Circuit-Bending as Resistance Against Planned Obsolescence

Please find the complete dissertation here.

Abstract:

The current asymmetric power relations of the global waste chain between the Global North and Global South and the productivist bias in media and communications scholarship has prompted research on the creative repurposing of obsolete devices through the art of circuit-bending. With adopting a social movement approach assisted with STS studies that acknowledge sociocultural discourses of technology, this study analyzes how circuit- bending transits from a hobbyist activity to resistance against planned obsolescence and the logics of capitalism. Through semi-structured interviews, this research recruited six Global North and six Global South circuit-benders selected through snowball and purposive sampling. It bases the methodological design on Hollander & Einwohner’s elements of resistance: action and opposition, recognition, and intent. The analysis utilized Attride-Stirling’s six-step analytical technique. It was found that circuit-bending act as resistance against planned obsolescence and capitalist logics by supporting each other in opening the black boxes of technology, being productive citizens by recycling and contributing to culture and science, resisting established markets and its logics controlled by conventional white- collar capitalists, rejecting the enchantment of capitalism’s aesthetics of ‘progress’, and resisting the foundation of colonialism that is mercantilist capitalism.

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Comments:

I have always been curious regarding the practices of how colleagues tinkered their instruments in experimental shows. Starting from the curious semi-detached parts of broken Indonesian motorcycles to the, what several scholars would argue “cute”, despicable Furby doll. My harmless curiosity then developed into something uncalled for - a goddamn Master’s dissertation (FYI, it was titled “Bending Capitalism: A Qualitative Analysis on How Circuit-Bending Acts as Resistance Against Planned Obsolescence in the Global North and Global South”). When my Media and Communications colleagues at LSE read the title of my dissertation, they wondered if I even studied in the same department at all. I took MC419: Digital Media Futures, MC409: Media, Technology, and Everyday Life, and MC401: Mediated Resistance and Activism as my electives, so it does make sense.

It all started simply from watching friends from Jogja Noise Bombing. I’ve always respected the festival and the performers. If you are interested in inviting me to a discussion or just simply interested in the presentation slides, pamflet, and resources that I’ve found useful in my dissertation, please contact me and I will provide all of those for free. This research has enabled me to meet wonderful, intelligent, and welcoming individuals and collectives around Indonesia (and abroad!).

Events:

  1. “Ascend! Bend!” at Neo Kedampunk, Bali, Indonesia (6 February 2020)

  2. “Dischord #2: Circuit-Bending dan Resistansi” at Lifepatch, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (18 February 2020)

  3. “Diskusi OMES: Institut Hidup ‘Eksplorasi Bunyi: Politik Pengetahuan dan Pembebasan” at Yayasan Umar Kayam, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (28 February 2020)

  4. “Open Mixer Berdering Bising #4 + Bending Capitalism Presentation” at Unisland Space, Jakarta, Indonesia (1 March 2020)