The Unreality of Reality TV: From "After Dark" towards Twitter, Big
Data, and "Big Brother"
Organised by the Westminster Institute for Advanced Studies and Open Media
Fri, March 3, 17:00
309 Regent Street
Boardroom (RS117)
W1B 2HW London
Registration:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/unreality-of-reality-tv-from-after-dark-towards-twitter-big-data-and-big-brother-tickets-29380168876
High-velocity media, superficial news and sound bite-driven debates are
increasingly shaping our public discourse. The Brexit referendum and the
2016 U.S. election are cases in point. In the age of social media and
digital television, what potentials and limits are there for
strengthening constructive public debate? What are the roots of the
present crisis and what can be done to fight back?
Sebastian Cody (Open Media) and Christian Fuchs (University of
Westminster) will discuss transformations of television and digital
media and how they impact the possibilities for public debate. Sebastian
Cody will focus on the technical and historical context as a
practitioner; Christian Fuchs will discuss the acceleration of the
public sphere and its impacts on society.
Alternatives to superficial television are possible. The series “After
Dark” – described in the television trade press as defining “the first
10 years of Channel 4, just as “Big Brother” did the second" – ran
between 1987 and 2003. Based on principles developed for “Club 2”, a
debate programme broadcast by the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation ORF,
“After Dark” was unique in the history of British television. The
programme’s ground rules of absolute live broadcasting (no editing or
delay) and open-ended intimate discussion meant that guests' utterances
were uncensorable.
Roly Keating, former BBC controller and current Chief Executive of the
British Library, described it as "one of the great television talk
formats of all time". The subjects discussed ranged widely across
national and international news events, while also exploring personal
and private matters. As the programme faced challenges from
broadcasters, government, the legal system and various vested interests,
it was often a source of controversy.
Later iterations of ‘reality TV’ have shaped the current media culture,
which is dominated by commercial logic. News and debate are served up as
fast-paced entertainment on social media, and big data exacerbates the
speed and superficiality of news, undermining possibilities for
controversy and fruitful communication.
Sebastian Cody has been responsible for the production of “After Dark”
throughout its history. As CEO of the production company Open Media, he
has made many dozens of network television programmes, from game shows
to investigative documentaries. In 2010 his company launched an online
social history of Britain for the academic community alongside the BFI,
BBC, The National Archive and others. He acts as a consultant for
companies and NGO's and has been attached to the University of Oxford
since 2001.
Christian Fuchs is Professor at the University of Westminster, Director
of the Westminster Institute for Advanced Studies, and Director of the
Communication and Media Research Institute. His research focuses on
critical theory of society and the critical study of the media,
communication(s), and digital media’s role in society. His most recent
publications are the monographs “Critical Theory of Communication”
(University of Westminster Press, 2016) and “Social Media: A Critical
Introduction” (Sage, 2017; 2nd edition, forthcoming).
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Forthcoming conference:
The 6th ICTs and Society Conference: Digital Objects, Digital Subjects:
An Interdisciplinary Symposium on Activism, Research & Critique in the
Age of Big Data Capitalism
http://icts-and-society.net/events/digital-objects-digital-subjects-a-symposium-on-activism-research-critique-in-the-age-of-big-data-capitalism-the-6th-icts-society-conference/
With Antonio Negri, Antoinette Rouvroy, Christian Fuchs, David
Chandler, Etienne Turpin, Jack Linchuan Qiu, Jodi Dean, Kylie Jarrett,
Orit Halpern, Paolo Gerbaudo
For updates about events, calls and publications, subscribe to WIAS
newsletter:
https://www.westminster.ac.uk/newsletter
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