Writings (Electronic Mediations)

270 Pages·2002·1.17 MB·English

by  Vilem Flusser

w r i t i n g s
electronic mediations
Katherine Hayles
Mark Poster
Samuel Weber
Series Editors
6. Writings
Vilém Flusser
Andreas Ströhl,Editor
5. Bodies in Technology
Don Ihde
4. Cyberculture
Pierre Lévy
3. What’s the Matter with the Internet?
Mark Poster
2. High Techne¯: Art and Technology
from the Machine Aesthetic to the Posthuman
R. L. Rutsky
1. Digital Sensations: Space,Identity,and
Embodiment in Virtual Reality
Ken Hillis
w r i t i n g s
V i l é m F l u s s e r
Andreas Ströhl, Editor Translated by Erik Eisel
e l e c t r o n i c m e d i a t i o n s , v o l u m e 6
University of Minnesota Press Minneapolis / London
The publication ofthis work was subsidized by a grant from inter nationes,Bonn.
See pages 219–22 for copyright and previous publication information for specific
works.
Introduction copyright 2002 by Andreas Ströhl
English translation copyright 2002 by the Regents ofthe University ofMinnesota
All rights reserved.No part ofthis publication may be reproduced,stored in a
retrieval system,or transmitted,in any form or by any means,electronic,mechani-
cal,photocopying,recording,or otherwise,without the prior written permission of
the publisher.
Published by the University ofMinnesota Press
111 Third Avenue South,Suite 290
Minneapolis,MN 55401-2520
http://www.upress.umn.edu
Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Flusser,Vilém,1920–1991
[Selections.English.2002]
Writings / Vilém Flusser ;Andreas Ströhl,editor ;translated by Erik Eisel.
p. cm.— (Electronic mediations ;v.6)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1.Philosophy. 2.Communication—Philosophy. I.Ströhl,Andreas.
II.Title. III.Series.
B1044.F572 E5 2002
193—dc21
2001005960
Printed in the United States ofAmerica on acid-free paper
The University ofMinnesota is an equal-opportunity educator and employer.
12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents
Acknowledgments vii
Introduction Andreas Ströhl ix
What Is Communication? 3
On the Theory of Communication 8
Line and Surface 21
The Codified World 35
Criteria—Crisis—Criticism 42
Habit: The True Aesthetic Criterion 51
Betrayal 58
The Future of Writing 63
Images in the New Media 70
On the Crisis of Our Models 75
Change of Paradigms 85
Taking Up Residence in Homelessness 91
Exile and Creativity 104
A New Imagination 110
Mythical,Historical,and Posthistorical Existence 117
Photography and History 126
A Historiography Revised 132
The Vanity of History 138
On the End of History 143
Waiting for Kafka 150
Orders of Magnitude and Humanism 160
Celebrating 165
Designing Cities 172
Humanizations 181
Essays 192
In Search of Meaning (Philosophical Self-portrait) 197
Selected Bibliography 209
Copyright and Original Publication Information 219
Index 227
Acknowledgments
Vilém Flusser´s widow Edith Flusser encouraged me to edit this book,
and I thank her most of all.I would also like to thank Andreas Müller-
Pohle,William Murphy,Mark Poster,Silvia Wagnermaier,Michael Wutz,
Siegfried Zielinski,and Jana Vymazalová.
Andreas Ströhl
June 2001
vii
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Introduction
Andreas Ströhl
The new is terrifying. Not because it is this way and not another way,but be-
cause it is new.1
Perhaps we are about to remember again the forgotten celebrating. Perhaps we
are about to find our way back through the strange detour through telematics to
“authentic” being human,which is to say,to celebratory existence for the other,
to purposeless play with others and for others.2
Vilém Flusser (1920–91) was a philosopher and writer born in Prague.
He held Brazilian citizenship and wrote most of his work in German.
This volume of essays makes his work available to an American audi-
ence for the first time.With one exception,all the essays and lectures are
brief and complete in themselves.Much care went into the selection of
these texts and I feel a great sense of responsibility in writing this Intro-
duction.It is important to present this philosopher in the proper light,
to present as true a picture of him as possible,and to promote genuine
interest in his work.Flusser has already generated considerable interest
in the German-speaking world,and this volume will introduce the wide-
ranging yet subtle oeuvre of this extraordinary,unconventional author
to a wider audience.The University ofMinnesota Press is the first Ameri-
can publisher to honor this inspiring thinker with a comprehensive
anthology.
Vilém Flusser divides European intellectuals into two camps.One per-
sonsees in him a pessimistic,cynical prognosticator ofthe decline ofour
writing-based culture and,with it,Western civilization as we know it.
ix