“Implementation is a novel about psychological warfare, American Imperialism, sex, terror, identity, and the idea of place,” says Nick Montfort and Scott Rettberg. As interesting and relevant as such themes are I think that “Implementation” is less about the short novel’s themes, then it’s about how such themes are disseminated — which interestingly enough can be a theme in itself.
If it was about the theme of psychological warfare — as some people say it’s — then why did the authors decided to use a white backdrop instead of a red one? If I would see a piece of red paper on an airplane — one gentleman from Europe decided that KLM’s interior was in for a redecoration — with a beginning phrase that says “Terror is easier to sell then shoes,” then I would say that “Implementation’s” theme was more than adequately conveyed. However, “Implementation” as it is draws no attention to itself, let alone to its themes, since unless I was looking for a small white sheet of paper there is no way that I can find it in downtown New York or Tokyo.
As I said before, I believe that the true message of the work comes from the way it’s delivered — like a virus through the internet. If we look at the work from that context, then its theme is not about American Imperialism anymore, but instead about how a counter-cultural movement begins and works. Perhaps I interpreted “Implementation” that way, because I still remember how graffiti spread all over the world, and like a virus, evolved to fit every nation’s need in protesting the direction their culture was heading. The same way, if we look at the individual images in “Implementation” from different countries, we can see that they evolve and are placed on different symbolic institutions.
Seeing a white piece of paper with a short phrase from “Implementation” in front of the Louvre, where a wealth of traditional art is kept, reminded me of the counter-cultural movement in art. What is art? A piece of paper placed on a wall, or Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa? I guess it’s up to us to decide.