Friday, 21 October 2016

Information and Commodification

Dan Schiller's reading is interesting because it is something we are all currently experiencing in some form. The idea that information can be both a resource and commodity is valuable because there are so many layers to information being commodified. When using the example of a book in lecture, Professor Herman outlined how information is both a resource and a commodity. A book is useful in terms of enhancing our knowledge, once we read and interpret the information the book becomes a resource. A book and information within becomes a commodity when the book changes hands, for instance when the author sells to publishing company.

Media is used today in various outlets to reach target audiences. Social media allows individuals today to express themselves online. Outlets such as Facebook, Twitter and Spotify use one's browsing history to dictate what advertisements you will see when online. This marketing scheme allows for companies to process information, turn it into knowledge to then target their audience. These advertising companies use information as a commodity in order to further their capitalistic goals.

Another way I felt could be related to society today is an experience I had over the summer while working at a consulting firm. A job I was tasked with was research on potential partners for various projects. I would research other firms and consultants and find areas where they would be of value to our company. This process allowed for information to hold a use value but also an exchange value as upon partnership and completion of a project both firms attained value.

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