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Web 2.0: cultural catastrophe or a new enlightenment?

Web 2.0: cultural catastrophe or a new enlightenment? 		Presented by
Tim Hood 		Submit questions by Aug 31 2008
Interview published on Sep 06 2008
Introduction

The recent YouTube / CNN experiment, in which members of the public put questions directly to US Democratic Primary candidates via video, attracted a flurry of media attention and has sparked its own debate among politicians, commentators and media experts.


 Subsequently, there has been plenty of speculation on how Web 2.0 sites may be altering the fabric of our political culture-for good or for ill. Some champions of citizen media claim the Primary debate to have been a huge step forward, while others lament that a depressing compromise with 'old media' seems to have been made. In the press and the blogosphere the jury still seems to be out. The BBC asked if the debate and its aftermath were hype or history and Wired reported that reaction ran ‘the gamut from praise to contempt’.

So much for Web 2.0's impact on politics and democracy. Others are debating the impact it is having on our culture. Web entrepreneur and author Andrew Keen claims the deluge of often inaccurate information and amateur creative content on the web is leading people to mistake assertion for fact and is stifling real talent .

Yoosk members are asking a number of high profile commentators on new media where they think all this is leading. Ask your questions now and vote on other questions you would like to see  the participants answer.

We’ll notify you by email when we write up the responses here.

 The Participants


Anthony Lilley

Anthony is the CEO of London-based  Magic Lantern Productions, an award winning interactive media production company. He writes regularly for the Guardian's media section, is co-creator of Channel 4's BAFTA and multi- award winning broadband channel, FourDocs, and advises a number of government bodies on new media.

Dan Gillmor

Dan is director of the Center for Citizen Media, a nonprofit affiliated with the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University Law School. Dan is author of We the Media: Grassroots Journalism by the People, for the People (2004; O’Reilly Media), and is working on a new book about media in the digital age.

Guy Kawasaki

Guy Kawasaki is a managing director of Garage Technology Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm and a columnist for Entrepreneur Magazine. Previously, he was an Apple Fellow at Apple Computer, Inc. Guy is the author of eight books including The Art of the Start, Rules for Revolutionaries, How to Drive Your Competition Crazy, Selling the Dream, and The Macintosh Way. He recently founded Truemors

Mark Frauenfelder

Mark is the editor-in-chief of MAKE magazine (see http://makezine.com). He is the founder of Boing Boing (http://boingboing.net), which has 2,000,000 daily visitors and was the winner of the Bloggy Awards' "Weblog of the Year" for two years running (2003 and 2004).

Mark was an editor at Wired from 1993-1998 and was the founding editor-in-chief of Wired Online. His articles about technology and culture have appeared in Wired, The New York Times Magazine, Popular Science, MIT Technology Review, Playboy, Business 2.0 and The Industry Standard.

Anthony Lilley (show answers)
  1. TimHood asked Anthony Lilley: "Facebook seems to be taking London by storm. Do you think its success will be sustainable or will many people come to the conclusion that they just don't have the time to keep up with its growing dema..." Show more» Facebook seems to be taking London by storm. Do you think its success will be sustainable or will many people come to the conclusion that they just don't have the time to keep up with its growing demands? Show less«   
  2. Anthony Lilley answered this question from TimHood in Yoosk
  3. "For me, Facebook has been quite powerful in reconnecting to me to people I knew formerly but had lost touch with. As I’m pretty much always connected, I don’t tend to use messaging through Facebook. ..." Show more» For me, Facebook has been quite powerful in reconnecting to me to people I knew formerly but had lost touch with. As I’m pretty much always connected, I don’t tend to use messaging through Facebook. It shows the power of Reed networks better than anything else though. But, that said, I expect its time will pass. Show less«
  4. 0 comment   |  Topic: Media  |   Email to friends
  1. the6thestate asked Anthony Lilley: "If you could recommend a list of three books for next summer's reading for British MPs (related to new media) what would they be?" If you could recommend a list of three books for next summer's reading for British MPs (related to new media) what would they be?   
  2. Yoosk
  3. "The Origin of Wealth, The Theory of Fun, Republic.com 2.0" The Origin of Wealth, The Theory of Fun, Republic.com 2.0
  4. 0 comment   |  Topic: Media  |   Email to friends
  1. bonzo1 asked Anthony Lilley: "Plasma/LCD TV screens are getting bigger and more affordable – why should we get excited about viewing things on a 3 inch screen?" Plasma/LCD TV screens are getting bigger and more affordable – why should we get excited about viewing things on a 3 inch screen?   
  2. Anthony Lilley answered this question from bonzo1 in
  3. "Only if it’s the least worst option – as Ashley Highfield says, the screen on the back of the seat in front of you on the plane isn’t as good as a cinema, but it beats 12 hours looking out of the wind..." Show more» Only if it’s the least worst option – as Ashley Highfield says, the screen on the back of the seat in front of you on the plane isn’t as good as a cinema, but it beats 12 hours looking out of the window Show less«
  4. 0 comment   |  Topic: Media  |   Email to friends
  1. the6thestate asked Anthony Lilley: "In your Guardian column, you referred to people needing to develop a new kind of literacy to make sense of the vast amount of video information now available-is this something that could actually be ..." Show more» In your Guardian column, you referred to people needing to develop a new kind of literacy to make sense of the vast amount of video information now available-is this something that could actually be taught formally? Show less«   
  2. Anthony Lilley answered this question from the6thestate in
  3. "I think that some aspects of media literacy could be taught formally but I am more inclined to encourage peer to peer sharing of experiences and stories which pass on skills and experience. I certainly..." Show more» I think that some aspects of media literacy could be taught formally but I am more inclined to encourage peer to peer sharing of experiences and stories which pass on skills and experience. I certainly don’t believe that adding media literacy to the curriculum will solve the many and varied issues with which new technology faces us – for two reasons, firstly, the challenges are often more to those outside formal education than within it and secondly, the development of so-called “soft skills” like this is notoriously tricky to achieve using traditional approaches to the curriculum. That said, I believe educators, parents and others need help in this area. Show less«
  4. 0 comment   |  Topic: Media  |   Email to friends
  1. HoaiHood asked Anthony Lilley: "Which sci-fi film or series do you think most credibly forecasts the role of media in the future?" Which sci-fi film or series do you think most credibly forecasts the role of media in the future?   
  2. Anthony Lilley answered this question from HoaiHood in
  3. "Sci-fi film – brilliant question. I find the street scenes in Minority Report eerily predictive and pretty horrible – although I like the personal newspaper on the underground. I’m still worried that..." Show more» Sci-fi film – brilliant question. I find the street scenes in Minority Report eerily predictive and pretty horrible – although I like the personal newspaper on the underground. I’m still worried that the UK will turn out like the comic 2000AD… Show less«
  4. 0 comment   |  Topic: Media  |   Email to friends
  1. iberian asked Anthony Lilley: "As one of the UK's leading experts on interactive media, do you have any worries about the cultural impact of crowd-sourcing and user generated content?" As one of the UK's leading experts on interactive media, do you have any worries about the cultural impact of crowd-sourcing and user generated content?   
  2. Anthony Lilley answered this question from iberian in
  3. "Crowd-sourcing and user-generated (I prefer the term “homemade”) content take up a lot of my thinking time. I’m reading Cass Sunstein’s book on the impact of the web on democracy and it has lots to say..." Show more» Crowd-sourcing and user-generated (I prefer the term “homemade”) content take up a lot of my thinking time. I’m reading Cass Sunstein’s book on the impact of the web on democracy and it has lots to say about how our societies need to come to terms with the shifting balance between mass and social media. Big media companies need to change their way of looking at the world to combine their skills with the conversation which takes up most of the web. I read “The Cult of the Amateur” over the summer – which I recommend as a way of testing your own assumptions about where things are going – but I don’t think the reduction in the power of elites which it describes is either as big or as important as the author makes out. Then again, I don’t subscribe to the post-modern position that the act of communicating gives equal value to everything that is said. That point of view just isn’t borne out by my day to day experience of how ideas impact on and stick in the culture. Show less«
  4. 0 comment   |  Topic: Media  |   Email to friends
  1. sunnyday asked Anthony Lilley: "Are existing authors and screenplay writers entirely unsuited psychologically to creating interactive narrative? Are video game creators better equipped or is it an entirely new art form that requires..." Show more» Are existing authors and screenplay writers entirely unsuited psychologically to creating interactive narrative? Are video game creators better equipped or is it an entirely new art form that requires a whole new set of talents? Show less«   
  2. Anthony Lilley answered this question from sunnyday in yoosk
  3. "A deeply interesting question about writers. I think the first thing is to challenge the idea that single writers are necessarily the central plank of any creative team in interactive media. The storyteller..." Show more» A deeply interesting question about writers. I think the first thing is to challenge the idea that single writers are necessarily the central plank of any creative team in interactive media. The storyteller – or experience architect – is at the heart of the process, but my view is that the lonely single creator isn’t now – and possibly never was – the state of the art. Collaboration is central to this kind of creativity. Does background matter? I don’t think either “side” has it sown up – better to be a person with interesting things to say – or more accurately, interesting questions to ask - and a perspective which takes in interactivity than the best game designer or screenplay writer, I think. Show less«
  4. 0 comment   |  Topic: Media  |   Email to friends
Unanswered questions (click to display)
  1. iberian is asking Mark Frauenfelder : "Mark,if the plug was pulled on the net tomorrow, how would it affect your life? Is it something that could happen- maybe not so suddenly but isn't there a possibility that there will be a backlash against..." Show more» "Mark,if the plug was pulled on the net tomorrow, how would it affect your life? Is it something that could happen- maybe not so suddenly but isn't there a possibility that there will be a backlash against the internet, either authoritarian, populist or religiously inspired?" Show less«
  2. 24
  3. 0 comment   |   Topic:Media  |   Email to friends   |   Sep 03 2007 10:06:18 PM
  1. ryanscribe is asking Dan Gillmor : "Dan I know you guys had to chase around for financing recently: is promoting an "objective" or alternative view of the media in the US like flogging a dead horse? Can web "2.0" even compete with the likes..." Show more» "Dan I know you guys had to chase around for financing recently: is promoting an "objective" or alternative view of the media in the US like flogging a dead horse? Can web "2.0" even compete with the likes of Fix et al? I noticed even the respected Southern Poverty Law Center castigating CNN Lou Dobbs recently over statements about immigrants - you and I may know about this, but how does the man in the street? Does he even go online?" Show less«
  2. 34
  3. 0 comment   |   Topic:Media  |   Email to friends   |   Aug 30 2007 2:45:36 PM
  1. the6thestate is asking Guy Kawasaki : "your blog is entitled 'how to change the world'- could you give us a 5 point plan that involves the use of web 2.0 technology and if you have time, one that doesn't involve any technology?!" "your blog is entitled 'how to change the world'- could you give us a 5 point plan that involves the use of web 2.0 technology and if you have time, one that doesn't involve any technology?!"
  2. 22
  3. 0 comment   |   Topic:Media  |   Email to friends   |   Aug 29 2007 10:11:09 PM
  1. iberian is asking Guy Kawasaki : "What's the most off the wall pitch you have witnessed or heard about for a web 2.0 site or application? Do VCs act as a kind of filter to stop the most experimental sites ever becoming a commercial su..." Show more» "What's the most off the wall pitch you have witnessed or heard about for a web 2.0 site or application? Do VCs act as a kind of filter to stop the most experimental sites ever becoming a commercial success?" Show less«
  2. 20
  3. 0 comment   |   Topic:Media  |   Email to friends   |   Aug 29 2007 7:43:05 PM
  1. bonzo1 is asking Mark Frauenfelder : "Is there anything special about US education and society that has resulted in this creative frenzy that is Web 2.0, or is there another explanation? Will China and India be able to catch up?" "Is there anything special about US education and society that has resulted in this creative frenzy that is Web 2.0, or is there another explanation? Will China and India be able to catch up?"
  2. 20
  3. 0 comment   |   Topic:Media  |   Email to friends   |   Aug 29 2007 4:22:53 AM
  1. bonzo1 is asking Dan Gillmor : "Can any citizen be a journalist or is training necessary and if so, how could this be delivered on a wide scale?" "Can any citizen be a journalist or is training necessary and if so, how could this be delivered on a wide scale?"
  2. 21
  3. 0 comment   |   Topic:Media  |   Email to friends   |   Aug 29 2007 4:20:41 AM
  1. sunnyday is asking Guy Kawasaki : "What will the four biggest internet companies be in 10 years time? Will Facebook be one of them?" "What will the four biggest internet companies be in 10 years time? Will Facebook be one of them?"
  2. 24
  3. 0 comment   |   Topic:Media  |   Email to friends   |   Aug 29 2007 4:18:03 AM
  1. sunnyday is asking Mark Frauenfelder : "Aren’t there just too many wonderful things and too many tinkering possibilities? Don’t you feel your head is about to be explode sometimes with the ever expanding possibilities brought to us by the I..." Show more» "Aren’t there just too many wonderful things and too many tinkering possibilities? Don’t you feel your head is about to be explode sometimes with the ever expanding possibilities brought to us by the Internet?" Show less«