The rise of online and social media has dramatically transformed almost every aspect of our lives – from the way we laugh to how we conduct intimate conversations. How do we make sense of and navigate the pleasures and perils of life online amid relentless technological developments?

In a six-part series of free public talks, experts from Massey University’s communication and media studies programmes will offer their insights into how new forms of online communication have altered the way we think about topics such as humour, censorship, flirting, and more.

Dr Nick Holm, a lecturer in cultural studies specialising in the study of humour, will launch the six-part series, titled Our Lives Online, in Wellington next week with a talk on how the way we laugh has changed in an online world. He will consider the future of humour in an era of technological and economic change, referencing the role of cute cat videos, The Simpsons’ steamed hams meme and other viral YouTube wonders.

The rise of social media and the world wide web has had a profound impact on the way humour is produced, distributed and enjoyed, he says. No longer dominated by network sitcoms and Hollywood franchises, “popular comedy has become more diverse, more political and straight-up weirder”.

Dr Holm says social media and the online world in general has “become a place where comedy can be reason enough to do something or take a particular political position. ‘Doing it for the ‘lulz’ [fun, laughter and amusement] isn’t simply a provocation, it’s increasingly the basis for a whole philosophy of life.”

Can we still flirt?

In her talk, media studies lecturer Dr Kyra Clarke will explore the notion of ethical flirting via messaging.
At a time when scandals can lead to queries regarding practices of flirting, and news articles begin with quotes such as “I can’t flirt anymore”, she says it is useful to think about “the ways in which flirting offers an opportunity to rehearse ethical practices of relating to others”.

She will explore the intimacy implicit in contemporary teen film representations of online interactions. “As teen films demonstrate, flirting can be playful, uncertain or detached; it is not always good or pleasant, it can be unethical and lack mutuality and it can provide a starting point for what we might see as fun as well as complexities and difficulties.”

While scandal and issues around #metoo are discussed in the media, Dr Clarke says there is not a lot of academic literature on flirting. To address this, she is working on a book with three academics in Australia “to consider some of the theories and critiques of flirting and propose some new ways to talk about the practice and explore how it is being represented in popular culture”.

Dr Kevin Veale, a lecturer in media studies with an interest in storytelling across diverse platforms, will focus on the issue of online abuse and harassment. Social media platforms, he says, “have no motivation to stop online harassment and abuse, and in some circumstances can profit from it”.

Dr Claire Henry, a lecturer in digital media production and specialist in controversial film genres (exploitation, rape-revenge, and pornography) will discuss how our greater access to entertainment media via streaming services and video-sharing sites has posed challenges for classification systems in New Zealand and around the world. Questions she will explore include; are age restrictions more or less important than they used to be? Does the solution to the problems posed by evolving technology and viewing habits lie in new/revised legislation, or are there alternative ways to protect and inform media consumers beyond classification and censorship as we’ve known it?

Fun with robots

Dr Luk Swiatek, a lecturer in communication and public relations in the School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing, will talk on AI (artificial intelligence,) and how its increasing prevalence and sophistication might affect job security, professional ethics and creativity in the future of work.

“When it comes to communication (and especially communication-related jobs), most people link AI to robots,” Dr Swiatek says. “However, my research is helping us see that the implications for communication professionals are much broader and go well beyond robots.”

AI might even make work more fun, he adds. “The future is full of interesting possibilities that the research has explored.”

Associate Professor Sean Phelan, a lecturer in the School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing, will take a critical look at last year’s political scandal surrounding the resignation of former Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei and that played out across mainstream and social media.

The case, he says, points to a shift where “journalists working for traditional media outlets are forced to acknowledge critiques of their practice that are articulated on platforms like Twitter, even when some journalists are inclined to be dismissive of “social media” and the “Twitteratti”.

Dr Phelan says it’s important to think critically about this case for different reasons. “First, a Māori woman MP told a personal story about her time on welfare that ultimately resulted in her leaving parliament. Journalists didn’t create the controversy out of nothing, but I think it’s impossible to understand how the whole drama unfolded without highlighting the role played by media reporting, especially media commentary. Second, the Turei case isn’t the first time we’ve seen these kinds of conflicts between mainstream media and social media and we will undoubtedly see more.”

Organiser Dr Holm says the series is designed to be informal and accessible, and he hopes people will come along to enjoy, learn and think in the relaxed environment of The Rogue and Vagabond bar, 18 Garrett Street, Wellington starting at 7.30pm.
Programme:

September 10
From LOL Cats to Steamed Hams: The Evolution of Online Humour (Nick Holm).

September 24
Netflix, YouTube, and the End of Censorship (Claire Henry).

October 8
Online Abuse and the Politics of Social Media (Kevin Veale).

October 15
Artificial Intelligence and Communication: Fun Times Ahead (Luk Swiatek)

November 5
Journalism, online critique and the resignation of Metiria Turei (Sean Phelan)

November 19
Messaging, Flirting? Exploring Digital Representations of Intimacy (Kyra Clarke)

Check out details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/308837396537357/

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