Why am I not surprised?

Madeline MoyCOM 546

“The creation and near-universal adoption of the remote control arguably

marks the beginning of the era of the personalization of

technology.”

Egocasting: the thoroughly personalized

and extremely narrow pursuit of one’s personal taste

“The more control we can exercise over what we see

and hear, the less prepared we are to be surprised.”

Discussion questions

• What was the supervening social necessity for the remote control?

• If you have a DVR, how has it changed your viewing habits?

• What will the effect be on American society if the next generation grows up without the capacity to be surprised?

Credits

• Rosen, C. (2005). The age of egocasting. The New Atlantis, 7, 51-72.

• “Women in a bright sweater being bored,” Microsoft Office Images

• “Teenage boy lying on couch,” Microsoft Office Images