Catching up on Paula's blog, I have recently just skimmed through this article about ethical considerations surrounding social networking. It instantly reminded me of this one choreography I just saw at a choreographic showcase ( By NAFA students in Singapore) which was all relating to the effects of social media in today's society.
It was quite simple, not too much movement involved, but to me it left a strong message behind- how dependent we are on these gadgets and Web 2.0. Dressed in normal every day clothes, the dancers started off with just walking across the stage back and forth, whilst totally absorbed in either their phones, I-pads and tablets. The only noise was the ongoing monotonous sounds of ringtones, games, alarm clocks, notifications etc. and already it was a bit too much for the ears. But the sad reality is that today, it is the normal part of an average human being's routine to own one of these gadgets; check their mail, connect to Facebook, watch movies and play games, connect to a business meeting, sort out finances and basically 'socialise' with anyone without them actually being there.
What really caught my attention was this excerpt:
If everyone is indifferently present regardless of where one is located on the globe, no one is commandingly present. Those who become present via a communication link have a diminished presence, since we can always make them vanish if their presence becomes burdensome. Moreover, we can protect ourselves from unwelcome persons altogether by using screening devices….The extended network of hyperintelligence also disconnects us from the people we would meet incidentally at concerts, plays and political gatherings. As it is, we are always and already linked to the music and entertainment we desire and to sources of political information. This immobile attachment to the web of communication works a twofold deprivation in our lives. It cuts us off from the pleasure of seeing people in the round and from the instruction of being seen and judged by them. It robs us of the social resonance that invigorates our concentration and acumen when we listen to music or watch a play.…Again it seems that by having our hyperintelligent eyes and ears everywhere, we can attain world citizenship of unequaled scope and subtlety. But the world that is hyperintelligently spread out before us has lost its force and resistance. (Borgmann) (1992, 105–6)
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-social-networking/
People always talk about how powerful Web 2.0 is, and maybe how it can make it so much accessible and easier for business, communicating all over the world, and make any process easier, quicker and faster! But to me it looks like we as human beings; whether we are business men, artists, dancers, lawyers, doctors... are being in a way demoralised by this powerful system, where it makes sense how it can already 'diminish' our presence and overpower us.
Yes it is always useful in any profession to have such a social media where everything is accessible in a flash. But my concern is how fast any information can be accessed in a flash as well!
That is why balancing your private and public life ( to basically the rest of the world) should be highly considered, in any profession.
What are your thoughts on these ethical considerations?
Hi Gaby,
ReplyDeleteThe show you've just seen reminds me of what I devised in my foundation degree.
We had a 8 week rehearsal period to direct and devise a show. Lighting, scripting, chrographing etc. I came up with an idea one day about communication. I got this idea because our teacher went out the class and when I looked round everyone was there phones! I was like wow this is real relaitsation of what today's Web 2.0 allows us to do. But it also made me question about my views on Web 2.0...."we can communicate further on Web 2.0 but have we forgotten the basics of communication?"
I used ringtones and busy sounds of "people tapping keyboards" etc and I used this as a workshop "trial and error" method which ended up being the beginning of our show.
Thought I would share this with you due to the recent dramatic viewings you've been watching.