Vincent Manzerolle
University of Windsor, Communication, Media and Film, Faculty Member
- Political Economy of Information, Media Studies, Wireless Communications, Information Society, Surveillance Studies, Political Economy of Communication, and 22 moreHistory Of Information, Medium Theory, History of ICTs, Technology Policy, Mobile & Ubiquitous Media, Machinic Communication, Data-enabled & Participatory Marketing, Political Economy, Media theory and Research, Mobile Media, Attention Economy, Marketing, Database Systems, Marxism, Mobile Technology, Logistics, Mobile Communication, Media Theory, Consumption Studies, Smartphones, Audience Studies, and Public Policyedit
This paper contributes a framework for understanding the convergence of two " transactional ecosystems, " or put differently, the convergence of two types of currency: money and attention. The former is represented in the push to make... more
This paper contributes a framework for understanding the convergence of two " transactional ecosystems, " or put differently, the convergence of two types of currency: money and attention. The former is represented in the push to make commercial transactions ubiquitous and seamless (e.g. as in mobile payment systems), while the latter is represented by theories of the " attention economy " and subsumed in the " attention and engagement " metrics that currently shape the production and distribution of content on digital and mobile platforms. The means of communication and commerce, of payment and attention, are increasingly wedded together in the same device or platform implying that how we pay for things is bound up with " the things to which we attend " (Innis, 1952, p. xvii). Drawing on literature on the political economy of media, this paper provides historical and theoretical context for this convergence, offers up some paradigmatic examples alongside industry analysis, and concludes by raising potential concerns emerging from its current trajectory.
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Page 1. MEDIA CONVERGENCE The three degrees of network, mass, and interpersonal communication KLAUS BRUHN JENSEN nimnmiOOJAQl! nni ... Media Convergence The three degrees of network, mass, and interpersonal communication Klaus Bruhn... more
Page 1. MEDIA CONVERGENCE The three degrees of network, mass, and interpersonal communication KLAUS BRUHN JENSEN nimnmiOOJAQl! nni ... Media Convergence The three degrees of network, mass, and interpersonal communication Klaus Bruhn Jensen Page 5. ...
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This paper traces linkages between the commoditization of the Web and what we call “app-centric media.” By this we mean a media environment composed of a multitude of discrete-but-connected software applications and their associated... more
This paper traces linkages between the commoditization of the Web and what we call “app-centric media.” By this we mean a media environment composed of a multitude of discrete-but-connected software applications and their associated protocols, platforms, frameworks, and institutions. The rapid growth of app-centric media, we argue, is directly dependent on the development and commercialization of the (mobile) Internet, as well as on the business models embedded in the development of key native app platforms such as iOS and Android.
The emergence of app-centric media, particularly in relation to mobile media, is having a marked effect on conceptualizations of the Web. The prevailing rhetoric concerning the development of the mobile Internet and app-centric media employs imagery of autonomy, empowerment, and independence for both the users and producers of apps. We argue that the commoditization central to the commercial development of the mobile Internet evidences a fusion of neoliberal rhetoric valorizing worker autonomy, individual empowerment, and entrepreneurial independence, with a mode of production consonant with “cognitive capitalism” (Dyer-Witheford, 2014; Vercellone, 2007).
Our analysis is divided into three sections. The first looks at the early development of the mobile Internet in relation to the accumulation strategies of cognitive capitalism including the structural importance of “value networks” and the “putting-out system”; the second deals with the commercialization models underpinning the two dominant app platforms, Apple’s iOS and Android; the third addresses the development of HTML as a means of production and describes how HTML5 is framed as a prospectively more “open” competitor to the existing platform duopoly. It concludes by briefly examining the development of the Firefox OS mobile platform—and whether this platform resists or incorporates the forms of commoditization associated with app-centric media generally.
The emergence of app-centric media, particularly in relation to mobile media, is having a marked effect on conceptualizations of the Web. The prevailing rhetoric concerning the development of the mobile Internet and app-centric media employs imagery of autonomy, empowerment, and independence for both the users and producers of apps. We argue that the commoditization central to the commercial development of the mobile Internet evidences a fusion of neoliberal rhetoric valorizing worker autonomy, individual empowerment, and entrepreneurial independence, with a mode of production consonant with “cognitive capitalism” (Dyer-Witheford, 2014; Vercellone, 2007).
Our analysis is divided into three sections. The first looks at the early development of the mobile Internet in relation to the accumulation strategies of cognitive capitalism including the structural importance of “value networks” and the “putting-out system”; the second deals with the commercialization models underpinning the two dominant app platforms, Apple’s iOS and Android; the third addresses the development of HTML as a means of production and describes how HTML5 is framed as a prospectively more “open” competitor to the existing platform duopoly. It concludes by briefly examining the development of the Firefox OS mobile platform—and whether this platform resists or incorporates the forms of commoditization associated with app-centric media generally.
Research Interests: Political Economy, Digital Media, Mobile Technology, Web Applications, Mobile Communication, and 10 moreMobile application development, Html5, Mobile apps, Mobile Applications and Web Applications development, Mobile Internet, Mobile Applications, iOS Application Development, Android Development, Cognitive Capitalism, and HTML5 & Mobile Application
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This paper argues that questions concerning the circulation of capital are central to the study of contemporary and future media under capitalism. Moreover, it argues that such questions have been central to Marx’s analysis of the... more
This paper argues that questions concerning the circulation of capital are central to the study of contemporary and future media under capitalism. Moreover, it argues that such questions have been central to Marx’s analysis of the reproduction of capital vis-à-vis the realization of value and the reduction of circulation time. Marx’s concepts of both the circuit and circulation of capital implies a theory of communication. Thus the purpose of our paper is to outline the logistical mechanisms that underlie a Marxist theory of media and communication and thereby foregrounding the role new media plays in reducing circulation time. We argue that the necessity of theorizing communication from a circuit and circulation-centric point of view stems from the emergence of a number of new technological phenomena that intensify, but sometimes undermine, the capitalist logic of acceleration. For the purposes of understanding the evolution of digital technologies, ostensibly employed to accelerate the circulation of capital—or put differently, to reduce circulation time—we need to pay attention to volume 2 of Capital, and key sections in the Grundrisse.
Research Interests: Economics, Political Economy, Communication, Media Studies, New Media, and 44 moreMedia and Cultural Studies, Marxism, Marxist Economics, Political Economy of Communication, Fiber Optics, Digital Media, Commodity Chains, Cybernetics, Logistics, Consumption, Digital Culture, Information Communication Technology, Marxist theory, Marx, Media Theory, Media, Political Economy of the Media, Marshall McLuhan, Media Convergence, Phenomenology of Temporality, Payment Systems, Marxist political economy, Cultures of Capital and Capitalism, Marxism and Media Studies, Political Economy of Media, Temporality (Time Studies), Electronic Payments, Friedrich Kittler, Digital objects, Temporality, Harold Innis, Communication Studies, Value Form Theory, Velocity/ Speed, Credit, High frequency trading, Mobile Payments, Space and time, Big Data, NFC ( Near Field Communication ), Labour Theory of Value, Media theory and Research, HFT, and Dromoeconomics
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In Das Kapital, Marx argues that capital accumulation “makes an accumulation of misery a necessary condition, corresponding to the accumulation of wealth. Accumulation of wealth at one pole is, therefore, at the same time accumulation of... more
In Das Kapital, Marx argues that capital accumulation “makes an accumulation of misery a necessary condition, corresponding to the accumulation of wealth. Accumulation of wealth at one pole is, therefore, at the same time accumulation of misery, the torment of
labour, slavery, ignorance, brutalization and moral degradation at the opposite pole” (799). While the labouring masses are the source of wealth, when this wealth is produced as capital, what workers really produce is their own miserable existence. Within his immanent critique of bourgeois political economy, Marx demonstrates that in a perfectly functioning market economy a rising tide will not lift all boats, but will rather ensure the structural accumulation of misery within the classes most directly involved in the production of value. In Das Kapital, Marx demonstrates that misery is not only compatible with the social order, but that it is a logically necessary component of the social order in the capitalist mode of production. The wretchedness of capital does not
merely affect the value-producing class, but is also acutely evident in the environmental degradation necessary for the expansion and acceleration of capital accumulation. Building on the immanent critique outlined by Marx in Das Kapital, this paper offers a reading of the accumulation of capital as an iterative, acceleratory, and machinic-communicative process embodied in the logistical infrastructure of the world market. In mapping the logical operation of capital’s communication, we build directly on Marx’s analysis to depict the machinic logic behind the production of misery. To accomplish this,
our analysis will therefore center on the circuit of capital as an automatic process. We will liken the circuit of capital as a communication system, in which decoding the signal of value translates into the simultaneous production of wealth and misery. In outlining the logical and structural components of this process, we integrate a number of examples that
illustrate the accumulation of misery in both the human and natural environments within the sphere of circulation.
labour, slavery, ignorance, brutalization and moral degradation at the opposite pole” (799). While the labouring masses are the source of wealth, when this wealth is produced as capital, what workers really produce is their own miserable existence. Within his immanent critique of bourgeois political economy, Marx demonstrates that in a perfectly functioning market economy a rising tide will not lift all boats, but will rather ensure the structural accumulation of misery within the classes most directly involved in the production of value. In Das Kapital, Marx demonstrates that misery is not only compatible with the social order, but that it is a logically necessary component of the social order in the capitalist mode of production. The wretchedness of capital does not
merely affect the value-producing class, but is also acutely evident in the environmental degradation necessary for the expansion and acceleration of capital accumulation. Building on the immanent critique outlined by Marx in Das Kapital, this paper offers a reading of the accumulation of capital as an iterative, acceleratory, and machinic-communicative process embodied in the logistical infrastructure of the world market. In mapping the logical operation of capital’s communication, we build directly on Marx’s analysis to depict the machinic logic behind the production of misery. To accomplish this,
our analysis will therefore center on the circuit of capital as an automatic process. We will liken the circuit of capital as a communication system, in which decoding the signal of value translates into the simultaneous production of wealth and misery. In outlining the logical and structural components of this process, we integrate a number of examples that
illustrate the accumulation of misery in both the human and natural environments within the sphere of circulation.
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In Fuchs, C. and Mosco, V. (Eds.) (2015). Marx in the Age of Digital Capitalism. Brill.
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Turkish translation of the article "The Communication of Capital: Digital Media and the Logic of Acceleration"
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In Miller, P. D. and Matviyenko, S. (Eds.) (2014). The Imaginary App. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press. Pp. 143-162.
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This is an extended call for the submission of chapter proposals for the edited volume From Here to Ubiquity: Critical and International Perspectives on Mobile and Ubiquitous Media. The purpose of this edited collection is to try to... more
This is an extended call for the submission of chapter proposals for the edited volume From Here to Ubiquity: Critical and International Perspectives on Mobile and Ubiquitous Media. The purpose of this edited collection is to try to develop a clearer definition of, and theoretical grounding for, ubiquitous media by assembling a collection of chapters by established experts and emerging scholars from around the world. Chapters should critically and creatively interrogate " ubiquitous media " in the hopes of developing an overarching understanding of the meaning, processes, and ramifications of the term. The term "ubiquitous media" has been deployed to characterize platforms such as television, social media, and mobile media; systems such as algorithms, apps, and augmented reality; concepts such as commerce and surveillance, and issues such as privacy, politics, and neocolonialism. Phrases like IoE (the " Internet of Everything ") are increasingly mentioned in academic and the popular press and framed as an inevitability. Universities have laboratories dedicated to the study of ubiquitous media, and marketing companies aggressively tout their ability to target consumers through a ubiquitous media presence (including one company simply called " Ubiquitous Media " which " specializes in targeting consumers throughout their daily routine "). In short, the phrase " ubiquitous media " is, well, ubiquitous. There is little discussion, however, of what the term " ubiquitous media " actually means. Indeed, individual definitions of " ubiquitous media " are often assumed to be just a ubiquitous as media themselves and, as a result, there is no large-scale theoretical framework through which we can understand the term. With this in mind, we specifically welcome chapters that promise to develop a critical theoretical framework for understanding ubiquitous media. In addition, a portion of this volume will be dedicated to a specific exploration of mobile technologies as a key precursor – if not central element – of a ubiquitous media environment. This could include past and current mobile technologies, from pagers to PDAs, and cell phones to modern smartphones and wearables, provided they contribute to an understanding of ubiquitous media as both a technical and discursive reality for individuals around the world. Representing global perspectives is also central objective of this volume. An international perspective is important to the development of a comprehensive understanding of what " ubiquitous media " means and the prospectively heterogeneous implications of this development. Possible approaches/frameworks for these investigations include:
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This is an extended call for the submission of chapter proposals for the edited volume From Here to Ubiquity: Critical and International Perspectives on Mobile and Ubiquitous Media. The purpose of this edited collection is to try to... more
This is an extended call for the submission of chapter proposals for the edited volume From Here to Ubiquity: Critical and International Perspectives on Mobile and Ubiquitous Media. The purpose of this edited collection is to try to develop a clearer definition of, and theoretical grounding for, ubiquitous media by assembling a collection of chapters by established experts and emerging scholars from around the world. Chapters should critically and creatively interrogate “ubiquitous media” in the hopes of developing an overarching understanding of the meaning, processes, and ramifications of the term.
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We welcome submissions of chapter proposals for the edited volume 'From Here to Ubiquity: Critical and International Perspectives on Mobile and Ubiquitous Media.' The purpose of this edited collection is to try to develop a clearer... more
We welcome submissions of chapter proposals for the edited volume 'From Here to Ubiquity: Critical and International Perspectives on Mobile and Ubiquitous Media.' The purpose of this edited collection is to try to develop a clearer definition of, and theoretical grounding for, ubiquitous media by assembling a collection of chapters by established experts and emerging scholars from around the world. Chapters should critically and creatively interrogate “ubiquitous media” in the hopes of developing an overarching understanding of the meaning, processes, and ramifications of the term.
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What does the phrase "ubiquitous media" actually mean? Individual definitions are just as varied and ubiquitous as the media to which they refer. As a result, there is to date no large-scale theoretical framework through which we can... more
What does the phrase "ubiquitous media" actually mean? Individual definitions are just as varied and ubiquitous as the media to which they refer. As a result, there is to date no large-scale theoretical framework through which we can understand the term. The goal of this volume is to provide a diverse set of critical, theoretical, and international approaches useful to those looking for a more diverse and nuanced understanding of what ubiquitous media means analytically.
In contrast to other existing texts on mobile media, these contributions on mobile media are contextualised within a larger discussion on the nature and history of ubiquitous media. Other sections of this edited volume are dedicated to historical perspectives on ubiquitous media, ubiquitous media and visual culture, the role of ubiquitous media in surveillance, the political economy of ubiquitous media, and the way a ubiquitous media environment affects communities, spaces, and places throughout the world.
In contrast to other existing texts on mobile media, these contributions on mobile media are contextualised within a larger discussion on the nature and history of ubiquitous media. Other sections of this edited volume are dedicated to historical perspectives on ubiquitous media, ubiquitous media and visual culture, the role of ubiquitous media in surveillance, the political economy of ubiquitous media, and the way a ubiquitous media environment affects communities, spaces, and places throughout the world.
Research Interests: Mobile Media, Ubiquitous Computing, Wearable Computing, Visual Culture, Mobile Technology, and 17 moreDigital Journalism, Wearable Technologies, Political Economy of the Media, Mobile Networks, Political Economy of Media, Mobile & Ubiquitous Media, Wearable Technology, Big Data, Digital labor, Big Data Analytics, Ubiquitous media, Mobile and Location-Based Media, Digital Labour, Instagram, Big Data Technologies, Digital Surveillance, and Mobile Journalism
As Featherstone (2009, 3) argues: “Theorizing ubiquitous media becomes an integral part of theorizing culture and society today.” Our examination of ubiquitous media begins with a simple question: what does it mean to live in a world of... more
As Featherstone (2009, 3) argues: “Theorizing ubiquitous media becomes an integral part of theorizing culture and society today.” Our examination of ubiquitous media begins with a simple question: what does it mean to live in a world of ubiquitous media? Answering this question requires a consideration of the conditions—including material, technological, and social—that enabled the development of ubiquitous media as well as an investigation of how such a media environment affects social formations and institutions, our interactions with others, and our conceptualizations of space/place.
This chapter, the introduction to our edited volume Mobile and Ubiquitous Media: Critical and International Perspectives from Peter Lang, is an attempt to situate ubiquitous media within the larger history of the development of media and communication technology. We consider historical theoretical and technological precedents to ubiquitous media such as the development of the Internet, digitalization, media convergence, remediation, ubiquitous computing and "calm" media, mobile networks and devices, ubiquitous connectivity, and the network society.
This chapter, the introduction to our edited volume Mobile and Ubiquitous Media: Critical and International Perspectives from Peter Lang, is an attempt to situate ubiquitous media within the larger history of the development of media and communication technology. We consider historical theoretical and technological precedents to ubiquitous media such as the development of the Internet, digitalization, media convergence, remediation, ubiquitous computing and "calm" media, mobile networks and devices, ubiquitous connectivity, and the network society.