Abstract

Viet Cong and the Internet: Examining the influence of the Viet Cong on the development of current information technology. I would argue that in their (boys’ own) obsessions with whiz bang military hardware and the Soviet threat, North American (and americanophile) intellectuals have missed one obvious point. That the U.S. Defence Depart-ments research and development of the ARPANET, and thus the Internet, were directly influenced by the low tech. tactics deployed by the victorious liberation movements of South East Asia. Why has this been excluded from debate? Basically because the USA lost the Vietnam war, as a result this disastrous episode of US military history has been conveniently erased from the collective memory. Before the story of the Internet is completely etched in stone I would like to offer an alternative view to the dominant myth.

• Jonathan Swain, UK. Designing set and costumes for the Red Cabbage Cafe, a large scale expressionist theatre event at the Atlantis Gallery, Brick Lane, London. November 1997. Writing regular reviews of CD-Roms for Artist Newsletter; Writing a long critical biographical piece on mavarick film maker Jeff Keen for Creation Press. (to be published March 1998). Learning how to do watercolour painting for a specific installation piece as yet unsited. Creating small magical sculptures. Working on the early stages of Urban Vimbuza, part III, commissioned by the Bluecoat Gallery, Liverpool. June 1998; 1997 Interactive lecture about the work of Visual Stress. Bond Gallery, Birmingham; Peace is Tough. A Jamie Reid retrospective designed and curated exhibition. Artificial Gallery. New York City (and Tokyo, feb 1998); 3 video/computer projects for young people. Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne; Space Corridor, exhibited, designed and created, a group exhibition Phoenix Gallery, Brighton; Hydroponic installation, part of Cash Crop, Fabrica, Brighton; HipHopera, set and costume design with Lisa Vandy. Nottingham Playhouse; Black Mime Theatre, set design with Lisa Vandy.