Jacob Hurwitz-Goodman
The Drone Is The Message
- 2020Written and directed by: Jacob Hurwitz-Goodman
Music by: mHz (millihertz.net)
Voiceover sound engineer: Alex W. Reeves, Point of Blue Studios
About text by: Drew Zeiba and Jacob Hurwitz-Goodman
Made in early 2020, this short film was Hurwitz-Goodman's response to and meditation on the drone assassination of Iran's Qasem Soleimani by the Trump administration, an event that was quickly overshadowed by the COVID19 pandemic and year of isolation, a time when the drone - as a remote, long-distance medium capable of delivering bombs or toilet paper or pure surveillance across great distances - seemed to be the totem for an emerging and brutal new virtuality.
The drones' use as tools of the state dovetails with their presence as increasingly affordable and powerful consumer devices, and once a new technology is universally established, it seems almost impossible to imagine life without it.
Like the internet itself before them, the technology of even the most innocuous of drones is deeply embedded within the military-industrial complex and their presence as simple photographic, consumer playthings has changed our minds—normalizing the militarization of technology and opening us up to accepting surveillance from the skies. The drone is the message, a message that is rewriting us.
Jacob Hurwitz-Goodman's documentaries and narrative films grant insights into the ideologies and overarching forces that influence and mold our world. Through his essayistic explorations, we are afforded the opportunity to perceive ourselves in new ways: as components within an algorithm too intricate to unravel. His work has appeared on the New York Times OpDocs, DIS.art, BBC, NBC, The Washington Post, and at festivals and museums worldwide.
Digital Series #1
CON GRAZIA
- Alex Murray
- Nicholas Korody
- Emma Charles
- Hashdox / Egor Kraft
- Jacob Hurwitz-Goodman
- Do Not Research
- Dana Dawud
- Jacob Broms Engblom
- Miglė Vyčinaitė
- New Scenario
- Rustan Söderling
- Alex Declino
Mediations; the infrastructure of our digital existence, the pervasive reach of surveillance, the fluidity of online identity, and the boundless possibilities of world-building. Each pixel, line of code, and digital construct serves as both canvas and commentary. The virtual bleeds seamlessly into the real, illuminating the myriad ways in which technology shapes, distorts, and enriches our lives.
Throughout our platform, we feature a rotating selection of works from artists at various stages of their careers, each bringing a unique perspective to the digital conversation. Despite their diverse methods and expressions, these artists share a common goal: to transcend traditional art world structures and engage audiences on new, digital terms. Each segment begins with a contribution from a theorist or platform that has significantly influenced the discourse around the theme, setting the stage for the artistic explorations that follow. These introductions, whether in the form of talks, readings, or essays, are not just preludes; they are integral parts of the narrative we weave. They provide context, provoke thought, and invite critical engagement. By integrating these contributions into our web interface, we ensure that each segment is both engaging and accessible, creating a rich, ongoing archive that serves as a resource for future exploration.
A journey through the digital—a slice of binary space where the boundaries of the real are constantly being redrawn, and where every work is an invitation to see the digital realm anew. As you navigate our platform, we hope you find it a space for both discovery and reflection. Here, art and technology converge, illuminating the complexities of our interconnected world.
This project is made possible with the support of the Swedish Art Council.