Life after New Media
Mediation as a Vital Process
By Joanna Zylinska, Sarah Kember | Publisher: MIT Press
About the book
An argument for a shift in understanding new media—from a fascination with devices to an examination of the complex processes of mediation.
In Life after New Media, Sarah Kember and Joanna Zylinska make a case for a significant shift in our understanding of new media. They argue that we should move beyond our fascination with objects—computers, smart phones, iPods, Kindles—to an examination of the interlocking technical, social, and biological processes of mediation. Doing so, they say, reveals that life itself can be understood as mediated—subject to the same processes of reproduction, transformation, flattening, and patenting undergone by other media forms.
By Kember and Zylinska's account, the dispersal of media and technology into our biological and social lives intensifies our entanglement with nonhuman entities. Mediation—all-encompassing and indivisible—becomes for them a key trope for understanding our being in the technological world. Drawing on the work of Bergson and Derrida while displaying a rigorous playfulness toward philosophy, Kember and Zylinska examine the multiple flows of mediation. Importantly, they also consider the ethical necessity of making a “cut” to any media processes in order to contain them. Considering topics that range from media-enacted cosmic events to the intelligent home, they propose a new way of “doing” media studies that is simultaneously critical and creative, and that performs an encounter between theory and practice.
Editions of Life after New Media
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780262018197
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780262527460
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262304436
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262305358
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262306270
Read an Excerpt
An argument for a shift in understanding new media—from a fascination with devices to an examination of the complex processes of mediation.
In Life after New Media, Sarah Kember and Joanna Zylinska make a case for a significant shift in our understanding of new media. They argue that we should move beyond our fascination with objects—computers, smart phones, iPods, Kindles—to an examination of the interlocking technical, social, and biological processes of mediation. Doing so, they say, reveals that life itself can be understood as mediated—subject to the same processes of reproduction, transformation, flattening, and patenting undergone by other media forms.
By Kember and Zylinska's account, the dispersal of media and technology into our biological and social lives intensifies our entanglement with nonhuman entities. Mediation—all-encompassing and indivisible—becomes for them a key trope for understanding our being in the technological world. Drawing on the work of Bergson and Derrida while displaying a rigorous playfulness toward philosophy, Kember and Zylinska examine the multiple flows of mediation. Importantly, they also consider the ethical necessity of making a “cut” to any media processes in order to contain them. Considering topics that range from media-enacted cosmic events to the intelligent home, they propose a new way of “doing” media studies that is simultaneously critical and creative, and that performs an encounter between theory and practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Life after New Media about?
An argument for a shift in understanding new media—from a fascination with devices to an examination of the complex processes of mediation.
In Life after New Media, Sarah Kember and Joanna Zylinska make a case for a significant shift in our understanding of new media. They argue that we should move beyond our fascination with objects—computers, smart phones, iPods, Kindles—to an examination of the interlocking technical, social, and biological processes of mediation. Doing so, they say, reveals that life itself can be understood as mediated—subject to the same processes of reproduction, transformation, flattening, and patenting undergone by other media forms.
By Kember and Zylinska's account, the dispersal of media and technology into our biological and social lives intensifies our entanglement with nonhuman entities. Mediation—all-encompassing and indivisible—becomes for them a key trope for understanding our being in the technological world. Drawing on the work of Bergson and Derrida while displaying a rigorous playfulness toward philosophy, Kember and Zylinska examine the multiple flows of mediation. Importantly, they also consider the ethical necessity of making a “cut” to any media processes in order to contain them. Considering topics that range from media-enacted cosmic events to the intelligent home, they propose a new way of “doing” media studies that is simultaneously critical and creative, and that performs an encounter between theory and practice.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Life after New Media?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Cultural and media studies > Media studies
Where can I read a sample of Life after New Media?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780262018197
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Life after New Media?
Joanna Zylinska, Sarah Kember
Who is the Publisher of the book Life after New Media?
MIT Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Life after New Media is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780262018197) and paperback(ISBN 9780262527460) and ebook(ISBN 9780262304436) and ebook(ISBN 9780262305358) and ebook(ISBN 9780262306270)
Where can I buy Life after New Media online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Life after New Media from below
Where can I buy Life after New Media?