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Society conditions us daily into abiding by its idea of moral normality - a morality that is largely a construct of an elite minority and is then conditioned into us by fear; fear of failure, poverty, ostracism and the criminal. Anyone that refuses to accept this conditioned way of life is often branded dangerous and is forced to take their ideas underground. The conspiracy movement is thus created. The movement is disconnected, acknowledged only through familiar ideas and symbols, and stands tall as the 'anti-society', commonly referred to as 'the counter culture'. The network exists spiritually and virtually - members are often unaware of each other, or indeed unaware that they are even part of it. Members are recognised simply as those who kick against the status quo and question authority - political authority, intellectual elitism and artistic snobbery.
The first step was the publication in winter 1993 of Thee Data Base - a magazine that was to become a forum for the free exchange of information and opinions. The title worked two-fold: firstly, it was to be a database of information from grass roots political activism to anti-authoritarian avant garde art - from experimental fringe science to effective mind programming. Secondly, by deliberately refusing to charge a cover price for the magazine, the ideas travelled far and wide and a physical database of readers was soon established. Over the last five years Thee Data Collectiv has grown to encompass other organisations such as the Association of Autonomous Astronauts, the Dadanarchists Anti-Art Foundation and the Society for the Termination of Art (responsible for the much-publicised levitation of the Glasgow Gallery Of Modern Art in spring 1996). Those working within the Collectiv include writers, musicians, performance artists, video / graphic and lighting designers, DJs, producers, computer programmers, sound engineers and so forth - a creative melting pot that ensures that the exchange of information is not solely confined to the magazine format. Other projects from Thee Data Collectiv include: the Databass live club night, a new compilation cassette featuring work from unsigned eclectic artists and personal music output from thee Collectiv such as Re:Search and Esoferric. 1998 should see realisation of the long-held desire to publish a book of collected writings from Thee Data Base with new submissions from regular contributors. |
As you read this, there is an underground global conspiracy at work. Fortunately, this conspiracy has nothing to do with aliens, one-world governments or Elvis Presley. The conspiracy is one of positivity, an alternative to the global status quo. Writers and artists such as Timothy Leary, The K Foundation, William Burroughs, Grant Morrison and Ken Campbell are all part of it, and they are only the tip of a giant network of icebergs.
In 1993, a group of people living and working in Glasgow recognised that important information was effectively being suppressed by its lack of availability through existing channels. Together they formed Thee Data Collectiv with the sole purpose of connecting the virtual network together into a working group of like-minded individuals that could spread information and ideas far and wide.