Abstract
This essay, divided into two parts, deals with the subjective and objective connotations of drones as technological agents of global surveillance and war. The first part deals with a number of scenarios which explore the kind of dystopian subjectivity invested in drones and its implications for the future. The second part looks at some examples of contemporary art meant to awaken critical awareness and affective conscience pertaining to the uses of drone technologies.
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Notes
- 1.
www.airforce-technology.com/projects/x-45-ucav, accessed on June 23, 2013, and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-45.
- 2.
Kelvin Chan, ‘Taranis Drones Take Over the Skies,’ Red Ice Creations. www.redicecreations.com/articles.php?id=11793, accessed on June 23, 2013.
- 3.
For a very insightful description of Professor Sharkey’s cautionary reflections on the future of drone warfare, see particularly: Jason Palmer, science and technology reporter BBC News, ‘Call for Debate on Killer Robots’ BBC News, http://newsbbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8182003.stm, accessed on June 23, 2014.
- 4.
Lewis, Page, ‘Machine Rebellion Begins: Killer Robots Destroyed by US Jet,’ theregister.co.uk, September 15, 2009, accessed on April 30, 2013.
- 5.
‘US Drone Strike Targets Rescuers in Pakistan—and the West stays Silent,’ Glen Greenwald, The Guardian, www.guardian.com.uk/commentisfree/2012/aug/20us-drones-strike-rescuers-pakistan, accessed on December 12, 2012.
- 6.
http://notabugsplat.com/ (accessed on July 24, 2014).
- 7.
http://notabugsplat.com/ (accessed on July 24, 2014).
- 8.
Ibid.
- 9.
‘Vincent van Drone: They’re not just killing machines anymore.’ www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/war/130812/drones-art-dronestragram-whistler-bridle (accessed on April 15, 2014).
- 10.
Ibid.
- 11.
‘Art in the Drone Age: Remote-controlled vehicles now spy and kill in secret. What are artists doing about it?,’ www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/16183/1/art-in-the-drone-age (accessed on April 15, 2014).
- 12.
‘Vincent van Drone: They’re not just killing machines anymore.’ www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/war/130812/drones-art-dronestragram-whistler-bridle (accessed on April 15, 2014).
- 13.
James Bridle, Drone Shadow Handbook, http://booktwo.org (accessed on July 24, 2014). On his site, Bridle also offers ‘DIY Drone Shadows,’ a free electronic download of the Drone Shadow Handbook with instructions for creating drone shadows: “For some time, I’ve wanted to open up the project, so that anyone can draw one. With this in mind, I’ve created a handbook, which gives guidance on how to draw a drone shadow, including advice on measuring and materials, and schematics for four of the most common types of drone: the Predator, Reaper, Global Hawk, and Hermes/Watchkeeper.”
References
Heidegger, M. (1993). The question concerning technology. In D. Krell (Ed.), Basic writings. New York: Harper Collins.
Heidegger, M. (1998). Letter on humanism. In Pathmarks. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press.
Sloterdijk, P. (2009). Terror from the Air (trans: Patton, A., Corcoran, S.). Los Angeles: Semiotext(e)/Smart Art).
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Kroker, A., Kroker, M. (2016). Exits to the Posthuman Future: Dreaming with Drones. In: Banerji, D., Paranjape, M. (eds) Critical Posthumanism and Planetary Futures . Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-3637-5_5
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