Meditations on Resistance: An Inquiry into AI, Critical Media Literacy, and Social Justice by Tony Kashani is a scholarly exploration that critiques the intersection of technology, media, and Neoliberal capitalism, utilizing a transdisciplinary approach to analyze issues across fields like education, media studies, cultural studies, law, psychology, and philosophy. The book examines the impact of Artificial Intelligence and new media in the context of Neoliberalism, offering a thorough critique of how large tech corporations and the rise of AI influence democratic processes, the public sphere, and individual agency.
Through this critique, the book positions itself as a collective call to action, inviting readers to confront the challenges posed by corporate and state-driven AI technologies. It connects the rise of Neoliberalism with a resurgence of neo-fascist populism, arguing that technological advances often exacerbate existing social inequalities, concentrate power in the hands of a few, and undermine critical thinking and democratic engagement.
The text draws from a wide array of critical theories and academic disciplines to explore how AI and media technologies impact education systems, cultural production, psychological well-being, and philosophical understandings of the human condition. It also advocates for critical media literacy as a necessary tool for resisting these forces, promoting the idea that education must go beyond mere technological literacy to foster deeper understandings of power dynamics, media manipulation, and social justice.
With contributions from leading scholars, the book offers various perspectives on how AI and media can be both tools of oppression and potential vehicles for positive social change. It proposes a vision for how society might navigate these challenges, urging collective resistance through education, critical media engagement, and a focus on the common good.
Ultimately, Meditations on Resistance provides a roadmap for those seeking to understand and resist the harmful impacts of technological capitalism, while also highlighting the potential for creating a more equitable and just world through critical engagement with media and technology.