Where did you want to go yesterday?
I wrote this review of a Windows 98 commercial for a class this summer and think it fits the theme of internet history, which JP cites as inspiration/purpose for this website in the "About" section. Also fits the theme of my page.
Growing up, I watched old computer commercials on YouTube; other than just being a weird kid, I found them interesting and even inspiring. The creative styles were eclectic, and most of these commercials focused on the new horizons that one could explore with computers, and how computers themselves were engines of progress. Of course, I wasn't explicitly aware of the symbolism at the time, but it certainly made an impact on me. For a kid who lived in a town of five hundred, few friends, and fewer ideas, my early worldview was partially made by this tech-centered exposure.
The commercial starts by asking "Where do you want to go today?", before jumping into a smorgasbord display of all that Windows 98 is capable of; wherever you want to go, Windows 98 can take you there. Space travel, ancient history, foreign languages, gaming, simulations, chat rooms, visual arts, music, world events, productivity, and the Internet are all a part of the Windows 98 experience, and by extension, the brave new digital world. The commercial doesn't simply offer a practical product to help the consumer keep up with the winds of change, but rather, offers them a vessel through which they can plunge headfirst into the new age. Windows 98 isn't just for the businessperson in their office, Windows 98 is for the new Renaissance Man, who uses the miracle of computing technology and the Internet for enrichment and exploration. In this view, Windows 98 is as much an end as it is a means. Perhaps this is why the only people shown actually using Windows 98 are children; when you use Windows 98, you become just as avid a learner and explorer as you were when you were learning colors and shapes. Sure, you may know about life now that you're an adult, but have you seen it through the lens of Windows 98? Can you appreciate the wealth of information and knowledge available on the Internet? Are you aware that your library, record collection, studio, arcade, and more can all fit in this 3x1x3 metal box?
Along with the branding, the message is clear; computer technology offers an unparalleled and previously inconceivable opportunity to explore, interact with, and learn about the world, as well as to push the boundaries of what one can do with their time and resources. What's more, this experience isn't simply a condensing or streamlining of the world as it is. Computing technology (particularly the Internet) is a new world in and of itself, and partaking in it is to step into a new side of oneself.
Since I was nine, if I've ever had a question, the Internet has been there for me, and I have developed numerous valuable interests that I likely wouldn't have found without internet access. Internet forums and content hubs were just as influential in forming my tastes and beliefs, if not more so, as TV and other conventional forms of media. Today, the Internet isn't just somewhere I go if I need something answered or want to waste an hour, it's a part of who I am, as it is for many others my age. This means that I'm comfortable navigating digital spaces and maintaining digital presences, and understand digital phenomena just as much through intuition as I do with study. However, this also means that I can sometimes struggle with exploration and personal growth outside of the internet. This isn't an issue now, but for a few years in high school, I really struggled to bring my internet interests and personality into mesh with my real life self, and this is an issue that, as mentioned earlier, many other people my age struggle with. Furthermore, many struggle to treat the Internet with the "respect" it deserves, since many people's interaction with it is separated from real life.
lasagnan't  | 1602652785000 I really enjoyed reading this post. See you 🍃 |