Humanity has often looked to the insect world for its technological metaphors, and now for digital inspiration

Swarms. Hive minds. The web*.

It can be hard to avoid talking about our digital culture without using insect metaphors.

Yet for new media theorist Jussi Parikka, it may be more than just a metaphor. Parikka is reader in Media and Design at Winchester School of Art and author of the Anne Friedberg Award-winning Insect Media.

"For me Insect Media started from a realisation and a question: why do we constantly talk about digital culture and networks through insect metaphors?" says Parikka. "Is it just a metaphoric relation? If yes, why do we make sense of high technological culture through references to these small brained, rather 'dumb' animals? Or is there even more to this?

Read the full article.