Blog # 10 Suggestions

I think it would be interesting to discuss more imagery displayed online, rather than just text. We touched on this concept a little bit, yet I think the topic would be interesting to elaborate more on. I also agree with some of my classmates that it would be neat to do some sort of an assignment with facebook or myspace. I think a lot of people misunderstood this class for being primarily about these websites. Although, I found a lot of the assigned topics relevant to facebook and myspace, it would have been cool to center an activity solely on this these sites. Most of the concepts we read about, expressed a negative outlook regarding the internet. I think it would be interesting to see the opposing side. Everything Bad Is Good For You, by Steven Johnson would be a good book to read. This text is used for a popular culture course, yet it would still be interesting to see how certain forms of media also have the ability to educate and entertain people, in a positive way.

Blog # 9 Favorite Text

I found “iSpy” to be the text that related the most to our class discussions, this semester. We have talked a lot about surveillance which pertains to the whole concept of this book. I enjoyed a lot of our discussions, yet I would have to agree that I am a little more paranoid about having pictures and some personal information online. I have considered taking my facebook page down before, but after becoming educated on all the surveillance that goes on, I think it is essential to take it down before I begin looking for a job. Due to the fact that I am graduating in May, I would hate to think that my facebook page could have the potential to forbid me from getting a job or hurt my professional career, as a whole. On the other hand, “The Wisdom of the Crowds,” was the most interesting book I read this semester. I actually enjoyed reading it and highly suggest using the text for next semester.

Free # 12 Addicted to Technology

It seems as if some form of media is everywhere and anywhere we turn, making it almost impossible to avoid. With this being said, it comes to no surprise why people have, in a way, become addicted to certain forms of technology. Whether people are constantly on their cell phones checking text messages or spending an extreme amount of time on their computer, it is evident that the majority of our society spends a lot of their time using some form of technology. I began to refer to our society’s obsession with technology as an “addiction” after reading the book; Everything Bad Is Good For You by Steven Johnson. Some people play video games for the “flashy graphics, while others play for the “sex and violence.” Yet some might argue that it’s the interactivity that hooks the engagement of building your own opinion. I would agree that a main reason why people play and interact with technology is the “endless reward” the user receives. Johnson explains "a strong case can be made that the power of games to captivate involves their ability to tap into the brain’s natural reward circuitry.” (Johnson 34) Video games simply have the capability to reward the brain as well as pleasure the mind, just like other forms of technology. The body’s natural painkillers, the opioids, are the brain’s pure pleasurable drugs, while the reward system revolves around the neurotransmitter, dopamine interacting with specific receptors in a part of the brain called the nucleus accumbens.” (Johnson 34) Becoming educated on how addiction is related to video games has also allowed me to become educated of the exact reason for our society’s “addiction” with technology, as a whole.

Free # 11 Stuart Hall's-Circuit of Culture

The process that culture gathers meaning at five different “moments” is - representation, identity, production, consumption and regulation. These “moments” or “circuits” help to better understand Hall’s view on culture. The way culture is represented affects how it is identified. It also affects the way it is produced, consumed and how it is regulated. The major strength of this model is that it focuses on where power and culture meet. This allows the meaning to be shared and the communication process to begin. The purpose of the “circuit of culture,” is to represent cultural meaning. Production and regulation are both related to feedback from the audience, however are not identical. Each moment of the “circuit of culture,” has the ability to affect the other four. The starting point doesn’t matter, as long as each “circuit” is observed to rely on the others in order for a cultural meaning to emerge. For instance, in order for a product to sell, the identity of the consumer must be analyzed, for mass production to occur. Even though Stuart Hall takes power away from the producers, this model shows the importance of each circuit and how it relates to our society and media as a whole. The five moments of the “circuit of culture,” have to do with the overall audience reception. The meanings of each circuit have the ability to manipulate and influence ideological, emotional, and behavioral consequences. Each circuit, in communication, is required for the process to work as a whole, on the contrary, not one circuit can fully guarantee the next circuit in which it is communicated. This shows that Hall’s model cannot be proven to work in all cases.

Free # 10 The Device of the 21st Century

The Blackberry device is a digital lifestyle hub and a significant tool of the 21st century. The Blackberry has different forms of media all wrapped into one device. The invention of the Blackberry is clearly not a revolutionary device. It simply imitates the creation of the internet, telephone and many other forms of media. Each medium, in a way, tends to replicate other forms of media. The Blackberry simply mocks nearly all types. In a way, owning a Blackberry forces people to constantly be in contact with school and work. For instance, while at a social gathering, my conversations often come to an immediate halt after receiving various e-mails from my professors. My Blackberry causes me to instantly become distracted from my conversation and more interested in my schoolwork. Becoming aware of the many functions that accompany the Blackberry has the ability to explain the concept of digital de-differentiation. “There are two levels of digital de-differentiation that characterize predictions about the wired workforce.” ( Andrejevic 107) One level of digital de-differentiation is between places of work, leisure and school. This highlights how the Blackberry can be seen as a portable office, which I previously discussed. The other level of digital de-differentiation is between the acts of production and consumption. This shows how each time someone consumes information, they are also producing it. The Blackberry has the ability to define the levels of digital de-differentiation very well. Combining old and new forms of media into a small device makes it extremely difficult for people to separate the concepts of work and play.

Free # 9 The Possible Disadvantage of Internet Access

Our texts don’t elaborate much on the digital divide between members of our society. Because certain people are unable to afford computers and monthly internet access, they are also incapable of gaining the necessary knowledge, most online users have, to survive in this technological-based society of ours. With the economy becoming increasingly knowledgeable, access to information and communication has to do with one's economic opportunity. It is possible that people who lack certain economic opportunities also lack specific research and educational skills. On the other hand, I am interested to see what benefits people gain who don’t have access to the internet. Are their communication skills more enhanced than online users? Are their relationships with people more personable or are they more distant? It is common for people who communicate through different forms of media, to lack specific communication skills that are essential to survive in professional and personable atmospheres. Researching online has the ability to educate people, however learning the old fashion way through books and newspapers is often seen to be more effective. Someone is able to educate them self through old forms of media without the necessary economic opportunity, the internet requires. Our texts discuss the negative characteristics that result from internet access, yet lack the details and reasoning of the advantages and disadvantages people experience who don’t have access to the internet.

Free # 8 Mapping Mobility

Ispy: Surveillance and Power in the Interactive Era primarily discusses the negative impact the internet has on our society. Each time a page is searched or pulled up, a person is essentially making his/her interests and desires available to the public. This gives producers knowledge about the person and therefore allows them to target the individual successfully through advertising. This shows some of the techniques producers use to spy on their consumers through their use of the internet. On the other hand, I still find it significant to clarify the many advantages that come out of surfing the web. Mapping Mobility allows users to unfold their unique interests, desires and needs through surfing the web. While people become educated on different topics by surfing online, they are also able to become aware of new interests and skills they never knew they had. For example, a person can discover his/her love for cooking simply by coming across a desirable recipe online. Mapping mobility can also show how people are capable of developing anti-social characteristics from spending too much of their time online. However, as long as people spread their time wisely, surfing the web can be seen as a vital tool for success as well as a possibility to open doors for new interests and ideas.