Davis: Intro (Lauren)

Media is a phenomenon that is constantly being regenerated. It started off very simple as paper text with a pen and a paper and evolved into a device that is at our disposal 24/7. When digital text was introduced, way more possibilities came than with paper text. As media evolved, so did its users. The availability throughout the world grew creating new global connections and communities. Wesch explains how the web is not just about information, its about linking people, and these links can sometimes be unpredictable. However, there is a lot to think about as media becomes more sophisticated, such as privacy and authenticity. Media has the power to intervene with human relationships. “When media changes, human relations change” Wesch says. Media is driving us to become increasingly individual, yet we still long for a sense of community. Davis says we are a “cynically postmodern culture seemingly drawn like a passel of moths toward the guttering flames of the premodern mind”. In other words, we are diving into technology without quite having a full understanding of it. Many people around the world use Youtube as a tool for self-reflection by vlogging through a web cam. However, most of these people aren’t taking the time to realize what they are really doing (talking to themselves, but really to millions of people). Because they are essentially “alone” when they are capturing their video, they are prone to act more “themselves”. Nevertheless, there is such a power as replay, which offers a deeper level of awareness. This power allows people to observe how they have evolved throughout time. Davis draws upon the fact that technologies can serve both as means for progress and failure. Media presents the possibility to be anonymous and offers physical distance which leaves a lot of room for hatred. Wesch demonstrates how “media can be very damaging” when people are trying to find their identity. When television was first introduced there was a huge shift in relationships between people, even within homes. However, unlike new media we have today, TV was a one way conversation where you had to be on TV to have a voice and be relavent. New media today, on the other hand, gives this opportunity to anyone. Media is ultimately a double edged sword, but I think that it will only make us more individual as it evolves, because its not about creating a new community anymore, its made us all very narcissist and self-absorbed, and we rely on this “community” of other self-absorbed people to make us feel good about ourselves.