IT`S OVER!

Freshman year is coming to a close today, which is a scary thought. It went by so fast. Are the rest of my years going to go by this fast? Will I be ready for the "Real World"? All of these thoughts and more are traveling through my brain as I just finished my last final. I figured this blog is ending as well as CMA 304 so I decided to write a little send off. It's been real and it's been fun and it's been real fun while it's lasted. I enjoyed the sensation of blogging and tweeting so I'm glad I got a chance to experience this. So with that, on the last day of Freshman year, I bid this this adieu. I'm putting it to bed. Stick a fork in it, it's done! See everyone in class! I'll be the one enjoying the refreshments that Dr. Fowles brings in...and dreading giving an oral presentation. Let's hope this one goes alright. Here's looking at you, Kids.

Love,
Marisa!

Theme #6

Theme 6:
Describe and analyze the social consequences of the proliferation of new media from the advent of the internet to twitter. Include the " wiki' concept- that people will donate time and effort to create a useful site-, on-line communities that crop up around tv shows, crowd-sourcing, changing ideas about privacy, and the effect of the availability of on-line groups to escalate extreme social views. Include examples.



In recent history, the act of blogging and using online communities to discuss one's views about life or about a television program has become widespread. From the advent of the Internet and Twitter, a whole new world of blogging and sharing ideas has come about. While watching a television show, some viewers take to Twitter to share their views about the latest drama. I have seen this first hand during the Bethenny Frankel vs. Jill Zarin fight on Bravo's The Real Housewives of New York. People were tweeting who's side they were on and bashing the ladies for their shortcomings. It even became a trending topic commonly on Thursday nights with the guilty pleasure show airs. Becomes of the drama and excitement over the fight, viewership went up because people were curious. Personally, I saw what everyone was saying about their fight and it made me want to watch even more than I already did. It was interesting and it became a heated debate, oddly enough. Twitter and the Internet have thrust this into a bigger fight and issue than it already was. This is the kind of effect that these types of media can have. Television channels have even begun making websites so they could have discussion groups, viewing parties where people can chat to others watching the show, and even fan blogs. This has all cropped up as a result of prevalence of Twitter and the Internet. Instead of just watching the show for pure entertainment, a new facet has been added to the viewing experience. The audience now picks apart every little nuance and every little discussion that goes on during the show and discusses it on the Internet. View and opinions are constantly being shared as a result of this. Another show that has participated in this is Lost, one of the most exciting yet infuriating shows on television now. The show is so confusing and so detailed and even avid fans are finding it hard to keep up and to make sense of it all. Hence why they have made forums where fans can chat with each other about the latest flashback or the latest creature on the island or the latest hook up between characters. This makes the viewer feel connected to not only the media itself but the television show and the other viewers who watch as well. They learn new information, find new images and videos, new interviews with cast and crew, and even spoiler alerts. It is almost as if the audience and the media are driving what happens on the show and how well the show does. I believe that more shows should take this into account and make discussion parties and forums on the Internet.



You can find anything you want on the Internet with just a click of a button or a search in Google. The Internet makes it easy for people of all ages and opinions to document their thoughts for the world to see. There is no filter to say what is right and what is wrong. It is merely people's interpretations of the truth and of information. This has made it more difficult to distinguish between what is unbiased truth and what is fabricated. This takes place frequently on websites like Wikipedia where people and editing their own definitions and views on things. An idea can pop up into someone's mind, they can post in on the Internet, and then cause a whole widespread revolution about a certain topic. Take for example legalizing marijuana and legalizing gay marriage. There are heated debates in relation to these issues. There are even whole websites dedicated to trying to debunk theories and make people change their opinions.





Another huge issue plaguing our society as a result of the invention of Twitter and the Internet is privacy. The typical and traditional views of privacy have changed drastically! When you have a Twitter or a Facebook, you can put all your personal information on there including incriminating evidence. Perspective employers and colleges have been known to Google and look people up on Facebook in order to make sure that they are hiring or accepting a person that will be beneficial to their company. This begs the question...is it right that they should be able to look at the things you post? Should people be more censored or careful with things they are posting? Should the government intervene when things of this magnitude occur? These are just some questions that people are wondering about in relation to the new definition of privacy. It is hard to know where the boundaries are anymore because of the inclusive nature of the Internet. Another feature of this privacy debate has to deal with parents and their children. Many parents believe that they should be able go through their child's email and computer to see what they are doing and make sure they are being safe and responsible. I think there should be enough trust in a parent-child relationship so that does not need to be done. However, I can see the pointer of most parents. There should be more education about unsafe Internet and computer use so that it remains a non-issue. This way less sexual predators will be able to access children on the Internet.

Theme #4

Theme 4:
Starting with MacLuhan's ideas about how media create new environments and new ways of thinking,as a special case of technological determinism, explore the idea that we take on the qualities of the " intellectual technologies" we use,or, to put it another way, that media shape out thought processes.What are some concerns that have been expressed ( in articles such as " Is Google Making us Stupid?", "In Defense of to Distraction", and " Old fogies in their 20's") in relation to new media for our thinking attention and memory? In particular, discuss concerns about the decline in reading- especially the reading of books.



Marshall McLuhan believed that the medium is the message, which means that it is not actually the content but how we obtain the content that is of the utmost importance. Whether the information is transmitted through the Internet, television, or radio, McLuhan demonstrates that how we get it is more important. In addition to this idea, McLuhan thought that technological determinism takes place. Technological determinism is the theory that technology around us is the driving force behind social change as we have seen throughout history. McLuhan believed this wholeheartedly because the medium makes available information and content that would not other wise be accessible. He also discussed collective consciousness. Collective consciousness is beliefs attitudes that unify and change society. Media seems to create new environments and new ways of thinking. Technology itself affects how we act and even how we think. Technological revolutions and thought revolutions seemingly act in tandem with one another. This has raised many questions and concerns from intellectuals. One side of the argument embraces the positive nature of the pervasiveness of information on the Internet. The other side expresses concern for it being easier to resort or defer to technology in order to solve problems and learn information instead of using our brains and our own thought process. With the Internet and other types of media, we have everything is easily accessible so it makes it easier to receive information easily, quickly, and efficiently. There are indubitable advantages to information being media and technology driven but an obvious disadvantage is the fact that we as a society think less for ourselves. This is seen in the article, “Is Google Making us Stupid?” by Nicholas Carr. He tells the reader that lately he has been feeling a lot less focused and more scatterbrained. Things like concentrating for long periods of time seem next to impossible. Carr places the blame on Google and the Internet itself. Along with the unquestionable benefits that come along with the Internet, society tends to think less. We see information on the Internet and some just assume it is fact. It is important to be discriminatory with information on the Internet. Another disadvantage is that it has become increasingly hard for us to stay focused on one specific task because our senses are being assaulted by many different things as once. Multitasking is prevalent in our society and we are all guilty of it from time to time. Personally, I Google everything so I feel slightly biased towards one side.

Theme #3

Theme 3:
Every form of technology that's become digital has also been transformed by its users/audience.Explain how at least three "old" media ( Books, tv, film, radio, newspapers) have adapted to new digital media forms, and how they have been changed by the process of becoming digital. Also describe the ways people use and change digitized media as consumers. Show some examples on your blog. Which "old" media do you think have promising futures in digital form, and which do you expect will die out soon? Support your answer with good arguments.



Each piece of technology that has changed from analog to digital has also been transformed by its audience. Three pieces of media which have adapted to new digital media forms are books, the radio, and newspapers. Each of these media have required an adjustment in order to stay current and stay relevant as a result of the trend that lends itself towards more digital media. They have each been changed drastically by the process of becoming digital in order to still be deemed useful to consumers. The first piece of media that has been forced to adapt to new digital media forms are books. In recent years, books have been less and less popular because of the digitized sense of books. Now, you can read books online, preview books online, and buy books online. Bookstores are going out of business and less and less people are reading actual physical books. This is where technology such as the Kindle and applications on the iPhone come into play. Now, we can take books anywhere we go quickly and efficiently. It is now made extremely easy and portable. The process of obtaining books to put on your device and the actually act of reading the books on your device are easy. I have seen more and more people reading on their devices. Money is no longer being made in bookstores but rather online on websites such as Amazon where people can buy books to put right on their Kindles. Some people wonder if books will go away completely but I disagree. I, for one, enjoy going to bookstores and reading magazines and books in print right in front of me physically. It is a joy for me. I think that there are still people who agree with me so that is why I do not think books and bookstores will completely go away. Unless the technology gets better, cheaper, and more efficient, I still believe this about books. Another piece of media that has been forced to adapt to new digial media forms is the radio. The radio has been around for a very long time so it has had to learn how to adapt to the changing times. It has gone through many reincarnations from AM to FM and now to internet radio and other music sources and websites such as Pandora. Because more people are listening to their iPods in their cars, radio has seen a serious hit in listeners so they had to figure out a way to get back into the mainstream. Now, nearly every radio station has a website where you can hear a live streaming version of what plays on the radio. Moreover, there is an application for the iPhone and iTouch, which streams live radio feed from all across the country that you can hear on the go. In addition, websites such as Pandora, similarly to the radio, makes playlists based on music they believe you will also like. I feel like internet radio will not take off as much as the iPod. It is just so much easier to listen to your iPod for instance. The final piece of media that has been forced to adapt to new digital media are newspapers. Newspapers have become virtually obsolete in recent years mostly because of the Internet. We can get any information and insight that we could ever want to know on the Internet. Newspapers realized that they were not making as much money as they used to so they had to digitize newspapers. Now, nearly every newspaper has its own website where you can find the latest headlines, past headlines, video, games, comics, and a variety of other things. Recently, Newsday has decided to charge people to visit and partake in the information that they broadcast on their website for a small fee just as if you were getting a newspaper delivered to your house. I do not think that charging to use newspaper services on their website will take off but something needs to be changed in order to make a profit.

Theme #2

Theme 2:
Explain Meyrowitz's theory as it applies to relationships enabled by electronic media, and trace the evolution of such mediated relationships from Mary Dyck to twitter, including discussion of para-social interaction, ambient awareness, 'hook-ups" through IMing, and other examples you see as relevant.



The definition of a para-social relationship is a one-sided interpersonal relationship in which one person knows a lot about the other but the other person knows nothing about the first person. These types of relationships often occur between celebrities and their fans but can happen during a variety of other situations. People that participate in para-social interaction are participating in delusional relationships that usually result in having no actual contact. These types of relationships have been made even easier with the invention and improvement of technology and media. New technology breaks down the barriers that have formerly kept us secluded. As Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and a myriad of other social networking websites have become prevalent in our society, so has the para social relationship. Celebrities and people across the world have become easily accessible with just a simple click of a button. Moreover, this has changed the true definition of relationships. People mistake chatting online as being friends and getting to know someone. While they barely know each other and do not come in contact, people mistake conversation for friendships. Technology has made it even easier for us to feel this way because of the constant stream of updates and new information exploding from our technology. Meyrowitz calls this “ambient awareness”, which means that we are surrounded by pieces of intimacy despite not actually knowing these people. There is a serious possibility to blur the lines of reality for people who participate in this. Instead of realizing that they do not know each other, they continue in the fantasy of being connected to these other people. Thus creating “weak ties”, which are contact and communication with people who we really are not close to and people who would not count as a real friend. Technology has changed these relationships to be manipulated for networking and outsourcing. A earlier form of these para-social relationships is seen in the article that we read about the 1930’s Kansas farm wife and frequent radio listener. Her life made her susceptible to participating in para-social relationships with the characters in the programs she listened to on the radio. She developed an extremely strong relationship and connection to the programs, the radio, and the characters. Mary Dyck saw the radio as an escape from her humdrum everyday life. She was isolated from people around her because of the time period so the radio was effectively her only outlet. Because Mary Dyck was so isolated, she was desperate for human interaction, entertainment, and an escape from her difficult reality. She came to believe that the characters that she listened to were friends of hers because she was so devout in her listening to the radio. In her journal, the reader can see that Mary Dyck even planned her day around the scheduled programming on the radio that she wished to listen to. This is just as true now as it was back then. There are countless examples of para-social relationships that occur during this time period. On Twitter, celebrities and their fans can have an interpersonal connection in which they can feel close to the celebrity. I have even participated in this, sending a tweet to one of my favorite Yankees players after a job well done in a game. Although I did not receive a response back, many people throughout the day do. The same is true on Facebook and YouTube. Many celebrities make video blogs of themselves on tour so that the fans can see what is going on behind the scene and gain even more access to their favorites stars.

Text without Context Questions

1. This article raises concerns in relation to how media are transforming the way we think politically and socially, shaping art and entertainment, and impacting the approach of research. The author of "Reading and the Web - Text without Context" seems to think that media has made our society believe that no one owns anything anymore once it has been sent out into the digital world. The author finds a problem with the theory of "online collectivism, social networking and popular software designs". He believes that these things are affecting our thought process and even how we process information. He continues on to say that it raises a question of what happened to originality and imagination now that we live in a world where everything seems to be focused on "metaness" and the "mash-up" being deemed more important that the source of the mash-up in the first place. Reading this article begs the question...have we really become so dependent and set in our way in relation to the Internet and media, in general, that we have turned away from creative original and independent thought? The author talks very negatively about the impact that media has had on our lives and while I know for a fact that it has had some negative implications, the positive attributes of media are also undeniable. Media has open our minds and has created a whole new universe for us to delve into and comprehend. We have new sources of information and communication, as well. The books, which are discussed in this article, maintain the fact that there are consequences as a result of breaking down articles, novels, and albums, into fragment. Furthermore, these authors discuss the fact that there is an increase in the need for "immediacy and real-time responses", something we have discussed as a class many times before. Also, they find that there is an increase in the amount and fervency in which information seeps into our daily existence. Something that I am participating in right now (blogging) is another source of their critiques because it has been said that blogging on the Web has placed an emphasis on subjectivity instead of objectivity, which I think is very true. You must read extremely careful to discriminate between information from reliable sources and information from unreliable ones.

2. Cyberbalkanization opposes the theory that the Internet is a place where people are inundated with new ideas and information. Instead, this means that people use the internet to reaffirm the ideas that they already possess and believe in. In addition, cyberbalkanization seems to refer to the fact that people can try to disprove, debunk, and berate anything which they don't believe in or agree with. I do not think that this takes place very often. In my own life, I use the Internet as if I'm a sponge, soaking up as much knowledge and understanding that I can get about any topic. That is why I think that the Internet is so great. Through the Internet, I am more open minded to learning and hearing other people's points of view. re open to learning more. I understand that cyberbalkanization does exist but I believe that people who use the Internet to their full informational advantage. Saturday Night Live does a hilarious impression of the show, The View, and Elizabeth Hasselbeck. They exaggerate and make it seem as if she finds information on the Internet that only proves her point of view and does not take into account logical facts.



3. For authors, composers, filmmakers, and others who create original works, I think they should be worried. The way that the author discusses ideas in relation to these people is stirring. He does mention that it will be extremely difficult for them to find work and claim something as their own because once something is on the Internet and a part of digital media, anyone can doctor it or change it to say whatever they want. It seems as though nothing is original and sacred anymore. Once it's on the Internet, someone can do anything they want to it. I wonder if this will be considered plagiarism and taken as such. The case can be made in relation to plagiarism and doing this as a student.

4. Appropriation art is adopting, borrowing, sampling, or recycling features of a piece of media or visual art. Appropriation art is paying homage or parodying something as in shows like, "Jersey Shore" and "Jon & Kate Plus Eight". I believe that appropriation art is legitimate. Literature and visual culture have constantly been used as inspiration for something. We see it in music very frequently where a current artist samples the beat or background vocals or even chorus of a song from a long time ago. It is a re-visioning of something that we have already seen or heard before. Part of me wonders if this is promoting unoriginal and uncreative art and thought but as the saying goes, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."

5. I do not believe that the word "audience" is archaic and I do not believe it is as archaic as the word "record". Right now, I am writing to an audience. My audience is whomever is reading my blog post. Movies have audiences in movies theaters. Musicians have audiences at concerts. Authors are writing to an audience who will buy and read their books. Newspapers are also writing to an audience who will buy their publications. This is why I do not think that the word "audience" is outdated. Sure, the audience does not describe the same exact type of people or the exact way that people view media as it used to be. But there will always be an audience.

The Simpsons!

The Simpsons, an animated television sitcom created by Matt Groening, is a seen as a satirical parody of a typical middle class American type of lifestyle. This series follows a family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. It is set in a fictional city of Springfield. Many believe that this television show parodies not only American culture but also society, television, and even many facets of the life in general. The Simpsons draws upon actual events going on in our society at that time and also things that actually effect people today.



This is why it's so widely accepted, watched, and loved. The viewer can relate to the familiar situations and occurrences happening on the screen in front of them. However, another element that helps The Simpsons maintain their popularity is the escapism and comedy that comes along with the show. The viewer can dive and be immersed in everything the show has to offer. It deals with difficult elements and story lines but the show uses comedy to get their point across and help people cope with what they are going though.

Yet another manipulation on the part of The Simpsons is that fact that because it is a cartoon, the possibilities are limitless. While the show typically focuses on realistic and modern events and happenings, they have the ability to go back in time and to do things that would be otherwise impossible if it was a live action television show. This is seen in the many episodes including the one where Bart finds an underground subway station that seemingly pops out of nowhere.

The Simpsons is a part of Cartoon Realism, as discussed in Jason Mittell's article about genre mixing and the cultural life of The Simpsons. Mittell maintains that this show is not just one genre but rather two. It blurs the lines and mashes up genres. In this case, The Simpsons is both a family situational comedy and also a cartoon. Both of these facets make up the formula for one of the most popular and prolific televisions shows ever, which has been on for an astounding twenty-one seasons. It is basically unheard of to last this long especially since The Simpsons is something that seemed risky on paper. Some wondered if it would even be a hit. The Simpsons aren't new but are actually hyper reflexive. This means that it refers to itself and makes fun of itself during the show itself. The Simpsons step outside themselves to comment on their own show. This is seen when "The Itchy and Scratchy Show" shows up.



I was never really big on cartoons when I was younger. Sure, I watched them but I wasn't one of those kids waking up early on Saturday morning to watch cartoons. One that comes to mind that I enjoyed was Gargoyles. It sounds weird and maybe it was geared a little more towards boys but I enjoyed all the characters! It had a historic element as well as comedy and entertaining adventure/action sequences. I think I still have a few VHS tapes of episodes, haha! My father, who was a stay at home dad for the first five years of my life, and I would watch it together whenever it was on. It was a great way for us to bond. He still imitates the characters from time to time. I still find it utterly amusing when he does that! My favorite character was Eliza, the detective, because she was strong and determined. She was hardworking and also caring. She was a great role model.

While My Guitar Gently Beeps

I definitely agree with the writer's comment that this game puts the Beatles back in the forefront of popular culture and the evolution of music(as if they ever left). By selling their music to Rock Band, they have reached an entirely knew venue of getting their music to a much younger generation. I know that the majority of my friends have the video game although I do not. I know that CW Post even has Rock Band in their new gaming center so this gives the Beatles a chance to become relevent again. In the weeks after Beatles Rock Band was relased, their music was bought at a fervent pace on iTunes. They were now back in the mainstream. It was very odd for them to do such a thing, on account of them being very protective over their music and not wanting anyone to get their hands on it. I heard once that Michael jackson owned their entire catalogue of music and even songs that haven't been released yet. That surprises me especially because now that Michael Jackson is dead, I wonder what will happen to that music. Will it be sold if they sell his house? Will they be given to the remaining members of the Beatles and the widows of the deceased members? I think that more and more artists will start lending their music to video games and even other venues so they can continue to make money. The Beatles were a once in a life time, unique, and original band so it's hard to think that any other band or singer nowadays will be able to challenge it. But honestly, I feel like every band should cite the Beatles as one of their music influences because of all the innovations they showed and creativity they had during their reign of popular music. More children will know about them after playing this game. And I believe that more famous current singers will draw on the Beatles for inspiration when furthering their career.

Shutter Island

I have never been a fan of horror movies. My mother and father can attest to this because when I was younger, I used to wake them up all the time after I had a bad dream when my older cousins would make me watch a scary movie. I had always had more of an affinity towards romantic comedies and even dramas as opposed to horror movies and suspenseful thrillers. All in all, I would much rather laugh than be scared to within an inch of my life. I understand the appeal of seeing a scary movie in the theater but I personally do not like them. Since the beginning of movies, moviegoers have enjoyed being scared.

Lately, I’ve been wondering if I was quick to write off horror movies. I wondered if it was just my own fear and child-like approach to these movies in general. I am old enough to realize that this movie is not real and that nothing bad is going to happen. I can understand that I can cover my eyes or totally disregard what is happening on screen if I want. The power is really in my hands and it is my choice to do with the scary movie what I will. I can either go outside my comfort zone or I can stay fearful for the rest of my life. I chose the first option. This was a way of conquering the fear that I had about scary movies.

I was still wary when my cousin, who I do not get to see as much as I would like to, approached me about joining her and her boyfriend to see Shutter Island. I jumped at the chance to spend time with them, not even caring that I was seeing a movie that scared me half the death after just seeing the trailer. I tried to forget about my anxiety and focus more on the fact that I was getting to spend time with two of my favorite people in my family. It was difficult for me to do. The other reassuring thing was that I knew I was going to see a great movie because it seems as though whenever Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese are involved, it is going to be great.

We settled into our seats, munching on popcorn and drinking our sodas while we waited for the movie to start. The lights went down and the movie began. I fought the urge to cover my eyes with my jacket or look down at the ground so I could get the full experience of the movie. I screamed a few times when they should some of the mental patients and criminals. It was just a very creepy and suspenseful movie. I never knew what was going to happen next. There was just nothing I could anticipate. I even dropped some of my popcorn when I jumped at the sound of a gunshot. I was terrified, hiding behind my jacket. At one point, I grabbed my cousin’s hand and squeezed it with all my might when Leonardo DiCaprio’s and Mark Ruffalo’s characters snuck into the other insane asylum on the other side of the island. It was dark and the music was dynamic. You knew that something shocking and scary was going to happen. I feel like most of the time, if you watch a scary movie without the sound, it would not be that scary. The music adds another scary element into the movie. I must say that the movie itself was cinematically beautiful and brilliant. It was edited nearly perfectly and it was visually profound.

I really enjoyed the movie despite being so frightened. It was understandable but had a lot of plot twists especially the one at the very end but I won't give that one away just in case someone has not seen it yet. I highly recommend this movie. Although, I did have quite a few nightmares that night! I guess that kind of stuff cannot be helped sometimes. It was my subconcious at work, cooking up crazy ideas and events in my mind when I went to sleep. This movie did not exactly change my mind about going to horror movies but I did enjoy myself.

When Parker says that he believes that the prevalence and popularity of horror movies depends on what is going on in the world at that point, I more or less agree with him. However I feel like in difficult times, people want a place where they can go and forget about their worries. That is why I think comedies are more important and more enjoyed across the world. Movies started out as a place for entertainment but I feel like they have transcended that and are now an escape for people dealing with their own problems. You can go to the movies, eat some snacks, and be taken into a fantasy world or a story that makes you forget everything that you’re going through. That is why I enjoy going to movies. For about 2 hours, you can just focus on the plot and the characters and the story.

Response to Articles

I am extremely biased when it comes to anything about the iPhone because I am an iPhone user. The only negative thing I have to say about the iPhone is my own fault because I dropped it and now the screen cracked. AT&T has never let me down and neither has Steve Jobs and Apple. The iPhone has put everything I need in one cool, sleek package. If I need to send an important e-mail, I can do it in seconds. If I need to text message my friend because I'm running late, I can do that so she doesn't worry. If I need to update my Twitter for Media class, I can do that instantly because I've got an app for that. Maybe Steve Jobs should hire me to be in an iPhone commercial, haha. I think that the iPhone is revolutionary because it took everything you could possibly need or want and put it into one item. Sometimes I wonder what I did before the iPhone where with one touch of my finger to the screen I can be thrust into a world of new information and innovation. That being said, I did not really understand or enjoy the article, "After China Ships Out iPhones, iPhone Make the Return Trip". I didn't realize that smuggling iPhones was so popular but I guess because of how much they cost, desperate times call for desperate measures, haha.

The "Geekipedia: Disruptive Technology" tidbit was interesting. I had never thought of technology in the way that Wired magazine offered. Wired magazine shows that there are two types of media: disruptive innovations and sustaining innovations. Disruptive innovations are usually cheap, simple, and inferior to sustaining ones. However, disruptive innovations have the power to develop new markets and uses like "text messaging instead of e-mail" and Twitter instead of Facebook or even texting.

Upon reading the article, "The Cell Refuseniks, an Ever-Shrinking Club", I thought that it was virtually impossible for me not to have a cell phone. For some people, I presume that it's easy for them not to have a cell phone if they've never had one before. I use my cell phone to keep in touch with family members and friends that went away to college and I also use my cell phone to get in touch with my parents to ask them a question or just see how their day is going. Cell phones are one of the biggest innovations in my mind. I understand that some people like not having a cell phone because they won't be bothered but they could just turn it off or just choose not to answer it. There's no pressure. I will say that one of my pet peeves is when people are constantly on their phone and not paying attention to the people and world around them. I have one friend who is always on her phone when we're talking and it makes me feel like she's not paying attention or that our conversation is less important than the one she's having with someone else. When I'm around my family especially, I rarely have my cell phone out because I feel like that's just a respectful thing to do...not to mention I love getting together with my family so I wouldn't want anything impeding on spending time with them.

Twitter, where have you been all my life? - Twitter Response Questions

So I started the Twitter experiment when I got home from school on Thursday and immediately I took to it. I really enjoyed it more than I can even put into words. I could say whatever I wanted, whatever I was doing, whatever I was feeling, and more. It was oddly liberating and extremely cathartic. I have been searching for an outlet to vent and rant and express my feelings and along with this blog and now my new Twitter, I feel like I've finally found that so thank you, Twitter. I think of the Twitter world as a kind of spiderweb where individual strings are strung and spun together. Twitter is one more way that we can be globally connected to the world around us and the people who live in it. I learned that Twitter was not just ranting about how you are feeling or seeing what your favorite celebrity had for lunch but also as a news source. There was a lot of freedom that came along with Twitter and I really enjoyed that. I also liked that you could customize it to make it more like you and you could also keep it private so that people you didn't know and people that you didn't want to see it couldn't. I definitely agree with David Carr's idea that Twitter will endure. I especially agreed with the statement, "The act of publishing on Twitter is so friction-free -- a few keystrokes and hit send -- that you can forget that others are listening." When I was updating my Twitter, I wasn't saying something that I hoped someone would read or was exceptionally witty or intelligent...I was just speaking from the heart and expressing what I was feeling at that exact moment. That's why I feel that Twitter will endure. People are about to just express their feelings and talk about whatever they want to. For me, updating my Twitter was like having a sound board that I could bounce ideas off of and in the end, it would make me feel better because I would really take the time to think about it. Twitter fits in with Winston's thoughts on new technologies because everyone thought that Twitter just appeared out of no where but actually it took a while to come into fruition. Twitter is convenient, because most people can just update it from their phone, and simple to understand. And one of the main reasons that Twitter came about was supervening social necessities, which is a concept that Winston discussed. Obviously there was some situation or reason that Twitter came about...there was a perceived need. Honestly, I think I'm going to keep up with my Twitter even after this experiment is over.

Tweet me,
Marisa.

Reaction to the Articles

1. "Cellphones, Text and Lovers" by David Brooks.
I totally agree with some of the information in this article. I believe that technology has definitely opened up a whole new way to meet new people and stay in touch. Back in the olden days, people used to meet through school, neighborhoods, and other social institutions such as those. But now people meet online through Facebook or dating websites. I also agree with Brooks when he says that the social scripts from the previous generation do not exist anymore. "But technology has made this extremely difficult. Etiquette is all about obstacles and restraint. But technology, especially cellphone and texting technology, dissolves obstacles. Suitors now contact each other in an instantaneous, frictionless sphere separated from larger social institutions and commitments." I really enjoyed this part of the article because I see it in my everyday life. There is no longer a sense of privacy and intrusion.

2. "The Benefits of Distraction and Over-stimulation" by Sam Anderson.
Like I said in my previous blog, I do not see a problem with multitasking. When I get distracted and overstimulated, it keeps me more alert and I can get stuff done. If I only focused on one thing at a time, I would have absolutely no time to get anything done. There is a serious lack of an attention span these days because now that we have information and that sort of thing at our finger tips and with one click of a button, we feel entitled to have everything come to us like that. We expect that if we can figure Lindsay Lohan's mother's middle name than we should obviously be able to get things handed to us quickly and efficiently. Along with this comes more and more impatience and intolerance for waiting or not getting our way.

3. "The Way We Live Now: A Facebook Christmas Love Story" by Walter Kirn.
I enjoyed this article a lot. I have seen it in my own life that Facebook brings people together. I have countless stories about reconnecting and finding friends that I had lost touch with along the way. I got in touch with my best friend from 5th grade, my old Ballet teacher, and even a relative that I did not know existed in Italy. It was a wonderful article to read about. It makes me miss the holidays, especially Christmas. Christmastime is always so joyous and positive and my whole family gets together, which makes me happy.

Digital Nation

In class on Thursday, we watched a video called "Digital Nation" which discussed how technology is affecting the youth of America and education. They began with a look at students attending MIT who are amongst the smartest and most technologically wired people in the nation. In an interview, a professor from MIT determined that students need stimulation in new ways because of the changing times and the influence of technology. I could not agree more! I find that I have such a short attention span that my focus zips from one thing to another. I find it difficult in class not to get bored or tired in some cases because of the lack of technological usage in each class. I would be much more likely to pay attention with more exciting us of technology such as computers and smartboards. Teachers now have the burden of testing students on how well they are paying attention and how well they are absorbing the information. It is not that students are necessarily stupider or not hard workers but rather they are distracted.

I agree with many of the students when they discussed multitasking. As of right now, I am instant messaging a friend, checking Facebook, writing my blog, and looking up information for my Sociology journal. Everything is getting done. I find that I multitask because I get so bored after a while when looking and focusing on just one thing. The constant shift between subjects and going from education to recreation on the computer helps me stay alert. However, I can see the opposite side of the argument as well. When you are bouncing back from one thing to another, you are not devoting your sole focus on any one thing, which can lead to not doing your best job because you are so easily taken away from it. In the video, we saw that they have done tests determining that multitasking is not as effective as we think. They did brain imaging and other tests to show this.

Another part of the video dealt with a children in Asia who has become completely obsessed with technology and most specifically video and computer games. I am not an avid user of either of these but I can definitely see how that can get addicting. I have a few friends who I know are victim of this. In addition, there was an episode of True Life on MTV about addiction to computer and video games. Furthermore, I thought it was extremely interesting that they were sending some of the kids to Korean rescue camps, which treated their Internet addiction as if it was a psychiatric disorder. I honestly did not know that it was this serious of a problem. I know that I go on the computer and on my iPhone frequently but I would hardly say that I am all that addicted to it...at least not to the extent that these children are. But maybe I'm in denial...and don't they say that the first step is admitting that you have a problem? Haha.

Hasta luego,

Marisa

Day 4 of 4...home free

Today is the final day of my Perez Hilton-free four day weekend. I must say that it was a brilliant experiment to experience. I didn't really realize how much time I was wasting when I visit Perez Hilton's celebrity blog. The past couple of days I have definitely felt like I had more time to do other more important things. It was difficult not to visit the website but I got through it. Now I realize that I can obviously do without the blog. However, I also realize that soon I'm probably going to visit the blog and catch up on the 50 something amount of pages that I've missed reading while on my hiatus from Perez Hilton's blog.

Today was a very relaxing day being that we were off from school. I felt very calm, rested, and a peace. However, I have been feeling a little under the weather as well. Did you ever have that feeling that you're just about to get sick? Well, that's what I've had the past couple of days now. My throat is really sore and scratchy, which led to me devouring almost an entire pack of HALLS honey lemon cough drops. Maybe it's been my sleep pattern that's made me feel like this. I pray it's the latter reason because I hate being sick! But who does like it?!

It's snowing right now as I sit with my parents watching the Canadian pair figure skating duo at the Olympics. I love watching skating. It's so beautiful and graceful. Not to mention they have the prettiest costumes and the most daring stunts. The farthest thing from my mind is Perez Hilton and the not-so-kind words he has to say about a myriad of celebrities. I'm so glad that I did this experiment and put my all into it--I swear that I didn't cheat once! :)

Talk to you later,
Marisa

Day 3 of 4...almost there

The worst thing about this Perez Hilton-free four day weekend is that I have been going to be late and waking up excruciatingly early. I'm not sure if it's related or not but it's something that's been bothering me lately so I figured that I'd share. I woke up this morning at 8:30...8:30?! I had no where to be, nothing to do, no one to see--even though it's Valentine's Day. I woke up, stared at my stark white ceilings, and berated myself for being up so early. I tried to roll over and force myself to go back to sleep but that didn't work. I tried to take a nap later on in the day but that didn't work. And now, it's 9:41 and I'm tired...there's something wrong with that. Another issue that's plaguing me is that I have a Perez Hilton application on my iPhone...that little pink box is taunting me and daring me to break my streak.



Because I woke up so early and had nothing to do, I was so tempted to check Perez Hilton and see how some celebrities were celebrating Valentine's Day but I refrained. I went to Border's--my absolutely favorite place--with my mother and ran to the magazine rack to get some semblance of what was going on in the world of celebrities...my home away from home. My mother made me put them away and I got a Cookies and Cream Javakula from Seattle's Best Coffee inside Border's to placate and calm myself. I was so bored today that I even accompanied my mother on a run to BJ's...and I hate food shopping. It's my lease favorite thing, second only to the Boston Red Sox. So that's saying something.

Ta ta,
Marisa

PS: Happy Valentine's Day to everyone ESPECIALLY those of us who find themselves alone or without a valentine for whatever reason.

Day 2 of 4...two down, one to go

Today was slightly easier to deal with not reading Perez Hilton's. I found myself with a lot more energy today. Similarly to yesterday, I feel almost rejuvenated and revitalized. I had a lot more energy today than I usually do. I got up early, had pancakes for breakfast, and then straightened up my room. When I'm organized and my room is clean, I just feel more productive and like there's more hours in the day. I always feel like I never have enough time to get everything done but today was different. I can only imagine that it is probably because I didn't waste my entire day surfing the Internet. Instead, I also went out to lunch and got my nails done with my best friend and helped my dad work on the bathroom downstairs. Part of me finds it very difficult not to type it into the address bar when I open up my web browser purely just because it's like muscle memory. Another part of me feels like I have been wasting my time.

So long for now,
Marisa

Day 1 of 4 without Perez Hilton

One of my favorite websites to visit (multiple times a day) is Perez Hilton's celebrity gossip blog. I can't help but read it numerous times a day. It's often vulgar and usually mean but always amusing and hilarious. It's the way I keep connected with the outside world...the world of celebrities. It seems vapid and stupid for me to constantly check what's going on in the lives of celebrities like Tiger Woods and Lindsay Lohan, but it's an addiction. More than that, it's an escape. Instead of worrying about what's going on with my friends who are away from home for the first time at college--some making terrible decisions--or about my family--who should have a reality TV show made about them because they're so dysfunctional, I choose to concentrate on the lives of celebrities. Sure, most of the time it's watching their demise and observing them in their natural habitat like gorillas in a zoo, but it's a guilty pleasure.

Being that I visit the site so often, I decided that it would be the perfect thing to give up for four days...little did I know. So far, I feel so removed from the world of pop culture and the lives of my favorite and even least favorite celebrities (Miley Cyrus!). I'm going through some serious withdrawal. However, it has forced me to focus on more important things...like homework...and less important things like Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew and True Life: I'm in a Love Triangle to keep myself occupied. And now, as I sit watching the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Canada, I feel like I actually did something with my day other than sitting in front of the computer screen and reading pages and pages of the gossip and libel that is plastered on Perez Hilton's website. I went out to lunch with my father and had some father-daughter time and I did some homework and I went to the movies and out to dinner with my friend. I focused a little more on my own life and a little less on the latest news about Tiger Woods and his wife trying to work things out. I still miss Perez...as if he's my friend or something that's gone on vacation and that is out of cell service range. But alas, I shall soldier on...

Until next time,
Marisa.

About Me

Testing...testing...1...2...3.

My name is Marisa Anziano. I attend CW Post University. I am currently a second semester freshman in my Cinema 304 class. My birthday is August 1st. I am currently undeclared and have no idea what I want to do with my life. I am currently sitting between Alissa and Jenna. I am a huge Yankees fan. I have been dancing since I was 3 years old -- I currently take Tap and Hip Hop. I enjoy hanging out with friends, listening to music, reading magazines, watching movies, and shopping. I find myself super hilarious and I love making people laugh and being the center of attention. I have a really obnoxious laugh. I have two cats: Cleo and Skeeter. I work as a Teacher's Assistant at the Center for Gifted Youth at CW Post.