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?