The Burden of Choice : Recommendations, Subversion, and Algorithmic Culture PDF
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The Burden of Choice The Burden of Choice Recommendations, Subversion, and Algorithmic Culture JONATHAN COHN Rutgers University Press New Brunswick, Camden, and Newark, New Jersey, and London Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data Names: Cohn, Jonathan, author. Title: The burden of choice : recommendations, subversion, and algorithmic culture / by Jonathan Cohn. Description: New Brunswick : Rutgers University Press [2019] | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2018031140 | ISBN 978081359782 (cloth) | ISBN 9780813597812 (pbk.) Subjects: LCSH: Consumer be hav ior. | Consumer profiling. | Consumption (Economics) Classification: LCC HF5415.32 .C643 2019 | DDC 306.3— dc23 LC rec ord available at https:// lccn. loc .g ov / 2018031140 A British Cataloging- in- Publication rec ord for this book is available from the British Library. Copyright © 2019 by Jonathan Cohn All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. Please contact Rutgers University Press, 106 Somerset Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. The only exception to this prohibition is “fair use” as defined by U.S. copyright law. The paper used in this publication meets the requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences— Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. www .r utgersuniversitypress . org Manufactured in the United States of Amer i ca For Jaimie Frontispiece: Tweet from Mike Pesca in response to Paul Ryan, February 22, 2017 Every thing is a recommendation. — Xavier Amatriain and Justin Basilico, Netflix Contents Introduction: Data Fields of Dreams 1 1 A Brief History of Good Choices 27 2 Female Labor and Digital Media: Pattie Maes and the Birth of Recommendation Systems and Social Networking Technologies 54 3 Mapping the Stars: TiVo’s, Netflix’s, and Digg’s Digital Media Distribution and Talking Back to Algorithms 82 4 Love’s L abor’s Logged: The Weird Science of Matchmaking Systems and Its Parodies 125 5 The Mirror Phased: Embodying the Recommendation via Virtual Cosmetic Surgeries and Beautification Engines 158 Conclusion: On H andling Toddlers and Structuring the Limits of Knowledge 186 Acknowle dgments 191 Notes 193 Index 221 ix
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