Marcos P. Dias - The Machinic City: Media, Performance and Participation

This book is the result of a long process of discovery, serendipity and enjoyment. It slowly took shape over a period of ten years during my studies, teaching and research in Ireland and Australia, and was informed by performance art projects across several countries. However, most importantly, it was influenced by many people along the way, to whom I am very grateful.

I would like to thank all the artists who supported my research and gave me permission to use their images in this book, including Blast Theory, Rimini Protokoll, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Dante or Die and Liam Young. I am particularly indebted to Blast Theory artists Matt Adams, Nick Tandavanitj and Ju Row Farr for facilitating my ethnographic research on A Machine To See Within Brighton by giving me access to their archives, production meetings, project testing and for arranging interviews with participants and collaborators.

I am very grateful to Scott McQuire and Nikos Papastergiadis, my supervisors during my PhD studies in the University of Melbourne, who provided me with expert advice, support and encouragement to publish my work. Thanks to all my colleagues from the School of Culture and Communication in the University of Melbourne and the Technology and Culture Reading Group (TCRG) for the conversations, ideas and guidance, including: Tom Apperley, Sean Cubitt, Michael Dieter, Robbie Fordyce, Anna Jackson, Rachael Kendrick, Dale Leorke, Camilla Mhring Reestorff, Bjrn Nansen, Romana Rosalie, Nate Tkacz and Luke van Ryn. The fun and informal weekly readings under the tree beside Tsubu bar informed this book in many ways.

Thanks to all my colleagues from Trinity College Dublin, Dundalk Institute of Technology and Maynooth University for their support, guidance and inspiration. My sincere gratitude to Marie Redmond, Glenn Strong and Feargal Fitzpatrick for giving me advice and assistance during the early phase of my academic career and to Linda Doyle for providing me with access to the facilities in the CTVR/the Telecommunications Research Centre in Dublin during my PhD studies. Thanks to Michiel de Lange, Jussi Parikka, Maria Pramaggiore and Stephanie Rains for their generous advice on book publishing at various stages of the process.

I would also like to thank my colleagues from Dublin City University, where I currently teach and research.