Thursday, 25 October 2012

Consuming Content


Consuming content – the latest annoying phrase that seems to obscure rather than clarify what practices might actually be employed when someone “consumes content on an iPad” or “uses their Galaxy III for content consumption”.  Do people “consume” digital media, as cows might graze in a grassy field? Do cows reflect upon that which they chew?

It seems to me that the notion of “consuming content” involves some degree of passivity, as it is often contrasted with “content production”. Apparently smartphones or touch screen computers are ill suited for the task of “content production” but well suited for passive recipiency of content that has been produced.

Or, does “consuming content” actually involve something a little more like “analysis” on the part of the consumer?

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