A Crowded Apocalypse
In the Atlantean period there were many energies being used and information and knowledge being used which were, for particular reasons of safety, withdrawn, shall we say, to prevent complete catastrophe, to prevent total destruction of your planet
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David Icke, conspiracy theorist
Conspiracy theories are, by their definition, neither ultimately refutable or acceptable. In order to hold true, they rely on the acceptance that the full evidence is not reachable. They are based on a shared belief: the idea that each one of us is an unaware piece in a mysterious master plan.
Crowdsourcing, instead, makes this more transparent. Each user contributes to the creation of something which is bigger than the sum of each singular production. The final plan remains unknown, but it is actively produced by a large crowd.
IOCOSE has been drawing on crowdsourcing to hijack the collective imagination. From January until June 2012, the “crowd” has been assembling its own conspiracies and protested against their protagonists and effects.
NoTube Contest 2011
IOCOSE proudly presents The NoTube Contest
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0FWwh12-tk
*The NoTube Contest requires its participants to find the less
valuable video on YouTube*
When considering a video, the participant should make sure there is clearly
1) No reason to make it
2) No reason to publish it
3) No reason to watch it
The NoTube videos should have no value whatsoever!
This means: no funny videos, no narratives, no video art, no views, no
links, no keywords. Also, the NoTube Contest does not award video
makers.
The NoTube Contest is about exploiting the YouTube search engine and
finding, in its meanders, what was not supposed to be found.
–
PRIZE
The winner of the NoTube Contest 2011 will be the sole proprietor of IOCOSE’s
“1-view video” (2011)
a 24 hours long celebration streamed and recorded for the winner only.
Go on notubecontest.com
Submit your video, vote and share, but remember… only the LESS voted
will be shortlisted!
You have time until the 20th November 2011.
The shortlist will be evaluated by the special jury, composed by
Constant Dullaart
Geoff Cox
Marisa Olson
–
BIO
The group IOCOSE has been working in Italy and Europe since 2006.
IOCOSE works with camouflage, mimicry, fakes and pranks, mostly based
in news, social and mass media. Among its works, IOCOSE has hijacked
an exhibition at Tate Modern, invented a spam campaign for the Italian
Democratic Party, designed a religious hi-tech product based on
electric shock, crafted an IKEA guillottine, experimented a drug made
out of floppy discs, and organized an international contest for the
most valueless video on YouTube. IOCOSE has exhibited, among many
artistic contexts, at the Venice Biennale (2011), Tate Modern (London,
UK, 2011), Jeu de Paume (Paris, France, 2011), Fabio Paris Art Gallery
(Brescia, Italy, 2011); Pixxelpoint festival (Slovenia, 2008, 2009),
Shift festival (Switzerland, 2010), The Influencers (Spain, 2010),
Milano in Digitale (Italy, 2007, 2008, 2009).
In its previous editions, the NoTube Contest has attracted
international appraisal and coverage on newspapers and magazines such
as Wired UK, Liberation and FlashArt. It has been exhibited in various
formats at Jeu de Paume in Paris, BYOB at Venice Biennale, Raise your
Flag! in Barcelona.
Game Arthritis
Xbox-Hypertrophy
Game Arthritis
A work by Matteo Bittanti and IOCOSE
What are the real effects of digital gaming to our fingers, hands, and bodies?
The conformity of interfaces produces deformity. It’s a fact. Call it “the reality of the virtual”. Prolonged vicarious aggression lead to permanent physical disfiguration. Gaming activities produce real consequences for the users.
Research has been conducted for years in several clinical laboratories across the globe but doctors and researchers are not willing to share their findings with the general population. However, evidence of new technologically-induced diseases is now becoming known outside of the scientific community. These pathologies – labeled collectively “Game arthritis” – are officially not “recognized”.
The authorities have dismissed this hidden epidemic as “mass hysteria”. But according to some scientists – who speak under condition of anonymity fearing ostracization – these undiagnosed disorders are the psychopathology of ludic societies. Digital technology is indeed damaging users’ fingers, arms, postures… Even their DNA is compromised. Game arthritis is not supposed to exist. Game companies do not want to talk about it. Clinicians and dermatologists do not want to discuss it. Labs refuse to run tests. And yet, thousands of players manifest similar symptoms. Thousands of players feel real pain in their bodies. Affected subjects are not delusional. Photos and images are beginning to circulate on the internet.
We have collected a few samples.
In The Long Run by IOCOSE
In The Long Run (Trailer)
In the Long Run is a reconstruction of a possible future high profile media event. The death of pop star Madonna is described in a BBC News special edition, with a journalist and studio guest who go over the details of the fatal car accident, the statements of the VIPs and the reactions of fans around the world.
More info here
FloppyTrip
Hard disks get too old, keyboards lose their keys, modems break, disk drives run too slow, VHS don’t have a proper recorder anymore, wires get no plugs, screens fall apart. They are all abandoned somewhere, apparently useless.
What happens to these products when they are no used anymore and get trashed?
What is the best way to keep using these products anyway?
How can we exploit their potentials, their hidden qualities and unknown properties?
You can find an HowTo here
more info on the IOCOSE website
