The 'mastery' of the swipe: smartphones, transitional objects and interstitial time

Mowlabocus, Sharif (2016) The 'mastery' of the swipe: smartphones, transitional objects and interstitial time. First Monday, 21 (10). pp. 1-27. ISSN 1396-0466

[img] PDF - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial No Derivatives.

Download (201kB)

Abstract

Have you ever noticed people using their smartphones while waiting for the train? Or people reaching for their phones when suddenly alone in a restaurant? Or people staring intently at their screens before a meeting begins? In this paper I seek to establish a dialogue between two critical methodologies — psychoanalysis and critical political-economy — in order to consider the role of this form of ‘distracted’ smartphone use in everyday life. The aim of this discussion is to broaden our understanding of ‘mundane’ phone use and suggest a way of conceptualising this behaviour at both an individual level and at the level of society.

Item Type: Article
Keywords: smartphone, transitional object, time, digital economy, Winnicott
Schools and Departments: School of Media, Film and Music > Media and Film
Research Centres and Groups: Sussex Humanities Lab
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Related URLs:
Depositing User: Sharif Mowlabocus
Date Deposited: 21 Sep 2016 07:52
Last Modified: 27 Jan 2021 16:01
URI: http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/63452

View download statistics for this item

📧 Request an update