The hottest Media theory Substack posts right now

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Smash The Technopoly!

After Babel • 2052 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Media theory Technology impact Digital ethics Youth culture Philosophy
  1. Many young people today feel negatively about smartphones and social media, with a large percentage wishing these technologies had never existed. This shows a growing anxiety about their impact on life.
  2. Neil Postman and Marshall McLuhan teach us that technology shapes our thoughts and behavior in ways we might not notice. The medium we use communicates messages that can change how we feel about ourselves and the world.
  3. We need to reclaim control over technology to protect our moral values. It's important to start discussing and setting limits on how we use digital tools to ensure they serve us, not the other way around.

The Future of Reading

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet • 794 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
📚 Literature Reading Writing Cultural critique Media theory Literary Trends
  1. Reading and writing are changing as new technologies emerge. The way people engage with texts is evolving, such as using visual signs and orality, like in Snapchat.
  2. Young people are still writing a lot, especially through fan fiction, even if it's different from traditional literature. This form of writing allows them to express their creativity.
  3. There are concerns that the current generation is losing interest in classic literature, but there are ideas on how to make these works more appealing to young readers. Solutions may include breaking up long books into smaller, more engaging editions.

Reality raids

Internal exile • 54 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Internet culture Media theory Nostalgia Human Interaction
  1. There's a nostalgic site that shares old YouTube videos with random iPhone names, showing a rawness that feels different from today's polished social media. These videos come from a time when people didn't expect wide attention, making them feel more authentic.
  2. Having relationships with AI chatbots is often compared to addictive games, where they aim to keep users engaged just like slot machines. It's essential to recognize that these relationships may not fulfill real emotional needs like human connections do.
  3. Many people confuse consuming entertainment products like chatbots with actual relationships. It's important to understand that enjoying a product doesn’t replace the value of genuine human interaction and connection.

New Models presents Kevin Munger on Vilem Flusser's Communicology

Do Not Research • 259 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Media theory Social Science Political Science
  1. Kevin Munger delves into Vilém Flusser's 'Communicology' thesis, published by Stanford University Press in 2022
  2. Flusser's work highlights a significant shift in communication methods seen in the 1970s, now accelerated by modern networked media
  3. The lecture on 'Communicology' was presented by Munger at Trauma Bar und Kino, Berlin, emphasizing the evolving landscape of human communication

“The Algorithm” is the only critique of “The Algorithm” that “The Algorithm” can produce

Never Met a Science • 77 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Critique Social media Technology Communication Media theory
  1. The concept of 'The Algorithm' serves to mask larger systems at play, pushing us to believe in a singular cause for societal issues.
  2. Anxieties about algorithms reflect a broader issue of how technology governs our lives in ways we don't fully understand.
  3. The influence of social media and quantified audience feedback has transformed communication, shaping our interactions and content consumption.
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Curator

Castalia • 159 implied HN points • 18 Aug 22
🎭️ Culture Media theory Political Philosophy Humanities Social Commentary
  1. The medium used to share ideas shapes how those ideas are perceived and engaged with. Different formats, like books versus films, create very different audience responses and reactions.
  2. Political beliefs are more influenced by social surroundings than solely by moral reasoning or issue preferences. People often vote against their apparent interests based on the community they belong to.
  3. The humanities face a challenge in being relevant today. They must either align with market demands or remain true to their purpose of fostering deep thinking and soul-searching, which may not fit in the current job market.