Syzlak’s SEM

Until the other day, i had never heard of Andrew Keen, and i was happy. Today, i am incensed with rage (exaggerating, but still pissy) at the fact this man exists. In a recent interview with Stephen Colbert, Andy (i refuse to acknowledge him with the simplest of titles “Mr.”), fully admits to being an elitist and that the Nazis were better than the web. Read that one again. He claims that “the internet is trivializing culture” because people like me are allowed to post videos, music, and opinions on the web (c’mon, like i wasn’t going to use this as an opportunity to shill my own wares).

Andy’s stance bothers me for multiple reasons.

1. He claims the Nazis didn’t put artists out of work.
   • apparently there were no artists in concentration camps
2. He also recently questioned whether he was a Nazi.
   • Yup.
3. He claims the internet is stealing culture/making it harder for artists to earn a living
   • this seems entirely backwards. First of all, i do not understand who supposedly owns culture by his definition. i was under the impression that culture comes from a society at large
   • Secondly, how does a virtual soapbox make it harder for artists to earn a living? As a musician, i am only assisted by the fact that the internet allows me to broadcast my music, it led my band to a handful of gigs and word of mouth. i would think that this also has assisted painters, poets, etc. by allowing a world-wide venue to distribute (read: sell!!!) their goods that was previously unavailable. Logic can be used to infer that these artists are then able to get into more galleries, readings, etc. because of their internet popularity.
   • How is it that he believes the internet is stealing culture? Hell, does that even make any sense? Yes, many of the great works of art have been created for money; however, there have been more done out of expression than anything else. A Hopi rug is considered culture. So is “Barracuda” by Heart (i have no idea why). One was done for money, one was done for warmth, but both are culturally significant of their respective societies.
4. He’s an elitist, and claims that amateurs don’t create great culture
   • Well shit. He’s got me there. i guess since i didn’t go to culture school, then i’m an amateur.
5. He tries (during the interview) to project the fact that Stephen Colbert is not making money online
   • My ass. Seriously, at this point Andy just looks a fool. The Colbert Report website has many ads, the Comedy Central Video page has ads. Hell, one could even consider the “stealing” of the Colbert Report and subsequent posting of episode snippets as branding. Was it licensed? No. Did it make me want to watch the Colbert Report? Yes.
6. He complains that anonymous bloggers are doing the bidding of foreign governments.
   • i wonder if that includes himself…
7. Here’s a quote from Andy about the internet
   

   It worships the creative amateur: the self-taught filmmaker, the dorm-room musician, the unpublished writer. It suggests that everyone–even the most poorly educated and inarticulate amongst us–can and should use digital media to express and realize themselves. Web 2.0 ‘empowers’ our creativity, it ‘democratizes’ media, it ‘levels the playing field’ between experts and amateurs. The enemy of Web 2.0 is ‘elitist’ traditional media.

   • It is dreadful to live in a world of free will isn’t it? Where each one of us can express ourselves in our own ways. Let it be known that i am the first one to cast judgment on those that i feel should keep their opinions to themselves (this article is evidence); however, i do not fault them for trying. Humans are both inherently unique and absurdly uninteresting; it’s life, it’s society, it’s culture.
8. i’m pretty sure he’s just upset about the audiocafe.com bust during the dot-com days
   • i was going to go for a long winded explanation of just how poorly this worked out for ol’ Andy, but as i was searching for a reference i found a site that had already done this much better than i was going to.

There is one point where i agree with Andy. We need real, qualified journalists to resurface and provide the world with facts. We need writers to expose government actions, provide us with insight on world news, keep us abreast on civil change, commerce, finance and technology.

   
   
Good thing there are bloggers out there.

Tags: news