The term media archaeology

The term media archaeology was coined by Siegfried Zielinski in his book ”Archäologie der Medien. Zur Tiefenzeit des technischen Hörens und Sehens” (The Archaeology of the Media. On the deep time of technical seeing and hearing) in 2002. Zielinski takes time’s arrow out of the present and directs it via past events and persons to a possible future. His attention is focused on oddities that in his mind, are ”finds from the rich history of seeing, hearing and combining by means of technical tools”. Thus, he leaves the linear path of historiography and, through his finds, opens up different options of constructing the future.

International

The emphasis is on unearthing productions by women in the field of electronic arts, analysing their place in the overall historical context and making them visible for a wider public. With this research priority, the Institute could position itself at an international level and join the network of the few existing institutions that are also active in this field. In 2003, for example, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the most renowned institutions world-wide, published the book ”Women, Art, and Technology” edited by Judy Malloy. Within this research domain, the Institute should particularly focus on the acoustic arts in all their manifestations.

European Union

Co-operation at the EU level is becoming more and more important—not only with regard to the funding of individual projects, but also especially for content-related collaboration with other institutions. All over Europe, national support for culture tends to dwindle and a shift is taking place towards funds provided by the EU. Eligibility for EU funds, however, requires a well functioning institution that is capable of managing the organisational work involved. Given the Institute’s geographical location in the Bratislava region, co-operation with partners from other EU countries should be mainly orientated to Eastern Europe.

Regional

In the long term, the Institute of Media Archaeology could be well integrated into the overall structure of the Central Archaeological Depot in Hainburg that is currently being established. Concepts, such as an archaeology of knowledge or the method of an-archaeology (archos or leader in contrast to anarchos, the absence of a leader) are under discussion in international debates on media theory.

Furthermore, the Institute is to be active in transferring knowledge in the field of digital production. As is shown by a study on the situation and opportunities in the artistic and cultural area of Hainburg with a special focus on the new event facilities of the Central Archaeological Depot and the embedding of a new Institute of Media Archaeology into regional structures, there is demand for knowledge transfer, for example among the young people living in the region. It would also be possible to establish links to the Academy of Music in Bratislava and close co-operation with the Hainburg Music School.