Code, Desire and Conjuring: On the Magic Fabric of Contemporary Computing Technologies
In this paper I endeavor to bridge the gap between the concepts of magic and of digital technology. I do this by focusing on the intersection between the magic spell and software or code. By scrutinizing the interplay between the (magic) formula and the way it is performed in order to achieve a spec...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Bologna
2021-02-01
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| Series: | img journal |
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| Online Access: | https://img-journal.unibo.it/article/view/12266 |
| _version_ | 1818881783478878208 |
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| author | Heiko Schmid |
| author_facet | Heiko Schmid |
| author_sort | Heiko Schmid |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this paper I endeavor to bridge the gap between the concepts of magic and of digital technology. I do this by focusing on the intersection between the magic spell and software or code. By scrutinizing the interplay between the (magic) formula and the way it is performed in order to achieve a specific impact, it becomes possible to describe a close proximity of the magic formula with contemporary software. Today, digital machines and their relevant algorithms are almost exclusively seen in the light of a narrow rational and technical concept. Historically, the ‘use’ of technology is much more diverse, and I argue out of this perspective that it is time to historicize the working structure of digital machines in a way, that they can be embedded within the long history of magic conceptions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T15:07:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-746a049c2e504a4786e7f7db9ca8878b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2724-2463 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T15:07:21Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | University of Bologna |
| record_format | Article |
| series | img journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-746a049c2e504a4786e7f7db9ca8878b2022-12-21T20:16:24ZengUniversity of Bolognaimg journal2724-24632021-02-01339640710.6092/issn.2724-2463/1226610571Code, Desire and Conjuring: On the Magic Fabric of Contemporary Computing TechnologiesHeiko Schmid0Zurich University of the ArtsIn this paper I endeavor to bridge the gap between the concepts of magic and of digital technology. I do this by focusing on the intersection between the magic spell and software or code. By scrutinizing the interplay between the (magic) formula and the way it is performed in order to achieve a specific impact, it becomes possible to describe a close proximity of the magic formula with contemporary software. Today, digital machines and their relevant algorithms are almost exclusively seen in the light of a narrow rational and technical concept. Historically, the ‘use’ of technology is much more diverse, and I argue out of this perspective that it is time to historicize the working structure of digital machines in a way, that they can be embedded within the long history of magic conceptions.https://img-journal.unibo.it/article/view/12266magiclanguagedesiredigitizationinterface |
| spellingShingle | Heiko Schmid Code, Desire and Conjuring: On the Magic Fabric of Contemporary Computing Technologies img journal magic language desire digitization interface |
| title | Code, Desire and Conjuring: On the Magic Fabric of Contemporary Computing Technologies |
| title_full | Code, Desire and Conjuring: On the Magic Fabric of Contemporary Computing Technologies |
| title_fullStr | Code, Desire and Conjuring: On the Magic Fabric of Contemporary Computing Technologies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Code, Desire and Conjuring: On the Magic Fabric of Contemporary Computing Technologies |
| title_short | Code, Desire and Conjuring: On the Magic Fabric of Contemporary Computing Technologies |
| title_sort | code desire and conjuring on the magic fabric of contemporary computing technologies |
| topic | magic language desire digitization interface |
| url | https://img-journal.unibo.it/article/view/12266 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT heikoschmid codedesireandconjuringonthemagicfabricofcontemporarycomputingtechnologies |