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Mon Jun 3 04:30:35 CEST 2013
"This is an extraordinary book. The 'paranodal' critique made in *Off the
Network* demands that we look at the social spaces that lie between, and
are ignored by, network nodes; at the material basis on top of which
supposedly immaterial networks rest; and at the vertical structures of
political economic power that control the apparent horizontality of
networks. In doing so, Ulises Ali Mejias delivers a devastating
intellectual slam against conventional thinking about the Internet from
both the left and the right."
-- Nick Dyer-Witheford, coauthor of *Games of Empire
*
"*Off the Network* shows us that centralization of online services is not
accidental. Take a look behind the social media noise and read how
algorithms condition us. Ulises All Mejias carves out a postaffirmative
theory of networks. No more debates about whether you are a dog or not;
identity is over. Power returns to the center of Internet debates. *Off the
Network* disrupts the illusion of seamless participation--it sides with the
resisters and rejecters and teaches us to unthink the network logic. Its
message: don't take the network paradigm for granted."
-- Geert Lovink, author of *Networks Without a Cause
*
*Off the Network* is a fresh and authoritative examination of how the
hidden logic of the Internet, social media, and the digital network is
changing users' understanding of the world--and why that should worry us.
Ulises Ali Mejias also suggests how we might begin to rethink the logic of
the network and question its ascendancy. He argues that the digital
network, touted as consensual, inclusive, and pleasurable, is also
monopolizing and threatening in its capacity to determine, commodify, and
commercialize so many aspects of our lives. Mejias shows how the network
broadens participation yet also exacerbates disparity --and how it excludes
more of society than it includes. The result is an uncompromising,
sophisticated, and accessible critique of the digital world that
increasingly dominates our lives.
--
P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net
<http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation>Updates:
http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens
#82 on the (En)Rich list: http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/
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<div dir=3D"ltr"><br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded me=
ssage ----------<br>From: <b class=3D"gmail_sendername">Ulises Mejias</b> <=
span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:ulises.mejias at oswego.edu">ulises.mej=
ias at oswego.edu</a>></span><br>
Date: Sat, Jun 15, 2013 at 2:27 AM<br>Subject: off the network -- my (open =
access) book from minnesota press<br>To: Ulises Mejias <<a href=3D"mailt=
o:ulises.mejias at oswego.edu">ulises.mejias at oswego.edu</a>><br><br><br><di=
v dir=3D"ltr">
<div><div>Friends and colleagues, <br><br></div><div>As more information
about the NSA global surveillance program is coming out, I imagine I am
not the only one who feels our worst suspicions have been confirmed.=20
But despite the outrage, I imagine I am also not the only one who feels=20
unable to stop voluntarily contributing to the invasion of my own=20
privacy.<br>
<br>This is one of the paradoxes I examine in my new book, <a href=3D"http:=
//www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/off-the-network" target=3D"_blank"=
><i>Off the Network: Disrupting the Digital World</i></a>,
which is finally available from the University of Minnesota Press. In=20
it, I propose that digital networks increase opportunities for social=20
and civic participation at the same time that they create certain kinds=20
of inequalities, and I explore the question of how we would go about=20
"unthinking" the network, and to what end. <br>
</div><div><br>You can pick up a paper copy from your favorite bookseller. =
Thanks both to Minnesota Press and SUNY Oswego, <b>the book is also availab=
le in an open access format,</b> so you can <a href=3D"http://offthenetwork=
.pressbooks.com/" target=3D"_blank">read</a> or <a href=3D"http://www.upres=
s.umn.edu/book-division/books/off-the-network" target=3D"_blank">download</=
a> the whole manuscript right now -- for free! <br>
</div></div><div><br></div><div>You can share the news by using the link <a=
href=3D"http://offthenetwork.info" target=3D"_blank">offthenetwork.info</a=
> (which redirects you to the publisher's page). Or you can send people=
to my personal website: <a href=3D"http://ulisesmejias.com" target=3D"_bla=
nk">ulisesmejias.com</a>.<br>
</div><div>
<br></div><div>Thank you.<br></div><div><br></div><div>/Ulises<br><br></div=
>From the back cover:<br><div><div><div><div><div><br>"This is an extr=
aordinary book. The 'paranodal' critique made in <i>Off the Network=
</i>
demands that we look at the social spaces that lie between, and are=20
ignored by, network nodes; at the material basis on top of which=20
supposedly immaterial networks rest; and at the vertical structures of=20
political economic power that control the apparent horizontality of=20
networks. In doing so, Ulises Ali Mejias delivers a devastating=20
intellectual slam against conventional thinking about the Internet from=20
both the left and the right."<br>
-- Nick Dyer-Witheford, coauthor of <i>Games of Empire<br></i><br>"<i>=
Off the Network</i>
shows us that centralization of online services is not accidental. Take
a look behind the social media noise and read how algorithms condition=20
us. Ulises All Mejias carves out a postaffirmative theory of networks.=20
No more debates about whether you are a dog or not; identity is over.=20
Power returns to the center of Internet debates. <i>Off the Network</i>=20
disrupts the illusion of seamless participation--it sides with the=20
resisters and rejecters and teaches us to unthink the network logic. Its
message: don't take the network paradigm for granted."=A0 <br>
-- Geert Lovink, author of <i>Networks Without a Cause<br></i><br><i>Off th=
e Network</i>
is a fresh and authoritative examination of how the hidden logic of the
Internet, social media, and the digital network is changing users'=20
understanding of the world--and why that should worry us. Ulises Ali=20
Mejias also suggests how we might begin to rethink the logic of the=20
network and question its ascendancy. He argues that the digital network,
touted as consensual, inclusive, and pleasurable, is also monopolizing=20
and threatening in its capacity to determine, commodify, and=20
commercialize so many aspects of our lives. Mejias shows how the network
broadens participation yet also exacerbates disparity --and how it=20
excludes more of society than it includes. The result is an=20
uncompromising, sophisticated, and accessible critique of the digital=20
world that increasingly dominates our lives.<br>
</div>
</div></div></div></div></div>
</div><br><br clear=3D"all"><div><br></div>-- <br>P2P Foundation: <a href=
=3D"http://p2pfoundation.net" target=3D"_blank">http://p2pfoundation.net</a=
>=A0 - <a href=3D"http://blog.p2pfoundation.net" target=3D"_blank">http://b=
log.p2pfoundation.net</a> <br>
<br><a href=3D"http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-fou=
ndation" target=3D"_blank"></a>Updates: <a href=3D"http://twitter.com/mbauw=
ens" target=3D"_blank">http://twitter.com/mbauwens</a>; <a href=3D"http://w=
ww.facebook.com/mbauwens" target=3D"_blank">http://www.facebook.com/mbauwen=
s</a><br>
<br>#82 on the (En)Rich list: <a href=3D"http://enrichlist.org/the-complete=
-list/" target=3D"_blank">http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/</a> <br>
</div>
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