I'm interested in the concept of "the collapse of distance", which is apparently heavily discussed by Paul Virilio, but originated with Walter Benjamin. I was told to start with "Open Sky" by Virilio. I was wondering if anyone knew of where to start with Benjamin on this subject, or where to continue with Virilio?
Big optics - virilio
Work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction.
I find in both authors an
underlying nostalgia for cartesian dualism pointing backwards and threatened by an impending implosion of the subject-object seperation .it is also very much an apotheosis of dialectal thinking. i sense though, despite the sense of foreboding implicit in his writing, there is glee in virilio's analysis common to conspiracy theorists and evangelists talking about armageddon.
the Virilio book with Tshumi's intro speaks of this collapse of distance, can't remember it's title though.
Sep 13, 09 11:06 am ·
·
You're thinking of A Landscape of Events (2000). Briefly looked through it last night.
From Tshumi's 'Forward':
"Time rather than space is the theme of this book: the collapse of time, the acceleration of time, the reversal of time, the simultaneity of all times. ... Space becomes temporal."
So, not so much about the collapse of distance...
Fell asleep reading "The Accident Museum", a text now already 23 years old, written soon after the Challenger explosion.
too bad i didn't have that book handy...to check before I post.
i feel (because I don't really know) Virilio & Baudrilliard all say the same thing...about a decade ago I used to read a lot of stuff on
ctheory.net that was very much in them with collapsing of time and space, but that's so early 21st century these days.
although Das Vagueness - I could easily make a philosophical arguement that the collapse of time ultimately leads to the collapse of space, moreover, space can not be collapsed without collapsing time first.
Sep 13, 09 2:44 pm ·
·
Say you discovered some planets orbiting a star 100 lights years away from Earth. All you're really sure of that there were some planets orbiting that star 100 years ago, and more certain proof of those planets being there at the same time you discovered them will (perhaps) come 100 years later.
You could also make a philosophical argument that the lion's share of what we see in the night sky doesn't even exist in our time. So much for the collapse of the Universe.
"All reality is relative to the vastness of its container."
das, the resort to relativity is a copout. discussion is only possible once relativity is assumed on the same plane of discussion.
everyone: thanks. the landscape of events book looks good. if space is what in fact moves and not time, the collapse of time is infinitely more crucial
as a follow up, distance is measured by time rather than space, as the events in the locations of distance are a function of relative time. basically, relative space is relatively, basically, insignificant (or so the argument goes)
The Kern book looks interesting... I'll have to see if its in our library
Does anyone know where to get/read "Big Optics" by Virilio? It's been bibliographied in a book that I can't find ANYWHERE. please let me know if you know where I may be able to find it..... thanks
I've found both of Manovich's articles, and I'm sure they will be a great resource. Is the original text of "Big Optics" available anywhere outside of the Weibel book? i can't get it anywhere.....
The Collapse of Distance - Benjamin/Virilio
Hello
I'm interested in the concept of "the collapse of distance", which is apparently heavily discussed by Paul Virilio, but originated with Walter Benjamin. I was told to start with "Open Sky" by Virilio. I was wondering if anyone knew of where to start with Benjamin on this subject, or where to continue with Virilio?
Thanks :)
Big optics - virilio
Work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction.
I find in both authors an
underlying nostalgia for cartesian dualism pointing backwards and threatened by an impending implosion of the subject-object seperation .it is also very much an apotheosis of dialectal thinking. i sense though, despite the sense of foreboding implicit in his writing, there is glee in virilio's analysis common to conspiracy theorists and evangelists talking about armageddon.
jean baudrilliard as well is good for this theme.
the Virilio book with Tshumi's intro speaks of this collapse of distance, can't remember it's title though.
You're thinking of A Landscape of Events (2000). Briefly looked through it last night.
From Tshumi's 'Forward':
"Time rather than space is the theme of this book: the collapse of time, the acceleration of time, the reversal of time, the simultaneity of all times. ... Space becomes temporal."
So, not so much about the collapse of distance...
Fell asleep reading "The Accident Museum", a text now already 23 years old, written soon after the Challenger explosion.
too bad i didn't have that book handy...to check before I post.
i feel (because I don't really know) Virilio & Baudrilliard all say the same thing...about a decade ago I used to read a lot of stuff on
ctheory.net that was very much in them with collapsing of time and space, but that's so early 21st century these days.
although Das Vagueness - I could easily make a philosophical arguement that the collapse of time ultimately leads to the collapse of space, moreover, space can not be collapsed without collapsing time first.
Say you discovered some planets orbiting a star 100 lights years away from Earth. All you're really sure of that there were some planets orbiting that star 100 years ago, and more certain proof of those planets being there at the same time you discovered them will (perhaps) come 100 years later.
You could also make a philosophical argument that the lion's share of what we see in the night sky doesn't even exist in our time. So much for the collapse of the Universe.
"All reality is relative to the vastness of its container."
das, the resort to relativity is a copout. discussion is only possible once relativity is assumed on the same plane of discussion.
everyone: thanks. the landscape of events book looks good. if space is what in fact moves and not time, the collapse of time is infinitely more crucial
as a follow up, distance is measured by time rather than space, as the events in the locations of distance are a function of relative time. basically, relative space is relatively, basically, insignificant (or so the argument goes)
spam spam spam
you say baudrillard is similar to virilio. any suggestions where to start?
The Culture of Time and Space, 1880-1919 by Steven Kern is a great book on the subject and a good place to start.
The Kern book looks interesting... I'll have to see if its in our library
Does anyone know where to get/read "Big Optics" by Virilio? It's been bibliographied in a book that I can't find ANYWHERE. please let me know if you know where I may be able to find it..... thanks
Paul Virilio, "Big Optics," in ON JUSTIFYING
THE HYPOTHETICAL NATURE OF ART AND THE NON-IDENTICALITY
WITHIN THE OBJECT WORLD, ed. Peter Weibel (Köln, 1992)
Lev Manovich discusses both Benjamin and Virilio at http://www.manovich.net/TEXT/Benjamin-Virilio.html
and http://www.manovich.net/TEXT/distance.html
I've found both of Manovich's articles, and I'm sure they will be a great resource. Is the original text of "Big Optics" available anywhere outside of the Weibel book? i can't get it anywhere.....
For baudrilliard I think whether related or not the "illusion of the end" is great
And the "the impossible exchange"
You try abebooks.com?
From AA files 57 Paul Virilio in Conversation
Juan Carlos Sánchez Tappan and Tilemachos Andrianopoulos.
A bit rambling but i suppose that's typical for any conversation and Virilio's character.
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