For better understanding of art operating systems here is an analogy running between computer operating systems and art operating systems:
Operating system |
Microsoft |
MAC |
GNU Linux |
How it works? |
Low customization, no possibility of self improvement – only professionals can adjust. |
No need to adjust, what you get is what works, if something stops working, get a new one. |
Highly customizing – everyone can improve, community based. |
Stratification |
Consumers, gamers, incognizant users… |
Young urban professionals. |
Autonomists, anarchists, geeks, enthusiasts. |
What is it based on? |
Profit |
Style |
Humanism |
Ownership |
Proprietary |
Proprietary |
Open source |
Orientation |
Hard-core neoliberal market. |
Upper-class market of aesthetics. |
Exchange markets. |
What is the relationship? |
Monopolistic |
Elitist |
From many to many |
Work and labour |
Classical capitalist exploitation system. |
Exploitation based on ideology of style. |
Sharing work flow, gift economy, high precarious element. |
Sustainability |
Depending on huge advertising machine, monopolistic and unsustainable. |
Depends highly on amount of people using it – small amount of professionals make it sustainable. |
Sustainable on many levels: adoptable, recyclable, high level of customization and localization. |
Waste and recycling |
Large amounts of e-waste created by advertising stronger, newer and better equipment cyclically. Old equipment is not recycled. |
Smaller amount of waste due to longer life span. Motto is “futurists don’t look back”, so there is no recycling involved. |
Opens up awareness and according actions to possibilities of recycling and reusing: software for older machines, less resources needed. |
Analogy to art system |
Profit based art system concerned with traditional gallery/museum model with pseudo-development. |
Elitist, aesthetics regarded as “something beautiful” system, where highly professional independent actors run art system based on novelty. |
Always changing, concerned with medium as much as with message, sustainable, localized, exchange makes it work, collaborative, always work in progress. |
Diagram shows art operating system with working in autonomy and dependant one in reference to computer operating systems.
- Click to enlarge