Suzanne L. Thomas
Papers
1
Total Citations
69
H-Index
1
About
Suzanne L. Thomas is a critical scholar of algorithms and digital culture, whose work interrogates the social and symbolic power we invest in computational systems. Her research sits at the intersection of science and technology studies, media theory, and anthropology, exploring how algorithms function not merely as technical tools but as objects of faith, desire, and political possibility. In her highly cited 2018 paper, “Algorithms as fetish: Faith and possibility in algorithmic work” (69 citations), Thomas draws on David Graeber’s revision of fetishism to argue that algorithms gain their extraordinary power through the very human act of investing them with promise—transforming mundane data, like a robot vacuum’s path, into visions of a perfectly clean home. This work has been foundational for scholars examining the affective and ideological dimensions of algorithmic systems. Thomas’s contributions challenge deterministic narratives, revealing how belief, hope, and imagination shape the real-world impact of code. Her writing is essential reading for students and researchers seeking to understand the cultural life of algorithms beyond their technical function.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Algorithms as fetish: Faith and possibility in algorithmic work69 citations · 2018