DeCeNTRaLiZiNG ReaLiTy is interactive graphic web novel by Fanny Zaman conceived in the context of the ARTeCHO fellowship March - November 2023.
“What was meant to be a revolutionary tool for creativity soon became a cruel joke, a weapon of mass destruction. It was a tragedy of epic proportions, and yet somehow, in the midst of all this chaos, there was a certain dark humor to be found."
"They said that the world had entered a new era of decentralization.
Through this form of decentralization we had redistributed poverty and redistributed pleasure. We had redistributed agriculture and redistributed nature. We had redistributed family and redistributed housing. Redistributed anger and redistributed fear. We even had redistributed colors and redistributed sound."
"At the heart of this new world order was a technology called “Decentralized Information Interference” (D.I.I.). The D.I.I. served as a masking agent, taking the edges off things and thoughts, creating a sense of privacy and security. Some individuals formed a group known as 'Resistance against Information Oppression and Tyranny” (R.I.O.T.) and they began an insurgency to undermine the D.I.I.'"
Publication 2024: Down the Rabbit Hole of the Symbolic Landscape of Blockchain Technology
Exploring the symbolic world of blockchain technology evoked for me the whimsical universe of Carroll's Alice, filled with grids, codes, and mysteries. This was the basic strand through which my interactive graphic novel, Decentralized Reality, came about. In this work, I intertwine metaphorical narratives with political and technological fiction. This exploration of decentralization within blockchain technology led to a reflection on the concept of consensus in our democratic society, exemplified by the “Byzantine Fault” of the blockchain.
Coined by Lamport, Shostak, and Pease in 1982, the “Byzantine Fault” stems from a scenario where Byzantine generals must reach consensus regarding a binary military maneuver: attack or retreat. The problem appears unsolvable, yet choices must be made. As we explore this blend of metaphor, military strategy, and technology, we dwell on storytelling as problem solving technique.
Reflecting on past revolutions and our current reality, characterized by social disunity and authoritarianism, we face the challenge of preserving democratic values. Despite radical differences, consensus remains crucial, shaping decision-making and action. However, in this calculated system, random data can also simulate consensus. This raises questions about the sustainability of radical consensus. What seems logical in calculations takes on a new dimension within an emotional and social reality.
