Okay....so Walker's info on how many Facebook users die annually was disturbing. Not so much in that they die, but that their deaths are mourned via this site. I have a Facebook account, but I've always viewed it as a rather trivial tool. I know some people use it as a major source of communication in their lives but I have never been able to see it that way. It could be that I'm old-fashioned, or simply out-of-date, but for me communication and relationships are far deeper than what Facebook can provide. If I want to strengthen a relationship I will call and arrange a time to meet up with that friend, or if that's not possible, I will call and talk to them directly. Or I'll write them an email. It's digital, yes, but it's also private, and that's important to me. I certainly wouldn't want people mourning my death via Facebook. To me, that just seems to cheapen the experience of death.
Which brings up a point I have wrestled with a bit as a person and as an amateur writer: Does the internet and digital media cheapen the written word? A part of me says yes, because it is so easy for amateurs (such as myself) to flood the market. One has to wade through crap to get to the talent. On the other hand, people who have talent but were unable to be published before can get their work out fairly easily and inexpensively now. It's a question that perhaps has no black or white answer and like many things in life, can be debated until the debaters grow blue in the face and tired of the subject altogether.
For my part, I'm grateful and frustrated by the internet. It brings information on a scale that I'm fairly sure the world has never seen. It helps those in impoverished countries to get ahead and it enriches all of our lives. Of course, it also has the potential to cheapen our lives as well. And I suppose that brings us back to personal choice. We have a great tool in the internet and digital media. It's up to us to figure out how we are going to use that tool. For better or for worse, it's up to us.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Week 9
Zines!!!!
I had no idea what a zine was until I was presented with this project. Between the handout and doing my own research I was able to formulate an idea of what they were. Zines seem to be rather varied, but since I'm a fan of cracked.com, I decided to model mine after their style. I had a great deal of fun putting it together, but I wonder what any computer snoops might think after seeing the pictures I loaded onto my computer in order to make the zine. (that's not an open invitation people)
When I have the time I might try using this communication style again on my other blog. I haven't added anything new in a while so a zine like the one I made might be a good starting point to get to writing again. I get so busy and overwhelmed these days between my job and school, I forget how much writing calms me down and helps me to focus. Since focus is something I almost always need in my life, writing regularly would be a good and healthy thing for me to do. "Healthiness makes healthiness", to quote a friend of mine.
I had no idea what a zine was until I was presented with this project. Between the handout and doing my own research I was able to formulate an idea of what they were. Zines seem to be rather varied, but since I'm a fan of cracked.com, I decided to model mine after their style. I had a great deal of fun putting it together, but I wonder what any computer snoops might think after seeing the pictures I loaded onto my computer in order to make the zine. (that's not an open invitation people)
When I have the time I might try using this communication style again on my other blog. I haven't added anything new in a while so a zine like the one I made might be a good starting point to get to writing again. I get so busy and overwhelmed these days between my job and school, I forget how much writing calms me down and helps me to focus. Since focus is something I almost always need in my life, writing regularly would be a good and healthy thing for me to do. "Healthiness makes healthiness", to quote a friend of mine.
Week 8 Part 2
The research process was actually rather fun. I enjoy sniffing things out and the internet makes that process all the more quicker and easier. What was frustrating was trying to boil down the complicated ideas and themes found in those articles once I had the ones I wanted. The bibliographies were good to know how to do but their execution was frustrating.
Something I stumbled across which caught my eye in the research process was that when women were shown two different shows, one that used models and one which used "real women", there was similar levels of body dissatisfaction among the women watching the shows. It seems it is the focus on the body, regardless of shape, that influences how women feel about themselves. At least, according to this particular experiment.
The research paper was something I have not attempted since high school and I can honestly say, despite my frustrations with it, the experience was entirely different. Granted, when I was in high school we barely had spell check on our computers and the internet was a fledgling bird, but still, I appreciated this experience much better. At least now I have an inkling about how to properly do one.
Something I stumbled across which caught my eye in the research process was that when women were shown two different shows, one that used models and one which used "real women", there was similar levels of body dissatisfaction among the women watching the shows. It seems it is the focus on the body, regardless of shape, that influences how women feel about themselves. At least, according to this particular experiment.
The research paper was something I have not attempted since high school and I can honestly say, despite my frustrations with it, the experience was entirely different. Granted, when I was in high school we barely had spell check on our computers and the internet was a fledgling bird, but still, I appreciated this experience much better. At least now I have an inkling about how to properly do one.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Week 8 Part 1:
My QHQ actually started as a reflection on apathy. I enjoyed coming up with the questions and answers related to this but ultimately decided to run with inadequacy instead. Such an emotion is broad and has many shades to it, so I focused in on how the media produces feelings of inadequacy in women in regards to body image.
Even this specific topic had a lot of research to muddle through. I was happy with the end result though, even it was not what I originally did my topic on.
Survey link:
My QHQ actually started as a reflection on apathy. I enjoyed coming up with the questions and answers related to this but ultimately decided to run with inadequacy instead. Such an emotion is broad and has many shades to it, so I focused in on how the media produces feelings of inadequacy in women in regards to body image.
Even this specific topic had a lot of research to muddle through. I was happy with the end result though, even it was not what I originally did my topic on.
Survey link:
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Response to Sullivan Article
I enjoyed Andrew Sullivan's article on hate a great deal and agreed with much of what he said until I came to this passage towards the end:
"For hate is only foiled not when the haters are punished but when the hated are immune to the bigot's power. A hater cannot psychologically wound if a victim cannot psychologically be wounded. And that immunity to hurt can never be given; it can merely be achieved."
What frustrated me about this statement was its seeming disregard for the physical effects of hate. Yes, someone can disarm a hater by choosing not to listen to their words or let those words effect them, but how does one ignore a bullet to the brain? How is the one who is hate supposed to take Sullivan's advice then? He presented complicated arguments but ended in what I would consider to be a simplistic conclusion to such a complicated topic.
I would have loved to read his thoughts on how an individual and a culture should respond to the physical acts of hate. Or, if he had no answers to give, to freely admit that. Most of the time in life there are no simple answers.
"For hate is only foiled not when the haters are punished but when the hated are immune to the bigot's power. A hater cannot psychologically wound if a victim cannot psychologically be wounded. And that immunity to hurt can never be given; it can merely be achieved."
What frustrated me about this statement was its seeming disregard for the physical effects of hate. Yes, someone can disarm a hater by choosing not to listen to their words or let those words effect them, but how does one ignore a bullet to the brain? How is the one who is hate supposed to take Sullivan's advice then? He presented complicated arguments but ended in what I would consider to be a simplistic conclusion to such a complicated topic.
I would have loved to read his thoughts on how an individual and a culture should respond to the physical acts of hate. Or, if he had no answers to give, to freely admit that. Most of the time in life there are no simple answers.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Week 6
Greetings! My name is Sarah and this is my new blog. In my old blog I wrote about whimsical things such as fortune cookies and overwhelmed dog walkers. This blog, however, will most likely take a more serious tone. Maybe.
First up: Apology Unit!
I chose to center my apology around a minor subplot in the Harry Potter series. You may have heard of them. In these books, there are some magical but ultimately pitiful creatures known as house elves. These elves have been enslaved for centuries by the witches and wizards of Harry Potter’s world. While Harry does free one grateful elf named Dobby, and Hermione repeatedly attempts to free the house elves at Hogwarts, there is never a real resolution to the issue of house elf slavery. So, based on a few clues given by the series and knowing the motivations behind some of the characters, I decided it was high time to free the little buggers.
Interestingly, what began to stand out to me as I researched and then wrote the apology, was that I was writing an apology to a group of people who didn’t feel the apology was necessary. In fact, house elves feared the idea of freedom. This led me down a bit of a dark path as I thought about the abuse and psychological torment that would birth a fear of freedom and choice in an individual. So, ultimately I did finish the apology, but it took me down a darker path than I had planned upon. But that’s life. Funny how house elves contributed to a further understanding of it.
Pasted below is a link to my analysis and apology. Hope it works.
http://vista.bellevuecollege.edu/webct/urw/tp49776219531061.lc49776219511061/newMessageThread.dowebct?discussionaction=viewMessage&messageid=50017903605021&topicid=49837596199071&refreshPage=false&sourcePage=
Greetings! My name is Sarah and this is my new blog. In my old blog I wrote about whimsical things such as fortune cookies and overwhelmed dog walkers. This blog, however, will most likely take a more serious tone. Maybe.
First up: Apology Unit!
I chose to center my apology around a minor subplot in the Harry Potter series. You may have heard of them. In these books, there are some magical but ultimately pitiful creatures known as house elves. These elves have been enslaved for centuries by the witches and wizards of Harry Potter’s world. While Harry does free one grateful elf named Dobby, and Hermione repeatedly attempts to free the house elves at Hogwarts, there is never a real resolution to the issue of house elf slavery. So, based on a few clues given by the series and knowing the motivations behind some of the characters, I decided it was high time to free the little buggers.
Interestingly, what began to stand out to me as I researched and then wrote the apology, was that I was writing an apology to a group of people who didn’t feel the apology was necessary. In fact, house elves feared the idea of freedom. This led me down a bit of a dark path as I thought about the abuse and psychological torment that would birth a fear of freedom and choice in an individual. So, ultimately I did finish the apology, but it took me down a darker path than I had planned upon. But that’s life. Funny how house elves contributed to a further understanding of it.
Pasted below is a link to my analysis and apology. Hope it works.
http://vista.bellevuecollege.edu/webct/urw/tp49776219531061.lc49776219511061/newMessageThread.dowebct?discussionaction=viewMessage&messageid=50017903605021&topicid=49837596199071&refreshPage=false&sourcePage=
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