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.