Complexity, Digital Media and Post Truth Politics

Abstract

Includes index. 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. Intro -- Contents -- List of Figures -- Chapter 1: Why Does Nobody Know Anything Anymore? -- A Crisis of Trust -- Is It New, Though, and If It Is New, Why Is It Happening Now? -- MAGA-Worlds and Hyperreality -- Won't Someone Think of the Children -- Is Technology a Good or Bad for Being Human in Context B? -- References -- Chapter 2: The Complexity Problem -- An Introduction to Complexity -- The Structure of This Book -- Post Meaningful Media -- The Meaning of Words -- References -- Chapter 3: A Systems Theory of Social Reality -- Assemblages -- Actor Networks -- References Chapter 4: How Do Systems Work? Differentiation and Communication -- Difference -- Differentiation and Self-reference -- Functional Differentiation -- Communication -- Same but Different -- References -- Chapter 5: Finding Perspective -- Interaction Filtration -- Perspective -- Time -- Relative Differentiation in the Interaction Field -- A Temporal, Perspectival, Empirical Methodology -- References -- Chapter 6: Autobots Assemble -- A Working Theory of Technology -- The Search for a Logical Definition -- Logical Precedents -- Technology In Vivo -- Confusion and Logical Webs Affordances and Affects -- From Social Media Logics to Logical Media Systems -- References -- Chapter 7: The Political Public -- If Politics Were Simple: The Deliberative Utopia -- Messy, Complicated Politics -- Not Deliberative, Not Gentle -- Extreme Mediatisation -- Logical Inequivalence -- References -- Chapter 8: Hypertext Reality -- Where Do Systems Interact? -- Hypertext -- Hypertextual Logic -- Hypertext and Capital -- The Political Hashtag -- References -- Chapter 9: Principles of an Interactionist Methodology -- A Question of Empirical Principles -- Questions of Perspective An API Is a Multiplicity of Different Perspectives, Not All of Which Will Be Realised -- Making Sense from Multiple Perspectives -- The Temporal Denominator -- Temporal Sequencing and Assemblage -- Agency and Assemblage -- References -- Index