Art
Social Practice
MCB
4.2.13
Bryana
Robinson
CAMP
(pg. 122)
Pad.ma
2008-
WHO/WHAT:
Pad.ma,
an acronym for Public Access Digital Media Archive, is a web based
sharing platform for a myriad of visual footage. Pad.ma,
co-initiated my the Mumbai-based art space CAMP and other social and
political advocacy groups gathered together to create a database in
which video footage can be shared, transcribed, edited, and
distributed by the larger internet audience.
WHY/HOW:
Pad.ma seeks to experiment with how video is shared on the internet,
in today's age where open sourced information can be widely
distributed. As a large archive of information, the general public
has almost unlimited access to its large archive of video clips,
movies and more. Most of the sites archive includes historically
valuable images and video of topics relevant to the Middle East,
Northern African issues that are not normally available.
The
video footage and images included interviews, media criticisms, and
videos on political topics. It also includes social topics such as:
Queering Bollywood, Practices in Contemporary Art and Architecture,
The World of Afgan Films and 10 Years Ago: Bombay in the Time of
9/11 and Gujarat. Users the site are then able to open up a film,
clip, etc. And edit, view or share with a interface that looks
similar to video-editing software.
FINISHING
SCHOOL
(pg. 154)
The
Patriot Library
2001
-
WHO/WHAT:
The
Patriot Library is a website decicated to the public's ability to
access “potentially dangerous information” censored by the
Federal Government on October 26th,
2001...right after 9/11 called the Patriot Act.
Founded
by the Thomas and Finishing School (based in Los Angeles) and
Librarian Christy Thomas, The Patriot Library seeks to uncensor the
information and allow a right of privacy to users who looked up this
information.
WHY/HOW:
The
Patriot act allowed the Federal Government to censor books,
periodicals, photographs, sound recordings, artifacts and other
mediathought to have been researched by the terrorists of 9/11 such
as: aviation training, chemistry, propaganda, tactical manuals,
tourist information and weaponry-general topics.
“Understanding
the American Library Associations privacy standards, the Patriot
Library doesn't not keep records of visitors personal information or
use of materials.” As taken from the website:
In
accordance with the philosophy and objectives of the American
Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, Intellectual Freedom
to Read Statement and Freedom to View, the Library is responsible
for: making available the widest diversity of views and expressions,
including those which are unorthodox or unpopular with the majority;
opposing and challenging all attempts to impose censorship on the
Library; and reserving the constitutional right of freedom of
expression. TPL is a non-circulating library to further protect your
right to privacy. - The Patriot Library
The
Patriot Library was installed in 2003 in Oakland's Lucky Tackle
gallery and is still viewable on the
web....however:
As
I went to the site and clicked on research, and this alert popped up
on my screen:
WARNING:
Due to U.S. national security concerns, we are unable to tell you if
your internet surfing habits, passwords and email content are being
monitored by U.S. agents; please act appropriately. TPL is bound by
the USA PATRIOT Act and must comply with law enforcement.
Sidebar:
The
Finishing school works with experts in different fields to help
spread alternative approaches to activism: specifically
environmental, social and political issues. As such in 2008 they
also launched Little Pharma which “examined alternative medicine
and lifestyles as a viable antidote to some of the drug industries
pathologies.
SIMILARITIES:
DIFFERENCES:
Pad.ma
speaks largely to a non-westernized demographic, and although anyone
can view the information, the material posted talks about issues
that are specific to the region it was founded in. it didn't seem as
if they were bringing up information that was censored as much as
archiving and making information that was politically,
environmentally and culturally relevant
Such
as Pad.ma, the Patriot Library speaks specifically to not only one
historical point in American history, but also seeks to open up
censorship of sensitive information to the public. The Patriot
Library seeks to allow free speech and a right of privacy to those
that access the information through their gallery installations, and
also to give you that open to look up its references in the comfort
of your own home through the web. (Although your own online habits
may be monitored by the government).
