Summary, Analysis, and Response Paper for Media Studies - Assignment Example

Summary Developments in technology have improved the quality of human life in various ways. For instance, communication has greatly been enhanced with significant technological innovations such as the development of the internet, mobile phones, and other communication gadgets (Curran and Gurevitch, 24). However, these technological advancements have resulted in one major problem, that of overdependence on technology. This problem is brought out explicitly in the Frontline’s documentary film Digital Nation: Life of the Virtual Frontier. The documentary was directed by Douglas Rushkoff and Rachel Dretzin; and produced in 2010. The film explores the impact of technology among the generation born in the age of the internet and other similar technologies. The film examines how people have changed their lives in the face of the new technologies. This includes examining issues such as multitasking and the impact that overreliance on technology has on human development. Essentially, the documentary is an investigative report into the impact of technology on human life in the 21st century. The movie is organized in terms of various episodes that report on different matters regarding the implications of technology. There are five episodes discussing issues such as living faster as a result of relying on technology, the implications that technology has on human relations, the impact of technology on military development and wars, the emergence of virtual worlds, and finally the impact of technology in education and the learning process. The directors of the film interviewed different professionals in various fields including psychologists and technology experts, as well as delving into the lives of specific correspondents who relied on technology for most of their lives. In the first episode, the main argument raised is that people are increasingly spending more time on the internet and other similar technologies. Surprisingly, most of the people who spend the most time on the internet are children aged between 8 and 18. Therefore, this episode poses the question as to where the future of man is headed to if such children continue to spend an average of 50 hours on the internet. In the second episode, the documentary argues that technology has changed relationships among human beings in terms of how people view parenting and the concept of love. The film follows up in the third episode by discussing the impact of technology on waging war in the contemporary world. This includes a detailed examination of the technological developments that have been used in the military in recent years, such as the virtual Iraqis that the US military used in training prior to the War on Iraq. The fourth episode examines how the emergence of virtual worlds has affected the health sector, internet addiction, and the impact of video games. In this aspect, the directors recognize that technology has had both positive and negative impacts on human lives. For instance virtual worlds have enabled emergence of virtual reality therapy in treatment, while internet addition brings forth various negative aspects of technology. Finally, the film discusses the impact of technology in learning, where the film argues that, if used appropriately, technology can enhance the quality of education. Analysis The digital nation documentary raised several issues about mass media and the human society today. One of the issues that come out clearly is the influence of mass media on human life. Mass media has developed over the years from using books, photography, sounds, television (TV), and more recently, the internet and social media. These developments have made it easier for people to access and share vital information that has improved the quality of lives in terms of how people approach healthcare, education, business, agriculture and other aspects of life. It is common to find people checking on their devices such as mobile phones, TVs, and computers for the latest information (Curran and Gurevitch, 47). Furthermore, technology such as the internet has made it possible for people to interact with each other regardless of their geographical boundaries. This has led to the creation of one global village and the onset of globalization. Consequently, the prevalence of mass media today has led to alteration in the beliefs and values of people and different communities. Today, mass media is considered one of the most influential and powerful tools of communication, capable of changing the views of individuals in different ways. More people trust the media as being authoritative for news coverage and delivery of information. New technologies such as the internet are more influential because they are not bound by any geographical boundaries. Furthermore, the internet is easily accessible as well as containing a huge chunk of information on virtually every topic. In spite of bringing forth new technologies for communication, mass media today exerts a lot of influence on human lives today. For instance, mass media has altered human culture a great deal. The emergence of the digital generation, that knows no boundaries in terms of geography or whatsoever, is testament to a change human culture in very many aspects. Children are being introduced to technology at very young ages, affecting their general development. Similarly, the older generation has been forced to either adapt to newer forms of communication technology or remain locked out of the events going on in their environment. Furthermore, the prevalence of technology has made people to take it for granted. Today, it is hardly imaginable for most people that a world could ever exist without the internet, mobile phones, and television sets among a host of other communication technologies. The new ‘digital natives’ generation relies on technology for most of its activities. However, most scholars note that in as much as they use technology, most of them may be using technology inappropriately. Mass media has led to emergence of new forms of crimes, health problems, and minimizing the level and significant of physical contact or face to face communication. The digital nation documentary explores these issues in detail with interviews from various experts and analyses of different case studies.For instance, Sherry Turkle, a psychologist interviewed in the film notes that it his becoming had to children to differentiate between real life situations and simulations, for instance in computer games and movies. Similarly, author Marc Prensky, notes that there has been a change in attitude in most people as a result of these new forms of communication. For instance, most people prefer to use headphones to keep of interruptions from others, or to completely shut themselves in their own world. Mass media today also creates an avenue for understanding culture. Culture is an important consideration in communication because it dictates when, where, and how people communicate with each other. People express and share their cultural beliefs and traditions through contemporary communication channels such as the internet and mobile phones. Newer modes of communication brought about by developments in technology have fostered globalization and integration of several cultures. Therefore, mass media today plays an active role in understanding the contemporary globalized culture. Through mass media communication channels, people get access to new trends and fashionable ways of living, thereby improving their cultural perspectives on different matters. Response The digital nation documentary provides a very critical view to developments in technology and mass communication. I concur with the main argument expressed in the film that technology has affected human lives in a major way. The film presents an opportunity for people to engage in a discussion over the consequences of over-dependence on technology and find a probable solution that can help people maximize on the positive effects of technology while minimizing the emerging negative challenges. More so, the film can be viewed as a warning to people in terms of how they use technology. The detailed discussions about the impact of technology in the film are so vivid and convincing that most people are likely to change their views on technology upon watching the film. I also believe that most trends and popular issues today either emanate from technology or are related to it. In addition, developments in technology are irreversible and are likely to progress with more new technologies coming up in the future. In this regard, human beings have to find the most appropriate ways of living with technology. Integrating these technologies into our lives effectively can enhance the way in which we use the technologies for the betterment of our lives. A critical analysis of the negative consequences of technology is necessary in order to help individuals determine how to uses emerging technology so as to avoid becoming slaves of technology. Finally, the impact of mass media on the society depends on how peoples use the various communication technologies available at their disposal. The key to using technology should be a critical evaluation over the long term sustainability of that technology and its impact on the future wellbeing of the human society in general. Works Cited "Digital Nation: Live on the Virtyual Frontier." PBS.PBS.Web. 8 Jan. 2015. . Curran, James, and Michael Gurevitch.Mass Media and Society. London: Hodder Arnold, 2005. Print. Read More