Courtesy of mtv.com
For many music artists, the MTV Video Music Award is a defining moment in their career. On September 13, Taylor Swift accepted the Video Music Award for the Best Female Video for her song, “You Belong with Me.” Other nominees included Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Pink and Kelly Clarkson. Once Swift started her thank-you speech, voice trembling in shock and excitement, she was quickly disrupted by Kanye West.
West interrupted Swift to share his opinion about the quality of Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” music video, which he considered “one of the best videos of all time.” The interruption tainted Swift’s defining moment and caused a firestorm within seconds.
Many media outlets and celebrities criticized West’s behavior. At a press conference, President Obama called West a “jackass,” on the “Today” show Pink said he “is just an idiot, he’s just a waste, a toolbox” and Kelly Clarkson wrote to West on her blog, “I just pity you because you’re a sad human being.”
After his actions, West attempted to rectify the situation. He issued three public apologies on his blog, personally called Swift for an apology over the telephone and apologized when he appeared on “The Jay Leno Show” on September 14.
However, West’s actions initiate questions about the nature of communication. Do the new forms of technology destroy the sincerity achieved through personal, face-to-face communication?
Swift does not think so. According to her interview on “The View,” Swift said she received support from artists and friends through text messages and Twitter messages. These technological communications helped Swift realize that “there were that many people out there looking out for [her].”
Also, Swift accepted West’s telephone apology. According to the Perez Hilton website, Swift thought it was sincere and forgave him. For Swift, the apology was sufficient and now she can move on from the situation.
Communicating in a more private manner, Kyle Shepherd, 21, recently called her mother on the telephone to say she was sorry about the death of the family dog, Dudley. Since Shepherd is currently in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and her mother is in Seymour, Conn., a face-to-face apology was not an option.
Shepherd said, “I totally feel like it was less sincere. I wish I could have been there to give her a hug and say ‘I’m sorry.’”
Given that a condolence through technology was her only option, Shepherd thinks it was both “good and bad.” It did relay the message, but it lost the personal touch.
On the other hand, Nicole Raeder, 21, thinks technological communication can be both sincere and suitable. In the past, Raeder’s boyfriend has issued apologies via text. In the context of their arguments, which usually do not involve a “terribly serious issue, she thinks they are appropriate.
Furthermore, Raeder thinks the future will entail more technological communication and less face-to-face communication. She said, “technology has become a way of life and a way of communicating. I think you can say something fast and it can be more [effective] than talking [in person] because it is more condense.”
