Machines have a history of generating identity formations with significant social implications. Buffalo is known as the “City of Light” because the electricity produced at Niagara Falls at the end of the 19th century made it possible to introduce street lamps, which stimulated its industrial boom. The illuminated urban environment transformed social interactions. Everywhere, electricity produced new work forces and identity formations—including stereotypical assumptions about aptitude and engagement. Recognizing this is crucial to understanding the work presented in Difference Machines:…Read More
