I suppose you could say that the blog is the most blatant form of "Mesmerization" - its the final outcome. The final delivery of information, content and ideas sourced and picked up elsewhere. Us the "infected", the blogger expresses what we have found, enjoyed, learned and seen; thus publishing it for others to transmit, spread, preach and poach. Whether this is constructive or not is up for debate, and often results in "hysteria" and "information chaos".
Gee Thompson's ambitious book 'Mesmerization' discusses the theory of memes across the internet and how our mistrust of scientific theory and conventional media outlets has left us suggestible. Rather than being better informed we are now left drowning in a sea of misinformed gibberish.
This argument can also be counterbalanced within the cultural and creative remits. We are now better informed, through more reliable sources about the cultural capital we seek out. First hand knowledge about whats going on, who's watching what, who listens to this artist or that artist, which galleries are popular which aritist is "Mr or Mrs Now." Diasporic cultural movements and scenes are easier to digest and understand. Montages of music, fashion, art and style become tangible through the remit of the blog.
I'm yet to read Thompson's book, but viral initiatives are at the forefront of communication right now, Marketers are forever demanding a Viral Campaign; "give me something thats funny, violently shocking, or sexy.." I think the old Marketers are missing the point in their demands for said campaigns, as brash explicit content is not necessarily what creates a "buzz." Campaigns are intrinsically viral due to the way in which we now communicate and spread knowledge, all online communication through the blog format is viral, if you read my somewhat coherent discussion about Thompson's book and post it, then that is a form of "viral" activity.
Perhaps I'm wrong, who knows, perhaps once I've read Thompson's book fully I'll be able to provide more clarity to this issue, but either way this new cultural information age is fascinating and anyone who attempts to interpret, critique its nature and understand how it is rapidly developing, should be duly recognized with some admiration. You could just simply apply Godin and Gladwell and the like to this new age and I'm sure distinctions and theories could be made.
Anyways you can purchase 'Mesmerization' here
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