Re: <nettime> Armin Medosch (1962-2017)

[rebe <tabesin@gmail.com>]

I am not eloquent at writing obituaries because they always seem 
inadequate to me but what you outlined seems familiar. It was fantastic 
to get Armin to speak at our OpentechSummit '15. For me he represented 
an age of digital reconnaissance, and his presence pointed at the 
"Leerstelle" that you describe. He was quite positive about past visions 
and expressed the view developments came too early.

https://voicerepublic.com/talks/the-rise-of-the-network-commons

Listening to the talk again is somehow uplifting.

The Kim Foale's paper echoes the sentiment that future turned out other 
then predicted. Today I found it insightful to read Erik Möller's intro 
of "Die heimliche Medienrevolution" (2004) again and the past optimism 
he expressed. Where did the progressive techno-libertarianism of the web 
go? I also have the paper edition of Telepolis 0 in my bookshelf. Today 
the magazine blinks to the right, at times in a refreshing manner:
https://www.heise.de/tp/features/Kostueme-und-kulturelle-Aneignung-3635366.html 

However, I miss the traditional focus on digital matters and rarely read 
it anymore.

In the period you describe there was a spirit of vanguard in the literal 
meaning, a pretty good track record in predictions what would be the 
next big thing and always a safe bet against the old bulls, ignorant 
contemporaries and philisters, their lawyers, officials and objections 
against innovation. A belief that you can take technology in your hands 
and make great social change when parameters are set right, or at least 
you keep the unaware from shooting in the cradle, so progress could unfold.

The poisonous machines of noise and self-amplification create a new 
offspring of alt-right and ctrl-left hate and boredom, avalanches of 
irrelevance and ridicule, and change you don't want to believe in.

Would we ever get the network commons garden Armin described and what 
make-do-visions would inspire a new generation?

--- André

On 28.02.2017 12:14, Christiane Schulzki Haddouti wrote:

> When Armin had to leave Telepolis in 2002 an era ended. In my personal
> review the decline started with 9/11 and the sudden loss of interest
> in our traditional topics – and the rise of a speculative sort of
> journalism at Telepolis.

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