Assessing the Implications of New Media Dr Axel Bruns [email_address] KCB202

Why Do You Need to Know This? New media theory is complex and contradictory: many different views on the impact of new media influenced by disciplinary perspectives affected by historical contexts and contemporary rhetoric meaning of ‘new media’ has changed over time The future is unknown: various competing predictions about what will happen our own actions today influence future developments blurring of critique and design: critical theorists actively involved in designing alternative new media models What do you want (y)our new media future to be?

New media theory is complex and contradictory:

many different views on the impact of new media

influenced by disciplinary perspectives

affected by historical contexts and contemporary rhetoric

meaning of ‘new media’ has changed over time

The future is unknown:

various competing predictions about what will happen

our own actions today influence future developments

blurring of critique and design: critical theorists actively involved in designing alternative new media models

What do you want (y)our new media future to be?

Beware the Hype Early enthusiasm about new media was overblown: “ the digital age cannot be denied or stopped” (Negroponte) “ the death of television” (Gilder) “ creation of a new civilisation” (Dyson et al .) But so is the counter-hype: “ life in the real world is far more interesting” (Stoll) “ Californian ideology” (Barbrook and Cameron) “ the deification of technology” (Poster) Need for a “new empiricism” (Silver; Flew): critical examination of past, current, and future developments based on clear evidence for what is really happening plus forward-looking development projects exploring new opportunities (Flew 39-42)

Early enthusiasm about new media was overblown:

“ the digital age cannot be denied or stopped” (Negroponte)

“ the death of television” (Gilder)

“ creation of a new civilisation” (Dyson et al .)

But so is the counter-hype:

“ life in the real world is far more interesting” (Stoll)

“ Californian ideology” (Barbrook and Cameron)

“ the deification of technology” (Poster)

Need for a “new empiricism” (Silver; Flew):

critical examination of past, current, and future developments

based on clear evidence for what is really happening

plus forward-looking development projects exploring new opportunities

(Flew 39-42)

Beyond Technological Determinism Diffusion of Innovation (from Wikipedia ) Technological developments only part of the full picture socioeconomic factors also affect technology adoption technologies are reshaped as people begin to use them new systems of knowledge and meaning can emerge in the process (Flew 42-46)

Diffusion of Innovation (from Wikipedia )

Technological developments only part of the full picture

socioeconomic factors also affect technology adoption

technologies are reshaped as people begin to use them

new systems of knowledge and meaning can emerge in the process

(Flew 42-46)

Impact on Identity and Social Relations Implications of new media: use of new media for communication, networking, community younger users seen as ‘digital natives’ (Prensky) of the new media environment understanding of user groups as ‘virtual communities’ (Rheingold) playful creation of online identities (Turkle) with meaningful social lives move beyond ‘virtual’ / ‘real’ distinctions new media as cultural technologies, affecting our culture and identity “ Time and space, body and mind, subject and object, human and machine are each dramatically transformed by practices carried out on networked computers” (Poster) (Flew 49-54)

Implications of new media:

use of new media for communication, networking, community

younger users seen as ‘digital natives’ (Prensky) of the new media environment

understanding of user groups as ‘virtual communities’ (Rheingold)

playful creation of online identities (Turkle) with meaningful social lives

move beyond ‘virtual’ / ‘real’ distinctions

new media as cultural technologies, affecting our culture and identity

“ Time and space, body and mind, subject and object, human and machine are each dramatically transformed by practices carried out on networked computers” (Poster)

(Flew 49-54)

Political Economy and Cultural Studies Political economy: focus on economic and industrial dynamics relating economic power to political influence highlighting inequalities of access to technology sceptical of potential of new media for social transformation Cultural studies: focus on active role of audiences and resistance to corporate domination pointing to the political power of dispersed community dynamics highlighting user-led new media phenomena optimistic about the ability of new media to transform society (Flew 54-57)

Political economy:

focus on economic and industrial dynamics

relating economic power to political influence

highlighting inequalities of access to technology

sceptical of potential of new media for social transformation

Cultural studies:

focus on active role of audiences and resistance to corporate domination

pointing to the political power of dispersed community dynamics

highlighting user-led new media phenomena

optimistic about the ability of new media to transform society

(Flew 54-57)