Technoperformances

Author(s)

Mark Coeckelbergh

Abstract

Postphenomenology and posthermeneutics as initiated by Ihde have made important contributions to conceptualizing understanding human-technology relations. However, their focus on individual perception, artifacts, and static embodiment has its limitations when it comes to understanding the embodied use of technology as (1) involving bodily movement, (2) social, and (3) taking place within, and configuring, a temporal horizon. To account for these dimensions of experience, action, and existence with technology, this paper proposes to use a conceptual framework based on performance metaphors. Drawing on metaphors from three performance arts-dance, theatre, and music-and giving examples from social media and other technologies, it is shown that we can helpfully describe technology use and experience as performance involving movement, sociality, and temporality. Moreover, it is argued that these metaphors can also be used to reformulate the idea that in such uses and experiences, now understood as "technoperformances", technology is not merely a tool but also takes on a stronger, often non-intended role: not so much as "mediator" but as choreographer, director, and conductor of what we experience and do. Performance metaphors thus allow us to recast the phenomenology and hermeneutics of technology use as moving, social, and temporal-indeed historical-affair in which technologies take on the role of organizer and structurer of our performances, and in which humans are not necessarily the ones who are fully in control of the meanings, experiences, and actions that emerge from our engagement with the world, with technology, and with each other. This promises to give us a more comprehensive view of what it means to live with technology and how our lives are increasingly organized by technology-especially by smart technologies. Finally, it is argued that this has normative implications for an ethics and politics of technology, now understood as an ethics and politics of technoperformances.

Organisation(s)

Department of Philosophy

Journal

AI & Society: Knowledge, Culture and Communication

Volume

35

Pages

557-568

No. of pages

12

ISSN

0951-5666

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-019-00926-7

Publication date

09-2020

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

603122 Philosophy of technology

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy, Human-Computer Interaction

Portal url

https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/technoperformances(e7432d19-80fa-46a2-abbb-330bc820275e).html