The curriculum is an ongoing series of workshops in which participants are introduced to technical, theoretical and methodological skills at the basis of the various practices within *varia*. These are short intensive master-classes aimed towards providing high level introductions as a basis for further self-study. Each subject in the varia curriculum has its own rhythm and structure. The workshops come with extensive syllabi and documentation that can be used as a future reference by students.
The air that surrounds us is filled with signals ranging from cell phone packets, commercial radio stations, wireless modems, airplane tracking signals, satellite broadcasts and many more...
The advent of Software-Defined Radio (SDR) has made it much easier and cheaper to learn how to listen to and record these signals for use in projects. This course will introduce participants to this relatively new set of open source tools known as Software Defined Radio. The course is made up of a theoretical introduction in the physics of radio and the politics of the radio spectrum. It is followed up by a practical part on reception, recording, decoding and the design and construction of antennas for specific signals.
The workshop is hosted by Dennis de Bel (PD0WND) and Roel Roscam Abbing. SDR Hardware is included in the course fee.
* The course is compromised of four three hour evenings.
* The course is aimed at beginners and no prior knowledge of radio or programming is required.
* Costs are 150 euros pp. (SDR hardware are included).
* 12 Participants maximum
# E-waste Sound Machines
Over the last couple of centuries rapid changes in technology, economical fluctuation, substitution of media and planned obsolescence have resulted in a fast-growing surplus of electronic waste around the globe. Because of this, an equally growing demand has risen for the repurposing, disposal and salvaging of this material, generating different methods that each have their own impact on the economy and environment.
In this workshop, hosted by Niek Hilkmann and Wojtek Szustak, we will take a look at the recycling of everyday e-waste by introducing participants to the implications of recycling discarded devices. This will happen in a hands-on course in which abandoned electronics, found on the streets of Rotterdam, will be turned into completely functional, original sound machines.
* This course consists of three 4 hour workshops
* Both participants with an entry and an advanced level in hardware hacking are welcome
* Costs are 150 euros for the entire course (including material)
* Maximum number of participants is 10
# Command Lines, Pipelines, and the Standard Out
The command line is a textual interface for the computer, rather than being an 'old fashioned' interface it is a completely different methodological approach to computing. Instead of large visual programs aimed at being 'professional tools', command line tools follow the philosophy of doing one thing and doing it well. These small programmes can be 'chained' together into pipelines capable of processing any type of data or text. These pipelines are a way of quickly producing unique and custom tool sets providing unique creative opportunities.
* This course consists of two four hour workshops.
* No prior knowledge of programming is required, but note taking skills are essential. Make sure to bring a laptop.
In our understanding, food as a commodity finds its most revealing expression in the form of the cake. In this coure we investigate the history of culinary hegemony by collectively baking a specific set of sweet recipes that have formed the way we perceive and partake in food today. Not only will we be analysing the origins of specific ingredients and recipes, but we will also focus on the political economy and class dynamics that engender taste and ingredient accessibility. Examples are the Victorian Sponge Cake, the Indonesian Spekkoek and the Wiener Sacher Torte. The actual confection of these cakes will provide us with an opportunity to reflect on the tools involved in such practices and how industrialization and its processes shaped their history.
The considerate cake track is an initiative by Lidia Pereira, Joseph Knierzinger and Niek Hilkmann.
* This course consists of three five hour workshops.
* No prior cooking knowledge is required
* Costs are 150 euros per person (excluding ingredients)
