Ud24_T25_"In Free Fall: A thought experiment in vertical perspective" / Hito Steyerl

UNIVERSIDAD POLITÉCNICA DE MADRID ESCUELA TÉCNICA SUPERIOR DE ARQUITECTURA

udd

24

federico soriano Textos 2018-2019

25

IN FREE FALL: A THOUGHT EXPERIMENT ON VERTICAL PERSPECTIVE STEYERL, Hito. The Wretched of the Screen. 2012. Sternberg Press.

Imagine you are falling. But there is no ground. Many contemporary philosophers have pointed out that the present moment is distinguished by a prevailing condition of groundlessness.1 We cannot assume any stable ground on which to base metaphysical claims or foundational political myths. At best, we are faced with temporary, contingent, and partial attempts at grounding. But if there is no stable ground available for our social lives and philosophical aspirations, the consequence must be a permanent, or at least intermit- tent state of free fall for subjects and objects alike. But why don’t we notice? Paradoxically, while you are falling, you will probably feel as if you are floating—or not even moving at all. Falling is relational—if there is nothing to fall toward, you may not even be aware that you’re falling. If there is no ground, gravity might be low and you’ll feel weightless. Objects will stay suspended if you let go of them. Whole societies around you 1