Simpler Life: Synthetic Biological Experiments

A Simpler Life explores the gap between hyped technoscience and the slower, more entrenched aspects of academic research by following practitioners in two Princeton University labs. It highlights the practices and rationalities that give researchers' lives and synthetic life their distinctive contemporary forms, shedding light on the general conditions of contemporary academic technoscience.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 174 pages
Publication date: 15 March 2021
Publisher: Cornell University Press

A Simpler Life delves into the emerging realm of synthetic biology, shedding light on the experimental and institutional lives of practitioners in two labs at Princeton University. Through the lens of Talia Dan-Cohen, the film highlights the gap between the hyped promises of technoscience and the more methodical and entrenched aspects of academic research. Dan-Cohen closely follows practitioners as they grapple with complex experiments, strive to publish their research findings, and navigate the intricacies of academic careers. By foregrounding the practices and rationalities that shape these pursuits, the film offers a unique perspective on the lives of researchers and the distinct contemporary forms of synthetic life. Rather than focusing solely on methodological approaches, A Simpler Life explores the subtler and tectonic practices that bring knowledge, doubt, and technological intervention into new configurations. This exploration illuminates the broader conditions of contemporary academic technoscience, offering valuable insights into the complex dynamics and implications of this field.

Weight: 274g
Dimension: 151 x 230 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501754333