technoculture314-09

Copyright and new media is definitely a tough one. What makes it difficult is that downloading and sharing information has become culturally instituted among our generation and considered a ‘normal’ thing to do. I think this is the case due to the anonymity and obscurity of the internet – it’s that mentality of ‘if so many others are doing it, there’s no way I’ll get caught’. Those that are caught often use the idea that ‘everyone does it’ as their argument. We live in a ‘culture of copies’ where the same information is available from a range of sources. Online we are faced with the decision (for example with music) – pay for a song OR get the exact same song for free – it seems (to me at least) only logical as to what option is better from a consumer perspective. Yes, from an industry perspective those who create media (artists, producers, writers etc) suffer financially - but their suffering has little impact on the lives of consumers, which is why I think we tend to not care that much.

Apart from the obvious fact of not having to pay for content, the popularity of downloading media illegally is also linked to what I like to think of as a growing 'Low Res Generation'. With the expansion of sites like Youtube and the ability to watch television shows on sites such as Channel131, people tend to favour immediacy over quality. No longer do people seem to care about watching movies at the cinema or watching shows on the actual television – if downloading means having the ‘latest’ content (particularly the case in NZ with American movies and TV shows) or having access to media not available to you locally, people will acquire this media no matter the quality or legality.