rr fe nee ene nha ae nee 2H 88 #8 8a 29a 828
eeeEEEE HUE EE DHHS HESSD
WHAT DOES OBN DO?
OBN is dedicated to Cyberfeminism. OBN's concern is to build spaces in which Cyberfeminists can search, experiment,
communicate and act. For example the infrastructure which is being built by OBN: It consists of a Cyberfeminist Server
(currently under construction), the OBN mailing list and the organisation of Real-Life meetings. All this activities have the
purpose to give a contextualized presence to different artistic, theoretical and political formulations under the umbrella of
Cyberfeminism. Furthermore OBN creates and uses different kinds of spaces, spaces which are more abstract. They grow
out of the confusion which results through the interaction between virtual and real identities.
OBN ties together different approaches in Cyberfeminism and provides a base for critics and discussions.
OBN believes that i.e. the organisation of a non-academic, autonomous meeting with women who are keen on calling

themselves Cyberfeminists and developing together new strategies of Feminism is a basically activist work. OBN does
mostly conspiratorial work. OBN supports different and contradictory voices.

HOW AND WHEN DID IT START?

The Old Boys Network was founded in Berlin in spring 1997 by Susanne Ackers, Julianne Pierce, Valentina Djordjevic,
Ellen Nonnenmacher and Cornelia Sollifrank. The idea for OBN grew out of the female artist groups VNS Matrix and -Innen.
Members of these groups felt the need for a worldwide network for Cyberfeminist activities. The origins are difficult to

trace. As usually a really revolving idea and invention seems to have been coming up simultaneously at different places
and minds. (check for instance the invention of cinematography, television or telephone) But unlike these historical ex-
amples, OBN does not rival other Cyberfeminist efforts, but tries to build a general network. OBN, it's real, not historical.
OBN, it's not real, but historical.

WHAT IS/WAS THE FIRST CYBERFEMINIST INTERNATIONAL?

In September 1997 the First Cyberfeminist International took place in the Hybrid Workspace at Documenta X, in Kassel,
Germany. 37 women from 12 countries participated. It was the first big meeting of Cyberfeminists organised by the Old
Boys Network (OBN). For further information please check: www.obn.org/kassel. The complete documentation of the First
Cyberfeminist International has been published in a reader in August 1998, please have a look at: www.obn.org/reader
It was a lie, because it was not the first one, only the biggest. Next time we won't repeat this mistake of a linear ‘straight’
counting procedure, but name it a queer theoretical approach to numbers as well, due to our hacking workshops. Are there
any future meetings planned?

Yes, present and future, small and big ones. There is the NEXT CYBERFEMINIST INTERNATIONAL in early March 1999
(Rotterdam). For 2000 we are looking forward to invite Cyberfeminists from all over the world to Hamburg, Germany.

WHAT IS CYBERFEMINISM?

A feminism, of course--focussing on the digital medium. -- The First Cyberfeminist International agreed on not to define the
term. The strategy of keeping the term as open as possible was consensual. As a substitute for a definition The First
Cyberfeminist International formulated the "100 Anti-Theses": www.obn.org/cfundef/10Oantitheses.htm!

Cyberfeminism is a vehicle for discussing certain methods in theory, art or politics. Cyberfeminism is an update of
Feminism. Cyberfeminism is the updated version of Feminism dedicated to new political issues raised by global culture
and media society. Cyberfeminism is much more than every other Feminism linked to aesthetic and ironic strategies as in-
trinsic tools within the growing importance of design and aesthetics in the new world order of flowing pancapitalism.

WHY CYBERFEMINISM?

Why not? Cyberfeminism is a powerful new term which functions very well as an entry point to the important discussion
about "women and technology”. Cyberfeminism offers many women--including those weary of same-old feminism--a new
vantage point from which to formulate innovative theory and practice, and at the same time, to reflect upon traditional fem-
inist theory and practice. Who else would do the work? Feminists need new vanishing lines. Its' a question of survival and
power and fun