[AktiviX-discuss] [Fwd: Re: [anarchist.academics] Liberation Writing]

[mp]

anarchist/radical researchers in need of a site or environment for exchange:

-------- Original Message --------

Hey folks--

      Jamie, you sweet guy, I really like your vision!  The way you
break down the kinds of things that potential collaborators would want
to know about one another (fantasy projects, works in progress, writings
available, what they are reading/have read/would like to read,
areas/topics of interest, affiliations, kinds of help asked for/offered,
etc.) is really very concrete and helpful.  Add to that a space for
"external" prompts (Calls For Papers/Contributions/Interventions,
upcoming events/zine issues/classes/demos/gatherings/conferences, etc.)
and you've really got a terrific growth medium for collaboration, both
in and out of the academy.

      Anton-- thanks for sharing the ARC website; I love the word
"collaboratory," a most precise portmanteau, though ARC per se seems
like a much more closed and elite version of the concept than what I or
Jamie was imagining.

      Uri, you suggested we.riseup.org -- could all of these things be
implemented there gracefully?

      --Jesse.

On Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at  5:01 PM, Jamie Heckert wrote:

> Dear all,

After reading this recent thread, I find myself having fantasies -
fantasies of taking Jesse's vision in new directions. They come from
my own ambivalence about whether I might ever get paid by a university
again and from a desire for (& appreciation of!) connection with other
radical writers, whether academic or otherwise. I've also been
provoked by mp's personal campaign against facebook/myspace (on the
knowledgelab list) to think about what kind of autonomous/open/libre
alternatives there are and could be. I've been thinking, how to
address Jesse's concerns as well as these others?

And I've been getting these visions of a multi-lingual social
networking website focused around the theme of Liberation Writing,
inspired both by the PGA hallmarks and an explicit ethic of
solidarity/mutual aid/care and with an open source policy for both
code and content.

I'm seeing this site being used by practitioners of academic,
journalistic, theatrical, poetic, lyrical, agitational, polemical &
other forms of writing as well as publishers, zinesters, radical
education projects, keen readers & translators.

I'm imagining profiles for individuals & collectives where folk can:

* describe their fantasy projects (things they would love to see
happen and may or may not put energy into if others
inspire/collaborate/request/support)
(I have =so= many -- and I'm sure it's not just me...)
* describe works in progress
* list writings available
* say what they are reading, have read & would like to read
* blogs - writers on writing, fragments of writing, etc
* post weblinks
* give status updates/microblog (one of the things I really appreciate
about facebook)
* describe areas/topics of interest
* list affiliations to institutions, projects or movements
* &, of course, say whether they are looking for collaborative
partners, including "academic cooperativism"
* and/or to ask for/offer other kinds of help (proof-reading,
translating, editing etc)

I would appreciate the function of subscribing to others' profiles
without having to declare the interest in the writings of others a
"friendship" & without it having to be mutual.

I can also imagine space for

* book & other media reviews
* stories from conferences/gatherings/meetings/events
* directory of radical publications & publishers
* calls for contributions (including academic papers)
* Reading lists
* Groups (like on livejournal or facebook sort)
* Resources for/from local writing groups & related projects
* Discussion forums

I would hope such a website would nurture both local and transnational
connections.

I offer this fantasy freely to be ignored, modified, implemented,
played with, or whatever.

Warm wishes,
Jamie
_______________________________________________
anarchist.academics mailing list
anarchist.academics at lists.mutualaid.org
http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/anarchist.academics
free hosting provided by http://www.mutualaid.org/