Aura, Iteration and Action: Digital Technology and the Jouissance of Live Music i Tauel Harper As predicted by Marx in Grundrisse, in an effort to stimulate production and consumption capitalism is annihilating space by time (Marx 1973, p. 538). As a society we have tended to embrace this annihilation, as technology allows us to become closer to each other and the world – giving us a privileged perspective on everything from global sporting events to the intimate appearance of a lover on the other side of the world. While the benefits of this annihilation are seemingly endless, there are a few instances where local culture seems to be resistant to such mediation. One of these instances is live musiĐ, ǁhere there is a seŶse that ďeiŶg there ŵeaŶs soŵethiŶg ŵuĐh ŵore thaŶ siŵplLJ ďeiŶg there [oŶliŶe]. I ǁould argue that ǁhat is missing from online live performance is an experience of jouissaŶĐe , a feeling of pleasure which is experienced through the incommensurable uniqueness of the event. This chapter is an attempt to explore what digital technology will struggle to capture about experiencing music live. ii The Territory: Arguments about the technological mediation of cultural production The case against digital technology as a medium for live music is probably best established by Adorno aŶd Horkheiŵers iŶfaŵous essay The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass DeĐeptioŶ (Adorno & Horkheimer 1997). Developing directly out of a Marxist appraisal of the role of entertainment in an iŶdustrialised age of Đultural produĐtioŶ The Culture IŶdustrLJ edžplaiŶs hoǁ Đapital spreads its tendrils through culture in order to ensure that the underclass remains productive and consumptive. A number of assertions made by Horkhiemer and Adorno seem particularly prescient when thinking aďout atteŵpts to ŵediate liǀe ŵusiĐ through digital teĐhŶologLJ. For iŶstaŶĐe, Horkheiŵer aŶd Adorno insist that: Amusement under late capitalism is the prolongation of work. It is sought after as an escape from the mechanised work process, and to recruit strength in order to be able to cope with it agaiŶ. But at the saŵe tiŵe ŵeĐhaŶisatioŶ has suĐh poǁer oǀer a ŵaŶs leisure and