Playful Capitalism, or Play as an Instrument of Capital

Miguel Angel Sicart

doi:10.22409/contracampo.v40i2.50103

Playful Capitalism, or Play as an Instrument of Capital

Research output: Journal Article or Conference Article in Journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

This article applies Gray and Suri’s concept of Ghost Work and Ekbia and Nardi’s concept of Heteromation to the analysis of Quick, Draw!, a game-like product developed by Google. The article argues that digital capitalism uses the act of playing as an instrument to make exploitative labor practices feel more engaging, while camoufl aging their being work.

Original language	English
Journal	Contracampo
Volume	40
Issue number	2
ISSN	2238-2577
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.22409/contracampo.v40i2.50103 https://doi.org/10.22409/contracampo.v40i2.50103
Publication status	Published - 2021

Keywords

Digital Play
Heteromation
Ghost Work
Platform Capitalism
Capitalist Realism
Machine Learning

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10.22409/contracampo.v40i2.50103Licence: CC BY
10.22409/contracampo.v40i2.50103Licence: CC BY

Playful Capitalism SicartFinal published version, 979 KBLicence: CC BY

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title = "Playful Capitalism, or Play as an Instrument of Capital",

abstract = "This article applies Gray and Suri{\textquoteright}s concept of Ghost Work and Ekbia and Nardi{\textquoteright}s concept of Heteromation to the analysis of Quick, Draw!, a game-like product developed by Google. The article argues that digital capitalism uses the act of playing as an instrument to make exploitative labor practices feel more engaging, while camoufl aging their being work.",

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AB - This article applies Gray and Suri’s concept of Ghost Work and Ekbia and Nardi’s concept of Heteromation to the analysis of Quick, Draw!, a game-like product developed by Google. The article argues that digital capitalism uses the act of playing as an instrument to make exploitative labor practices feel more engaging, while camoufl aging their being work.

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KW - Heteromation

KW - Ghost Work

KW - Platform Capitalism

KW - Capitalist Realism

KW - Machine Learning

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DO - 10.22409/contracampo.v40i2.50103

M3 - Journal article

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VL - 40

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JF - Contracampo

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ER -

Playful Capitalism, or Play as an Instrument of Capital

Abstract

Keywords

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