Within
Yann Boutang's “What is Cognitive Capitalism?", Boutang discusses the means of
capitalism and goes into depth about the issues with cognitive capitalism. The issues with cognitive capitalism are endless tasks, exhaustion due to
mental labour and so on. Overall, there seems to be no distinct beginning middle or end
with cognitive labour. The larger issue found within cognitive labour is it
is extremely difficult to put a dollar value on the means of time and
production spent on this type of labour. Additionally, this type of labour can
take place outside of the work place and workday itself. We have allowed the
means of time and space to push the production of cognitive labour in order to
innovate and create new information constantly.
I found
Boutang’s concept of cognitive capitalism in connection to the idea of “jet lag”
within Sharma’s In the Meantime. Within the reading, there is discussion
about the influence of airports and their influence on time.
Discussed within the book, the traveller’s time management is up to them and it
is their responsibility to work harder and stay in time with the means of
working. Additionally, being “tired” is considered a “slow” person’s excuse for
lack of productivity. However, the bounds of travelling put a toll on the human mind and
body, which does impact in the end the means of producing “information”. There
is no value on the travelling time or the information that may be produced
during this time but rather jet lag is not typically seen as a reason
to impact mental labor.
Within business,
travelling is considered a normal competent. However, jet lag is often a large issue attached to travelling. With that said, there has been claims for preventing or
avoiding jet lag. I included an article below discussing different
methods.
http://www.fodors.com/news/10-tips-to-avoid-jet-lag-4457
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Is it fair for the
traveller to travel and be expected to produce the same means of mental labour?
Should there be a regulated “mental” break in between travelling and performing
mental labour (for business purposes)?
Great post Sydney. I found your connection to jet leg to be a very effective way to explain the concept of cognitive capitalism. In regards to your questions, I personally feel that it is unfair for individuals to be expected to produce information and engage in productivity following a long flight. To solve this issue, employers must address the mental exhaustion that jet lag creates, and in doing so, should allow for a 4-5 hour break period between a flight and a job requirement. Additionally, jobs that are unable to supply this mental break period should offer incentives to employees that are required to work directly following extended travel periods or, as James mentioned in his presentation, ensure these individuals have access to airport sleeping pods.
ReplyDeleteThe concept of cognitive capitalism can also be seen within the rise and popularity of YouTubers who are self-employed and are essentially their own bosses. Here, individuals often work from home and therefore, have no distinction between the beginning, middle and end. From this, YouTubers often have a difficult time separating their work life from their home/personal life as their labour occurs in the same place. I personally feel there is a stereotype surrounding YouTubers and their work as they are often categorized as ‘having it easy’ or ‘lazy’, when in reality, many of them struggle from anxiety due to feelings of underachievement and seemingly endless tasks.
Here is an interesting link that outlines the various strategies people can use to make money on YouTube: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/280966
Do you think that this type of employment provides individuals with a healthy and balanced lifestyle? How do you think people who work from home can put a dollar value on the means of time and production that was put into their work?
Great discussion of the concepts cognitive capitalism and jet lag! To respond to your question, I do not think it is fair for the traveller to be producing the same means of mental labour while travelling. The business traveler is a great perspective to think of in this case, but I also want to provide a new way of looking at this. As students we think of our reading week as a nice break from school and rest our minds. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Many of us students are bombarded with work to catch up on and even so far as prepare for the week we return, as there is many upcoming papers or midterms to prepare for.
ReplyDeleteBoutang provides a three fold definition in order to help readers understand the essence of cognitive capitalism. I think each of which relate to the concepts of ‘reading week’ and cognitive capitalism. The first is accumulation, wherein people or students invest in their work publicly (during school) and privately (outside of class). Secondly, the particular mode of production being that distance does not matter anymore and students can access school works through computers and websites such as MyLearningSpace. Thirdly, the exploitation of labor wherein students know the efforts they must put in to doing the work so they can succeed.
I do not see Reading week as a break whatsoever. Just as Sharma’s ‘jet lagged worker’ students on break are recovering students from many weeks of tough school work. Just as Boutang mentions, there is a problem with cognitive capitalism in that students are exhausted from their mental labour. Students are provided with a week that is free of classes and away from school, but nonetheless, have longer days to be more productive with school work and the means of information they must produce or retain. Therefore, I do not think reading week provides a sufficient break wherein students can rest their minds.
My question to you is do you think that Reading Week is a sufficient break for students?
If interested in reading further about reading week which discusses initiatives as to why reading weeks have been implemented. These reasons were because students are stressed and the suicide rate due to school stress has gone up so they decided some sort of break was necessary. But then later goes on to mention interviews with students and how they need the extra days off to catch up and study with work.
https://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2013/10/14/ontario_universities_embrace_midterm_fall_break_to_ease_students_minds.html
Great points! In regards to your question, I believe there should be a break given after traveling. Personally, when I go on vacation in a country where there is a time difference, I always dread getting used to the time change. This is because it does take a mental and physical tole on your body. I also relate to this post because I have gone to countries where there is a six hour time difference and coming back home and going to work is difficult. I usually give myself a few days before returning back to work or school because I know that travelling and the idea of jet lag is in fact a real thing and interferes with a persons day-to-day life.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to Olivia's question, I agree. I do not think that one week is enough time for students. When I return back from reading week I do not feel fully refreshed or relaxed. This is because we technically are given five days. Weekends do not count because students always have no classes on weekends. For students like myself, who do not have classes on Monday or Friday they are really only taking three days off of their usual routine. Their "break" is also filled with mental labour as they are using the time off to catch up on assignments and tests.