Towards the Operative Objects of Post-Capitalism: A Critical Cultural- And Media-Theoretical Refusal on the Chilean Case (1973-2023)

Authors

  • Dusan Cotoras Alberto Hurtado University
  • Joaquín Zerené Diego Portales University / Universidad Austral de Chile
  • Diego Gómez-Venegas Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7146/aprja.v10i1.128186

Keywords:

Capitalist Realism, Theory-Fiction, Chile, Social Uprising, Technological Subjects, Networks

Abstract

This essay aims to unfold a refusal on what we understand have been the historical hegemonic modes of social and cultural research under capitalist realism; that is, the politico-economic system ruling the West and beyond since the 1970s onwards. To do so, we present an updated approach to analyze Chilean social and cultural history during this period, insofar as it is, we argue, a paradigmatic case to critically understand capitalist realism in general. Thus, the essay is formed by three main parts: a) a historical presentation and contextualization of the case in that period, deployed in three fragments; b) the development of a critical cultural- and media-theoretical set of concepts that are instrumental to analyze the case; and c) a proposal that allows us to project the analysis’ insights towards the present and beyond. Particularly from this latter part, but more clearly in a final short conclusion, the proposal and its potential stems from a theory-fiction approach.

Author Biographies

Dusan Cotoras, Alberto Hurtado University

Dusan Cotoras is a sociologist currently working as a research as-sistant at the multidisciplinary hub “Ciencia en Chile Contemporáneo,” which is based in the Alberto Hurtado University (Santiago, Chile). His research focuses on the analysis of innovation, science, and technological processes, from an approach inspired by cybernetics and critical theory.

Joaquín Zerené, Diego Portales University / Universidad Austral de Chile

Joaquín Zerené is a faculty member at the School of Design of the Diego Portales University (Santiago, Chile). Additionally, he is a PhD researcher at the Doctoral Program in Human Sciences of the Universidad Austral de Chile (Valdivia, Chile). His dissertation inquires into the techno-aesthetic and techno-politic dimensions of the contem-porary condition of imagination, from the intersection of media theories and posthumanism.

Diego Gómez-Venegas, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Diego Gómez-Venegas is a media researcher and media artist based in Berlin. Currently a PhD researcher at the Institute of Musicology and Media Sciences (Media Sciences area) at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, he works in a dissertation on the techno-epistemological and techno-political aspects of Project Cybersyn, from a media-archaeo-genealogical perspective.

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Published

2021-08-20

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 1 (2021): Research Refusal

Section

Articles

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