Media, Art & Representation

Yesterday was the first Wednesday of the month, which means I was supposed to be continuing my thesis series, focusing this time on the writing of the thesis proposal -- but, even after taking an extra day, I can't bring myself to write about anything other than what I saw on the streets of DC on Tuesday night. Since this is gnovis, though, I'll try to turn off my emotional gushing and say something of academic worth, by focusing on digital media and collective memory.

I'll begin with a question. The pivotal moments in American history are, in our collective memory, linked most vividly to specific images, soundbites, and quotes, which act as a common reference point for summoning forth all of the complexity of that moment - "Four score and seven years ago...," "Ask not what your country...," "One small step for man...," and so on.

So in 2008, in a hyper-mediated era, what will be the media-bites that come to define this moment, in our collective memory? How will we choose from all this stuff?  Read More »

It does seem like I'm always coming around here to tell you about things I'm really interested in, but haven't quite worked through all the implications.  Sorry about that.  It does seem like that is what blogging is for, so I hope you'll stay with me as I'm working through all these things.  Read More »

This weekend, I was lucky enough to attend a couple of great events that shared a common theme: art as a political force.

First, I’d briefly like to promote Georgetown’s Performing Art’s performance of
“…and Jesus Moonwalks the Mississippi”.  Read More »

Since 1993, almost 400 women in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, a town on the U.S./Mexico border, have been violently murdered without reason or explanation (Amnesty International). For the most part, they all fit a certain description; pretty, petite, dark haired, and extremely poor (Teresa Rodriguez 2007). There are several theories as to who is behind the killings, ranging from cults, to drug dealers, to police themselves, however the cases remain unsolved.  Read More »