{"id":2057,"date":"2004-09-30T18:53:50","date_gmt":"2004-09-30T16:53:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.turborebop.net\/?p=2057"},"modified":"2024-12-23T19:00:51","modified_gmt":"2024-12-23T17:00:51","slug":"spectrum-ecology-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.turborebop.net\/?p=2057","title":{"rendered":"Spectrum Ecology"},"content":{"rendered":"

[written for the occasion of ART & COMMUNICATION 2004 festival\u00a0 in Riga \/ Latvia https:\/\/rixc.lv\/04\/en\/participants\/savski.html<\/a>]<\/p>\n

Spectrum Ecology
\nLooking from below \u2013 Seeing from above<\/em><\/h3>\n

Abstract
\nIt looks like the main point of this text is methodology of finding (one or more of) the complementary \u201cviews\/ images\u201d of the same topic. The new point of view has no absolute value. It however widens the horizon (-> looking\/ seeing from above…). The complementary principle seems to be close to the holistic approach (-> much like: energy doesn’t disappear \u2013 it just changes states). I find a parallel to this system (-> Physics) in substitution and sublimation processes (-> Psychoanalysis).<\/p>\n

Main points:
\n\u2022 The very effective commodification (and codification = restriction) of\u2006 \u2006 uses of handheld wireless devices.
\n\u2022 The \u00bbgap between consumer and production uses\u00ab with the most popular mobile devices \u00bbwidens\u00ab\u2026
\n\u2022 The consumer market is centered on providing \u00bbservices\u00ab (services for the masses \u2013 also for the \u00bbniche groups\u00ab). It tries to locate and impose themself as \u00bbnecessary services\u00ab or \u00bbidentity creators\u00ab.
\n\u2022 These identities correspond to (virtual) realities, that are \u00bbhardcoded\u00ab\/ \u00bbhardwired\u00ab.
\n\u2022 The Capital(ist)\/ Provider becomes owner\/ provider\/ distributer of ideas, identities, realities – hidden behind the expression \u00bbservices\u00ab.
\n\u2022 The consumer\/ buyer is king. Of course \u2013 it’s the supermarket identity that we know from before.
\n\u2022 Spectrum Eology on the individual level becomes Mental Hygiene.<\/p>\n

Where lies the intelligence?
\nOne can easily agree with the statement that the intelligence (as the most cherished human parameter) lies within the individual. What we share in common is cluture – the abstract values constructing the world of humans into multilayered matrix of ever flowing\/ changing meanings. Without is chaos, within is culture. The culture relies on conventional reality \u2013 the more this reality is firm – the stronger the culture. The culture is another word for the system of values that we share. Primarily it is the language \u2013 the communicative element. It is the stuff that bonds us together (it may be called humanity or history or ideology or nation or poetry or family or art or football or look or voice or sound or ether or electromagnetic spectrum…). Every communication channel is a subsystem of values that provides us with a new (sub)identity – if we happen to be immersed in it. All channels can be regarded as layers of abstract\u2006 \u2006 identities. They define (parallel) worlds of realities. These are what we share. From here on we are part of something bigger (than life) \u2013 the culture. Where and what is the basic individual identity\/ reality? Something that is both without and within? When looking from below and seeing from above? Clearly it must be the smallest structural element and the broadest synthetic\/synthesizing system at the same time. Macrocosmos and microcosmos? Of course \u2013 it is the mind\/ observation point of an individual. This is what I \/ eye stands for.<\/p>\n

Mimicking the services
\nThe starting point of my approach to Spectrum Ecology is the realization of the large steps that were made by the industry\/ providers\/ technology into commodifying the use of wireless devices (mimicking the role of \u00bba service\u00ab). It happened in just a couple of years of wireless telephony boom (but not yet in the internet age\u2026). The widespread use clearly means that there are at the same time psychologic reasons (on\/ in one hand) and marketing reasons (on\/ in the other hand) for it \u2013 a well balanced situation of \u00bbdemand and supply\u00ab relation. Here is appropriate time\/ place to write my association when seeing the title Spectrum Ecology. Since it is a derivation of a (more conventional) term: (environmental) ecology, it brought to my mind another (a more conventional) derivation (for now\/ here use): Mental Hygiene, derived from the term (body) hygiene. I will use it from now on as parameter (a concept) that is complementary to Spectrum Ecology (one can easily understand that it is linked with the duo \u00bbpersonal\u00ab and \u00bbcollective\u00ab). This basically means that I make an equation: Ecology = Hygiene (which is understood) and I also link the constructs Spectrum Ecology = Mental Hygiene. As I tried to point above, the confrontation is between the (\u201cvirtual\u201d) identities\/ realities and the notion of the individual \u2013 as the one providing the \u00bbreal\u00ab reality. Of course this two oppositions are pure abstraction.<\/p>\n

Possession of the \u201cother\u201d
\nI remember being very surprised how quickly the wireless telephone set became a young girls beloved pet. As if it naturally replaced the Barbie doll in their hands. While boys liked the simple arcade games, the girls rushed into \u00bbcollecting\u00ab people. The \u00bbother\u00ab was finally at hand \u2013 easily reachable everywhere and at every time. The system of values seems to be: you are worth more – the more people call you and the more people you (can) call. One is not alone. As it often happens, the externalization (materialization\/ objectivization) of some sort had happened. But if we think in terms like action\/ reaction or substitution\/ sublimation or the complementarity of actions \u2013 something was swapped\/ replaced in the original equation. The notion\/ representation of power (in the eyes of the beholder) moved to \u00bbpossession of the other\u00ab (this power became the \u00bbI\u00ab) and the (capital\/ big) \u00bbOther\u00ab as the possessor of power was effectively hidden. One does not see the huge and well organized networks that \u00bbserve\u00ab us and fulfill our needs (->\u201dprovide\u201d for our \u201cneeds\u201d). \u201cProviding for our needs\u201d is the definition of a parental relationship, though the \u201clove\u201d (as ether, medium, communication channel,…) – or some other \u201cparental\u201d reason – was replaced by \u201c(love of) money\u201d. Love, however, remains in the equation \u2013 it just appears on the other side of equation \u2013 as a negative value.<\/p>\n

Swapping (of the immaterial bodies) of meanings
\nWhen something is externalized, something else gets internalized (-> fills in the blanks). Because it is a swap \u2013 it is normal (-> logical) that the external replaces the internal (and the opposite way \u2013 matters of State, Nation,… become very personal affairs). Such swapping is not a new thing \u2013 it is the way the abstract bodies get their real\/ material bodies (gradually, but more and more so, when they lose their symbolic meanings \u2013 a modern kind of idolatry). From mother to Mother Nature to Mother Earth, to Mother Mary to Motherland (in some national\u2006 \u2006 contexts)… Every abstraction is a complexly (associatively -> it means that the constituting elements are already complex bodies of meaning…) structured entity \u2013 therefore already an abstract (mind) body which is \u00bbfelt\u00ab but not understood (-> it is impossible to deconstruct a mind body (-> a myth) back to basic meanings\/ reasons \u2013 it is all just interpretations – stories). Our ability to make (imaginary) visualizations forces us to make it visible (to others; to communicate; to see us \u00bbin the eyes of the beholder\u00ab – to get identity). This is how the process of constructing \u00bbthe self\u00ab works. A viewer from below (-> he\/ she), who is at the same time a viewer from above is conforms to the concept of \u201csubject\u201d. It (-> he\/ she) can synthesize\/ juggle with meanings \/ tell (new) stories. This seems to brings us closer to the notion of juggler\/ creator of new (stories?) \u2013 an artist?<\/p>\n

Ethics and Aesthetics…
\nBut can one really see from below while looking from above\/ while synthesizing the realities\/ identities? Probably not \u2013 when your are \u00bbwithout\u00ab you are not \u00bbwithin\u00ab. I use the term \u00bbsee\u00ab as related to the term \u00bbunderstand\u00ab and the term \u00bblook\u00ab as a simple act of sensing\/ registering (-> aesthetics). Again, like above, we can now equate the complementary terms \u201clooking\/ sensing\u201d = \u201caesthetics\u201d and \u201cseeing\/ understanding\u201d = \u201cethics\u201d. Ethics meaning \u201ca stand\/ a position\u201d.<\/p>\n

Killing is bad, but…
\nSo, to continue: by exchanging (-> swapping) the external notion of Spectrum Ecology with the internal\/ individualized notion of Mental Hygiene, we get two complementary systems that we can compare. By inputting the same question to each of the systems we get comparison system that is broader and as such more valid. At the least it gives us the possibility of getting two different answers. Whenever they output wildly different (-> contradictory) results, it means, that the two abstract systems are not conforming (they are not mirror images viewed from two opposing observation points \u2013 the within and without, the external and internal, the collective and individual…) \u2013 though (because they are complementary) they should be. Different results (for example: A question \u201cShould we prohibit the use of cell phones because they burn our brain cells\u201d gets answers: 1.) Yes, they are damaging – it’s a serious ecological problem, 2.) No, cell phones improve my communication with other people \u2013 they make me happy;) show, that the two (complementary) concepts are well separated entities. The absolute answer (-> one answer) is lost, however.<\/p>\n

\/the example above could be understood more easily if we took some other example, for instance: Is killing good? 1.) No, one should not kill; 2.) Killing some people (the terrorists) is good; \/<\/p>\n

Here maybe a theses: Absolute power is more successful \u2013 the more such relativizations take place. It is related to the concept of fragmentation\/ atomization\u2026
\nThis is again a paradox \u2013 if we make some reduction of equation (absolute power = number of relative truths). Absolute is linked with relative (one enables the other), power with truth (\u2026). These iterations are points of hidden meanings.<\/p>\n

Atomization\/ Fragmentation of Meaning, Production of abstractions
\nThe democracy and consumerism have this law: if ruler\/ provider succeeds to mimick his\/ its role\/ identity as a service (as does the modern democratic state), then the relation of the factual\u2006 \u2006 ruler \/servant is turned around \u2013 the servant starts feeling as a ruler.\u2006 \u2006 Even more so, when the ruler (seemingly) provides service for servants basic needs (-> a parental relation). The money in the role of a mediator (medium) is an abstraction of exchange value.<\/p>\n

The (mind) abstractions (that lead to motivations) can be divided into two groups: the emotional abstractions (are in close contact with the body) \u2013 this is the world of the subconscious. These structures (of mind) are not easily deconstructed and remain as basic abstractions \u2013 though they appear very complex, since they are impenetrable for (logical) analysis. The other group are logical abstractions – they are constructed through associative linking of other abstractions (of meaning). They are part of the culture and they can be deconstructed. The inertia that makes it appear as a firm and rigid structure is in the collective nature (mind?) that they inhabit.<\/p>\n

Now we can imagine the hierarchy of these abstract bodies. The least abstract (\u2013> the most basic) abstractions are: our (physical) life, food and shelter. The higher level abstractions are: friendship, relations, love, belonging, looks, spiritual values, good times. The least abstract entities must be put out of equation (as in the social states they are), so that the more abstract \u00bbneeds\u00ab fill in the blanks. These are easily commodified\/ modified by the services providers, and have become ever changing products\/ goods for the leisure market. The fact however remains: colonization of (abstract) territories (of motivations\/ interests) took place \u2013 somebody owns the net, somebody produces our motives\/ interests and provides for the exchange of abstract goods (illusions for money).<\/p>\n

Marketing ideology of the post-industrial world
\nWhile internet proved quite a hard place to provide this exchange, the mobile phone (wireless) market never had this problem. It was incorporated into the system from the very start. But while the the computer-on-the-net can be the producing machine, the mobile phone set is just the reproducing machine. This puts the provider of content on the same side as the provider of the net. On the other side is the consumer. Same as it ever was.<\/p>\n

So, to compare with the (historic) social organizations:
\n\u2022 Slavery -> ownership of humans
\n\u2022 Feudalism -> ownership of land
\n\u2022 Capitalism -> ownership of production facilities
\n\u2022 Post-Capitalism -> ownership of information<\/p>\n

Post-Capitalism can be characterized as ownership of information (ideas, and interests, and concepts, and meanings, and motives, and lifestyles, and identities\/ (virtual) realities\/localities). Owning = providing? Seeing = Understanding.<\/p>\n

And appropriation in the Age of Post-Capitalism? When there was no land left it turned to ethereal (Spectrum) and is now happily grabbing the abstract worlds of our identities\u2026 ourselves. Hm, could it then be a feedback loop? Another aspect of Slavery?<\/p>\n

I like feedback loops. Especially those that are not simple (linear) amplifications, but rather those that are processors\/ transformers of meanings. These are generators – something new happens – relations get mixed and new forms grow. Paradoxes are the best jokes.<\/p>\n

Borut Savski<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The main point of this text is methodology of finding (one or more of) the complementary \u201cviews\/ images\u201d of the same topic. The new point of view has no absolute value. It however widens the horizon (-> looking\/ seeing from above…). The complementary principle seems to be close to the holistic approach (-> much like: energy doesn’t disappear \u2013 it just changes states). I find a parallel to this system (-> Physics) in substitution and sublimation processes (-> Psychoanalysis).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,1,28,4],"tags":[19,36,41],"class_list":["post-2057","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-turboblog","category-archive","category-concepts","category-net","tag-concepts-2","tag-discourse","tag-essays"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turborebop.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2057","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turborebop.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turborebop.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turborebop.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turborebop.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2057"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.turborebop.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2057\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2062,"href":"https:\/\/www.turborebop.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2057\/revisions\/2062"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turborebop.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2057"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turborebop.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2057"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turborebop.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2057"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}