27. New Technologies
Judd Ruggill (University of Arizona), Ken McAllister (University of Arizona); participants: Christopher Hanson (University of Southern California), Lou Rutigliano (University of Texas at Austin), Caitlin Benson-Allott (Cornell University), moderator: Carly Kocurek (University of Texas at Austin)

One advantage of studying media during this time of rapid technological expansion is that it permits scholars to see with particular clarity how material artifacts of the past are linked to those of the future. As the household penetration of digital media technologies increases, and as media technologies are consolidated into fewer devices (cell phones that play television episodes; HD/Blu-Ray disks storing entire television show seasons along with a host of extras; video games based on popular television dramas and comedies), what concerns you most about this proliferation and convergence of new media? What do think media scholars should remember about media’s many pasts as they work to explain media’s innumerable presents and futures?

Caetlin Benson-Allott's Response

Lou Rutigliano's Response

Christopher Hanson's Response