Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

The Prevalence of Self-Exploitation in Media Production: Analyzing the Impact of Technological and Societal Transformations

Niqin WangUniversity of Leeds*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

The development of science and technology and the changes of society have given a new look to traditional conceptual work. The developed network and ubiquitous communication have broken the time and space boundaries of work. Working from home has become a reality. Some people continue to predict that work will become a relaxed enjoyment. But the reality is frustrating. Not only did people not relax, but they also took on increasingly heavy work pressures. The boundaries between work and leisure are eliminated by heavy business, and the office is transformed into a place where people spend the most time. Therefore, work is no longer a pleasure, but self-exploitation behaviour. The unstable and unsafe nature of creative work in the media industry creates stress and anxiety, and the strong emotional pleasure associated with this kind of work exists. The tension between "pleasure" and "pain" in creative occupations has been fully proven. Unstable labour has now become a key feature of creative work. Creative occupations are driven by self-fulfilling desires and are places for exploitation and serious insecurity.

Keywords: self-exploitation; creative occupations; media industries; recreational labour; new media
Published: August 14, 2024
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/36/2024BJ0006
Volume: CHR Vol.36
pp. 53-60
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