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Have we resigned ourselves to a cyber-future that has been decided
behind our backs? Why is technology - and our understanding of it -
central to the concerns of critical social theory? In developing
the PC technologists have borrowed ideas from the human sciences
about what people are like, about the nature of meaning and the
desirability of some experiences over others. Yet, to date, the
academic disciplines most concerned with these ideas have offered
neither resistance nor debate. In this book, Graeme Kirkpatrick
shows why it is crucial that we initiate that debate. Offering a
revealing critique of PC design and the social assumptions that
underlie it, Kirkpatrick argues that it relies on a particular
conception of a capitalistic society that expects its technology to
come pre-packaged, mass-marketed and "user-friendly". Anyone who is
critical of such a society and its commodification of human
achievement should, he suggests, be suspicious. Kirkpatrick argues
that the computer is a contested space within which major social
conflicts are played out. On the one hand, there is a narrative of
flexibility and human empowerment, and on the other a sense of a
"system" that controls our lives, leaving us in thrall to the
computer corporations, and at constant risk from phishers and
hackers. The outcomes of these conflicts are extremely important as
they will shape our future experience of technology, society and
politics. Critical Technology is a lively, provocative and often
radical book, which forces us to reflect on the meaning of an
artefact that is central to our daily lives, yet that we too often
take for granted.
Have we resigned ourselves to a cyber-future that has been decided
behind our backs? Why is technology - and our understanding of it -
central to the concerns of critical social theory? In developing
the PC technologists have borrowed ideas from the human sciences
about what people are like, about the nature of meaning and the
desirability of some experiences over others. Yet, to date, the
academic disciplines most concerned with these ideas have offered
neither resistance nor debate. In this book, Graeme Kirkpatrick
shows why it is crucial that we initiate that debate. Offering a
revealing critique of PC design and the social assumptions that
underlie it, Kirkpatrick argues that it relies on a particular
conception of a capitalistic society that expects its technology to
come pre-packaged, mass-marketed and "user-friendly". Anyone who is
critical of such a society and its commodification of human
achievement should, he suggests, be suspicious. Kirkpatrick argues
that the computer is a contested space within which major social
conflicts are played out. On the one hand, there is a narrative of
flexibility and human empowerment, and on the other a sense of a
"system" that controls our lives, leaving us in thrall to the
computer corporations, and at constant risk from phishers and
hackers. The outcomes of these conflicts are extremely important as
they will shape our future experience of technology, society and
politics. Critical Technology is a lively, provocative and often
radical book, which forces us to reflect on the meaning of an
artefact that is central to our daily lives, yet that we too often
take for granted.
This edited collection evaluates the relationship between Marxism
and religion in two ways: Marxism's treatment of religion and the
religious aspects of Marxism. Its aim is to complicate the
superficial understanding of Marxism as a simple rejection of
religion both in theory and practice. Divided into two parts
(Theory and Praxis), this book brings together the three different
themes of Marxism, religion, and emancipation for the first time.
The first part explores the more theoretical discussions regarding
the relationship between Marxism and various themes (or currents)
within religious thought, to highlight points of compatibility as
well as incompatibilities/conflicts. The studies in the second part
of the collection refer to how Marxist ideas are received in
different parts of the world. They show that as soon as Marxism
arrives in a new place, the theory interacts and bonds with a
pre-existing stock of ideas, each changing the other reciprocally.
This book draws on aesthetic theory, including ideas from the
history of painting, music and dance, to offer a fresh perspective
on the video game as a popular cultural form. It argues that games
like Grand Theft Auto and Elektroplankton are aesthetic objects
that appeal to players because they offer an experience of form, as
this idea was understood by philosophers like Immanuel Kant and
Theodor Adorno.
Video games are awkward objects that have defied efforts to
categorize them within established academic disciplines and
intellectual frameworks. Yet no one can deny their importance in
re-configuring contemporary culture and their influence can be seen
in contemporary film, television, literature, music, dance and
advertising. This book argues that their very awkwardness should
form the starting point for a proper analysis of what games are and
the reasons for their popularity. This book will appeal to anyone
with a serious interest in the increasingly playful character of
contemporary capitalist culture.
During the years of the Polish People's Republic, Poles were cut
off from the western world. Travel was restricted, as was access to
outside culture and goods. This unique situation led to a period of
great ingenuity in the realm of new media. Not only were media
adapted to suit Poles' needs, but new technology was fashioned to
gain access to western television, film and video games. Bringing
people together, VCRs, computers and satellite television were thus
a window to the outside world and contemporary to the mobilisation
of Solidarity and the end of communism. As such, their diffusion is
an important but largely overlooked aspect of Poland's history.
Acutely aware of this, the authors of this book recount new media
behind the Iron Curtain in a way that will appeal to scholars and
non-academic readers alike. Coupling archival research with in
depth interviews, they bring to life the talent and determination
of the PPR's new media pioneers, compelling others to dig further.
Technology permeates almost every dimension of our lives. But who
controls technological development? Can technology cause social
inequality? And how will technology continue to affect lives in the
digital era? Technology and Social Power provides a fresh
examination of the role of technology in our society. Bringing
together critical, classical and contemporary social theories, it
fully examines everything you need to know about the sociology of
technology. From the invention of the modern toothbrush to the
design of Google, the book uses relevant examples to give useful
insights into the social dimension of everyday technology. With
clear definitions of key terms alongside a well-balanced approach
to the most important empirical and theoretical work in the field,
this book provides a clear and thorough account of the subject.
Making complex ideas accessible, it is invaluable reading for all
students seeking to understand the role of technology in our
society today, and its likely impact in the future.
The last two decades have seen a massive increase in the scholarly
interest in technology, and have provoked new lines of thought in
philosophy, sociology and cultural studies. Gilbert Simondon (1924
- 1989) was one of Frances's most influential philosophers in this
field, and an important influence on the work of Gilles Deleuze and
Bernard Stiegler. His work is only now being translated into
English. Chabot's introduction to Simondon's work was published in
French in 2002 and is now available in English for the first time.
It is the most accessible guide to Simondon's important but often
opaque work. Chabot provides an excellent introduction to Simondon,
positioning him as a philosopher of technology, and he describes
his theory of individuation including his crystalline ontology. He
goes on to offer a bridge between these two concerns, exploring how
they are related.
Technology permeates almost every dimension of our lives. But who
controls technological development? Can technology cause social
inequality? And how will technology continue to affect lives in the
digital era? Technology and Social Power provides a fresh
examination of the role of technology in our society. Bringing
together critical, classical and contemporary social theories, it
fully examines everything you need to know about the sociology of
technology. From the invention of the modern toothbrush to the
design of Google, the book uses relevant examples to give useful
insights into the social dimension of everyday technology. With
clear definitions of key terms alongside a well-balanced approach
to the most important empirical and theoretical work in the field,
this book provides a clear and thorough account of the subject.
Making complex ideas accessible, it is invaluable reading for all
students seeking to understand the role of technology in our
society today, and its likely impact in the future.
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