KTub8

Introduction
such as public and private, work and leisure. The second
bias expressed itself, for example, as ‘competitive
individualism’ and in the aesthetics of the central
perspective, representing the visual experience of a
single point of view. As McLuhan stressed, ‘far from being
a normal mode of human vision, three dimensional
perspective is a conventionally acquired mode of seeing, as
much acquired as is the means of recognising the letters
of the alphabet, or of following chronological narrative.’ 7
For McLuhan, this particular constellation could inform
a wide range of political projects. Industrial capitalism
and Soviet style communism were both seen as part of
the Gutenberg Galaxy. Indeed, they had many elements
in common, for example, both systems were based on
assembly line organisation of work processes, and the
entire social and cultural apparatus required to make
this kind of organisation work. 8 The reason I mention
this here is to bring into view long term historical
constellations that relate a particular subjectivity to a
wide range of cultural, social and political projects and
institutions. The actual relationship between the two
is highly contestable, and McLuhan has been criticised
– correctly when read narrowly but unimaginative as
an interpretation – for simplifying it to the point of
technological determinism. 9
Today, we are entering into a new constellation, a new
galaxy, and the reformulation of solidarity in a myriad of
ways, such as the new draft constitution in Iceland, may
be one of its most hopeful vectors. There are many much
less promising dynamics feeding the maelstrom as well.
Some of these are very rapid, such as the destructive
effects of all encompassing commodification and
financialisation, others are slower but set to run for a
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