The Physiognomy of Dispersed Power

Marshall, J

The Physiognomy of Dispersed Power

Marshall, J

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Publisher:: MIT Press
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Leonardo Eelectronic Almanac (LEA), 2009, 16 (4-5), pp. 1 - 21
Issue Date:: 2009-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Marshall, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3914-7697	en_US
dc.date.issued	2009-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Leonardo Eelectronic Almanac (LEA), 2009, 16 (4-5), pp. 1 - 21	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1071-4391	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/11854
dc.description.abstract	The web of post-modern power appears nomadic, elusive and always elsewhere. Like our online presences, it has no obvious boundaries and appears as spirit-like, a magic life haunting the net and the world. Government becomes liminal: 'Liminal identities are neither here nor there, they are betwixt and between the positions assigned by law, custom and ceremonial' to quote Victor Turner. This liminality has changed the balance of power between the corporate and non-corporate sectors, however this does not mean that power is straightforward. When everything is interlinked through information technology then exercises of power may even increase confusion and undermine the bases or legitimacy of that power. Modes of ordering can produce perceived disorder. Knowledge of the system becomes divination and trapped in magic. It is suggested that an awareness of this, and focusing on contradiction, or oscillation is more useful than focusing on simplicity.	en_US
dc.publisher	MIT Press	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Leonardo Eelectronic Almanac (LEA)	en_US
dc.title	The Physiognomy of Dispersed Power	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	4-5	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	16	en_US
utslib.for	160806 Social Theory	en_US
utslib.for	1203 Design Practice and Management	en_US
utslib.for	1902 Film, Television and Digital Media	en_US
utslib.for	1905 Visual Arts and Crafts	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/e-Press
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/Public Communication Program
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.consider-herdc	true	en_US
pubs.issue	4-5	en_US
pubs.volume	16	en_US

Abstract:

The web of post-modern power appears nomadic, elusive and always elsewhere. Like our online presences, it has no obvious boundaries and appears as spirit-like, a magic life haunting the net and the world. Government becomes liminal: 'Liminal identities are neither here nor there, they are betwixt and between the positions assigned by law, custom and ceremonial' to quote Victor Turner. This liminality has changed the balance of power between the corporate and non-corporate sectors, however this does not mean that power is straightforward. When everything is interlinked through information technology then exercises of power may even increase confusion and undermine the bases or legitimacy of that power. Modes of ordering can produce perceived disorder. Knowledge of the system becomes divination and trapped in magic. It is suggested that an awareness of this, and focusing on contradiction, or oscillation is more useful than focusing on simplicity.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/11854