"One day the day will come when the day will not come." Bleak, but passionately political in its analysis of the social destruction wrought by modern technologies of communication and surveillance, Open Sky is Paul Virilio's most far-reaching and radical book. Deepening and extending his earlier work, he explores the growing danger of what he calls a "generalized accident," provoked by the breakdown of our collective and individual relation to time, space and movement in the context of global electronic media. But this is ...
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"One day the day will come when the day will not come." Bleak, but passionately political in its analysis of the social destruction wrought by modern technologies of communication and surveillance, Open Sky is Paul Virilio's most far-reaching and radical book. Deepening and extending his earlier work, he explores the growing danger of what he calls a "generalized accident," provoked by the breakdown of our collective and individual relation to time, space and movement in the context of global electronic media. But this is not merely a lucid and disturbing lament for the loss of real geographical spaces, distance, intimacy or democracy. Open Sky is also a call for revolt-against the insidious and accelerating manipulation of perception by the electronic media and repressive political power, against the tyranny of "real time," and against the infantilism of cyberhype. Virilio makes a powerful case for a new ethics of perception, and a new ecology, one which will not only strive to protect the natural world from pollution and destruction, but will also combat the devastation of urban communities by proliferating technologies of control and virtuality.
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Seller's Description:
Fine. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 162 p. Radical Thinkers, 35. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
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Fair. This item is in overall acceptable condition. Covers and dust jackets are intact but may have heavy wear including creases, bends, edge wear, curled corners or minor tears as well as stickers or sticker-residue. Pages are intact but may have minor curls, bends or moderate to considerable highlighting/ writing. Binding is intact; however, spine may have heavy wear. Digital codes may not be included and have not been tested to be redeemable and/or active. A well-read copy overall. Please note that all items are donated goods and are in used condition. Orders shipped Monday through Friday! Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Orders shipped Monday through Friday. Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Thank you!
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Used book in good and clean conditions. Pages and cover are intact. Limited notes marks and highlighting may be present. May show signs of normal shelf wear and bends on edges. Item may be missing CDs or access codes. May include library marks. Fast Shipping.
Open Sky by Paul Virilio is an insightful and cautionary analysis of the impact of computer technology on human culture. If you are not used to reading academic philosophy, you might find this book hard going at first; but once you get used to the rhythm of the language and arcane vocabulary, the light bulbs will flash on almost every page. My favorite insights include the concept that we are becoming like quadriplegics who, trapped in their automated chairs, are equipped to manipulate their environment with small movements of a finger or chin. Virilio points out that we are more and more becoming like those quadriplegics when we interact with and control the world through computer screen, keyboard, and mouse. Another idea he explores at length is the modern (post modern?) foreshortening of distance. Whereas we used to embark, travel, and arrive, nowadays, through the facility of the internet, we simply arrive. Journeys are becoming instantaneous and this phenomenon is affecting our perception of the horizon, shrinking to a 15" screen. Virilio ends with a wild science fiction notion that real skin on skin sexual relationships will be replaced with virtual encounters and the whole of human sexuality and the family will be altered. I'm not sure that I go all the way with him there, but with teenagers today addicted to WOW and other virtual interactive games, we may not be far away from Virilio's nightmare.
