n.n. Notes and Nodes by Felix Stalder

by Felix Stalder

I collect here my work which, by and large, deals with the (deep) present, at the intersection of cultural, political and technological dynamics. Much of focusses on practices of commoning, datafication, AI, , and transformation of nature, and of subjectivity .

I work as a professor at the Zurich University of the Arts , in the “art:ifical studies” major. I like to teach, I learn a lot this way. What? Here are my syllabi .

If possible, I work collaboratively, with lovely people such as Cornelia Sollfrank, !Mediengruppe Bitnik, Gordan Savičić, Vladan Joler, Ted Byfield, tante, Shusha Niederberger and others.

I’m long-time moderator of <nettime >, a crucial nexus of critical net culture, first for the email list (1998-2023), now for TLDR , its node in the fediverse. I’m a member of the World Information Institute and the Technopolitics Working Group, both based in Vienna.

More bio stuff

Contact

DM @festal@tldr.nettime.org, Signal, or email (felix AT openflows com)

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Events

events

collapse: data.models.worlds (Athens)

The exhibition collapse: data.models.worlds. addresses the intensifying state of crisis shaping the contemporary world, examining the role of technology within it. Happy to have Infrastructure of a Migratory Bird included.
more-than-human art ai
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The Probable and the Possible (Zurich)

Master's Symposium at ZHdK on critical artistic engagements with AI, featuring Hito Steyerl, Sadie Plant, Cemile Sahin and others. October 22–23, Zurich.
events

React & Respond (Zurich)

International conference on image cultures under platform capitalism, at Cabaret Voltaire Zurich. Felix Stalder on panel 'Patterns of Automation' with Ranjodh Singh Dhaliwal and Tiziana Terranova.
events

Undisciplined Intelligence (Vienna) 14/20/28.09.

Reihe von Abendveranstaltungen zu 'undisciplined intelligence', moderiert von Emma Dowling und Felix Stalder, im Rahmen von Future of Demonstrations / Hothouse, Atelier Augarten Wien.
events

Fascism, Unreason and the Paradox of Modernity (Vienna)

Book presentation and conversation with Ana Teixeira Pinto and Felix Stalder on 'Fascism, Unreason and the Paradox of Modernity' (Sternberg Press). University of Applied Arts Vienna, June 11, 6 pm.
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Körperbezogene Daten und planetares Denken (Berlin)

FIXTURES #4 – Cornelia Sollfrank & Felix Stalder im Gespräch mit Kevin Rittberger über körperbezogene Datenpraxis und planetares Denken, anlässlich des neuen Buches bei Sternberg Press.
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In the Clouds? Situating the Digital (Berlin)

Lecture series assembling multiple perspectives that situate 'the digital' in genealogies of statistics, cybernetics, material infrastructures, and activist struggles.
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25 Years "Network Society", Barcelona (online)

2021 will mark the 25th anniversary of the publication of the first volume of Manuel Castells’ Trilogy. It is time to revisit the trilogy and explore the relevance of Castells’
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Datensouveränität - jenseits des Datenschutzes

Datensouveränität wird oftmals mit Datenschutz gleichgesetzt, dabei öffnet der Begriff vielfältige Möglichkeiten den Umgang mit Daten neu zu gestalten. Besonders interessant sind Ansätze die neue Institutionen hervorbringen um kollektiv Daten zu nutzen und so eine gemeinschaftliche Form von Souveränität zu stärken.
surveillance
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Algorithms we want

Let me start with three assumptions. First, we need algorithms as part of an infrastructure that allows social complexity and dynamics to meet our real challenges. Second, many of the algorithms are made poorly. I think, in particular, of those that shape day-to-day social practices, algorithms that do what sociologists call 'social sorting' (David Lyon) or 'automatic discrimination' (Oscar H. Gandy). However, this will be the third point, these issues of poor design are only part of the problem because there is no autonomous technology, even if it is called 'intelligent' or 'self-learning'.
lecture
events

Transparency & Power

In the talk, I focussed on different types of power and how they relate to transparency. Put simply, transprancy (visibility + accountability) is great to put a check on 'institutional power', but not very helpful to regulate 'network power'. On the contrary, it helps to increase such power. The discussion, which starts after 30 min, mainly dealt with questions of regulation and what to do to counter 'network power'.
lecture
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Autorschaft ohne Urheberschaft

Meine Präsentation an der Tagung 'Kultur als Software' zu Dirk v. Gehlens neuem Buch 'Eine Neue Version ist verfügfar'.
lecture