The Social Network

College is supposed to be a void of social discrimination. We're all on even ground after high school, right? Wrong. From childhood we realize, the point of the "popular" table is that only so many people can sit at it. The appeal of invite-only parties is that only so many people can go. As we get older the appeal of fraternities, sororities, and member-only clubs are the mysteries and privileges allowed only to those few selected to view the inside. Finally, the way to let the maximum amount of people know you're having fun without them is by putting it on the internet.

E.J. Westlake states about Facebook's newsfeed, "I [also] remember feeling a little strange knowing that my every move (well, almost every move) would be seen by all of my Facebook friends." What Westlake clearly does not understand is that is exactly the point. Facebook was made to broadcast one's thoughts, experiences, and photos on a continuously updating "blog," if you will, about their lives. Mark Zuckerberg's character in the documentary-style release of "The Social Network" stated about adding photos to facebook, "You don't just go to a party anymore, you go to a party with a digital camera so you and your friends can relive the party the next day."

College students have a good understanding of the features and obsession surrounding the site, but that is not the full story. The Social Network explains the difficulties connected with creating such a coveted idea so well, and on a completely different plane how obsessed people are with sharing information. Who knew 10 years ago that by creating a site where people simply share information about themselves and their lives with their friends, that the creator had the potential to become the youngest billionaire in the world? Who knew that he could get separately sued by his best friend as well as those wishing they had come up with the idea first?

It's also interesting to note that this generation has become so obsessed with the concept of Facebook that even while it is still a rapidly developing technology, the other media industries are already documenting its beginnings and creating discourse for discussion on its conception and current content. The intended audience for the movie spread further than the generation it is effecting to explain to the parents (and even grandparents) the draw for such a sight. The method of discourse through cinema also captures an interesting fact that this idea is such an integral part of our current culture that people would pay to see the story of its creation.

Finally the cultural relevance of the movie, of the sight, and of our nation's obsession with digital narrations is wild and unnerving. People no longer tell stories for value but often to hear ourselves speak. The current mindset has changed from tell information in short, concise content when necessary to pass it from one person to another, or for the joy of speaking among friends to If you're going to get the pot dirty, you might as well cook a feast. Likewise, if you're going to tell a story to get attention, you might as well tell the world.
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Westlake, E.J. "Friend Me If You Facebook." Project Muse; Scholarly Journals Online. Winter 2008: 21-38. Web Journal.

The Social Network. Directed by David Fincher. Columbia Pictures, 2010. Film.