Jonathan Crary’s Scorched Earth

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  • June 2, 2023 at 4:08 pm #144274
    Avatar photoBilly_T
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    Scorched Earth: Beyond the Digital Age to a Post-Capitalist World

    by Jonathan Crary

    Scorched Earth

    _____

    I’m nearly half-way through it, and it’s an eye-opener on so many levels. No holds barred. Take no prisoners, etc. I find myself constantly saying, Yeah, that’s so true! All kinds of 2+2=4 moments for me. Stuff I never really thought about before, too, but then wonder why not, cuz it seems so obvious now.

    It’s very well sourced and footnoted, and he draws upon dozens of leftist intellectuals, famous and obscure. It’s also surprisingly short, at 144 pages, but jammed packed with the best kinds of provocations.

    Will summarize when I’m finished . . .

    June 4, 2023 at 4:18 pm #144296
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    Crary is married to an old girlfriend of mine. We broke up in 83 and she met him later that year. They’ve been married 38 years. She and I are still distant, occasional contact friends.

    June 4, 2023 at 7:46 pm #144301
    Avatar photoBilly_T
    Participant
    zn wrote:

    Crary is married to an old girlfriend of mine. We broke up in 83 and she met him later that year. They’ve been married 38 years. She and I are still distant, occasional contact friends.

    That’s pretty cool.

    I finished it today, and am thinking about trying to contact him via email, though that would be rather ironic, given the focus of his book.

    ;>)

    Devastating and necessary critique of capitalism, with a focus on the Internet and digital culture overall. He takes a dissenting position from those who tout its ability to bring disparate groups together, and sees it as doing the opposite, and much worse. Actually atomizing, separating us, segregating us, and alienating us even further than was already the norm under capitalism before the digital age.

    And he gets granular about this all too, getting into biometrics, eye scans, etc. etc. I knew a lot of that already, but hadn’t really thought of it within the context he presents.

    About the only quibble I have with the book, and it’s not a big one, is that I think he uses too many “As the philosopher X said . . .” It’s so filled with the thoughts of others (relevant, brilliant others); I would have rather heard more uninterrupted sections in his own words.

    Will add some more thoughts about this tomorrow.

    Also: I borrowed it from my library in ebook form. It’s likely pretty easy for you guys to get as well. I highly, highly recommend it.

     

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