From: Reed Konsler (konslerr@mail.weston.org)
Date: Wed 21 May 2003 - 00:29:51 GMT
Wade,
OK, I think I understand the performance model except for a few details
that, maybe, you can help me wrap up. I assume that some kind of real
physical brains are required for a culture to exist. I think what you're
saying is that those physical brains aren't any different than a piano or
hammer, for instance...just much more complex. All those things are part of
the venue.
One thing I'm not sure of is how performances get translated. For instance:
1) Alan plays music for Bob. One performance-meme. Alan --> Bob
2) Bob writes music down on paper. One potential performance-meme.
Bob --> [Paper]
Now, if no one ever reads the paper, then 2 isn't a performance-meme because
there is no audience.
3) Charlie reads the music on the paper. Closure of one potential
performance-meme
Bob --> [paper] --> Charlie.
In this case, there is one performance intermediated by a material artifact.
4) Charlie plays music for Deacon. One performance-meme. Charlie -->
Deacon
Now, all that makes sense.
The thing I still don't understand is this: if we say that the
performance-meme is the unit of cultural selection, then how does it
translated between different media. For instance, there are two kinds of
musical performance-memes: playing and writing. From my perspective, they
are not the same performance-meme. Playing a piece of music is different
than writing it...part of a different venue. Yet, it also seems like they
ought to be the same, or at least very closely related.
If I assume that my brain is full of mind-memes there is a relatively
straightforward explanation for how the different kinds of performances are
related. All the performances, whatever the media, are outward expressions
of mind-memes that we can infer exist based on the performances. Individual
performances might be effective or ineffective at causing a proximate brain
to construct a similar mind-meme. Based on this model, cultural evolution
is a process whereby mind-memes collect into larger units (mind-viruses)
that express themselves. Selection favors mind-viruses that are effective
at causing proximate minds the construct, preserve, and propagate the virus.
Now, I see what you're saying...why talk about the mind at all? After all,
it is the expressions (or performances) that are obviously being selected by
cultural evolution. The mind-memes can only be inferred, while the
performance-memes can be seen. So, why not throw out the extra, abstract,
mind-meme? Occam's Razor, right?
I'm almost convinced. The question I have is, how are performance-memes
containing the same "information", but in different media, related? If I
think of it in terms of mind-memes, there is a relatively straightforward
answer. An individual meme may be a modular part of several different
mind-viruses. The "information" that is both in the written performance and
the playing performance is shared in common by two different mind-viruses
and these mind viruses are expressed differently. The musical information
thus has the advantage of having two vessels that might succeed in the game
of cultural selection.
You can think of an argument the same way. There is a model that you
advocate: The Performance Model. Based on the mind-meme model I would say
that this is a central collection of memes that is shared in common by
multitudes of mind-viruses in your brain, as well as those of several other
people, including mine. Every time you make a different argument it is a
novel performance leading me to infer the existence of some central
mind-virus which has a powerful influence over you. It isn't the individual
performances, from this perspective, but the model itself which you are
advocating.
If one points towards the Moon, only a fool looks at the finger.
Anyway, that is how I would use the mind-meme model to describe how the same
information can be translated and expressed in a number of different forms
and media. In fact, it is the variety of ways that the same information can
be expressed that leads me to infer that there is some collection of
mind-memes in the brain generating these expressions.
OK, one can argue that there is no "information" in a performance at all.
It just is a performance-meme. You can argue that nothing is transmitted
from one brain to another, depending on how rigorously or loosely you wish
to define the word "transmitted". I've read Saussure, and am familiar with
semiotics and that general kind of thinking so, OK, those are stands that
make sense.
What I don't get, and what I keep asking about is this: If a
performance-meme just is, itself, the unit of cultural evolution...why does
it appear that there are performances that mirror each other? If they
contain no inherent information and don't transmit anything other than
themselves from one place to another, how are performances translated into
completely different media with what often seems to be excellent fidelity?
How does a performance-meme maintain existence during the period that it
isn't being performed?
I've read the stuff about "cultural venue" but I still find it to be a very
vague and abstract term. When I ask "where do the performances go?" the
answer is "they are maintained in the cultural venue." That doesn't clarify
things for me. I suppose I'm asking where the things are physically
located. My natural assumption would be to say that the most important part
of the "cultural venue" is in the brains of the humans making up the
culture. For instance, all you need to have a performance of Macbeth is two
people and a space. Theaters, props, full cast and stage hands, audiences
and handbills, box offices and web sites...all that stuff is part of the
"cultural venue" but without the human brains none of it can actually
maintain a pre-performance-meme. On the other hand, a single human brain is
a sufficient cultural venue to maintain the pre-performance-meme, even if
the meme can't actually...I can't think of a good word here...materialize?
potentate?...until there is at least one other person to provide the
audience.
I would have a tendency to call that pre-performance-meme that is being
maintained in the portion of the cultural venue composed of human brains
(probably the most significant part) a mind-meme.
You seem to be arguing that there are two theories: performance-memes and
mind-memes. You hold that since performance memes are measurable and
mind-memes aren't, there isn't any reason to think of there as being two
different kinds of units of cultural selection. You would say that there is
only one: the performance-meme. Your arguments seem to center around this
key: mind-memes are abstract, vague, redundant, and they don't uniquely
explain anything.
The fact that I must infer the existence of something I can't see or measure
doesn't strike me as a reason to disregard a theory, so I'm not inclined to
say something is bad because it is abstract. Of the two concepts:
"mind-memes" or "cultural venue" I find the latter to be more vague. I
think the concept of mind-memes and mind-viruses provides an elegant
explanation for how there can be many performances in a variety of media
that are all "about the same thing".
Of course, I'm not trying to keep you from your life. I'm just trying to
think these things out. Any answers or corrections you could give me would
be appreciated.
Best,
Reed
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