[Ssnet_list] "Do artifacts have political economies?" | Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 at 12:30 PM PDT

[Monika Sengul-Jones via Ssnet_list]

Hey everyone,

We're pleased that *Pelle Tracey (Information, UW Seattle)* is the host of
our first* First Monday STSS Reading Group* of 2026! Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 |
12:30 - 1:20 PM | Zoom link below

We're reading:

Birch, Kean. “Do Artifacts Have Political Economy?” Science, Technology, &
Human Values, SAGE Publications Inc, August 4, 2025, 01622439251352167.
Https://doi.org/10.1177/01622439251352167
<https://www.google.com/url?q=Https://doi.org/10.1177/01622439251352167&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw0Ts7tp1iJKqBrAgMG1YCwB>

|

Attached

It's in conversation with science and technology studies political theorist
Langdon Winner's influential 1980 article, "Do artifacts have politics?"
(Spoiler: he argues they do, in two ways).

In Pelle's words, here's why this matters now:

"The relationship between political economy and technoscience is important
for many present concerns. This is perhaps most obvious in the case of
generative AI and the data center building boom, but also in other
contexts. For instance, in my own work, the question of if/how
proptech/landlordtech are impacting the housing crisis also involves the
intersections of political economy and technoscience, in the interactions
between landlords, developers, and platform companies."

How do the political economies of artifacts matter to your research?

Join us to discuss this, the article by Kean Birch, and more. Would you
like a calendar invitation to this event? Email me to get on the list.


*Apologies for cross-posting.*
Yours,
Monika (and on behalf of Leah)
First Monday STSS Co-facilitators
https://depts.washington.edu/stsst/first-monday/
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://depts.washington.edu/stsst/first-monday/&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw0GJOcqVvZBn4DxKUHH9B3K>

www.societyandtechnology.uw.edu
<https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.societyandtechnology.uw.edu&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw3E4Hgy7BPpp8jynP2viv6Z>



Monika Sengul-Jones is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://washington.zoom.us/j/93927722506?pwd=tjHDc1ZerJL0AHy6TxasyLY91Ut8qP.1
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://washington.zoom.us/j/93927722506?pwd%3DtjHDc1ZerJL0AHy6TxasyLY91Ut8qP.1&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw2FcoA6rPwZ4ZHAEARBs9GV>

Meeting ID: 939 2772 2506
Passcode: 554334

---

One tap mobile
+12063379723,,93927722506# US (Seattle)
+12532158782,,93927722506# US (Tacoma)

---

Join by SIP
• 93927722506 at zoomcrc.com
Passcode: 554334

Join instructions
https://washington.zoom.us/meetings/93927722506/invitations?signature=B8T0brikDSMjrFYH-tUe3FZJzhc4B6wXM-j3k76WYXY
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://washington.zoom.us/meetings/93927722506/invitations?signature%3DB8T0brikDSMjrFYH-tUe3FZJzhc4B6wXM-j3k76WYXY&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw2UBXEjsNpZtTVWft4qCXXj>
mmjones at uw.edu
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman23.u.washington.edu/pipermail/ssnet_list/attachments/20251212/4f99fb43/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Birch - 2025 - Do Artifacts Have Political Economy.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 314455 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman23.u.washington.edu/pipermail/ssnet_list/attachments/20251212/4f99fb43/attachment-0001.pdf>