3 Matching Annotations
  1. Sep 2016
    1. The majority of academic writing, particularly in regards to journal articles, is of course produced as part of academic author’s position. For many it is expected that as part of the academic’s position within the university that they continuously publish, whether journals, collections, or monographs.

      And most of what actually comprises our work in the 21st Century, such as this kind of discussions, will never give us any "points" in the "game" of publishing, where only the final outcomes (that are still produced under a pre-digital, Gutenbergian paradigm) count for something. A system oriented to quantification and control over 19th century media. Please note I am not saying that I would prefer that my tweets counted toward my career, but indeed further highlighting the inconsistencies and absurdity of the current academic publishing policies (and market).

    2. Klaus Krippendorf’s conceptualization of “second-order cybernetics” (1996) helps push this notion of the cyborg-author one step further in this regard. Krixpendorf’s conceptualization of communication that “I and You as well as the particular relation between them evolve in processes of mutual adjustment,” (Ibid, 319) offers up an interesting framework when considering the interface of digital distribution and publishing. This relationship changes significantly with the introduction of new interface relations, disrupting previous relations of publisher and author.

      It is interesting, in comparing foucauldian and cybernetic conceptualisations of power (Wiener, 1948, and especially Von Foerster, 2002) to highlight similarities and differences. While both constructions are deeply relational, showing how power is not simply imposed but co-constructed, the cybernetic ideal is markedly (and maybe deceivingly) more optimistic, by focusing on the mutuality of this relationship. Maybe only a plurality of epistemologies and points of view can help us successfully navigate and resist the pervasivity of power.

  2. Jun 2016