Yes! The world is changing. The world is becoming more ‘futuristc’, open an old sci-fi graphic novel or VCR and you can observe the similarities. Philip K. Dick’s depictions of the future weren’t too far from accurate. As the human race becomes more reliant on technology to entertain them, new media swiftly becomes our biggest ally. Where do you go when you want to watch or find information about a film? Want to buy or play a game? Get information on or listen to a band? The internet! When all else fails, get to Google. This sudden dependence on new media and the internet isn’t only facilitating the consumer but is equally beneficial for the creator. In one of the required readings from this week, Madhur Singh(2008) points out that by having digital content of bollywood films available on the internet, the amount of illegally downloaded content is reducing. When further elaborating on independent filmmaking, Manu Kaushish, Senior Vice-President of Eros Entertainment claims “They will be able to market their content without the expense of the distribution to cinema halls.”
Games like World of Warcraft haveenabled us to live an alternate life in an online gaming world (Nardi 2010), and Xbox Live puts us in a world-wide competitive arena. With this alternate connectivity and interaction it’s no wonder games like Call of Duty: Black Ops grossed over $360 million dollars in sales in its first day (Schwartz 2010).
The internet is a helpful device for any musician. Being able to buy tickets to a concert, purchase and listen to music, and discuss with others, all in the one place.
References:
Nardi, B. “My Life As A Night Elf Preist: An Anthropological Account of World of Warcraft” Last modified July 5, 2010. http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3064/2574
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. “IFPI Digital Music Report 2010: Music how, when, where you want it.” Accessed March 12, 2011. http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/DMR2010.pdf
Schwartz, W. “Call of Duty: Black Ops Day One Sales Gross Over $360 Million” Last modified November 11, 2010. http://attackofthefanboy.com/news/black-ops-day-sales/
Singh, M. “Bollywood’s Viral Videos” Last modified February 14, 2008. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1713342,00.html
In becoming more ‘connected’ with the cyber world, people are becoming more and more disconnected with the earth and the actuality of the real world. The modern internet user’s values are becoming more trivial than ever before as big brother internet dictates to our credulous minds what we should and shouldn’t be concerned with. Donath and Boyd point out that “Social networks — our connections with other people — have many important functions. They are sources of emotional and financial support, and of information about jobs, other people, and the world at large.” What’s your depiction of ‘importance’? Staring at a computer screen blaring facebook one might answer with great ardour that a girl they went to high school with is a model now, or, their second cousin’s just bought the new iPad with the money they’re earning with their new job.
“People are accustomed to thinking of the on-line world as a social space.” says Donath and Boyd. Does this mean people can now be social when they’re alone and without company? The Australian Oxford Dictionary’s definition of sociable says otherwise; “Liking company, gregarious; friendly.”
Social networking can take away the mystery and inscrutability of people. What happened to the enigma behind that special person you admire or the musician you saw play at the local pub last night? Donath and Boyd state that “Seeing someone within the context of their connections provides the viewer with information about them. Social status, political beliefs, musical taste, etc, may be inferred from the company one keeps.” Has it become normal to know so much about a person’s social life and their interests but not know so much about that person alone?
Then one must also consider how easy it is to appear as whomever and whatever you desire on an internet page. “Online, users can claim to be whoever they wish. Like actors playing a role, they can deliberately choose to put forth identity cues or claims of self that can closely resemble or wildly differ from reality.” says Pearson.
When it all come’s down to it, the power lies in the hands of the common Social networker; which do you prefer? The cyber world or the real world?
References:
Donath, J. Boyd, D. 2004. Public displays of connection. BT Technology Journal 22. (4): 2-11. Accessed March 17, 2011. http://smg.media.mit.edu/papers/Donath/PublicDisplays.pdf
Pearson, E. 2009. All the World Wide Web’s a stage: The performance of identity in online social networks. First Monday Peer-reviewed Journal on the Internet 14. (3): 1. Accessed March 20, 2011. http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/viewArticle/2162/2127
Bibliography:
Birch, Dave. 2007. “Social Networking good/bad?”. Digital Identity. Accessed March 20, 2011. http://digitaldebateblogs.typepad.com/digital_identity/2007/08/social-networki.html
