Hurrah for SCIENCE! And bollocks to marketing.

[winneganfake]

I like this, yet it pisses me off so much at the same time...




Why, exactly does it piss me off? Simple. Scroll down to the bottom of the article: "The Telectroscope will be on display and open to the public 24 hours a day in London and New York until June 15."  That's precisely what's wrong with it. Nothing cool seems to be built to last any longer. Or, even if it is, it's completely overwhelmed with our wonderful culture of fucked-up commercialization: "Act NOW! SEE the amazing marvel before it's gone!"

Gah.

See, stuff like the Telectroscope qualifies in my mind as some kind of modern, everyday miracle. Like the permanent exhibits and architecture pieces from the World's Fairs. As such, it should be considered part artwork, part public works. It's something that should be permanently set-up- an everyday miracle of seeing instantly to the opposite side of the world, rather than a special event only. Permanent wonder. Making the magical everyday. Isn't that what art, science, and technology are supposed to do to some degree? And if not, then why the fuck not?


 And yes, most of this thought was brought on by the simple idea of a two old friends, being able to sit down on park benches on opposite sides of the Atlantic, and enjoy something as simple as a cup of coffee together. An everyday miracle. Yes, I realize this could be accomplished just as simply with two laptops and a couple of skype accounts, but it's more the fact that this comes in the guise of a wonder, rather than modern technology. Making something everyday, rather than taking something this unique, and making it not just everyday, but downright banal.

OK, I've gone into nonsensical ranting here. Time to just stop typing and hit the "post" button.

Comments

[kindofstrange.livejournal.com]

Gaaaah.

Yeah, that's really the sort of thing I'd love to see as an ongoing exhibit. Probably an issue of funding and the like, which is a shame, as it could generate a lot of business to nearby shops.

[winneganfake.livejournal.com]

That's what gets me though- what's to fund? Power to keep it running and rental space, and maybe a cleaning crew. It'd sure be a lot less than what's spent on oh, say the WTC monument to keep that thing lit. The two cities should be more than able to finance those kinds of things.

Off-topic...

[winneganfake.livejournal.com]

Oh, by the way, around when were you going to be dropping by with stuff tonight?

[q99.livejournal.com]

That's pretty cool. Likewise, I think it should be permanent- it can't have been too easy to make (bandwidth cost maybe?), and unless the operating cost is high it's too cool not not keep around.