Digital Deviation: A Situationist Perspective on Online Filter Bubbles

With artist Albert Westerhoff

As Frank Zappa once said, “Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.” But how do we avoid falling into routine, especially today, when algorithms function like circular tracks that subtly encourage us to remain within our own online filter bubbles? Artists in general, and Surrealists and Situationists in particular, have developed valuable strategies for deviating from established paths. Drawing on this legacy, artist and teacher Albert Westerhoff created a playful variation for himself and his students: the “Digital Dérive,” referencing the analog dérive popularized in the 1960s by Guy Debord as a way to circumvent the invisible forces shaping modern urban experience. In this talk, we will explore methods for discovering new directions in thinking and working, offering not only an engaging experience but also practical strategies for moving beyond entrenched pathways.

Albert Westerhoff (NL) is a visual artist and arts educator with a playful, conceptual approach. He develops multidisciplinary projects that connect art and education, including a podcast on “artistic vandalism” and an online tool designed to help creators break out of a creative slump. As program manager of De Beeldcoalitie, he collaborates with partners from the audiovisual sector in the Netherlands to strengthen the alignment between education and professional practice.