Here mousey mousey…
This is very good. Very interesting. Clay Shirky gave a keynote talk about “Cognitive Surplus” last week at Web 2.0 Expo San Francisco 2008.
And, the transcript is online too.
I’m actually on the fence on this. He’s interesting to watch, and has a well thought out position, however I’m of the thought that the human condition doesn’t really ever change. Ever. I mean, things today are different; but just that, things. Choice is different, circumstance is different, but that’s about where it ends. Some say things are different-better (like Clay, with his optimism), and some some things are different-bad (‘kids these days …’). I just think it’s different (and even that’s a bit of a stretch for me).
Is he just over-intellectualizing what we already know? Cognitive surplus? It’s existed since we had enough food and started drawing on cave walls…
Are we really that complex now, or have we simply come up with substitutes for other out-of-date or out-of-favour diversions? I mean, his “cognitive surplus” was really the fundamental tenant that gave birth to renaissance thought. Sheesh. To think 21st century thought is unique or new or any more profound than prior years is just foolish.
However, it’s also widely believed that the notion of “free time” was really nonexistent before the industrial revolution, and prior to that was left to the wealthy who had enough disposable income to patronize artists, scientists, architects etc. So, the notion of free time or recreation is just now becoming more and more relevant for the working classes.
So, while I agree with his advice to media companies to “find the mouse”, and I also agree that today’s kids believe that media without participation is inherently broken, I’m not swayed by the optimism (nor am I swayed into pessimism either). To anecdotally prove he’s right; I watched him; I spent some time generating this post; and I shared his video and thoughts with others.
Food for thought. Decide for yourself. Comment.
