we make debt

For sale now, $1285 at Intersection for the Arts. The price of...

matterinthewrongplace — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 23:49:00 -0800

For sale now, $1285 at Intersection for the Arts. The price of one college credit.

Debt makes me

matterinthewrongplace — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:47:45 -0800

Debt makes me

NOW HIRING

matterinthewrongplace — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:07:00 -0800

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Actress with Debt (potrero hill)

Date: 2012-02-19, 4:10PM PST
Reply to: q4rzc-2860168193@gigs.craigslist.org ^{[Errors when replying to ads?]}

I am a female artist working on an installation about student debt.
I am in search of a bold actress that has moral and financial issues with debt that she can draw from for a dramatic interactive performance.
There will be video and photo documentation of the final work and the process.
The culmination for the project will be on May 10.
Preparation will take place over three short meetings. I’m very flexible with meeting time and location.
I can offer the right candidate $200.

it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

Compensation: $200

PostingID: 2860168193

Photo

matterinthewrongplace — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:21:00 -0800

This is my drawing of a drawing by Richard Serra, out-of-round...

matterinthewrongplace — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:30:00 -0800

This is my drawing of a drawing by Richard Serra, out-of-round X, 1999, Paintstick on handmade Hiromi paper, 79 ½ x 79 inches, Private Collection. Mine was made while listening to a podcast about feminist economics:

Nancy Folbre: Women’s Work and the Limits of Capitalism | The New School (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNBQU_ESqtw)

This speech is so important for the simple way that Nancy highlights the market and GDP as the only assessment technology to determine the value of stuff. What doesn’t fit into the market— care, unquantifiable labor, etc, is undervalued because it is not traded. She states that half of labor is unpaid and rightly so, because it has a different logic. How then, can we adjust a value system to support those who care or do other necessary work to maintain society without flattening the work of love into a simple neoliberal transaction? If we could do that, might we pay our debts back without playing along with constant work cycle— valuing our time when it produces money to pay off more debt, to consume more.

My drawing is based on an interview I did with a student early on in my research, and the transcript is here. When I remade the physical image of her debt, which was based very much on my hypothesis of Richard Serra’s work as physicalized debt, I had a moment that felt really valuable, a small connection was made between the Serra-form and the debt-form, through my own action. I wonder what to call this work— is it that I am completing a cycle, making a new connection, or revealing one that was already there?

Press Play on this video, then scroll down and watch its younger...

matterinthewrongplace — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:31:34 -0800

Press Play on this video, then scroll down and watch its younger sister.

This video is based on an activist video produced by Richard...

matterinthewrongplace — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:29:00 -0800

This video is based on an activist video produced by Richard Serra and Carlota Fay Schoolman in 1973 (www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbvzbj4Nhtk), entitled Television Delivers People— a clear and simple description of popular mass media as an instrument of social control.
The relationship Serra proposes in the video places the viewer of TV as the consumed, and the advertising corporation as the consumer.
In this video, select language is replaced (key below) from Serra’s original work to
recontextualize the video’s message to critique education as an instrument of subordination through debt control. Television = Education Advertiser = Customer Mass = Infinite Media = Debt People/Employees = Students Propaganda = Learning Entertainment = Art 75% = 1 trillion News = Debt Corporations = Student loan companies Shareholders = School

"Authoritarian religious thinkers construe an existential debt owed to their parents, while ethical..."

matterinthewrongplace — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:14:00 -0800

“Authoritarian religious thinkers construe an existential debt owed to their parents, while ethical religious thinkers construe an existential debt owed to their children. These are not necessarily incommensurable, as for example when one envisions ones descendants as being of the same pool as ones ancestors, and especially when one considers that oneself might BE one’s own ancestor or descendent….”

- Peter H. Duchemin

Photo

matterinthewrongplace — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:44:00 -0800

Video

matterinthewrongplace — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:36:41 -0800

This week was the first of two town hall style meetings held at...

matterinthewrongplace — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:30:09 -0800

This week was the first of two town hall style meetings held at CCA, hosted by President Steve Beal to begin a conversation about financial transparency. It took place about 5 weeks after I wrote him a letter inviting him to meet and discuss the psychological implications of debt on students, and CCA’s role in that. Administrators from every department were present, about 15 staff and about 15 students attended.

I learned that California College of the Arts has a $73 Million Dollar Budget
The breakdown:
27% Financial Aid
23% Instruction
18% Admin Salaries
9% Employee Benefits
5% Plant Operations
5% Old Debt Service
4% Printing
4% Contracts
4% Other
3% Travel

_____________

73 Million Dollars

94% of the total budget comes from tuition
6% auxillary/ gifts
_____________

Financial Aid is 27% of the Budget

$34 million total in scholarships, grants, loans, employment
$19 million in scholarships
Average student scholarship is $13,000

Internalization, Foucault's Subject and Power

matterinthewrongplace — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:02:14 -0800

One of the greatest symptoms of debt, or of which debt is a symptom is this internalization of responsibility, shame, and guilt that renders an individual separate from a collective and its power. When reading Mark Fisher’s Capitalist Realism, he extends what Foucault wrote in two pages and places it in a few cultural and personal scenarios, grounding it in the education system because he is a teacher. (if you want a copy of the book, email me and I’ll send you the pdf). Here is a summary of the Subject and Power by Foucault that I wrote last year, that continues to influence how I read economic texts. Shout out to T.Purves. Caution: this is not good writing, but if you’d like a refresher this will do it.

Power requires a relationship between two entities. These entities are made of humans or institutions who become subjects. They may turn eachother into subjects through their relationship, or one entity might imprint the other so that the latter actually objectifies themselves based on the other entity’s principals.

The imprinting of individuals by a governor is done by committing to a rationale, which is like a social contract. Everyone in a community gives tacit consent to hold this rationale as a common denominator that lets society keep working as it does. The inability for a subject of this rationale to disagree or argue against this tacit truth is that if they do, they are irrational, wrong, and objectified as such.

Power relations happen through unequal oppositions between people and they are ‘transversal’. The individual’s struggle against power aims to change the immediate effects of the power, but are often shortsighted and do not confront the source of the inequality. Often the subject struggling against the effects of power is an individual, whose self perception as such is defined by the entity who holds the power. Their worth as an individual is tied up in the value system that has distributed the power. Thus when the individual attempts opposition, they also bring into question who they are without the identity that they have formed in the shadow of the power distributor. This deeply imbedded rationale is a technique and a symptom of the exertion of power.

Since the Middle Ages a new kind of political power has developed— the state is an individualizing and totalizing power which originated in Christian institutions. Pastoral power offered salvation in the next life as a bribe for compliance. The offer has recently been updated to offer rewards for participation in the various forms of standards of living such as healthcare and security. We must liberate individuals so that their primary individuality is not that which they were issued by the state—so their greatest goal is not gov’t issued standards of living.

Power is not the way that one entity exerts authority on another or the consequences of the transmission of power: communication, objectification, violence, consensus. It is when the other does not play back as an equal and struggles in response. Struggle requires and original freedom— something to defend, and the struggle happens because there is not consent to the transference of their rights to this freedom. For example, slavery is not a power relationship because one man is already in chains.

Contemporary models of power relationships exist in institutions, who have their own systems of implementing and maintaining power. A relationship of power has a perpetual tension that could allow for something to break into an adversarial relationship instead of power. This tension has to do with the strategies of struggle chosen by the individual in that position. Domination happens by way of the added strategies of the authority and the subject engaged in game or war.

I submitted a project to Good Magazine to support my creation of...

matterinthewrongplace — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:16:12 -0800

I submitted a project to Good Magazine to support my creation of a currency, as well as to use the opportunity to cause others to make their own currencies— to flood old monetary systems with new money. BECAUSE WE CAN. While it seems ironic to ask for money to do this, I think it is worth taking the chance on money to make different money as well as for using internet attention as a platform to beat the impenetrable deaf dead horse.

Money is a promise, and we’ll never run out of those. I will make a unique currency to use for trade. You should too, and I’ll help you get started. Let’s flood the market of every day transactions with temporary, unique, homemade currencies and be surprised at the possibilities of exchange.

About my currency:

I have collected all receipts from December 2011. I have divided the receipts into either ‘groceries’, ‘eating out’, ‘transportation’, ‘health’, and ‘various’. All the money I spent on these things is pure debt from Sallie Mae and a personal loan. The receipts, in their groups, have been paper mached into rocks, and are being cast into metal. More details as they become available including exact numbers for the receipts, cost of production and use.

MVI_0506 by pannicle on Flickr.Debt in Motion, as part of...

matterinthewrongplace — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:10:46 -0800

MVI_0506 by pannicle on Flickr.

Debt in Motion, as part of January 20th West Coast Occupy Actions. Video by MM.

Photo

matterinthewrongplace — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:16:47 -0800

Trust and Credit Reports

matterinthewrongplace — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:15:33 -0800

When an American is in a difficult financial situation, they do not look to neighbors, instead they reach for a credit card application. Many prefer to trust in anonymous corporations for their ‘uncomplicated’ and immediate service. In order to receive credit from an institution, credit reports have become the device that one proves their credit ‘worthiness’. Both as a way to measure current success as a consumer and for building a narrative of healthy credit that will extend into future credit opportunities and their relative ratings, credit reports rate an individual’s trustworthiness. A trusted consumer rating potentially allows for more credit, more ratings—leading into an infinite future of credit options for permanent indebtedness. Three credit rating agencies:

Equifax: approximately evenly signaling one’s intentions.

equi- prefix meaning “equal, even”

fax- suffix, short for facsimile (telegraphy: signaling one’s intentions).

Experian: approximately deprived of that which surrounds a flower OR upwards beyond gracious OR without an account of a toilet.

ex- prefix, in English meaning mainly “out of, from,” but also “upwards, completely, deprive of, without,” and “former;”

perianth- suffix, “envelope of a flower,” “that which is round the flower,” from anthos “flower”

per- “through, during, by means of, on account of, as in, across, beyond”

Ian

masc. proper name, Scottish form of John. John is “gracious”, toilet, or shortened from “gendarme”; men at arms or military police

-ian

variant of suffix -an used with stem endings in -i, from L. -ianus (-anus). In M.E., frequently -ien, from words borrowed via French.

Trans Union- approximately beyond oneness.

trans- prefix meaning “across, beyond, to go beyond,”

union- “oneness, unity, a uniting,” also in L. meaning “a single pearl or onion,” from unus “one”

It is hard to evaluate the trustworthiness of a person. If a friend cannot loan money to another in need, it might be understood as a rejection to the potential borrower or the hypothetical loaner could be seen as insufficient because they don’t have ‘enough’ to give. In the complex narrative of lending within a community, there is a possible negative outcome. Corporations however, through the loan technology designed since the 1980’s, made it easier and easier to say yes. Subprime loans and toxic credit of all kinds created a culture of uncontrolled, unwarranted growth. “No” became a very rare response to an American. If everyone lives on credit, they can never loan to eachother, because they don’t actually ‘have’ anything to ‘loan’. All they can do is recommend the financial institution that gave them their ‘credit’. I think this impacted interpersonal relationships—because corporations garnered more trust (in the form of money and lifespan) than families or communities. Perhaps financial institutions took on what was formerly a very important function of the family when it monopolized credit. It is very different to owe family or friends money than it is to owe the Bank of America.

Video

matterinthewrongplace — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:15:06 -0800

debt visualization and analysis: 98,000

matterinthewrongplace — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:01:00 -0800

1. “As I get closer to it (the debt) the wind picks up. There are dead dry leaves in the air.

The wind is a natural force, representative of the real superpower, nature, which not even economic forces can control.

2. It seems so far away, it looks like a huge pointy skyscraper, pointy, sharp at the top.

The distance and the pointy form were hard for you to approach, the walk was strenuous because your fear slowed you down. The Pointy form in the sky is reminiscent of a sword growing out of the earth instead of plunging in like King Arthur would have had it. Is it a weapon that protects the earth from us by slowing us down with guilt and fear?

3. It’s gray, no clouds. Farm fields surround it, the ground is dewy, bare, with short dead grass.

The environment seemed like some type of aftermath caused by the debt form. It was withered, tired. It was not alive, but was it dead? Had it ever been alive?

4. I’m completely alone.

Isolation from other people, you were the only person who could see this debt. Debt is individualized, it cuts one off from others due to feelings of shame and responsibility.

5. As I get closer the atmosphere turns to fog. There seems to be a power coming from the building, but it’s behind it or from within it, it is hidden.

Fog, mysterious power distorts your perception, creates fear and privacy, clouds transparency, keeps you from truth.

6. I’m at the front door, I can’t see the top of the building.

Perspective lost because of the grand scale, you couldn’t really see what you were looking at.

7. The farmland goes right up to the building, the building goes deep down into the ground and up higher than I can see.

Deep relationship with the earth, the growth of the debt out of the earth, or at least its rootedness deep in the soil represents an awareness of a force that develops like nature but with different energy and consequences.

8. At the door. It won’t open, there’s no handle, no hinges. It’s cold, I can push on it, it’s set inside of the building, just a little bit. I don’t want to be around this building.

Repelling qualities remained even though you continued to approach it, you are afraid of it but you won’t let it stop you

9. The building is made of a hybrid plexi-glass, mirror and metal. It’s very cold, metallic blue.

Metallic materials are a representation of power and wealth, sterile, conductive, reflective, slick, sharp. Far from human.

10. The building is pristine, like no one has ever touched it. If I touch it, it hurts my fingers, it is so hard.

Pristine, impenetrable un-organic, inhuman, artificial, toxic.

11. It’s been here for a long time. When I look at where the building meets the soil, it looks like the soil was placed around the building, because the building has been here longer than the farmland.

Longterm existence indicated by its existence preceding the land, this is an ancient social construction

12. It feels like it landed here. It is not a human’s project. It is not permanent, it could leave.

Alien origin is not ‘natural’ the way we think of nature, but is not man-made either.

13. The only thing that could move it is itself. A million people couldn’t change it.

Un-changeability, powerlessness is indicated by its long staying time and your awareness of your relative scale and strength. You knew by looking at it you could not defeat it. This is a sign of surrender, which is your choice.

14. I have no idea what is inside of it. I can’t see anything inside because it’s so silent.

Mysterious silent contents didn’t let you understand the interior of the structure, but you were still privy to its power—it communicates its power in different ways

15. I can’t climb on it without sliding down. I get delusional and believe I can climb it, but then I can’t.

Passive relationship to it did not allow you to mount it, or have any lasting effect on it.

16. I feel defeated by it. Nothing can grow because of it. It’s causing the farmland to die.

Defeating of self, you didn’t allow yourself to defeat it, but you were able to leave it and return to your life.

17. It’s sucking life out of land. I want it to go away but I don’t know what’s inside it that’s killing the environment.

Killing everything the toxicity of the form, its mysterious murderous powers decimated the landscape, leaving you as the last living thing. You have to be resilient to avoid the same fate.

Thanks to those who attended the tour. We did a lot of work...

matterinthewrongplace — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:48:26 -0800

Thanks to those who attended the tour. We did a lot of work renegotiating the meaning of debt. The transcript and slideshow will be here very soon. If you took photo or video of the tour, please send it along to cassie.thornton@gmail.com

URGENT DEBT TOUR TODAY- SUNDAY JANUARY 11, 3PM MEET AT THE...

matterinthewrongplace — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:19:00 -0800

URGENT DEBT TOUR

TODAY- SUNDAY JANUARY 11, 3PM

MEET AT THE RICHARD SERRA WALL TEXT