Reminder- Sydney discussion group coming up Also, a new anthology is coming
Social atomization and political fragmentation, what's the connection and what can be done? A discussion group.
Date & Time: 12pm, on the 18th of December
Location: Forest Lodge Hotel, Forest Lodge, Sydney, NSW, Australia
It's no secret that social interaction, particularly social interaction mediated through institutions like unions, sports clubs etc. has been on the decline and loneliness is on the rise. Growing isolation exacerbates the post-neoliberal political weakness of the working class, even as neoliberal ideas and institutions atomise people further in a self-reinforcing cycle of alienation and powerlessness.
Simultaneously, social media has, for many, become a substitute for real-world political engagement. The early promise of networked political subjects does not seem to have manifested. In a world of fragmented individuals, it can seem like the only possible political action is symbolic. What is the alternative? Is technology to blame? What would a healthier relationship with communication technologies look like- both personally and politically?
Starting from the premise that isolation is a political-economic phenomenon, and that is the cause of many political problems as well as individual suffering, this discussion group hopes to think through the problems of bringing people back together in a way that bridges theorization and consciousness-raising.
Our first meeting will be a discussion group. Subsequent meetings will hopefully be reading groups focusing on particular texts, movies etc.- we will discuss what to read at the first meeting.
A new anthology is coming
I’m going to be putting out a collection of my writings on AI because I have a sense that we are entering a new phase in this regard. I think it’s going to be a fairly simple collection, but if you have any suggestions feel free to put them in the comments.