Liquid Surveillance: A Conversation (Conversations)

Bauman expands the concept if modernity to show what he terms the negative effects of globalization are leaving people more exposed by stripping away the protections of community centered living. The individual now bears almost 100% of the risk of choices, instead of having a network with which to assist her/him if things go wrong.

Excellent!

Great read, two great minds. Lyon with his interests vested in the surveillance society we now find ourselves in and Bauman showing how this can (and arguably only) operate when the fabric that makes up liquidity/liquid modernity allows that of deep seated surveillance.

Zygmunt Bauman is if nothing else prolific without being derivative and tired; he approaches issues from his own paradigm of liquid modernity with a confidence and verve lacking in a number of modern thinkers and this book- another collaboration this time with David Lyon a professor of Sociology- is worthy addition to his output.This relatively short book takes the form of a conversation between Bauman and Lyon which is becoming a common vehicle these days it seems to explore concepts in books, and maybe a reflection of the blogging style that is becoming so ubiquitous in intellectual circles. It's a difficult style to pull off though and predictably it stumbles a couple of times in this work, but it is on the whole pulled off.Surveillance is one of the key issues of the 21st century and will be for the foreseeable future, as the technology involved becomes ever more sophisticated and increasingly 'invisible.' The cultural implications of this- particularly in the political sphere- are of fundamental importance for us all and we need to be aware of this as much as possible. Bauman and Lyon investigate the nature of 21st century surveillance with accessible erudition and in fact extend their enquiry further to areas of information technology concerned with social media and- appropriately- blogging, and the apparent paradox that as people become more paranoid about being monitored, they on the other hand are becoming increasingly relaxed at baring their souls on line within a variety of cyber groupings.For me, you can never really go wrong with any book with Bauman's name on it, and this is another worthy addition to my collection. Well worth a look.

If we accept that the world has long since ceased to control itself, attention instead turning to the control of people, and that we live in an age where for some people having a presence on social media is what confirms they are alive, then we need writers like Bauman to make us think about where all this is heading.Bauman's concept of liquid modernity nicely captures the mobility and flexibility of our 21st century lives, whilst Lyon's analysis of surveillance also illustrates a very significant and relatively recent aspect of modern life. Have we all sleep walked blindly in to all this - with the technology driving massive changes in our lives with us barely registering? Certainly those of us who have been alive more than a few years sometimes wonder about the need of some people to constantly connect to the mundane. And yet the possibilities for connection, to be part of something bigger than yourself are amazing, and seem in some ways to feed the very essence of what it means to be a social human being. Maybe the internet is the greatest invention of humanity?This book provides a thought provoking 'discussion' between the two authors into these things and more. Bauman seems to be having a creative spurt - bless him. If you are interested in thinking about aspects of life other people take for granted, you will enjoy this. Overall - not brilliant but worth the effort.

An enlightening extension of Bauman's previous work on liquid modern lifestyles, in the form of a didactic with Lyons. It's a lively and interesting format for this kind of discussion, and Lyons has lots to add to enrich Bauman's now familiar position on liquid modernity.Although surveillance is the focus, key parts of the discussion centre on the distanciation technology creates between social actors, and the expansion of time and space through modern information technologies. As such, it should be of acute interest to anyone studying or interested in social change through technology, particularly since the discussion also turns to questions of how such changes affect social sorting and ordering.An excellent follow-up read if you've previously enjoyed the ideas Bauman develops in  Liquid Modernity . Liquid Modernity

This is not a comprehensive text book on survellance but a discussion between Lyon who is a leading expert on the subject and Bauman who is a distuinguished Sociologist. Liquid refers to the mobile modern life style and its fluid boundaries. Everybody is familiar with ubiquitous CCTV and the large part it plays in catching the criminal in police dramas together with the suspect's phone records.Drones are being developed the size of flies and featured in a recent French film in which it is used to spy on an unfaithful spouse. More surprising is the willingness of people,especially the young,to make public intimate details about themselves including the existence of Confession Sites on which people own up to their sins. The book offers a thoughtful and up to date discussion of many of theseissues. Rating 3 out of 5.