Anger and inertia (as paralysed rage, disinterest, lack of empathy) – two strong emotions dominate our present, real and viral. While in the past churches tried to control excessive anger and its counterparts, today social media openly fuel the law of the Wild West with platforms dominated by revenge, retribution and vigilante justice. But the wordwide web of rage is no coincidence and is hurting everyone.

In the latest instalment of our excursions, we decode the background to ‘toxic algorithms’. We meet icons of the film western, its narratives and soundtracks and stage a fictitious trial with defendants such as Mark Zuckerberg, a specialist lawyer, expert witnesses and the audience as everyday experts and lay judges. In the end, we initiate a democratic ‘Basic Law for the Digital’ and explore a different, respectful and creative approach to social media.

WITH
Clara Helming (AgorithmWatch), Katharina Mosene (Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society), Friederike Moraht (Tagespiegel Background Digitalisation & AI), Prof. Christian Solmecke (lawyer for media and IT law), Kamil Ahmad and Lisa Mader (acting), Michael Riemer (guitar and others) and the artist collective Selbstgebaute Musik.

CONCEPT AND MODERATION Bernhard Glocksin CONCEPT, SCRIPT AND SPACE Sabrina Rossetto