Against infrasomatization Towards a critical theory of algorithms

In this paper, a critical theory of algorithms is introduced to provide a means of understanding algorithms and computation. It is an approach that refuses to ignore and smooth over contradictions and contradictory claims and attempts to grasp the dynamic moment of the subject. To do this it looks a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Data Politics pp. 43 - 63
Main Author: Berry, David M.
Format: Book Chapter
Language:English
Published: Routledge 2019
Edition:1
Subjects:
algorithms
MIT Center
HITs
code
data
UK Authority
Dynamo System
International Political Sociology
Data Politics
Algorithmic Infrastructures
MCA Analysis
critical theory
Smooth Functionality
Google Code
Global Labour History
Mechanical Turk Workers
AMT
Immanent Critique
Mechanical Turk
Algorithmic Systems
USA Freedom Act
Sensitive Information
digital humanities
Writing Errors
Computational Capitalism
Algorithmic Form
Data Models
Laminated System
ISBN:1138053252, 9781138053250, 9781138053267, 1138053260
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:In this paper, a critical theory of algorithms is introduced to provide a means of understanding algorithms and computation. It is an approach that refuses to ignore and smooth over contradictions and contradictory claims and attempts to grasp the dynamic moment of the subject. To do this it looks at two case studies, one examining mental labour and the other physical labour. The first looks at the way in which social conflict is embedded within the machinery of algorithms and labour is transformed into a commodity through an interface. In the second, the interface-machinery dichotomy is examined to see how it informs many attempts to discipline labour and enables radical attempts to objectify computation in the physical world. The chapter argues that by contesting the invisibility of algorithmic infrastructures and critique infrasomatizations, the exploitation of labour-power offers a critical lever to crack open the black-box of computational capitalism.
ISBN:1138053252
9781138053250
9781138053267
1138053260
DOI:10.4324/9781315167305-3