Casey Alt

Papers

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About

Casey Alt is a scholar whose work bridges digital media, software studies, and the philosophy of technology. Best known for their pioneering analysis of computer graphics software, Alt’s research interrogates how digital tools shape creative and cognitive practices. Their most cited work, “The Materialities of Maya: Making Sense of Object-Orientation” (2002), offers a groundbreaking critique of the assumption that 3D modeling is a disembodied activity. Instead, Alt reveals how the software Maya encodes specific material and conceptual logics, influencing how artists and designers construct virtual worlds. This paper, though modest in citation count, has become a touchstone for scholars examining the ideological and material dimensions of digital production. Alt’s broader contributions lie in exposing the hidden assumptions embedded in software interfaces and algorithms, arguing that these tools are never neutral but actively shape human perception and creativity. By foregrounding the “object-orientation” of digital environments, Alt has helped establish software studies as a critical field, inspiring researchers to question the taken-for-granted nature of computational media. Their work remains essential reading for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, culture, and embodied practice.