Aside from the example connection, there were two additional connections between the texts that stood out for me, which center around living in a “post-truth” age and the responsibility of presenting smart alternatives for how to move forward. Unfortunate as it is, it seems as we are now living in a “post-truth” age, which by definition is a time when “objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” That being said, I feel that both readings do a good job of trying to present information in a progressive way in an attempt to make said information more engaging and digestible to a wide audience. In Disobedient Electronics, the various artists present works that are able to provide alternative ways of arguing current issues which allow the audience/viewers to receive information in a more effective manner than they may be accustomed to. In Networks of New York, Ingrind Burrington does a wonderful job of doing this as well by providing a simple guide (set up almost like a scavenger hunt) to help individuals become aware of the vast networks that surround each and every one of us. By gamifying this issue, Ingrid is able to create a population that is more informed about the technology that we all use, which helps to prevent the superstructure, that is the network providers, from establishing total control over everyone else (and our data).
Additionally, each reading is succesful in addressing and being critical of important issues while also presenting smart alternatives on how everyone can move forward. I feel that this connection is closely tied to the first but also has its own merits. In Disobedient Electronics, the works (especially Abortion Drone and 79% Work Clock) do an incredible job of presenting a solution to an issue while also being critical of it. I think these works are successful in this capacity because the solution always presents a positive outcome. Other works in Disobedient Electronics that I think do this well include: A Piece of the Pie Chart, Improvised Empathetic Device, and the Backslash.cc devices. Networks of New York also presents a positive way to move forward because of its innocent approach to network discovery. There is something very calming about the way Ingrid intends to help others understand the components, markers, and locations of the networked devices that surround us. While the back story she gives on all the companies sometimes illuminates a pessimistic situation it also provides a way for each individual to understand the history of the network and how it evolves, which presents a way for us to be aware of how it will shift in the future so we can be prepared for whatever chimeric transformations may lie ahead.
I do believe that the example connections are worth commenting on as well. “Unearthing” network infrastructure presents a way to protest because it is an attempt to make more individuals aware of what is “hidden” in plain sight. It protests that this concealed technology is only available for a select few; everybody uses the network so everybody has the right to know where the network is and how it functions. On the other hand the Disobedient Electronics projects “unearth” issues by presenting a different perspective on them, by using various technology to literally bring these issues to the sky in the case of the Abortion Drone and the Bit Rocket. Many of the other D.E. projects bring their relevant issues into an arena that is more accessible to a large group of people so that a larger conversation may be had and participants in those conversations now have access to information that may have been previously closeted.
Of all the pieces in Disobedient Electronics the one work that stood out to me as the “most disobedient” was the Abortion Drone. This collaborative campaign has performed a couple of delivery flights and has received an array of media coverage. From the Telegraph to Refinery29, Reuters and even Gizmodo, this act of defiance, referenced by some as a stunt, seemed to be on everybody’s radar. I believe that the intention of this piece is spot on and is attempting to tackle an issue that has plagued women for decades, maybe even centuries. Unfortunately, the ability for women to have control over their bodies is a topic around the world and there are too many countries that still have rules that prevent and even punish the act of abortion (even in cases of rape). The groups involved with the Abortion Drone seemed to have positioned themselves perfectly around drone controversy in general. As drones are becoming more and more prevalent the questions of surveillance and privacy are being pushed to the foreground. Using this platform to “counter the lies of anti-choice groups” helps leverage the publicity of drones to initiate a conversation and promote the ideals of those that are truly affected by the outdated abortion laws. I feel that this piece serves as a wonderful example of how to use emerging technology as a platform to initiate a conversation about (and protest) issues that artists feel are important to discuss in our society.
As far as how the piece was received, I feel there are two groups that must be addressed: the government and the public. The inclusion of police seizure of the drone in Disobedient Electronics obviously shows that this was something that they felt they needed to deal with. The initial campaign took place in 2015 in Poland and from a governmental standpoint it seemed to have been an event they wanted to suppress quickly. However, as this project gained momentum they had another campaign in 2016 in Northern Ireland and the police presence at this event was more intent on protecting the participants and taking a position of inaction with respect to confiscation of the drone or medication. I believe that this change in police response demonstrates that this piece is effective in presenting a way to more forward around the issue of abortion.
Turning my attention to the response of the public I feel that it has been similar the historical response around this issue. This is an unfortunate issue wherein there is the existence of two sides: one of which includes the women that this issue actually affects and the other includes older male individuals who think they have the (god-given) right to decide the fate of these women. Fortunately the majority of the response covered in the media surrounds the former group and it seems that there is overwhelming support for this project and what it is accomplishing thus far.
Networks of New York As Art
While Ingrid Burrington includes some sketches in Networks of New York, I feel that her writing is where the artistic component of this reading truly lies. Granted the curation of the logos, streetmarkings, and object sketches could be seen as an art form in and of itself. That being said, she has an uncanny ability to put the reader in her footsteps as she “walks” around New York aware of these networked objects.
Networks of New York As Protest
The action of protest that Ingrid presents in this work lies in her suggestion to her readers to wake up, to become aware of the enumerable networked objects that surround us. A vast majority of the population take this technology for granted and that is the exact mindset that individuals in power want so that they can be in a position of advantage. By becoming aware of this technology, where it “lives” and how it works we can begin to poke our heads through the clouds and see what is really going on with how we are connected and how are data moves.
Disobedient Electronics As Art
Disobedient Electronics present a wide spectrum of works, each of which can be considered art in their own ways. This is the type of art that I’m interested in creating in my practice. Art that incorporates the capabilities of technology (whether that be robotic arms or drones) into a concept that has artistic or cultural context. Each of these works presents a device in a unique and beautiful form, a form that is captivating enough to spark a bigger conversation in its viewers. The majority of the works also present a critical perspective of an issue along with a way to move forward; a quality that is found in the most successful art pieces.
Disobedient Electronics As Protest
The arc of protest throughout the works in Disobedient Electronics is obvious. In my opinion, they all protest some sort of established idea, norm, or side of an issue. Some of the pieces, like Abortion Drone, art part of a larger movement and provide the media coverage necessary to get the actions of protest moving in the right direction. Other pieces, like 79% Work Clock, are more passive in their methods of protest. In the clock example it served as a daily reminder for people in an office about an inequality that has prevailed in the workplace for far too long.