Designing for Death and Apocalypse: Theodicy of Networks and Uncanny Archives

Abstract

Recent design and art experiments with software, hardware, and emergent biotechnologies reflect upon the uncanny relation between death and technology and generate some unique responses to human mortality and possible apocalypse. By looking at how these projects push the limits of what is considered a proper burial, tribute, memorialization, and archiving, we can better understand our individual and collective responses to mortality and explore some unexpected uses of technologies.

Keywords:

• death
• apocalypse
• design
• data
• posthumanism
• theodicy

Acknowledgments

© Denisa Kera

Notes

1. Etoy Corporation, Mission eternity. http://missioneternity.org (accessed February 1, 2012).

2. Michele Gauler, Digital remains. http://www.michelegauler.net/projects/digitalremains (accessed February 1, 2012)

3. MyDeathSpace. http://www.mydeathspace.com (accessed February 1, 2012)

4. Svalbard Global Seed Vault. http://www.croptrust.org (accessed February 1, 2012)

5. The Tissue Culture & Art Project, Oron Catts & Ionat Zurr, NoArk. http://www.tca.uwa.edu.au/noark.html; Anna Dimitriu and Alex May, Biorecator. http://web.mac.com/annadumitriu/NF/BioReactor.html (accessed February 1, 2012).

6. Etoy Corporation, Mission eternity. http://missioneternity.org (accessed February 1, 2012).

7. Mission Eternity, Summary. http://missioneternity.org/summary/ (accessed February 1, 2012).

8. Etoy Corporation. http://www.etoy.com/blog/etoy-activities/?start=50 (accessed February 1, 2012).

9. Mission eternity status. http://missioneternity.org/mission-status (accessed February 1, 2012).

10. Biopresence. http://biopresence.com (accessed February 1, 2012).

11. The Tissue Culture & Art Project, Oron Catts & Ionat Zurr, NoArk. http://www.tca.uwa.edu.au/noark.html.

12. Anna Dimitriu and Alex May, Biorecator. http://web.mac.com/annadumitriu/NF/BioReactor.html (accessed February 1, 2012).

13. Svalbard Global Seed Vault. http://www.croptrust.org/main (accessed February 1, 2012).