To launch the fifth edition of The American Heritage Dictionary, US ad agency Mechanica built a web experience called ‘You Are Your Words‘ based off of the insight that who you are is a reflection of the language you use. Having recently attended a Noam Chomsky seminar I have a new appreciation of the power of language and role it plays in the evolution of our species, hence the reason this campaign caught my eye (even after watching the horrendous video!). However the campaign raises another question for me, namely what will happen to the content we have shared with the world after we leave this life? All the tweets, status updates, photos, videos, likes, +1′s etc will remain, captured in Google, Facebook and the like, and ultimately accessible for many years to come. If we think about the names we remember throughout history, their exploits and intentions have all been captured by 3rd party authors and artists who have preserved their legacy. However the digital age changes that, putting the power back into the hands of the individual. I doubt anyone will write a book about me, or paint my portrait but my personal writing and photography will remain long after I’ve gone and could potentially shape the way people remember me!
