Beyond the Archive: Bit Mapping
Wolfgang Ernst

Recently a 'spatial turn' has been announced in Cultural Studies. In digital operations, though, 'space' is nothing but a metaphor. 'Mapping' therefore should be taken in its mathematical, topological sense, in order not to confuse imaginary (iconic) with symbolic (indexical) operations in cybernetic aggregates and physical networks. Media-archaeologically seen, cyber'space' is not about images, sounds or texts, but about bits; thus the cartographic or mnemotechnical approach is misleading. This opens new horizons for search operations in the 'Media Art Net' which will be addressed in this text. [more]

Terminology Mapping as visual metaphor Mapping as mathematical topology Digital mapping Dynamic operativity Heterotopics Maps and diagrams Datastreams behind the metaphors