STARTS: Science, Technology, and the Arts and Art-Science Fakes

One of the reasons why we undertake research is to increase knowledge and understanding, not to decrease it. This is why high standards of ethical behaviour are needed in research, otherwise the integrity of the research system is undermined, and it is then no longer possible to trust researchers and what they are saying. This is already happening in the world of STEM research, especially that which is funded by the European Commission. We do not need arts people therefore to contribute further to the problem – which is what is happening. Ethical melt down! No-one wants to talk about it. We do, so let’s START with STARTS – this is the name for DG CONNECT’s appropriation of art for the purpose of pursuing the European Commission’s neo-liberal agenda. STARTS is a case study in ethical meltdown, a case study in the failure of technocracy, and a warning to take action against undemocratic forces seeking to rewrite history, by making art history fit the ideologies of STEM – art-science fakes.

Moving on, the Oxford English Dictionary’s definition of fraud is: A person or thing intended to deceive others, typically by unjustifiably claiming or being credited with accomplishments or qualities.

To be fraudulent there is a requirement that there was a deliberate intent to deceive. This is what scientific fraud does – the presentation of deliberately misleading results, information, etc.

Alternative words: incompetence, ignorance, bias, vested interests, exaggeration, manipulation, distortion, misinterpretation, … These are words that can also be applied to STARTS. The nonsense talked by people involved in STARTS is not necessarily scientific fraud. Only time will tell what is fraud, and that which is ignorance, etc.

The Oxford English Dictionary’s definition of fake is: Not genuine; imitation, or counterfeit.

Art-science fakes? Art-technology fakes? For those who care to look, there are many. Most people are not able to look because they do not want to look – a form of blindness. This is why the tale of the emperor’s new clothes is important. It very much applies to STARTS. Expect therefore much in the way of art-science fakes and art-technology fakes. It takes expertise to recognise a fake. This is why we developed the expertise. We can use this. We will use this – STARTS as a worst practice case study. A case study illustrating what not to do! And every step they take they just add more material to the worst practice case study.

Meanwhile in China, not being caught-up in the Leonardo Cult, binary thinking, Ancient Greek dualities, Abrahamic beliefs, C P Snow’s Two Cultures nonsense, STARTS nonsense, art-science fakes, and so forth … We do indeed live in interesting times. Hard luck – the age of the West is over. Now we move forward into a post-European era! A post-Enlightenment era! What are the Vainglorious Enlightened Ones going to do? They will START doing what they have always done. They will START with STARTS. People will look back and say – it STARTed with STARTS. Back to this matter of art-science fakes!

To be continued …