Jordan Crandall, associate professor UCSD, has won this year's Vilém Flusser Theory Award for outstanding theory and research-based digital arts practice. The award is given by the Transmediale in Berlin in collaboration with the Vilém Flusser Archive of the University of Arts, Berlin.
Crandall is being recognized for his essay and lecture/performance titled GATHERINGS 1: Event, Agency and Program. This piece is grounded in research on surveillance and tracking and explores how tracking technology has been incorporated into our everyday lives.
The Vilém Flusser Theory Award promotes innovative media theory and practice-oriented research exploring current and pending positions in digital art, media culture and networked society. Echoing media philosopher Vilém Flusser's unique investigative, cross-disciplinary and analytic approach, the Award is a call to reflect upon, act and challenge the rapidly changing technological and societal conditions that underpin the contours of digital culture.
Held each year in January and February, Transmediale presents renowned artists, scientists and media practitioners from all around the world. The festival includes exhibitions, competitions, conferences, film and video programmes, live performances and a publication series. Transmediale presents and pursues the advancement of artistic positions reflecting on the socio-cultural, political and creative impact of new technologies, network practices and digital innovation. It seeks out artistic practices that not only respond to scientific or technical developments, but that shape the way in which we think about and experience the technologies which impact virtually all aspects of our daily lives. As such, Transmediale understands media technologies as cultural and aesthetic techniques that need to be embraced in order to comprehend, critique, and shape global societies.
Click Here to view the award ceremony and an interview with the artist.http://creative.arte.tv/fr/space/transmediale_tv/message/626/Transmediale_Award_2011/
