Is the Internet a realm of creativity and freedom or corporatization and control?
The Internet has opened a seemingly free space where people can create, collaborate and share. But in doing so, it has transformed our ideas of individualism, privacy, commercialism, and ownership. On September 18, 2015, faculty, students and staff participated in an open seminar to consider the ways the Internet has enhanced or infringed upon political and creative freedom in our common lives.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Yochai Benkler
The Idea of the Commons and the Future of Capitalism
Yochai Benkler is the Berkman Professor of Entrepreneurial Legal Studies at Harvard Law School, and faculty co-director of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University. He is author of "The Wealth of Networks: How Social Production Transforms Markets and Freedom" (Yale University Press, 2006). In his address, Benkler explores how the set of ideas that have emerged around the commons challenge the individualistic account of late-20th century market society.
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MORNING CONVERSATION
More than Memes: The Politics of Content and Control on the Internet
This conversation responds to and build upon Yochai Benkler’s talk, and considers how the Internet is a truly free space and how it’s controlled and corporatized. The discussion is moderated by Daniel Klinghard, associate professor of political science, and features Benkler as well as Alexander Duff, Aaron Herold, and Carly Herold of the Department of Political Science, and Jorge Santos of the English Department.
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PARTICIPATORY SESSION
SWARM — Troika Ranch
Arts Transcending Borders Artists-in-Residence Dawn Stoppiello and Mark Coniglio of Troika Ranch lead a participatory exercise that helps to illuminate how creating a community in physical space mirrors and differs from experiences in a virtual space.
AFTERNOON CONVERSATION
Creators and Crowds: The Artistic Life in the Age of the Internet
How has the Internet positively and negatively affected the creation and distribution of creative work? This conversation is moderated by Thomas M. Landy, director of the McFarland Center, and features Shirish Korde of the Music Department, Matthew Gamber and Michael Beatty in Visual Arts, and Dawn Stoppiello and Mark Coniglio from Troika Ranch.
This conference is co-sponsored by the Charles Carroll Program and the Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J. Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture at 17³Ô¹ÏÍø.
