Page Unbound: From Columbus to Google: Evolving Architectures of Knowledge

Modern libraries and archives are deeply tied to the history of European conquest, shaping both what is preserved and what remains absent. Beginning with Ferdinand Columbus’ vision of a universal library and ending with today’s powerful digital aggregators like Google and OpenAI, this talk by Alex Gil explores how historical records are both products and producers of history. He advocates for a critical examination of textuality and the infrastructures that sustain our cultural and historical memory in the digital age. Free snacks and refreshments provided.