Hackers against technology:Critique and recuperation in technological cycles

Maxigas (2017) Hackers against technology:Critique and recuperation in technological cycles. Social Studies of Science, 47 (6). pp. 841-860. ISSN 0306-3127

[thumbnail of maxigas_hackers-against-technology_sss.pdf]
Preview
PDF (maxigas_hackers-against-technology_sss.pdf)
maxigas_SR_SS_clean.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (158kB)

Abstract

I offer an interpretation of hackers’ technological choices through a theoretical framework of critique and recuperation in technological cycles, building on prior research that brings the pragmatic sociology of Boltanski and Chiapello to bear on matters in Science and Technology Studies. I argue that contextualizing technology choices in the development of capitalism through innovation illuminates their political significance. I start with the counterintuitive observation that some browser extensions popular with hackers, like RequestPolicy, make it considerably harder for them to look at websites. This observation showcases the Luddite aspects of hackerdom, in that they are willing to ‘break’ popular websites that would otherwise cheat on the user. In line with an undercurrent of hacker studies, in this case study I find hackers fighting technological progress they see as social decline.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Social Studies of Science
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300
Subjects:
?? EXPERTISEHACKERSHISTORY OF TECHNOLOGYRECUPERATIONTECHNOLOGY CHOICESUSERSHISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCEHISTORYSOCIAL SCIENCES(ALL) ??
ID Code:
88025
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
01 May 2018 08:54
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
20 Sep 2023 01:05