The Cory Arcangel Hack: Eivind Røssaak's Open Access Study of Digital Art
Eivind Røssaak's book, "The Cory Arcangel Hack: Digital Culture and Aesthetic Practice," has been published by MIT Press. This 274-page English-language work (ISBN 978-0262552547) was released in the USA in 2025 and is available as Open Access. The text explores the evolution of artist Cory Arcangel, who shifted from a hacker DIY mentality to a prominent figure in contemporary art. Røssaak combines theoretical and practical insights, portraying Arcangel as a "mechanologist" who critiques digital media through irony and failure. The introduction offers biographical context, while the first chapter utilizes Deleuze and Guattari's "generalized theory of flows." Later chapters delve into specific hacks, including the "flow-break hack," "flow-remix hack," and "flow-parody hack." Alexander R. Galloway's preface emphasizes the playful nature of Arcangel's work, which challenges digital logic and creates enjoyment through malfunctioning machines.
Key facts
- The MIT Press published Eivind Røssaak's book 'The Cory Arcangel Hack' in 2025.
- The book has 274 pages and ISBN 978-0262552547.
- It is published in English and is Open Access.
- Cory Arcangel is described as a 'mechanologist' who uses irony and failure.
- Røssaak applies Deleuze and Guattari's 'generalized theory of flows'.
- The book analyzes Super Mario Clouds as a 'flow-break hack'.
- Alexander R. Galloway wrote the preface, noting Arcangel's work is fun.
- The book covers remix strategies and bots on platforms.
Entities
Artists
- Cory Arcangel
- Eivind Røssaak
- Alexander R. Galloway
Institutions
- The MIT Press
Locations
- USA