In week 2, we observed the distinction between old and new media, if such distinction exists. Natale’s outlines that ‘old media’ is only a constructed perception of a technology in ‘There Are No Old Media’ (2016). However, this makes me wonder, who has shaped this perception surrounding old and new media? How would this serve companies and individuals?

Planned obsolescence, over consumption and capitalism come to mind. If the ‘older’ models of the iPhone function perfectly, why do we feel as if they have become outdated? I feel that it is a twisted (yet well executed) ploy to get us to purchase the latest technology, growing the wealth of the major corporations further. The terms old and new media now feels predatory.

Harvey Salgo (2016) speaks to the environmental repercussions of the old vs new media mindset, and the ways the overconsumption of technology exacerbates climate change. He sates that ‘the market strategy built around rapid style change and shoddy commodities has deep ecological significance especially as it pertains to resource use’ (Salgo 2016, pg 27) speaking to the demand the mind set of old and new has put on production and thus is depletion of our natural resources.

And yet in class I could see that my continuous acquisition of Nintendo consoles over my life contributes to this. The DS Lite, the 3Ds, the Wii and The Switch? Why did I feel the need to buy all of them when they serve the same purpose, and even host the same game? I am left with this question.

~253 Words

• Natale, S 2016, ‘There Are No Old Media’, Journal of Communication, Vol 66 (4): 585-603
• Salgo, H 2016, ‘The Obsolescence of Growth: Capitalism and the Environmental Crisis’, Review of Radical Political Economics, Vol 5 (3), pg 26-45.
• TimeToast (Date Unknown) Nintendo Handheld Consoles, TimeToast website, accessed 10 March 2023, Header Image and Hyperlink, <https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/nintendo-consoles-923c4449-667d-4c75-b6aa-d480458c8d96>