Published in: Kröger, Fabian, Zum Techno-Imaginären der Autobatterie, in: Müggenburg, Jan (ed.), Reichweitenangst, Batterien und Akkus als Medien des Digitalen Zeitalters, Transcript 2021, p. 95-110. Full book available (open access). Translation from German to English by the author (02/2023). Looking back at the 20th century, the history of the automobile seems to be primarily associated with […]
On the Techno-Imaginary of the Car Battery Read More »
Just coming back from a very inspiring conference about the culture and technology of batteries (Reichweitenangst – Batterien und Akkus als Medien des Digitalen Zeitalters), organized by Prof. Jan Müggenburg (Media studies) at Leuphana University in Germany. Media theorists, historians of technology and cultural scientists presented their different approaches to this fascinating topic. My own
Conference on batteries at Leuphana University Lüneburg (2019) Read More »
Fabian Kröger shows how automobile design is changing from functional to symbolic elements by taking up mythological influences and animalistic elements. The Paris Motor Show 2006 revealed this trend, showcasing concept cars that merge divine, demonic, and zoomorphic references. Renault, Citroën, and Peugeot infuse vehicles with totemic significance, embodying human dreams, fears, and aspirations. Automobiles are transformed into symbolic, ritualistic artifacts that blur the lines between man, machine, and nature. These creative stagings embody anthropomorphic dreams, fears and self-images and the ritual charge of the automobile as a transcendental object beyond purely functional utility.