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Welcome to the Radical Software Web Site. Our purpose is to make all the historic issues of Radical Software freely available to everyone. This site is designed for easy browsing and downloading, and hosts a sophisticated search engine to help you find the information you require on all aspects of independent video and video art back in the "Portapak Era."

An introductory text by David Ross A message from the Daniel Langlois Foundation The Radical Software Web Site is a joint project of the Daniel Langlois Foundation of Montreal, and Davidson Gigliotti and Ira Schneider. The historic video magazine Radical Software was started by Beryl Korot, Phyllis Gershuny, and Ira Schneider and first appeared in Spring of 1970, soon after low-cost portable video equipment became available to artists and other potential videomakers. Though scholarly works on video art history often refer to Radical Software, there are few places where scholars can review its contents. Individual copies are rare, and few complete collections exist. This Web site makes it freely available and searchable on the Internet. [more...]

Harvestworks

Davidson Gigliotti, Project Director, Alain Depocas , Project Director for the Daniel Langlois Foundation, Ludovic Carpentier , Designer and Webmaster, Daniel Langlois Foundation

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Radical Software, Volume I, Number 1 The Alternate Television Movement, Spring 1970

Contents [Presentation]. Contents. [Address to readers]. [Colophon]. Youngblood, Gene. The videosphere. p. 1. Sklover, Thea. CATV. p. 1-2. [Advertisement for a special edition of the magazine The Nation by Ralph Lee Smith]. p. 2. Youngblood, Gene. Video cassette image publishing. p. 3. Kragen, Robert. Art and TV. p. 4. Gillette, Frank. EVR is EVIL. p. 4. Fuller, Richard Buckminster. R. Buckminster Fuller : pirated transcription of interview vidotaped by Raindance Corporation. p. 5. Gillette, Frank. Random notes on the special case or (loop-de-loop). p. 6. Paik, Nam June. Expanded education for the paperless society. p. 7-8. Yalkut, Jud. Frank Gillette and Ira Schneider : parts I and II of an interview. p. 9-10. Hnaut, Dorothy Todd ; Kline, Bonnie. In the hands of citizens : a video report. p. 11-12. Ryan, Paul. Cable television : the raw and the overcooked. p. 12. Ryan, Paul. Three pieces : some explication. p. 13. Vassi, Marco. Videotape piece : thank you for presenting me with a difficult problem. p. 13. Paik, Nam June. Utopian laser TV station. p. 14. [Advertisement for Channel Ones Groove Tube]. p. 14. [Advertisement for Global Village]. p. 14. [TV as a Creative Medium]. p. 14. [Vision and Television]. p. 14. [Reproduction of a page from the New York Post, February 16, 1970]. p. 14. Videofreex, Inc.. p. 15. Raindance, Corp.. p. 15. Youngblood, Gene. [Excerpt from the book The Videosphere by Gene Youngblood]. p. 16. Shamberg, Michael H. [Review of the book How to Talk Back to Your Television Set by Nicholas Johnson]. p. 16. A demand on the networks : serve the people. p. 16. Tambellini, Aldo. Simultaneous video statements. p. 17. Vassi, Marco. Zen tubes. p. 18. Gross, Alex. Taping the galaxy. p. 18. [Feedback]. p. 19-22. [Address to readers]. p. 23.
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In 1970, the height of the Nixon era, media activists saw TV as a sophisticated vehicle for social control whose broad purposes were to deliver the people to advertisers, and make public opinion easy to orchestrate. Reading Teilhard, McLuhan, Bateson, McCulloch, Wiener and others, they developed the premise that if one could understand how our culture used information, one could devise a mix of strategies, using 1/2" video equipment, to leverage the rigid world information order of the time. They thought reversing the process of television, giving people access to the tools of production and distribution, giving them control of their own images and, by implication, their own lives giving them permission to originate information on the issues most meaningful to themselves might help accelerate social and cultural change. Connectivity, the Videosphere as defined by Gene Youngblood based on an earlier idea by Teilhard, was an important part of the vision - an early stab at articulating the connected world, and a way to get there. Part of the focus was on the psychological impact of the direct video experience itself, a process Paul Ryan called "self-cybernation." Ordinary citizens did not see themselves on television
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citizens did not see themselves on television except very occasionally, and then were never allowed to directly address the broadcast audience, but were always mediated by a caste of television professionals who provided context a 'wraparound'. Perhaps it was a reaction only possible at that historic moment, but the experience of seeing and hearing oneself on videotape, unmediated, both alone and interacting in society, not once, but as many times as wanted, was startling and liberating. This 'feedback' process empowered many with new self-understanding and provided much of the impetus of early portable video. "The Alternate Television Movement" pulls these and other threads together providing a snapshot of the state of independent video, and video art, as the sixties turned into the seventies.

Radical Software

[Address to readers]. p. 23. [Subscribtion card]. p. 23.

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Radical Software, Volume I, Number 2 The Electromagnetic Spectrum, Autumn 1970

Contents Contents. [Colophon]. [Subscription card]. [Adress to the readers]. What is cable television? . p. 1. Electromagnetic spectrum. p. 1. Channels. p. 2. Federal Communication Commission report issue : CATV programming origination memorandum opinion and order. p. 2. Cable rap. p. 3-4. Cable systems most likely affected by FCC program origination ruling. p. 5. Cross, Lloyd. A short history of the laser. p. 6. Cross, Lloyd. The potential impact of the laser on the video medium. p. 6. Gioscia, Vic. Frequency and form. p. 7. Takis, Panagiotti Vassilakis. Against technology = anti-tech. Excerpts. P. 8. Benson, Don. Neurone cluster grope. Excerpts. P. 8. Ward, Don. X-rays. Excerpts. P. 8. Siegel, Eric. Standards. p. 8. Teasdale, Parry D. Tips for using portable half-inch equipment. p. 9. Microphones. p. 10. What is television?. p. 11. Glossary. p. 11. New equipment. p. 12. Siegel, Eric. For sale. p. 12. Problems with Sony AV series. p. 12. Hopkins, John. Europe now. p. 12. Video cartridge/cassette systems comparative table (U.S.). p. 13. Ryan, Paul. Techniques. p. 13. Davis, Douglas ; Pitts, Fred. Television is. p. 14. O'Gallagher, Liam. Space station. p. 14. Bensinger, Charles. Electronic tune up. p. 14. Lujan, Pedro. Video balloon. p. 15. Ryan, Paul. Self-processing. p. 15. Rucker, Allen ; Kletter, Richard. Project report. p. 16. Hnaut, Dorothy Todd. A report from Canada : television as town meeting. p. 17. Glass, Elliot. Video in El Barrio and the classroom. p. 17. Marsh, Kenneth. Alternatives for alternate media : peoples video theatre handbook. p. 18. Silver, David. Televionaries versus televisigoths. p. 18. Cultural data bank. p. 19-20. Yalkut, Jud. Interview with Eric Siegel
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Despite the 'Software' in the name, video hardware was still a mystery for many Radical Software readers in 1970. Many had no production skills at all, or any real notion of how television and videotape recording worked. Technical information in accessible form was at a premium. At the time, most technical literature was written for engineers or engineering students. Eric Siegal, Parry Teasdale, Don Ward, Charles Bensinger, Ken Marsh, Videoforms, and others provided many short courses on the electronics and mechanics of video production, educating a generation of video tyros to a technical appreciation of the medium. Not being technical writers by profession, they made a real attempt to explain the principles of television and video in language that non-technicians could understand. Teasdale, Marsh, and Bensinger would go on to write accessible books on video technology. Cable television was also a subject of great interest to early video activists. This issue begins with Beryl Korot's fine exposition of the ins and outs of Cable TV circa 1970. In 1969, the FCC ruled that cablecasters with over 3500 subscribers had to originate some local programming. But cablecasters saw their job as relaying broadcast signals to clients with bad
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as relaying broadcast signals to clients with bad reception. Most were unwilling to take on the job of program origination. It just wasn't their trade.

Radical Software

But many video people saw an opportunity in the 'public access' channels that the FCC encouraged. Broadcast was not an option. Halfinch video signals could not be broadcast, even on PBS stations. They did not meet the signal set by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. It was illegal to broadcast a substandard signal. But cable TV did not come under FCC broadcast regulations, and could deliver a video signal without degradation. Video activists could, they thought, gain an audience with their message of change using the public access channels. So FCC rules, cable TV economics, and the electromagnetic spectrum were important issues to the video community.

Yalkut, Jud. Interview with Eric Siegel by Jud Yalkut. p. 21. Einhorn, Ira. Noh place. p. 22. Psionics. p. 22. Feedback. p. 23. Feedback. p. 24. Feedback. p. 25. Feedback. p. 26. Feedback. p. 27.

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Radical Software, Volume I, Number 3 Untitled, Spring 1971

Contents Process. [Colophon]. Contents. Ryan, Paul. Cybernetic guerrilla warfare. p. 1-2. Bateson, Gregory. Restructuring the ecology of a great city. p. 2-3. Fobile muck truck. p. 4. Media bus. p. 4. Community video : a working model. p. 5. Jarogene, Emanuel. Clinton program. p. 6. Clinton projects : kids and video. p. 6. Information offspring and the regenerative cycle : video tape as a tool in restructuring the public school system. p. 6. [Watts Communication Bureau and Training Center]. p. 6. Other networks to plug into.... p. 7. Whole earth catalog. p. 7. Phillips, Liz. Sound structures. p. 8. Schneider, Ira. Tentative design for a flexible video environment. p. 8. Alternative for Alternate Media II peoples video theatre handbook. p. 8. Information exchange. p. 9. Cultural data bank. p. 10. A distribution plan. p. 11-12. Shamberg, Michael H. This cassette thing. p. 13. Economic support systems. p. 13-14. Ryan, Paul. Towards an information economy. p. 14. Siegel, Eric. Artists needs. p. 14. Hardware : design and consequences. p. 15. Application Bulletin. p. 15. Siegel, Eric. Equipment standards. p. 15. Youngblood, Gene. Cathode-ray tube videotronics. Excerpt from the book Expanded Cinema. P. 15. Jaffe, Louis. Videotape versus film. p. 16. Birbeck, Glen. Capn Rip-Off. p. 16. Umpleby, Stuart. Citizen sampling simulations : a method for involving the publication social planning. p. 17-18. Gillette, Frank. Aspects of data. p. 19. Arlo, Raymond. Media ecology. p. 19. Van de Bogart, Willard. Laser light in video space. p. 20. Ftergiotis, Van. Dial access information retrieval systems. p. 20. Feedback. p. 21. Feedback. p. 22. Feedback. p. 23. Feedback. p. 24.
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Despite the bizarre cover drawing by Andy Poyner, a California-based artist from Joplin, Missouri, this Radical Software's main theme is grassroots television - using portable video as a tool for helping communities coalesce around issues important to them. This is more revolutionary than it sounds. Most early video people understood that change came from people gaining real understanding of their true situations and empowering themselves to express their desire for change in an effective way. Although the Civil Rights and Anti-War movements had the ability to gather broad groups of supporters, smaller communities with local issues and injustices lacked the means to formulate and publicize them. Video could help. The video activists of the early 70s tried to avoid arrogance. A large part of their organizational effort was teaching people how to use video, and letting them decide for themselves the best way to use it. As artist Jenny Holzer once wrote: "Any tool is a weapon if you hold it right." The Raindance people, and most of those practicing 'guerrilla television' in those days believed in starting from the ground up. Certainly weapons come to mind with Paul Ryan's opening article, "Cybernetic Guerrilla Warfare". But despite Ryan's provocative title the reader will find few polemics. Although there is some mention of Sun Tzu, a closer examination of
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mention of Sun Tzu, a closer examination of Ryan's essay reveals a skeptical attitude toward violent revolutionary behavior in favor of a more reasoned approach, supported by some ideas of Norbert Wiener and Warren McCulloch. Following Ryan's essay is one by Gregory Bateson, an excerpt touching on the importance of cultural and ecological flexibility and the work of Ross Ashby, Richard Sennett and Christopher Alexander. Frank Gillette and Raymond Arlo continue with a discussion of media ecology. Other major topics included networks, video editing, video distribution, a comparative report on portable video systems, and a prescient article by Paul Ryan positing the need for an 'information economy'.

Radical Software

Feedback. p. 24. Feedback. p. 25. Feedback. p. 26. [Subscribtion card]. p. [27]. Meta-manual. Centerfold intitled Portable video : a Radical Software stateof-the-art report. Manual. Centerfold intitled Portable video : a Radical Software state-of-the-art report. Editing. Centerfold intitled Portable video : a Radical Software state-of-the-art report. Special effects. Centerfold intitled Portable video : a Radical Software stateof-the-art report. How to build a porta-pak support system. Centerfold intitled Portable video : a Radical Software state-of-the-art report. Porta-paks. Centerfold intitled Portable video : a Radical Software stateof-the-art report.

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Radical Software, Volume I, Number 4 Untitled, Summer 1971

Contents [Presentation]. [Top secret]. New prices !!!. Contents. p. [1]. [Colophon]. p. [1]. $$$. p. [1]. [Tape exchange]. p. 2-3. Process print-out. p. 2-3. Brodey, Warren. Biotopology 1972. p. 4-7. Watermen, Stephen. Notes from Stephen Watermen. p. 8. Gillette, Frank. The nutritive context. p. 9. Johnson, Avery. Unfolding Paul Ryan. p. 10-11. Planet productions. p. 12. Revolutionary engineering : towards a counter-technology. p. 12. Jaffe, Louis. Videotape dance therapy. p. 13. [Experimental video playpen]. p. 14. [Videotec]. p. 14. [Antioch College : the media program]. p. 14. Jr. High school video-tape workshop, spring 71. p. 15. Myers, Kurt ; Smith, Brian Reffin. Excerpts from a report on the City Hill video project. p. 15. Bender, Tom. Electronic kinder garden : a proposal for exploration of the implications ans possibilities of electronic experience for mini-kids. p. 16. Other networks. p. 16. Nuts and bolts. p. 17. Teasdale, Parry D. New age communications manual. p. 18-19. Evenson, Dean. Hooking into master antenna systems. p. 20. Siegel, Eric. Custom modification to the Sony porta-pak. p. 21. Have you placed your bid ?. p. 22. Sklover, Thea. Manhattan cables anchised area 380 000 homes. p. 2223. Sutton, Percy E. Community control of television. p. 24. Chern, Barry ; Sheep Lackeys, Lloyd. [Letter from May 12, 1971]. p. 24. Klver, Billy. [Oral presentation on proposed CATV rules]. p. 25. Burns, Red. [A proposal to establish a communications center at the school of the arts]. p. 25. Pratt, W. B. [Letter from April 2, 1971]. p. 25. Other networks to plug into. p. 26-27. Guerrilla television. p. 27. Access index. p. 28-29. Information to the disenfranchised : a process approach. p. 28-29.
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This very rich issue, with a cover by Ant Farm (which forms the back cover also), marked a departure in terms of format, content, personnel, and price. Number Four appeared as a tabloidsized magazine, had some content donated, layout and all, by video groups in Canada and California, and it cost $3.00 instead of $1.50. Phyllis Gershuny, a founder of Radical Software, had left the magazine after the previous number, and Beryl Korot shared the editing tasks with Megan Williams. Gone was some of the ad hoc appearance of the first issues. Clearly an attempt had been made to rationalize somewhat both the format and content. The editorial section begins with a lengthy article, "Biotopology 1972" by Warren Brodey, M.D. Brody, a psychiatrist from Canada who now lives in Norway, was a recognized pioneer in family therapy, and had done related work in cybernetics, artificial intelligence, and early work in interactive computer systems. Also notable are "The Nutritive Context" by Frank Gillette and "Infolding Paul Ryan" by Avery Johnson, all with a media ecology theme. What makes this issue so rich, however, is the plethora of reports and proposals from video
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plethora of reports and proposals from video groups on both coasts, the midwest, and Canada. These contributions both identify and make plain the goals and methods of an entire generation of video activists, artists and communitarians committed to the belief that the free flow of information could help effect social change.

Radical Software

Also included are the ever-present hardware tutorials, lists of videotapes to buy and sell and the names and addresses of their distributors, and descriptions of on-going tape projects. One sleeper is "Game", a page by Marc Le Brun, now an important software developer.

process approach. p. 28-29. Cleaver, Eldridge. [Letter from March 16, 1971]. p. 30. [Advertisement for Video Free America]. p. 30. [Review of the book Black Talk by Ben Sidran]. p. 30. Video community at Westbeth. p. 30. May day collective. p. 31. May day video. p. 31. [Blue bus]. p. 31. Earth light. p. 32. Mitsuru Kataoka. p. 32. A space. p. 32. [The Vasulkas have opened The Kitchen...]. p. 32. Cinemabilia. p. 32. Takahiko Iimura. p. 32. Odell, Jay ; Odell, Tia. [Resolution]. p. 33. Video exchange. p. 33. Ghost dance on the plains of information. p. 33. Aigner, Hal. Cybernetic guerilla evolution. p. 34. Paskal, Merrily. [The biggest thing this Canadian section...]. p. 34. Ant Farm lineal memory. p. 35. Tajiri, Shinkichi. [Letter from June 6, 1971]. p. 35. Community information and communication dome. p. 35. Bookstores and distributors who deal Radical Software. p. 36.

Canadian content Contents. p. 1. Brief to the canadian radio and television commission. p. 2-3. Paskal, Tom. Which side has power ?. p. 2-3. Selman, Dallas. Whats happening, what not happening : community access. p. 4. Cable, Rogers. Introducing the 20th century community centre. p. 5. Matsell, Gordon ; Blumer, Ron. Good news. p. 6. Excerpts from Qubec Libre. Radical Software. Transcribed by Linda Gaboriau. Vol. 1, no. 4 ([1971]). Under Canadian content. P. 7. Leduc, Nicole. Tevec : tlvision ducative du Qubec. p. 8-9. Bacopoulos, Alex. Videographics by functional simulation. p. 10-11. Blumer, Ron. Dear Mom. p. 12. Bethune Levine, Norman. Who is Miss J ?. p. 12. Tsuchiya, Haruki. Marilyn in the net. p. 13. Mills, Mike. The tale of Anode and Cathode. p. 14-15. [Extras]. p. 16-17. [Feedback]. p. 18. [Feedback]. p. 19. [Feedback]. p. 20. [Feedback]. p. 21. [Feedback]. p. 22. [Feedback]. p. 23. [Feedback]. p. 24.

California content Content. p. [1]. S.S. Getting wired : an interview with Hugh Macdonald. p. 2. Ezios, Ralph. Implications of physiological feedback training. p. 2-4. S. S. [You can now own your own brain wave feedback device]. p. [3]. Willig, Robert. Acid programming. p. 4. LeBrun, Marc. Game. p. 5. Borgogno, Danne ; Ginsberg, Sukey. High school. p. 6. Ryan, Ken. Corps TV. p. 6. Surpin, Shelley ; Crowley, Pat. The Scripps High School video workshop. p. 6. Smith, Jeff. Get into radio. p. 7. Milam, Lorenzo. [For those of us who...]. p. 7. Rucker, Allen. Tegs 1994. p. 7. Kybernetic klassroom. p. 8-9. van Brunt, Dick. Converting a TV to a monitor. p. 10. Ant Farm. Voiceless video. p. 10. [Porta-back-pak]. p. 10. Wilmer, Harry A. TV monologue psychotherapy. p. 11. Ryan, Paul. Everymans moebius strip. p. 11. Alternetworks. Community access scheme. p. 12. Proposal to New York State Council on the arts. p. 13.
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Radical Software

[Feedback]. p. 24.

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Radical Software, Volume I, Number 5 Realistic Hope Foundation, Spring 1972

Contents The future of Radical Software. Radical Software. p. [1]. Contents. p. 2-3. Revolutionaries are not just another special interest group. p. 4-5. Evenson, Dean. Open ended nervous system. p. 6-9. Devyatkin, Dimitri. Neural notes for the video worker. p. 10-11. Laffoley, Paul. [Boston visionary cell]. p. 14. Bender, Thomas. Telepa-vision : the communication of mental images. p. 15. Kawin-Toomin, Marjorie. Alpha rhythm. p. 16-17. Sowaal, John. Vital sign integration. p. 17. Mohr, Manfred. Manfred Mohr computer graphics. p. 18-19. Paskal, Merrily. Video soma feedback. p. 20-21. Graham, David. Attitudes towards technology. p. 22-29. Humphrey, Clifford. Constructing new lifestyles from an ecological perspective. p. 30-31. [Environmental conference in Sweden]. p. 32. Bateson, Gregory. Up against the environment or ourselves?. p. 33. Brodey, Warren. Recycling biotopology 1972 : notes from ecology tool & toy. p. 34-36. Ryan, Paul. From crucifixion to cybernetic acupuncture. p. 38-40. Video and health care. p. 41. Using video in health care. p. 42-43. Schwartz, Michael. Second generation medicine. p. 44-46. Grayson, John. Gestalt learning. p. 47. Towards a video college. p. 48. A world system of universities and colleges. p. 49. Pacific High Schools apprenticeship service program. p. 49. Graham, David. Learning. p. 50-51. Hocking, Ralph ; Dominick, Ken. The community centre for television production. p. 52. Evenson, Dean ; Evenson, Dudley. Alternate education conference. p. 53. Rudy, Chris. Iconics. p. 54. [Dudley]. Portable video : the natural medium. p. 55-57. Berg, Peter ; Berg, Judy. Homeskin : video pony express. p. 58. Feedback : Videofreex / Media Bus at maple tree farm. p. 60-61. Reilly, John ; Stern, Rudi. Global village. p. 62-63. Challenge for change. p. 64-65.
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This issue came together at a time when the members of the Raindance Foundation were going separate ways, and no one was sure how Raindance would evolve, or even continue. This uncertainty surfaces in the essay, "The Raindance Story" at the beginning of the magazine. The Videofreex, an allied video collective, had made a successful move to the country, and others were ready to follow suite. New York State Council on the Arts funding policies made a video Diaspora desirable. Michael Shamberg was engaged in a new project, TVTV, which would bring him national attention. He and Megan Williams eventually moved to California. The Evensons moved to Downsville, New York, and developed independent projects of their own. Schneider and Korot were left with the Raindance Foundation, and they moved to Ruby, New York, not far from Woodstock, although they kept a base in New York City. It was also the first issue to be done fully in magazine format, as insisted upon by Gordon and Breach, the publishers who had finally agreed to print and distribute Radical Software. It was also the only issue where Beryl Korot, one of the founders of Radical Software, was not coEditor or co-Editor in Chief.
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Radical Software

Instead, Michael Shamberg shared the editorship with Dudley Evenson, and it is the hand of Dudley and that of her husband, Dean Evenson, which establishes the flavor of the opening pages of this issue of Radical Software. Under the category of "Networks and other Natural Systems" is a list of articles focussing on such topics as the nervous system (Dean Evenson, it should be remembered, was a micro-biologist), spiritual issues, the science fiction of Olaf Stapledon, Yogananda, alpha rhythms, video soma feedback, and other topics biological, personal and spiritual. In the second section, "Ecological Literacy", there is an article by Gregory Bateson. Bateson, an anthropologist, was so important to Raindance founder Frank Gillette and his friend Paul Ryan, both of whom knew him personally, and so influential among media thinkers of the day, that he deserves some special mention. Bateson thought that human survival depended on understanding the dynamics of humans' interaction with themselves, their environment, and their history. He attached great importance to media studies and applied ecological principles to them. He was, in the opinion of many early video people, a brilliant innovative thinker who charted whole new areas of knowledge.

Challenge for change. p. 64-65. Valiquette, Yolande ; Cuozzo, Peter. Video outreach. p. 66-67. Harris, Jes ; Dragge, Alan. Alternate networks. p. 68-69. Wodetzki, Tom. First progress report letter on rough plans for a nation-wide "movement"distribution set-up. p. 69. Arlen, Ann. Video in prison. p. 70. Videotapes for sale and/or exchange. p. 71-78. [Advertisement for H. Allen Frederiksen's book "Community access video"]. p. 79. [Cable TV : introduction]. p. 80. Arlen, Ann. Public access : the second coming of television?. p. 81-85. [Raindances cable TV report]. p. 8689. Woodstock cable. p. 90-91. [Advertisement for the "April video conference & jamboree"]. p. 92. Please read me : an open letter from the producers of "are you there?". p. 93. Video directory. p. 94-107. Siegel, Eric. Eric Siegels video report: a half-inch world video standard; the European scene; electronic correction; videotape publishing. p. 108. A Radical Software state-of-the-art report. p. 109-115. Books. p. 116-117. [Advertisement for the book "Guerilla Television"by Michael Shamberg and Raindance Corporation]. p. 118. [Advertisement for "Radical Software" magazine]. p. 119-120. Sullivan, Walter. To let others know we are here. p. [121]. Raindance Video. N. p.

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Radical Software, Volume II, Number 1 Changing Channels, Winter 1972

Contents [Presentation]. Program guide. p. [1-2]. Hinshaw, Mark. Wiring megalopolis: two scenarios. p. 3-10. Top Value Television coverage of 1972 political conventions. p. 11-14. [Advertisement for the "Public access celebration"]. p. 15. Woodstock community video. p. 16. Woodstock community video cable broadcasts. p. 17. Shafer, Jon. Brief report from Minnesota : CATV organisations and publications. p. 17. Kolpan, Steven. Community video in New Paltz. p. 18. Downsville community video. p. 18-19. Environmental information network. p. 19. Gappert, Gary. Wisconsin : a tentative look at some potential benefits and costs of cable TV. p. 20. [Prospectus: Cable Funding Corp.]. p. 21-22. Marchese, Lamar. Telecommunity for Appalachia. p. 22. California : Berkely public acces. p. 23. CATVIS. p. 23. Deling, Bert. Australia. p. 23. Benson, Don. Why are we in the the universe?. p. 24-26. The synergy project. p. 27. Platt, John. Hierarchical restructuring. p. 28-32. Platt, John. What we must do : science for survival. p. 33-34. Tyng, Anne. Geometric extensions of consciousness. p. 35-38. Venne, Christopher. C synch. p. 39. Gillette, Frank. Matrices, loops, circuits. p. 40-41. Van de Bogart, Willard. Eulogy for culture. p. 42-43. Environetic synthesis. p. 44. Theobold, Robert. Communications and change. p. 45-48. A proposal : towards founding a society for visual anthropology. p. 49-50. VTR screenings and discussion - at Temple Universitys fifth annual anthropological and documentary film conference. p. 50. "For immediate release" : conference on visual anthropology. p. 51. Northwest : proposal for mini TV broadcasting station. p. 51. Carey, Tobe. Mexico : video birth. p. 52-53. Happy trails. p. [54]-55. Pilchuk proposal. p. 56. Video directory. p. 57-62. Video tools and tips. p. 63-67.
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Both the title, the cover and the table of contents, designed by Ira Schneider, suggest a preoccupation with television, although the actual article contents cover a wide range of topics. One of the elements that makes for Radical Software's lasting significance is the quality of the people who wrote for it, many of whom were important, or went on to become important, in their chosen fields. For instance: Mark Megalopolis" is an writer now based in principal at LMN, a Seattle and is the planning. Hinshaw, author of "Wiring architect, city planner and the Pacific Northwest. He is a planning and design firm in author of several books on

Anne Tyng, excerpts from Geometric Extensions of Consciousness, is one of America's foremost architects and architectural theoreticians. She is mainly known for the work she did with Louis Kahn, with whom she partnered for thirty years. Willard Van De Bogart, who authored "Eulogy for Culture" still writes on ecology and related subjects at: http://www.earthportals.com/Portal_Messenger/ willard.html He lives in Thailand.
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willard.html He lives in Thailand.

Radical Software

Dale Chihuly wrote "Pilchuck Proposal", and is possibly the world's foremost glass artist, and an early user of portable video. Robert Theobold became known as a distinguished futurist. Born in Canada in 1929, he died in Spokane, Washington in 1999. Educated as an economist, his career as a thinker and writer on futurist subjects spanned 40 years. He was the author of several books, and numerous articles, including "Communications and Change" on page 45 of this issue. The proposal to found a Society for Visual Anthropology by Sol Worth and Jay Rubin on page 49 did, in fact, result in the founding of The Society for the Anthropology of Visual Communication. Worth himself was an interesting character. A photographer and filmmaker, he pursued a career in scholarship in mid life, joining the Annenberg School of Communications. He died in 1977.

Video tools and tips. p. 63-67. Print publications. p. 70-71. [Advertisement for "Radical Software"]. p. 72. Forthcoming issues of Radical Software. p. [73].

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Radical Software, Volume II, Number 2 The TV Environment, Spring 1973

Contents [Presentation]. The president. p. 2-3. News. p. 4. Talk shows. p. 5. Game shows. p. 6-8. Dennis James. p. 9-11. Highlights from Dennis James' career. p. 12-13. Situation comedies. p. 14. Bill Gray. p. 15-16. The Andersons. p. 17. Baseball. p. 18-19. Football. p. 20-21. Wrestling. p. 22-23. Women. p. 24-26. Soap Operas. p. 27-29. Louis Priven. p. 30-31. Commercials. p. 32-33. Eddie. p. 34-35. Religion. p. 36-37. TV stars' home. p. 38-39. TV stuff. p. 40-44. TV watchers. p. 45-49. TV salesman. p. 50-51. TV serviceman. p. 52-53. TV rental man. p. 54-55. Us. p. 56-59. Our TV sets. p. 60. For sale. p. 61. Telethon. p. 62-63. [Advertisement for "Radical Software" magazine]. p. 64. This issue, from the minimal front cover to the offscreen image of Tex Antoine on the back cover has an informational conceptual art look to it that was not uncommon to the early 70s. The perpetrators went on to different walks in life. John Margolies has a distinguished publishing history, mainly books on architecture and other aspects of the American built environment. Billy Adler is a digital artist in California. Ilene Segalove has had a career as a video artist, PBS radio personality, and writer. Van Schley became a baseball entrepreneur. He owns, and partially owns, several minor league teams, and is Chairman of the Northeast League. You just never know...

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Certainly the issue which most directly references broadcast television; in fact, it is almost a celebration of 1950s and 60s TV. Interviews are the strong suite, chronicling the careers of Dennis James and Bill Gray (who created the role of Bud Anderson in Father Knows Best); interviews with television viewers talking about their favorite programs. There are even interviews with a store owner who acts in TV commercials for his clothing store, a TV repairman, and a guy who rents TVs for a living. The issue is rich in off-screen photographs of famous and infamous television personalities. Wrestling, baseball and football are covered. There is a sect ion on "TV Stuff" featuring photos of everything "TV" from TV stands and TV chairs to TV dinners.

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Radical Software, Volume II, Number 3 Videocity, Summer 1973

Contents Celestial map. Sattyo. Collage. p. 1. Gietzen, Philip G. Videocity. p. 2. Table of content. p. 2-3. [Two cut and mail cards - recto]. p. 3. [Two cut and mail cards - verso]. p. 4. [Publicity for Remington Rand]. p. 4. Stopple, Lois. Hello. p. 5. Area map. p. 5. Mission mediarts. p. 5-6. Able. p. 6-7. Video Chinatown. p. 7-8. Berg, Peter. Homeskin. p. 8. Cal State at San Francisco. p. 9. Dewitt, Tom. Medium opto-mystic. p. 10-11. Optic nerve. p. 11. Ainsworth, Harriet. Cal College of arts & crafts. p. 12. Mills tape center. p. 13. Coelho, Francis. Antioch College West. p. 13. Sears, Loren. Tribal videography. p. 14. Schneider, Ira ; Korot, Beryl ; Gillette, Frank. A note from Changing Channels/Radical Software in Ruby, N.Y.. p. 15. Ginsberg, Arthur. Video free America. p. 16-19. Harris, Bill. Contact sheets. p. 2021. Canary, Mary. TV dinner. p. 22. Myers, Mary. Ursa Major. p. 22-25. Beeson, Connie. Connie shooting stills : the video artist. p. 25-27. O'Gallagher, Liam. Video obscura. Credit to Douglas Davis. p. [28]. Gietzen, Philip G. ; Bower, Jeff. Poster. p. [29-30]. Crosley, Max. Electro-magnetic spectrum blues. p. [31-32]. Gietzen, Philip G. Dr. Philo Taylor Farnsworth. p. [33-34]. [Photography]. p. [35-36]. Byars, Pamela. Man is typed. p. 37. Alien calls from space. p. 38. The record. p. 39-41. Gietzen, Philip G. T.V. is a time machine. p. 42-44. [Electronicus homosapiens circa 1972]. p. 45. Turner, Ann et al. The National Center for Experiments in Television. p. 46-51. Gray, George. Positronic brain. p. 52-54. Sattyo. Collage. p. 55. Albright, Thomas. School of holography. p. 56-57. Fox, Sue ; Videotape, Johnny. Cable cop. p. 58-61. Conglomerates behind Bay Area Cable
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At the turn of the decade, San Francisco had a powerful music scene, a vibrant and subversive community of comic book cartoonists and illustrators, and a laid-back Marin County lifestyle. Right next door at Berkeley, activists of the New Left conceived the notion of participatory democracy and developed the habit of speaking truth to power. Video was a natural. Videocity was Phillip Gietzen's name for it all; there was a lot of video in San Francisco, and very early on as well. Gietzen, the editor of this issue, was himself making video in 1970. Video Free America, piloted by Skip Sweeney and Arthur Ginsberg, and championing the inventive genius of Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of television, was active early in 1970 (and is still going strong). Peter Berg's Homeskin, the Portola Institute in nearby Palo Alto, Ant Farm from Sausilito, and Gietzen himself had all contributed a paragraph or two to the very first issue of Radical Software in 1970. Even earlier, in 1967, The National Center for Experiments in Television was founded at KQED, San Francisco's public TV station. It was funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, and directed by Brice Howard. Howard was less interested in programming suitable for broadcast than he was in true video experimentation. He coined the term 'videospace' and invited artists from all over to
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'videospace' and invited artists from all over to his workshop in San Francisco.

Radical Software

Gietzen himself was an interesting player. A native of North Carolina, a licensed architect and a visionary, he worked for various architectural firms in the Bay area before opening his own office. With a small circle of friends, he gathered and assembled this very inclusive survey of San Francisco video activity in 1973. Sadly, Phil Gietzen died of a heart attack at his home in the Mission in 1999.

Conglomerates behind Bay Area Cable TV. p. 62. [Selection of readings and listenings]. p. 63. Subsciption information. p. [64]. Gietzen, Philip G. Postcript. p. [65]. Abracadabra design & topography. p. [65].

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Radical Software, Volume II, Number 4 Solid State, Autumn 1973

Contents [B.K] ; [I.S]. A note from the general editors of Radical Software, volume II:. Radical software. Gioscia, Vic. Notes on videotherapy. p. 1-4. Weisborg, H.F. Video tape for the exceptional. p. 5-8. Berger, Milton. Multiple image self confrontation. p. 8-12. Kaplan, Alan ; Spiliadis, Stelios. What can a Portapak do?. p. 12-14. Sandidge, Bob. Critical mass. p. 1516. Engelman, Abram. Video as a tool in institutional analysis. p. 17-22. Sherman, Randy. Video enclosing. p. 23-24. Shirley Clarke : an interview. p. 2527. Antioch College M.A in media. p. 2830. Public access : A report from Survival Arts Media. p. 31-33. Valiquette, Yolande. Selectovision. p. 34-36. Gravelle, Pauline ; Smith, Mary E. Bridgeport video center. p. 37. Morrow, Barry ; Gronseth, Paul. Beltrami ethnic history project. p. 38. Morrow, Barry ; Aitken, Tacoumba ; Doepke, Bruce. Video involvement project. p. 38-39. D.C video center. p. 39. Video Rivington. p. 39-40. Orton, Barry. The Urban Communications Teaching and Resource Centre. p. 41-42. Downtown community television center. p. 42-43. 1st national video festival. p. 44-45. Harding, Robert. Notes on the evolution of Baltimore. p. [46-47]. [Advertisement for a Frank Gillette exhibition]. p. [48]. Davis, Douglas. Talk out. p. [49]. Playback environment questionnaire. p. 50. Orton, Barry. Rutgers University : the state university of New Jersey. p. 51. Sandin, Daniel J. [Video Inflato event workshop]. p. 52. Lord , Charles. [California Institute of the Arts]. p. 53. Goldberg, Mike. Bottin international video exchange directory. p. 54-55. Global village. p. 56-57. Repairbear, Joe. Hardware hints from Videoball. p. 58-59. Shamberg, Michael H. From 1/2inch to 2inch. p. 59. Video tape roundup. p. 60-65. [Advertisement for Adwar Video
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The connection between video and psychotherapy and mental health issues had been briefly addressed in earlier numbers of Radical Software, but Solid State, produced by The Center for Social Research and Action, a graduate program at the Baltimore Campus of Antioch College, was devoted to the subject. Headed by Al Engelman, assisted by librarian and media instructor Brenda Engelman and filmmaker Alan Kaplan, the program was inspired by the New Left politics that had begun to dominate the political thinking on college campuses since the publication of the Port Huron Statement in 1962, and by the films of Fred Wiseman. The teachers and their students brought portapak video to bear on themes of community organization, institutional analysis, and psychotherapy. They also participated actively in the street politics of the day. They were present with portapaks during the Mayday 1971 demonstrations in Washington, D.C. when 13,000 demonstrators were arrested and locked up at the RFK Stadium and the DC jail. Solid State leads off with "Video and

Psychotherapy" by Vic Gioscia. Gioscia, who trained as a philosopher, was a friend of both Frank Gillette and Paul Ryan, appearing in Vol. I., Number 2 of Radical Software with a piece on the
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Number 2 of Radical Software with a piece on the subject of time.

Radical Software

Gioscia had been Director of Research for Jewish Family Services, a New York family counseling organization. He was the direct link between Raindance and the burgeoning world of video psychotherapy, a community of mental health professionals who had also discovered video in the late 60s. Ian Alger, M.D. with Peter Hogan, M.D. authored articles on the subject in the American Journal of Psychiatry as early as 1967. Milton Berger, M.D., who wrote the third article in Solid State, edited a book on the subject in 1970, Videotape Techniques in Psychiatric Training and Treatment. The whole story of the video movement of the late 60s and early 70s, and its connection to the use of video and psychotherapy deserves serious attention.

[Advertisement for Adwar Video Corporation]. p. [66]. [Advertisement for CTL Electronics Inc]. p. [67]. [Advertisement for Video Tape Network]. p. 68-69. [Advertisement for Technisphere Corporation]. p. 70. Brought to you by:. p. [71].

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Radical Software, Volume II, Number 5 Video and Environment, Winter 1973

Contents [Presentation]. p. [1]. Downey, Juan. Technology and beyond. p. [2-3]. Downey, Juan. Video trans Americas. p. 4. Downey, Juan. 3 way communication. p. [5]. Downey, Juan. Plato now. p. 6-8. [Juan Downey]. p. 9-10. [A modular prefabricated school for the era of communications]. p. 11. Schneider, Ira. The infinity chamber. p. 12. An interactive experiment. p. 13. Schneider, Ira. Video theatre. p. [14-15]. No man is an island, but Manhattan is : Manhattan is and island : Manhattan. p. [16]. Schneider, Ira. [Real time : (a video environment for the USA bicentennial exhibition)]. p. 17. Modular video matrix. p. 18-19. Castro-Cid, Enrique. Brief space note. p. 20-22. [Frank Gillette : Six matrices]. p. 23[29]. Gillette, Frank. [Proposal : Maze]. p. 30. Bobkoff, Ned. Transformational video. p. 31. Ross, David. Circuit : a video invitational at the Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, New York. p. 32-35. Horowitz, Andrew. Domestic communications satellites. p. 36-40. Dobkins, John. On gaming. p. [41]. Gillette, Frank. Notes for a proposal of conceptual gamming [sic]. p. 42-43. Harithas, James. Blueprint for a creative reorientation. p. 44-45. VT program guide. p. [46-51]. Spare reel directory. p. 52-56. By the people : a project designed to catalyse local tv program origination. p. [58]-59. VT tools and tips : modifications to VTR equipment to provide an improved method of editing 1/2-inch videotape recordings. Excerpt of National Film Board of Canada technical bulletin #10. p. [60]-61. Mann, Andy. Tips from Andy Mann. p. 62. [Advertisement for Technisphere Corporation]. p. 63. Rosebush, Judson. Frank Gillette : Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, New York. p. 64. [Advertisement for Frank Gillette's book "Between paradigms"]. p. [65]. [Advertisement for the book series "Social
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The late Chilean-American artist Juan Downey, Ira Schneider, and Frank Gillette dominate the early pages of this number, as they do the cover photograph, looking out of a tent, probably at Ruby, New York. Korot is there, too, at the extreme left. The slightly obscure and oblique head with the large hair belongs to Andy Mann, a friend to the others and a significant video artist in his own right. He, too, is deceased. The others are Juan's wife Marilise, her son and daughter, Juanfi and Titi LaMadrid, and Barbara Goldberg. They were a loose gang for a time, a group of friends who did video and enjoyed each other's company and cooking. They were all very close to their art. They thought a lot about it and committed themselves to it fully. Not that they, and the larger group they represented here, were the New York art world's idea of what video artists should be, even though they could lay an authoritative claim to having helped invent the form. But they had two champions, Howard Wise of Electronic Arts Intermix, and Jim Harithas of the Everson Museum in Syracuse; both interesting characters and both absolutely crucial to the history of video art. There is a rare essay by Harithas on page 45 of this issue of Radical Software.
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Radical Software

The early pages serve as a showcase for some of Downey's, Schneider's and Gillette's video art with descriptions, drawings, installation photographs, and proposals for projects. Another interesting page is 19, on which there is a description of a very early industrial project for the American Can Company by Schneider and Gillette, with Paul Ryan and John Reilly. Also involved was Woody Vasulka, though his name is not mentioned. As a video display system it has interest, although the group lost control of the software, much to their disappointment. Don't miss Andrew Horowitz's article "Domestic Communications Satellites" on page 36; wide ranging and full of relevance.

[Advertisement for the book series "Social change"]. p. [66]. [Advertisement for the book "Psychic Studies" by Dr. Stanley Krippner]. p. [66]. [Advertisement for the book "Picture bandwidth compression" edited by Thomas Huang and Oleh Tretiak]. p. [67]. [Advertisement for the periodicals "Natural life styles", "Counterplay" and "Women's studies"]. p. [68].

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Radical Software, Volume II, Number 6 Video and Kids, Summer 1974

Contents [Presentation]. Haratonik, Peter ; Laybourne, Kit. About this issue. p. 1-2. Contents. p. 3. What matters most : a collection of concerns. p. 4-7. Strickler, Jeff. The video carrot. p. 7-8. Gordon, George. Dont try to understand media - know thyself. p. 810. Le Baron, John. Implications of the new television for the open classroom. p. 10-12. Anderson, Chuck. The great plastic weekly video magazine. p. 12-[16]. Falk, Irving. The tactics of the truth. p. [16]-17. Behr, Bob. Video in a psychiatric context. p. 17-18. Lopate, Phillip. Aesthetics of the Portapak. p. 18-[21]. Laybourne, Kit. Three propositions, two frameworks and an indictment. p. 2226. Petner, Joe ; Sherwood, Susan. Teaching and reflecting. p. 27-28. Ackerman, Mitch. An attempt at video research. p. 28-30. Cowlan, Maggi. Action for childrens television. p. 30-31. Page, Anne. Invitation to a video program. p. 31-32. Things to do with kids : A portfolio of activities. p. 33-35. Bent, Quincy. Introductory video exercises. p. 35-38. Laybourne, Kit. Portraits. p. 38-39. Laybourne, Gerry. Theater gaming. p. 39-40. Haratonik, Peter. Music, movement and video. p. 40-41. Cost, Bruce. 6:00 news. p. 41-42. Neighbourhood documentary. p. 4243. Anderson, Chuck. Video animation. p. 43. Laybourne, Kit. In-depth interviews. p. 43-44. Tambellini, Aldo. Creative electrography. p. 44. Haratonik, Peter. Reading: experience through video. p. 45. Resources that will help. p. 45. Whats doing : some video programs here and there. p. 46-48. Anderson, Chuck. The evolution of a non-program. p. 48-49. Cost, Bruce. Video in a therapeutic community. p. 50-51. Garmey, Jane ; Bush, Jeff. A new approach in higher education. p. 51-52.
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The conditions that sustained the embryonic video community in 1970 differed markedly from those that prevailed four years later. For one thing, the landscape had evolved to include a wide variety of forms. Some types of video art were finding acceptance in galleries and museums. And with the advent of time-base correction, documentary and narrative videotapes produced on half-inch portable equipment were beginning to appear on television. Also, the number of people who called the video community home had expanded exponentially. The community had grown from a handful of video pioneers, who knew each other more or less well, into a national movement with hundreds of practitioners. Non-profit organizations dedicated wholly or in part to 1/2inch portable video production had sprung up across the nation and a generous support system of grants and fellowships had evolved to meet their funding requirements. It seemed to be a rosy picture and, in some respects, it was. But for some of the people who encouraged it all - the community represented by Radical Software, its contributors and readership - the perceived emphasis on product marked a troubling departure from their goal of evolutionary change. There was less a sense of challenging the
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There was less a sense of challenging the information order of the day and more a sense of becoming part of it.

Radical Software

There is some feeling of this in the opening paragraphs of this last issue of Radical Software, "Video & Kids", put together by Peter Haratonik and Kit Laybourne of the Center for Understanding Media. Concerned mainly with the use of video for educating children, and sensing a community-wide feeling of doubt about goals and methods, they called together a conference of educators and video activists who shared their concerns, and challenged them to explicate their own work and goals. This last issue of Radical Software is the remarkable result.

approach in higher education. p. 51-52. Miles, Ellen. Student-centred ETV broadcasting. p. 52-54. Jonassen, David. Video for migrant children. p. 54-55. Kearney, Jim. Project TV : video as a second language. p. 55-56. Haratonik, Peter. Video catalyst. p. 56-60. Dunn, Jon. Inner-city video. p. 6061. Rabin, Paul ; Halsband, Myles. Kids today : a cable project. p. 61-[62]. Strickler, Jeff. Creating an elementary school video environment. p. 63-64. Walter Dale. Video and the public library. p. 64-66. Contributors. p. 67-68. [Advertisement for [MORE] magazine]. p. [69]. [Advertisement for the Videofreex "Spaghetti City video manual"]. p. [71]. [Advertisement for "Counterplay" magazine]. p. [73].

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