The debate on whether new media theory is relevant or important still continues among journalists, media monitoring bodies and “new age” theorists of our era. Should there be a concern or a need for the governance of it as it continues to rapidly change and grow? Will theory ever meet practical?
In my argument I chose the following; Mark Poster, who is an analyser of the effect of new media on the self and looking at the cultural aspect of it, while Lawrence Lesssig, a law professor and internet law activist focuses on internet being the vehicle of economic change.
Lawrence Lessig being a fan of a free and transparent flow of information age, he argues that even though laws are important and are the very fibre of the architecture of the internet, there is still a greater need for openness, access, sharing of information, the evolvement and development of already existing technologies to facilitate change and a movement towards a more efficient and prosperous economy unlike being subscribers of monopoly corporations whose only concern is revenue.
His focus being the internet, he continues to say that development and success of the internet depended on an information commons that leads on innovation and inevitably growth;
- A commons of software that has built the internet and applications responsible for its operation
- Commons of information, where information and ideas are freely shared among its users
- Thirdly a commons based on innovation where opportunities are left open for further development or improvement.
In his view the internet had a distinctive element that differs from other forms of new media, that works with a set code which is less complicated and can be taught to others. Within these layers there is no cost or the inconvenience of copyright.
I do not agree with his views on copyright because I believe that the infringement of these rights has given rise to many problems on the net, like sharing and distributing and/ pirating of music, books and other materials which is a threat to intellectual and creative property, however I strongly believe that as much as we are users of the internet, cyber needs to meet reality so that both worlds can continue to co-exist.
Though innovation commons has enabled the thrift of technology, from Thomas Edison to Henry Ford who improved upon the first vehicle to be ever built, there needs to be laws made and the process put in place to maintain control and order.
On the other end I strongly agree with Mark Poster that new media theorists and law makers have not bothered much about diving into the effects of new media on the human aspect, technology and information point of view.
His concerns have been over the detriment of humans and erosion of culture. Another facet of this argument is the great power of suggestion or influence through television, advertising and online communities.
Poster insists that the internet should rather be treated as less of a communication platform but more of a social space, I do not fully support him in this regard as with the internet, communication is immediate, cheaper, faster and more convenient though I understand his stance on how it sometimes blurs the lines between culture and identity.
