Exploratory Writing 4B
I felt that this reading was a fantastic way to wrap up the previous two explorations. I couldn’t help but wonder how the post-human and the concept of glitch feminism are related in some distant way. I suppose I am referring to the post human as one that strives to push beyond their human limitations. I wonder if the process of analyzing the malfunctions and errors with the social machine would benefit the post-human. And while the text mentioned connections to cyberfeminism, I feel that there is even larger connections to even more complex ideas. Perhaps glitch feminism is simply more of a part of the evolutionary process cyberfeminism has undergone? I also wonder if glitch feminism provides a form of space digitally, and cognitively to facilitate post-human growth.
I am also reminded that transhumanism has somewhat similar ideas to glitch feminism in the sense that there is an embracing of technology itself. Or an acceptance of technology as a part of what it means to be human either physically or digitally. I may be a tad bold in assuming that both transhumanism and glitch feminism serve as socio-techno constructs, but both emphasize an interaction between people and technology. (I suppose if I went down the rabbit hole far enough I would begin to ask questions about materialism, economic development, and technological evolution in relation to transhumanism and glitch feminism.
There was also a portion within the reading talking about anti-tech sentiment. I personally related to this portion of the text quite a bit. Recently moving out of rural America back to my hometown of Denver has been an eye opening experience to say the least. I appreciate the text mentioning the Trump effect that became prevalent in 2016. I can honestly say that the distrust in technology/science, and the creation of specific communities through digital platforms fueled my desire to leave rural America. There was something truly toxic living in a community where the internet, various networks, and digital platforms had been created to be spaces of misinformation, fear, hate, bigotry, false comradery, crude idolization, and willful ignorance. It is truly amazing and in some ways scary how the manifestation of the real world makes itself known within the digital world, and vis versa.
I also keep running into this word within the texts presented. The word “machine” appears over and over and over again, and generally references that which is effected by the glitch in some form. Yet, I don’t think the machine itself is acknowledged for its human properties. I feel that the text distinguishes the machine and man as two separate entities connected through intention or usage. But the machine seems to be an extension of humanities creativity. And naturally flawed as a result. Humans being imperfect creatures could never strive to make a flawless creation. The machine is a product of humanity and the glitch is a product of machine as a result of our inability to conquer the natural failure within us all.