Slopfest #63 · 1989 · Vienna
Vague but Exciting
Tim Berners-Lee's boss wrote 'vague but exciting' on the proposal for the web. We printed it on the tickets.
Museum status: Rejected by three major museums. Framed anyway.
- Venue
- Kursalon, Stadtpark
- Attendance
- 6,900
- Guest of honour
- Nam June Paik (stacked 40 televisions in the ballroom and called it the internet)
- Also spotted
- A life-size cardboard David Hasselhoff in his light-up jacket, 'Looking for Freedom' on loop
- Fun fact
- 1 proposal, 3 words of feedback, 0 revisions
What happened
The committee submitted its program for approval to itself and got it back marked 'Vague but exciting'. That has been the review policy ever since, for every talk, installation and dish. Nam June Paik stacked 40 televisions in the ballroom and called it the internet, which was accepted. The only item ever rejected was a clear, well-structured proposal.
Elsewhere in 1989
Tim Berners-Lee submits his proposal for an information system at CERN. His manager notes on it: 'Vague but exciting...'
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