Geoff Manaugh: Terrestrial Psychosis and the Rise of a Surrogate Earth


SONIC ACTS FESTIVAL – THE DARK UNIVERSE Geoff Manaugh: Terrestrial Psychosis and the Rise of a Surrogate Earth 23 February 2013 – De Balie, Amsterdam, the Netherlands --- Beginning with a brief survey of noteworthy or provocative discoveries in archaeology – from artificial mounds in Europe and North America to the use of muon detectors in determining the internal structures of ruined buildings – this talk will ask what it means for humans to discover that an apparently natural earth-form is, instead, entirely ‘manmade’: a kind of spatial prosthesis that is, in the most literal sense, extra-terrestrial, not part of the Earth but a cultural addition to it. Using a number of other examples, from artificial reefs and climate change to genetically modified ‘wild’ species, Manaugh discusses some of the unanticipated side effects of living on a planet and breathing an atmosphere that humans have, at least partially, produced. Los Angeles-based writer Geoff Manaugh (US) provides illustrated architectural news and conjecture on his well-known BLDGBLOG. He is a former senior editor at Dwell magazine, a contributing editor to Wired UK, and author of the BLDBLOG book.

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