In Why Societies Need Dissent, Cass R. Sunstein illustrates the powers and dangers of dissent through a clear and concise exposition of three basic phenomena: conformity, social cascades, and group polarization. His epistemological view of conformity shows how we tend to learn less first-hand than from what others think and believe. Social cascades occur when… Continue reading Why Societies Need Dissent by Cass R. Sunstein
A Hacker Manifesto is the Big Picture of not only where we are in the “information age,” but where we’re going as well. Adopting the epigrammic style of Guy Debord’s Society of the Spectacle, as well as updating its ideas, Ken Wark establishes so-called “knowledge workers” as an unrecognized social class: “the hacker class.” Wark… Continue reading A Hacker Manifesto by McKenzie Wark
If you believe that your thoughts originate inside your brain — do you also believe that television shows are made inside your television set? — Warren Ellis We’re all connected. Our saturated selves are each a part of a collective, socially constructed mix of language games and habits without names. “All minds quote,” once quoth… Continue reading Rhythm Science by Paul D. Miller a.k.a. DJ Spooky
Columbus killed more Indians than Hitler did Jews, but on his birthday you get sales on shoes — The Goats What at first might seem mundane subject matter is made illuminating and interesting by Thomas Hine’s engaging narrative, personal and historical examples, and downright deep digging. Excavating our culture of consumption from the perspectives of… Continue reading I Want That! by Thomas Hine
In order to thrive, ecologies need diversity. Functionalism has proven itself in the wild. What seems bad to us, if removed causes disturbance in the equilibrium of nature. As immune as we might feel, our cultural ecology is not excluded from the rule of diversity. Roy ChristopherI marshal the middle between Mathers and McLuhan. Editor… Continue reading 1 Giant Leap Directed by Jamie Catto and Duncan Bridgeman
