Today I lectured again for the Visual Literacy class at UCSB, being taught by Colin Gardner. I didn’t prepare this time, which meant no slides. Instead I wanted to talk about the flattening of the difference between consumer and producer, and how this unilateral tendency has extended all the way to death (MySpace Deaths, etc).
Show of hands survey:
1 kid had heard of Digg
Everyone had a MySpace page
About 20 had bought music in the last month
70% have pirated music in the last month
I think what it all comes down to is that we have a horizontal culture without any hierarchies as to import, precedence or even quantification of intrinsic value. Through that, it comes to the consumer as producer, and producer as consumer to figure out the methods of aggregation and filtering. I think we’re just getting started, and I also think those that rely only on production are going to have to learn very quickly how to feed while eating.
Comments 5
Yo I’m the kid in the back who had heard about Digg. I came in late and thank god didn’t knock over that girl’s half eaten bagel and cream cheese with my foot when I stepped over the seat like I did last lecture.
Anyways, the unanimous agreement was that your lecture was interesting and you were cool because you swore alot. Well played.
When I first walked in I thought you were a record label toadlicker bent on revealing our evil youthful media pirating ways. I’m glad I decided not to ask how much Warner was paying you to speak to our class. And when you brought up mydeathspace I got worried because my home boy was really high. He enjoyed it, no worries.
Anyways I dug up your blog (hah) because I’m a digitally inclined artist who is thinking about going into music production, believes that *post* punk’s not dead!, and has a sordid obsession with anything cultural.
So in short: today’s lecture was the most inspiring thing I have heard all week, and you gave me hope for my future.
You make alot of money, right?
Posted 22 Feb 2007 at 3:29 am ¶I just tossed it out, but one of the tech/IT rags i subscribe to was focused on product decisions being shaped by consumers, and those same products being made to order. Toyota’s SCION line was the main example.
Posted 22 Feb 2007 at 3:12 pm ¶Make that “2 kids had heard of Digg.” I’m just a bit slow when it comes to raising my hand. (Try > 24 hours.) Just wanted to say that I, too, loved your talk. Thanks for coming out and proving that graduating and joining the “real world” doesn’t have to mean
Posted 22 Feb 2007 at 11:21 pm ¶getting boring and crusty.
Ethan! I really enjoyed your lecture. It really made me think about things I disregarded before. I also woud like to say that Oingo Boingo rocks, even though Colin said they sucked. Thanks for coming!
Posted 26 Feb 2007 at 5:16 pm ¶Wunderbar! It was inspiring to see many of the students get excited about what I have been trying to discuss with them in 1A sections all quarter! We had a great debate after your lecture, please come back soon… Studio visits?
Posted 27 Feb 2007 at 11:24 am ¶Post a Comment