Black Transparency: The Right to Know in the Age of Mass Surveillance

by Metahaven, Vinca Kruk (Editor), Daniel Van Der Velden (Editor)

Transparency used to be a noble modernist ideal, perfectly suited to design objects and institutions. More recently, in response to global political and economic developments, transparency became a loose set of strategies and tactics to scrutinize and expose the existing order--the behavior and secrets of governments, corporations and other organizations. The new transparency is vigilant, eclectic, immediate, and often humorous. From the revelations of WikiLeaks to the actions of Anonymous, it is more insurgent than institutional, and more civic than corporate, marking the emerging politization of a generation raised on global consumer culture. In Black Transparency, Metahaven investigates, questions, proclaims and illustrates design principles of this new movement and highlights its significance for architecture, art and design.

Genres: Politics, Technology, Nonfiction, Theory, Design, Art, Philosophy

150 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2012

About the author

The work of Metahaven consists of filmmaking, writing, design, and installations, and is united conceptually by interests in poetry, storytelling, digital superstructures, and propaganda. Films by Metahaven include The Sprawl (Propaganda about Propaganda) (2015), Information Skies (2016), Possessed (2018, with Rob Schröder), Hometown (2018) and Eurasia (Questions on Happiness) (2018). Publications include PSYOP (2018), Black Transparency (2015) and Uncorporate Identity (2010). Their work is screened, published, and exhibited worldwide.

Reviews

[Wim · Rating 4 out of 5]

waarschijnlijk het mooist uitziende boek in mijn boekenkast. in plaats van gaten in de plot zoals in het gemiddelde boek aldaar gaten in de cover hier. onderzoeks- en designstudio metahaven presenteert hier een bundel immens actuele essays over zgn. zwarte transparantie (i.e. onvrijwillige transparantie zoals toegepast door bv. klokkenluiders als tegenstelling tot "legitieme" transparantie zoals in theorie door sommige overheden toegepast) in een aanlokkelijke stijl die het midden houdt tussen onderzoeksjournalistiek, pittig opiniestuk en verhelderende uiteenzetting. indien geen interesse voor de essays, doorspekt met een hoop prentjes en infographics van gerelateerd werk van metahaven.

[Seb Choe · Rating 5 out of 5]

tight distillation of many wonderful sources, beautifully designed object of a book - pleasure to hold and read. MH has done all of the research for you and presents that research with conviction and poetry. very nice glossy images and diagrams of their design work - if you are interested in the political significance of wikileaks, Black Transparency is an engaging way to introduce yourself to an exciting and important conversation

so many great examples ranging from the offshore data haven at "Sealand", to the perception of social media's association with the Arab Spring and Egyptian Revolution of 2011, and the strange events springing up around Cameroon's ".cm" domain extension.

[T.j. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's good. Not great. Most of the information is covered elsewhere and in more detail. I also feel the plot was lost a few times on albeit interesting digressions. It's a solid concept that should be appreciated.