Ryan Cherewaty | Piet Zwart Institute Rotterdam (original) (raw)
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Papers by Ryan Cherewaty
Reality is coded by magic – the central principle of magic is the control of matter through the u... more Reality is coded by magic – the central principle of magic is the control of matter through the use of symbols
which animate objects and give them agency. A spell is cast through declarations, statements (by using
codes) and then by making novel conceptual connections between discrete objects. In the formation of this
relationship, a network is created that delineates significance and agency. Through the codification of
symbols, significance is conferred onto objects, places, spaces, experiences and interactions. Magical
thinking is a communication medium. Rites and rituals formalise these actions into repeatable processes
that become culture. A magic spell is homologous to the computer program, coding the world in its digital
form. Magic is rooted in the ancient traditions of animism, a worldview that insists human consciousness is
inextricably interwoven with the natural world. The existence of magic is intangible. Its meanings float with a
fluidity and indeterminacy analogous to the networked world of contemporary culture.
As human culture on this planet appears to be reaching a critical historical point, there exists ... more As human culture on this planet appears to be reaching a critical historical point, there exists a possibility to change the terms of our engagement with the cosmos in which we inhabit. Computer scientists have long theorised that we are approaching a technological singularity, whereby a machine intelligence will introduce a paradigm shift of unparalleled proportions into human existence. This type of thinking is rife with a fatalism that seems to preclude any sort of intervention in this destiny. It is easier to imagine the end of time than it is to solve the crisis of our time.
Given the current state of networked existence, artists, theorists and media producers are faced ... more Given the current state of networked existence, artists, theorists and media producers are faced with the challenge of quantifying meaning within these systems. To shed light on the ramifications of the hidden stack of processes that influence planetary life while traditional forms of politics, biology, and economics are breaking down along with the frameworks of spatiality and legality. Attempts have been made in this regard, and the following paper seeks to critique and link these ideas in a cohesive form that offers an idea of moving forward with work that aids in deciphering the times we live in.
Reality is coded by magic – the central principle of magic is the control of matter through the u... more Reality is coded by magic – the central principle of magic is the control of matter through the use of symbols
which animate objects and give them agency. A spell is cast through declarations, statements (by using
codes) and then by making novel conceptual connections between discrete objects. In the formation of this
relationship, a network is created that delineates significance and agency. Through the codification of
symbols, significance is conferred onto objects, places, spaces, experiences and interactions. Magical
thinking is a communication medium. Rites and rituals formalise these actions into repeatable processes
that become culture. A magic spell is homologous to the computer program, coding the world in its digital
form. Magic is rooted in the ancient traditions of animism, a worldview that insists human consciousness is
inextricably interwoven with the natural world. The existence of magic is intangible. Its meanings float with a
fluidity and indeterminacy analogous to the networked world of contemporary culture.
As human culture on this planet appears to be reaching a critical historical point, there exists ... more As human culture on this planet appears to be reaching a critical historical point, there exists a possibility to change the terms of our engagement with the cosmos in which we inhabit. Computer scientists have long theorised that we are approaching a technological singularity, whereby a machine intelligence will introduce a paradigm shift of unparalleled proportions into human existence. This type of thinking is rife with a fatalism that seems to preclude any sort of intervention in this destiny. It is easier to imagine the end of time than it is to solve the crisis of our time.
Given the current state of networked existence, artists, theorists and media producers are faced ... more Given the current state of networked existence, artists, theorists and media producers are faced with the challenge of quantifying meaning within these systems. To shed light on the ramifications of the hidden stack of processes that influence planetary life while traditional forms of politics, biology, and economics are breaking down along with the frameworks of spatiality and legality. Attempts have been made in this regard, and the following paper seeks to critique and link these ideas in a cohesive form that offers an idea of moving forward with work that aids in deciphering the times we live in.