TyG on Poster & Jenkins - Damn the DMCA Torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead!

Both Mark Poster and Henry Jenkins are my heroes! Finally, essays that switch on the virtual light bulb in the dark attic of my mind!

Poster's position that "Property rights are put into doubt when information is set free of its material integument [covering, coating, enclosure] to move and to multiply in cyberspace with few constraints" is echoed in Jenkins amazing treatise on the evolution of "media convergence" and the loss of folk-culture that has resulted from the past fifty years of recording-industry domination.

The Digital Media Copyright Act (DMCA) is oppressing creativity in yet another effort by Big Media Money to mandate the marketplace. As CNet Chief political news correspondent, Declan McCullagh explains in his 2002 article "Debunking DMCA Myths", "The DMCA is both an egregious law and a brazen power grab by Hollywood, the music industry and software companies. It is probably unconstitutional. It creates unnecessary federal crimes, cedes too much authority to copyright holders, and should be unceremoniously tossed out by the courts." In other words, it suppresses the people's freedom of expression in favor of fattening the already-obese entertainment industry. Depressing.

On the other hand, Jenkins' enlightening, in-depth exploration of fan-produced media and the transition of one-way, Hollywood-produced, media-sprecht, into an interactive dialogue gives me a greater hope for the future of freedom -- not just in entertainment, but in democracy itself (yes, big words, but stay tuned).

As Dr.(not)Rog echoed recently, the commentary (news bloggers) is creating the authority (media outlets). There is a very real chance for this explosion of interactivity (blogging, fan films, and the like) to evolve into a truer version of democracy than has been seen since ancient Greece.

For instance, the people of Florida have been acting on their opinions (however well-informed they may or may not be) in passing constitutional amendments for such interesting ideas as high-speed rail and protection of young pigs. Several other states have made the move into online voting. Combine a connected populace with web-voting and you have the foundation for a revolutionary amount of freedom, a town-hall model that, with further refinements, could result in the affected members of society actually getting to choose for themselves how they will be impacted.

Our society is fast moving into the Max Headroom world of "20 minutes into the future," where the media determines not just political leadership, but also societal directives. IF the voters inform and educate themselves about the issues, this will turn into a constructive, positive thing. If the majority simply continue feeding at the vast entertainment trough, then it could be very scary -- Bart Simpson for President?