The Interface Effect

by Alexander R. Galloway

Interfaces are back, or perhaps they never left. The familiar Socratic conceit from the Phaedrus, of communication as the process of writing directly on the soul of the other, has returned to center stage in today's discussions of culture and media. Indeed Western thought has long construed media as a grand choice between two kinds of interfaces. Following the optimistic path, media seamlessly interface self and other in a transparent and immediate connection. But, following the pessimistic path, media are the obstacles to direct communion, disintegrating self and other into misunderstanding and contradiction. In other words, media interfaces are either clear or complicated, either beautiful or deceptive, either already known or endlessly interpretable.

Recognizing the limits of either path, Galloway charts an alternative course by considering the interface as an autonomous zone of aesthetic activity, guided by its own logic and its own ends: the interface effect. Rather than praising user-friendly interfaces that work well, or castigating those that work poorly, this book considers the unworkable nature of all interfaces, from windows and doors to screens and keyboards. Considered allegorically, such thresholds do not so much tell the story of their own operations but beckon outward into the realm of social and political life, and in so doing ask a question to which the political interpretation of interfaces is the only coherent answer.

Grounded in philosophy and cultural theory and driven by close readings of video games, software, television, painting, and other images, Galloway seeks to explain the logic of digital culture through an analysis of its most emblematic and ubiquitous manifestation – the interface.

Genres: Philosophy, Theory, Technology, Nonfiction, Design, Politics, 21st Century

200 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2012

Reviews

[nick]

Galloway has some major insights here for theorizing computational media—particularly the idea of centering ethic or practice instead of some essence-of-the-medium ontology. Thinking of computing as the simulation of metaphysics provides much more to work with than trying to figure out what computers “really are.” But most of these insights come early in the book, and it can be tough to follow the threads connecting these key methodological/media-theoretical questions to the subjects of later chapters, some of which feel stuck in the past (see: the chapter on the control-society aesthetic of the TV show 24). For a book ostensibly about a redefinition of the “interface,” that concept slips out of view for a huge proportion of the page-count; really this is just a a series of loosely linked essays on aesthetics and politics amid control/postfordism. Or, rather, “interface” gets so diffuse that it becomes any “fertile nexus” (Dagognet) between forms of activity, becoming broadly equivalent to the whole question of aesthetics vs. politics, or of representation.

The implicit valorization of strategies of "aesthetic incoherence + political incoherence" (which = "truth," and the "whatever" as an alternative to the liberal or postfordist subject) is appealing but also a bit undercooked.

[Diu · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a not really standalone theory of interface. It's more like a series of essays commenting on other authors.

the introduction is working on a critique of Manovich.
unworkable interface is working on four categories through two images and some brief discussion on WoW (which is an extension of the diegetic versus non-diegetic discussed in Essays in Algorithmic Culture).
Software and ideology is a commentary on Wendy Chun's statement on software and ideology.
Are some things unrepresentable? is a rework of Ranciere's theory on image applied to the digital.
Disingenous informatics contains a case study of a television show.
We are the gold farmers is a commentary on racial representation in games and Obama's Black double.

I probably need to reread to understand the chapter on unworkable interface, which is probably the most important part of the book that focuses on interface. Discussing it metaphorically via two paintings is not very helpful. Maybe I am just stupid. It would be great if I can actually use the theory on actual digital interfaces.

[Burc · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have such complicated feelings about Galloway. This is capital M capital T, Media Theory and is written in that highly charged language that people like Galloway and Chun sometimes adopt. Which is fine by me but I know it can be very alienating for others.

The chapter Software and Ideology is a classic and I think still holds some relevance. but as an overall work the book seems a little all over the place. Definitely feeling a bit disappointed.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won't lie, I'm still trying to wrap my head around "the whatever," which is the only thing that keeps this from being a five star review. The book is beautifully written and intellectually challenging. It's not that I'm not willing to do the intellectual work to get at how Galloway is using the whatever. At the moment, however, I'm not sure I could explain it to someone else. I need to think about it some more, particularly in relation to identity politics and cultural theory.

[katie luisa borgesius]

galloway's books are always such a trip. i don't know if i like philosophy (told myself i had to read it for some work), but it's well written enough, spans billions of subjects, check it out maybe

[Finn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could not try and explain this to someone so that leaves somewhat a little to be desired. BUT some tidbits man are really worth it. I particularly enjoyed Galloway’s thoughts on interfaces and virtual critique as well as his kitschy mentions of video games. The last chapter is really what I felt was worth it. Thinking away from the post “Hegelian” dialectic and more so in terms of labelling what we already know. The idea behind the whatever being, utopia, and postfordism. This book was more of a surprise since it’s not totally straightforward as the title, but some really great moments have me thinking of a virtual anthroprocene and a post-human analog world that invade the everyday.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Galloway has some interesting deconstructions of new media.

[laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good for people interested in cultural studies and new media but that do not have knowledge of the machine really.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read

The work done by Galloway is mostly effective. The only times that The Interface Effect falls short are he's there are points where more in-depth analysis would have been helpful in strengthening the ideas of the book. That said, the book is approachable. It'll be a great read for people studying technology and communication.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

galloway is smart, but moves too quickly and strays too far - his final claims about the "whatever" seem unmotivated, but there is some very rich analysis and he argues cogently about the role of the political.

[Connor Stockton · Rating 4 out of 5]

galloway is dense but one of the best in this little world of theory

[Zachary Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The virtual (or the new, the next) is no longer the site of emancipation. Rather, it is the primary mechanism of oppression."