Infrastructure was defined in the early twentieth century as “a collective term for the subordinate parts of an undertaking; substructure, foundation” (106). Over the years, as the world has evolved, this definition has expanded to encompass various technological and industrial advancements including power grids, subways, freeways, sewer systems, pipelines, and more. Author Lisa Parks emphasizes the importance of the relationship between media infrastructures and affective labor; Media infrastructures rely on affective labor to sustain themselves. For example, the amount of people who use landlines has dramatically decreased over the past decade. This decrease is not because there is a technical or functional issue with landlines, but rather, people do not have enough attention, time, or money to use both their landlines and their mobile phones. New media and new technologies are constantly emerging, taking people’s attention away from older ones. Whereas our society used to only have one telecommunication structure (telegraphy), it now has multiple systems (telephony, radio, cable, internet, satellite) that all have to cooperate and compete with each other for user’s attention. Despite capitalism operating as if human time and energy are boundless, humans do not have the capacity to sustain all of the existing and emerging infrastructures. Although, increasing internet access in more underdeveloped countries would be one way to expand digital capitalism’s human resources.
2 thoughts on “Infrastructure – Chloe Fandetti”
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It was interesting to see how you connected the term new media from the beginning of this semester into your understanding of the new keyword of infrastructure. This is definitely not a connection I would have made on my own. Your writing also makes me think of the concept of the “attention economy” because much like we feasibly use all the devices of communication at once, individual humans also have a set amount of attention for which a variety of things including companies or forms of media are competing for at all times.
I agree that increasing internet access in more underdeveloped counties would be one way to expand digital capitalism’s human resources. Infrastructure plays an important role in countries, especially in underdeveloped countries. With the development of society, the internet is included in fracture, which can provide a lot of resources, platforms, and. information for people. This is a way of redistribution, which can promote social equity. I also like how you describe media infrastructures rely on affective labor to sustain themselves. People only have limited attention and time, so people will not use backward media. Therefore, capitalism are keeping finding new ways to constantly attract more users and design more interesting functions for users.