‘Matter’ reviewed by Mutable Matter blog
March 31, 2008Mutable Matter is "an interactive project about our relationship with matter – the stuff that surrounds us, that we are made of and that increasingly comes up in public debates around new technologies."
In a recent entry, the blogger, Angela, who is writing Mutable Matter as part of the research for her Open University Phd course, muses on the nature of matter in Matter, concluding:
"...in a way, Matter really is the parody of heroic fantasy/science fiction it appears to be at the beginning (only much darker and despite bouts of heroism from some of the characters) where the futility of war (especially upholding ‘noble aims’ in war), excessive monitoring and destruction with increasing levels of technologies, and the disturbingly purpose-giving, intoxicating effects of war are painfully rendered. Yet what happens in the novel is only painful, because the scenarios and wording ("appropriate level of interference") trigger parallels with past, but especially current, events: computerised warfare, monitoring of wars in 'less developed' countries (Rwanda is just one example), war-promoting regents with 'noble' intentions (e.g. George W. Bush) are just some examples.
It definitely makes for an interesting take on the book. Go, read, leave a comment if you feel so inclined. I'm sure Angela would appreciate the feedback.
