This is going to get rather theoretical, but the Justin.tv and live-casting phenomenon is bringing up interesting cases where we are approaching a universal panopticon, in which surveillance comes from all sides, not just those in the hegemonic places of power.
I wonder though, if there is an obligation from being subversive to counteract the hegemony? And I wonder if people are getting so caught up in the novelty of it all, that they are forgetting the power that is being given to us, and what the simultaneous threats to and dangers of that power are.
The hope that we should have is that ubiquity of computing power and bandwidth is providing the masses with a way of engaging in a dialog with power in a way that puts the hegemonic elite on notice in terms of their control over our representation as a whole. We should hope that cameras and bandwidth are used as a means of questioning and protest and accountability.
I worry that we’re not there yet, and we’re too focused on the gee-whiz and not on the “what the fuck can we do?”
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Comments 2
We’re not there yet; to most people live-casting is still very much new and shiny and I think this stage is only natural. But we need to make sure we’re developing a solid, balanced relationship with the tech. along the way so that when the lust fades away there’s something of substance left in its place.
Posted 10 Aug 2007 at 2:04 pm ¶Thanks for the smart post Ethan,
Yes. We have to get past the wonder of ubiquitous presence and remember that it only has value for the attentive critical audience. Listen, assess, respond.
Posted 10 Aug 2007 at 7:45 pm ¶Post a Comment