SIUC Honors students to appear in art parade

Four students enrolled in SIUC's Honors Program will travel to Indianapolis, Friday, April 25, through Sunday, April 27, to present "Speak Freely/Save the Internet," in a public art parade sponsored by the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

The project, which was developed collaboratively with the four students and instructor Sarah Kanouse, an assistant professor in the Department of Cinema and Photography, creatively raises awareness about the future of "net neutrality" — the principle that Internet providers must treat all content and users equally in providing access. Large cable companies are lobbying the FCC to change regulations to allow them to speed up delivery for their own content or those who have paid a special fee, while slowing down content from independent producers and others who haven't paid up.

Sean Brown, a junior in radio-television said he suggested net neutrality as a theme for the project because the Internet is an important part of his everyday life.

" Now that our freedom to access the web sites of our choosing is at stake, I think it's important that everyone knows about that," he said.

The class researched the topic of net neutrality and designed a parade float that visually communicates the issue. Computer monitors line the sides of a pickup truck, their screens replaced with the words "Save the Net!" written in bright letters. A large puppet in the form of an Ethernet cable is attached to the back of the truck. During the parade, several students will interview parade participants about their Internet use, with the responses played over a loudspeaker mounted to the roof of the vehicle. The class will also hand out flyers providing information on net neutrality and upcoming FCC hearings on the proposed regulatory changes.

"Our parade contribution is a great example of how art can be a way of creatively raising awareness about important social issues while being lighthearted, fun, and accessible for both maker and viewer," says professor Sarah Kanouse. "The art parade really fit in with the theme of the course, which was an introduction to thinking and making new options for contemporary art. Many artists have been making public parades in recent years, and we'll get to see some of the best of this work. It's a great opportunity for SIU students to meet their peers at other schools, learn more about contemporary art, and share their work with the public."

The parade is the final project in the University Honors Program course "Making Meaning: Understanding and Practicing Contemporary Media Art," offered for the first time this year. The University Honors Program offers special courses and other academic benefits for SIUC's highest achieving students. Members of the class include Brown, Lauren Kirincich, a senior in political science, Phillip Carrier, a sophomore in art and design; and Becky Sonnack, freshman in photojournalism.

- Sarah Kanouse