The Gray Area with Sean Illing

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Why Chris Hayes thinks we're all famous now

Nov 15, 2021

Guest

Chris Hayes

Chris Hayes, author and MSNBC host, delves into the phenomenon of fame in the digital age. He discusses how social media creates fleeting celebrity experiences devoid of genuine connection. The conversation explores the psychological impact of seeking online attention and the evolving definition of fame. Hayes shares insights into the complexities of modern relationships shaped by social media, the desire for public recognition, and the ensuing mental health challenges, particularly among the youth. A fascinating intersection of fame, technology, and politics emerges.

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insights

INSIGHT

Recognition vs. Attention

Humans crave recognition, being seen as human by another human.
The internet offers attention from strangers, which doesn't satisfy this deep need.

insights

INSIGHT

Star-Fan Dynamic Online

Online interactions often resemble the star-fan dynamic: one-sided and unsatisfying.
This dynamic creates a virtual wall, reducing others to abstractions and hindering genuine connection.

insights

INSIGHT

The Battle for Attention

Our ability to control attention is fundamental to consciousness.
Online, powerful forces constantly try to capture our attention involuntarily.

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The Paradox of Fame in the Digital Age

03:30 • 21min

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The Evolution of Fame in the Digital Age

24:11 • 4min

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Fame's Double-Edged Sword

28:24 • 15min

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Redefining Fame in the Digital Age

43:41 • 2min

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The Evolution of Fame in the Digital Age

45:16 • 3min

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Societal Shifts and Individual Alienation

48:10 • 4min

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The Intersection of Fame and Politics in the Digital Age

52:09 • 6min

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Phenomenology of spirit

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

In 'Phenomenology of Spirit', Hegel outlines the fundamental nature and conditions of human knowledge and consciousness. The work is structured into several categories, including consciousness, self-consciousness, reason, spirit, religion, and absolute knowing. Hegel argues that knowledge emerges through a dialectical process where consciousness moves from sense-certainty to perception and then to understanding. He also examines the social and collective aspects of consciousness, highlighting the struggle for recognition and the development of self-awareness. The book culminates in the concept of absolute knowing, where the subject and object are unified, and the individual is fully integrated into the collective spirit.

The Attention Merchants

The Epic Scramble to Get Inside Our Heads

Tim Wu

In 'The Attention Merchants', Tim Wu explores the history and impact of the industries that feed on human attention. Starting from the 19th century with Benjamin Day's penny newspapers, Wu traces the evolution of advertising through various media, including radio, television, and the internet. He argues that the basic business model of 'attention merchants' has remained constant: offering free diversion in exchange for moments of attention, which are then sold to advertisers. The book also examines the societal and psychological effects of this attention economy and the various revolts against it.

Amusing Ourselves to Death

Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business

Neil Postman

In this book, Neil Postman argues that the contemporary world is more akin to Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World' than George Orwell's '1984'. Postman contends that television's emphasis on entertainment has led to a decline in rational discourse and the trivialization of politics, education, and religion. He contrasts the print-based culture of the 19th century with the televisual culture of the 20th century, highlighting how the medium of television inherently promotes incoherence and triviality, turning serious information into a form of entertainment.

Phaedrus

Plato

Why Buddhism is True

The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment

Robert Wright

In this book, Robert Wright argues that Buddhism offers a secular, Westernized approach to mindfulness meditation that can help individuals and society by reducing suffering and increasing empathy. He draws on evolutionary biology, psychology, and neuroscience to support Buddhist teachings, such as the concept of 'no-self' and the nature of human suffering. The book is a personal journey that began with Wright's work on evolutionary psychology and deepened through his practice of meditation and conversations with skilled meditators. It aims to show how Buddhist principles can be applied in a secular age to improve individual and societal well-being.

Introduction to the reading of Hegel

Alexandre Kojève

In this book, Alexandre Kojève provides a comprehensive and influential interpretation of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit. Kojève combines elements of Karl Marx's labor philosophy and Martin Heidegger's concept of Being-Toward-Death to analyze Hegel's work. He centers his interpretation around the master-slave dialectic, arguing that this dialectic is key to understanding Hegel's philosophy. Kojève posits that human history and society begin with the struggle for recognition, where the master risks his life and the slave submits due to fear of death. Through labor, the slave transforms the world and himself, leading to a process of self-creation and historical evolution. Kojève's interpretation also explores the concept of the 'end of history,' where human society reaches a state of universal equality and rationality.

Sean Illing talks with Chris Hayes, author, commentator, and host of All In With Chris Hayes on MSNBC. They discuss his recent essay in the New Yorker about fame and the internet, why we seek attention from strangers online, and how some German philosophers might offer guidance for our predicament.

Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), Interviews Writer, Vox

Guest: Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes), host, All In With Chris Hayes on MSNBC

References:

"On the Internet, We're Always Famous" by Chris Hayes (New Yorker; Sept. 24)
“We Should All Know Less About Each Other” by Michelle Goldberg (New York Times; Nov. 1)
Plato, Phaedrus (c. 370 BCE)
Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by Neil Postman (Penguin; 2005)
G.W.F. Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit (1807)
Introduction to the Reading of Hegel: Lectures on the "Phenomenology of Spirit" by Alexandre Kojève (1947; tr. 1969)
The Attention Merchants: The Epic Scramble to Get Inside Our Heads by Tim Wu (Vintage; 2017)
Why Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment by Robert Wright (Simon & Schuster; 2018)

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This episode was made by:

Producer: Erikk Geannikis
Editor: Amy Drozdowska
Engineer: Paul Robert Mounsey
Deputy Editorial Director, Vox Talk: Amber Hall
Vox Audio Fellow: Victoria Dominguez

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