GLITCHES #1: Hannes Bajohr and Philipp Schönthaler followed by Manu Louis
GLITCHES. Readings, talks & music on (pop) cultural digitalization
“We are living in a computer-programmed reality [...] and the only clue we have to it is when some variable is changed, and some alteration in reality occurs.” (Philip K. Dick)
In readings, talks, and music, the three-part event series GLITCHES explores the specific disruptive phenomena in (pop) cultural digitalization—from deep fake and hyper irony to AI-produced music, social media literature, and live programmed algorithms.
‘Glitches’ are disruptions of the virtual world that make us doubt experienced reality: where does the matrix begin and where does it end? What is real, and what is a simulation? Are we living in a world that is generated by computers? As part of post-digital pop culture, the ‘glitch’ has been consciously employed as an aesthetic stylistic device in various art forms. But we are also continuously confronted with glitches in our everyday lives of laptop video calls and digital avatars, alter egos that will soon transfer our entire lives into the virtual meta matrix universe. The line between these ‘worlds’ becomes increasingly blurry. Who is still capable of telling the difference between machine-generated literature and music and manmade art? IS IT A GLITCH?!
A cooperation between the Museum of Communication Berlin and the ZfL project Neighborhood in Contemporary Berlin Literature as part of the exhibition #neuland. Ich, wir & die Digitalisierung.
The event is part of the series Spielräume der Gegenwartsliteratur organized by the research project Neighborhood in Contemporary Berlin Literature at the ZfL, which is held between April and June in cooperation with various partners in Berlin.
Program
18.00 Introduction to the exhibition
#neuland. Ich, wir und die Digitalisierung
19.00 Reading & Talk
Writing with, about, or against machines?
Often times, authors of digital literature also work on its theory—or the other way around. With Hannes Bajohr and Philipp Schönthaler, this reading and talk brings together two authors who both face the fear of intelligent machines replacing humans in art in their very own way. Here, the relationship between literary history and literary experiments on programmed literature plays a significant role. Should we write with, about, or against machines?
Even though both authors are confronted with the same media and technological conditions and challenges, they make use of completely different literary techniques in their practice. In a talk with editor Morten Paul (Matthes & Seitz), they will discuss the history and present of programmable literature and read from their literary texts.
20.30 Concert
Manu Louis Cream Parade
With the show for his album Cream Parade, Manu Louis celebrates the social and existential disorientation of his alter ego and all of humanity during the age of the internet. His songs deal with many different topics, from love to a data storage, the internet’s farewell kiss to humanity, and being reborn as a tardigrade. His eclectic, groovy musical mix of robot-like synthesizer sounds and the beat of hip-hop marching chapels is ideal for dancing.
18.00–23.00 Special Guest
Mo Chan / DJ Kohlrabi
