"Why, Mr. Anderson? Why do you persist?" [WaDI - 21.08.2019]
Hello everyone! How are you all doing? Over here the hype is real and there is so much work to do. So, let’s get started.
I think it’s obvious right now but in case you missed it, I love everything about Matrix and I’m a real fanboy. It also sits at an important place for me because of personal reasons.
Think about it: you’re still a kid living in Turkey (and not somewhere like İstanbul), you like science fiction but because there is not much translation happening you still don’t know anything about cyberpunk, books you’ve read are usually the classic stuff, tech around you is still way behind… and boom! You watch Matrix and basically your whole world changes.
I’m not exaggerating but Matrix practically influenced me in many ways. Helped me discover cyberpunk, gave me a different perspective about technology and science fiction and most of the stuff I’ve read and watched are basically built upon that. I’m not 100% sure but I might even started reading Baudrillard —and postmodernist philosophy— because that scene carved “Simulacra and Simulation” in my mind.
So, when I heard that Lana Wachowski is coming back with another story it was impossible for me to keep calm. Sure, I’ll probably be more critical about it when it came out but I’m also sure that I’m going to love that. Just like I still love all three movies and Animatrix.
And yes, you read that right. I love all three of them and watched them maybe dozen times.
From the Blog
I enjoy giving speeches but preparing for them or writing a draft always too hard for me. I don’t know why but shaping that talk beforehand always feels impossible. Maybe it’s because I think there is so much I have to say but can’t decide which ones to put. That’s why usually half of my speaking notes won’t make into the speech itself. When I start talking, that elimination process happens naturally and usually the speech comes out just fine.
Why I’m telling you this is that I’m going to speak at IFLA’s World Library and Information Congress 2019. Which is happening in Athens and I wanted to be there but because of the plans and works already set, I’ll be talking at the panel through videoconference.
The session I’ll be talking is titled “Twenty Years of the IFLA Intellectual Freedom Statement: Constancy and Change”. I’ll be talking about the level of the threats on freedom of information in Turkey and how libraries and librarians can play a role to defend this freedom. It’s on this Sunday 25 August from 13:45 – 15:45 GMT+3. There will be livestream and video after that and if you want to listen me and other really important speakers, you can find more details here.
WaDI Filter
Speaking of dystopian cyberpunk stories, protestors in Hong Kong leaving their RFID ID cards to volunteer protectors so they can block the signal. I think Faraday Cage wallets and bags will become a necessity soon.
Social media is nothing but bunch of corporate or state sponsored accounts fighting to silence everyone else. Maybe we should just leave it altogether and let them have it to themselves.
This story on the history of the Black Panther Party newspaper is a perfect reminder of the power of the alternative media.
OK, I’m done for this week. I should go back finishing the speech notes and start working on the other things I should before the deadlines hit. After this rush, I’ll need to catch my breath but if you have a chance, do it now.
That’s why I’m more leaning to the calmer side of my playlists and albums. Like Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s Luciferian Towers. Or any other GY!BE album.
Talk to you next week!
Who Writes This? Ahmet A. Sabancı (that's me), writer, journalist and researcher. Writing about many things including technology, surveillance, censorship, philosophy, science fiction and futures and occasionally about politics and Turkey. There’s a good chance you found me through my blog or Twitter. You can find more about me here and small selection of my writings here.