walking around the valley at night

- Oscar

response to the 'digital mythology' chapter (week eleven set-reading)

The focal point of the response is the concept of Digital Mythology and the inevitable power of technology to do ‘good’, with our viewpoint being both affirmative and opposing, as we believe the rapid progression of technology in the digital age to be beneficial, but not without correlative consequences.

The video is representative of the two arguments regarding the myth of technological progression, firstly representing the affirmative point and then the negative. The affirmative position is depicted in the montage of the key ‘digerati’ figures, followed by a sequence depicting the development of computer technology, network systems and the convergence of media. The series of images indicates the immediate benefits that technology provides for its consumers and producers. The images build to a climax of an image depicting technology (0101’s) as the path to an entrance into a new reality or the ‘digital sublime’.

After the climax the video takes on the negative viewpoint, depicting the possible hidden costs of developing technology and the horrific future that digital progression may hold. This side of the argument is important to keep in context as it outlines the risks associated with the freedom provided by technology, such as:

• Increased networking may provide enhanced mobility of information and communication between people and continents, but it also provides for digital attack and information theft.
  
• Computers not only provide access to the individual to outside sources, but outside sources to the individual, raising risks of internet predators.
  
• The progression of technology is synonymous with the progression of weapons. History has proven the devastation that can be caused by new technology accessed and used inappropriately, and even now, even more powerful technology is being developed.
  
• Events such as the fall of the Twin Towers in NYC made possible by technology as well as being made viewable.
  

The culmination of the response’s images is an experience that encapsulates the significant aspects of the argument surrounding Digital Mythology. The issues addressed in the response are essential in understanding the concept of the ‘Golden Age’ of technology, however the outcome still remains ambiguous, as the development of technology will always harbour two equivalent aspects- being that of benefit and consequence.

- Oscar

Draft annotation for the Harrison and Hirst reading

After much deliberation, the Show Ponies have taken the reading of this week’s task as both positive and negative.

We have decided to focus on the following three main aspects: the oracles of doom, the super highway and the future of the web (the golden age).

Oracles of doom – how some people view technology. Many believe that technology is good and reaps many benefits; however, some disagree and think that technology will lead us to destruction

Information super highway – the other side on the coin: people who view it as good. For example, how eventually we will no longer have access to just hundreds of channels, but thousands with the help of the web

The future of the web – the gold age of the internet. We have chosen to focus on this aspect of the reading as it demonstrates, in our opinion, that there is no real way to measure the webs content and time. It is a multi-faceted technological revolution that is so multi-dimensional, and soon enough will become impossible to keep track of.

The Harrison and Hirst reading recognises that there are the two sides to interpreting the web and its functions. The Show Ponies agree with this understanding of both the positive and negative sides, as within both sides there are different angles that sway our opinion. Because of this, we have come to the decision that we neither agree nor disagree with the reading.


- Philippa

images for the set reading

heres some images i quickly knocked up, see if you think they convey the point effectively.

are we sorted for the lecture? or shall i brace myself for the tides of stress

- Oscar

'Digital Mythology' in the Golden Age

These are the images I digitally manipulated on photoshop for our visual response. =)

Cyberia

Connecting the world

The computer is our universe

The world is at our fingertips

Digital wasteland

Information super-highway

Adapt or die

We are now so dependent on the computer, that we cannot live without it

Dot com crash

- Cheryl