Participatory Media

This book explores the rhetoric and reality of digital visualculture. It agues that contemporary media is characterised byunique real-time forms that demand qualitatively distinct viewingrelations. An ambitious work of historical and theoreticalresearch, the phenomenon of media participation is considered inrelation to defining characteristics of digital capitalism, and itsprevailing modes of performative individualisation. The bookexplores a series of media genres (the news, reality entertainmentreality television, computer games, and media art) to argue thatwhat is at stake in the contemporary media sphere is nothing lessthan our relation to mortality and otherness. A genuine incursioninto vital and ongoing conditions of cultural convergence, thisbook will appeal to media and cultural theorists as well as arthistorians, and students of visual culture.