''Radical Software'' was an early journal on the use of video as an artistic and political medium, started in 1970 in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the U ...
. At the time, the term ''radical software'' referred to the content of information rather than to a
computer program
A computer program is a sequence or set of instructions in a programming language for a computer to execute. Computer programs are one component of software, which also includes documentation and other intangible components.
A computer progra ...
.
History
The founders of ''Radical Software'' video journal were
Phyllis Gershuny (Segura) and
Beryl Korot.
The video journal was begun with a questionnaire sent to a wide variety of interested people. The first issue was a creative editing of the answers to the questionnaire plus some additional special articles. The most outstanding element of ''Radical Software'' video journal was the style and emphasis used in
editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, photographic, visual, audible, or cinematic material used by a person or an entity to convey a message or information. The editing process can involve correction, condensation, ...
. The content itself was a call to pay attention to the way information itself is disseminated. And it was a call to encourage a
grassroots
A grassroots movement is one that uses the people in a given district, region or community as the basis for a political or economic movement. Grassroots movements and organizations use collective action from the local level to effect change at t ...
involvement in creating an information environment exclusive of broadcast and corporate media. It became immediately important and popular as it grasped fully what a lot of people had been concerned with and thinking about; giving its introduction a synchronicity of the ideas of the day.
Its editing was ultimately taken over by its original publisher,
Raindance Corporation,
[Melanson. "Radical Software" in: ] a loosely formed group of like-minded
videographer
Videography is the process of capturing moving images on electronic media (e.g., videotape, direct to disk recording, or solid state storage) and even streaming media. The term includes methods of video production and post-production. It used ...
s: some with a philosophical bent, painters, and an aspiring Hollywood producer.
Michael Shamberg
Michael Shamberg (born 1945?) is an American film producer and former Time–Life correspondent.
Life and career
His credits include ''Erin Brockovich'', ''A Fish Called Wanda'', '' Garden State'', ''Gattaca'', ''Pulp Fiction'' and ''The Big C ...
who went on to become a Hollywood producer co-edited Issue #5 of Radical Software along with Dudley Evenson. Dudley's husband
Dean Evenson provided articles, tech drawings and cartoons. Not all members of Raindance were involved with ''Radical Software''.
Ira Schneider was added to its founders list as his importance in maintaining a mailing list and some helpful suggestions were recognized. Schneider did not edit any of the original issues. He and Korot went on to be the editors after the third issue had begun. There was a split at that time in the editorial direction and the original vision was altered to comply with that, causing a fissure and Gershuny's untimely departure. Several subsequent issues were farmed out to other groups and the format and direction shifted yet again. Eleven issues were produced before the organization folded in 1974.
References
{{reflist
External links
Radical Softwarearchive site
Citizen journalism