Blog wrap up: Blogging on Technology, Authenticity and Affect
Posted in The Gnovis Blog
on gnovis…
On Gnovis, around CCT, and in the wider blogoshere, people are
discussing the increasingly convoluted relationship between Technology,
Authenticity and Affect. What technologies produce the most ‘authentic’
communication, memories, experiences? Why are we often nostalgic for
older technologies? See how these blogs collectively create a really interesting discussion of these questions.
Jed discusses how the interface may change perceptions of authenticity for memories and experiences.
"At least for my sister, a request for authenticity seems equivalent
to admitting she is "old", or "out of touch". It is interesting that
somehow the responsibility to secure "authenticity" falls on her
shoulders, and not the unimaginative, and arguably ill-conceived
interfaces she tolerates."
Ashley may have a solution to Jed’s interface dissatisfaction. She
relishes in her emotional attachment to the ‘look’ of authentic
polaroid images, even if it is created digitally.
"these fakes are so good, that I’m wondering when we’ll be able to
recreate the sense of wonder at old things? In a lot of ways, I think I
can’t stop looking at these because they have recreated the sense of
old, history, and nostalgia. "
around cct…
Another sort of affective response to technology is reported on
CCT’s 505 class blog. Matthew Marco reports an avatar assassination in
response to an online heartbreak.
On her personal blog, Ashley documents last weekend’s Civil War
reenactment. This a great example of a real lived experience that
depends on simulating authenticity.
I’d like to quickly plug Edward Castronova’s visit the CCT 505 class
next week. I’m sure that Castronova would be interested in our various
discussions of how we attach very personal emotions and nostalgic
tendencies to our technologies.
My nostalgic technology
and elsewhere…
The BBC is trying to capitalize on our technological nostalgia in a documentary…
"The search is on to find a family to travel back to the dawn of the digital age that was 1970 for a new television series."
This one’s funny. On Yale’s daily news blog, Michael Zink longs for
the past when those very personal conversations were slightly more
authentic and much less mediated.
"The modern feeling of “homesickness for the extremely recent past” –
That’s the sentiment I felt on Tuesday, immediately upon discovering
the existence of sexually-transmitted-disease e-cards."
This is an oldie but a goodie, check out the "top ten nostalgic technologies" for a walk down technology’s memory lane.
As a final note, speaking for the whole gnovis staff, I’d like to
send a big Happy Birthday wish to our department chair Dr. Linda
Garcia. For some more digital memorabilia – see some great pics on Dr.
Garcia’s blog.