Stivers argues that our expectations of technology in society have led to the generation of a multitude of imitation technologies that function as magical practices once did. This is particularly true in the fields of psychology, management and the mass media, where their paramount purpose is human adjustment and control. Advertising and television, in particular, symbolically connect consumer goods and services to desired outcomes - the utopian goals of success, happiness and health.
Author Biography
Peter Stirk is a lecturer in Politics at the University of Durham. His previous books include Max Horkheimer: A New Interpretation (1992) and, as co-editor, An Introduction to Political Ideas (Pinter, 1995).
