Friday 17 August 2012

Science fiction, yesterday's news

I once heard humans described as "technologically-enabled monkeys". I can't remember who I heard it from, but it is one of those interesting fictions that marketeers and (social-)media evangelists like to engage in. Technology, science, innovation are not the only reason why we, as humans, have gone beyond the limitations of life fully embedded in nature: humans are complex bio-socio-political-economic agents, bound to the vagaries of their bodies and the environment they live in. Humans are learning agents, producers and consumers of the the means to change themselves. Humans are sets of belief systems and ethical concerns. In short, humans are complex.

None of that means that we should ignore the technological aspect of that equation; the wired monkeys metaphor is probably useful, as long as we are aware of its limitations - in that sense, it is just like any other metaphor. This blog will attempt to look into those wired monkeys: humans in this technology-rich, media saturated world. There will be books and films, there will be music and fashion, there will be news and ideas. There will be science fiction, I am sure, often glimpsed in yesterday's news. Things move quickly, these days.

I have no intention of either going academic on any eventual readers or letting standards slide to the point where this blog becomes nothing but a repository of pop culture (valid and important though that it endeavour is, others do it better than I could ever hope to). I insist there should be some reflection and at least an attempt at connecting dots. Looks like one hell of a time to do it.

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