3 ms·
Fair point. But, the concerns with attention are the other part of this thesis. How is attention related to capital?. I think this is a fair question. Somethin
by gt_ 9y ago
Fair point. But, the concerns with attention are the other part of this thesis. How is attention related to capital?. I think this is a fair question.
Something worth considering in relating this to Marx is that while Karl Marx did not live at a time that would have favored a deep awareness of media, his work is very concerned with culture. His more economic terminology was "human relations" and how capital mediates human relations.
These days, what we call media ("mediation" of human communication) is at the root of our concerns with attention.
Having studied Marx, I assume my eagerness to relate his work to contemporary economics discussions might seem desperate but it seems desperate to me that others try so hard to do otherwise. I hope you'll forgive me.
Marx did live in a more simple time but the wonder of his work is that he identified so much of the forces that guide our society. Even living at a time when attention was at a surplus, his work is robust and thoughtful enough to translate in more modern times.
- aninhumer 9y agoIf you're interested in the role of attention under capitalism, I would recommend Peter Coffin's videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/petercoffin https://www.youtube.com/user/petercoffin Most of his stuff is focused on how attention is used to manipulate people's worldview in the "Marketplace of Ideas", but his latest video is about considering attention as labour. (Although, I thought it was a little unclear tbh)