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Cornfield No More

By Lauri Apple in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 15, 2008 2:36PM

silo.jpg Today and tomorrow, the Museum of Contemporary Art plays host to the New Media Summit -- a two-day convergence of creative and corporate-creative types who are busy working toward an integrated, multi-platform world. Seminar topics highlight personal branding, combining technology, monetizing your new media, and iStuff. Mixed throughout are presentations and performances by musicians, comedians and artists. And unlike many other similar conferences we’ve either known about or been to in the past, the NMS will actually feature discussions led by the forms of humans most frequently neglected by tech event organizers: Homo sapiens womanus (2008 = Year of the Feminist) and Homo sapiens non-pasty.

The Summit is touted as “having the potential to ‘single-handedly put Chicago on the cultural map after so many failed attempts in the past.’” Ambitious! We asked Summit President and Founder John Patterson for insight.

Chicagoist: Who are you, and why did you organize this Summit?

John Patterson: I work for Pixel Brothers, Inc., the leading production house in the city of Chicago (TV shows, commercials, features). I birthed and led a citywide leadership council that declared Austin, TX as The Arts Capitol of the South, instigating pioneers to make Austin what it is today. Since 1994 I’ve worked for an international training and development leader managing the Midwest U.S. office. Having facilitated leadership development programs for over 10,000 people, I joined Pixel Brothers to break new ground for the company and the media industry.

I started the Summit with the simple statement: "The health of the fish is given by the water." In other words, the Summit is the opportunity to create really healthy vibrant water -- that the connections allow for thriving. Thriving is all anybody wants.

C: Why/how does the Summit have the potential to "single-handedly put Chicago on the cultural map after so many failed attempts in the past?"

JP: The Summit is a grass-roots phenomenon. Similar to the social networking wild-fire, it brings to real time - the intersection of many diverse industries -- with new media as the glue -- the connector. As the speed of technology advances, activities converge (think iPhone -- that does everything) and the silos are no longer as relevant as they were previously. Technology is offering a model that brings us all together at one table, working together. We are fostering 'idea sharing' vs. 'idea protection' - whenever this happens, all boats rise with the tide.

In addition, we are finally claiming what has been ours all along: We are the geographic hub for the history of the U.S. Because of this, we have also been the hub of commerce. We are now bringing these commercial interests together to collaborate in new ways.

C: Many would argue (including me) that Chicago already is on the cultural map. Where does the perception that it isn't come from?

JP: I would argue that it is already on the cultural map, but for people in New York, L.A. or London, Chicago is a cornfield. Chicago being a cultural center for the rest of the world is different than being a cultural center for ourselves.

C: How did the Summit attract involvement from Comcast, Microsoft and other corporations?

JP: The Summit mission -- "pioneering Chicago as the new media capital of the world" -- speaks to so many people. Many of the big corporations are tired of losing talent to New York or L.A., the film industry is tired of losing people to New York or L.A. - and the people who live in L.A. or New York have said they would rather stay in Chicago if possible. Like the Olympics, the Summit gives a huge number of Chicagoans a reason to connect - the Summit gave many diverse industries that chance to connect, join forces and prosper together.* The whole point of the Summit is collaboration.

C: You describe the Summit as a cultural event, but it also emphasizes the involvement of corporations. Some people would argue that "culture" and "corporate" are mutually exclusive. Tell us why they're wrong.

JP: The Internet is 5,000 days old. Everybody is trying to make sense of the opportunities made available by these new technologies. The fundamental shake-up of social production (Wikipedia, Facebook, YouTube) has demonstrated that the masses can act like a swarm of bees and build unheard of products, "societies" and virtual realities. In other words, for the first time in history - "getting along" is good for business - and proving that social production works. So culture and corporation are at an irrevocable intersection in our history. The summit acknowledges this and is the real time platform for that intersection.

C: What, besides presentations, will be offered to keep folks busy?

JP: These are 18 minute talks - rapid fire bits of potent information. Between talks we encourage networking and collaboration. There is music and art throughout the entire event.

*You’ll need $260 to get in, though.