Douglas Rushkoff's Blog, page 39
November 25, 2010
And now with Spanish subtitles
It's Spain day for me. Just got invited to a Las Indias related event there in January. Hoping it works out. Meanwhile, here's a version of the Astra Taylor / Laura Hanna Program or Be Programmed movie with Spanish subtitles by Pablo Olmos de Aguilera Corradini.
November 22, 2010
Yay, a review!
Finally, the first print review of Program or Be Programmed. The independently published book has gotten plenty of coverage from the net and radio, but – until now – nothing in print. It's as if traditional print media are reluctant to engage with a book that seems to come from the publishing model threatening traditional print media. More probably, it's that with so many books to review, newspapers and magazines use the imprint of the publisher to do initial triage. If you're not with a major house, chances are you aren't worth the time and effort.
Here, the Miami Herald's always insightful Richard Pachter examines the fruit and faults in the book. And because it's an indie book, I can actually take his advice and make changes before the next printing!
This new one is short and concise, but a highly worthy successor. His mission is to raise awareness of the human implications of our technologies — the context (if you will) of our actions.
The author's Decalogue here is a set of rules of conduct. To wit: Do Not Be 'Always On;' Live in Person; You May Always Choose 'None of the Above;' You Are Never Completely Right; One Size Does Not Fit All; Be Yourself; Do Not Sell Your Friends; Tell the Truth; Share, Don't Steal; and Program or Be Programmed." Each of the command(ments) comprise a chapter.
On the surface they seem pretty obvious, but like their Biblical counterparts, they add up to a wise and ethical way to conducts oneself, in this case, mostly with thein online and virtual worlds. After all, many of us blithely mouse over, click and agree to website terms we're asked to give our assent to, with little thought to the implications or the consequences, and whatever rights and responsibilities we may shed as we do. Beyond that, there's an insidious role reversal, says Rushkoff, whereby the supposed programmer becomes the programmed. Our tools define us, whether we like it or not. But it doesn't have to be that way.
Read more…
November 19, 2010
Grit TV with Laura Flanders
Do you all know about Laura Flanders webcast, Grit TV? It certainly lives up to the promise of web distribution and, with any luck, indicates something of our media future: qualified journalists using p2p distributed networks to do genuine and vetted reporting from outside the umbrella of a traditional media monopoly. (When NPR and PBS are completely defunded, this will be even more important.)
I just had the pleasure of being interviewed by her yesterday. (My part shows up around 9:37 in the show.)
November 18, 2010
More Choice or Less?
Nice new review and interview up at 800-CEO-Reads, about Program or Be Programmed and the phenomenon of increased choice.
Douglas Rushkoff follows his full size, largely distributed Life, Inc. with an indie distributed, smaller book called Program or Be Programmed: Ten Commands for a Digital Age. The biggest difference though, is not the size or distribution — but that it may be his most powerful writing yet.
As technology increases, so does our willingness to be involved in it. I, for one, will never forget the first time my cell phone rang in public. This was the mid to late 90s. My wife began working at a new company selling large wireless phones. The company promised they would be "the next big thing." But as an early adopter, when that phone rang and people realized what I had, it was more embarrassing than popular. Now, nearly everyone has one. How has this technology, for instance, changed how we think and work? From there, what about the internet and computers? What about media? Are we controlling the choices we make, or are we swept along with things?
These kinds of questions are the starting points of Rushkoff's book. And his thoughts on these questions are profound, analyzing the situation via both current sociological insight, and ancient principles. It's an important read.
Use this brief Q&A we exchanged today as reference, and be sure to pick up the book.
The attraction to technology is largely based on how we perceive it makes our lives easier. What do you see as the fundamental issue with that perception?
Technology creates more choice. Sometimes this is great, but sometimes it's unnecessary or forced. Call-waiting is great, sure. But it forces a person to make a choice between the conversation he is having and
the possibility of the other one he *could* be having. That's great for medical emergencies, I suppose. But it puts the current conversation into a less fixed space, always under potential threat.
And all this increased choice would be fine if we were really allowed to choose. Can we choose not to answer emails from the boss or a client after office hours? Sometimes not. So life gets more complex, and often less fun. It's definitely great for everyone else to be tied to these technologies. Everyone except ourselves.
The real attraction to these technologies, I feel, is the social possibility. We hardly experience it anymore, but there is still a great social potential with these tools.
November 16, 2010
NYC Radio and Party
Wednesday, November 17:
Brian Lehrer Show, WNYC, 11am or thereabouts. Listen from here. I'll link to the podcast once it has happened.
Also, the MediaBistro Book Club Party at Honey Lounge 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM. You are all invited but you must rsvp here.
November 3, 2010
Two Nice Interviews
NPR/WBUR On Point, with Tom Ashbrook: tinyurl.com/rushkoffonpoint He's a great and open-minded interviewer, and he undergoes an interesting journey over the course of the show.
BBC Outriders, with Jamilla Knowles. She's web smart and doesn't patronize her audience (the way many hosts feel the need to do when talking about tek-no-lo-gee, and Jamilla actually read and thought deeply the whole book before we spoke.
October 31, 2010
October 21, 2010
National Association of Media Literacy Education
Their full name is a mouthful, but NAMLE is the link I send out more than any other. That's because the email I get more commonly than any other is the one from educators looking for ways of teaching media literacy – especially new media literacy.
It's a large part of the reason I made my new book so small and screenage-friendly: I wanted to create a book that not only informs adults about the biases of digital media, but also provides a basis in digital media literacy for high school and college kids. If you teach a media studies class and need something short and sweet looking at the biases of digital media, please consider using this text. It is accessible, relevant, and it really does start great conversations.
NAMLE agreed, and has honored me not only by making me an advisory board member, but also by featuring Program or Be Programmed on their site, as well as a podcast interview with me about new media literacy. The publisher has also given NAMLE members a 10% discount.
October 14, 2010
Launch Party NYC
I'm doing a book launch talk and reception at ITP – one of the most special places in New York City. Please come and enjoy.
October 10, 2010
Ten Commands, and then some
As promised at the end of Program or Be Programmed, I am providing a space for people to suggest Commands of their own after reading reading the book.
The Commands are not commandments, meant as orders from God to a population, but rather ways of taking command of any of the biases of digital media. The way to take command of digital media's asynchronous bias, for example, is not to be "always on."
Here are the ten from the book. I'll add some of the other contenders shortly, as well as brief explanations of these biases and commands.
I. TIME
Do Not Be Always On
II. PLACE
Live in Person
III. CHOICE
You May Always Choose None of the Above
IV. COMPLEXITY
You Are Never Completely Right
V. SCALE
One Size Does Not Fit All
VI. IDENTITY
Be Yourself
VII. SOCIAL
Do Not Sell Your Friends
VIII. FACT
Tell the Truth
IX. OPENNESS
Share, Don't Steal
X. PURPOSE
Program or Be Programmed
