“Revulsion against bureaucratic routine and pursuit of flexibility has produced new structures of power and control, rather than created the conditions which set us free”{1}
Richard Sennett
There is a great shift between “production” (work) and “consumption” (life) after the post-industrial age according to Gershuny. [2]We trend to spend more and more time if not efforts on both aspects.
Checking emails on the way to work and home turns into responsibility under the concept of “flexible” workforce. Many people have a tendency of “self-blaming” and apologize for not replying emails right away. [3]As we are no longer constrained by our physical space and time, we can work everywhere at any time. This “flexibility” turns every one of us into a slave under the idea of “new capitalism”. People work even though they are not in office or working hour, which lead to an optimization of profit.
Not only are we spending more and more time producing, we are also increasingly engaging in acts of consumption. People are consuming more and more knowledge and information-related leisure services provided by the cultural industries and we spend more and more time not to mention money on entertainment experiences.[4] To name but a few, Netflix , Spotify and Steam.It also creates more job opportunities that require knowledge and understanding.
Yes,yes,yes……Because of the distributed network, there are much more freelancers than before.BUT, the boundary line between work and life becomes so blurry us we work in our rest and it becomes a psychological constraint when we don’t. Back in the past, mine workers or factory workers can’t bring their work home, they can really get some rest after they are off.So, we should reconsider if this flexibility flexible.
Finally, have you checked your email today?
References
Sennett, R. (1998). The corrosion of character. New York: Retrieved from https://books.google.com.hk/books?id=opxq1ZWAcgUC&pg=PA47&lpg=PA47&dq=“Revulsion against bureaucratic routine and pursuit of flexibility has produced new structures of power and control, rather than created the conditions which set us free”&source=bl&ots=ElDTBpREe3&sig=ACfU3U289z6SvQSHyoJVRvF2MbZ1ADvpRA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjMk4qC6_zkAhXGZt4KHUepA7UQ6AEwAHoECAUQAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false
Gershuny, J. (2000). Changing Times: Work and Leisure in Postindustrial Society. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.hk/books?id=SCGS0dFE3iYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Changing times. Oxford: Oxford University Press&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjBu9Ph7_zkAhWIMd4KHcT5BWwQ6AEIKjAA#v=onepage&q=Changing times. Oxford: Oxford University Press&f=false
Deuze, M. (2006) ‘Liquid Life, Convergence Culture, and Media Work’.Retrieved from https://scholarworks.iu.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/2022/3343/Liquid%20Life%20Deuze%202006.pdf
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