CCT 300: Critical Analysis of Media Class 8: Identity and Privacy

Identity and Privacy Mass media - mass audience - isolating perhaps but private New media - emphasis on data structure, processing and content manipulation allows for individual expression - but also individual tracking Mass media - mass audience - isolating perhaps but private New media - emphasis on data structure, processing and content manipulation allows for individual expression - but also individual tracking

Trust Survey City TV, Toronto Star, CNN, Daily Show/Colbert Report, BBC most consulted sources Daily Show most trusted of above (!), then City, Star, Colbert, BBC,CNN Friends/family trusted source Only 4 hours/week on news/information average (!) City TV, Toronto Star, CNN, Daily Show/Colbert Report, BBC most consulted sources Daily Show most trusted of above (!), then City, Star, Colbert, BBC,CNN Friends/family trusted source Only 4 hours/week on news/information average (!)

Identity and Media Mass media - identity constructed in consumer terms, often vague Niche media - a bit more structured but also certain identities privileged over others - e.g., 500 channel universe Mass media - identity constructed in consumer terms, often vague Niche media - a bit more structured but also certain identities privileged over others - e.g., 500 channel universe

Media Stereotyping Ethnic/visible minorities (White Male) People of Privilege Aboriginal peoples Girls and Women Gays/Lesbians awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotypin g/index.cfm Ethnic/visible minorities (White Male) People of Privilege Aboriginal peoples Girls and Women Gays/Lesbians awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotypin g/index.cfm

Activity What types of stereotypes exist in media portrayal of these groups? How do stereotypes influence media representation? Examples of stereotype change - how, why? What types of stereotypes exist in media portrayal of these groups? How do stereotypes influence media representation? Examples of stereotype change - how, why?

Identity and New Media Possibility for identity construction and identity play (Turkle) Creates perception of anonymity (but only perception?) where cues invoking stereotypes can be muted Possibility for identity construction and identity play (Turkle) Creates perception of anonymity (but only perception?) where cues invoking stereotypes can be muted

But… Stereotypical representations still common Gender stereotypes in video games (similar to comics - Lara Croft ex.) Stereotype play in online chat examples Stereotypical representations still common Gender stereotypes in video games (similar to comics - Lara Croft ex.) Stereotype play in online chat examples

Privacy and Surveillance Individuated transactions can be and are monitored - new media make surveillance more efficient Enforcement haphazard - both panopticon effect and simple logistics Not just government but corporate - workplace surveillance and rights of workers to associate Individuated transactions can be and are monitored - new media make surveillance more efficient Enforcement haphazard - both panopticon effect and simple logistics Not just government but corporate - workplace surveillance and rights of workers to associate

Ex: face recognition analysis Technologies to scan and detect faces in a crowd Preliminary systems already exist - potential uses in analysis of closed- circuit surveillance, forensic science, military/intelligence Technologies to scan and detect faces in a crowd Preliminary systems already exist - potential uses in analysis of closed- circuit surveillance, forensic science, military/intelligence

Problems Abuse - who controls information? For what purposes is it collected? Cross-referencing - links to biometrics? Banking data? Advertising? Voyeurism from afar - violation of shared norms of public spaces False sense of security - not “needle in haystack” technology, false positives, probability of loopholes Abuse - who controls information? For what purposes is it collected? Cross-referencing - links to biometrics? Banking data? Advertising? Voyeurism from afar - violation of shared norms of public spaces False sense of security - not “needle in haystack” technology, false positives, probability of loopholes

Privacy and 9/11 American reaction to 9/11 swift and disturbing - USA Patriot Act, Military Commissions Act Surveillance of communication and artefact alike; combined with secrecy in name of national security USA and UK now rank near bottom on privacy and surveillance issues: icle.shtml?cmd[347]=x icle.shtml?cmd[347]=x American reaction to 9/11 swift and disturbing - USA Patriot Act, Military Commissions Act Surveillance of communication and artefact alike; combined with secrecy in name of national security USA and UK now rank near bottom on privacy and surveillance issues: icle.shtml?cmd[347]=x icle.shtml?cmd[347]=x

Next Week…. A closer look at the potential and the hype around the Internet Proposal feedback A closer look at the potential and the hype around the Internet Proposal feedback