Finally got around to reading Steve Jobs's posting, "Thoughts on Music," in which he argues for eliminating the DRM from music. I was initially geared up to help push the bandwagon when word of this went around a couple of months back. Today, though, I chewed on the piece while thinking about putting it into the textbook project and worked up this map representing the structure of the argument. I went back and highlighted some inconsistencies as well.

My take is that the article is much more a defense against the claim that Apple should open up its DRM. In addressing this suggestion, Jobs first argues that the DRM doesn't really lock consumers into Apple's scheme. Moving toward his final position, though, he says eliminating DRM will be better for consumers, because they won't be locked into any system. Similarly, at one point he argues that giving away Apple's Fairplay DRM will break it as secrets get out, but then for his final claim he suggests that DRM doesn't work anyway.

Looking at the visual representation of the argument made me realize why I'm skeptical. Not that I'm in any way in favor of DRM; it just felt like something was not resonating right; seeing the inconsistencies in the structure brought some of it to light.

Technorati Tags: Culture New Media Visual Rhetoric DRM thoughts make visual music clank