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Douglas Rushkoff
The official Douglas Rushkoff site, featuring book excerpts, interviews, news, links and more.
Exit Strategy
Read chapters from Douglas Rushkoff's "open-source" novel Exit Strategy (Bull), posted online by Yahoo! Internet Life magazine. Step into the headspace of a 23rd century anthropologist and submit footnotes, that may be included in the US print edition. What will be the outcome of the Great Capitalist Experiment?
Playboy.com: Repeat Performance
Douglas Rushkoff offers some insigtful thoughts on the politics of counterculture credentials, and decline of contemporary ritual gatherings and raves (Burning Man, amyone?). An introduction to Playboy.com's E-Party, a feature on tech tribal gatherings and the music that inspires them. Check it out now!
Mindjack Magazine:
A large excerpt from Douglas Rushkoff's book Coercion: Why We Listen to What 'They' Say (1999) on the evolution of online marketing and the promise-peril dichotomy of Internet e-commerce. A must read!
The Merchants of Cool
Douglas Rushkoff continues his infiltration of the boardroom in this riveting PBS documentary. Rushkoff reveals "insider" secrets on how media conglomerates and market researchers target teenagers. Read transcripts, interviews, links and more.
Smug Foolscap: Brilliant Gen-X Analyst
Tom Tomorrow's classic This Modern World comic strip parodies the allegations made against Douglas Rushkoff by The New York Times of $7500/hr boardroom fees.
The Gen-X Read: An Introduction
A quote from The Gen-X Reader (1994), edited (but not written by) Douglas Rushkoff: "What is GenX? Who are these "slackers"? Just about every newspaper and magazine in America has been discussing this. But the real question is: Who's asking? And you know who - baby boomers looking for another trend, and the boomer press that caters to them."
The Edge: Douglas Rushkoff
John Brockman, author and book agent to the Digerati, has posted an indepth interview with Douglas Rushkoff about 'Coercion' and related topics. One of the most extensive interviews available online. Make sure you check out Brockman's other conversations with leading scientists and cultural thinkers at 'The Edge' web-site.
The People's Net
This Yahoo! Internet Life article (July 2001), by Douglas Rushkoff, dispels the Dotcom Crash gloom: "The Internet is looking and feeling more social, more alive, more participatory, and more, well, more Internet-y than ever before."
Rewired: The Two Rushkoffs
A personal and revealing interview in which Douglas Rushkoff replies to his cyber-critics.
Media Virus: BBS Excerpts
Revealing excerpts from Douglas Rushkoff's Media Virus: Hidden Agendas In Popular Culture (1994), posted on a patriot movement BBS.
Beware Faulty Wiring
Douglas Rushkoff offers a critical assessment of the demise of Wired UK (1997): "A propaganda effort that has proved quite effective on both the business and hi-tech communities of the US, Wired's Ventures' strategy of coercion through a combination of hype and intimidation just didn't work on Britain's digital enthusiasts."
Front Wheel Drive: Douglas Rushkoff
Front Wheel Drive's Christopher Usery gets the scoop from Douglas Rushkoff on the current status of Memetic Engineering, the paperback release of 'Playing The Future' (1997), and the 'memetic drift' of Rushkoff's work from geek subculture to corporate coercion analysis. A short, savvy, and revealing interview on an excellent site!
The Cult-o-Meter
Douglas Rushkoff and New Media in general get a mauling in this brutally funny and subversive cult diagnosis tool from the 'Suck' team.
Disclosing Coercion: An Interview With Douglas Rushkoff
In this interview for Playboy.com's Digital Culture, Douglas Rushkoff reveals the many ways in which we are manipulated to follow leaders and purchase products. Find out how the marketing industry subverts your free will.
Why We Listen to What They Say
A great Douglas Rushkoff interview conducted by Jon Lebkowsky for the Austin Chronicle newspaper. Rushkoff offers his thoughts on the tectonic plate shift from the 1960s to the 1990s; designer drugs; paganism; online communities; self-mythology and the New York Times incident and more. A wideranging discussion.
America's Descent Into Computer-Aided Unconsciousness And Consumer Fascism
A short but very sharp polemical piece by Douglas Rushkoff in response to a question posed by Digerati agent John Brockman: "What Is Today's Most Important Unreported Story?" The cyberian dream is gone, but is not forgotten.
Disinfo.con: The Interviews: Doulgas Rushkoff
Douglas Rushkoff is interviewed by Playboy's Digital Culture team at the Disinfo.con 2000 conference about the frequently antagonistic 'us versus them' cultural rifts: " I could have done a straightforward counterculture monologue, a rallying cry against commercialism and corporate America and the Starbucks-ification of our world and how to stay conscious. But what I wanted to do was alert the people who were trapped in an us-and-them mind-set about this countercultural thing . . .Don't be mean to the Man, because the Man wants to be just like you."
When I Was In College: The Bubba Syndrome
Memoirs of Rushkoff's Princeton University college years during the Reagan Era.
Spiritual Solace
Douglas Rushkoff: "I have concluded that conferences are simply cults-in-progress. They either help rich businesspeople rationalize their practices, or help poor artists and activists find spiritual solace."
STD Etiquette
Douglas Rushkoff writes for Nerve.com on "sex roles" and sexuality in the late 1990s: "This high contact, deadly game has moved from golf to ice hockey."
Open-Source Everything
This Shift magazine article (July 2001), by Christopher Shulgan, traces Douglas Rushkoff's book Exit Strategy, and decodes his thoughts on how to apply open-source philosophy to everyday life.
Blue Ridge Institute: Playing The Future
An in-depth review (Adobe PDF file) of Douglas Rushkoff's Playing The Future (1996), summarizing many of its key arguments and claims for an elder generation. Offers many insightful comments.
Publish or Perish: An Interview with Douglas Rushkoff
An interview for the Tripod Network focusing on issues related to personal publishing and children's perceptions of the media.
Packet: Hits on Zits
Wired cyber-critic Andrew Leonard argues against Douglas Rushkoff and Jon Katz's views on digerati children in this Packet column. Leonard examines the post-World War II creation of teenagers as a niche market, and the current 'state of affairs' of screenager Web pages.
Spinn: Lekende lett inn i fremtiden
An interview from Norway about Douglas Rushkoff's Playing the Future (1996).
Technorealism: Don't Sign Me Up
Scathing critique of the Technorealist Manifesto (1998), signed by Douglas Rushkoff. Raises some interesting points about the critical dichotomies of cyberculture.
Edge: Douglas Rushkoff
Author and book-agent John Brockman compiled a list of answers from elite scientists and culture theorists to the question: "What Is The Most Important Invention Of The Past 2000 Years?" for EDGE. Douglas Rushkoff's answer is . . . (Did you think we'd honestly tell you?)
Never Mind the Cyber-bollocks: When the Ice Melts
Richard Barbrook's brilliant, visceral, scathing essay demolishes postmodern and neo-liberal discourse that dominates most cyberculture theory. Very useful background to understand Douglas Rushkoff's critics.
Is This The Future? You Decide
This Los Angeles Times article (August 2, 2001), by Mark K. Feeney reviews Douglas Rushkoff's "open-source" novel Exit Strategy.
PC Review Archives
There are many sites featuring Douglas Rushkoff's columns for the New York Times Syndicate (US) and the Daily Mail & Guardian (UK). With a clear site design and hierarchy, this is one of the best, archiving material from 1998-1999.
Arkzin Metazine: Douglas Rushkoff Interview
A revealing interview where Rushkoff assesses much of his early writings and ideas on the Internet, memes, and cyberculture. Also includes a Croation translation of the interview, and Rushkoff's essay on Internet Imperialism.
Video Game Culture: Leisure and Play Preferences of B.C. Teens
An in-depth study by the Canadian Media Awareness Network conducted at Simon Fraser University's Media Analysis Laboratory which explores issues related to Douglas Rushkoff's writings. Useful for background research and analysis.
Heaven's Gate: The End?
In this study of the Heaven's Gate tragedy, Duke University's Wendy Gale Robinson explores the links between their belief system and cyberculture. An intelligent and provocative "media virus" study.
Kinsley Deathwatch Update
Ned Brainard's Wired cyber-gossip column offers a case-study in how to attack the rival media conglomerate's star cyber-critic with the 'rich media guru' tag-line. Especially when lines like "self-proclaimed and exceedingly well-compensated" accurately describe your own company's competitive tactics.
Douglas Rushkoff: Children Of Chaos Interview
This Spike magazine interview (February 1997) with Douglas Rushkoff discusses the legacy of media theorist Marshall McLuhan, the 'Wired'/'Global Business Network' connection, why 'The Simpsons' works, and the state of Cyberculture circa 1997.
The Hi-Tech Gift Economy
Explores the links bridging Anarcho-Communism, Situationism, and today's DIY activists. Very useful for background research on much of Douglas Rushkoff's ideas and writings.
Download This Book! Douglas Rushkoff Interview
Douglas Rushkoff as the cyberculture heir to Abbie Hoffman. Bill Skobi and the irreverent Rushkoff discuss the impact of the Internet on contemporary youth, and the perverse impact of mercantile capitalism upon the Internet. The raw interplay between Skobi and Rushkoff is intimately captured as two minds meet.
Telepolis: Douglas Rushkoff
Vintage Douglas Rushkoff columns in German from the Telepolis team. Includes Rushkoff's thoughts on the Palm PC Cult, RTMark, Mortal Kombat, and Bill Gates.
Thesite: Douglas Rushkoff Interview
Ali Hossaini has gathered together Rushkoff's thoughts on Gen X, raves, cyberculture, and excerpts from his non-fiction novel The Ecstasy Club (1997), a raver's favourite. Hossaini: "Although he clearly enjoys cyberculture, Rushkoff is no cheerleader. He often turns a critical eye on his subject, bringing out its darker side. As an erstwhile consultant to government and large corporations, he is all too aware of how the powers that be would like to commercialize raves and colonize the Internet."
Media Riot: Breakfast With Rushkoff
Pamela Parker captures snap-shots of Douglas Rushkoff on the Rising Tide Summit, Mihaly Csikzentmihalyi's Flow, and the rise of the SexPositive culture.
Cybernetic Visions
Reporter Kylie Silfer describes Douglas Rushkoff as: "[a] self-promoting, easy-access commentator on (what else?) media and society, whose cheerful views on touchy issues seem virtually guaranteed to help large corporations feel less guilty about their ugliest policy decisions," and then hedges her bets after seeing his panel discussions. A critical portrait that shows typical media coverage after the corporate fees debacle.
Douglas Rushkoff: Global Mall
An interview conducted by Australian journalist Francis Leach on how to prevent the Internet from becoming a global shopping mall.
Cyberpundits Predict the Future
Snapshots from a June 1999 fin-de-siècle futurewatch session featuring a witty Douglas Rushkoff's take on cyberculture and coercion.
Royce Carlton: Doulgas Rushkoff
Dubbed a stand-up philosopher, this is Douglas Rushkoff's page at Royce Carlton Inc, an upmarket speakers agency. The corporate positioning pitch is most revealing. Will fuel more debates about Rushkoff's legitimacy and whether he has 'sold out' to mass media and corporate institutions or not.
The Write Stuff: Can You Grok Cyberia?
An in-depth review of Douglas Rushkoff's classic Cyberia: Life in the Trenches of Hyperspace (1994) from the Australian publication The Right Stuff, and comparison with the seminal cyberpunk novels of William Gibson. Captures early reactions and feelings to Rushkoff's writings.
New Minds
A gathering featuring Douglas Rushkoff as a performer and speaker: "New Minds is a series of four very unique gatherings in downtown San Francisco, where some of the brightest minds in new media discuss, describe debate and perhaps even shape the future of being human in the digital age. An ambient and artistically creative atmosphere allows presenters and audience members to immerse themselves in the real and simulated cultures rapidly unfolding."
The Persistance of the Future: An Ecstacy Club Review
Originally written for Culture Wars magazine, this indepth review (May 1997) discusses Ecstasy Club (1997) and the rave culture's fascination with apocalypse culture. A savvy and illuminating literary review!
Psychedelic Island Views
The electronic edition of Psychedelic Island Views features interviews with and articles by Douglas Rushkoff. Encounter the voice of the consciousness community.
Qwest Book Review: Playing The Future
Evelyn Bury reviews Playing The Future (1996) and reveals: "I found myself intrigued and challenged by the Rushkoff's ideas. As I interact with my grandchildren, I find myself using Rushkoff's perspective as one way to understand their culture and daily activities."
Rushkoff Plays the Future
Rushkoff speaks to the San Francisco Examiner newspaper about his faith in fractals, Esalen Institute consultancies, and surviving in New York's West Village as a 'down and out' cyber-crit.
Novel Explores New Counterculture
The UCLA student newspaper Daily Bruin reviews Ecstasy Club (1997). Howard Ho contends: "Rushkoff's novel is like porn, base and perverse, but also captivating." Rushkoff's novelistic career: the new cyber-Harold Robbins?
SF Site Reviews: Ecstasy Club
Glen Engel-Cox reviews Ecstasy Club (1997) and criticises Rushkoff for trying to be so much on-scene and having too many in-jokes. But if you were there . . . would?
Sneak Peaks: Playing The Future Review
Critical review by Salon columnist Richard Gehr which attacks Rushkoff's writing style, arguments and fashionable cyber-guru status: "Arguments and concepts poached from various popular-technology and New Age sources pop up as though sprung full-blown from his word processor."
Village Voice: Author-itative Site
In her study of online promotional sites ('Author-itative Site'), Village Voice columnist Austin Binn claims that Douglas Rushkoff's site conveys he isn't interested in nurturing audiences on his home turf. Compare Rushkoff's site with Joyce Maynard's and decide for yourself.
Leary's News: Douglas Rushkoff
Douglas Rushkoff, brief biographical essay, photo and link to his official site.
Timothy Leary: Douglas Rushkoff
A profile of Douglas Rushkoff from the official Timothy Leary homepage.
Children of Chaos: Flaky History
A review of Children of Chaos (1996) which critically argues that Rushkoff's interpretation of Christianity is very wrong. Interesting arguments for debate by pluralists.
Wasted Youth
Andrew Hultkrans reviews three novels depicting decadent youth culture, including Ecstasy Club (1997). Rushkoff comes off pretty well, although Hultkrans snipes that Rushkoff may have invented a new genre: the cyber-potboiler. Hmmmm . . .
Spiritech UK: Douglas Rushkoff Interview
An interview that covers Terence McKenna's 2012 Singularity Point hypothesis, Artificial Intelligence, and the man-machine dichotomy.
Technorealism: Overview
In this heady age of rapid technological change, we all struggle to maintain our bearings. The developments that unfold each day in communications and computing can be thrilling and disorienting. One understandable reaction is to wonder: Are these changes good or bad? Should we welcome or fear them?
Laurie Ambers
Stylish Douglas Rushkoff fan site with quote from Cyberia: Life in the Trenches of Hyperspace (1994).
Is Generation-X A Media Category?
This essay poses the all important question. Douglas Rushkoff's marketing critique is quoted in the answers.
Email Lists Are a Wonderful Thing
An excellent collection of discussion lists, compiled by Sean Healy.
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