Introduction to the course
This module is based on how 'New Media Cultures' have changed our personal lives and how they have become an instrinsic part of our lifestyle.
New media cultures can be linked to many aspects of everyday routine, and many different cultures have emerged from the use of New Media Cultures.
New Media can be many anything from - Information exchange to Classification. A few examples are: A social bond (common currency), A delivery of information (eg. a Television), A Storage Mechanism (eg. DVD's, CD's) or A use of Power (eg. politics or advertising)
All of these examples influence peoples lifestyle and choices.
Marx would say we all live in a state of conciousness.
"WE BELIEVE WE ARE FREE BUT EVERYWHERE WE ARE IN CHAINS."
Our lives are ruled by these technologies, things we can't go a few hours without, as our whole routine is upturned.
The public can never quite be sure of the quality of the information we recieve. Illusions, fantasies or Myths are at the heart of our capitilist society, this society holds promises just out of our reach for example The Lottery.
The term MEDIA comes from the word mediate: to stand between you and something else (eg. the middle man). As a whole our society utterly relies on the media to make meaning. We would find it practically impossible to complete many tasks without the help of media, and most of the time it happens without us even knowing about it.
A lot of the time Media cuts in the way of real straight communication
New Media is nothing more than a discourse, it is not definite and is always in progress. It can be seen as a dabate or discussion accessible to anyone.
However it is also strangely regulated - although it is supposed to be free to everyone and everything.
