Surveillance Sport: The Death of the "Human" Element

Surveillance Sport: The Death of the "Human" Element

Author: Sascha Funk February 17, 2026 Duration: 15:26

In the final week of Milano Cortina, we are witnessing the collision of "Sport" and "Surveillance Capitalism." When a curling match is decided by a capacitive touch sensor rather than a human eye, we have entered what Baudrillard called "Hyper-Reality"—where the digital model is more "real" than the physical event.

In this episode, Sascha Funk analyzes the "Double-Touch" scandal and the performative confession of Sturla Holm Lægreid through the lens of media theory. We discuss the "Panopticon" effect on athletes and why the obsession with high-definition accuracy is actually destroying the narrative of the games.

Keywords: Surveillance Society, Hyper-Reality, Panopticon, Winter Olympics 2026, Media Ecology, The Spectacle, FUNK !T Podcast.


In a world saturated with constant notifications and algorithmic feeds, FUNK !T | Mindful Media & Communication offers a necessary pause. Hosted by Sascha Funk, who leads the media studies department at Thammasat University, this podcast is a deep and practical exploration of our daily interactions with technology and information. Each episode moves beyond surface-level tips to examine the underlying structures of our media environment, asking how we can engage with it more consciously. You’ll find conversations that dissect digital trends not just for their novelty, but for their real psychological and social impact. The discussions here are about building resilience and intention-whether that means refining how you communicate professionally, understanding the design of the platforms you use, or simply finding more agency in your personal scrolling habits. This isn't about rejecting technology, but about developing a sustainable and critical relationship with it. Sascha brings academic insight into accessible, actionable territory, making the complex dynamics of media feel relevant to your everyday life. For anyone feeling adrift in the digital noise or curious about the forces shaping our modern conversations, this podcast provides both a compass and a toolkit. It’s a space for learning how to be present and purposeful in a mediated world, one thoughtful discussion at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

FUNK !T | Mindful Media & Communication
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