discussion

Pay a litle attention on the word “NEED”

“La Tour Montparnasse offre la plus belle vue de Paris : c’est en effet le seul endroit d’où on ne la voit pas…” - The tower offers the best view of Paris, as it is the only place from which you cannot see it.’

Eiffel Tower from the Montparnasse Tower

Montparnasse Tower from the Eiffel Tower

David Goldblatt

Windmills for sale, Ventersburg, Free State, 6 August 2003

I saw the above photo at the Stedelijk Museum on Monday, and I suddenly was puzzled as regards to the relation between these windmills and the infamous wind turbine electricity generators –

Somehow these tiny things look so delicate and refined, and do not seem to disturb the grey, dull landscape. They are for sale, indicating people actually do want to go out and buy them, and will use them for something – It is doubtful those shown in the photograph will do anything but turn, but will rather just amuse people and show how fast and from where the wind is from.

We will never entirely rely on wind power or completely green energy, so if we all had a couple of these things, and perhaps even a solar panel on the roof, wouldn’t that spare us the need for massive controversy in our ‘backyards’?

Who decides on whether massive turbines can or cannot pop up and whether people want them in-their-backyards? – My thoughts lead me to think: let’s put a few wind turbines on the front porch next to Granny, or in the living room next to the sofa by the window – the kids will love it!

You might remember that Dirk Sijmons mentioned that they use the Martijntje Smits analysis of the impact of new tech on society when they consider solutions to tech issues. Here’s an excerpt from an explanation of that theory:

From Ton’s Interdependent thoughts:

Smits monster theory starts with the notion that a monster is a two-sided being, that within itself unites aspects that seem impossible to unite. (e.g. Frankenstein, with human traits and aspects, but also an artefact built from inanimate parts)

Monsters in this way challenge cultural boundaries. (e.g. genetic modification challenges the distinction between man and animal, cloning challenges the boundaries of natural progenation) At the same time because of that challenge it cannot be dealt with in terms of existing norms within those cultural boundaries, it’s sort of outside the system, which is likely to frustrate debate and discussion. This also creates the space for both fantasies of doom, as well as of imminent paradise, without being constrained by reality.

Smits then goes on to define four forms of dealing with monsters:

killing the monster

adapting the monster

assimilating the monster

embracing the monster

Read more here and in dutch here.