Review: Erich Hörl, Nelly Y. Pinkrah, and Lotte Warnsholdt (eds.), ‘Critique and the Digital’

23.09.21, 15:46 Review: Erich Hörl, Nelly Y. Pinkrah, and Lotte Warnsholdt (eds.), ‘Critique and the Digital’ — Theory, Culture & Society | Global Public Life Home N e w s & Fe a t u r e s Rev i ews Video About Submit Contact Us Books • Reviews 22/09/2021 Review: Erich Hörl, Nelly Y. Pinkrah, and Lotte Warnsholdt (eds.), ‘Critique and the Digital’ R e v i e w o f E r i c h H ö r l , N e l l y Y. P i n k r a h , a n d L o t t e Wa r n s h o l d t ’s ( e d s . ) C r i t i q u e a n d t h e D i g i t a l (Diaphanes, 2021), 296 pages. Abstract T h i s c o m p a c t v o l u m e a i m s t o t a ke s t o c k o f t h e m y r i a d c r i t i c a l re s p o n s e s e l i c i t e d i n re c e n t ye a r s by t ra n sfo r m at i o n s i n c o m p u t at i o n a l m e d i a a n d d i g i t a l c a p i t a l . At t e n d i n g t o t h e g r o w i n g p r e v a l e n c e of a r t i f i c i a l i nte l l i g e n c e i n t h e c o n st r u c t i o n of d i g i ta l m e d i a e n v i ro n m e n t s , t h e s e e s s ay s c o l l e c t i ve l y highlight the contingency embedded within a l g o r i t h m i c f u n c t i o n a l i t y w h i l e a d d re s s i n g t h e o p p re s s i ve o rg a n i z at i o n a l st r u c t u re s a n d g o v e r n m e n t a l c a p a b i l i t i e s s u c h o p e r a t i o n s m a ke ava i l a b l e t o b i g d at a . C o n t a i n i n g e n t r i e s f ro m M a r k H a n s e n , Lu c i a n a Pa r i s i , C l a u s P i u s , a n d ot h e r s , C r i t i q u e a n d t h e D i g i t a l p rov i d e s a n i m p re s s i ve ove r v i ew of b ot h t h e t h e o ret i c a l a n d p ra c t i c a l s t a ke s o f c o m i n g t o t e r m s w i t h t h e d i g i t a l i n i t s i n c re a s i n g l y u b i q u i t o u s fo r m s . file:///Users/bryannorton/Zotero/storage/H2Q2WRNV/hoerl-pinkrah-warnsholdt-critique-and-the-digital.html 1/8 23.09.21, 15:46 Review: Erich Hörl, Nelly Y. Pinkrah, and Lotte Warnsholdt (eds.), ‘Critique and the Digital’ — Theory, Culture & Society | Global Public Life R ev i ewe d by B r ya n N o r t o n Home N e w s & Fe a t u r e s T h i s n e w i n s t a l l m e n t o f D i a p h a n e s’ “ C r i t i c a l S t a n c e s” s e r i e s h a s m u c h t o o f f e r r e a d e r s Rev i ews Video About Submit i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e o r e t i c a l d i s c o u r s e c o n c e r n i n g t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d p h i l o s o p h i c a l s t a ke s o f o u r Contact Us i n c r e a s i n g l y d i g i t a l l i v e s . A s p h i l o s o p h e r s , s c i e n t i s t s , a n d N G O s l i ke t h e B r o o k i n g s I n s t i t u t i o n fo re c a st a p o l i t i c a l l a n d s c a p e i n c re a s i n g l y s h a p e d by fo r t h c o m i n g a d va n c e s i n a r t i f i c i a l i n t e l l i g e n c e t e c h n o l o g y, t h i s t a s k o f c o m i n g t o t e r m s w i t h t h e s t a t u s o f c r i t i q u e h a s n e v e r b e e n m o re p re s s i n g . B e g i n n i n g w i t h a c o -w r i tt e n i n t ro d u c t i o n f ro m e d i t o r s E r i c h H ö r l , N e l l y Y. P i n k r a h , a n d L o t t e Wa r n s h o l d t , C r i t i q u e a n d t h e D i g i t a l s e e k s t o h i g h l i g h t t h e m u l t i p l i c i t y o f r e s p o n s e s e l i c i t e d b y t h e r i s e o f c o m p u t a t i o n a l m e d i a i n s o m e o f t h e d i g i t a l ’s f o r e m o s t t h e o r i st s . C o n t a i n i n g e n t r i e s f ro m M a r k H a n s e n , Lu c i a n a Pa r i s i , C l a u s P i u s , a n d ot h e r s , t h i s v o l u m e a i m s t o t a ke s t o c k o f t h e m a n i f o l d p e r s p e c t i v e s o p e n e d u p f o r c r i t i q u e w h e n w e a p p ro a c h t h e p re s e n t a s a n ove r l ay of t wo h i st o r i c a l t ra j e c t o r i e s . T h e f i r st ve c t o r c o n c e r n s t h e p o s t w a r h i s t o r y o f c y b e r n e t i c s i n A m e r i c a . Tr a c i n g t h e c o m p o s i t i o n o f d i g i t a l n e t w o r k s b a c k t o t h e o p e r a t i o n s o f c o m m a n d a n d c o n t r o l s y s t e m s s t u d i e d b y N o r b e r t W i e n e r, R o s s A s h b y, a n d o t h e r s , H ö r l , P i n k r a h a n d Wa r n s h o l d t a s k r e a d e r s t o t h i n k c r i t i c a l l y a b o u t w h a t m o d e s o f t h o u g h t w e s t i l l m i g h t a v a i l o u r s e l v e s o f t o d a y, i n a w o r l d w h e r e t h i n k i n g i t s e l f a p p e a r s s o of t e n u n d e r t h e g u i s e of a p ro d u c t , t h e re s u l t of fe e d b a c k l o o p s c a pt u r i n g m a c h i n e l e a r n e r s , d e e p l e a r n i n g a l g o r i t h m s , a n d h u m a n s a l i ke . W h a t r o l e c a n c r i t i c a l d i s c o u r s e p l a y w h e n t h e t ra d i t i o n a l s u b j e c t o f c r i t i q u e n o l o n g e r a p p e a r s t e n a b l e? H o w d o we c o n s i d e r p o l i t i c s a n d k n ow l e d g e w h e n t h e h u m a n b e i n g n o l o n g e r s e r ve s as a n A rc h i m e d e a n p o i n t fo r s u c h a c t i v i t y ? T h e t e n t a t i v e a n s w e r s p r o v i d e d w i t h i n t h e v o l u m e t a ke c o n c r e t e f o r m w i t h t h e h e l p o f t h e s e c o n d h i s t o r i c a l t r a j e c t o r y o u t l i n e d i n t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n . Tr a c i n g t h e c u r r e n t p r o b l e m o f l o c at i n g s i t e s of c r i t i q u e b a c k t o t h e E n l i g h t e n m e n t st r u g g l e of re l at i n g p h i l o s o p h i c a l t h e o r y t o p o l i t i c a l p ra c t i c e , t h e e d i t o r s i n v i t e u s t o s e e o u r c u r re n t s i t u at i o n a s o n e p rov i d i n g a s e r i e s o f a t t i t u d e s t o w a r d s t h e d i g i t a l , a v i s i o n o f c r i t i q u e r e f e r r e d t o b y M i c h e l Fo u c a u l t a s a “ m o d e o f r e l a t i o n t o c o n t e m p o r a r y r e a l i t y ” ( Fo u c a u l t 2 0 0 7 : 1 0 4 ) . W h i l e a c k n o w l e d g i n g t h a t w e m a y o n e d a y u n c o v e r “a c o n d i t i o n o f p o s s i b i l i t y o f ‘c r i t i c a l c o m p u t a t i o n a l r e f l ex i v i t y ’ ” f o r t h e d i g i t a l w h i c h c o u l d b e u n d e r st o o d a l o n g E n l i g h t e n m e n t t e r m s of s e l f- k n ow l e d g e , t h e v o l u m e s e e k s t o p o i n t o u t w a y s i n w h i c h t h e “d i f f r a c t i v e p r a c t i c e s a n d c o n c e p t u a l i z a t i o n s” o f d i g i t a l e n v i r o n m e n t s m a y a l r e a d y b e t a k i n g u s a w a y f r o m t h e E n l i g h t e n m e n t ’s c o n c e p t u a l t e r ra i n ( 1 1 ) . A l t h o u g h t h e vo l u m e fa i l s t o a c c o u n t fo r t h e c u l t u ra l s p e c i f i c i t y of t h i s E n l i g h t e n m e n t d i s c o u r s e , a l a c u n a i n E u ro p e a n t h i n k i n g o n t e c h n o l o g y t h at h a s b e e n r e c e n t l y e x p o s e d b y t h e p h i l o s o p h e r Yu k H u i , t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n n e v e r t h e l e s s p o s e s a n i m p o r t a n t q u e st i o n fo r c o n t e m p o ra r y p o l i t i c s : i f i t i s t h e c a s e t h at d eve l o p m e n t s i n A I h ave fo rc e d u s t o t h i n k b eyo n d t h e E n l i g h t e n m e n t , t h e n w h e re c a n we l o o k fo r a l t e r n at i ve m o d e s of p o l i t i c a l a n d a e st h et i c a c t i v i t y c a p a b l e of re s i st i n g t h e v i o l e n c e of n ew m e c h a n i s m s of c a p t u r e a n d exc l u s i o n ? H o w d o w e a r t i c u l a t e a l t e r n a t i v e s t o a l o g i c o f e x t r a c t i o n w i t h o u t re g re s s i n g t o t h e n a i vet é of a n t h ro p o c e n t r i c t r u t h s c o n c e r n i n g t h e s u b j e c t of t r u t h a n d p owe r ? file:///Users/bryannorton/Zotero/storage/H2Q2WRNV/hoerl-pinkrah-warnsholdt-critique-and-the-digital.html 2/8 23.09.21, 15:46 Review: Erich Hörl, Nelly Y. Pinkrah, and Lotte Warnsholdt (eds.), ‘Critique and the Digital’ — Theory, Culture & Society | Global Public Life T h e vo l u m e o p e n s w i t h a r i c h c o n t r i b u t i o n f ro m M a r k H a n s e n , “ T h e C r i t i q u e of D at a , o r To w a r d s a P h e n o m e n o t e c h n i c s o f A l g o r i t h m i c C u l t u r e . ” D r a w i n g f r o m r e c e n t w o r k o n t h e Home N e w s & Fe a t u r e s c a p a b i l i t i e s of m a c h i n e l e a r n i n g a l g o r i t h m s , H a n s e n u rg e s u s t o e n g a g e i n a m o d e of c r i t i q u e Rev i ews Video Submit About t h at re f ra i n s f ro m re i f y i n g t h e h u m a n s u b j e c t w h i l e a l s o re f u s i n g t o i n d u l g e i n w h at A n t o i n e t t e R o u v r o y r e f e r s t o a s ‘d a t a b e h a v i o r i s m’ ( R o u v r o y 2 0 1 3 ) . P r o v i n g c r i t i c a l o f Contact Us b e h av i o r i st m o d e l s of t h e h u m a n e m p l oye d by b i g d at a a n d of c o r re s p o n d i n g b e h av i o r i st v i e w s o f a r t i f i c i a l i n t e l l i g e n c e w h i c h s e e k t o r e d u c e t h e c o m p l ex o p e r a t i o n s o f c o m p u t a t i o n a l m e d i a t o a u n i d i r e c t i o n a l l o g i c o f ex t r a c t i o n , H a n s e n m a ke s t h e c a s e f o r a n u n d e r st a n d i n g of h u m a n s e n s i b i l i t y t h at i s a l way s a l re a d y i t s e l f m e d i at e d by t e c h n i c a l p r o c e s s e s . D r a w i n g o n t h e p h i l o s o p h e r G a s t o n B a c h e l a r d ’s c o n c e p t o f p h e n o m e n o t e c h n i c s , H a n s e n u r g e s u s t o c o n s i d e r t h e r a p i d l y ex p a n d e d r o l e p l a y e d b y c o m p u t at i o n a l t o o l s i n t h e c o n st r u c t i o n of k n ow l e d g e , a l s o i n s i st i n g o n a n i r re d u c i b l e d i f fe re n c e b et we e n s u c h s e n s i b i l i t y a n d t h e o p e rat i o n s of c o m p u t at i o n a l m a c h i n e s . By o u t l i n i n g a v i e w o f p h e n o m e n a l ex p e r i e n c e r o o t e d i n w h a t h e c a l l s a n “ i r r e d u c i b l y t e c h n i c a l s c h e m at i s m , ” H a n s e n l ay s t h e g ro u n d wo r k fo r a m o re p a r t i c i p at o r y p o l i t i c s of m a c h i n e - h u m a n i n t e ra c t i o n ( 7 1 - 7 2 ) . T h i s re s o n a n c e b et we e n t h e m e d i a l st at u s of c o m p u t at i o n a l a rc h i t e c t u re a n d t h e t e c h n i c i t y o f t h e h u m a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g i s t r e a t e d i n m o r e c o n c r e t e t e r m s i n t h e s e c o n d c h a p t e r, L u c i a n a P a r i s i ’s “A r t i f i c i a l C r i t i q u e . ” Tu r n i n g t o t h e f a m o u s ‘ H a l t i n g P r o b l e m’ i n t r o d u c e d b y A l a n Tu r i n g , “A r t i f i c i a l C r i t i q u e” s e e k s t o h i g h l i g h t a s e r i e s o f h o m o l o g i e s b e t w e e n K a n t ’s m et h o d of t ra n s c e n d e n t a l d e d u c t i o n a n d d et e r m i n i st v i ew s of c o m p u t at i o n a l l o g i c , b ot h of w h i c h m u s t b e m e t w i t h a c r i t i c a l s t a n c e . W h i l e t h e ‘ H a l t i n g P r o b l e m’ i s u s e d b y Tu r i n g t o s h ow t h e i m p o s s i b i l i t y of d e s i g n i n g a c at c h - a l l a l g o r i t h m t h at c a n p re d i c t w h et h e r a n y g i ve n p ro g ra m w i l l st o p o r r u n o n a n e n d l e s s l o o p, Pa r i s i f i n d s i n t h i s i r re d u c i b l e u n d e c i d a b i l i t y t h e c o n t o u r s of a n u n d e n i a b l e c o n t i n g e n c y t h at t h o ro u g h l y c o n t a m i n at e s b ot h p h e n o m e n a l ex p e r i e n c e a n d a l g o r i t h m i c d e s i g n ( 1 0 4 - 1 0 5 ) . T h i s c o n t i n g e n c y c l e a r s t h e g r o u n d s f o r a m o re i m m a n e n t m o d e of c r i t i q u e , w h i c h Pa r i s i o u t l i n e s w i t h re fe re n c e t o t h e n o n - p h i l o s o p h y o f L a r u e l l e’s “ Tr a n s c e n d e n t a l C o m p u t e r ” ( 2 0 0 5 ) a n d M b e m b e’s C r i t i q u e o f B l a c k R e a s o n ( 2 0 1 7 ) . I n t h i s r a d i c a l m o d e o f i m m a n e n t c r i t i q u e , i t i s u l t i m a t e l y l i v e d ex p e r i e n c e a n d n o t t r a d i t i o n a l s u b j e c t i v i t y t h a t i s a t s t a ke f o r P a r i s i . T h e n ex t c h a p t e r s t u r n t o re c e n t d i s c u s s i o n s o f t h e p o l i t i c s o f ex t ra c t i o n i n d i g i t a l m e d i a e n v i r o n m e n t s . I n t h e “ C r i t i q u e o f E n v i r o n m e n t a l i t y, ” E r i c h H ö r l t u r n s t o t h e t e m p o r a l n a t u r e o f c o m p u t at i o n a l m e d i a i n o rd e r t o st re s s t h e c a p a c i t y of s u c h m e d i a t o i n t e r ve n e o n a m i c r o t e m p o r a l r e g i s t e r. T h e s e h i d d e n i n t e r v e n t i o n s b e t r a y w i d e - r a n g i n g p o l i t i c a l a n d o n t o l o g i c a l i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r h u m a n s , H ö r l a r g u e s . D r a w i n g o n Wo l f g a n g E r n s t ’s c h r o n o p o e t i c s ( 2 0 1 6 ) a n d M a r k H a n s e n’s s t u d i e s o f t h e a n t i c i p a t o r y s t r u c t u r e o f n e w m e d i a ( H a n s e n 2 0 1 4 ) , H ö r l s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e e v e r - ex p a n d i n g c a p a c i t y o f d i g i t a l c a p i t a l t o d e l i n e a t e u s e r s’ h o r i zo n o f p o s s i b i l i t y m a r k s a n e p o c h a l s h i f t i n o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d ex p e r i e n c e o f g o v e r n m e n t a l c o n t r o l . S u g g e s t i n g a p i v o t f r o m t e c h n o l o g i e s o f c o n t r o l t o t e c h n o l o g i e s o f e n v i r o n m e n t a l a d a p t a t i o n , H ö r l ’s e s s a y s e e k s t o h i g h l i g h t t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f c o m i n g t o t e r m s w i t h w a y s i n w h i c h d i g i t a l c a p i t a l a c t s t o “d e l i n e a t e p o t e n t i a l i t y, ” f o r e c l o s i n g ot h e r a l t e r n at i ve s fo r t h e wo r l d a n d i t s i n h a b i t a n t s ( 1 2 8 ) . file:///Users/bryannorton/Zotero/storage/H2Q2WRNV/hoerl-pinkrah-warnsholdt-critique-and-the-digital.html 3/8 23.09.21, 15:46 Review: Erich Hörl, Nelly Y. Pinkrah, and Lotte Warnsholdt (eds.), ‘Critique and the Digital’ — Theory, Culture & Society | Global Public Life T h i s s e n s e o f a f o r e c l o s e d f u t u r e u n d e r d i g i t a l c a p i t a l i s ex p l o r e d f u r t h e r i n t h e n e x t e s s a y, H o l g e r K u h n’s “ C r i t i q u e , U n r e s t , C o m m o n S e n s e . ” H e r e K u h n r e f e r s t o t h e w o r k o f v i d e o Home N e w s & Fe a t u r e s a r t i s t M e l a n i e G i l l i g a n a s a n ‘a l l e g o r y o f c o n t r o l , ’ c a p a b l e o f d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h e c u l t u r a l l o g i c Rev i ews Video About o f “ f l o w, l i q u i d i t y, a n d g a s e o u s n e s s” ex h i b i t e d b y a l g o r i t h m i c m o d e s o f g o v e r n a n c e ( 1 4 9 ) . Submit E c h o i n g r e c e n t s c h o l a r s h i p u n d e r s c o r i n g t h e f i n a n c i a l l o g i c o f d i g i t a l o p e r a t i o n s ( Vo g l 2 0 1 7 ) , Contact Us K u h n s e e s i n G i l l i g a n’s w o r k a f r u i t f u l e x p l o r a t i o n o f t h e m a n i f o l d w a y s i n w h i c h n e o l i b e r a l t e c h n o l o g i e s of c o n t ro l a re i n t e n s i f i e d t h ro u g h d i g i t a l m e d i a . I n t h e o p e n - a c c e s s m i n i s e r i e s C r i s i s a n d t h e C r e d i t S y st e m , f o r ex a m p l e , G i l l i g a n d e p i c t s a g r o u p o f f i n a n c i a l a n a l y s t s w h o a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o v i e w t h e m s e l v e s a s a n e t w o r ke d b r a i n . I n t h e m o r e r e c e n t s e r i e s , T h e C o m m o n S e n s e , b e n u m b e d s u b j e c t s re c e i ve a n e u ra l p at c h t o m o d u l at e t h e i r a f fe c t i ve b e h a v i o r. A s K u h n’s e s s a y c a r e f u l l y i l l u s t r a t e s , s u c h a r t i s t i c ex p l o r a t i o n s e r v e s t o r e m i n d u s of t h e o n g o i n g c e n t ra l i t y of q u e st i o n s of m e d i a l re p re s e n t at i o n fo r u n d e r st a n d i n g a n d s u bve r t i n g re g i m e s of c o n t ro l . T h i s i n ve st i g at i o n of t h e c r i t i c a l p ot e n t i a l of c o n t e m p o ra r y m e d i a a r t i s c o n t i n u e d i n t h e v o l u m e’s n ex t e s s a y, Y i n g S ze P e k ’s “ P o s t h u m a n D o c u m e n t a r y ? ” I n t h i s c h a p t e r, P e k t a ke s a c u e f r o m t h e m e d i a t h e o r i s t a n d a r t i s t H i t o S t e y e r l ’s n o t i o n o f “ex p a n d e d r e a l i t y ” i n o r d e r t o p u s h fo r m o re a c a p a c i o u s u n d e r st a n d i n g of t h e d o c u m e n t a r y g e n re , a n u n d e r st a n d i n g w h i c h p rove s e s p e c i a l l y i m p o r t a n t i n l i g h t of t h e a u g m e n t e d re a l i t y e f fe c t s i n t ro d u c e d by d i g i t a l m e d i a ( Kw a s t e k 2 0 1 6 : 1 2 4 ) . Tu r n i n g t o t h e u n c a n n y w a y i n w h i c h t h e f i c t i o n a l n a r r a t i v e o f a v i d e o i n s t a l l a t i o n p r o j e c t , S t e y e r l ’s F a c t o r y o f t h e S u n , u n w i t t i n g l y a n t i c i p a t e s a r e a l - w o r l d f i n a n c i a l c r i m e b y D e u t s c h e B a n k , P e k h i g h l i g h t s t h e n e e d t o t a ke s e r i o u s l y t h e s p e c u l at i ve p ot e n t i a l of a r t i st i c a n d p h i l o s o p h i c a l wo r k i n o u r i n t e ra c t i o n s w i t h t h e re a l of digital capital. T h e n e x t e s s a y u r g e s r e a d e r s t o d i v e d i r e c t l y i n t o w h a t M i c h e l Fo u c a u l t c a l l s t h e p r a c t i c a l ‘a t t i t u d e’ o f c r i t i q u e i n o u r c o m p o r t m e n t t o w a r d s t h e d i g i t a l . I n “ T h e G r i m e o f C r i t i q u e , ” L o t t e Wa r n s h o l d t t u r n s t o t h e r e c e n t e x p l o r a t i o n o f L o n d o n ‘ G r i m e’ s u b c u l t u r e b y S w i s s - G e r m a n w r i t e r S y b i l l e B e r g ’s n o v e l G R M : B r a i n f u c k . I n s i s t i n g o n i m m a n e n t m o d e s o f r e s i s t a n c e t o t e c h n o l o g i e s o f c o n t r o l , Wa r n s h o l d t u r g e s r e a d e r s t o r e t h i n k t h e s u b j e c t i n t e r m s o f a n e g at i n g fo rc e . S e e n i n t h i s l i g h t , c r i t i q u e wo u l d p e r fo r m a s o r t of re s i st a n c e t h at re c a l l s t h e w a y t e e n a g e r s i n B e r g ’s n o v e l l i s t e n t o g r i m e a s a v i r t u a l e s c a p e f r o m t h e i r d y s t o p i c s e t t i n g . W h i l e i t m ay b e d i f f i c u l t t o s e e j u st h ow j u ve n i l e e s c a p i s m m i g h t b e w i e l d e d a s a n e f fe c t i ve p o l i t i c a l w e a p o n , Wa r n s h o l d t i n s i s t s o n t h i s p o s s i b i l i t y o f c r e a t i n g s u c h f i s s u r e s i n t h e f a c e o f w h a t S h o s h a n a Z u b o f f h a s r e f e r r e d t o a s “ s u r v e i l l a n c e c a p i t a l i s m” ( Z u b o f f, 2 0 1 9 ) . T h e n ex t c h a p t e r f ra m e s s o c i a l l i fe i n d i g i t a l e n v i ro n m e n t s f ro m a m u c h w i d e r a n g l e . D ra w i n g o n t h e “ n ew k i n d of s ove re i g n p owe r ” Zu b of f i d e n t i f i e s i n c o n t e m p o ra r y re g i m e s of d i g i t a l s u r v e i l l a n c e , T i m o t h y B e y e s’ “ T h e O r g a n i z a t i o n a l A P r i o r i ” t u r n s t o r e c e n t t h e o r i z a t i o n s o f p l a t f o r m c a p i t a l i n o r d e r t o s h o w h o w “o r g a n i z a t i o n a l i m a g i n a t i o n s a n d p r a c t i c e s h a v e c o m e t o s h a p e t h e a p p a rat u s e s of a l g o r i t h m i c m a n a g e m e n t , p l atfo r m c a p i t a l i s m , a n d s u r ve i l l a n c e c a p i t a l i s m” ( 2 4 7 ) . I f m e d i a d o ‘d e t e r m i n e o u r s i t u a t i o n , ’ a s F r i e d r i c h K i t t l e r f a m o u s l y p ro n o u n c e d , t h i s d et e r m i n a c y d o e s n ot p re c l u d e u s f ro m t ra c i n g t h e g e n e a l o g y of t h e i r o r g a n i z a t i o n i n t o b i g d a t a , B e y e s a r g u e s . S u c h a r c h a e o l o g i c a l e xe r c i s e s m i g h t i n f a c t e n a b l e file:///Users/bryannorton/Zotero/storage/H2Q2WRNV/hoerl-pinkrah-warnsholdt-critique-and-the-digital.html 4/8 23.09.21, 15:46 Review: Erich Hörl, Nelly Y. Pinkrah, and Lotte Warnsholdt (eds.), ‘Critique and the Digital’ — Theory, Culture & Society | Global Public Life u s t o v i e w w a y s i n w h i c h t h e h i s t o r y o f d i g i t a l m e d i a’s o r g a n i z a t i o n i s s h o t t h r o u g h w i t h c o n t i n g e n c y, p r o v i d i n g h o p e f o r t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f exc a v a t i n g a l t e r n a t i v e m o d e s o f Home N e w s & Fe a t u r e s o rg a n i z at i o n i n t h e f u t u re . Rev i ews Video About Submit O n e s u c h h i s t o r i c a l n a r r a t i v e i s u n c o v e r e d b y C l a u s P i u s i n h i s c h a p t e r, “ P r e s e n t i s m : D i g i t a l Contact Us C u l t u r e s a n d t h e L e g a c y o f M e d i a C r i t i q u e . ” Tr a c i n g c u r r e n t c o n v e r s a t i o n s s u r r o u n d i n g t h e d i g i t a l b a c k t o t h e p o st wa r h i st o r y of c y b e r n et i c s i n A m e r i c a a n d i t s re c e pt i o n a b ro a d , P i u s u n c ove r s a s e n s e of n a i vet é a n d p re s e n t i s m u n d e r l y i n g s o m e of t h e m o re c r i t i c a l st a n c e s t a ke n b y s c h o l a r s a g a i n s t t h e d i g i t a l t o d a y. W h i l e m o u r n i n g t h e l o s s o f a n i m a g i n e d s e n s e o f c o m m u n i t y a n d t ra d i t i o n p ro j e c t e d o n t o t h e n o n d i g i t a l p a st , P i u s a rg u e s , s u c h att e m pt s at c r i t i q u e u n w i tt i n g l y p l ay i n t o t h e h a n d s of b i g d at a by i n d u l g i n g i n a n a r rat i ve of h i st o r i c a l d et e r m i n a c y t h at l e ave s l i tt l e ro o m fo r a l t e r n at i ve t ra j e c t o r i e s . [ i ] W h i l e s e r v i n g a s a c o n st r u c t i ve re m i n d e r of t h e c u l t u ra l a n d h i st o r i c a l s p e c i f i c i t y of m e d i a d i s c o u r s e , P i u s u rg e s re a d e r s t o t h i n k s e r i o u s l y a b o u t t h e h i st o r i c i t y of o u r c u r re n t m o m e n t a n d t h e c r i t i c a l s t a n c e s w e t a ke . I n t h e l a s t e n t r y, “A s We M a y H a v e T h o u g h t ” , C l e m e n s A p p r i c h t a ke s a s i m i l a r a p p r o a c h , a rg u i n g t h at a n y c r i t i q u e of t h e d i g i t a l m u st a c c o u n t fo r t h e h i st o r i c a l f u n c t i o n s of m e d i a fo r s t o r i n g , p r o c e s s i n g , a n d t r a n s m i t t i n g d a t a . D r a w i n g o n B e r n a r d S t i e g l e r ’s u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e r e t e n t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e o f p h e n o m e n o l o g i c a l ex p e r i e n c e , A p p r i c h r e v i s i t s t h e a t t e m p t s o f p o s t - w a r e n g i n e e r Va n n e v a r B u s h t o c r e a t e a n a n a l o g f i l i n g s y s t e m d e s i g n e d t o r e p r o d u c e t h e a s s o c i a t i v e l o g i c o f h u m a n m e m o r y ( 2 6 9 ) . T h e e s s a y, h o w e v e r, p r o v i d e s s p a r s e d e t a i l c o n c e r n i n g i t s m o re a m b i t i o u s c l a i m — t h at t h e i m p l i e d h o m o l o g y b et we e n h u m a n c o g n i t i o n a n d m a c h i n e m e m o r y ex h i b i t e d b y B u s h’s M e m ex p o i n t s t o a c o m p u t a t i o n a l u n c o n s c i o u s t h at m i g h t b e a p p ro a c h e d i n p s yc h o a n a l y t i c t e r m s . W h i l e A p p r i c h m ay b e h i n t i n g at w h at m ay u l t i m at e l y p rove a f r u i tf u l p e r s p e c t i ve fo r f u t u re a r t h i st o r i a n s a n d l i t e ra r y s c h o l a r s i n t e re st e d i n a l g o r i t h m a r t a n d A I - p ro d u c e d a r t wo r ks , i t i s q u i t e d i f f i c u l t t o i m a g i n e j u st w h at t h i s l a s t e s s a y i s u l t i m a t e l y a f t e r. A l l i n a l l , C r i t i q u e a n d t h e D i g i t a l s e r ve s a s a s o l i d p r i m e r o n c u r re n t c r i t i c a l d i s c o u r s e c o n c e r n i n g t h e p o l i t i c s a n d ae st h et i c s of c o m p u tat i o n a l m e d i a . E m p h as i z i n g b ot h t h e i n c r e a s i n g l y u b i q u i t o u s l o g i c o f ex t r a c t i o n e n a c t e d b y d i g i t a l c a p i t a l a n d t h e c o n t i n g e n c y p e r m e at i n g c o m p u t at i o n a l a rc h i t e c t u re , t h e n u m e ro u s p e r s p e c t i ve s o p e n e d u p by t h i s vo l u m e p rov i d e a t h o ro u g h ove r v i ew of c r i t i c a l re s p o n s e s e l i c i t e d by t h e s e p o l i t i c a l a n d t e c h n o l o g i c a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s . A f i n a l s t r e n g t h o f t h e c o l l e c t i o n m a y a l s o l i e i n t h e b o o k ’s a n t i c i p at o r y n at u re , a s m a n y of t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n s s e r ve a s t e a s e r s fo r l o n g e r p ro j e c t s i n p r e p a r a t i o n b y c o n t r i b u t o r s M a r k H a n s e n , Y i n g S ze P e k , a n d C l a u s P i u s . [ i ] Fo r a n ex a m p l e o f t h i s , s e e Z u c ke r b e r g ’s “ B u i l d i n g G l o b a l C o m m u n i t i e s” p o s t . References file:///Users/bryannorton/Zotero/storage/H2Q2WRNV/hoerl-pinkrah-warnsholdt-critique-and-the-digital.html 5/8 23.09.21, 15:46 Review: Erich Hörl, Nelly Y. Pinkrah, and Lotte Warnsholdt (eds.), ‘Critique and the Digital’ — Theory, Culture & Society | Global Public Life E r n s t W ( 2 0 1 6 ) C h r o n o p o e t i c s : T h e Te m p o r a l B e i n g a n d O p e r a t i v i t y o f Te c h n o l o g i c a l M e d i a . Wa s h i n g t o n D C : L i t t l e a n d R o w m a n . Home N e w s & Fe a t u r e s Submit Fo u c a u l t M ( 2 0 0 7 ) . “ W h a t i s E n l i g h t e n m e n t ? ” i n T h e P o l i t i c s o f Tr u t h . Tr a n s . Ly s a H o c h r o t h Rev i ews Video About a n d C a t h e r i n e P o r t e r. L o s A n g e l e s : S e m i o t ex t ( e ) , 9 7 - 1 2 0 . Contact Us H a n s e n M ( 2 0 1 4 ) Fe e d Fo r w a r d . C h i c a g o : C h i c a g o U n i ve r s i t y P re s s . Kw a s t e k K ( 2 0 1 6 ) “ D i e R e a l i t ä t h a t s i c h e r w e i t e r t u n d i c h f o l g e i h r. E i n G e s p r ä c h . “ I n Ku n st f o r u m 2 4 2 ( a c c e s s e d 1 4 A u g u s t , 2 0 2 1 ) . L a r u e l l e F ( 2 0 0 5 ) “ T h e Tr a n s c e n d e n t a l C o m p u t e r. ” Tr a n s . Ta y l e r A d k i n s a n d C h r i s E b y. Av a i l a b l e a t “ S p e c u l a t i v e H e r e s y ” ( a c c e s s e d 1 4 A u g u s t , 2 0 2 1 ) . M b e m b e A ( 2 0 1 7 ) C r i t i q u e o f B l a c k R e a s o n . D u r h a m : D u ke U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s . R o u v roy A ( 2 0 1 3 ) “ T h e e n d (s ) of c r i t i q u e : d at a - b e h av i o u r i s m v s . d u e - p ro c e s s . ” i n . M . H i l d e b ra n d t a n d K . D e V r i e s ( e d s . ) P r i v a c y, D u e P r o c e s s a n d t h e C o m p u t a t i o n a l Tu r n , L o n d o n : R o u t l e d g e , Vo g l J ( 2 0 1 7 ) T h e A s c e n d a n c y o f F i n a n c e . Tr a n s . S i m o n G a r n e t t . L o n d o n : W i l e y. Z u b o f f. S h o s h a n a ( 2 0 1 9 ) T h e Ag e o f S u r v e i l l a n c e C a p i t a l i s m . L o n d o n : P r o f i l e B o o k s . Z u c ke r b e r g M ( 2 0 1 7 ) “ B u i l d i n g G l o b a l C o m m u n i t y. ” Fa c e b o o k P o s t . ( a c c e s s e d 1 4 A u g u s t , 2021). B r ya n N o r t o n i s a P h D C a n d i d at e i n C o m p a r at i ve L i t e r at u re a n d L i t e r a r y T h e o r y at t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f P e n n s y l v a n i a a n d a g u e st r e s e a r c h e r a t H u m b o l d t U n i v e r s i t y, B e r l i n . H i s d i s s e r t a t i o n , F r a g m e n t s o f t h e C o n c r e t e , i n v e st i g a t e s t h e b i r t h o f G i l b e r t S i m o n d o n’s c o n c e p t of m e c h a n o l o g y i n G e r m a n ro m a nt i c n at u re p h i l o so p hy a n d p o et i c s . H e h as w r i tt e n o n m e d i a t h e o r y, t h e p h i l o s o p h y o f t e c h n o l o g y, a n d G e r m a n I d e a l i s m f o r a n u m b e r o f v e n u e s , i n c l u d i n g t h e G o e t h e Lex i c o n o f P h i l o s o p h i c a l C o n c e p t s a n d t h e Lo s A n g e l e s R e v i e w o f B o o k s . H e i s c u r r e n t l y c o - e d i t i n g a v o l u m e w i t h M a r k H a n s e n o n t h e l a t e p h i l o s o p h e r o f t e c h n o l o g y, B e r n a r d S t i e g l e r. C o n t a c t : b r ya n n @ s a s .u p e n n .e d u Tw i t t e r : @ e c o i n f o p o l i t y _ _ Fu r t h e r r e a d i n g file:///Users/bryannorton/Zotero/storage/H2Q2WRNV/hoerl-pinkrah-warnsholdt-critique-and-the-digital.html 6/8 23.09.21, 15:46 Review: Erich Hörl, Nelly Y. Pinkrah, and Lotte Warnsholdt (eds.), ‘Critique and the Digital’ — Theory, Culture & Society | Global Public Life • G a b r i e l O. A p a t a , R e v i e w o f A c h i l l e M b e m b e’s C r i t i q u e o f B l a c k R e a s o n • S c h n e i d e r, J o s e p h ( 2 0 1 9 ) , ' N e w M e d i a P h a r m a c o l o g y : H a n s e n , W h i t e h e a d , a n d Home N e w s & Fe a t u r e s Wo r l d l y S e n s i b i l i t y ’ , T h e o r y, C u l t u r e & S o c i e t y 3 6 . 1 . Rev i ews Video Submit About Contact Us digital capital society Pinkrah Kittler • • • • critique • Immanuel Kant artificial intelligence • Michel Foucault Lotte Warnsholdt Achille Mbembe • • Bryan Norton • surveillance • • • cybernetics • Bernard Stiegler control Eric Hoerl • • Nelly Y Friedrich TCS O l d e st F i rst Comments (0) P rev i ew Po st C o m m e nt … Video: Franz Krause on ‘The Tempo of Solid Fluids’ T h e o r y, C u l t u r e & S o c i e t y i s a n T h e o r y, C u l t u r e & S o c i e t y i s ac ad e m i c p u b l i s h i n g c l u ste r bas e d # 1 i n C u l t u ra l S t u d i e s ( 2 0 1 9 J o u r n a l at G o l d s m i t h s , U n i ve rs i t y of I m p a c t Fa c t o r, J o u r n a l C i t a t i o n Lo n d o n . I t c o m p r i s e s t h e a c a d e m i c R e p o r t s . S o u rc e : C l a r i vat e , 2 0 2 0 ) r a n ke d j o u r n a l s T h e o r y, C u l t u r e & S o c i et y a n d B o d y & S o c i et y , as we l l a s t h e T h e o r y, C u l t u r e & S o c i et y B o o k S e r i e s . C o p y r i g h t © T h e o r y, C u l t u r e & S o c i e t y, B o d y & S o c i e t y, a n d S AG E P u b l i c a t i o n s Lt d We b s i t e P o l i c i e s file:///Users/bryannorton/Zotero/storage/H2Q2WRNV/hoerl-pinkrah-warnsholdt-critique-and-the-digital.html 7/8 23.09.21, 15:46 Review: Erich Hörl, Nelly Y. Pinkrah, and Lotte Warnsholdt (eds.), ‘Critique and the Digital’ — Theory, Culture & Society | Global Public Life Home N e w s & Fe a t u r e s Rev i ews Video About Submit Contact Us file:///Users/bryannorton/Zotero/storage/H2Q2WRNV/hoerl-pinkrah-warnsholdt-critique-and-the-digital.html 8/8