This class explores, what other ways exist, to store and memorize information. From physical materials such as magnets, sound, light, or even skin, to screen based formats like pixels, YouTube videos and random images on the internet. We will examine the moment when (digital)information becomes manifested in the (material) world. What poetic potential emerges, when it becomes exposed to decay, and information begins to blur, fade, and alter. The class engages in techno-critical questions concerning memory infrastructure. Who stores our data? What systems are required to transfer information from one place to another? And what socio-political implications arise from the infrastructures in which these processes are embedded? If information is circulating endlessly between servers, is it thereby stored? We will also explore, which projects already deal (or dealt) with alternative storage techniques, in areas such as permacomputing, feminist server practices and media archeology. In order to engage with these topics, the class is accompanied by hands-on workshops, where we will work with microcontrollers, motors and sensors to speculate how these technologies can be used to write, read, and eventually store data. These workshop sessions will focus on a soft (or beginner-friendly) introduction to these technologies. The goal is to get a fundamental understanding on how they function, in order to be able to work, tinker, debug and integrate them within your work(s). First Semesters welcomed! Certificate of achievement Active attendance and participation in the class Participation in the midterm and final presentation Submission of the documentation of the work (end of lecture free period) |
