THE MESH WE’RE IN
August 24, 2009 — Michael AdamsADVERTISING
Agencies search for ways to create consumer ‘needs’ – in some cases, aiming for a willingness to sacrifice health, or life itself, for an alluring dependency.
What chance do addicts have against subliminal campaigns?
CLOTHING
How does being an individual relate to a fashion trend for camouflage? What is the attraction of a uniform and how does it affect the wearer?
CAN ÞêRŠØñÅl
$ΤŸlê SUBVERT
INDUSTRIAL
CONFORMITY?
In ‘Inglourius Basterds’, Quentin Tarantino, chooses the scene when Jewish survivor, Shosanna Dreyfus (played by Melanie Laurent), slowly lowers her veil, before descending the stairs to enter the gathered crowd of Nazi ‘victims’ of her plot, to mark the moment she truly becomes The Avenger.
‘Shosanna’s fiery, red-tiered dress … worn for the finale brings a deadly touch of lustre (black veil, a touch of death).’
‘Clothes on Film’, UK Film Review, August 19, 2009
FISHING
See: Habitat/ Food/ Natural Resources/ Oceans/ Species
See: Industry/ Processing Plants/ Consumers
See also: Extinctions?
SOCIAL PROFILING
Don’t racial, gender and other social profiling systems constitute ‘nets’ – holding back some population groups, allowing only the already dominant to prospect in the most rewarding territories?
PREDICTIVE ENTERPRISES
Unsolicited software programs scan my apparent interests, to suggest songs, web sites and consumer products they ‘think’ I might enjoy. On the surface, they offer shortcuts to new discoveries, but they may also be set to lure me within reach of some angler’s gaff.
One of Japan’s top online computer retailers, increased page views by 67% and saw profits triple, after installing a recommendation engine based on predictive technology.
A financial institution uses predictive solutions to identify key behaviours of customers who are likely to leave the bank, so that steps can be taken to retain them.
NATIONAL ‘SECURITY’
How many human rights do ‘intelligence’ systems breach in their assignment – protecting ‘Us’ from ‘Them’?
IS NATIONALITY A ‘BORDERLINE’ DISORDER?
‘GREEN DAMS’ – A NEW GREAT WALL?
June 9, 2009 — Michael Adams
China’s authorities currently block overseas-based sites they disapprove of, such as those relating to Tibetan independence, or the Falun Gong spiritual movement, with a mesh of filters and keyword restrictions, widely known as the ‘Great Firewall’. Control over domestic servers is applied through instructions to content providers and search engines, which must self-censor to stay in business.
Computer makers in China have now been instructed to pre-install blocking software on every PC hard drive from next month, under a government push to control access to the internet. A new software – called ‘Green Dam Youth Escort’ – potentially adds a powerful new tool at the level of the individual computer. It updates a list of forbidden sites from an online database, much as network security programs automatically download the latest defences against new worms, trojans and viruses.
The related software developing companies have long-term working relationships with the Public Security Bureau and the People’s Liberation Army.
For more, see:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/08/web-blocking-software-china
My ‘Nets’ project work includes control and prevention of the flow of information by various surveillance systems – including the above. More generally, I’m intrigued with metaphors and analogies that derive from connections between all types of working nets.
‘Nets’ web-site:
