Democracy in the fourth dimension
From the programme leaflet of Metaforum II, Budapest, 1995:
Networking has played a role in the evolution of culture since humans have been communicating: economy, language, religion, postal systems, telephones, radio, and television all function as networks. Modern technology has enhanced networking to the point where data is transferred at nearly the speed of electrons, theoretically, the speed of light…. New Communication technology plays an increasingly important role in the most basic of every day tasks, and will continue to have an impact on our lives long after the current hype has died down.
MetaForum II / NO BORDERS / HATÁROK NÉLKÜL / critically examines the role that the internet plays now and what is possible in the future. How and where do geographic borders render cyberspace mythical? How is democracy defined and enforced in the fourth dimension? What role do economics play in the colonization of the last frontier? How is identity altered by new communication technology? In addition to lectures on these topics, MetaForum II provides audience members with access to the internet, Surf Courses, the Digital Island BBS, and the NépGép HelpDesk throughout the conference. In keeping with the spirit of free information, downloading and copying data is welcomed and encouraged.
MetaForum, Budapest, 1995. János Sugár, Diana McCarty, Geert Lovink; Heath Bunting; Hakim Bey; a.o. Photographs by Cornelia Sollfrank.