Noise about the internet?

[Balor/SS1535]

I mentioned on the Canon thread how interesting it would be for Noise artists to explore the darkest depths of the Internet as a subject matter upon which base their music. Must admit that am kinda lost amidst what's been written on this discussion; but, in relation to noise about the internet in general, it's impossible not to think about N12's split with Taint, Candyman. The whole subject is absolutely fascinating, as it seems to be based on online events which happened during the early 00's, and as I mentioned, the way things changed and expanded during the last two decades make up a more than satisfying meal for conceptual inspiration. That being said, Pubic Eminence's My Private Showgirl, Encephalophonic's Hurtcore, alongside other releases, and some Wh and CE songs lightly deal with Internet topics. Nonetheless, since pretty much all of these stumble accross classic exploitation of perverse sex-related topics, I'm afraid they're not really focused on the wwws of the world more than a plataform for larger studies, as happened with what Candyman scrutinized in its subject matter. Does anyone know of more releases like the afromentioned? 'tis sure a great topic to discuss about.

The comparison to film from Ivan Rex is an interesting point, as I think it again raises the question of what the "about" specifically entails in this context.  There are fantastic and dark films about the Internet like Red Rooms that I thought were very effective.  At the same time, however, there are also thought-provoking but not "dark" films by people like Harmony Korine, which capture other aspects of the Internet beyond just its exploitative elements.

Bringing this back to noise, I feel as though many people are restricting noise to the traditional set of themes on abuse, violence, sex, and so on---when that is not necessary.  Those can all be valid themes, but noise can also be about essentially anything!

If anything, I think the back and forth on this topic comes significantly from a conservative perspective on what we want the genre to (not) be.

Just figured out you said what I just did, in other words. As Circle of Shit (I could be mistaken here, even though I highly doubt it) pointed out on a certain SI interview, "sex belongs to Noise just like Satan belongs to rock n' roll". I'm open to various themes, but hold no grudges towards the classic approach of the genre's masters. By the way, Gummo is one of my favourite movies ever. Which other Korine films were you referring to?

I come and go with threads like this, so apologies if I repeated something!  I generally hold no grudges either if there is some quality noise to back it up, but I am sick of people "obsessed" with "themes" who just produce generic-sounding work.

I love Gummo as well (and most of what Korine does), but I was more specifically thinking about Aggro Dr1ft and Baby Invasion.  It's not so much that the Internet is the specific theme of the movies so much as their style and "stories" are clearly informed by culture post-Internet.  Making noise about ADHD and the loss of focus could be a productive way to explore this topic, for example.

It occured to me earlier today as well that there was a seminar at my university that thought about pre-Internet literature that predicted or otherwise represented models of communication that are relevant in the age of the Internet.  Think, for instance, about how Burrough's cut-ups can be considered a model for hyperlinks.  I would argue that noise music going back to the late 70s has the potential to suggest ways of thought very significant to understanding what the Internet means for culture and society---such as Merzbow's long-running collages of culture in the 1980s, to how the origination of power electronics relates to the dissemination of "shock media" like gore videos.  I think there are many potential resonances to be explored, or, more specifically, interpreted out of already existing noise music.

[AASB]

how the origination of power electronics relates to the dissemination of "shock media" like gore videos.  I think there are many potential resonances to be explored, or, more specifically, interpreted out of already existing noise music.

This has always been kind of interesting to me, as someone in my 30's, I grew up with the early internet when these shock sites like rotten and ogrish were pretty popular. The transgressive aspect is kind of lost when its always been so readily available throughout your whole life, compared to the 70s and 80s when you had to actually seek out underground porno tapes or medical journals or whatever to find this stuff. I can definitely still appreciate the pre-2000s noise that made use of this stuff when it took more effort to find, but for more modern projects it can just start to feel goofy and antiquated with how self-serious it is (with some exceptions when there's a really clear motivation or concept behind it).

I am kind of surprised there isn't more noise that takes a more humorous approach though, like Ivan Rex mentioned. Something like Smell & Quim with a focus on internet shock media. The original popularity of a lot of shock sites was for pranks anyways, sending goatse or tubgirl to someone disguised with a link shortener to get them to click on it was always fun.