Rob Bevan + Tim Wright
Rob Bevan (Oslo, Norwey, 1964), Tim Wright (Norwich, U.K., 1964)


Online Caroline (2000)


““I'm Caroline. Late twenties. A travel writer (of sorts). I live with David – when he’s not away in Africa, as he is now. Back soon, he says. Work is quiet and David's away, which is why I agreed to let XPT install this Webcam system into my home. You're going to be my friend - my online friend. And together we're going to spice things up around here. Don't worry. I'm not asking for a heavy commitment, and I’m not trying to sell you anything. Just watch the Webcam, check out new stuff on the site, tolerate my emails – generally be my friend for a couple of minutes each day” . To accept this invitation is of course, to enter in a very interesting narrative dynamic.  By the use of e-mail and visits to Caroline’s website, a relationship will form with time in which we will feel increasingly more affectively involved with her. She will make us feel like we are her real friends, like close confidants that are informed of her concerns, doubts and desires, even if, of course, it is all a simulation that sets in motion a highly complex narrative game. At all times, our interaction will Caroline will model the effects of a very customised communication relationship (as some of the data that we provide on our own lives or our preferences will be incorporated in the way in which she will refer to us), full of convincing mock-ups of proximity (very much used, on the other hand, in e-business and in general, in the forms of today's biopolitical production over networks). Of these, the most important is undoubtedly her insistent calling for our attention, the expression of our closeness to her, who will get annoyed when we stop reading her e-mails or visiting her website. And only this correspondence will make things progress towards their (fatal) destiny.