The
[Sin]thetic©
Technology as
religion
AR 487 Special
Topics Studio
Bryan Cantley and
Cameron Crockett
F05
Contemporary culture
today is in a wonderful state of spiritual flux, and technological
advancements. Much of what we have known as tradition, ceremony and ritual are
now missing as part of our cultural identity. These traditions are historically
the bases of what was created to explain the unexplainable, to give a
preventative method to some hazard, to give the believer the effect of
controlling his/her surroundings, to provide a “pathway”/connection to the
afterlife, or to provide an inner “peace” within the system. Technology or
spiritual connectivity becomes an indicator of social status polarizing the have or have-nots, the priests and minions. The saints and the
sinners…
We are really
referencing media forms heavily. We should reinforce their value.
The question being
addressed in this assignment is a simple one. How would we “be” different if
our deity was technology? It is our in interest that by examining this
possibility we can find parallels in today’s society that do in fact elevate
technology to a god-like status, if not the entire religion. Consider the
importance of technology in defining what we are and how we express ourselves
today. Throw away your iPod, trash your cell phones and pagers, flush your
blackberries, dance on your laptops. The disparity between the have and
have-nots of these technologies is immense at the global level. Technology has
created this new connectivity that changes relationships between people, places
and even “machines” themselves. The Cyborg is the classic example- an organic
body that has been augmented via technology to improve health, performance, or
longevity. Such is the spirit of this studio.
Historically our
science fiction has been precursor to many of the technologies that we absorb
as ubiquitous, today contemporary media forms are begging the question about
the spirituality of technology. Movies like the Matrix, Star Gate, Hellboy and
many others address these topics specifically. What happens when we become
dependent on the machine and technology [or at least recognize it]? Do we loose
spirituality or gain it? Are we creator or created in relation to technology?
To understand this
phenomenon we ask that you create your own religious metaphor that represents
your thoughts on the spirituality of technology. We believe it is a possible
argument to equate techno-spirituality with agnosticism (we can truly know
about spirituality), atheistic (somebody who does not believe in God or deity)
or a Neo Luddite or phobic approach. Within the scope of this assignment and
the topics addressed throughout the semester we would like to limit the scope
of what we discuss to the positive assumption that “technology is the deity” . We are projecting possible changes in what contemporary
culture calls religion. Please select one general category to explore and
select a specific spiritual model to represent your thoughts. It may or may not
be your own personal belief system. Do not see this as an affront to what you
believe, simply explore the possibilities of what is possible. For whatever
spiritual model you select please research it fully. Be prepared to discuss
your spiritual model by bringing in books, articles, bibles, Torah,
paraphernalia or whatever represents these thoughts.
We ask you to select
one of the following metaphors as your opinion of to what represents your
techno-deity model best.
Singularity.
Holistic connectivity similar to that of
the Star Trek Borg. This is the “there is no individual, we are all one”
mentality. This is a know identity [as opposed to the Gaia below]. Question: What
do we become when we become One?
Gaia
All
are one. I.e. “the force”. Connectivity without common knowledge base. Separate
but connected. Used primarily in representations of nature as a connecting
element.
Polytheistic.
Many
gods, Greek myths would be one example as would many of the Native American
cultures. Here the individual god usually represents a specific unexplainable
phenomena [i.e. the God of Rain, the Goddess of the Full Harvest, etc…].
Monotheistic
exoteric.
An
externalized, singular God. Christianity, Jewish, Muslim, represent this type.
The majority of belief systems in the world today use this model.
Monotheistic
isoteric.
An
internalized god. God is within. Buddhism would be one example of this type of
belief system.
After selecting your
spiritual model please answer to following questions directly. Give this some
thought as you will be developing these idea’s further throughout the semester.
Address each of these questions in at least a few paragraphs, compose the paper
as a sort of “manifesto”, and have them printed for review/discussion for
Thursday, Sept. 8. Remember, the
idea is “I think/believe that techno-spiritualism is like ___________ as a
spiritual model”
Questions:
1] In your spiritual model, if one can do so,
how does one achieve immortality?
2] How do you commit a technological sin?
What is the “good/bad” condition? Is there a Code of Ethics/Commandments etc
[if so list several].
3] How do you worship? Why do you worship?
4] What does your techno-spiritualism explain
that you do not understand?
5] How is love or hate exhibited?
6] What happens when you die/terminate? Do you
become one with the system? The many? The collective virtual concousness? Do
you return to the physical realm? Nothing at all?
7] What is the role of virus, crashes, system
conflicts, etc. within the techno-spritualism [see #2- is this part of the ethic
code, or something that is part of “natural system failure” see Art of the
Accident]?
8] How is spiritual hierarchy defined? By
Megahertz? Connectivity? Technological features? RAM? CPU speed? Horsepower? Power accessibility/consumption?
Torque? Consider others not mentioned here.
9] If conventional religions often define
“heaven and hell” [or terminus points] in terms of UP and DOWN, how does a
technology based system locate its extremities? Does it become a SIDEWAYS or
OVERLAP system of reference? Is it a non special reference based more on
dimensions?
Totem
I've got
twelve disciples and a Buddha smile
Garden of
Allah, Viking Valhalla
A miracle
once in a while
I've got
a pantheon of animals in a pagan soul
Vishnu
and Gaia, Aztec and Maya
Dance
around my totem pole
Totem
pole...
I believe
in what I see
I believe
in what I hear
I believe
that what I'm feeling
Changes
how the world appears
Angels
and demons dancing in my head
Lunatics
and monsters underneath my bed
Media
messiahs preying on my fears
Pop
culture prophets playing in my ears
I've got
celestial mechanics
To
synchronize my stars
Seasonal
migrations, daily variations
World of
the unlikely and bizarre
I've got
idols and icons, unspoken holy vows
Thoughts
to keep well-hidden
Sacred
and forbidden
Free to
browse among the holy cows
Rush
Test for
Echo
1996