ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT – MAGAZINE FOR IDEAS, FACTS AND FICTIONS
Academic rigour and entertainment, in-depth study and overview, the useful and the bizarre: ABSTRACT combines them all. Every issue of W.I.R.E.'s magazine grasps the challenges of our time by the roots and, in its search for answers, gives the movers and shakers from a wide variety of academic and practical domains the opportunity to have their say: from American media artist John Maeda and German theologian Ulrich Körtner to Mian Mian, the "bad girl" of the Chinese literary scene. Under the heading "Ideas", the magazine makes use of an analogue blog to present insights into current trends in trade and industry, politics, society and science. Alongside the facts, ABSTRACT also finds space for the whimsical – be it fanciful everyday gadgets or utopian inventions from science fiction. The readership of ABSTRACT includes scientists, managers, politicians, artists and all those who expect a bit more than the usual from a magazine.
Abstract No6 – 2011
WHAT REMAINS
A homage to the enduring
The recent currency crises and the occupation of Wall Street are putting pressure on capitalism, democratic movements in North Africa are putting an end to the tyrants. Old industrialised economies shake in their shoes as the emerging economies rise, digital media are emptying bookshelves. Whether you welcome these changes or fear for the accustomed ways you love: one thing is certain, our little planet is in a state of seething unrest at the moment. The public discourse is thus almost entirely preoccupied with change. The media report on radical new political and economic orders, bloggers outrival one another with news of the latest gadgets and technology trends in the digital parallel world. However, in the maelstrom of change one thing is forgotten: there are things that do not alter.
What remains unaltered throughout human history? What will remain of our culture? And why? Is it the nature of life per se to remain the same? Or is it the human wish to preserve?
With articles from Doris Leuthard, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Katja Gentinetta, Hans J. Markowitsch and Heinrich Steinfest.
Download article by Doris Leuthard
Download article by Heinrich Steinfest