Social developments from digital environments

29. New Media might Challenge/Resistexisting Power Elite

• Artistic creation can establish resistive public forums (esp. recombinant content).
• Though networks are still centralized, the means of production is de-centralized.
• Plagiarism might be back: the nature of "author" was probably more political than real anyway.
• Technology can be a means of active production rather than passive consumption.
• Digital hypertext might break linearity and destabilize the inevitability of textual authority (so users can reach their own conclusions).
  • Creative Commons
  • Images can no longer be taken as having fidelity to referents.
  • Pictures that lie
  • EastGate/StorySpace

*Unlocking the iPhone

*Some libraries resist Google (+) staying open source

*Network/distribution challenges continue unabated

Study Question: Given all that we've now said about protecting bits and copying, think of yourself as a producer of digital materials. What relationship between yourself and consumers would you like in place with regard to use of your material?

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