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QUESTION: Technology, class, and resistance

Submitted by jamesoly on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 2:57pm
question / pregunta: 

I'm looking for literature that might answer the following questions:
What are the dimensions of the scientist class/engineering/inventing class? What are the dynamics between this class and other social/economic classes? What have these dimensions and dynamics looked like in different stages of history (i.e. different modes of production)? How have people resisted the imposition of new forms of technology on their way of life? Some topics/sources that have helped me frame my questions are: Technics and Civilization by Lewis Mumford, Machine Dreams by Philip Mirowsi, Thorstein Veblen, Luddites.

Answers

Answer posted by: jcrawford

Is there any chance you can use a college or university library that can help you find dissertations? (I don't have access to such a database myself.)

I am thinking of one in particular, "The Redesign of Design: Multinational Corporations, Computers and Design Logic, 1945-1976," completed by John Harwood at Columbia Univ in 2006. I'm not sure how much Harwood considers class (or resistance, for that matter), but you might find works of interest in his bibliography.

For work on contemporary issues, have you tried Richard Florida's works on his so-called "creative class"? Again, perhaps does not interrogate class, but you could make use of his research.

Also consider checking out the bibliography for Cory Doctorow's young adult novel Little Brother, which you can download for free here.