P2P Brut

Concept

The notion of P2P Brut is that of peer to peer culture 'in the raw', taken to the streets, and across the digital divide. While P2P culture primarily exists online, in the networks of nodes and hubs, it nevertheless has the potential to spill over into the world beyond the screen. P2P Brut in an umbrella term, encapsulating the various permutations of none computer-based peer-to-peer sharing.

Derivation

The term draws on the French word 'brut', which translates into 'crude', 'raw' or 'rough' in English, with a doff of the cap to artist Jean Dubuffet, and his championing of Art Brut, more often referred to by the broader term Outsider Art. Art Brut drew attention to the world of artistic output beyond the established art world, whether in the etchings of inmates of mental institutions, or the life works of bedroom recluses such as Henry Darger.

In practice

PocketPacket

Projects including, but not limited to the PocketPacket Project, an effort to distribute free content to strangers via envelopes, paper and basic raw materials attempt to involve those from either side of the digitial divide, drawing attention to the peer to peer sharing philosophy and the culture from which it arises, while making a small but palpable difference to the lives of strangers.

F2FP2P

Another notable example of P2P Brut is that of f2fp2p (or Face to Face Peer to Peer), the notion of arranging impromptu car park gatherings to trade home grown and home burnt content in person.

Source

The term first appeared in the P2P Foundation Blog.