Malleable, Digital, and Posthuman: A Permanently Beta Life

The world we live in is becoming increasingly malleable and fluid, particularly in terms of being human. This book proposes a posthumanist research methodology for studying this area, providing a novel explanatory and methodological framework for understanding the modern world. It focuses on the economy, the human self, politics, and research ethics and methodology, and explores how these changes impact collective identities and political leadership.

Format: Hardback
Length: 184 pages
Publication date: 10 September 2021
Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited

The world we live in is rapidly evolving, particularly in terms of our human experience. We are becoming more malleable and fluid, as we are increasingly shaped by a complex web of platforms, devices, physical infrastructures, and entities that span the realms of both physical and biological nature. This transformation has led to the emergence of a permanent beta version of ourselves, constantly co-constituted within agglomerations of these various elements.

In order to navigate this rapidly changing landscape, we need a new research methodology that can capture the complexity and dynamism of our contemporary world. This book proposes a posthumanist research methodology that aims to provide a novel explanatory and methodological framework for studying the world we live in today.

Malleable, Digital, and Posthuman studies four key areas: the economy, the human self, politics, and research ethics and methodology. In the economic domain, Kalpokas explores the emergence of the attention economy and the subsequent shift towards personalisation and experience. This shift has led to the creation of a digital environment that is optimised for user interaction, relying heavily on datafication and algorithmisation. As a result, our interactions with the social world are increasingly mediated by digital infrastructures, and we must develop a new art and craft of the self to navigate this co-constitutive relationship effectively.

These changes also have profound implications for politics. Datafied management of political processes and the employment of predictive analytics have become increasingly prevalent, allowing governments and political actors to manipulate collective identities and political leadership. This renders our political systems vulnerable to relentless beta testing, as they are constantly being refined and optimised based on data-driven insights.

With its unique insights and innovative framework, this book is an essential resource for researchers in the fields of media and communication studies, politics and social theory. It offers a comprehensive understanding of the complex dynamics that shape our world and provides valuable guidance for navigating the challenges and opportunities of this rapidly evolving landscape.

Weight: 394g
Dimension: 340 x 176 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781801176217