andaBollywoodstylenumberinspiredbycontemporaryMumbai/Butmorethananythingelseitistheauralenvironmentthatismostopentothisplayfulandpowerfulremixing/AlthoughL/uhrmanncannotre 93/sistJacquesOffenbachsCanCanOrpheusintheUnderworld1876therestofthemusicisamedleyofpophitsstretchingoverdecades/Thehaunting1950sballadNatureBoymadefamousbyNatKingColeexistsinthesamesoniccollageastheBeatless1960shitAllYouNeedIsL/oveDavidBowiesdecadentDiamondDogsfromthe1970sandNirvanasgrungeanthemSmellsLikeTeenSpiritfromthe1990s/Thesetracksandmorearealldeployednotassignifiersoftheirrespectiveerasbutin 94/steadasasoundtrackofourlives/Ratherthanthekindofdetailedspecificit/iesthatwecametoassociatewitholdiesstationsversusnewwavenightsandretrogreaserpunctiliousnessabouttheoriginsofrockandrollMoulinRougetakesitscuefromKurtCobainsmostfamouslyricHerewearenowentertainus/Asopposedtosimplynumbinguswiththisflurryofref/erenceandcitationhoweverLuhrmanninfactprovokesustoanewlevelofunderstandingaboutourhistorical 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97/mentofthefilmtheyoungwriterwoosthebeautifulcourtesanwithsong/Inearlierm/usicalsthisballadmighthavebeenanewonehopingtojointhepantheonoflovesongsbuthereitisthepantheonitselfthatspringsfromhislips/TheElephantLoveMedleysonamedbecausehesingsitinthecourtesanspachydermshapedandthemedboudoircomprisesthirteenpopularlove/songsintertwinedandremixedtodrawtogetherfiguresasdiverseasSinatraandKiss/Luhrmannofcour 98/seisabletodothisbecauseFoxStudioshadthebudgettopayfortheperformancerightstoallthesesongs/Buthisverysuccessandthewaythatheproveshowthesemediaproductshavec/ometoshapeussoperfectlyalsomakesthecaseforallowingotherartistsaccesstothearchive/Whathelikewiseprovesisthatdurableandsignificantcreativeworkisbeingdoneintheunimoderneraofcutandpaste/MoulinRougeisafarmorepotentartifactofthedigitalagethananya/mount 99/ofspecialeffectswizardryinasciencefictionorfantasyfilm/ObjectsandSpacesWYMIWYMorWhatYouModelIsWhatYouManufacture/Fromwordstosoundstopicturestomovingimagesthenetworkedcomputerhastransformedtheproductionofculture/Thenextnewthingthatisinf/actalreadyhereistheprintingofobjects/ThePostscriptWorldofimage/textprintinghasbecomepartofanevenlargersystemofcomputerfabricationorfabbinginwhichwhatwasoncerestrict 100/edtotwodimensionsisextrudedinthree/WYSIWYGWhatYouSeeIsWhatYouGetisbeingfollo/wedbyaneraofwhatIcallWYMIWYMforWhatYouModelIsWhatYouManufacture/JustasWYSIWYGallowednewfreedomstographicdesignersandtwodimensionalimagemakerstheWYMIWYMeraofcomputingallowsarchitectureandindustrialdesigntoplaywithformanditerationandmakecompl/exextantformseasiertomanufactureprofitably/Inotherwordswhatthecomputerdidtotheflat 101/twodimensionalfieldsofpaintingphotographyandgraphicsisnowhappeninginthethreedimensionalrealmsofsculptureindustrialdesignandarchitectureasartistsdesignersandar/chitectsdevelopformsonthecomputerandthenfabricatethemwiththreedimensionalprinters/AnarchitectlikeGregLynncanusethreedimensionalprintingtodoeverythingfromcreatingmaquettesorsmallscalemodelsofbuildingstomakingprototypesfordesignsforalineoffla 102/twarecommissionedbytheItaliandesignmanufacturerAlessi/WhenthefabbingspecialistsatthedesigncollaborativeMachineHistoriesworkedwithartistPaeWhitetocreateacomplexbedframeforanexhibitiontheyworkedwithsolidCorianusuallyasurfacingmaterialinkitche/nsandbathrooms/Theobjecttitledwidowofakingbedframe2006wassointricatelyworkedbyMachineHistoriessuniquetoolpathsthatitfeltairierthanonewouldeverexpectaheadboardt 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125/amplelikecomicbooksorgraphicnovelsastherecentrebrandwouldhaveithavelongbeeninjustsuchasituation/Althoughthereisnoareainwhichthecomputerasculturemachinehascometosodominategamesarestillseeninmanyquadr/antsasforeveronthevergeofcrossingoverintoarealmofdeepermeaningandgreaterculturalimpact/Partofthistentativeembraceofthegamingmediumisthattheworldsthatgamescreatehavesteepentrycostsnotsomuchintermsofmone 126/yorevenaccessbutrathertemporally/Tomast/ertheskillsrequiredtoplayproficientlyenoughtoenjoygamingitselfismerelythefirstinvestmentoftime/Thenextandperhapsmostseriousintermsofthisdiscussionisthetimeneededtosimplyexplorethegamespacesufficientlytoseeitasmorethanafragment/Thiscanbetent/wentyfortyoreveneightyhoursofcommitment/Thatstrikescommittedgamersasafinevalueforthemoneyinvestedinthepurchaseofthegame 127/butthesheertimedemandedtendstodetertheuncommittedorcasualgamermuchlessthebystanderwhomightbeinterestedintheexperienceyetc/annotjustifysuchanexpenditureoftime/Inthisgamingisquitedifferentfromthecinemawherea90to150minutecommitmentisallittakestobepartoftheexperience/Onewaytounderstandthisdivergenceistorealizethatforalltheirnarrativeconventionsgamesarenotbestunder/stoodasinteractivestories/Togetafeelf 128/orwhatmattersingamingitisworthrevisitingtheirearliesthistorybeforegamingsvisualscametorivaltherealismofcinemaandtelevision/Althoughtherewasatictactoegameandatennissimulatorinthe1950sitwasreallySpacewarde/velopedbystudentsatMITin1962fortheirownamusementthatstandsastheurtextofgaming/WithtwoarmedshipsshootingateachotherwhilespiralingdownagravitywellSpacewarestablishedafewconventionsofgamingthatremain 129/powerfultoday/Theseincludeconflicttimelimits/andgraphicinteraction/ThegameitselfwasausefulwaytogaugethespeedandaccuracyoftheDigitalEquipmentCorporationsPDPminicomputersandthecompanybegantoshiplaterunitswiththegameinthecorememory/Thisensuredanevergrowinggroupofuserswhowouldgoontocreate/laterpioneeringgamesforarcadesandthegrowinghomemarketincludingPongSpaceInvadersandPacMan/Arcadesconsolescomputersa 130/ndhandheldstheseandmorewerethematerialsubstrateofgaming/Overtheyearsdesignershaveconfiguredtheirgamesforsingleplayersforafewpl/ayersarrangedaroundatelevisionorformillionsspreadoutworldwideontheNetinmassivemultiplayerconfigurations/Whathasnotchangednomatterwhattheeraorconfigurationistheimportanceandspecificsofgameplay/Thereisnoquestionthatgameshavebecomeafantastical/lysuccessfulpartoftheculturemach 131/inesimpact/Fortheirplayersthereisnodenyingthatgamingbringsalevelofenjoymentequalingsportandalevelofimmersionthatcomestorivalarchitectureitself/Thepowerofgamingtoinvolvethecommittedthenishardlyworthdiscussing/Thelongertermissueiswhetherthosegamerswillinturneffectthecultureasawholeorwhethertheludicexperiencewillberestrictedtoitsownhermeticallysealedworld/Ashapticandotherinterfacesbecomemorewidesprea 132/dinthewakeofNintendossuccesswiththeWiisystemwhet/herornotthosecasualplayersbecomemoreinvolvedwithotherformsofgameplayremainstobeseen/Twootherargumentstangentialtoplayitselfhavedominateddiscussionsaboutgaming/Thefirstistheeffectofviolenceinthegamespaceonviolenceintherealworldandthesecondis/abouttheinfluenceofgamingstwitchcultureoncognition/Thefirstisanargumentaboutcontentforthemostpartandwhileithas 133/agreatappealforparentsconcernedaboutexteriorinfluencesaswellasthepoliticianswhocatertothesevotersconcernsthisisacontentionthathold/slessandlessinterestasshootersbecomemoreandmoreaspecificgenreofgameratherthananoverarchingcategory/Theneuroscienceandcognitivesciencestudiesongamingarestillcominginandcriticsdependingontheirpreconceptionsdivideintotwocampseitherbemoaningthe/splinteringofattentionthatvi 134/deogamesbringintheirwakeorlaudingtheresponsetimeandmultitaskingskillsthatgamesengenderintheirmostavidplayers/Theseareallseriousissuesspanningtherangefromthesociologicalimpactofrepetitiveactionstotheneuralconditio/ningthatdistinguishesgamingfromothermedia/InthecontextoftheassertionsofferedintherestofthisbookhoweverIwouldsaythatthepressingissueiswhetherindividualgamesorgamesassystemscanaccreteinsuch 135/awayastocreatewhatonecouldcallludicstickiness/Onegame/thatwasindeedstickyinvolvedplayersrunningaroundahugeandunconventionalmapoftheworldworkingtogethertodeployresourcesandinnovativetechnologytomakenotjusttheirteambutratherthewholeglobeabetterplace/Morethanagenerationagothepolymathfuturistandde/signerR/BuckminsterFullerofgeodesicdomefameproposedthismultiplayerdesignscienceprocessforarrivingateconom 136/ictechnologicalandsocialinsightspertinenttohumanitysfutureenvolvement[sicasignatureFullerneologism]aboardourplanetEarth/Originallycalle/dthegreatlogisticsgameandthentheworldpeacegameitwasbestknownsimplyastheWorldGame/InspiredinpartbythewargamingthatplannersengagedintoprepareforthehotbattlefieldsofWorldWarIIandthecolderyetprotractedconflictswiththeSovietUnionthatfollowedtheW/orldGamewasarevampingof 137/thesestrategiestothinkabouthowbesttouseresourcestoensureplanetaryhappiness/OftenlaidoutontheunfoldedpolyhedronofFullersownDymaxionmapthegameusedasynergisticratherthancompetitiveplaystrategytodeterminewaystobestharness/thenaturalresourcesoftheplanet/FullersmapgivesabettersenseoftherelativesizesofthecontinentsthantheusualMercatorprojectionsandevenmoresubversivelydoesnothaveanaturalupordownthatdepriv 138/ilegespeoplesusualexpectationsofmapsandthesenseofspacethat/theyproject/Fullermaintainedthatthegoalwastomaketheworldworkfor100ofhumanityintheshortestpossibletimethroughspontaneouscooperationwithoutecologicaloffenseorthedisadvantageofanyone/TheWorldGamewasaproductofpostscarcitythinkingand1960sutopian/ismplayedwithoutbenefitofnetworksandcomputersimulationsbutitsessentialmessagethathumansworkingtogeth 139/erhavethepotentialtocraftabetterworldresonatesandmorethaneverlookslikeaprototypeforthenetworkedeffectsofsimulationandparticipation/RunningRo/omorPlaySpace/SimulationandparticipationdriveeverythingfromfiguringinformationtothefabbingofWYMIWYMobjectstheymakepossiblethemixingandmashingofopensourcesoundandimagescapesandtheyshapethewaysthatweworkaswellasthewaysthatweplay/Itismyhopetha/tthedetailedlistin 140/gofallthesemanifestationsofthecomputerasculturemachineinaggregateprovestheexistenceoftheunimodernunimediapositedatthestartofthischapter/InkeepingwiththespiritofthisprojectIhopetonotsimplyidentifyunimodernismbuttopointtowar/dwaysinwhichitsunimodernunimediamightdeepenmeaningandengagementwiththeworldartandeachother/Whatweneedtoconfrontistheexplosionofinformationthatcomputernetworksengender/Understand 141/ingthechangeswroughtbycomputerinflectedtechnologiespointtothehu/gedifferencebetweenprocessingdataanddesigningitsoutput/Thisconceptualclaritywillalsohelpustocategorizewhatkindofcultureweareactuallyconstructinginthetwentyfirstcentury/Ifwedividethelastcenturyintoearlymodernhighmodernandpostmodernstrandsrou/ghly1900–19191919–1973and1973–2001respectivelytheculturemachinesubiquityhasbraidedallthreeandmo 142/reintounimodernism/Thetwentyfirstcenturyculturemachinesmodernismsexistsimultaneouslyinaneverpresentdatabasereadytobedeployedorredeployedinthecult/uralequivalentofjustintimeproduction/Thesinglemostimportantissueistoensurethattheuniformityofsubstratethatthecomputerbringstoculturedoesnotproduceastultifyingsamenessofcontent/TodosoitisworthrevisitingKarlKraussconceptofrunningroom/Intheori/ginalGermanth 143/ewordisSpielraumtherootsbeingSpielorplayandRaumorspace/Sowhetherrunningroomorplayspacetheconceptbringswithitasenseofexplorationimaginationandengagementwiththeunexpected/Thesheerproductivecapacityofunimodernunimediacanandshouldb/eabletocarveoutthisSpielraum/Runningroomisdifferentfromthetoutedbenefitsofdiversityhoweverbecausediversityisoftenanotherwaytodescribetheofferingsinabazaar/Ifthediversitytha 144/tisbeingofferedissimplyintherealmofconsumptionitremainsjustthatconsu/mption/TheplayspaceIamdiscussingwillbelocatedwithintwentyfirstcenturycapitalismbutithastoofferthechoicenottobuyandespeciallytheoptiontomake/Thatisonereasonthattheopensourcecommunityissocrucialtothefutureofrunningroom/Freecultureasagiftexcha/ngeoffersarealchallengetotheinheritedaffordancesofmarketeconomies/Thegenerosityofonlinecom 145/munitiesservesasawaytoaccessthepowersofthealwaysalreadyavailablearchiveoftheunimodernculturemachinewithoutfallingpreytothenotionthatthemarketdefinesev/erythingandthattheimaginationmustbetiedtoitsprecepts/Wehavealreadyseenhowunimodernunimediahasexplodedaccessandcontentinourculturalarchives/Thisexpansionhasinturnleadtomoreopportunitiesforcollaborativemultiauthorship/Thiskindofunsignedmultip/lecreato 146/rshipisreminiscentoftheGreekmythsandtheGreatWallofChina/Boththemythsandthewalltookcenturiestobuildandthousandsofpeoplecontributedtotheireffort/WebuildmultipleauthorworksaswellbutnowwecallthemLinuxWikipediaFlickrdeliciousandcommunalb/ogs/Thesearetheculturalformsthatshowusafutureinwhichwecouldallpotentiallycontributetothecreationofthingsandsystemsvastlylargerthanourselves/Thishasfrequentlybeentheeff 147/ectofreligiousdevotionofcourseandthosewhohavebeentoabarnraisinghaveexperi/encedsimilarkindsofemotions/Earlierwesawhowthememesofsimulationandparticipationcompetedaswellasbuiltoneachothersimulationenabledfunctionalityandparticipationbroughtthatfunctionalitytoevermorepeople/Thiswasthepromiseofcomputingandthecultures/ithasengendereddifferradicallyfromthoseweinheritedfromahalfcenturyoftelevisionviewing 148//Thepreviousregimeofferedandcontinuestobeguileuswithaneverincreasingplentitudeofnarrativeentertainmentagainitdoesnotmatterwhetherthatentertainmentwascalled/asituationcomedythenightlynewsashoppingchannelorarealityshowitwasandisallentertainmentitcreateshabitsofmindandmodesofconsumptionthatleadtoculturaldiabetes/Thedevelopmentofevermorecomplicatedandintertwinedsystemsofdeliverythedownloadingsyndr/ome 149/canleadtoaproliferationofmeaningliteifnotoutrightmeaninglesscontent/Thatiswhyinabookthatsetouttocelebratethebestoftheculturemachineanditsproductsthereisanunderlyingfearofunexploredavenuesthatwillshutdowninthefaceofaninexorableyetbarelype/rceptiblepressuretodolessratherthanmore/Thisbookshuttlesbetweenthepastpresentandfutureandoneofthefearsitdealswithistheconcernthatnomatterwhattheywantpeoplemayendu 150/pgettingamachinethatemulatestheirtelevisionsbutwithacellphoneandcreditcardshop/pinggraftedontoit/Combinestickinessandunfinishhoweverandwhatyoucreateareeverenfoldingandexpandinginterconnectionsofhypercontexts/Thosewhowanttodonewworkwiththeculturemachinemustensurerunningroomfortheimaginationaswellasplayfulspaceformindfu/ldownloadingandmeaningfuluploading/Thisistheunimoderndreamlessgrandthanitspredec 151/essorsperhapsbutnolessworthy