User:Lassebosch/reading writing methodologies/Annotations

Annotation 1) 'Postscript on Societies of Control'

A postscript written by Gilles Deleuze on Michel Foucaults theory on 'societies of control'. The text explores the motion from what Foucault describes as 'disciplinary societies' towards 'societies of control'. Throughout the postscript these two mentioned types of societies are discussed by comparison on several topics, Deleuze underlining the transition of one type society to another.
The disciplinary society is characterized by constant enclosure of the individual in various spaces/institutions. The individual passes from one type of enclosure to another; from 'the family, the school (“you are no longer in your family”, the barracks (“you are no longer in school”)...'. The core of this society is to concentrate; to distribute in space; to order in time, and to master 'space-time' with a potential greater than the sum of its 'components'.
Deleuze continues to describe a crisis in relation to these spaces of enclosure; the dissolving of the traditional 'family' and misfiring attempts to reform school systems, armed forces, industries etc. Replacing this expiring system are is society of control. While the society of discipline would mold individuals, the society of control modulates individuals in a continuous changing modulation.
To support this notion a number of topics are discussed shortly ex.: the rise of corporations imposing modulations of each salary, creating internal competitions; the change in usage from machines in simple shapes to complex machines (computers). Others are mentioned as well. Collected this produces the 'man of control', surfing in a continuous network in orbit and circulation, constantly under a data-based surveillance.

Annotation 2) 'Future Map'

An essay undertaking a longer introduction of the influence of cybernetics in society. The author, Brian Holmes, describes Norbert Wieners research during WWII on the 'aircraft predictor', an anti-aircraft system (AA) that would 1) record an evasive maneuvering enemy aircraft, 2) calculate probabilities of future course based on previous behavior and 3) correct firing trough a servo-mechanism all in a continuous loop.
It is nessecary to assimilate the different parts (AA-gun (machine), gunner (human), aircraft (machine), pilot (human)) in one cybernetic system, which in both cases - aircraft-prespective/AA-perspective - operators seemed to regulate their conduct by observing patterns of the (enemy) and seeking to oppose these 'errors' tending to reduce them. Holmes uses Peter Galisons expression; “the ontology of the enemy” to describe this game of prediction. The ontology of the enemy becomes a central reference in the essay.
Predictive algorithms are applied in multiple modes: from military to marketing, and Holmes stresses the growing reliance on data to predict future scenarios. By example the term 'FutureMAP' refers to the joint military and financial-market project; a precise and yet insane readjustment of what Foucault called “the system of correlation between juridico-legal mechanisms, disciplinary mechanisms, and mechanisms of security.”
The groups goal was to map and predict the potential future for several middle-eastern countries offering precise insight into the dynamics of surveillance under cybernetic capitalism. It is not a police program, but a market instituted in such a way as to precisely condition the free behavior of its participants. It produces information while turning human actors into functional relays, or indeed, into servomechanisms; and it “consumes freedom” for a purpose.
It is the seeding of the human mind by precise yet dubious calculations and the continuous attempt to predict the minds next move (the ontology of the enemy), offering a profitable future solution, that Holmes critically arrests the cybernetic society for.

Annotation 3) 'Free Culture', Chapter 10: Property, Lawrence Lessig

How big media uses technology and the law to lock down culture and control creativity

In Chapter 10 of the book 'Free Culture' Lessig discusses the topic of 'property', 'copyright' and 'creative property'. In broad strokes Lessig elaborates on the history of copyright law, established in the USA in 1790. He emphasizes exponentially growing revisions and expansions the law (ref. Law) has undergone especially since 1975, and also how this is closely linked with changes in technology (ref. Architecture) and the emergence of massive media corporations and associations (ref. Market).

Lessig identifies four interconnecting fields that regulates or 'controls' a 'media behavior'. See attached model. These fields are currently morphing, escalating with the implementation of the internet. This is described as an expansion of the field 'Architecture' (Focauldian inspiration)  ; here meaning the normalization in use of information-technology and with a constant expanding infrastructure.



In an attempt uphold the traditional, pre-internet balance, counteracting regulations are being implemented. Lessig covers the changes in the perspective of 'Law', 'Law and Architecture' and 'Market'.

Within 'Law' he takes on two sides; 1) Duration: In 1790 the first american copyright-law was enacted. The copyright would apply items for fourteen years after which the item would pass into public domain or, if the original author was still alive, there was a possibility to renew the right for another fourteen years. Most of the works by that time would fail in being renewed, but gradually over the years this would change, resulting in a normal copyright period of 95 years (p.135)

2) Scope: In 1790 the copyright-law only covered “maps, charts and books”. The initial intention of the copyright-law was to protect publishers right to publish copyrighted work. Centrally the law did not extend to the term “derivative works”. In current times the law applies every shape of work; music or doodles and further the right gives the owner control over derivative works as well. Copyright does not require registration, but is now automatic.

Addressing 'Law and Architecture' Lessig also covers two sides (here described as one):

1) Reach and force: In the digital domain copies is a vague term, since every a file is accessed a copy is created. The copyright-owner is of this reason able to exercise a degree of control over the user. Ex users not being able to resell their bought MP3's or Ebook-licenses stating how many times you are allowed and able to read trough the book. Also the importance and emergence of the omnipresent computer code is here discussed as a way of controlling behavior (Focauldian inspiration)

The last field is 'Market'. Here the notion of 'concentration' is discussed. In this context concentration means the concentrated ownership of media around few gigantic companies (more than 85%). This results in a streamlined profile of the media network, where there is no space for messages not conveying a consistent message. Lessig concludes upon this topic: “Never in our history have fewer had a legal right to control more of the development of our culture than now.”

Rounding up Lessig discusses the dangers embedded in these noted structural changes. He acknowledges regulations in copying for commercial means, but stresses that free culture is a casualty in the war on piracy. By locking up and criminalizing every act of inspiration or 'fair use' the incitement to create and transform will be very weakened.