Post by isabelleballard on Aug 10, 2011 7:08:04 GMT -5
“What does the contemporary-self want? The camera has created a Culture of celebrity; the computer is creating a culture of connectivity. As the two technologies converge broadband tipping the Web from text to image, social-networking sites spreading the mesh of interconnection ever wider — the two cultures betray a common impulse. Celebrity and connectivity are both ways of becoming known.” I am someone who likes to be alone sometimes. I have not changed my Facebook status in almost a month and I often opt not to answer text messages when I receive them. I suppose that I am not a contemporary self.
“This is what the contemporary self wants. It wants to be recognized, wants to be connected: It wants to be visible.” I understand the desire to be around other people. I also like being around other people. “This is the quality that validates
us, this is how we become real to ourselves — by being seen by
others. The great contemporary terror is anonymity.” Being visible is important to me as well. I am afraid of fading in to the background. So, in that way I suppose I am a contemporary self. I think that we all want to be able to stand out sometimes.
Sometimes it’s important to distance yourself from distractions. Eventually, phones and other people start to blend together to make an annoying buzz of sound and a blur of color. It is so much easier to think when I am alone and not on my computer or on my phone.
The contemporary self is just interested in communication, which is one of the most important parts of being human. There is nothing wrong with the contemporary self. Never being alone is much preferable to the alternative of always being alone. Communication is changing, and while it is nice to be alone occasionally, one must learn to adapt to the changing times.
“This is what the contemporary self wants. It wants to be recognized, wants to be connected: It wants to be visible.” I understand the desire to be around other people. I also like being around other people. “This is the quality that validates
us, this is how we become real to ourselves — by being seen by
others. The great contemporary terror is anonymity.” Being visible is important to me as well. I am afraid of fading in to the background. So, in that way I suppose I am a contemporary self. I think that we all want to be able to stand out sometimes.
Sometimes it’s important to distance yourself from distractions. Eventually, phones and other people start to blend together to make an annoying buzz of sound and a blur of color. It is so much easier to think when I am alone and not on my computer or on my phone.
The contemporary self is just interested in communication, which is one of the most important parts of being human. There is nothing wrong with the contemporary self. Never being alone is much preferable to the alternative of always being alone. Communication is changing, and while it is nice to be alone occasionally, one must learn to adapt to the changing times.