Polar Inertia (Published in association with Theory, Culture & Society)

Examining how the 'here and now' of space, territory, the body, are being redefined by new technologies and how this undoes simplistic versions of the globalization thesis, Paul Virilio demonstrates how technology has made inertia the defining condition of modernity. An instantaneous present has replaced space and the sovereignty of territory; everything happens without the need to go anywhere. This book will be a key reference for students and scholars of the latest thinking in social theory. ′If you′ve ever felt like we′re going nowhere fast, and you′d like to know why - preferably sometime before you die - read this book′ - James Der Derian, Brown University and UMASS/Amherst Examining how the ′here and now′ of space, territory, the body, are being redefined by new technologies and how this undoes simplistic versions of the globalization thesis, Paul Virilio demonstrates how technology has made inertia the defining condition of modernity. An instantaneous present has replaced space and the sovereignty of territory; everything happens without the need to go anywhere. "Polar Intertia examines how the 'here and now' of space, territory, the body, are being redefined by new technologies and shows how this redefinition undoes simplistic versions of the globalization thesis. The principal argument of Polar Intertia is that the real time of 'action and distance' - telecommunication - has replaced the real space of immediate action. An instantaneous present has been substitute for space and the sovereignty of territory: everything happens without the need to go anywhere."--Jacket Paul Virilio shows how technology has made inertia the defining condition of modernity. He argues that the real time of action at a distance through telecommunication has replaced the real space of immediate action Cover 1 Contents 8 1 Indirect Light 10 2 The Last Vehicle 26 3 Kinematic Optics 46 4 Environment Control 64 5 Polar Inertia 80 Index 98 Paul Virilio ; Translated By Patrick Camiller. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Translated From The French.