3 ms·

Ask HN: Computers and counterculture

10 points by bambataa 8y ago

I'm interested in learning more about the links between computing and the 'counterculture', both in terms of the social history and in terms of radical thinking about computing's role in society/culture. By 'counterculture' I'm primarily thinking of the late 60s/early 70s hippy movement and maybe the 90s free party scene (seems quite linked to technology, especially in Germany?), but I'm keen to learn about other links. Some books/thinkers I've come across already are: - Stewart Brand and the Whole Earth Catalog - Computer Lib/Dream Machines by Ted Nelson - Erik Davis' 'Technopagans' essay in Wired - Jaron Lanier's 'Who Owns the Future' As well as books I'd be super interested in any links to good mailing list archives, or even first hand accounts, that anyone can share.

detaro 8y ago
In Germany, history of the Chaos Computer Club.
indescions_2018 8y ago
YC did a recent podcast with former Artforum editor Michelle Kuo on Experiments in Art and Technology https://blog.ycombinator.com/experiments-in-art-and-technology-with-artforum-editor-michelle-kuo/ https://blog.ycombinator.com/experiments-in-art-and-technolo... And then there's Mondo 2000. Defining periodical of "cyberculture". Remains deeply influential even today https://archive.org/details/mondohistory https://archive.org/details/mondohistory I'd also recommend the documentary "We Live In Public" as a cautionary tale regarding networked utopias ;)
jonjacky 8y ago
Books: What the Doorknob Said, by John Markoff. From Counterculture to Cyberculture, by Fred Turner.
brudgers 8y ago
To me, the most radical thinking about the relationship between computing and society is copy-left. It uses copyright law to subvert the presumed uses of copyright law. I think it is the most influential new idea from the second half of the twentieth century. The world runs on Linux.
LarryMade2 8y ago
Steven Levy's book Hackers goes a bit into free/tech culture in both the SF Bay Area and in Academia. textfiles.com might give you some of the later era source messages Mondo 2000 Magazine also did a lot of 90s cyber-hedonism stuff
- veddox 8y ago
  +1 for Levy's "Hackers", especially if you're interested in the counter-culture aspects of computer folklore.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]

10 points by bambataa 8y ago

detaro 8y ago

In Germany, history of the Chaos Computer Club.

indescions_2018 8y ago

YC did a recent podcast with former Artforum editor Michelle Kuo on Experiments in Art and Technology https://blog.ycombinator.com/experiments-in-art-and-technology-with-artforum-editor-michelle-kuo/ https://blog.ycombinator.com/experiments-in-art-and-technolo... And then there's Mondo 2000. Defining periodical of "cyberculture". Remains deeply influential even today https://archive.org/details/mondohistory https://archive.org/details/mondohistory I'd also recommend the documentary "We Live In Public" as a cautionary tale regarding networked utopias ;)

jonjacky 8y ago

Books: What the Doorknob Said, by John Markoff. From Counterculture to Cyberculture, by Fred Turner.

brudgers 8y ago

To me, the most radical thinking about the relationship between computing and society is copy-left. It uses copyright law to subvert the presumed uses of copyright law. I think it is the most influential new idea from the second half of the twentieth century. The world runs on Linux.

LarryMade2 8y ago

Steven Levy's book Hackers goes a bit into free/tech culture in both the SF Bay Area and in Academia. textfiles.com might give you some of the later era source messages Mondo 2000 Magazine also did a lot of 90s cyber-hedonism stuff

veddox 8y ago
+1 for Levy's "Hackers", especially if you're interested in the counter-culture aspects of computer folklore.

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]