This piece was so extremely fascinating to me, i was really enthusiastic about it. I also just reread “Meltdown” precisely yesterday, and I saw that Land had invented the term “singularity” about ten years before Kurzweil wrote a book about it of the same name, as he is usually credited for coining it. Also Land was really into the I-Ching, along with occult numerology. It’s creepy, I am writing a scholarly text on Land rn, but privately, I think there’s something kind of spooky about his prophecies and the CCRU. Also did you know that Kode9, who was in the CCRU and close with Land, technically coined “Sinofuturism”? (Which is to say that you’re correct, it was from the west and foisted onto the east.) Kode9’s debut album is titled “Memories of the Future” which feels really thematically relevant to what you’re writing. Also, Chinese cyclical time seems proven by America’s turning backward in time, and that no country—Rome, Germany, or the US—can lay claim to linear time, no exceptions. Emotions are really weird from within the US right now: I find myself rooting for China when I read the news, because I hate the US so much but it’s important not to let Land’s doomer charisma infect me and legitimize global violence by calling it cyberpunk.
I really need to read your text on Land when it’s out. Obviously some very interesting ideas and great names came from the CCRU (who doesn’t love Mark Fisher?) but their whole schtick with demons and the darker side of the occult I find to be extremely terrifying. That line of thinking is still around with newer l/acc groups like Urbanomic. Makes you think that the CCRU’s work is less like para academia and more like dark magic though I’m pretty sure that’s by design… and I get the same eerie-ness from Kode9’s Memories of the Future.
Always love your comments Geoffrey, thanks for reading and taking the time to share all these thoughts!
The "Chinese Century" is the current civilizational boogeyman to manipulate Western citizens into working harder and sacrificing more for GDP growth and military adventurism. It used to be that Soviet schools teaching advanced maths to middle schoolers (never mind Sputnik even) was enough to trigger that prerequisite shame and inadequacy deep in the American soul. Time progressed, and the anxiety of the Western elites about their full spectrum economic dominance being denied in China has spun them into a fury, and their only reaction can be hyping that jingoism of envy.
But whatever about the politics, reading this article made me realize that us old heads fucked up for not gatekeeping Cyberpunk through the 90s. It no longer sci-fi about dystopias or future economies- now it's simply a visual aesthetic often just comprising of a katakana chiron scroll over a cityscape with egregious steam vents. And neon.
When you think of Cyberpunk it's Bladerunner, the Matrix or some shitty anime produced by midwit gooners for their own kind. When I think of Cyberpunk it's Jack Womack, John Shirley, Gwyneth Jones, Gibson, Sterling or others etc. etc. usually explaining through beautiful prose how the world is going to suck (starting yesterday); no weeabooing required. I am glad to be me.
Despite the art looking like ass on IG, I will check out this exhibition.
This piece was so extremely fascinating to me, i was really enthusiastic about it. I also just reread “Meltdown” precisely yesterday, and I saw that Land had invented the term “singularity” about ten years before Kurzweil wrote a book about it of the same name, as he is usually credited for coining it. Also Land was really into the I-Ching, along with occult numerology. It’s creepy, I am writing a scholarly text on Land rn, but privately, I think there’s something kind of spooky about his prophecies and the CCRU. Also did you know that Kode9, who was in the CCRU and close with Land, technically coined “Sinofuturism”? (Which is to say that you’re correct, it was from the west and foisted onto the east.) Kode9’s debut album is titled “Memories of the Future” which feels really thematically relevant to what you’re writing. Also, Chinese cyclical time seems proven by America’s turning backward in time, and that no country—Rome, Germany, or the US—can lay claim to linear time, no exceptions. Emotions are really weird from within the US right now: I find myself rooting for China when I read the news, because I hate the US so much but it’s important not to let Land’s doomer charisma infect me and legitimize global violence by calling it cyberpunk.
I really need to read your text on Land when it’s out. Obviously some very interesting ideas and great names came from the CCRU (who doesn’t love Mark Fisher?) but their whole schtick with demons and the darker side of the occult I find to be extremely terrifying. That line of thinking is still around with newer l/acc groups like Urbanomic. Makes you think that the CCRU’s work is less like para academia and more like dark magic though I’m pretty sure that’s by design… and I get the same eerie-ness from Kode9’s Memories of the Future.
Always love your comments Geoffrey, thanks for reading and taking the time to share all these thoughts!
It'll never be our time to rule!?
Hahahahhah deaaad
I was getting my dragon robes ready.
The "Chinese Century" is the current civilizational boogeyman to manipulate Western citizens into working harder and sacrificing more for GDP growth and military adventurism. It used to be that Soviet schools teaching advanced maths to middle schoolers (never mind Sputnik even) was enough to trigger that prerequisite shame and inadequacy deep in the American soul. Time progressed, and the anxiety of the Western elites about their full spectrum economic dominance being denied in China has spun them into a fury, and their only reaction can be hyping that jingoism of envy.
But whatever about the politics, reading this article made me realize that us old heads fucked up for not gatekeeping Cyberpunk through the 90s. It no longer sci-fi about dystopias or future economies- now it's simply a visual aesthetic often just comprising of a katakana chiron scroll over a cityscape with egregious steam vents. And neon.
When you think of Cyberpunk it's Bladerunner, the Matrix or some shitty anime produced by midwit gooners for their own kind. When I think of Cyberpunk it's Jack Womack, John Shirley, Gwyneth Jones, Gibson, Sterling or others etc. etc. usually explaining through beautiful prose how the world is going to suck (starting yesterday); no weeabooing required. I am glad to be me.
Despite the art looking like ass on IG, I will check out this exhibition.
Their penises are too small to achieve a whole century
It certainly won't be a Hong Kong Century ;)
It certainly won't be a Hong Kong Century ;)
Great essay. Thank you. Thought you might also enjoy this:
https://chinaheritage.net/journal/sam-kriss-on-his-zombie-era-flow-aura-farming-the-end-days/