The Big #rpReview: re:publica 2009 – SHIFT HAPPENS
The 10th re:publica anniversary is a great opportunity to look back at the last nine iterations of the conference. Last year, we already wrote two throwback pieces on the very first re:publica and its successor, looking at past themes, programme highlights and developments.
Today we're jumping ahead another year to look at the happenings and topics which defined re:publica 2009. #rp09 featured the motto SHIFT HAPPENS, with the conference focusing particularly on the changes and shifts affecting the world of media. The motto was inspired by Karl Fisch's videos of the same name as well as sociologist Jeremy Rifkin. Featuring around 1,600 participants, the third re:publica had continued its rapid growth. So rapidly in fact that, from 1 – 3 April 09, re:publica was spread across three venues – Kalkscheune, Friedrichstadtpalast and Media Center.
The event programme for re:publica 2009 had also grown. The new sub-conference re:health opened new thematic avenues. '09 featured several other sub-conferences, including one in partnership with IBM titled "Social Everywhere – how web 2.0 is conquering business" as well as one featuring the Bundeszentrale für Politische Bildung on "Politics 2.0". The stages began featuring more international guests. Jimmy Wales presented Wikipedia, moot talked about the then little-known 4chan and Lawrence Lessig and Cory Doctorow also presented.
Along with themes and speakers, it's the stories and anecdotes which are important features of each re:publica. Spring 2009 featured the mini-hype/trend of "Pokens" , where small USB devices could exchange Facebook, Twitter and Xing digital contact details through physical contact. See Twitter as to how the story of Pokens still resonates today. In 2009, Sascha Lobo again invited re:publica guests to a follower-party, which was eventually crashed by comedian Michael Kessler and his “Berliner Nacht-Taxe” show. Thomas Knuewer has a fitting behind-the-scenes video clip of what happened that evening.
That was our throwback to re:publica 2009 but our big #rp review will continue over the coming weeks and months. As always, we're keen to get your personal stories of yesteryear. Who did you meet and what friendships were established at past re:publicas? What trends and gadgets were the talk of the conference? Which talks or sessions left a meaningful impression on you?
Let us know! In short form on Twitter using hashtag #rpReview or #rpRevue and the hashtag of the specific re:publica (#rp10, #rp11, etc.). Or send us a more detailed mail at redaktion at re-publica.de. Feel free to send us blogposts, videos, images and links. @baranek, for example, sent us a link to his re:publica 2009 photo collection. We look forward to your feedback! In the mean time, we're browsing the Flickr event album and the re:publica 2009 group.
John Kelly: "Mapping the global blogosphere"; photo by _kcu (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Lawrence Lessig: "Society 2.0"; photo by _kcu (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Street view of Friedrichstadtpalast; photo by _kcu (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Photo credit main image: Karin Deutsch Karlekar: "Introducing the Global Internet Freedom Index"; photo by _kcu (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)