<nettime> A role of masses in 'Bill Gates aesthetic imperialism'

[teo spiller <teo.spiller@rzs-hm.si>]

Lev Manovich's talking about 'Bill Gates aesthetic imperialism' (what ever
it should be) opens some ideas, not present only in aesthetic.

Lets try to make a simple model to accomplish some simple conclusions
(Remember: model is just a tool, presenting a part of complexy of an
situation, to investigate some matters of interest!):

'Bill Gates aesthetic' is supported by broad masses. On the other side, we
have a minority, not agreeing with "taste of masses". Let call them
"experts". They usually know much more about this matter than masses.

(By the way: pure Vincent Van Gogh almost died of hunger, but today his
paintings are selling for 50 to 100 millions of dollars and there is an
"invasion" of masses, wanting to see his paintings in museums.)

This kind of relations between "experts" and "masses" can be broaden also
to other discourses; on interview with Susan George for example: Between
Neo-liberalism and pollution, there are necessary masses, buying products,
witch production pollutes environment. And masses are buying much
more, than they really need. The quantity of produced products defines the
quantity of pollution. Masses would have to be educated to buy as much as
they need, not as much as advertising suggests them.

The relation between masses, who are not behaving for "general good" and
'experts', who know sollutions of problems leads to following controversy:
Wouldn't experts better know even, who shall lead the state, than masses?
Is than dictatorship better for a "general good" than democracy?

Or is the answer, that "experts" should educate masses, using the same
methods, as neo-liberalistic corporations, for example? To popularise, what
used to be "positive". I think, very offen (mentioned persons are not
included) "experts" are not trying hard enough to popularize they ideas.I
guess, there is not just a question of money and with it connected
technical possibilities. Being in opposition is an opportunity to look
smart, without haveing to work hard and be occupied with practical problems
and 
beeing in minority gives things a feeling of hermetism and exclusivity and
with it connected feeling of beeing more than "others". And this are very
strong temptations, we are all liable to, aren't we?



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 Teo Spiller:  teo.spiller@fractal.si
http://www.fractal.si/teo/index.htm
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