Atlas of Weak Signals

Already being introduced with in the first term, Atlas of Weak Signals seminar continues halfway the second trimester hosted by Marina Quintero as a series of seminars in which reflection stands central. Consisting of three sessions the course runs throughout the entire trimester.

Session 1: March 7th

Jose Luis de Vicente is a cultural researcher and curator working in the space between the arts, technology, and innovation. Since 2012 he has been an associated curator for FutureEverything. He is the curator of Sónar +D, the digital culture and creative technologies conference and exhibition part of Barcelona’s acclaimed Sónar Festival.

Jose started off with the question: "What is a job?". Some of the answers that were pointed out included the following:

• A trade of time.
• An exchange of efforts.
• A creation of self-worth.
• The generating of purpose.
• Motherhood
• Your role in your community.
• The repetition one does.
• The means by which the economy produces.
• The means by which the people develop their purpose.

In current times 99% of the people own 50% of all the money. Globally half of all the money is labour-derived while the other half is capital-derived.

Session 2: March 17th

José's second session started with discussing the definition of a nation state and the differentation between a nation and a state. We shared our identities and background by the following questions;

• Where were you born?
• Where were your parents born?
• How many passports do you have?
• What is your country's main problem?

Needless to say, globalization in the past decades led to differentiation of nations. People, races and cultures blend and mix causing a certain richness in diversity between person A and B. Questioning identities in a group of less than 30 people is seemingly capable to fade borders and accent uniqueness.