The Revolution Won't Be Televised

One exuberant monkey.

The changing landscape of modern media is a direct result of consumers saying, "Uh no thanks!" to the mass media entertainment complex.

By Citizen Correspondent Hazel Main

Date Posted: 06/26/07

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The changing landscape of modern media is a direct result of consumers saying, "Uh no thanks!" to the mass media entertainment complex. The argument of "Do it your self publishers and citizen journalism is destroying the fabric of our culture," is a whole other kind of fertilizer than the brand of bull I'm accustomed to online. What I smell here is the goose who wants to deprive the gander of equal good.

Andrew Keen writes, "you clearly see the significant layoffs in the music business, the collapse of retail and the massive layoffs among journalists in mainstream newspapers-the storm will quickly engulf the television, the movie industry, and ultimately, even the publishing industry. All these are consequences of the digital revolution."

Revolutions do not occur in vacuums; revolution comes when one thing or ideal won't let go once its time has come and gone.

Andrew Keen describes self publishers as exuberant monkeys in his 7-page, exuberant article: How The Internet And Innocence Kill Culture

I find his description fascinating, as I admire the inventiveness and intelligence of monkeys.

Let's face it, media is no longer what it was 30 years ago, or even 50 years ago. It's become a racket, it's become corporate, and now it's changing again.

This is the natural life cycle of any thing. Should we mourn the end of smoke signals and telegrams because of the advent of telephones and faxes? Should we bring back the rotary dialer?

Revolution is necessary for culture to refine itself, expand and, most importantly, to survive. And seriously, after the last Paris Hilton fiasco, can anyone really doubt the time for revolution is now?