February 7, 2008
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Internet
I was reading the review of a book on the way the Internet is reshaping American culture. The reviewer highlighted a few arguments from the book, which I thought would make great discussions (and maybe featured questions
. So, I decided to post them here. 1. The Internet is the first social environment to serve the needs of the isolated, elevated, asocial individual.
2. The Internet is possibly the most radical transformation of public and private life in the history of humankind.
3. The Internet invites people to carefully craft their privacy into a marketable, public style. In doing so, it creates an environment in which everything is on display all the time… This turns the culture into a giant popularity contest, an expanding and never-ending version of high school.
4. Popular culture used to draw people to what they liked. Internet culture draws people to what everyone else likes.
I think the first two statements do not need to be discussed. The Internet is a huge outlet for people who are isolated or asocial. And it had a big impact on public and private life or how we define these.The last two arguments are more interesting. I agree that people craft an online persona, a representation of themselves in the digital medium. I find this to be a fascinating extension of real life, not necessarily something bad. Still, finding people from high school on Facebook does not always bring back the nicest memories
Popular culture is mainstream by definition. So, I don’t understand how it would help people discover what they like rather than what others like. I feel like the Internet is just another medium to promote popular culture.
What do you think? Do you agree with these arguments?
Comments (14)
Popular culture used to draw people to what they liked.
i’m intrigued by this… is that true?
This is interesting…I have no answer ,,it requires more thinking than I am able to do this late.
I think the internet has provided isolated, asocial, and generally talented people with a means to express and present ideas to the masses unlike ever before.
Before weblogs, there were only articles in newspapers and magazines. Average Joes like me had no chance to express ideas and opinions to the masses with such ease unless writing for a newpaper or magazine.
I feel the use of the interenet depends on the intent of the user. Some people set out to create a piece of pop culture, some look to boost business sales, provide goods and services, some provide and seek information, some search for partners, others just look for porn.
I honestly don’t see how many got along with the internet. I do feel that it helps people find things they like but simply dont have access to. I feel it also helps people discover new things (that other people like) but again, would not have access to with out the internet.
I agree with #3, though I think that there is a trend away from the fakeness of something like myspace toward services that provide a less filtered view of someone, like lifecasting and microblogging. #4 is backwards, though. As you said, popular culture is by definition mainstream, so if your interests lie outside the mainstream it can’t possibly draw you to what you like. On the internet, however, there are plenty of sites that cater to niche interests.
@john - I was surprised too.
I think the last statement is false. Popular culture was/is a select group telling society what they want, while Internet culture is a hybrid of popular culture and something else. We’re still bombarded by ads and news and whatnot telling us what we want, but now we have the opportunity to seek out other things that interest us, and we are able to discover more of what WE want, not what we’re told we want.
hmm? YOu received a link to my xanga through an email?
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I agree with #3 – everyone wants to be famous… at least in some way.
I completely disagree with #4 – The internet is all about the obscure, the unique, finding the thing that only you and that one other person in who-knows-where also likes; it is the act of relinquishing power and choice from popular media.
“1. The Internet is the first social environment to serve the needs of the isolated, elevated, asocial individual.”
Unfortunately, I feel the Internet might also produce such individuals, if not our generation, then the generations after us who are born into a world immensely influenced by the Internet. Many people have noticed the ease at speaking to other people online, but for those who meet receiving members in real life, some find it incredibly awkward, even if only for the first few times. Perhaps, there will be a growing number of individuals that find social real life interactions scary. Personally, I find people who speak in instant-messaging language very odd… not in a comical way.
Then again, there are obvious criticisms to such a hypothesis.
BestaWishes – Jerry
Very interesting!
Point 3: On the internet, there are those that enter popularity contests, and those who don’t, just like in the tangible world.
Regarding your statement on point 4, yes, the internet is another medium to promote popular culture. But, it is a medium for subcultures, as well (which sometimes leads to their popularization).
In response to point #1: I have to disagree with this. I think it has the opposite effect. The internet has created asocial and isolated individuals, it wasn’t created because of it.
I agree with the first two points.
I agree somewhat with the 3rd. I think it does more than invite people to ‘craft their privacy.’ I think it requires them to do so. It can, most assuredly, be like a giant popularity contest, but that is only if you desire to participate. However, I wouldn’t liken it to high school exactly.
As far as the 4th point goes, I think that the internet provides the means for any culture to sink or swim. Popular culture is definitely present, but it doesn’t drown out the subcultures the way it does elsewhere.
“an expanding and never-ending version of high school.”
…So true that it made me laugh a little.
I like #4… I tend to reject popular culture. First off I’m an art student so I know a little more than I want to about it. I hate TV because it teaches everyone how to be a flake, I don’t read magazines nowadays because they make me feel bad for not having money, and I hate hate hate mainstream music, it’s murderously to my ears. I feel the internet opened up a lot for me to actually learn something…a huge element that pop culture lacks. I feel the whole popular prepackaged manufactured element in society teaches us how to be apathetic about life…and that’s not cool.
Great post!