Key Terms and Main Idea
- Algorithmic culture > refer to the the ways in which computers, running complex mathematical formulae, engage in what’s often considered to be the traditional work of culture: the sorting, classifying, and hierarchizing of people, places, objects, and ideas.
- Filter > a porous device for removing impurities or solid particles from a liquid or gas passed through it.
- Norms > something that is usual, typical, or standard.
- Normative discursive strategies > a standard norm of digressing from one subject to another with specific strategy.
- Terministic screens > the terms in our language through which our understanding of the world is filtered.
- Cliche > a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought.
Main Idea
The main idea throughout the entirety of chapter two is the idea that there are specific filters placed on us and society, including literal, technological, and cultural filters, along with other mainstream views of the ways “filters” affect the society.
Summary
The author begins by describing filters in general, such as social media filters, and then actual literal filters. The definition of filters given said, “To process or reformat (data) using a filter esp. so as to remove unwanted content.” Things such as coffee filters, water filters, oil filters, air filters, and paper towels are all examples of the literal filters described in the definition stated previously. This literal meaning is where the societal views (filters) conception was derived. This leads into the technological and cultural filters, which the author describes a bit later in the text. Technological filters are able to change writing technique, picture quality, and change others’ perspectives of ourselves. This includes Instagram filters, the limit of 140 characters on twitter, photo editing apps (such that you can make your teeth brighter or your skin tanner), and so many others. Cultural filters are ideas, perceptions, and pressures of society. These cultural norms tend to define the actions of people in a society. The author later explains the aestheticizing, anesthetizing, and defamiliarizing of filters, what technology can do, and the genres of filters, which I thought of lesser importance in the main idea. The overall idea throughout chapter two deals with filters and what their effect is on society.
Analysis
The main point and idea that I found throughout chapter two, was the separation and comparison between literal, technological and cultural filters, and filters in general and their relativity to society. There were points that stated that filters (whatever they may be) can help and hurt us. An example given in the text was the baby book and its filter on us. Baby books are typically prearranged, giving us a format of what to document about a baby, such as its first tooth, first birthday, first steps, etc., but that does not include any of the negative moments that make us who we are. It filters out the bad and creates an image for others to perceive as an only happy and content upbringing. This baby book works just as Instagram filters do; allowing us to create an image that we want people to perceive in a certain way, such that we have perfect skin tones and/or perfect, white teeth. I believe many of the points made by the author are valuable, and relatable to mostly everyone in this world.
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