Instructor: Adam T. Perzynski, PhD
AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATHDiscussion of Neil Postman’s speeches, online suicide, and video of the Oscar Grant shooting.
Modernism
The progress assumption. Technological Social Positivism
Critical Theory Focused interpretation. Finding the meaning in all forms of symbolic
expression. Creation of self-reflective, emancipatory
knowledge
Key Themes
Abraham Biggs
Oscar Grant
Neil Postman
“Voices” and Online Video
Are voices “louder” in online videos? Do videos on the Internet have an
equalizing or democratizing effect on society?
Do online videos promote justice? Injustice? Equality? Inequality?
Internet Society orSociety Internet
From Wikipedia: Several hundred thousand viewed the videos in the first few days after the shooting.[6] One local television station video posted to its website was downloaded more than 500,000 times in four days and [36] one independent media video posted to the internet averaged more than 1,000 views per hour.[6] Widespread dissemination of the direct evidence of the shooting led to public outrage and protests and fueled riots.[37]
The case—and the overall intense community response to it—highlights the impact technology can have on news events.[36]
Instantaneous Response
How is the instantaneous availability of the Oscar Grant shooting video important to society?
How is this different from other possible ways of disseminating information about the shooting?
Do the same principles apply to the Abraham Biggs suicide?
What else about the online video medium matters?
Rethinking Postman’s Ideas
The Internet is paradoxical. Efficiency vs. Technological Dependency Isolation vs. Personal Interrelationships Now vs. Middle Ages
Pros and Cons of Internet Life Luxury, Entertainment and Machines The Information Obsession Evaporation of Responsibility
Modernism
Social Interaction is mediated. Symbolic representations Media forms
Book, Newspaper, TV, Internet, Youtube Fidelity of symbolic representations
Can we create communication rules that facilitate honest communication that drives social and technological progress?
Rethinking the Rules
Experts Information Control Competition Mediated Physical Space Slower Information Provision Content
Consumption
Lay People Information Access Cooperation Open Virtual Space Faster Social Interaction Content Creation
“Traditional” Media Internet
What about Online Videos?
Top Related