Ok, I really enjoyed this recent speech by Al Gore.
But of course, I'm a long-time fan of the thinking and works of Marshall McLuhan and Lewis Mumford.
here's some snipets:
"""Television stations and networks, by contrast, are almost completely inaccessible to individual citizens and almost always uninterested in ideas contributed by individual citizens. . . .
Soon after television established its dominance over print, young people who realized they were being shut out of the dialogue of democracy came up with a new form of expression in an effort to join the national conversation: the "demonstration." This new form of expression, which began in the 1960s, was essentially a poor quality theatrical production designed to capture the attention of the television cameras long enough to hold up a sign with a few printed words to convey, however plaintively, a message to the American people. Even this outlet is now rarely an avenue for expression on national television. . . .
The German philosopher, Jurgen Habermas, describes what has happened as "the refeudalization of the public sphere." That may sound like gobbledygook, but it's a phrase that packs a lot of meaning. The feudal system which thrived before the printing press democratized knowledge and made the idea of America thinkable, was a system in which wealth and power were intimately intertwined, and where knowledge played no mediating role whatsoever. The great mass of the people were ignorant. And their powerlessness was born of their ignorance. """
Yep, the man may not have invented the Internet, but it appears he's trying to express/preserve what it is. I found it a provoking and even apt commentary...
7 comments:
I blame it all on CLIN-TONE!
Good speech. It rings true, but that's capitalism for you, everything is for sale. This process was inevitable wasn't it?
What's the difference between now and 80 years ago when the Rockefellers and Astors ran everything. Are things really that diferent? Most of WW2 was seen in the newsreels at the movies. Subject to intense scrutiny and censorship. Why are we so surprised at the control of the media now? Is it because we now have more information and therefore expect network T.V. and radio to give us the same stuff we're getting from the internet and public T.V.? Every time the powerful think they have everything sewn up in terms of information, a new medium comes and gives you more than ever.
I think that if you can observe the absence of information, then you are already doing pretty well, and if people aren't willing to accept the responsibility of citizenship, aren't they getting what they deserve?
And slogans at rallys have not changed since the 60's either. The Sheehan show was rediculous, these people have got to come up with something new!
Aushubar,
What would you propose instead of capitalism? It isn't perfect, but it works better than anything as long as poeple can be wicked.
The difference now is the media is controlled by private orgs instead of the government..still controlled none the less, but no one controls what we write here.
We are over the precipice of a radical change in how people get information. I meet people now who get all their news from CBS NEws and they are completely ignornant of the two sides of any story...and I tell them so.
I am not sure what you mean by the last statement other than people who don't vote shouldn't complain or something similar, I agree, but I am much more hopeful now that the internet is becoming the main source of information for many people..sure there is garbage, but if you don't stay put on the garbage, the truth will prevail.
I think i meant that the stupid should be shot.
I'm against the pure form of capitalism that exists within the U.S. I don't believe in the inherent goodness of people to do what is right, so I think that a bit of socialism can be helpful to a society.
Ah...the modern ancient alchemy, mixing Capitalism and Socialism, Greed and Altruism.
It's tough mixing realities and ideals, the real idyllic, the ideal reality.
The best big mixing I've heard about is democracy and the republic. Not bad. Not perfect.
It's all about having enough wiggle room to jerk it.
Oh, and Aushubar,
I agree with "the stupid should be shot."
Evidently, so does God.
That's the singular rule of Evolution.
I'm living in a bit of a socialist state now. It's pretty sweet. One can do pretty much whatever they want, but it's easier to catch yourself if you fuck up.
I've lived on both sides of this, and i can tell you that it feels pretty warm and fuzzy to know that if i need to go to the doctor, it wont cost me a day's pay along with an unpaid sick day to go to the doctor. America is a great place, but that doesn't mean that we can't learn something from other people.
Is that last statement supposed to be funny or serious? Maybe you can go tell the millions of Americans who have jobs with no paid holidays, sick time or healthcare how stupid they are.
That's not meant to be vitriolic, I'm just not sure that you thought about that last statement before you posted it. Or maybe that's not what you were referring to.
Other than that, my balls are just fine thanks for asking.
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