Cognitive Surplus and the Culture of Participation
Or, why it's easy to find the time for creation when you don't watch TV.
That's a bit flip, but this talk by Clay Shirky does point out the amazing resources we have at our disposal (on an individual and cultural level) when we make conscious choices about how to spend time.
Money quote: "Media that is targeted at you but that doesn't include you may not be worth sitting still for."
I gave up cable over 12 years ago, and with rare exceptions, have not looked back. I watch a little TV on DVD, but making things & having interactive experiences seems so much more fun that I don't miss it too much. One thing I wish Shirky had addressed a little more, though, was the extent to which other passive activities (reading blogs, watching YouTube) has taken the place of TV without increasing participation. It's my particular blind spot, and one I'm trying to address as my time becomes more compressed.
So, how would you like to spend your time?
Comments
there are a few shows that i really enjoy, but at the same time, sometimes i give them up for a day because i want to do something creative (usually write) or more rejuvenating (go outside, read). while sometimes those can be interactive (write in a group, go hiking with someone, post reviews on a book site, which then get commented on), essentially they are solitary activities and i guess i'm ok with that because i'm still expressing myself in a different kind of outlet, and i'm not solely being expressed-to.
i think this is one way the internet is better than tv. at least it has the capacity for interaction, like the conversation we get to have here. ;-)
on a more personal note, it's been interesting watching the role of tv increase in the lives of my parents, and to a varying degree, min. they're almost literally housebound, with energy to do very little, and tv gives them a chance to still interact with the world...or at least be told about what's going on in it. what they watch often informs whatever conversation follows, for good or bad, but at least it gives the world a chance to come to them, so to speak.
Posted by: heather | May 5, 2008 11:25 AM
Yep, in those circumstances it's really valuable. I know that even when I'm just sick with the flu, TV is about all I can handle, energy-wise. So I hope this didn't come across as a superiority thing; I waste a lot of time in other ways (like YouTube or reading blogs), so it's as much a reminder to me as anyone. That said, giving up TV (for the most part) has been really helpful for moving in a more creative direction.
I also agree that there's definitely a place that needs to be held for solitary time and "do-nothing" time...for me right now, those are actually the hardest things to come by...
Posted by: Carol | May 5, 2008 03:35 PM