Is it true that we are now so accustomed to media that it is in fact invisible to us? No more than just an extension of ourselves. Deuze states that we are no longer living with media, we are living in media (8, 2011).
A movie that quite similarly states this point is The Truman Show (1998). Truman Burbank has been brought up in a fabricated reality where cameras follow his every move though he never noticed this media around him. To read the plot synopsis click here. Dueze discussed how media is disappearing from our consciousness altogether we are forgetting that we are surrounded by it, media is almost unescapable (2011).
In George Orwells book Nineteen Eighty Four the idea of media usage to watch a persons every move was focused upon (1984). Essentially this is the world we have created for ourselves through Facebook Check In’s, Status updates and numerous other media applications. We use these media applications with no second thought to the fact we have just made crucial aspects of our lives public information.
It is true that media surrounds us and is now almost inescapable, our reality is slowly becoming a virtual reality, and with media we have more or less created a Big Brother situation for ourselves. Someone is always watching.
I agree with both Lee and Harbison that we are now broadcasting ourselves willingly across new media platforms (2011).
References
Deuze, Mark.2011. “Media Life” In Media, Culture and Society, 1-13. Sage Publications: n.p. Accessed March 31, 2011. http://mcs.sagepub.com.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/content/33/1/137.full.pdf+html
Harbison, Jessica.2011. “The Realities of New Media: Multiple Identities,” Jessica Harbison, April 3, Accessed April 3, 2011.
http://jessicaharbison.wordpress.com/2011/04/03/the-realities-of-new-media-multiple-identities/
Lee, Faith.2011. “Branding Yourself,” Faithchantals Blog, April 3, Accessed April 3, 2011. http://faithchantal.wordpress.com/2011/04/03/branding-yourself/
Niccol, Andrew.1998. The Truman Show. Directed by Peter Weir. Produced by Scott Rudin. California: Universal Studios.DVD.
Orwell, George.1984. Nineteen Eighty Four. Westminster: Penguin Books.
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