Comments on: the influencing machine

the influencing machine

crunchland — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 05:03:47 -0800

By: jpburns

jpburns — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 05:18:17 -0800

(whispering voice): Has anyone got a lozenge? Deeply disturbing.

By: jeremias

jeremias — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 05:54:33 -0800

I remember first reading about this in Jerry Mander's book Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television. Here's a choice quote: '...In any event , there is no question that television does what the schizophrenic fantasy says it does. It places in our minds images of reality which are outside our experience. The pictures come in the form of rays from a box. They cause changes in feeling and ... utter confusion as to what is real and what is not.'

By: ashbury

ashbury — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 06:22:10 -0800

Indeed, this is somewhat disturbing. That whispering voice reminds me of a creepier viersion of The Central Scrutinizer from Zappa's Joe's Garage. Nice link, crunch.

By: Blue Stone

Blue Stone — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 06:28:06 -0800

I got fed-up waiting for it to load on dial-up. Was that the influence it was supposed to have?

By: aeschenkarnos

aeschenkarnos — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 06:49:41 -0800

Hell, I got fed up waiting for it to load on ADSL. What is it, how big is it, and can we please have a save-target-as link?

By: m@

m@ — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 06:57:18 -0800

Dr. Benway, please call your office.

By: phylum sinter

phylum sinter — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 06:58:10 -0800

I only wish there was more to the presentation. It almost teases you in to thinking there's more information held within by using page numbers in the thousands. Now the research begins.

By: sourbrew

sourbrew — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 07:16:35 -0800

Yeah that voice was deeply creepy. I somehow managed to miss that it was talking about a television till I read the comments. In hind site I need some coffee. I still think the 1950's coined the best phrase to describe the television, "Idiot Box."

By: daver

daver — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 08:29:49 -0800

This is the online version of an Interactive Video Installation piece constructed by one Zoe Beloff if the site is to be believed. The rest of her work looks also interestingly creepy. Plus her dad's a Parapsychologist. Apparently those mefites in Pittsburgh can go see the installation in person in October, although I can't find much on the Pittsburgh Filmmakers site...

By: joquarky

joquarky — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 12:53:16 -0800

From the Four Arguments link above: Why do you think they call it programming? What a great way to take home the point of the article. =)

By: Keyser Soze

Keyser Soze — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 13:07:08 -0800

I actually had to pause my Bad Religion to watch this site. What gives?

By: dg

dg — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 17:59:15 -0800

Weird, disturbing, twisted, strange. [this is good]