Is Manovich's focus on software too deterministic?
Some critics suggest my emphasis on software's influence might be overly deterministic, implying a passive reception of culture shaped solely by algorithms. However, my intention is not to claim software dictates culture absolutely. Rather, I aim to illuminate the powerful, often invisible, structures that software introduces into our media environment. These structures create new possibilities and constraints for cultural production and reception. It's a symbiotic relationship where users also adapt and subvert these systems, creating new forms of agency within the software's framework.
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