cyberfeminism 101
TRANSCRIPT
CYBERFEMINISM
101
Or: what do you mean, cyberfeminism?
When I talk about cyberfeminism I am talking about the work of artists
and theorists such as
VNS Matrix
The Old Boys Network
Faith Wilding and Critical Art Ensemble
Sadie Plant
SubRosaRosie X
Rosie Bradotti
Linda Dement
Sonya Rapoprt
Sussana PaassonenVerena Kuni
You can find links to a lot of great cyberfeminist work at
www.functionfeminism.com
History
But first, to put their work in context, here is a bit of
Herstory
Or rather
In the early 90s, at about the same time, a few people in different places around
the world started to use the term cyberfeminism
VNS Matrix
It is hard to tell but it seems that the very first use of the term in this context was
by
In their 1991 Cyberfeminist Manifesto for the 21st Century
(Pronounced Venus Matrix)
“four bored girls decided to have some fun with art and French feminist theory… with homage to Donna Haraway they began to play around with the idea of cyberfeminism… Beginning as if by spontaneous combustion, from a few hot nodes in Europe, America and Australia, cyberfeminism became a viral meme infecting theory, art and the academy”
As Julienne Pierce explained:
But it was more than just fun - it had a huge impact
The Cyberfeminist Manifesto for the 21st Century was integral in instilling the manifesto
tradition into cyberfeminism
And it helped to create cyberfeminism as a movement
At around the same time in Europe The Old Boys Network was created by a group of women including Cornellia Solfrank, Faith Wilding, Yvonne Volkart and Helene von
Oldenburg
The OBN still exists today. Check out their reading room at www.obn.org - it is an
excellent resource
It was the old boys network that really set the terms for cyberfeminism as a movement by holding the First Cyberfeminist International
This was a conference within a conference - Documenta X - that was
held in Kassel, Germany, in 1997
It was a one day session where women who had begun to work in this new field could get together, share ideas, talk about the direction
they wanted to take cyberfeminism and address the question of a unified definition of
cyberfeminism once and for all
But they did not define it
Well not in the traditional sense. They decided to avoid a rigid definition, or rather
refused to create a definition that would force others to conform and instead they decided to
create the 100 anti-theses
100 Anti-theses
100 Anti-theses
1. cyberfeminism is not a fragrance
100 Anti-theses
1. cyberfeminism is not a fragrance
63. cyberfeminism is not a wound
100 Anti-theses
1. cyberfeminism is not a fragrance
63. cyberfeminism is not a wound
55. cyberfeminisme n'est pas une pipe
100 Anti-theses
1. cyberfeminism is not a fragrance
100. cyberfeminism has not only one language
63. cyberfeminism is not a wound
55. cyberfeminisme n'est pas une pipe
100 Anti-theses
1. cyberfeminism is not a fragrance
100. cyberfeminism has not only one language
63. cyberfeminism is not a wound
55. cyberfeminisme n'est pas une pipe
14. cyberfeminism is not complete
100 Anti-theses
1. cyberfeminism is not a fragrance
100. cyberfeminism has not only one language
63. cyberfeminism is not a wound
55. cyberfeminisme n'est pas une pipe
14. cyberfeminism is not complete
83. cyberfeminism is not about boring toys for boring boys
100 Anti-theses
1. cyberfeminism is not a fragrance
100. cyberfeminism has not only one language
63. cyberfeminism is not a wound
55. cyberfeminisme n'est pas une pipe
14. cyberfeminism is not complete
68. cyberfeminism is not a single woman
83. cyberfeminism is not about boring toys for boring boys
100 Anti-theses
1. cyberfeminism is not a fragrance
100. cyberfeminism has not only one language
63. cyberfeminism is not a wound
55. cyberfeminisme n'est pas une pipe
14. cyberfeminism is not complete
68. cyberfeminism is not a single woman
83. cyberfeminism is not about boring toys for boring boys
30. cyberfeminism is not without connectivity
100 Anti-theses
1. cyberfeminism is not a fragrance
100. cyberfeminism has not only one language
63. cyberfeminism is not a wound
55. cyberfeminisme n'est pas une pipe
14. cyberfeminism is not complete
68. cyberfeminism is not a single woman
83. cyberfeminism is not about boring toys for boring boys
30. cyberfeminism is not without connectivity
65. cyberfeminismo no es una banana
The 100 anti-theses is a list of statements describing what
cyberfeminism is not
The anti-theses range from playful, eg.
1. cyberfeminism is not a fragrance
To the more serious and instructive, eg.
100. cyberfeminism has not only one language
So that is what it is not.
But the question still feels unanswered
What is Cyberfeminism?
Yvonne Volkart from the old boys network said:
"Cyberfeminism is a myth. A myth is a story of unidentifiable origin, or of different
origins. A myth is based on one central story which is retold over and over in
different variations. A myth denies ONE history as well as ONE truth, and implies a
search for truth in the SPACES, in the DIFFERENCES BETWEEN the different
stories. Speaking about Cyberfeminism as a myth, is not intended to mystify it, it
simply indicates that Cyberfeminism only exists in plural.”
So I am going to hold true to the vision of my cyberfeminist foremothers and not provide you with a singular definition
either
However…
I will tell you some of the things that cyberfeminism can be, to add to what it
is not
Cyberfeminism can…critique at equality in cyberspace
examine relationships between bodies and technology
examine the relationships between women and technology
examine technology by engaging with it
disrupt the perception of technology as ‘toys for boys’
challenge established perceptions of cyberspace
seek to bring about change from within
playfully address feminist issues
directly address feminist issues
subtly address feminist issues
embrace technology
be humorous
be fun
be active
be collaborative
be subversive
Cyberfeminism can be all these things, but any individual cyberfeminist work need not be all these things at once
critique at equality in cyberspace
examine relationships between bodies and technology
examine the relationships between women and technology
examine technology by engaging with it
disrupt the perception of technology as ‘toys for boys’
challenge established perceptions of cyberspace
seek to bring about change from within
playfully address feminist issues
directly address feminist issues
subtly address feminist issues
embrace technology
be humorous
be fun
be active
be collaborative
be subversivethat would be a lot to ask
Still, I think there is even more to cyberfeminism
Cyberfeminism is not just the subject matter, but also the approach taken to examine that
subject matter
So I have developed a cyberfeminist methodology based on the art and theory of
established cyberfeminists
And thus I present…
The Five Rules of Cyberfeminist
Engagement*
The Five Rules of Cyberfeminist
Engagement*
* Of course, these are my rules and you are welcome to use them, but as a cyberfeminist you are free to make your own if you want, in fact you
are encouraged to do so
1. Remember the feminism in cyberfeminism
It is cyberfeminism after all
So this means initially examining things through a traditional feminist lens
2. Engage
Cyberfeminism is very much connected to a DIY ethic. From the very beginning of the movement it has had a
strong connection to art
Most of the prominent cyberfeminists are both artists as well as theorists
Engagement and participation are integral parts of what makes cyberfeminism a movement beyond a feminist
critique of technology
There are theorists, such as Donna Haraway and Judy Wajkman who have done some awesome work in the
area of women and technology, but that doesn’t necessarily make them cyberfeminists as such
3. Hack
By this I mean, once you have engaged with the technology, don’t settle for things the way they
appear
It may not mean actual program hacking - although it certainly could - it means see what is there and take it and turn it into something that
works for you.
Jon Ipolito said that electronic art was best described as ‘creative misuse of
technology’ and I think that description is particularly fitting - which leads me to the
fourth rule…
4. Playfully Subvert
I do wonder if this is a backlash against the perception of the humorless feminist, but there is a
tradition for cyberfeminist works to be playful and fun while subversive with a serious message. Kind of
lighthearted with a sting
And lastly…
5. Conspire and Collaborate
And lastly…
This is an important one, because, while it is becoming more common, collaboration generally goes against preferred patriarchal methods of art practice where a
lot of value is placed in the idea of the auteur, and works being touched by the hand of the master
However, when you are talking about technology, and the internet in particular, the more femininely defined
collaborative approach is increasingly suitable
what I mean by this is if you think about a craft vs art dichotomy - current uses of technology are more analogous to craft - more like quilting than an oil
painting
So that is what I mean when I say cyberfeminism
52 Acts of Cyberfeminismhttp://fiftytwoacts.wordpress.com
1st January 2008 - 31st December 2008