Jordan Pollack and the political memosphere
Mar 27th, 2004 by jimmoore
I spoke yesterday in Jordan Pollack’s class on Internet and Society, at Brandeis University.
Jordan
is a deservedly famous computer scientist who works on robotics and
genetic algorithms–his robots design themselves. His other
major interest is technology and culture. We had a great time
with his bright, interested students, about two thirds computer science
majors, and the rest econ or poli sci.
Fun intellectual fireworks as Jordan and I threw ideas around with the
students. We considered the
Internet for insurgent campaigns, and using the Internet to challenge
the mainstream media (a Dave Winer specialty–I have to get these two guys together).
We explored what Jordan calls the “memosphere”–what
I call the “zeitgeist” or the global village–that arena of ideas and
images and language that we all share–and that is both sustained and
manimpulated by media. So much of the election here in the US, as
well as the spread of either cooperation or terrorism (to name to
extremes on a spectrum of social construction and destruction) depends
on the images we share, the ways we interpret events, and what we
conclude makes sense to do about it.
Jordan thinks that Bush is not afraid of Kerry because Bush plans to
exploit the “big circus” opportunities of the world stage, and thus
dominate the memosphere despite Kerry’s ads and campaign. Jordan
figures (as I do) that the Pakistanis already have Bin Laden–and
that is the reason that we have been willing to give them special
status–last week–to buy arms from us in preference to other parties
such as, to use an interesting example, the Indians. And why we
have turned the other cheek at the pardon of the leader of their
state-enabled nuclear proliferation enterprise.
What should we do to counter this?
1. Talk about proven “big circus” plays of the past–e.g.
Reagan’s deal to have the Iranians hold the hostages until after he
could beat Carter.
2. Speculate publicly about Bush’s expected use of this tactic today.
3. Point out the human cost of these ploys–in, for example, the deaths of US soldiers sincerely “searching” for Bin Laden.
4. Raise questions about events that seem too coincidental not to be
orchestrated. Like the recent “imminent capture” of a high level
Queda leader in Pakastan–conveniently during Powell’s trip to Pakistan
to announce our new arms deal with that nation. By the way, do
you notice how this story has dropped off the news? When last we heard,
500 or so tribal fighters were surrounded by 5000 to 7000 Pakastani
troops. What happened? What we do know is that the other
day an audio tape from the supposed Queda leader was received and
played on Arab television, taunting us…and now the Pakistanis say “he
is on the run.” BTW the CIA says the tape, after analysis, is
“probably authentic.”
Hmmmm.
PS: I mentioned my speculation that Janet Jackson’s boob was
exposed to take brother Michael Jackson off the nightly news.
Jordan said, “yea, but who do you suppose both Jacksons were taking off
the news?” Oh yea, Paul O’Neil.