SCOPIC
COLONIALISM
The illusion as method and ideology: computational sociology, simulation and vision
In an era defined by algorithmic governance, digital spectacle, and perceptual overload, classical sociological methods prove insufficient to grasp the complexity of contemporary social life. This work explores the convergence of computational sociology, social simulation, and vision as a new epistemological paradigm—one in which perception, simulation, and emergent behavior are not only studied but mobilized as tools to model and shape the social world. Drawing from agent-based modeling, computational vision, and critical theory, the study demonstrates how simulation is no longer a condition of postmodern illusion but a methodological engine for generating and governing social realities. Through case studies such as Cambridge Analytica and phenomena like astroturfing, nudging, and algorithmic vision, we show how interpretive frames and visual regimes are embedded into simulations to test and steer behavior, often reinforcing symbolic hierarchies and political agendas. By modeling how agents perceive and act upon visual and affective stimuli, we uncover how perception itself becomes a site of power. The implications for mental health, democratic coherence, and social inequality are profound. This fusion of disciplines invites a critical rethinking of sociology—not as a mirror of reality, but as a laboratory for anticipating systemic collapse and designing new perceptual and political infrastructures.
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Brain Rot and Engineered Vision: why the brain never stops consuming
In the modern era, consumption is no longer a discrete activity confined to moments of explicit decision-making. Instead, neuromarketing research suggests that our brains are engaged in an ongoing dialogue about value, desire, and decision-making, even when we are not actively shopping (Ramsøy, 2019). This challenges traditional economic and psychological models that assume a clear demarcation between ‘shopping mode’ and everyday cognition. Instead, we must recognize that consumer choice is embedded within our constant cognitive processes, shaping not only our purchasing behavior but also our broader perception of the world.
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Scopic
Colonialism
Scopic colonialism represents a profound intersection of historical practices of domination, modern digital capitalism, and the neuroscientific manipulation of perception and behavior. At its core, it is a framework that interrogates how visuality—the way images, symbols, and visual systems are constructed and consumed—has become a tool of power, exploitation, and psychological control. What differentiates scopic colonialism from its historical antecedents is the shift from territorial domination to cognitive and emotional colonization. Through the mechanisms of digital capitalism, this visual exploitation infiltrates individual and collective psyches, transforming how people perceive themselves, their identities, and their relationships to society. Its epidemiology reveals not only the global reach of visual hegemony but also its deeply ingrained impact on mental health, necessitating new clinical approaches to address its unconscious and subconscious dimensions.
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BOOK REVIEW
Data Grab: The New Colonialism of Big Tech and How to Fight Back
By Ulises A. Mejias and Nick Couldry
Data Grab: The New Colonialism of Big Tech and How to Fight Back is a deeply important work. Mejias and Couldry offer a searing critique of Big Tech’s extractive practices while providing a framework for understanding and resisting the systemic injustices they perpetuate. By linking the past to the present, they challenge readers to see beyond the conveniences of modern technology and confront the structural inequalities that underpin it. This book is essential reading for anyone concerned about privacy, justice, and the future of democracy in the digital age. It is a powerful reminder that the fight against data colonialism is not just a battle for individual rights but a struggle for a more equitable and sustainable world.
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