Center for Digital Society (CfDS) held a movie screening entitled “Technology in Contemporary Japan” on Monday (14/3). This event took place in the Auditorium at the 4th floor of Fisipol building. Fisipol collaborated with the Documentary Film Festival (FFD) and NHK World-Japan to organize this event. “Happier Than Real” and It’s a Start-up Life” were the two films that were screened. Furthermore, these two films were the central topic of the discussion after being screened. Numerous participants that hailed from various universities attended this event. Dr. Dian Arymami, S.IP, M.Hum (lecturer from the Department of Communication Studies) and Ukky Satya (the Coordinator of FFD) hosted this event.
“What makes us human?”, Dian inquired as an opening question after the end of the second film.
Both films focused on the roles and impacts of technology in the contemporary life of Japanese society. Each film utilized a different perspective in covering the issue of the significance of technology, as well as the role that technology plays as a platform to create new opportunities. Technology can be utilized to develop business, lifestyle and even as a “source of happiness” in the contemporary Japanese society.
“Times have changed, and so does society. Values and norms that exist within the society are becoming more and more fluid, which include technological influences,” Dian stated.
The debate on whether technology humanizes or de-humanizes society was the highlight of this discussion. Both films showcased on how technologies are being utilized in the contemporary Japanese society. Numerous critics and questions were raised by the participants of this discussion.