A delightful romp through the surprising subcultures of an obsolete format
This volume explores the curious afterlives of the floppy disk in the 21st century through the work of those involved with the medium today. The book reflects on notions of obsolescence, media preservation and nostalgia, and challenges these by showing the endurance and versatility of this familiar piece of technology. From floppy filmmakers to floppy painters and beyond: what drives people to continue working with the medium that is typically deemed obsolete? What challenges and affordances does it provide? And what does the future hold in store for the familiar black square?
By looking at the current presence of past technology we can assess our present-day situation and speculate on the future developments of our media landscape. After all, the technology of the past is also part of our future. This volume features interviews with key players in the contemporary floppy-disk world, including not only artists and filmmakers using floppy disks in their practice but also businessmen, archivists and museum proprietors working to preserve the medium.
