Jiawen Yao

By examining diverse understandings of this keyword—from the legacies of colonial and early capitalist systems of governance to contemporary processes of financialization within the cultural field, as well as the subversive potential of engaging with infrastructures as sites of affect and contradiction—infrastructure emerges as both an invisible and visible force constituting culture today. In contrast to cultural techniques, infrastructures aim at stability, yet they remain inherently dynamic, as they become perceptible only through use. They can be understood as formations whose apparent solidity depends on continuous processes of stabilization. Consequently, researching infrastructures requires conceptualizing them as processes of historical layering, rather than as fixed or permanent entities. Infrastructures may also be approached as diagrammatic arrangements, encompassing technological and digital systems alongside social and care infrastructures. As noted, “we all live with infrastructures that, in most cases, are not our own—meaning we neither developed nor constructed them, nor did we have a say in their creation” (FKW 74). Particularly relevant here are non-physical infrastructures—such as standards, protocols, and organizational frameworks—which shape behavior, structure usage, and document conventions and habits (Ahmed). These infrastructures operate through formats (e.g., DIN standards) and technical standards (such as USB or measurement systems) (Star, Griesemer, Schabacher), and they play a central role in object-oriented engineering (cf. Brusch). Within the theoretical seminar, we will engage with these different dimensions of infrastructure by thinking with and through them, aiming to develop a process-oriented understanding of infrastructure as both condition and technique. We will discuss, read, write, and investigate, and the seminar will include excursions ( for example to DATA Center in Bremen and probably Weserwehr) This seminar explores infrastructures through theory (reading and writing) as well as design and art practice. This is a joint seminar by Jiawen Uffline, Prof Dr. Andrea Sick. and Prof. Dennis P Paul. It combines study modules DM.M-MD (Media Design / Special Topics in Digital Media) and DM.M-MT (Media Theory / Special Topics in Digital Media) into one project. Full participation is credited with 12CP in total. It is highly recommended to participate in both. The joint seminar meetings will take place on Mondays between 10:00–18:00. The seminar will be held in English. Students from all departments (ID/FK/MUS/DM) are welcome. This includes DM Bachelor Students (Spezielle Gebiete MW), but please note that the seminar will be mainly held in english language. Further information can be found at and will further evolve at http://dm-hb.de/infrastructures --- By examining diverse understandings of this keyword—from the legacies of colonial and early capitalist systems of governance to contemporary processes of financialization within the cultural field, as well as the subversive potential of engaging with infrastructures as sites of affect and contradiction—infrastructure emerges as both an invisible and visible force constituting culture today. In contrast to cultural techniques, infrastructures aim at stability, yet they remain inherently dynamic, as they become perceptible only through use. They can be understood as formations whose apparent solidity depends on continuous processes of stabilization. Consequently, researching infrastructures requires conceptualizing them as processes of historical layering, rather than as fixed or permanent entities. Infrastructures may also be approached as diagrammatic arrangements, encompassing technological and digital systems alongside social and care infrastructures. As noted, “we all live with infrastructures that, in most cases, are not our own—meaning we neither developed nor constructed them, nor did we have a say in their creation” (FKW 74). Particularly relevant here are non-physical infrastructures—such as standards, protocols, and organizational frameworks—which shape behavior, structure usage, and document conventions and habits (Ahmed). These infrastructures operate through formats (e.g., DIN standards) and technical standards (such as USB or measurement systems) (Star, Griesemer, Schabacher), and they play a central role in object-oriented engineering (cf. Brusch). Within the theoretical seminar, we will engage with these different dimensions of infrastructure by thinking with and through them, aiming to develop a process-oriented understanding of infrastructure as both condition and technique. We will discuss, read, write, and investigate, and the seminar will include excursions ( for example to DATA Center in Bremen and probably Weserwehr) This seminar explores infrastructures through theory (reading and writing) as well as design and art practice. This is a joint seminar by Jiawen Uffline, Prof Dr. Andrea Sick. and Prof. Dennis P Paul. It combines study modules DM.M-MD (Media Design / Special Topics in Digital Media) and DM.M-MT (Media Theory / Special Topics in Digital Media) into one project. Full participation is credited with 12CP in total. It is highly recommended to participate in both. The joint seminar meetings will take place on Mondays between 10:00–18:00. The seminar will be held in English. Students from all departments (ID/FK/MUS/DM) are welcome. This includes DM Bachelor Students (Spezielle Gebiete MW), but please note that the seminar will be mainly held in english language. Further information can be found at and will further evolve at http://dm-hb.de/infrastructures