PoPoMo

A couple of post-postmodernism reading suggestions:

For those interested in the figure of the cyborg, Anthony Vidler's 'Homes for Cyborgs' in 'Architectural Uncanny: Essays in the Modern Unhomely' connects Haraway's manifesto and its project of boundary transgression with our earlier consideration in the course around the materiality and experience of postmodern spaces and architectures.

For a controversial episode in the life of postmodernism, have a look at the Sokal Affair. Physicist Alan Sokal, submitted a paper entitled 'Transgressing the Boundaries -- Toward a Transformative Hermeneutics of Quantum Gravity', to the journal 'Social Text' (link below) which he revealed to be hoax in a simultaneously published article in the journal 'Lingua Franca' (link below). He argued that this experiement--writing a parody of a cultural studies/postmodern paper through a pastiche of absurd pseudo-scientific jargon and liberal ideology--exposed the lack of academic rigour and nonsense central to postmodern theory.

His Lingua Franca paper, "A Physicist Experiments with Cultural Studies," begins by stating:

"For some years I've been troubled by an apparent decline in the standards of intellectual rigor in certain precincts of the American academic humanities. But I'm a mere physicist: if I find myself unable to make head or tail of jouissance and différance, perhaps that just reflects my own inadequacy.

So, to test the prevailing intellectual standards, I decided to try a modest (though admittedly uncontrolled) experiment: Would a leading North American journal of cultural studies -- whose editorial collective includes such luminaries as Fredric Jameson and Andrew Ross -- publish an article liberally salted with nonsense if (a) it sounded good and (b) it flattered the editors' ideological preconceptions?"

While widely received as a succeccful hoax that undermined the credibility of PoMo, I wonder, is there an irony operating here, that allows us to read this whole affair as distincly postmodern? A simulacra that helps install and diffuse indeterminacy within the global media event?

Could you speak exclusively in quotations?

We joke about speaking in quotation marks, of texts being tissues of quotations, of our subjectivities being constituted through pastiche and ironic appropriation. But imagine spending all day every day speaking only in quotations...as art.

Danielle Freakley will be performing at the Emerging Writers' Festival this weekend. This article (quoted in full from http://www.theprogram.net.au) explains the scope of this postmodern extravaganza...

The Quote Generator by Danielle Freakley [Image courtesy of teh artist & Gertrude Contemporary Art Spaces]

The Quote Generator :: Danielle Freakley
VIC | On Until 21.10.2007

Could you spend a year and a half assimilating stolen quotes into each and every social conversation you have?

That's exactly how Melbourne based artist Danielle Freakley intends to spend the foreseeable future. On October 23rd Danielle launched her three-year, three-phased performance project: Quote Generator. Armed with the goal of challenging myths of authorship, originality and ownership over language, Danielle will spend the next year and a half in the thick of phase one.

Phase One of the Quote Generator project will involve the artist speaking strictly in referenced quotation in everyday life. Whether she be buying groceries, going to the movies, eating at a restaurant with friends, or undertaking any of the countless activities one engages on a daily basis, Danielle will structure all of her conversations using popular quotations.

Wondering how she'll be able to pull it off? Well, it won't be easy. Danielle will read the quotes aloud in her ordinary, unaffected speaking voice. Then the reference of the quote will be whispered after the quote is spoken. The quotes used must respond to a specific context and she will be unaided apart from a contraption known as the quote harness. Essentially the quote harness is a jacket that contains foldout pockets with printed booklets of quotes, systematised in order of conversation.

You can keep track of Danielle's progress at: www.gertrude.org.au

Posthumanism

Are we Posthuman?

Chris Jordan, "Circuit Boards" 2004
www.chrisjordan.com/

Women Now Empowered By Everything A Woman Does

In Anticipation of Post/Feminism

Before we get down to the serious study of post/feminism and the work of Kathy Acker, here's an opportunity to take sides on a burning issue of the day.

No, we're not asking you to sign the petition to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to Free Paris Hilton.

Later this week the avant garde of Australian television, Channel 10, is screening the final episode of Pussy Cat Dolls Present: The Search for a New Doll. The latest in a series of American reality television programs to search for the stars, the show has generated no small measure of controversy.



The question is: do you agree with the founder of this "new Burlesque" pop sensation, that the reality TV show is or at least can be "inspiring to women"? Or are the opinions aired in Saturday's Age closer to your own?

Postcolonialism, Shame and Salman Rushdie

Salman Rushdie: Multi-award winning writer of postcolonial historiographic metafiction, celebrated humanist, voice of a subcontinental diaspora, Islamaphobe?


Have your say on the writer, the novel, or the myriad of ideas raised by this week's guest lecturer Dougal McNeill.

Post-Politics

Are you political? What does it mean to be political any more?

And can we even separate the political sphere from other areas of life?

Has image politics replaced other forms of political engagement?

"Oz in 30 Seconds" is an initiative by the action group GetUp!, calling for people to "create, rate and air television ads that promote a better, fairer, more progressive Australia." The 30-second political adverts you create will be aired on prime time television.

But what will they look like?

Will they be earnest attempts to express political views? Or ironic, parodic works of humour like The Chaser?

So many questions.