The Spectacle of Social Media
Yijin Wang
Social media platforms offer various interaction and information dissemination channels, exposing people to endless
content that may cause numerous behavioral problems. Within the framework of the "The Society of the Spectacle," a
notion coined by Guy Debord, spectacle denotes the condition in which people have lost their ability to criticize the
information presented in the media and instead numbly recognize and accept what they see. The spectacle continues on
contemporary digital media platforms. Through design work, I hope the audiences will become aware of, understand, and
gradually consider the negative aspects of the relationship between people and social media.
Diagram of Spectacle
Diagram of Spectacle depicts the dynamics of social media through a diagram featuring one large and three smaller interlocking circles against a green backdrop. The circles symbolize the fluid interaction of people, information, and communication. An overlay of a mosaic-blurred image of a person viewing a video illustrates the pervasive spectacle in digital lives.
Dissemination Loop
Dissemination Loop, a participant's video of the Tossing Game, evolves as it's mimicked and shared through social media, leading to varied interpretations and actions. This collection of videos, transformed into a motion graphic, forms a loop highlighting the role of individuals as both disseminators and interpreters of information.
Tossing and Seeking
The Tossing Game is an interactive installation where players toss rings at a target to trigger an 'encouragement video' on a monitor. Highlighting the pursuit of virtual approval, the game evokes the shallow rewards of social media, prompting reflection on the value of digital accolades and external validation.
