[Nettime-bold] Re: <nettime> Re: Public Electricity Production

[Nmherman@aol.com]

In a message dated 5/31/2001 12:23:28 PM Central Daylight Time, 
106271.223@compuserve.com writes:

> Subj:  Re: <nettime> Re: Public Electricity Production
>  Date:    5/31/2001 12:23:28 PM Central Daylight Time
>  From:    106271.223@compuserve.com (Brian Holmes)
>  Sender:  106271.223@compuserve.com (Brian Holmes)
>  To:  Nmherman@aol.com (INTERNET:Nmherman@aol.com)
>  
>  Backchannel
>  
>  Hey Max :
>  
>  This is great writing:
>  
>  "Electricity-wise, I think that genius is a neurochemical cycle that occurs
>  in 
>  all healthy, normally functioning human brains.  It's like language or
>  sleep. 
>   Fear, stress, obedience, coercion, deception, are all ancient means of 
>  stopping people from having this normal cyclical neuroelectric process go
>  on 
>  in their brains.  Because when people have it, know they're having it, and 
>  know lots of other people are having it, they don't take any more bullshit.
>   
>  They speak out and fight and usually win."
>  
>  And I hope that:
>  
>  "Many sleazy art critics and op-ed writers will lose their credibility 
>  and be mocked, derided."!!!!!!!
>  
>  Where I disagree with you:
>  
>  Is maybe just because we're two average geniuses who haven't fully gotten
>  each other's picture. But still, this: the great revolutionary moments in
>  cities look exactly like what you describe. Really, the ones I've seen do.
>  The interesting this is that they are politicized, people know they're up
>  against something, they know that other people are too, it spreads. You get
>  to feel solidarity, which is great. The trouble: pragmatically, such
>  moments are rare. Also, they are kind of shallow in terms of transforming
>  anything. You can only do so much in a day or a weekend, however genius you
>  are! So then what do you do? Well, you have to make connections, And for
>  that you have to cross all kinds of barriers like language barriers, class
>  barriers, profession barriers, tradition barriers... Sounds like a lot of
>  work no? Maybe it doesn't involve starting a church but you have to
>  inscribe it into time somehow. So you would have also to imagine setting up
>  spaces for average genius! Enter something like (or not so like) the
>  welfare state....

I appreciate the constructive criticism Brian.  You are certainly correct.  
However, you may or may not know that I have been working in depth on this 
kind of shit for at least eight years and maybe more.  I know a great deal 
about other topics besides harping "watch my video."  In fact, the video is 
full of fragmented but easily decipherable propositions about everything from 
paper currency to unity and democratic institutions.  

The video and all my production is on the background labor you rightly say is 
needed.  Lots of smart people have worked on these things unaware of Genius 
2000, but Genius 2000 is exactly the syncretic and discipline-free space you 
suggest.  Genius 2000 is, unfortunately, pretty much censored.  Go to any of 
the lists and you'll see.  Just ask people to discuss it and you'll get 
everything from "it's just Max's cocktail party banter" to "I support Genius 
2000 but to say so would harm my career."  

Not that the net is useless.  I think over time it can help.  But I decided 
not to try to win net praise, but work in more traditional media in an actual 
city, Minneapolis Minnesota.  I'll be using video, cable access, writing (and 
publishing), and active demonstration to take the whole debate out of the 
"next big thing" search that I consider to be the superficial use of novel 
awareness you mentioned.  

They're making me prove it in the streets, and it won't be hard to do.  And 
if you don't mind, I may cite your ideas on electricty to bolster my general 
disposition.  You of course are free to cite me if you wish.  In fact it 
would help my global PR to have a critical thinker use some of my words and 
ideas, without groveling or slander in mind.  I get mostly grovelers and 
slanderers, with a few very appreciable exceptions.

>  
>  Anyway, my idea is revolt first and learn as you go along!
>  
>  best, Brian

The Genius 2000 Video First Edition is a revolt, just a slow sure one to 
date.  "No comment" has sufficed to quiet discussion of it.  "No comment" 
won't work after this summer.

Your pal,

Max Herman


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