Fictions of the Gig Economy Prompt

Instructions:

Throughout the semester, we have discussed various changes engendered by the rise of gig economies. On the one hand, gig economies have facilitated new modes of labor outsourcing, extraction, and surveillance. And on the other hand, we have also discussed the vibrant forms of organizing and capacity-building that gig workers are creating in the

new modes of work created by gig economies.

Drawing from at least three of our texts, write an essay addressing all the following points:

1. What is the gig economy? What is platform labor? How are these concepts related to one another?
2. What are the implications of the rise of gig economies in terms of new modes of labor extraction and surveillance? (discuss specific examples – pick specific jobs and explain in detail what the question wants to be answered)
3. How are workers organizing and developing new ways of work in response to the rise of platform labor in gig economies? (discuss specific examples – pick specific jobs and explain in depth)
4. Is it possible to envision a gig economy that is just? What conditions must be met to make this possible?

• All of these questions should engage with the concepts of precarity, commodification, temporality, and space with MLA in-text citations from the in-class readings attached on a separate doc.

Other guidelines:

Your essay should be between 900-1000 words long. This is roughly two to three double- spaced pages, standard sized 12 point font and margins.

You should engage with at least three texts from class. Reference your sources in-text via your preferred citation method (be consistent).

The best essays will contain the following elements:

• a strong argument, clearly stated within the first 2 paragraphs
• engage with concepts from our texts and discussions (e.g., precarity, commodification, temporality, space)
• specific examples from our course texts and discussions