Deconstructing the proposal/brief (The Body in Algorithms) to develop and understand further meaning as a mode to inform my practise

 

Algorithms create impartial ‘knowns’ (facts) in order to anticipate behaviours and reduce future uncertainties. It is possible to do they do this by looking at patterns and repetitions in our online habits or sites and information we perpetually consume. 

This is how they can produce measurable and calculable data, causing an organisation of entropy (I.e., which causes the downward spiral/ information flow to be organised and in turn removing the need to ‘think’ and make decisions for ourselves.). This leads to the emulation of bias (we no longer continue to seek our own private information and data; we are fed the repetition of data. The same information repeats within our political, economic and social sphere), the algorithm repeats the non-thinking, perpetuating the same mistakes, it does not challenge our bias and racial prejudices, or our practising of racial exclusions. The normal things we as compassionate humans would challenge and rationalise to ourselves as wrong or immoral, the algorithm is by nature is unable to learn or correct. It does not have an opinion; therefore, it distils the patterns and repeatedly churns out much of the same information, regardless whether this is considered bad or good information. The bias we then consume is concentrated within our own alignment, never challenged. 

Algorithmic inscribed power relations flood our online life, with many companies using algorithms to saturate our online profiles to gain insight to our most inner self. They pry into what customers want to buy, see what sells and often target their ‘audience’ through sponsored promotions. The worst part is that anyone can do this, they only need to be using the right software, the information that was once our own is then bought and sold so easily. Therefore, the content people see is not the ‘whole story’, the ‘true word’ or even an entire narrative, it is instead edited and influenced by whoever is sponsoring the algorithm, it is run through their agenda. 

The result is an awash of consumable media which has infiltrated our consciousness, it is short, easily read, quickly understood with barely any actual content. Often using language that is slang, thus leading consistent devouring of politically aligned, paid for content with each narrative consumed and then moved onto the next piece. Each piece becoming easier and easier to consume, an endless stream of predetermined media. 

Yet this fabricates a network of conflicting potentialities, with each algorithm producing a narrative of ‘absolute truth’ for each person’s online profile, not each narrative can be correct or true. Those who have money, can skew or spin any information to fit your own agenda, with the resulting publications absorbed by the algorithm and spat out into the system to be devoured. But which narrative is correct? How can one discern what is the truth and what is informed by algorithms? 

Therefore, when using these ways of measuring as the standards, the body is a boundary of logic where sense experience is intertwined with the ‘truths’ churned out by these algorithms (that is now called and beloved to be the truth, when it is biased and manufactured). 

Through technological systems (the use of these algorithms), we have connected with more people than ever before, yet provoked surveillance technology to see and inform on our most inner self. Everything about us is now very public knowledge, whether we are aware of how deep and far the control goes or not. 

The ‘circular prison’ referenced within the brief, (with the cells arranged around a central well/chamber/hub, from which prisoners can be always observed) is a metaphor for our ‘online’ life and the surveillance that continually happens within that system. 

The Panopticon disciplinary system has become the downward spiral in which we have invited ourselves to be spied on. A notion that we were observing the world through our online presence, has now turned on us and those watching are now being watched by those they are watching, which watch us. This ‘spying game’ has altered the established process from which we understand our body. (Body here can have many connotations, with multiple meanings. It can be understood to mean our physical selves, i.e., body image or senses feelings and emotions. It could also be extended to the body of a/our country, establishment or community we live in. 

Finally, the brief poses the question of whether we can create algorithms that touch us and reach us without drowning in the definitive false truths and conflicting potentialities. Can the technologies we have invited into our consciousness, simulate algorithms that allow us to align ourselves with our bodies. 

The publication project invites artists to respond to this brief, of the body in coded systems and the role/effect this has within our senses, awareness, empathy and care.