“Accelerating a Vacuum” is a section from chapter
four of Jaron Lanier’s book You are Not a
Gadget, describing the effects progressing technology has on what he calls
low and high bandwidth human expression. Low-bandwidth expression like
newspaper-style reporting and music has already met the disastrous fate of
“free culture”, whereas high-bandwidth expressions like movies are well on the
way, argues Lanier.[1]
In the section “Accelerating a Vacuum” he makes
strong claims how advertisement is killing the promotion of artists,
journalists, and musicians by the manipulation of advertisement robbing the
truth and beauty of these mentioned art forms.[2] As
a counter I would like to claim instead that is because of the advancement of
technology and mass globalization of information which is not actually killing
these forms of art, just adding more competition in the various fields.
As a matter of fact we have citizen journalists who
are able to report at anytime from anywhere, through new media devices,
targeting an extreme mass of people online. This is thanks to new technology
and I argue is not killing the art or beauty of journalism, instead mass
promoting it and making the market more competitive.
An online sensation such as Justin Bieber, is a contest
to the power of technology. Though controversial, Bieber is someone whom
through promoting his talent with the use of new technology was able to reach
success. The advancement of technology and “free culture” has allowed for the rise
of this pop star I believe.
If we finally take a look at where the money is
going as Lanier suggests, he is right, towards advertisement. However I do not
agree with the reason being because of the demise of truth and beauty through
the rise of manipulation. Once again I would cast my view on the mass
globalization of information. We are advertising on a much broader platform in
today’s world thanks to the advancement of technology. Therefore with the
increase in size of the markets demand there must also be an increase in
supply. Simple economics.
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