Cyberdecks, going analog, and convivial technology
3 days ago
- #Arts and Crafts Movement
- #Cyberdecks
- #Techno-Feudalism
- A growing movement away from corporate-controlled tech towards personal, handmade alternatives, such as cyberdecks and physical media like journals and MP3 players.
- Cyberdecks, inspired by cyberpunk literature, are experiencing a resurgence with diverse aesthetics, often driven by marginalized groups including women, non-binary individuals, and people of color, using upcycled materials.
- Historical parallels are drawn between current techno-feudalist conditions and past eras like medieval guilds, the Luddites, and the Arts and Crafts movement, which resisted exploitation and industrialization.
- The Arts and Crafts movement, led by figures like John Ruskin and William Morris, emphasized craftsmanship, creativity, and human fulfillment over profit-driven, automated production.
- Modern movements like permacomputing advocate for reusing hardware and reducing e-waste, challenging capitalist consumption and emphasizing environmental sustainability.
- Capitalist co-optation is a risk for these movements; strategies to resist include fostering DIY ethics, avoiding commodification, and promoting anti-capitalist social arrangements.
- The overarching goal is to break cycles of exploitation by collectivizing creativity, reimagining socio-economic systems, and prioritizing human connection and ecological care over profit.