Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Change and the Information Age

There was one last task to be performed in our 'Emerging Media Practices' class.
Three from nine Final Essay questions needed thought, attention, and responses.
These were the lucky ones I decided on.


Q#1 I chose was: “Lessig (reading 11-3) claims that digital tools ‘dramatically change the horizon of opportunity for those who could create something new.” Do you agree? If so, in what way do you believe your horizons may have changed because of the ideas and tools you have acquired in this class?

The Changing Media Producer

“…Changing the horizon for opportunity…” now there’s a meaty piece of statement. That can be defined by a Grand Canyon of choices given. We as people sometimes have difficulty with too many choices. As young people (little ones), if the choices are limited, we can be guided to which ones suit and define our levels of interest. Yet we have no (or very little) experience on what to base that final decision on other than simple pleasure. As we grow, the knowledge base grows, comfort levels fluctuate, interests become focused, and hopefully we move toward choices that motivate us for reasons of skill, participation and social acceptance. Or, at the very least acknowledgment…and then we grow some more. Soon the thing called ‘priority’ comes higher in to play. Rational thinking argues about ‘Cost and Benefit’ and they also become part of the deciding factors.
It might have been Einstein who said, “The knock of opportunity is not often answered because it sounds like too much work.” To some, “…changing the horizon of opportunity…” may cause one kind of person to spin on their heels and head completely in another direction. Those are not the kind of people that will be discussed here. They are mostly boring anyway; their parts in any continuing story will most likely end long before the tail gets interesting. Change is usually not on the side of the past. It’s actually the leading cause of extinction. What existed before ‘the change’ will without a doubt be dramatically effected by ‘the change.’ So, depending on what side of the ‘change’ fence you stand on, will influence your opinion of it. The impact can be a small, a simple alteration…or, all encompassing, dramatic and metamorphic. Speaking to the latter, the Internet is not just a series of events leading to a new outcome; the digital age has ascended down like the book of Genesis. The apple has been divvied up. All who nosh on the quanta, all who have shared and contributed to this now infinite range in information - are changing (threatening) facts and tradition with each new digital erudition.
I have found the first bite to taste quite good actually, in a “Vegetables are good for you.”

kind of way.
The digital age arrived a short while ago. Whether this is a good or bad occurrence is debatable. The past speaks from wise old eyes. The hereafter is right now enjoying its moment in the on-deck circle, swinging a weighted bat. What’s to come it is not incapable of falling to this simple fact, (the future will also be ‘changed’ by its heirs) it is simply getting ready to catch the wave. Courageous and free, enjoying its autonomy, the ‘Entity Internet’ is the new fate.
In speaking earlier about tradition; restrictions, control, regulation; these kinds of standards successfully structured society as we know it today. The big Q is, if we stand on the backs of any of those values, could we see over the fence, or would the back break under the stress? This commentator simply worries about the quality of out-put. It’s only as good as the in-put. Pray for a balance. Crap, and quality, misleading, and meaningful, genuine, and junk, specious and substantial, in hopes that the artistic and creative cream will always rise to the top. Cultural systems are not supposed to be creative, it’s habitual practice, but it can set a standard to things that want to venture above and below the line. Then, we ask, “What is the line?” Is it intellectual, is it chronological? Is it political? Is it a line of process and examination? And who but I think these lines have more value than other lines? And how would the ‘Masters’ feel about it?
Returning to the original consideration, “…digital tools changing opportunity for those who could create something new.” To disagree, would be fall in line with one of those boring people I alluded to at the beginning of the story – and highly resistant to a relocation of values. Therefore, I agree.
I polled a few kids I know (not really enough to place in the annals of Gallop poll history) but enough to be surprised by the commonality of the answers.
Mainly, ‘That would be cool!”
They would say to the idea that the net could figure out the kind of music they like and not bother them with other junk tunes not of interest. To that I say; “Exposure kiddies!”
Perspective is what rounds you out, deepens your appreciation, and rewards you with more information. In my time, we called it “Food for thought.”
Creativity in its purest form is a very large unit of our total essence - in my growingly humble opinion. It is in harmony with evolution. To look at something new and see opportunity, to listen quietly and hear an idea, this is what lights up this writer’s human spirit.
In viewing creativity for the sake of its ‘bottom-line, embracing these new
‘digi-techno-tools’ will be exciting. They also will be numerous, complicated, aggravating, frustrating, as well as, joyful and accomplishing, (kind of like math.) And Viva the choices!

They will continue to delight and confuse me - well into the future.

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