“Society of the Spectacle” – Guy Debord
In the essay “Society of the Spectacle”, Debord lays out a series of definitions, or statements in numerical order to describe what spectacle is. He states that spectacle is the “heart of unrealism of the real society”. Different forms of spectacle; propaganda, advertisements, or consumption of entertainment define what spectacle is in the “present model of socially dominant life”. I believe Debord’s statement to be true. Spectacle often is used as a veil or distraction from everyday life. This veil is used to cover up the fact that separation is the alpha and the omega of spectacle. Debord states “the institutionalization of the social division of labor, the formation of classes, had constructed a first sacred contemplation, the mythical order with which ever power covers itself from the beginning.
“Preliminary Problems in Constructing a Situation” – Guy Debord
In the article “Preliminary Problems in Constructing a Situation”, Debord finds interest in what he calls a “new reality” that is engendered by situationist constructions. He explains how each person must discover their own specific ambiances in or to fulfill themselves. Elements of these things could then be dynamized in or to construct situations. The idea that one person is the “director” of a situation is fairly interesting. The term director is used across a wide spectrum of professions, specifically movies. A person who directs a movie is responsible for constructing many situations. Many of these situations are fake, but are shot in a way that would make us believe that they were real.
“From Plans and Situated Actions” – Lucy Suchman
In the article “From Plans and Situated Actions”, Lucy Suchman describes the interaction between people and machines by stating that these “artifacts” are interactive. The shared understanding between the two implies that there is mutual intelligibility. The computer as an artifact is designed for a purpose. That purpose is for interaction with a user, where the computer reacts in real time to each users actions.
