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This book analyses the relationship between digital media systems and post truth politics. It demonstrates that the complexity of modern systems is an existential challenge for our ability to understand and research these issues. A new theory is proposed for studying complexity, explaining how system interactionism differs from established ideas, including assemblage and actor network theories. After considering the social system of Niklas Luhmann, the author proposes an interactionist methodology better equipped to deal with system complexity. A description of the logical operations of the digital and political systems is provided, establishing precedents for an analysis of the role of hypertext in shaping the emergent digital-politics. The book demonstrates how the principles of system interactionism can guide digital media research into polarisation and political language.
List of contents
1. Why Does Nobody Know Anything Anymore?.- 2. A systems theory of social reality.- 3. How do systems work? Differentiation and communication.- 4. Finding perspective.- 5. Autobots Assemble.- 6. The Political Public.- 7. Hypertext and Hyperreality.- 8. Principles of an interactionist methodology.
About the author
Philip Pond is Lecturer in Digital Media Research Methods at the University of Melbourne, Australia. He previously headed the Digital-Social Systems Lab, building software to research the impact of technology on society. He has written extensively about media and time theory.
