method(ology)
- the main pad +commons architecture
The ends of this research project is to set up a platform where the knowledge on commons architecture is produced, reproduced and shared. Coming from a conventional architectural magazine experience for over 15 years , one of the tools necessary to implement is unlearning. Unlearning the conventional ways of running an architecture media includes both being open to new ideas and keeping the useful knowledge packages. It is not a lobotomy, it does not happen with the click of a finger, it is a (gradual) process. For me the dangers in this unlearning process are mainly technological determinism, deskilling, inertia.
I have started my professional career in a print magazine and took part in its transition into digital sphere. In years purely online publications like Archdaily and Dezeen have emerged, yet their modus operandi has been almost the same with the print magazines, where the editors employ authority in choosing which projects to be covered or not. So the internet technology, rather than providing some diverse platforms for dissemination of the content (e.g. social media) has not much affected the making of the architectural magazines. One can claim this is also the case for mainstream media outlets. So the truth about technology not defining the way architectural magazines are produced can be taken to the other extreme and one can easily find herself in a position of technological determinism, thinking all problems related to architectural publishing can be solved through introduction of existing or new technologies. So I have to be aware in that sense and not lose myself in trying to learn about new technologies, especially IT and cryptocurrencies. The general idea about transforming the hierarchical structure of architectural media production into a distributed network has to be there, yet this can still be implemented without me learning to code or diving into token based exchanges in-between the contributors of the Comma Network.
In my quest to disempower myself through moving from the top of the editorial structure to one of the editors and/or contributors and transformation of the hierarchical structure to a distributed network I have to keep some of my skills intact and continue nourishing them. My skills will be necessary in the production and sustaining of the Comma Network, just as much as anyone’s. So which skills to keep? Editing, communicating, getting in touch with people easily, connecting interrelated people or organizations to each other, collecting information and openly sharing it, doing care work, reading the room well to understand the sentiments and reasons behind sentimental behaviors, being proactive in detecting problems and solving them before things so out of hand. I will not specifically list the skills, which can be productive in another type of organization, that I will try to get rid of.
The third risk is inertia and is related to some of the skill sets I am trying to get rid of. In my previous work structure, I was the main decision-maker and now I need to change this into a collective decision making process, yet now there is only me who is working on to set up this new network. This causes some complications like me not trying to take a decision by myself, while I am alone in this. Then, here comes the inertia. The solution lies in keeping in mind and communicating openly that every bit of my production is and shall be subject to change.
Anti-tokenizm has to be implemented during the decision making processes and also I, along with the collective I am working together with, have to be careful in being subject to tokenizm processes, especially the ones coming from academia. Doing a PhD is not all about research, since you have to do it in a specific environment, called academia. So, how to approach academia and define my position within it? Considering I take a critical position towards anything I have two choices. First one is to try changing academy from within, and second is to keep our relationship at a minimum level. I chose the second option to direct my energy to change the architectural publication from within,
decentralisation
radically open
anarchism