For the Power ReArrangers

I want to write about how great and emotionally powerful today’s protest was but since I had to leave once the general assembly started, I keep thinking about this picture instead. This image is taken from Appendix 2 of the FY2012 McGill Budget Book. It represents the organizational chart for McGill University. What you are …

Text of my speech from today’s amazing demonstration (pardon some of the odd punctuation–it’s for timing)

My name is Jonathan Sterne, I am a professor in Art History and Communication Studies and I am a member of MFLAG. First of all, I want to thank everyone who demonstrated for access to education in Quebec last Thursday. I stand with you, and I especially stand with those of you who were hurt, …

Riot Police Aftermath: Day 1 Report

Yesterday students, faculty and administrators began to react to the police invasion of campus and their abuse of students, protesters and faculty. There is much to report and much to say. 1. Here’s a CBC story, with video. What they left out was that Greg Mikkelson did try to leave campus and was blocked from …

Tuition Protest Yields Police Violence on McGill Campus

Yesterday, thousands of Quebec CEGEP and university students took to the streets to protest a proposed elevation in tuition and fees. The route brought people together near Berri-UQAM (a metro stop) and then back to the McGill campus. This is where things got ugly. Not only did someone call in riot police on the protesters, …

Really cool sound recording project

Aleks Kolkowski has been recording all manner of contemporary artists with a 1909 Edison wax cylinder phonograph. The results are pretty incredible. I am especially fond of the electronic music section for its historical juxtapositions. (laptop + circuit bent keyboards + who knows?) + cylinder = Meat Sweats Cylinder by phonographies Theremin + cylinder = …