Clickbait capitalism: Economies of desire in the twenty- first century

doi:10.7765/9781526168177

The notion of ‘clickbait’ speaks to the intersection of money, technology, and desire, suggesting a cunning ruse to profit from unsavoury inclinations of one kind or another. Clickbait capitalism pursues the idea that the entire contemporary economy is just such a ruse, an elaborate exercise in psychological capture and release. Pushing beyond rationalist accounts of economic life, this volume puts psychoanalysis and political economy into conversation with the cutting edges of capitalist development. Perennial questions of death, sex, aggression, enjoyment, despair, hope, and revenge are followed onto the terrain of the contemporary, with chapters devoted to social media, online dating apps, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and meme stocks. The result is a unique and compelling portrait of the latest institutions to stage, channel, or reconfigure the psychic energies of political and economic life.

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Contents

Front Matter
pp i-iv
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Contents
pp v-v
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List of contributors
pp vi-viii
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Preface
pp ix-x
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Introduction: The desire called libidinal economy
pp 1-20
- By Amin Samman
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1 - Narcissism, rage, avocado toast
pp 21-40
- By Earl Gammon
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2 - Capital as death denial
pp 41-60
- By Sandy Brian Hager
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3 - The eroticism of technology and finance
pp 61-80
- By Noam Yuran
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4 - Digital paranoia in a post- truth world
pp 81-97
- By Jernej Markelj
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5 - Social networks and serendipitous desire
pp 98-115
- By Emily Rosamond
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6 - Desiring-infrastructures in the crypto economy
pp 116-134
- By Ludovico Rella
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7 - Normative unconscious processes and US racial capitalism
pp 135-154
- By Lynne Layton
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8 - Enjoying inequality
pp 155-170
- By Japhy Wilson
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9 - Despair and hope among young Korean investors
pp 171-190
- By Cheolung Choi
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10 - Financialising the eschaton
pp 191-208
- By Amin Samman, Stefano Sgambati
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11 - Anxiety and self- sabotage in the neoliberal university
pp 209-229
- By Aris Komporozos-Athanasiou, Max Haiven
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Conclusion: Click here to end capitalism
pp 230-233
- By Amin Samman
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Index
pp 234-242
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Clickbait capitalism

Economies of desire in the twenty- first century

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Contents

Front Matter
pp i-iv

Contents
pp v-v

List of contributors
pp vi-viii

Preface
pp ix-x

Introduction: The desire called libidinal economy
pp 1-20

1 - Narcissism, rage, avocado toast
pp 21-40

2 - Capital as death denial
pp 41-60

3 - The eroticism of technology and finance
pp 61-80

4 - Digital paranoia in a post- truth world
pp 81-97

5 - Social networks and serendipitous desire
pp 98-115

6 - Desiring-infrastructures in the crypto economy
pp 116-134

7 - Normative unconscious processes and US racial capitalism
pp 135-154

8 - Enjoying inequality
pp 155-170

9 - Despair and hope among young Korean investors
pp 171-190

10 - Financialising the eschaton
pp 191-208

11 - Anxiety and self- sabotage in the neoliberal university
pp 209-229

Conclusion: Click here to end capitalism
pp 230-233

Index
pp 234-242

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Clickbait capitalism

Economies of desire in the twenty- first century

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