User:Pleun/rwrs/Project Outline

Tentative Title

• Internet Switching Policies: LAN
• ?

Introduction

I have a recurring interest in the network of all networks: the internet. Right after its invention, it became this free and open playing field where people could connect to share knowledge and content. It stopped being idealistic and autonomous and is now under control and used for control. That's old news, we've known this for a while now. But what are we going to do about it. There are lot's of cool initiatives to make parts of the internet free from government and business influences, but I still long for a different web.

One of the reasons to start this master was this urge to continue a part of my graduation project which was too technical for me at that time. The project was about trying to demystify the internet as a metaphysical power by showing parts of it's physical infrastructure.

Part of my research for my graduation project was creating my own local file-sharing network with a little TP-link router. I was planning on visualising the traffic on the network and using the network to store parts of information I gathered. I'd like to continue on with the network, with partly a different content and focus. The new focus will be the power play online that in my opinion uses the technological mystification of the internet to control it's users.

What are you working on now?

I am starting my self-directed research by recreating the local network and getting to know the language it responds to again. I'm planning on doing some tests with python to maybe do any kind of visualisation if that works out.

Other projects:

• PPC: Post Pop Culture

A small group of Arnhemmers is planning on making a new series of events which will be a combination of a digital art exposition and a dance party for the art scene. We're now brainstorming on what the term post pop culture would mean and how to involve that in the events. Until now i'm brainstorming and starting to do the graphic design. I'm also planning on vj'ing and maybe using it as a platform to exhibit some work.

• blablab

I'm planning on doing a collaboration on a book with four other graphic designers, but we've only just started discussing.

What do you want it to be?

I would like it to be a self-contained network, which gives the users some independence from the world wide web and makes them see that power play. Maybe play themselves. Shift power, increase power, delete power.

What would happen if you would see the internet as a religion? Would it be possible to register in de US? How would that look? Like a cloud? Like a big wired tower of hard disks, shining down its infographic light of knowledge?

How do you plan to make it?

Through a combination of learning new relevant coding languages and applying them, reading relevant books/essays about network (culture) for instance and a lot of testing. I want to try a really hands-on approach, because in the past I've learned that I tend to get stuck in reading and researching so much I start doing way to late into the process.

Literature:
Black Transparency - Metahaven
Understanding Cyberspace Cartographies - Martin Dodge
......more

Why do you want to make it?

For some reason I feel this urge to be more independent of the web, mainly because I feel big corporations and governments have more and more influence over it, till there is nothing left but a new control mechanism. Some 1948 telescreen. I guess I'm also searching for a way to be in total control of the network protocols and my own privacy within the network I use.

Who can help you and how?

For the coding parts I think Michael, Aymeric and André have lots of knowledge I could use to help me get started or figure out parts I'm not familiar with, but also talk about the protocols of the network. I would also really like to talk to Annet for example about the ways the network could be a library, a database or a documentation.

Relation to previous practice

As I described before, this really is the continuation of a side-project I tried to do before and dropped. I think in a lot of my work I am constantly trying to figure out who has what power and why. And is this justified or not? Can and/or should we escape from this?

Relation to a larger context

References