In Middle England

[imomus]

A reminder and a correction: I'm currently spending three days in Central (if not middle) England, at the invitation of the Visualisation Research Unit at the University of Central England's Department of Art.

They've asked me to deliver the first annual Daniel Hunt lecture in memory of Dan Hunt, a VRU assistant who died in May of this year after heart surgery.

The lecture, which has its own web page, takes place on Friday November 17th at 6pm in the Lyttelton Lecture Theatre at the Birmingham & Midland Institute, Margaret Street, Birmingham B3 3BS. Tel: 0121-236 3591. (At one point I was advertising the date as November 19th, but it's the 17th.)

Entry is free, but you're asked to reserve a seat by e-mailing reservations@danielhuntlecture.co.uk or calling 0121 331 5978.

The lecture is entitled "The IT Culture":

"The IT culture, like the IT girl, is the culture that every other culture wants to be. But what happens when the IT culture becomes just another culture? When it becomes, in other words, situated?" Momus

"Techno-culture hero Momus," runs the blurb, "gives his view on where we might be headed... Momus, aka Scotsman Nick Currie, is living the life futurologists always promised us. Best known for deceptively simple songs laced with adult themes, Momus changes location frequently in search of new stimulation, and works in a digital world where geography doesn't affect economics so much as it creates opportunity. His regular output of CDs has drawn together a loyal fan base, and in this lecture they have the chance to hear the enigmatic Momus as he discusses his own idiosyncratic take on the relationship between creativity and digital technology."



Robert Sharl and Gregory Sporton, who've kindly organized this lecture -- and can be seen above flanking Dan -- add: "The lecture is given in honour of VRU Research Assistant Daniel Hunt, a huge Momus fan, who died in May this year. Contributions to the University Hospital Charities, who cared for Dan during his short illness, will be gratefully received."

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

The IT culture, like the IT girl, is the culture that every other culture wants to be. But what happens when the IT culture becomes just another culture? When it becomes, in other words, situated?

I don't understand what this means...

[imomus.livejournal.com]

The IT GIRL was originally Clara Bow, silent film star.

The IT Culture is a play on words -- I mean it to refer both to America, as the particular culture which claims to have a connection to the universal, and to Information Technology, which is our current "window on the world".

I'm tapping McLuhan's ideas on media, Hegel's idea of the "concrete universal", and all sorts of other stuff about metaphor versus metonym (one is a vertical relationship, the other a horizontal one). It'll all make sense on the night... possibly.

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you, that helped muchly!

[lord-whimsy.livejournal.com]

Throw in a pataphor while you're at it. The kids love 'em.

[(Anonymous)]

Hi momus. Am skipping around the house in a santa hat. Hope yer having fun too. Hello its zz on a thin client

[(Anonymous)]

Can someone come over and. Make me stop drinking. It won't be pleaazaby. I have two KKnices. Handshake drugs. Don't give a shit if I know who I am this time. I love flynn so bad

[(Anonymous)]

Good grief, that all sounds wonderfully nebulous and pointless and deeply silly. Just waffle on, use a load of self-made buzz-words, give good hot air and pocket their lecture money and run back to Berlin as fast as you can.

[imomus.livejournal.com]

Do you want to be my manager?

[mini-snape.livejournal.com]

Oh Momus, you are just made of LOLs and ROTFLOLs. Which is why they declared you the Achilles of techno culture, I am sure.

[(Anonymous)]

You're an international treasure Momus. Look forward to the lecture.

Shucks

[robertsharl.livejournal.com]

Nice to be credited for organising the lecture too, but really it's Greg's work. In fairness I did pass him your email address, and Dan and I spoke lots about getting you over here for a gig. While Dan was my student he revealed that a friend had made him a copy of Tender Pervert; he then raided my collection to bring himself up to date (I think he rather considered himself an html folk hero, at least before coming to work at the VRU).

I'm looking forward to your lecture too, but first I have to write my own presentation for the session at the Ikon.. Have a good flight and see you soon.

[mini-snape.livejournal.com]

Blah, I could have been there had my roommate gone back home, for she is from Birmingham. But oh well. I am resigned to my fate of NEVER seeing you.

Sounds like a great lecture too. Techno-culture hero, for the lolz.

[(Anonymous)]

Futurologists in England can look forward to their every utterance, movement and thought becoming cross-referenceable.

When the ID cards come in, every bit of information about a person will be linked to that card, from whether they've got an unpaid library fine, to information about their taste in Japanese poonanny.

If the internet could change anything for the better - it would be illegal.

[cityramica.livejournal.com]

planning a podcast?

[imomus.livejournal.com]

The lecture is actually being recorded and may well end up downloadable from the UCE's website. More details if/when, sweetie...

[cityramica.livejournal.com]

fantastic. &thanks for using that icon.