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Magic and Loss
Magic and Loss: The Internet as Art | Virginia Heffernan
6 posts | 5 read | 11 to read
Just as Susan Sontag did for photography and Marshall McLuhan did for television, Virginia Heffernan (called one of the best living writers of English prose) reveals the logic and aesthetics behind the Internet. Since its inception, the Internet has morphed from merely an extension of traditional media into its own full-fledged civilization. It is among mankinds great masterpiecesa massive work of art. As an idea, it rivals monotheism. We all inhabit this fascinating place. But its deep logic, its cultural potential, and its societal impact often elude us. In this deep and thoughtful book, Virginia Heffernan presents an original and far-reaching analysis of what the Internet is and does. Life online, in the highly visual, social, portable, and global incarnation rewards certain virtues. The new medium favors speed, accuracy, wit, prolificacy, and versatility, and its form and functions are changing how we perceive, experience, and understand the world.
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review
simonbooks
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Pickpick

"Heffernan is a gleeful trickster, a semiotics fan with an unabashed sweet tooth for pop culture...MAGIC BRINGS JOY [in this] enjoyable snapshot."— The New York Times

9 likes1 stack add
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LauraBeth
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When you try and wonder how this got on your TBR pile. At some point I noted, "I'd like to read that." So here we are reading it. I am nothing if not loyal to my TBR stack - even when I can't remember how it got there ?Meanwhile Bitsy is worn out from a 4 mile walk because I kept listening to audiobooks. She's probably dreaming about when she was back at the shelter and didn't have an annoying lady always saying, "just one more mile..."

Mimi28 Bitsy is lucky to have you, and she's smiling in her sleep! 😊 8y
valeriegeary Haha! No way! She's probably dreaming about all the places you're going to take her tomorrow! 8y
Litlady Awww .. sweet Bitsy girl. ❤️💜💙 🐶🐾 8y
See All 17 Comments
Hooked_on_books Rescue dogs rock! 🐶💙 8y
MemoirsForMe 😂😂😂 Hang in there, Bitsy 8y
Laura317 Bitsy. 💜💜💜 8y
Yournewfriendsams Love Bitsy pics ❤️ 8y
Kimzey Sweet dreams, Bitsy! 💤 8y
SaraFair So that is how I get myself to go further? I usually listen to podcasts- I guess too short. Go girl! 8y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Bitsy looks like "don't wake me until tomorrow" 8y
LauraBeth @Mimi28 not as lucky as Ozzie 😻 8y
LauraBeth @valeriegeary I dunno...I did wake her up at 5:30 this morning to go walking...😀🐶 8y
LauraBeth @Litlady, @laura317, @Yournewfriendsams, @Kimzey Bitsy ❤️s her Litten family 🐶 8y
LauraBeth @Hooked_on_books they do!! 🐶❤️ 8y
LauraBeth @UwannaPublishme 😂😂😂 8y
LauraBeth @SaraFair yes! Try the audiobooks - you'll be tempted to walk further 😀 8y
LauraBeth @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled.com I woke her up at 5:30 this morn to go walking - no rest for the weary 😀 8y
154 likes2 stack adds17 comments
review
Hushlander
Bailedbailed

This book was not a good fit for me! Heffernan was very journalist-y, and I wanted and was expecting something more academic-y. Also I get that you're quoting someone else who is talking about how poor people love their phones, but the digital divide is a real thing and maybe you could address it? Instead of talking about how it made you feel sad to think you might have something in common with poor folks?

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Hushlander
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Is the only reason that more women are playing games because of the "explosion of mobile games that have drawn in the crossword and Sudoku crowd"? That's pretty reductionist, and implies that the majority of women gamers are Johnny come lately casual gamers. I would disagree - lots of female gamers I know play FPS, or adventure games. I think the Wii and 3DS, with their low price and glut of games, did way more. ?

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charliemarlowe
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Pickpick

I noticed the advanced reading copy pop up on my Twitter feed! It looks excellent! It's next up on my TBR list!

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daviewheeler
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Reading about how the Internet works and thought I should document it on the Internet. This is how meta works, right?

4 likes3 stack adds