The Machine is (Changing) Us: YouTube and the Politics of Authenticity

presented at the 2009 Personal Democracy Forum at Jazz at Lincoln Center. About 10 minutes of it is a minor update (rehash) of An Anthropological Introduction to YouTube, but the rest is new. The gathering may have been the highest concentration of amazingly creative and concerned global citizens I have ever been around. Hallway conversations were different than your typical conversations. Instead of lots of people saying, 'You know, somebody should ...' there were lots of people saying, 'So I did this, this, and this, and now Im working on doing this, this, and this and we should collaborate ...' In other words, it was a bunch of people blessed with what I once heard Yochai Benkler and Henry Jenkins call critical optimism. Nobody there was blindly optimistic, thinking technology was going to make everything better. They were all continually trying to figure out where we are, where we might be going, and the possible downsides and dangers of new technologies so we can use the new technologies to serve human purposes. In other words, it was my kind of crowd. Special thanks to Micah Sifry and Andrew Rasiej for organizing the conference.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• politics
• youtube
• authenticity
• pdf2009

[datachip]

I'd recommend it to anyone - get rid of your TV for 6 months; it will change the way you see things.

But internet, and youtube in particular, has recently played the same role for me that TV did in the past. The speaker presented eloquent expressions of the good that the medium can effect, but there were such examples on TV too. Perhaps this new medium is not so unique in after all, but just another discouraging reflection of our society, mostly irrelevant, whatever...

[SourSeayow626]

@CulturePeaceForever the lower educational K-12 system in the US doesn't focus on critical thinking nor does college (undergrad) as much as we wish it did. The internet allows us to explore and research anything that we may "ponder". We process this new knowledge, evaluate the information, and are able to communicate these new formed opinions to the world. I'd say that's a good step towards improving natural thinking skills vs traditional "school studies" (memorizing facts)

[12TabulaRasa12]

great video

[irishdancerv8]

<3 I found myself agreeing with a lot, if not all, of this video.

[royalsteven]

shy or problematic people, access to about everything, a way of communication or voice for people in difficult/problematic (war) situations....). But see, I still rather get a love letter through the mail than a cold e-mail. For me the positive sides of internet do not outway the negative because we are talking about social and human emotions. If you know what I mean!?!?!

[royalsteven]

Yes, it allows us to be a lot more safe, but also weaker, more cowardly and agressive because of that!?!?!? Check e-bullying, e-crime, online gaming arguements, hidden chat identities and harrassment. Since we can often hide behind another name or pretend to be another character we loose our true identity. This is not necessary and possible when we meet face to face!?!?! See that is my problem with internet. Ofcourse I appreciate the positive things it can do (quick communication, help for

[Meskarune]

@royalsteven I think that technology allows people who often do not have a voice (either because they are shy or because others are more powerful/louder) to express themselves in a safe and more effective way. Not everyone can speak in front of an audience. For me, my online persona and my real life persona are the same. My previously online only friends have told me I was exactly what they expected when we first met. I would rather not go back to the consumerist and apathetic 80s and 90s.

[TowardIntentionality]

Preach it! Thanks for so eloquently and so graciously laying out numerous ideas, words, media, and human characteristics -- you are a generous teacher and a talented encourager. Press on...and many thanks.

[kathmandau]

Thank you for sharing, my friend.

Blessings,

CG

[errolwil1]

Really enjoyed the video. 

[L1ng0]

great stuff!

[royalsteven]

Technology is good as long as it doesn´t become more important than humans. We have to control technology. Technology can´t control us. These days our emotions are often conveyed through technology (phones, internet/chat). Because it is more simple, effective and quicker. But really, I rather have a good conversation face to face and see a person´s expressions/emotions up close. Sometimes technology makes the human experience too sterile, impersonal and cold. Let's return to the 80's or 90´s.