RANT WARNING!Quote from: wiki
In his work on English history, The Making of the English Working Class, E. P. Thompson presented an alternative view of Luddite history. He argues that Luddites were not opposed to new technology in itself, but rather to the abolition of set prices and therefore also to the introduction of the free market.
Thompson argues that it was the newly-introduced economic system that the Luddites were protesting. Thompson cites the many historical accounts of Luddite raids on workshops where some frames were smashed whilst others (whose owners were obeying the old economic practice and not trying to cut prices) were left untouched. This would clearly distinguish the Luddites from someone who was today called a luddite; whereas today a luddite would reject new technology because it is new, the Luddites were acting from a sense of self-preservation rather than merely fear of change.
and about neo-luddism:
QuoteNeo-luddism does not equate necessarily to outright technophobia and includes the critical examination of the effects technology has on individuals and communities.
To me it would sound, that it's not all about just simply destroying the machine. And for example relying on tape or vinyl, would be method of
new luddities (which is the topic, instead of old luddities). For reasons of preserving suitable aesthetics, preserving desirable sound. There exists independent vinyl factories. Who work with machinery that is to high decree manual work of skilled professionals. Not just guy pushing a button. In same way, working with tapes, is something that is work of talented people. It's not simply automation. All these demand craftmanship and vision to be working with tools. How vinyl records are played, is pretty much with tools what almost anyone can build. They need few basic parts to do it, which are manufactured by many smaller companies around the world who probably do it for other reasons than fast consumer product for mass.
I got speakers that are hand made in Finland. By small company who is specialized on hi-fi speakers. Couple guys working not so far away from here. It's technology, but it isn't just some faceless corporate machine, but done by those with labor or love & skill.
Of course, I don't fool myself. Many, if not all, of there belong to chain, which in end leads to some huge corporation, who creates some of the the original components or at least the plain raw metal, wood and plastic you use. But I think that isn't the problem of even original luddities.
One can think of independent photographer. There can be guy, who buys the latest short life canon pocket cadget, through cable transfer image to his fujitsu siemens computer, works it a bit with photoshop like all the artists of today, and uploads it to some big servers on 72dpi resolution for someone to view for free. It seems that many people and useless dead weight have been dropped out: Independent from big film factories, photo developers, big paper producers, chemical factories, plenty of unnecessary tools etc. But it was merely changed, not really dropped. The guy who works with Canon professional camera, shoots of film, or shoots large scale images that can be printed on film, to go through chemical process to get image appear on paper, result just is different. You can decide how many steps back to take. Rejecting film and shooting directly on paper. Rejecting all automation (AF, flash etc). Rejecting modern day cameras. Rejecting readily made photopapers. Even rejecting lenz, just shoot through needle hole. But I'm sure the luddities, when making their works, didn't reject everything. They didn't simply advocate work with bare hands like monkeys, but tools obviously necessary. The tools that underlined things like artistic craftmanship, local economic survival, etc. You can find similar links in making recordings, listening recordings, making and experiencing artwork.
I do like the original hand made, hand assembled piece of art. I can't take very "seriously" mp3 or jpeg image. It may work as introduction, but it feels very strange to me to advocate experience of art to happen via computers as great thing. Can you experience sculpture from looking at tumbnail image online? Of course. But I do prefer book. Or the real thing. Also printed image of painting is basically flattened and one-dimensionaled version, but servers is pretty well. But often keeps you amazed to see actual piece of work live, where you can see hand crafted qualities and immense talent. Which wasn't so obvious when image was reduced into tiny compressed image.
Of course mp3 done well, won't change the sound as much. But I prefer to listen to sound from format and with tools it seems designed contribute it. I don't find much of revolutionary independece in form of having to rely on files transmitted by hi-tech tools perhaps only biggest companies in market are making? With product that is pretty much unrepairable, short age, problem waste?
In deed, I took mp3 player from friend. He traded it to 1 cd. I thought, it's cheap, why not. I have never, even put batteries in it. Now, years later I wonder where it is, so I could maybe pass it to someone who could use it. But I guess those old mp3 players are out already. People with ipods and phones. I was recommended by many nowadays comic artists to start use the virtual pen. Or whatever it is called. Flat surface you connect on computer, and draw with pen. With photoshop, it isn't like mouse, but you can actually operate it just like brush. Thick and heavy, thin and delicate. Yeah, I invested, luckily not much. And that it was used also on girlfriend clothing/accessory designer work. Anyway, I must admit that it requires plenty of motoric skills and getting used to, but for fucks sake, if you imitate ink & brush strokes on photoshop screen, with this piece of electronics in your hand, can it be any faggier than that? For sake of easy upload to your doodle blog.... Perhaps I should not talk anymore about purchases. It is depressing reading. That's why I like to stick on tools at hand.
One can say it saves paper, it saves ink, you don't waste anything real. Yeah. Real. Result is just artificial in first place. It is compromise far from actual brush and texture of paper and consistency of ink or colors. That one felt this compromise is necessary since didn't bother to do difficult & time consuming process... yeah. That's the starting point of problem. Talking of recording, I have a feeling that I have heard lately quite many "distant" recordings. Perhaps thanks to new digital hand recorders. The cheap ones. That have automated recording volume inputs, and while the guy with 4 track, could just throw dynamic mic's next to blasting amplifiers, spread them out to targets of sound, sometimes these new recorders seems like placed "somewhere". Just far enough to ruin recording with build-in condensator mics starting to distort. Easiness of tool, suddenly removing the little necessary "craftmanship". The process, what wasn't about "throwing recorder somewhere", but placing all elements to place you gain the results you wanted. With new opportunity might come restrictions. And all related to easiness of mass market product and mentality it creates?
