Video Mind, Earth Mind is a collection of texts (1968-1991) by Paul Ryan offering ideas about how video and television can be used to respond to our ecological crisis. For example, Mr. Ryan presents the development of a teachable method for using video to interpret the natural world. Based on this method, he articulates a systemic way of using television to ground human communication in ecological systems. He argues that grounding our television communications in ecological systems will help control our runaway destruction of this planet and shape ways of living on earth that are sustainable.
"...one of the most comprehensive visions for the potential use of television and video to reconnect humanity to the 'natural' world is found in the work of the ecologist/artist Paul Ryan." (David Dunn, International Society for Art, Science, and Technology)
"Both the ecological possibilities of TV and the problems of fascistic domination of it have been grasped by Paul Ryan - artist and polymath - subtle, complex and relevant...Ryan proposes that we generate feedback by television from the scientifically informed, thousand eyed 'demos' the people. This is something new under the sun...Hierarchy and patriarchy are no longer assumed. Assumed, rather, is a decentered, democratic system in which we all can contribute in unpredictable, self-correcting ways." (Bruce Wilshire, Rutgers University)
"...Preeminent THINKER among his contemporaries in vides." (Arthur Tsuchiya, Artist, Media Arts Administrator)
"...Peirce's theories lucidly presented in relationship to video." (George Stoney, New York University)
"Ryan('s)...relational circuit...combines hierarchy, topology, intransitivity, and completeness in such a way as to fulfill all the conditions imaginable for 'a sign of itself'..." (Myrdene Anderson and Floyd Merrill, Purdue University)
"...working in an American tradition of theorizing exemplified in the work of Buckminster Fuller and John Cage...Ryan's goal of using video for local monitoring of the environment challenges all the received categories for...representations...science, art, and politics...the logic and strategy for the realization of this goal establishes Ryan as one of the most innovative explorers working today addressing the operations of an electronic civilization in its own terms." (Gregory Ulmer, Florida State University)
"Both the ecological possibilities of TV and the problems of fascistic domination of it have been grasped by Paul Ryan - artist and polymath - subtle, complex and relevant...Ryan proposes that we generate feedback by television from the scientifically informed, thousand eyed 'demos' the people. This is something new under the sun...Hierarchy and patriarchy are no longer assumed. Assumed, rather, is a decentered, democratic system in which we all can contribute in unpredictable, self-correcting ways." (Bruce Wilshire, Rutgers University)
"...Preeminent THINKER among his contemporaries in vides." (Arthur Tsuchiya, Artist, Media Arts Administrator)
"...Peirce's theories lucidly presented in relationship to video." (George Stoney, New York University)
"Ryan('s)...relational circuit...combines hierarchy, topology, intransitivity, and completeness in such a way as to fulfill all the conditions imaginable for 'a sign of itself'..." (Myrdene Anderson and Floyd Merrill, Purdue University)
"...working in an American tradition of theorizing exemplified in the work of Buckminster Fuller and John Cage...Ryan's goal of using video for local monitoring of the environment challenges all the received categories for...representations...science, art, and politics...the logic and strategy for the realization of this goal establishes Ryan as one of the most innovative explorers working today addressing the operations of an electronic civilization in its own terms." (Gregory Ulmer, Florida State University)