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.