Laocöon and the Algorithm
In Virgil’s Aeneid, Laocoön was a priest of Poseidon who attempted to expose the ruse of the Trojan horse by striking it with a spear. Metaphorically, of course, the phrase “Trojan horse” has come to mean any trick or stratagem that causes a target to willingly and unknowingly invite a foe into a protected place.
Contemporary Art Museum (CAM), Raleigh, NC 2020
Today, we live in a world where every move we make online is tracked. Using a barrage of loud and audacious images disguised as entertainment, we cavalierly accept the terms and conditions of our devices as they command more and more of our psychological and emotional freedom in exchange for the illusion of safety and purpose.
