Untitled Document

The Virtual Free University*

Title: VFU* Foundation Course Media Studies /Applied Technethics, De-Design and Human Ecological Recovery -

- Artificial Ignorance series # 110304:

Syllabus Abstract DRAFT

SubTitle: Victor Papanek vs. "Bucky" Fuller -

De-Design for "Effectiveness" vs. Design for "Efficiency"(Jaques Ellul) :

"Getting Real & Down to Earth" ( no "plastic fantastic" domes, but "warm & cozy" )

image from northern Europe

vs. "Plastic Fantastic" i.e.: cold as hell ("... Drop City is a f**ked up mess..." ) :

"Effective" in terms of the Ecology

The Swedish Composter:

From: pg. 52 The Last Whole Earth Catalog

U. of T. ENGI_CSCI STACKS TS199 .L37 ASK ATDESK BOOK

U. of T. STMICHAELS 2NDFLOOR TS199 .L37 1971 SMC BOOK

vs.:"Efficient" in terms of petrochemical agendas: Sieden pg.196-197

Priorities of Design: "De-Design for the real world" (overpopulation) vs. "Design" TV glitter type hype, with no concern for the human ecology:

"...Professor Fyodorov spoke first. Systematically, and methodically, he presented a checklist of all the factors mat he believed would have a bearing on the world economic situation in 2000. He extrapolated figures with respect to world population, world food supply, world supply of vital resources, and other parameters.

...Bucky started to speak. Within three minutes. he cast a spell over the entire group.

...In the midst of the applause following his talk. Professor Fyodorov whispered in my eat. "It was no contest." he said. "Mr. Fuller is the winner. Never in my life have I heard anything so wonderful. I am sorry he stopped so soon. Tell me. what did he say?"

'The professor was not being sarcastic. Audiences all over the world have had the same experience. They may not have known or understood quite what Bucky was saying, but they felt better for his having said it.'"

from Lloyd Steven Sieden : Buckminster Fuller's universe - an appreciation ( PDF cc. of pg. vii - ix )

(and no other mention of "world population" is made in the entire book)