1. Today we all live a media life. Academics approach the notion of understanding the
relationship between the social (life) and the technology (media) in different ways. Some
argue that technology is all-powerful; that it shapes our society. Others argue that it is
society (or: the social) that shapes technology. Perhaps both are wrong, and the right
answer is something else. What perspective would you choose? Defend your choice with an
example from your own media use.
I believe society shapes media. Medias are made in order to entertain/facilitate society,
Apps are created to help humans. Therefor we shape media.
2. What makes the “Life in a Day” video (compiled by Ridley and Tony Scott for YouTube)
such a crucial document to understand media life?
The fact that everyone can have access to a form of media, we can see how they interact
With media and it allows us to see the benefits of media sharing.
Compare ourselves to others.
Shows our comfort with technology
Free labor
Raises question of weather we share because of narcism
Sharing is not a threat to privacy
Neither special or ordinary
3. The discussion of the “Life in a Day” movie in class highlights several key issues when
considering the role of media and information in everyday life. Which of the following
issues were discussed (pick one or more):
A. The relative ease with which people show themselves in media
B. Relative comfort we have with (personal) media technology in our lives
C. A for profit film using the free labor of media users/makers
D. Whether broadcasting our lives in media is a case of uncritical narcissism or authentic
self-expression
E. Whether sharing our lives in media is healthy exposure or a danger to our privacy
F. Whether turning our lives into media and information makes us (more) special or
ordinary.
4. What do the contemporary theoretical perspectives of technogenesis (Hayles), vital
materialism (Bennett), and agential intra-action (Barad) have in common?
The real and the virtual are blending. We cant distinguish between real and virtual
Anymore.
,5. What is striking about the work of Gottfried Leibniz from 1714 for media studies today?
Is that they still use it today.
6. One of the key arguments of Media Life is that living a media life equals living inside
your own Truman Show. In the movie, Truman decides to escape. Why does Truman
leave? Would you?
He leaves because he’s tired of it and wants reality. I wouldn’t leave because you cant
realistically escape media. You may as well embrace it.
7. Just about every student in this course has a mobile phone, laptop or tablet PC with a
built-in digital camera, and most upload pictures of themselves and others to websites such
as Flickr, Instagram, Pinterest, Photobucket and Facebook. This means that in a 3 media
life we are not just under surveillance of corporations or the government, but also from
each other. What do you think will be the future end-result of this trend of everybody
watching everyone else?
1, discipline
2, control
3, Suspicion
8. Should we examine the emergence of media and technology from either a utopian or
dystopian point of view? Why or why not?
Neither, both choices are too extremes. One must find the balance in between.
9. Consider popular online media such as Youtube or Facebook. Choose one and compare
and contrast a media-centric with a society-centric view people may have on the role such
media play in our lives.
Facebook. A society centric point of view takes Facebook in a positive way as means to
expand social circle and keep track of friends. Media centric view would be that our
social groups on Facebook don’t reflect reality. We don’t really have that many friends in
real life and we wouldn’t speak to people like we do in media in real life.
10. What makes media pervasive?
Media is pervasive because we interact with it on a constant basis every day even if one
is not aware or wanting.
11. What makes media ubiquitous?
Similar to pervasive media is ubiquitous because it constantly surrounds us.
, 12. One of the dangers of thinking about media life is our tendency towards technomyopia.
Give an example of a technomyopic argument.
The overestimation of short term consequences. “in 2050 we will be able to travel at the
speed of light”
13. The “Life in a Day” film, where people share a day of their personal life with the world
via YouTube, highlights several critical debates in media and information studies. Which
two debates were highlighted in class?
A. Sharing lives online can be uncritical narcissism or authentic self-expression.
B. Availability of expensive equipment is a source of privilege or well-being.
C. Witnessing each other in media compromises privacy or suggests healthy exposure.
D. Media are good or bad for you.
14. In the “Life in a Day” film, people share their life online – on the one hand this makes
people quite special, as their lives are truly unique. On the other hand, because of universal
comparison, their lives seem quite similar so those of so many others. What is an
appropriate scholarly way to settle this debate?
A. People’s lives are indeed special.
B. People’s lives are quite ordinary.
C. We are neither special nor ordinary.
D. It would be interesting to investigate what makes people think they are special.
15. On the first day of class, students shared the last picture they took with their phone or
camera on Twitter (using hashtag #UvA_LI). What two observations were made about
these pictures (pick the 2 correct answers)?
A. Students of Living Information are pretty.
B. The pictures were often quite intimate.
C. The pictures were often taken only hours or even minutes ago.
D. Students of Living Information are special.
E. The pictures were often rather silly.
F. None of the above. 4
relationship between the social (life) and the technology (media) in different ways. Some
argue that technology is all-powerful; that it shapes our society. Others argue that it is
society (or: the social) that shapes technology. Perhaps both are wrong, and the right
answer is something else. What perspective would you choose? Defend your choice with an
example from your own media use.
I believe society shapes media. Medias are made in order to entertain/facilitate society,
Apps are created to help humans. Therefor we shape media.
2. What makes the “Life in a Day” video (compiled by Ridley and Tony Scott for YouTube)
such a crucial document to understand media life?
The fact that everyone can have access to a form of media, we can see how they interact
With media and it allows us to see the benefits of media sharing.
Compare ourselves to others.
Shows our comfort with technology
Free labor
Raises question of weather we share because of narcism
Sharing is not a threat to privacy
Neither special or ordinary
3. The discussion of the “Life in a Day” movie in class highlights several key issues when
considering the role of media and information in everyday life. Which of the following
issues were discussed (pick one or more):
A. The relative ease with which people show themselves in media
B. Relative comfort we have with (personal) media technology in our lives
C. A for profit film using the free labor of media users/makers
D. Whether broadcasting our lives in media is a case of uncritical narcissism or authentic
self-expression
E. Whether sharing our lives in media is healthy exposure or a danger to our privacy
F. Whether turning our lives into media and information makes us (more) special or
ordinary.
4. What do the contemporary theoretical perspectives of technogenesis (Hayles), vital
materialism (Bennett), and agential intra-action (Barad) have in common?
The real and the virtual are blending. We cant distinguish between real and virtual
Anymore.
,5. What is striking about the work of Gottfried Leibniz from 1714 for media studies today?
Is that they still use it today.
6. One of the key arguments of Media Life is that living a media life equals living inside
your own Truman Show. In the movie, Truman decides to escape. Why does Truman
leave? Would you?
He leaves because he’s tired of it and wants reality. I wouldn’t leave because you cant
realistically escape media. You may as well embrace it.
7. Just about every student in this course has a mobile phone, laptop or tablet PC with a
built-in digital camera, and most upload pictures of themselves and others to websites such
as Flickr, Instagram, Pinterest, Photobucket and Facebook. This means that in a 3 media
life we are not just under surveillance of corporations or the government, but also from
each other. What do you think will be the future end-result of this trend of everybody
watching everyone else?
1, discipline
2, control
3, Suspicion
8. Should we examine the emergence of media and technology from either a utopian or
dystopian point of view? Why or why not?
Neither, both choices are too extremes. One must find the balance in between.
9. Consider popular online media such as Youtube or Facebook. Choose one and compare
and contrast a media-centric with a society-centric view people may have on the role such
media play in our lives.
Facebook. A society centric point of view takes Facebook in a positive way as means to
expand social circle and keep track of friends. Media centric view would be that our
social groups on Facebook don’t reflect reality. We don’t really have that many friends in
real life and we wouldn’t speak to people like we do in media in real life.
10. What makes media pervasive?
Media is pervasive because we interact with it on a constant basis every day even if one
is not aware or wanting.
11. What makes media ubiquitous?
Similar to pervasive media is ubiquitous because it constantly surrounds us.
, 12. One of the dangers of thinking about media life is our tendency towards technomyopia.
Give an example of a technomyopic argument.
The overestimation of short term consequences. “in 2050 we will be able to travel at the
speed of light”
13. The “Life in a Day” film, where people share a day of their personal life with the world
via YouTube, highlights several critical debates in media and information studies. Which
two debates were highlighted in class?
A. Sharing lives online can be uncritical narcissism or authentic self-expression.
B. Availability of expensive equipment is a source of privilege or well-being.
C. Witnessing each other in media compromises privacy or suggests healthy exposure.
D. Media are good or bad for you.
14. In the “Life in a Day” film, people share their life online – on the one hand this makes
people quite special, as their lives are truly unique. On the other hand, because of universal
comparison, their lives seem quite similar so those of so many others. What is an
appropriate scholarly way to settle this debate?
A. People’s lives are indeed special.
B. People’s lives are quite ordinary.
C. We are neither special nor ordinary.
D. It would be interesting to investigate what makes people think they are special.
15. On the first day of class, students shared the last picture they took with their phone or
camera on Twitter (using hashtag #UvA_LI). What two observations were made about
these pictures (pick the 2 correct answers)?
A. Students of Living Information are pretty.
B. The pictures were often quite intimate.
C. The pictures were often taken only hours or even minutes ago.
D. Students of Living Information are special.
E. The pictures were often rather silly.
F. None of the above. 4
