Brutality has found a new outlet in the internet- an opportunity to disgrace a member of public of celebrity under complete anonymity. Twitter has become a sanctuary from normality. But what is considered an ‘internet troll’ in 2013- the definition is ever changing. Online brutality has become an epidemic, with no clear consequences for such actions. What is to blame for this epidemic? The obvious answer would be anonymity- but this is a simple answer to a complex problem. In turn research has shown that anonymity does not alter self-awareness. It would seem that trolls hold the same traits on and offline. Is the answer of hidden identity used to mask a brutal society? Even ordinary feedback can seem abusive when amplified by a massive crowd. It is clear the internet generation are brutally honest, in particular online- but how can this be changed?
Blame Culture (n) – the tendency to look for one person or organization that can be held responsible for a bad state of affairs. Since the dawn of time we’ve assigned unseen causes to effects that we cannot explain. Many psychologists have argued this is in an effort to protect ourselves, in particular our desired self-image. ‘Don’t blame us, blame our parents!’ It would seem that the idea of blame fuels youth culture- searching for a scapegoat for a feeling of oppression. But is this scapegoat always justified, or do we continually look for someone to blame? As a generation launched into the work, in the heart of a recession, it is inevitable the younger generation feel oppressed, vulnerable- looking for a scapegoat? This feeling or oppression manifests itself as anger, brutality. Who is to blame? It could be said that, blame should fall on ones-self. Is it your responsible to carve your own path?
89plus is a long-term, international, multi-platform research project co-founded by Simon Castets and Hans Ulrich Obrist. It is conceived as a mapping of the generation born in or after 1989. Without forecasting artistic trends or predicting future creation, 89plus manifests itself through panels, books, periodicals and exhibitions, bringing together individuals from a generation whose voices are only starting to be heard, yet which makes up almost half of the world’s population. Marked by several paradigm-shifting events, the year 1989 saw the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the start of the post-Cold War period; the introduction of the World Wide Web and the beginning of the universal availability of the Internet, as well as the orbit of the first Global Positioning System satellite. Positing a relationship between these world-changing events and creative production at large, 89plus introduces the work of some of this generation’s most inspiring protagonists.
As the first generation to grow up with the Internet, no brand encapsulates the Internet generation more so than ASOS. The brand marks itself as, the ‘number one global online fashion destination for 20 something’s’. Not only does ASOS encapsulate youth, it makes strives to harness young talents with annual graduate schemes, in a variety of different sector of the business. Following success at Cannes Lion, credited for their Christmas Best Night Ever Campaign, ASOS are not shy to make bold, grand advertising campaigns that take advantage of the digital platform they possess.
The Youth of today is brutal; don’t play the blame game- the future is yours.