info (english)
monochrom is an art-technology-philosophy group having its seat in Vienna and Zeta Draconis. monochrom is an unpeculiar mixture of proto-aesthetic fringe work, pop attitude, subcultural science, context hacking and political activism. Our mission is conducted everywhere, but first and foremost in culture-archeological digs into the seats (and pockets) of ideology and entertainment. monochrom has existed in this (and almost every other) form since 1993.
A blue whales main arteries are big enough for a human to swim through
Blue whales feed mainly on krill but also small fish and squid, that swim inside their enormous mouths. The blue whale has thousands of extremely fine teeth that allow water to filter out of the whales mouth, without the whales catch escaping. Apparently just one breath from a fully grown adult blue whale, will produce … Read more
Folks unite online to prevent a suicide
A postmodern morality play is unfolding online. We are still struggling to figure out what it means to be a human being on the internet. Anonymity makes communication easier, but it also makes it less meaningful. Can 30,000 strangers on the internet convince an anonymous person about which they know very little not to jump … Read more
Gender, Democracy, and philosophy of science
Feminist epistemologies and philosophies of science have challenged conventional standards for objectivity, rationality, “good method” and “real science.” This paper looks at the stronger standards for maximizing objectivity which feminists have demanded, and the challenges to conventional philosophies and histories of science arising from non-Western science and technology traditions. Sciences and philosophies of science which … Read more
The Goat That Ate Islamic Science: Was Islam too individualistic to support science?
The Ayatollah Khomenei once remarked that there are no jokes in Islam. If that is true, it is not for want of material. My latest favorite, related to me by Ibn Warraq, has to do with the rather unfunny hadith—one of the purported sayings and deeds of the Prophet and his companions—that requires death by … Read more
Mark Twain: The time (for his autobiography to be published) has come
The time for his autobiography to be published, that is. Twain left instructions not to publish his autobiography until 100 years after his death, and the century is finally up; you can read all about it at Guy Adams’s story in The Independent. Of course, most of the juicy stuff has been skimmed by biographers … Read more
Gone but never forgotten: monochrom’s “Nicholas Negroponte Memorial Cable”
“Nicholas Negroponte Memorial Cable”, our long-term installation at Schönbrunnerstraße 32 in Vienna had to be removed. But we cherish its former existence. Link (to enlarge and worship)
monochrom release in Graz: pictures!
Some pictures taken at our monochrom release party in Graz at Forum Stadtpark (June 7, 2010). Link
Children of lesbian parents do better than their peers
The children of lesbian parents outscore their peers on academic and social tests, according to results from the longest-running study of same-sex families. The researchers behind the National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study say the results should change attitudes to adoption of children by gay and lesbian couples, which is prohibited in some parts of the … Read more
Does Indonesian democracy stop in Papua?
Autonomy isn’t independence. Indonesian nationalists deny all ethnic and religious claims for separatism in the vast archipelago that makes up their country. But in Papua, people feel exploited, and threatened with cultural, and demographic, annihilation. Link