Communication Quote by Jonathan Crary
““An attention economy dissolves the separation between the personal and professional, between entertainment and information, all overridden by a compulsory functionality of communication that is inherently and inescapably 24/7. Even as a contemporary colloquialism, the term “eyeballs” for the site of control repositions human vision as a motor activity that can be subjected to external direction or stimuli. The goal is to refine the capacity to localize the eye’s movement on or within highly targeted sites or points of interest. The eye is dislodged from the realm of optics and made into an intermediary element of a circuit whose end result is always a motor response of the body to electronic solicitation. It is out of this context that Google and other corporate players now compete for dominance over the remains of the everyday.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Attention Economy” by Jonathan Crary, 2011
The modern attention economy blurs personal and professional boundaries, turning human vision into a controllable, constant data stream driven by corporate interests.
In simple terms: Our focus is turned into a tool for constant corporate control.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and limit digital distractions.
Themes
privacy
technology
surveillance
attention
corporate power
Mood
anxious
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- social media use
- workplace communication
- digital marketing
- personal device habits
Key Concepts
attention economy
visual capitalism
media theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does constant surveillance affect personal freedom?
- What strategies can protect attention?
A Different Perspective
Constant connectivity can erode mental health and autonomy.
