The Emergence of Virtual Communities

It can be agreeably said that the internet has changed our lives, most of our lives - those who engage in the technologies of our century to make life easier and faster in some parts. The global economy is becoming so much more competitive because it has become so small due to the use of technologies, especially the internet. The internet has many purposes. Kahn and Kellner address that the "emergence of the utpoian rhetoric of cyberdemocracy and personal liberation" have allowed the growth of new online communities. I feel the internet can be both dangerous and extremely beneficial for people. Kahn and Kellner also introduce that the internet (World Wide Web) "constitutes a dynamic and complex space in which people can construct and experiment with their own identity(ies), culture, and social practices. People are able to "act out roles" of themselves that they wouldn't really do in real life. Posts of social networks like Facebook of the "daily me" statuses allow people to publicize their lives they otherwise would not think to share to others in person - this makes information about other people more easy to find than ever. The internet is a place that embodies reconstructions of citizenship as Kahn and Kellner argue in their essay "Oppositional Politics and the Internet". This youtube video below demonstrates a good example of what this essay is talking about. It is scary when you think deeper on this idea.

Counterculture: Changing Capitalism

In Thomas Frank's article "Why Johnny Can't Dissent," he discusses a lot about the changes of capitalism and how they came about. He talks about how counterculture originated in the 50s, and how they are "summarized with images of 1950s suburban correctness" (32). Anyone can tell times have changed, particularly because "consumerism isno longer about 'conformity' but about 'difference'" (34). The new way of thinking toward consumerism is to "rebel" and do your own thing, rather than conforming to what the rest of the world thinks is right. Figures who demonstrate this idea of "going against the crowd" are the Beatles and Bob Dylan (35). Not only was the new sense of rebellion displayed in the music industry, but also in advertising. All different types of advertisements were broadcasting and promoting the rebellion. For example, Burger King's new slogan became "Sometimes you gotta break the rules," Vision Cologne's new punch line became "It separates you from the crowd," and Swatch's new saying, "The art of changing" (41). By showing the consumer that their products went against the norm, it drewmore attention to their companies. I found this article interesting, especially in the way he described the new changes in consumerist society. The examples he gave were especially helpful to truly see the change.