Discursive Prompt

Media has brought both positive and negative impacts on our lives, but I think it is especially prevalent in modern times. The video we watched in class discussing generative data and how it tailors our media consumption based off our subconscious tastes was eye-opening. It made me realize that media makes me, not the other way around. My media consumption feeds into a feedback loop where I continue to consume data that I am ‘interested’ in, resulting in me identifying myself or my hobbies with said interests. This reminds me of Richard Serra’s “Television Delivers People” (1973) broadcast which talks about the implications of media consumption. The ‘product’ of television (or media) are people: people’s individual tastes, interests, and data regarding their consumption patterns. This is both positive and negative: positive because it becomes more convenient to exist, but negative because you essentially lose your privacy and individuality.