Media and New Capitalism in the Digital Age

This book explores the new terrain of network capitalism through the transformations of the discourse on technology. Rather than viewing such discourse as either a true or false reflection of reality, Fisher evaluates the ideological role that technology discourse plays in the legitimation of a new form of capitalism. Based on an extensive empirical analysis, the book argues that contemporary technology discourse at one and the same time promises more personal empowerment through network technology and legitimates a more privatized, flexible, and precarious economic constellations. Such discourse signals a new tradeoff in the political culture of capitalism, from a legitimation discourse which emphasizes the capacity of technology and technique to bring about social emancipation (through equality, stability, and security) to a legitimation discourse which focuses on the capacity of technology to bring about individual emancipation (through individual empowerment, authenticity, creativity, and cooperation). Contrary to the prevailing assumption that sees network technology as liberating from the rigidity and pitfalls of a stifling, Fordist capitalism, the book offers a theoretical framework which sees contemporary technology discourse as an ideology that legitimates the economic, social, and political arrangements of the new capitalism.

TIMELY: The book takes on some of the most topical and hotly debated issues both in popular culture and academic circles concerning digital technology and the digital society. CONTRIBUTION TO FIELD: The book offers an innovative theoretical framework to explain the hegemonic discourse on digital technology. While there is plenty written on digital technology, most of it tends to be technophilic or technophobic. Based on a rigorous empirical analysis of a case study, the book is unique in explaining the sociological underpinning of the digital discourse. The analysis offered in the book is crossdisciplinary, engaging both media studies and traditional sociological categories. GOOD APPROACH: This book is located within the thriving field of the analysis of the culture of capitalism. It reflects and contributes to a renewed interest in sociology in the cultural dimensions of economic life.

Autorentext
Eran Fisher is an Assistant Professor at the Open University of Israel. He is also the co-editor (with Tova Benski) of Internet and Emotions (2013).

Inhalt
Introduction: Technology discourse and capitalist legitimation Capitalism, technology, and the digital discourse Contemporary technology discourse Network market Network work Network production Network Human Network cosmology and the exhaustion of critique Networks as the techno-political culture of post-Fordism
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