contemporary world is based on networks and paths of flows that are
informational and digital technology provides the necessary background for our
contemporary media society.” – Manuel Castells

The
theory of cybernetics is vast and intricate. It transcends the autonomous behavior
of machines into nature, capitalism, centuries old societal structures, as well
as the human body and its basic functions for survival. During a ten-week
course I began to think differently with my peers about how we communicate with
each other on a daily basis. The very information we share contextually is
actually decontextualized as bits of data that initiates feedback loops through
a vast system of distributed networks. This allows “information to be
conceptualized as if it were an entity that can flow unchanged between
different material substrates.” (Hayles, 54). Above all else I propose we show
appreciation of cybernetics as an intellectual framework and as a social
practice.

This
project aims to totalize three aspects that pertain to cybernetics: The Communication of Information, the
Control of Systems, and Capitalism in the 21^st Century.

Firstly,
cybernetics could not have been possible without the Enlightenment period in
the 18^th Century. The Enlightenment privileged reason in
individualism over superstition and old world ideologies. It was an idea of
historical difference which increased book knowledge, spiritual knowledge and
medical knowledge to name a few. An ideology that better information leads to
better knowledge came about. This guaranteed decision-making and also emphasized
values on reason and logic. We eventually used machines to increase
productivity output and use them to solve problems in society.    

1. Communications
2. Control of Systems
3. A Spectacle of Surfing
4. Capitalism