Web of Ideas: Web as world
Posted on:: January 10th, 2005
I’m leading another open discussion at the Harvard Berkman Center this Wednesday. The topic is: Is the Web a medium? The answer – and I will brook no disagreement! – is that, yes, it’s a medium, but the Web matters because it’s also a world. I’ll kick off the session with about 20 minutes on what the hell I mean by that (still working on it!) and why it matters. Then it’s an open forum.
It’s open to everyone. And we serve pizza. This Wednesdsay, 6-7:30pm, at the Baker House in Cambridge (map).
Categories: Uncategorized dw
That’s true. It is “also” a medium. But it is much more: it’s a platform, it’s a fascinating tool for making people think they can discuss better, it’s a world of worlds.
But it has also some consequences on other media. They are changing, too, because the Internet has come around. Regular media are becoming much more platforms, much more interactive, and much more aware of the fact that creating a “world” is a strategic move for every content distribution system.
A difference remains: the Internet is more open to things that are “free” from money. And this is an incredible cultural value which other media will not be able to copy…
Luca De Biase, blogging from Italy
I would be very interested in hearing that. Unfortunatly I am in Buffalo, so will you be posting a transcript or any other way of sharing the info?
Oh, for heaven’s sakes! Of course the web is a medium. The more interesting question is, what is (are) its message(s), but even that question is starting to get old already.
YOU SERVE PIZZA??!!??
What, you discriminate against Atkins and South Beach dieters? Huh! Maybe all that stuff about those people in Cambridge is true, after all.
And, by the way, I find the net to be more rare than medium. And in many cases, rather well done.
Excuse me, now I have to go drink 8 oz of digital water.
“The web … is also a world”. This is very provocative. Wish I could be there to hear you unpack this. Failing that, could you follow on with a blog entry on how you understand this statement?