Monday, April 28, 2008
Geotechnical Engineers

Critical Art Ensemble is a group of five tactical media artists dedicated to exploring the intersections between art, technology, critical theory, and political activism.

In general the group's work highlights the dialogue between the natural world and the corporate world, and celebrates science and design as tools of the people. The weapons of their art, however benign, got CAE founder Stephen Kurtz subpoenaed under the Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act, and then indicted for mail fraud by a federal jury in 2004. Charges against him were recently dropped.

GenTerra, a work-in-progress that addresses the creation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Collaborating with them is Beatriz da Costa, who describes herself as "a machine artist and tactical media practitioner." "The original idea was to try to do a participatory theater project that would get people hands-on involved in the production of these transgenic organisms," explains Kurtz. "Our feeling was that people seemed to have an unreasonable fear of GMOs and this is counterproductive in terms of resistance. There are some GMOs that are actually good, and others that are pollutants for profit. For us, the question was, 'How can we set up a sphere where people can sort through their feelings?' So GenTerra was all about creating those dialogues around policies that deal with transgenics."

I can see how such a career path would cause a great deal of controversy. Is it so wrong to experiment, investigate and delve into the unknown is hopes for a better understanding? There are a slew of job opportunities right now for those interested in this path. A simple google search brought up hundreds.

Anywho, just something to think and chat about.

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