Brian Eno & Clay Shirky: The Power of Networks
My take on Monday’s Power of Networks talk at the ICA.
Some other documentation that I’m aware of:
Mark AM Kramer recorded it!
Blackbeltjones’s notes
Also these people blogged about Shirky’s talk at the RSA on Tuesday:
The Guardian blog
Joshua March
Brian Eno: We are much less informed now than we were in the 60s.
Clay Shirky: We’ve replaced planning with co-ordination.
e.g., ‘txt me when you’re nearby’
Brian Eno: Surely the government is spending millions figuring out online communities, assessing the risks and generally monitoring them.
Me: [chuckle]
Clay Shirky: In high-freedom environments, people use social tools for fun. In low-freedom environments they use them for political action.
Me: This is the stuff that gets me really excited. I’m going to write a dedicated post to do it justice. Watch this space :)
Clay Shirky: ‘Everyone knows that everyone knows that everyone knows’ is the key to producing a political movement…
‘Everyone knows’ = well, I know about it at least
‘Everyone knows that everyone knows’ = wow, other people DEFINITELY know it too
‘Everyone knows that everyone knows that everyone knows’ = now it’s in the public domain we’d better do something about it!
Brian Eno: The Microsoft model will fail. The Linux model will succeed.
Clay Shirky: A new corporate law is required. One that follows the creative commons principal that defines groups that are not commercially motivated.
Me: Also, a new approach to the concept of shareholders. Shareholders as taking a creative rather than financial interest somehow perhaps.
Brian Eno: We live in a much more dangerous and oppressive climate than we think. In a few years we will expect for Government to have access to our Facebook profiles.
Me: [more chuckles]
Clay Shirky: ‘Transparent conspiracy’ is a political tool of the future. In other words, you may as well announce collective action on a blog cos the authorities will find out anyway.
Me: Love the phrase ‘transparent conspiracy’.
Clay Shirky: The Masai all carry two things: a spear and a cell phone.
Me: !!!
Both agreed that the BEST thing about the web is it gives people a voice.
Before the mid-late 90s if you wanted to say something in public you couldn’t. There was no voice for the citizen. Now there is. So there.
Popularity: 99% [?]
First I was a web designer at a startup, then I ran some arts events.
Re: your redefining Shareholders - have you read ‘Small Is Beautiful’ by EF Schumacher? V. interesting book about creative input into business, written back in the late 60s I think…
Also worth throwing in would be a stake holder vs share holder consideration - that we should equally be considering those affected by a business or venture, not just those invested in it…
Another term from a business point of view that bears consideration is the concept of ’social audit’ - considering the value and impact of a venture in every way except financial… :o)
Sx
Comment by Steve
19/03/08, 09:52
I am still reflecting on the ICA discussion between bran and Clay. I am looking forward to reading (viewing) the reflections and observations of others. Let us try to keep the discussion going. It need not be a one evening event.
Comment by Mark A.M. Kramer
19/03/08, 12:02
Good summary of the ICA talk.
I’m still trying to find the area of government that has access to facebook profiles (and what they are doing with them)!
J
Comment by Justin Kerr-Stevens
19/03/08, 13:30
Damn… Wish I’d been there!
Comment by Dan Zambonini
24/03/08, 20:36