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Chapter

Chapter
Spectacle and Distrust
DOI link for Spectacle and Distrust
Spectacle and Distrust book
Spectacle and Distrust
DOI link for Spectacle and Distrust
Spectacle and Distrust book
ABSTRACT
This chapter provides two norms that have emerged from the increased presence of ubiquitous digital technologies in our daily lives: spectacle and distrust. It argues that spectacle and distrust have emerged alongside the growth of large-scale, unregulated, and increasingly invasive connective networks that are designed to promote short, popular, and sensational content to like-minded communities. One key quality of media spectacle in digital culture is the extent to which online communities of like-minded citizens can create, extend, sustain, and spread spectacle with little support from mainstream media. Memes also allow individuals to bring their own meaning to an image, re-creating or "remixing" original content to generate new insights and meanings. The normalization of spectacle has been paralleled by a crisis of legitimacy. Although the growth of new media conglomerates and social networks has contributed to increased media distrust and a normalization of spectacle, the potential of these technologies has been well documented.