It has often been said that the Vietnam war was the first televised war, and the first in which projected images significantly determined the outcome. Since then, communications and computing technology has come a long way, and major historical events seem destined to be driven by public perception.
1. Take some time to consider such events as the fall of the Berlin Wall, Tiananmen Square. the over throwing of the governments in Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1761062858590826090#
the google link seems to have died. It shouldn’t be any probelms finding something simplar…the ‘raw story’ link works
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/10/debate-flares-over-impact-of-social-media-on-arab-spring-and-other-revolutions/
the Tibetan and Uighur uprisings in China and, most important, the Extinction Rebellion. Gather some details, become familiar with the nature and degree of ‘public media’ coverage of these events as opposed to the role of personal communications.
In addition, and more recently, the meddling by Russian hackers in our recent election and in elections of other technologically advanced countries draws our attention to the rapidly expanding role of social media in our daily lives and in our politics.Is there anyplace safe and private left?
2. I suggest that cell phones, satellite communications, social networking sites have all played an increasingly crucial role in these events.
3. Is this something we have to applaud and expect more of the the future, or will it eventually be squelched by the “powers that be”?
4. What do you think it may mean for governments…popular and unpopular…to lose control of the information and the images coming from events around the world. In 1968, we students chanted “the whole world is watching”. well, now they really are.
5. But still don’t be shy about rejecting this idea altogether, and insisting the government and corporate media remain in control of our perceptions…and the rest is nothing more than a way to get us to buy small electronic devices that fit in our pockets.
6. Employ the sections of the courses referred to below but, however, I really insist that you become directly involved yourself, in the on-going process.
