Das Ding

Margarita Gehl, Jonas Peschel & Constantin J. Ruchay

Mixed Media - CRT TV, Remote, IR-Receiver, PC

70 x 120 x 70 cm

What if obsolete technology had a voice in today's society? Interaction with smart technology In a throwaway society where rapid technological change has become commonplace, the technologies of the past have neither a voice nor a place. CRT TVs and classic television have largely disappeared from our lives without us noticing. A medium that once conquered the world is now overshadowed by the internet. Television: A thing of the past. The installation "Das Ding" (German for "The Thing"), puts an old, forgotten CRT television in the centre of attention and tells an interactive story. With the help of text boxes and footage from the past, the TV communicates with the players. "Das Ding" is an experience. It triggers feelings of either regret, friendship or manipulation in both the player and the TV itself. The goal is to fulfil its original purpose: "Das Ding" wants to be watched. How would you answer if a television asked you a question? When it talks about its memories? About its feelings? About you? When you are abandoned by society, you have many questions. Think carefully about your answers, because "Das Ding" will draw its own conclusion. You are the ambassador of our society. We are living in a media driven and media dependent society. German media consumers spent an average of 238 minutes a day watching TV, 100 minutes listening to the radio and 149 minutes on the internet in 2021. * We live in a time where most citizens of Europe participate in constant media consumption: listening to music, reading the newspaper, scrolling through social media or listening to the radio. We are bombarded with media. The European Commision recently revised the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). The AVMSD strengthens the role of media literacy and requires Member States to promote measures that develop media literacy skills (Article 33a). A high level of media literacy is a key factor in enabling citizens to make informed decisions and is a requirement for a vibrant, modern democracy. A mindful approach to media consumption is more important today than ever before. "Das Ding" is a call to action to think about how the media influences our perception of reality. The television speaks in serious and comedic ways about its influence on culture, opinions and people's private lives. The questions posed by the TV encourage people to reflect on the way they interact with media content. For example, when the TV shows an exaggerated, fabricated commercial it asks the player about his ability to be influenced by advertising: "Do you believe all of this?" In another example, it asks the player about the role of media content in society: "It can't be all for entertainment, right?" "Das Ding" combines the aspect of media literacy with the aspect of sustainability.