Theme 5 Cartoon

So this cartoon may be a play on words, but it gets the message of Theme 5 across pretty clearly. In today's society, we do have it much easier than the previous generations. Technology does the thinking for us! We no longer need to look words up in a dictionary because spell check does that for us! And who needs to know how to read a map? Almost every car on the road has a GPS that verbally tells the driver when and where to turn. I have even seen some that show where the best places to eat in the area are. No longer do you need to research a place to eat after shopping in a different area becasue the GPS finds it for you! All that is required is your taste. If you are in the mood for Chinese, simply click the Chinese and the GPS directs you to the nearest Chinese eatery. It is that easy! No memorizing of street names required!

Technology is Slowly Decreasing Our Brain Cells!

Theme 5.The ideas that we begin to take on the qualities of the " intellectual technologies" we use,i.e. media shape out thought processes, and that we are increasingly off-loading our memory and other functions to various devices.

Technology makes things easier for us. Escalators carry people to the second floor of a mall, without any effort. However, by doing so, the escalator takes the exercise out of climbing a staircase to the second floor. It’s a trivial thing, but yet there are individuals who recognize the exercise factor of shopping in a mall. In fact, there are groups of people who journey to a mall before it opens, just for the workout opportunity. Walking from store to store all day is a great form of exercise! And taking away those few stairs is deprivation of a better workout. So if individuals can recognize the fact that some assistive technologies are simply making us lazier, not improving lives, why is it that intellectual technologies get away with a similar act?
Intellectual technologies are slowly decreasing the amount of brain cells that individuals have. They phase out the human thought process by providing quick solutions. As wonderful as a quick solution is in a moment of frustration, the easy answer does not assist anyone in the long run. Because the individual did not arrive at the answer himself/herself, there is a little chance that he/she will retain the information instantly provided. For example, when typing any document in Microsoft Word, the extremely helpful spell check is always at hand. Its obnoxious, red, underline zigzag screams at an individual to correct the misspelled word. It then gives a list of suggested replacements and after choosing the desired word, POOF!!! The word is properly spelled. No use of a dictionary is required! But without the process of looking up a word, how does anyone remember that Microsoft Word corrected one’s mistake? Chances are, on a written essay, an individual will spell the word wrong again because he/she doesn’t have spell check at hand. Thus, the culprit of society’s overall terrible spelling capabilities is revealed!
Nicholas Carr discusses a similar idea in his article, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” He talks about how the Internet provides him with instant answers; “The Web has been a godsend to me as a writer. Research that once required days in the stacks or periodical rooms of libraries can now be done in minutes. A few Google searches, some quick clicks on hyperlinks, and I’ve got the telltale fact or pithy quote I was after.” I wonder if writers who endured “days in the stacks” would consider Internet researching cheating? Nicholas Carr does not spend half as much time researching as the pre-Internet writers, so how can he truly be an expert on the information he is writing about? I am sure that individuals whom immersed themselves in texts for days were better capable of recalling information concerning his/her article months after writing it. These individuals did the hours of work themselves and had gratifying writings to show for it. And they accomplished this all without the ability to simply look up an interview from ten years ago or retrieve an important quote.

Them 7 Cartoon

Theme 7 focuses on the idea of privacy in a digital world. It is a concept that simply does not exist anymore. To demonstrate this, I found a cartoon focusing on Facebook Stalking. No longer can someone tell a friend that they are "busy" when his/her Facebook claims otherwise. You really have to think before posting something on Facebook. Facebook may have tons of security settings, but it can't stop friends from seeing postings on your page. Every time you post something, you must stop and think, will this offend anyone? Could any of my friends read this and interprete it differently? What if so and so reads this? It is no longer a simple posting of, "What's on Your Mind?"

Is Anything Really Private Anymore?

Theme 7. Privacy in the age of Google.

Privacy in the age of Google…Is that even possible? Simply Googling a person’s name can bring up tons of personal information. And that’s information from Facebook alone! This is due to the fact that many Facebook users put his/her entire life story on the opening page of Facebook. Just a quick glance at someone’s Facebook and many of times, one knows a person’s exact location at the moment, the High School he/she attended and the individual’s birthday. Of course, if that isn’t enough, if an individual really wanted to, he/she could discover more information simply by reading through the “wall post” messages of the individual. Everyone can see these posts, so why not take a look? That’s where Facebook stalking comes into play.

How does one know they are being Facebook stalked? When a conversation on Facebook suddenly becomes the knowledge of another party, a Facebook stalker has emerged. A couple of weeks ago, this personally occurred to me. I was talking to an old friend, over Facebook “wall posts,” about my adventure riding her horse. While riding my friend’s horse, the horse spooked because he was afraid of squeaky wheel from a wheelbarrow. I had ridden my friend’s horse before and the horse had never spooked before. My friend explained that her horse spooks easily when the weather is changing. This conversation sounds trivial enough, but a day after this conversation, a mutual friend of ours was aware of the entire conversation. She claimed that she heard that the horse spooked while I was riding him. But why would this come up in a conversation between the two individuals, when one of them does not ride? And the possibility that the two could have met and discussed the event in the one-day span is highly unlikely. It is more likely that our mutual friend was bored at her mundane job and read the conversation on Facebook.

So how can anyone keep anything completely private, in a world that converses the business of others constantly? Well keeping one’s extensive plans a secret, to even the closest people in his/her life, might be a good start. This is what writer Evan Ratliff endured for his editor. The “Wired” magazine set up a contest to see if anyone could truly “disappear in the digital age”. Anyone of the magazine’s readers, who could locate Evan Ratliff, would receive a $5,000 bounty. Because Evan attempted to vanish completely from society, it required his extended period, of one month’s time, intense planning. This included purchasing pre-paid cell phones for his girlfriend and parents (for emergencies only), buying gift cards to stores he couldn’t live without and getting a $60 oil change in his car (who would think someone who is going to vanish and sell his car would do such a thing). Throughout his disappearing act, Evan took on challenges of his new identity. Simply by stating that he had lost his id, many people would let him pass. This idea is fascinating. It gives the impression that an id really isn’t needed. Eventually though, Evan was discovered in New Orleans. A place devastated by hurricane Katrina, but the digital age still shone through. Two men, Leach and Fillinger, found Evan near a little bookstore, attempting to complete another one of his book reading challenges.

Theme 4 Cartoon

This cartoon shows the typical scene... An older geneartion reminising of the good days..right next to the new generation, who never seems to care. But I wonder how many of the younger generation actually reconize the old generation character as a casette? Im sure if a child were to look at the picture, he/she could point out the iPod, but would he/she reconize that the old man figure is actually a pre-iPod way of listening to music? I bet many of the children in today's society have never even seen a casette. They grow up with the new generation of music listening, iPods, and jump at every chance to beg for the latest and greatest version. Just the other day I asked my Young Children's Cultural Art's sculpture class students what they were wishing for for the holidays. Mnay of them answered an iPod touch. These are children that are 5yrs old to 11 years old! They watch TV commercials and are brainwashed by the fact the iPod touch is such a mystical, wonderful technology! And of course, they all want one!

iPod Utopia!

Theme 4. The trend in each emerging medium from utopian ideals to the focus on monetizing.

When a new technology is introduced to the public, it is displayed in a light that makes it seem that a life without the new product is impossible. The new medium is the greatest thing in the world, so why wouldn’t you purchase it? A great example of this is the iPod. Every time a new iPod Nano is created, people rush to buy it. Even though one new feature sets it apart from the last model, the latest Nano is presented as a “must have” item. Why is this? People feel the need to update the old and outdated technologies with new and improved versions. The iPod company presents the new Nano as a simple upgrade. It is as if you are simply replacing an outdated manual can opener with a new electric one. Except, it is a much greater expense!
The public is tricked into thinking that their iPods are dated. With all the advertisements proclaiming the amazing qualities of the newly released iPod, who wouldn’t think about replacing his/her iPod? It is precisely this reasoning that assists the Mac Company in amassing their tremendous profits. If they didn’t advertise the remarkable ground breaking qualities of their latest invention, why would anyone go to the Apple Store, to pick out a new iPod, when the old one functions just fine? People would continue to use their old iPods and never purchase a new one. This definitely would not assist the Mac Company.
My iPod Nano is only about two years old, but yet is considered to be old. I personally believed this too, until I did a little research. While I was shopping online for a cord that would allow me to listen to my iPod in the car, I discovered that I needed to know my Nano’s generation. After discovering that my Nano is a third generation, I was curious what the latest version of the Nano is. The new iPod Nano is a fifth generation and the only feature that sets it apart from mine is its new capability to take homemade videos. My Nano may not be the brightly colored, skinny, fifth generation Nano, but it still plays the same music that a new Nano would. But yet, my Nano is referred to as “the old Nano.”
In the NPR on the Web pod cast, “Web Thinks,” the hosts discuss a new revelation of Internet. Currently, the web is a 2.0 or second-generation world. The pod cast discusses a new revelation of Internet. This new Internet, called Web 3.0, is highly efficient and “does our work for us.” It is a web of artificial intelligence that permits the computer to “make the judgments for you.” No longer does an individual need to hassle with hours of research to find the perfect vacation spot that meets all of his/her requirements for a hotel. The computer searches/scans the web for an ideal match! All that is required is the individual’s spoken requests for the vacation. Who in this day in age wouldn’t jump at a chance for an Internet like that? It cuts the hours of work down for you! Forget the fact that programming common sense into computers, such as the idea of gravity, is extremely difficult. The concept in itself is simply amazing! It would definitely be worth the wait to see if such an Internet was possible!

Theme 2 Cartoon Follow-Up

Just realized that the cartoon from Theme 2 is near impossible to read without zooming in. Above the cartoon it reads: Twitterhea:The unstoppable urge to tweet.

The cartoon depicts a man named John sitting on a couch with his phone. He is infected with the disease Twitterhea or Tweeting WAY TOO MUCH!!! The John character tweets the following:

About to tie my left shoe. Feeling blah. (Then he ties his shoe)
Just tied my left shoe. Still feeling blah.
Just tweeted about tying my left shoe. Didn’t help blahness.
Guess I should tie my right shoe too. What do you think?

And the bottom caption reads: Medicine has not caught up with social media.There's no pill for John's Bout of Twitterhea

Theme 2 Cartoon

So I just finished looking for my now routine cartoon to accompany my theme reaction. And do you know what I realized??! There are a ridiculous amount of cartoons out there that focus on Twitter and Tweeting! Cartoonists have focused on every aspect of Twitter. There are cartoons that depict how Twitter invades a person's life with beeps and Tweets and chirps every few minutes. And for what? A quick update that a friend just sucesssfully crossed the street?! Then there are the truly scary Twitter cartoons: the cartoons that display Twitter's future. Can it be that in a few years or maybe even months in the fast pace, tech savy, world we live in that a mother will no longer question a child why he/she hasn't called, but why he/she didn't Tweet. Who knows maybe the famous line,"It's 10 PM.. Do you know where your children are?," will change to, "It's 10 PM... Do you know where your children are Tweeting from?" Its a crazy thought to me. So of all the cartoons out there, I chose a rather lengthy one, but it is well worth the extra few seconds to read. It does not show the invasiveness of Twitter, but instead depicts one of the most annoying users of Twitter. And in case the cartoon is too tiny to read on screen, I'll provide the link too: http://blog.advorto.com/.a/6a00e5510eef16883301156e4e0c5d970c-800wi

Mary Dyck and Twittering

Theme 2. Electronically mediated relationships from Mary Dyck to twitter followers.

It is no longer the days of Mary Dyck. Mary Dyck was a typical 1930’s farmer wife who tended to the home while her husband worked in the fields. While attending to her chores, she sought entertainment and escape through her family radio. She religiously listened to her favorite station’s soap opera and recorded the program’s juicy details in a diary, as if the characters were her personal friends. We no longer gather in our living rooms, around a radio, for entertainment. This concept is obsolete. But is the idea behind tuning in to a social network for entertainment and escape also dead? I think not.
In the 21st century there are numerous social networks on the web that I know of and probably thousands of others that I am not yet knowledgeable of. These social networks allow for communication between friends to be kept, despite the physical distance of the individuals. It permits individuals to feel a part of friends’ lives, as if they are right next to a particular friend. The best example of this is the social network Twitter. It instantly reports the thoughts of individuals to his/her friends’ cell phones. If a Twitter user is eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that is shaped like a T-Rex and feels like sharing the experience with all of his/her followers, it is completely possible. The followers, who are hopefully all close friends with the fellow Twitter user, will not only be filled in on the individual’s life, but he/she will also be entertained. Who wouldn’t smile over a totally random revelation that a sandwich could look like a dinosaur? And it would definitely be the perfect quick escape from a boring, monotonous job, like collecting tickets at a movie theatre. I am not a Twitter user or a movie ticket collector, but I have a feeling that my example demonstrates why people Twitter...or Tweet. It’s an entertaining escape, like Mary Dyck’s tuning in to the radio. No matter how boring one’s life may seem, there is always the prospect of living vicariously through another Twitter user! Mary Dyck experienced a great sense of enjoyment through her radio soap opera characters’ emotions and Twitter users who share emotions/thoughts with followers experience the same type of enjoyment.
Then there are the extreme fans of celebrities. These Twitter users are a category all in themselves. They follow their favorite celebrity’s every move through Twitter. For these individuals, watching television interviews, Youtube videos and following celebrity blogs are no longer enough. Now they must resort to being sent instant messages of their celebrity “friend’s” every move. These individuals are involved in a para-social relationship or a one-sided relationship. This idea is best described in the article, “Why Oprah Will Never Talk to You. Ever.” The relationship between fans and their favorite celebrity is limited to a, “one-way nature of fame. You can see Oprah (on the TV), yet Oprah can’t see you.” However, fans can’t seem to grasp this concept. They watch Oprah religiously, just like Mary Dyck listened to her radio program, and feel as if Oprah is a part of his/her life. It as if Oprah is speaking directly to each of her viewers individually and not millions of fans. Thus, these are the avid fans that feel that because Oprah is more of a close friend than a TV host, she must be on the list of people whose thoughts instantly appear in one’s cell phone.

Theme 3 Cartoon

After reacting to theme 3, I came across this cartoon. In my reaction I discuss how people put the most outlandish things on Youtube, just becasue they can. I gave an example of how an extreme Wii user can watch a tuturial of how to make a Garfield Mii. The kids I babysit for actually showed me this video, so I know it exists. Until a few minutes ago, when I found this cartoon, I had thought the tutorial was the most outlandish example I could give. I WAS SOOO WRONG!! This cartoon depicts a father (well hopefully it is a father, in today's society you never know!), video taping the birth of his child. If that isn't embarassing enough for the poor mother to be, the father states, "Push HOney! Youtube has a 10-minute limit!" This gives the impression that the man plans on putting the video on Youtube!! I find this to be EXTREMELY REPULSIVE!! How could anyone ever do such a thing?!! And who would watch the video?? I guess there are crazy messed up people out there, but seriously! What won't people post on Youtube??!! Oh and the title of this cartoon is, "Youtube Length Limit," which at least proves that Youtube has some decency towards its viewers. Viewers don't need to be tortured for more than 10 minutes with a pointless video.

We Live In a Digitally Altered World

Theme 3 Every form of technology that's gone digital has been transformed by its users/audience.

The interaction between society and resources that have gone digital is a transformative relationship. Many of these online resources have completely altered from their original reason of creation. The online music-sharing program’s, Limewire, intention is to allow aspiring musicians to spread his/her music and ultimately communicate through music, to other musicians, in hopes to gain fans. However, once the general public gained access to the program, music that was already known and copyrighted, began to be shared on the program. Limewire has now become the quick, easy and extremely inexpensive way of downloading new music. Instead of hassling with iTunes or other legal downloading programs, many people turn to Limewire, simply because it is free music. The risk of a fine is merely half the fun!
Another example of a digital resource that has been renovated by its users is Youtube. This video sharing resource is open to the public to post videos with no restrictions. No longer are videos shared merely from person to person. Now thousands of viewers can view millions of videos. Videos of every type are accessible through Youtube, including homemade videos. This allows for the most outlandish videos to be posted for all to see, such as video tutorials of how to make a Mii Garfield to use as a character on Wii.
Encyclopedias traditionally are a set of reference books offering comprehensive information on specialized areas of knowledge. I remember both my maternal and fraternal grandparents owning an entire bookshelf of these valuable research tools. However, nowadays these books would be dust collectors. The information contained within the several volumes has been compressed into digital files that can be accessed online. Wikipedia is supposed to be such an online encyclopedia, A.K.A, a credible and reliable source, but nowadays anyone can publish on Wikipedia. How do I know this as a fact? My Art History professor’s brother is an editor for Wikipedia and must read all the crazy entries for Wikipedia. Thus, the sole reason why professors do not approve of Wikipedia as a cited source is revealed.
In the pod cast titled, “Down With Paper,” the hosts discuss the new innovation called Kindle. This digital device weighs 10 ounces and is the size of a skinny paperback. Its original intention is for consumers to be capable of purchasing electronic novels and reading them as if reading a book made of paper. However, choosing from 80,000 novels is no longer enough for today’s society. Now that the public has gotten their hands on this new digital form of reading, they are using it to subscribe to favorite magazines, newspapers and even blogs! No longer must a commuter be hassled with carrying his/her newpaper, magazine and book. All that is required is a simple and quick download and POOF!!! Instant reading materials for the long commute.

Jen and John's Twisted Romance!!!!

2a). This story titled, “Jen and John’s Twisted Romance,” is definitely not considered real news. It does not affect the general public in any way. There are no readers in America whose lives will be altered by this proclaimed twisted romance. The news of Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer’s romantic interests only captures the attention of their devoted fans. This article can only be classified as pure gossip because the claims of the article are all from mysterious insiders. There is no interview of Jen or John Mayer to confirm the information of the flighty relationship. For all the public knows, the magazine could simply be making up the story to sell more magazines. Star magazine could be taking advantage of the vast amount of fans that both individuals involved in the so-called relationship have amassed during their careers. Also, the pictures within the article do not picture Jen and John as a couple. Instead, the pictures depict individual close ups of the two individuals.
2b). The title, Jen and John’s Twisted Romance,” does not accurately depict the contents of the article. The article discusses a lack of a romance between the two individuals and does not even display a picture of the so-called couple. It discusses a “relationship” that involves John leading Jen on towards his intention of being with her and Jen waiting and waiting for him in numerous locations, only to find out, she has been stood up. And who is to say that she was not waiting for somebody else? There is no interview of Jen, but yet the Star magazine claims that Jen is, “bound by her heartstrings to John,” and is, “broken-hearted,” when he does not come to her. The headline of this article was composed simply to amass an audience and sell more magazines. Star magazine is playing off the emotions of the loyal fans of Jen and John. After Jen’s very public break-up with her ex-husband, Brad Pitt, many people would love to see her happy again. And so Star magazine hopes to play off the emotions of these people and thus, give them a mysterious, nameless, insider’s point of view of the situation.
2c). Star magazine’s story, “Jen and John’s Twisted Romance,” does not include any verifiable facts. It gives sources that are un-identifiable. There is no way to find the “insiders,” or “Jen’s friends” that Star magazine utilized for quotes within the article. This means that there is no way to question the sources of his/her means of achieving the information on Jen and John. It also allows for all the information within the article to be completely fictitious.
2d). In the structure of the article, there is definitely faulty logic. The article claims that Jen flew to New York to visit John. And when John wouldn’t answer her calls, she just stayed in the hotel room. What is to say that Jen didn’t go to New York just to see the sights or meet up with an old friend who was also staying at that hotel? And who is to say that John was even in New York? Can’t a man travel? As a prominent celebrity/singer, he definitely must take several trips during the year to various locations. There isn’t even a source to validate the fact that John was in New York when Jen was.
Also, the magazine states that Jen sent John photo emails of herself in a bikini, claiming that she was too good for him. This inadvertently suggests to readers that Jen is a desperate woman, who will resort to sending pictures of herself to entice men to be with her. It puts a bad light on Jen’s character and is a good way to stir up controversy. By simply putting Jen in an action that is unfavorable in today’s society, Star magazine has naïve readers questioning the otherwise angelic presence of Jen. It results in the creations of even more rumors and soon Jen is seen as the “bad girl” of Hollywood.
2e). The photographs within the article do not at all relate to the contents of the story. The images are individual shots of Jen and John and don’t even depict the two as a couple! Also, the shots are from angles in which the subject is oblivious to the photographer. The pictures are obviously from paparazzi. However, the images promote the claimed emotions of Jen and John. The article states that Jen is lonely and depressed because John will not commit to her. And the photo of Jen is a close up of a glum faced, almost worried individual. On the other hand, John is seen proudly strutting down the street as the happily single man that the article describes. The story even suggests that John Mayer’s new lyrics, “I’m perfectly lonely. Caus’ I don’t belong to anyone,” is a reference to the so-called twisted romance between himself and Jen.
2f). The average reader could fall for the information within this article because the sources are claimed to be friends of Jen. Why would friends of Jen lie? And of course the magazine would not want to reveal the names of Jen’s friends. If this were done, these friends would be ambushed by the paparazzi. Thus, when Jen’s friends state that John Mayer, “drives her crazy, but she says she’s addicted. She just can’t give him up,” it must be true.
3). Star magazine includes stories like, “Jen and John’s Twisted Romance,” to amass the audience of Jen and John’s fans. Truly dedicated fans enjoy having a para- social relationship with their celebrity friends. This relationship relies heavily on the information provided by tabloid magazines. Without these magazines, fans are not updated on important love potentials, such as Jen and John’s. It comes to a point that the story doesn’t even have to be true. All that is required is for the face of a known celebrity to be on a cover and fans of the celebrity will purchase the magazine.

Simpsons "Bart Gets a Z" Questions

1. In the Simpson episode, “Bart Gets a Z”, the situation comedy value of honesty and family is presented to the viewers. When the children in a situation comedy come across a predicament, they turn to their parents for advise. This is seen in the episode when Bart asks Homer for guidance of how to fix his wrongdoing. Bart causes his teacher to become drunk by mixing her coffee with alcohol and consequently results in her being fired. After committing the act, he feels guilty and asks his father if repeating the same act to the substitute teacher would be a good idea. Homer gives his advice, but in the end, Bart turns himself admits the truth to the principal. The concept of a child admitting he/she is the wrongdoer is promoted in situation comedies because it is hoped that when children watch such a situation, they will be persuaded to do the same in a related circumstance.
2. The ideal cartoon displays destruction in which no character is really harmed. In a traditional cartoon, such as Wile E Coyote, an anvil drops on a character’s head, but yet the character walks away from it, completely unharmed. This concept is of course, un-imaginable in real life, but yet cartoons pull through with the concept successfully. The Simpsons cartoon also displays small quantities of this traditional cartoon idea. In the episode, “Bart Gets a Z”, Bart’s teacher throws The Answer Book into a blender. In real life, a book would not be disposed of in a blender, but because the Simpsons is cartoon based, it can get away with the action.
Also, when Bart causes his teacher to become drunk, she exhibits cartoon-like qualities. She balances herself on a giant globe and roles around the auditorium. Despite the fact that her judgment and vision is impaired because she is drunk, she skillfully controls an exaggerated sized globe. This action would be impossible in real life. Even if Bart’s teacher could find such a large globe, and somehow half hazard control it, there is no way that anyone would not be harmed. She would eventually fall off and break several bones of not only her own, but that of others that she would crash into.
3. In the Simpsons episode, which we watched in class, numerous examples of subject matter that might not be feasible in a conventional family situation comedy are presented. When Bart’s class starts, every child in the classroom is playing with his/her cell phone. The situation is exaggerated and the sound of cell phone beeps and chirps are heard throughout the classroom. Bart’s teacher asks the class why they all need their cell phones at such a young age and many respond “for safety reasons.” This exaggeration displays a real world classroom problem. Electronics are readily assessable in today’s world and consequently become entangled into the classroom life, where they are tremendous disturbances towards the learning process. However, because the majority of parents in today’s world believe that children need cell phones for “safety reasons,” the problem has not been addressed, as it should be.
The traditional sitcom has a fully functional family that appears to have no flaws. Families are presented as happy go lucky people who share the same house, such as the family situation comedy, Full House. However, the Simpson family displays the life of a true family. When Homer visits Bart’s school for Back to School Night, the substitute teacher shows Homer one of Bart’s drawings. It depicts Homer strangling Bart on Bart’s last Birthday. Live actors on a sitcom would never present this dysfunctional family because it would be considered too scandalous. The idea that a family could ever be so vicious is absurd to sitcom writers. However, because the Simpons is an animation, the show can be excused for exposing a family flaw. Viewers can easily view the action as a form of entertainment, such as when an anvil is dropped on Wile E Coyote. Bart’s eye bulge out of his head, unthinkable in real life, and is a funny sight in itself. How can viewers possibly take it seriously?
When Bart’s teacher is deemed by her class to be too strict, the class sets on a mission to “loosen her up.” Bart amasses a plan to loosen the teacher through alcohol. Its easiest part, as described by Bart, is getting the alcohol. This presents the real world problem that alcohol is too easily available to children. The children in the show are displayed opening cabinets with no locks and even ordering alcohol online with no restrictions. The subject of alcohol accessibility is not feasible in a conventional family situation comedy. Children shown on these shows would never even think of touching a bottle of alcohol until the proper age. But the Simpsons children characters already have worldly knowledge of alcohol. Thus, exposing the truth to alcohol availability.
4. The Simpsons is a more “real” sitcom than that of a live-action family situation because it does not cover up the truths of society, but instead boldly exposes them. In the episode, “Bart Gets a Z,” the teacher puts an educational floppy disc into the computer. This disc-storing device is obsolete, but yet the school still utilizes it despite the fact that better technologies are readily available. This is demonstrated through the fact that every student in the classroom has a cell phone. However, this sad fact is a true real-world problem. Many schools do not update their technologies, despite the fact that there are funds to do so.
A more comical exposure of the truths of society is demonstrated when the children of Bart and Lisa’s school are singing goodbye to the exchange students. The students sing that they will write to the leaving exchange students, but then contradict themselves by singing that that’s a lie. However sad it may be, when a promise to write someone is made, especially miles and miles away, it almost never is kept in today’s society. On a rare occasion, a few letters may be sent, but then the pen pal relationship is eventually forgotten as lives become too hectic. In a live-action family situation comedy, the children are presented as perfect angels that will definitely keep their promises, but the camera never shows a follow-up. The Simpsons cuts to the chase and reveals the truth.

Scary Movies: Why Bother??

I do not like scary movies. In fact, I stay away from them at all costs. When my friends decide to go out on a friday night to see a scary movie, I choose to stay at home, rather than go out with my friends. Watching re-runs on tv, while folding my laundry, is better than going to a dark movie theatre and watching a scary movie. I do not find a point to spending my hard earned babysitting and sculpture teaching money on giving myself nightmares for god knows how long. It is like the parenting elective class in High School, which requires all students to take home a screaming baby of doom for a few days. Why knowingly sign up for a class that I know will result in little to no sleep? Or in the case of scary movies, why torture myself on purpose?

I have only seen tops maybe three films that would be considered scary (well at least to me, I'm sure there are some people who will think I am a complete chicken after reading my list, but I am fine with that!). The first scary movie I can remember seeing was the Sixth Sense. I saw this movie when I was in seventh grade. My best friend and I decided to watch it during a sleepover at my house. It must have been 12 am when we started watching it, so I wasn't really a fully functional twelve year old when I was watching it. I haven't watched it since that day, but I can remember clearly the scene when the little boy is in his bedroom seeing dead people. That scene alone stuck with me all these years...I think it was becasue I have a little brother (he isn't really so little now, he is 13) who was around the age of the boy in the movie and so it hit home. It really isn't the scariest moment in the film, so I am not sure why it stuck with me...maybe it is becasue it is the only non-scary part?

The second scary movie I saw is The Ring. I saw it right after it came out on dvd... in my best friend's dark den during a thunderstorm. Smart for someone who doesn't like scary movies, right? Once again my best friend and I started watching it during the wee hours of the morning. I had ate at least two bags of pixie stix, sour patch kids and god only knows what else! Needless to say, we had a lot of sugar that night! Maybe that is why I agreed to watching a scary movie in the first place! Anyways, I remember that the movie keep stopping and going back to the main menu, and I joked that the Ring girl didn't want me watching her movie, but my best friend eventually got the movie to play from start to finnish...unfortunately for me. During the entire film i had my eyes covered by my hands... I was terrified, but refused to show my best friend that I was. I promised I would watch the entire thing, so i did through my hands on my eyes. I wanted to keep my promise so badly that I tortured myself with the most gross movie I had ever seen! However, I did survive the entire movie and when it was finally over, I picked a comedy to watch and wash my mind of all the images from The Ring. It must have worked becasue I don't remember having any bad dreams. But I have not seen that movie since, nor will I ever want to!

Disturbia is the last scary movie I can recall watching. Before watching the movie with my ex-boyfriend, I had my parents watch it first. I had to know it was safe to watch! After my mom watched it, she told me it wasn't too scary and that I could totally handle it! She was right... I did handle it fine. But was it simply because my boyfriend of the time was sitting next to me and I didn't want to show him I was scared? I am a strong feminst and I remember wanting to prove that girls were strong and we don't all scream girly when something scares us. I remember being disturbed but I knew my mom would never of told me it was safe to watch if it ended badly, so I bravely kept watching the movie. What I can't understand though is why/how people can enjoy watching complete mutilations. Even if they are acted and even if these films serve as a rush of excitement, why can't someone enjoy a good action film instead?

Even though I can not watch scary movies happily, I can watch the tv shows Bones and Ghost Whisperer. Bones is a crime solving show that displays extremely mutilated bodies at the beggining of the show. Gorey things creep me out (one of the reasons to stay away from scary movies), but yet I have no problem watching the show. I think I enjoy the show because of the potential love story between the two main characters. Love stories are my favorite type of movie to watch! Ghost Whisperer depicts its main character as a woman who can see and talk to ghosts. She helps them cross over "into the light" and along the way faces many perils. The peril in scary movies is another factor that keeps me away from them. Getting/being scared is by no means a form of entertainment to me. But I know from watching Ghost Whisperer that every show ends happily and so I keep watching for the happy ending.

American Idol Spoof

It's 10pm... Do you know where your child is twittering?

Im used to my parents asking me to let them know around about what time I will be home via a cellphone call. If it ever comes to this, I don't know what the world will become! But then again did people think that back when cellphones were first invented?? I wonder.....

How Many Friends Are Inside of Your Phone?

Reaction to David Brooks' Article: Cellphones, Texts and Lovers

Before reading David Brooks' article, I had no idea that there was such a thing as online sex diaries. The fact that the individuals involved in the online diaries, “use their cellphones to disaggregate, slice up, and repackage their emotional and physical needs, servicing each with a different partner, and hoping to come out ahead,” is really insane. David Brook describes the interaction between individuals of the online self-serve escort service as, "fluid, like an eBay auction. This leads to a series of marketing strategies. You don’t want to appear too enthusiastic. You want to invent detached nicknames for partners." There is strategy involved in the relationships, like an adult rated game. Individuals who participate in online sex blogs "are free agents in a competitive arena marked by ambiguous relationships. Social life comes to resemble economics, with people enmeshed in blizzards of supply and demand signals amidst a universe of potential partners." There are no longer social restrictions placed upon meeting up with another individual. For example, the ideal of being with one person and commiting to the one individual is thrown out of the door. "The opportunity to contact many people at once seems to encourage compartmentalization, as people try to establish different kinds of romantic attachments with different people at the same time."
This is becasue texting makes communication impersonal.You can not see or hear the individual that is conversing with you. How much can really be said about a person in 140-160 characters? There is no way that someone can really know a person through texting!! David Brooks continues the idea of numerous relationships at once by relating it to comparison shopping. The people who use the online sex diaries can compare and contrast potential mates and select his/her favorite. But what I would like to know is whatever happened to meeting potential mates at a social gathering? The whole idea of online sex diaries is completely repulsive! It takes away the fun of getting to know a person! I will close with the most interesting quote of David Brooks' article:
"Today’s technology seems to threaten the sort of recurring and stable reciprocity that is the building block of trust."

Do we need to be constantly reminded about the life/death of celebrities???

This cartton reminded me of the hype revolving around Micheal Jackson's death. I understand that he is a legend, but does society really need to be reminded every day that he is dead? Isn't it getting old? He is STILL dead, how can there be any updates on his life?

Twitter Cartoon

This is how I feel about Twitter...Doesn't it get annoying to get a million beeps a day just to notify you that you are involved in the 200+ friends' daily routines???

Cartoon Reaction to David Brooks' Article

Winston Spotteed in Youtube Clip

This quick video depicts it all...It displays how much the media is a part of our lives. IN the first half of the clip, the media is shown updating the lives of listeners of huge events in America. The second half proves how much media has become embedded into the fabric of the American life. Americans feel a sense of connection with the lives of American Idol contestants and are entertained through Youtube's bountiful video collection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwPxAbhY7ZY

Nacirema (what does it spell backwards??)

11/10/09

http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~thompsoc/Body.html

Meyrwoitz once again, SPOTTED!!!
I read this article back in my junior year of High School. The assignment was to read the article and respond to the society being described. During my initial reading of the article I remember being completely clueless to the message. My reaction was one of horror. I could not understand the twisted society that the people of Nacirema lived in. We were not given any hints about the article (like I give in the title of this blog), but in case the title does not help, I will give you another clue, the society being described is one that we all know very well. The article stuck with me all these years. Well two years isn't that many, but the fact that I remembered it, when I have trouble remembering what I ate for breakfast, shows how interesting the article was and still is to me. It reminds me of Meyrowitz’s idea, borrowed from Erving Goffman, that each social situation has a set of specific rules for our behavior. This includes limits placed on individuals by society, much like the Nacirema article describes the process of women getting breast reductions or implants to meet the society’s standard of beauty. I find it interesting that when one begins to think about the amount of restrictions society places upon individuals, it becomes overwhelming. How many women pause and reflect that society controls how we look? We follow the latest fashions, no matter how uncomfortable they are! Men should try walking an entire day in the city with high heels on! Also our society places an unwritten rule of keeping itself reserved. In other societies, such as in England, sex is discussed openly, but in America it is kept hush hush. However, because we live in the American society, we do not view our customs as restraining. But we do acknowledge other restricting religious sects, such as when women are separated from men in temples. We point at those religions and are quick to distinguish its flaws, but fail to recognize our society’s social regulations

Media evolution...

I thought this pic was tooo funny!! How can society go from writing novels of depth and substance..... to thinking 140 characters is more than enough to convey a message??!!!

Meyrowitz SPOTTED

11/9/09
So a couple of days ago, before the blogging adventure began, everyone entered media class and wished Jake a Happy Birthday. I felt terrible for not knowing it was his birthday (and everyone else did)! I then discovered that facebook had alerted the others in my class of the occasion. I didn’t have enough time to check facebook that day and so I missed saying Happy Birthday to Jake. However, since that day, I find myself checking my Facebook more often, in hopes to make sure I do not miss any other occasions. While I am on Facebook, I find myself more likely to talk to friends that are away at college. When I talk to one of them, I feel as if I only live around the block from him/her. I am involved in their lives through facebook. This became clear when I bumped into my friend’s mom in the library near my house. My friend is away at the University of Rhode Island. The logical thing to talk about with my friend’s mom would be her daughter because that is what we have in common. But I already knew that my friend was having the time of her life at college, she couldn’t go home by bus because it was too expensive and that she has a massive amount of pharmacy homework to complete by the end of the week, which means that she will be spending her entire Sunday in her university’s library. What was left to talk about with her mom? There was nothing that I didn’t know that was going on in her daughter’s life. In fact, I had a feeling after talking to her mom, that I knew more about my friend’s college life than her mother. This is because facebook allows me to keep a constant conversation with her. We do not have to find a convenient time for the both of us to talk on the phone. Whenever one of us has a spare moment, all that is necessary is a quick message on facebook. That is when I came to the realization that I had spotted Meyrowitz’s idea that media allows us to communicate in a whole new level. I can be a part of my friends’ life even though she does not live near me right now. Thus, Meyrowitz’s idea that media changes access by allowing individuals to be there for each other, even though he/she is not physically there, is illustrated through my always-in-touch electronic communication.

SPOTTED.... MACLUHAN in a musuem

11/8/09
Yesterday I spotted MacLuhan in the Hillwood Art Museum of C.W Post. In most art museums, there are audios available for each work. The audios are heard using headphones that the museum provides. However, the Hillwood Art Museum placed a new spin on artwork audio. It makes use of what MacLuhan would refer to as a hot technology. This is a concept within his theory of Technological determinism: the idea that innovations themselves alter people and society. More specifically, it is the focus on the technology itself and not the social/cultural factors surrounding the innovation. In the case of the Hillwood Art Museum, the cell phone is the technology of focus. The audios are accessed through a phone number. Museum goers simply use his/her cell phone to dial the number and access the audio for a particular work. MacLuhan focuses on the way the technology itself changes individuals and society. In this instance, the cell phone technology alters the society involved in visiting museums. After viewing a piece of art, a viewer no longer has to endure the hassle of putting the clunky headphones on. All that is required is pulling out his/her cell phone. Also, the number can be called from outside the museum (for those who really enjoyed the audio or like me, have an art history paper to complete). I found this concept particularly interesting. The museum assumes that individuals entering the museum will all have a cell phone. I know it is very rare in today’s society, but what if an individual visiting the museum has no cell phone or forgot his/hers and wishes to listen to the audio? Do they copy the number down and then listen at home? But then the issue of having a pen and paper comes into play. Unless you are an art student or have a paper to write on the works within the museum, who would bring pen and paper to a museum? This brings the question of, is updating museums with new innovations a practical and wise decision?

Parasocial Relationship Poster :-)

Interesting Article

So my fish are still alive!!! Haha. While composing my super secret blog of the day, I found this interesting article about parasocial relationships. It discusses how psychologists believe that depression patients can be assisted through parasocial relationships with TV characters. The characters on the shows allow for a relationship to be established for the depressed patient. I find this idea pretty disturbing, it is as if real person to person relationships are no longer needed!! Read the article and let me know what you think!!!

Here's the link:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2049239/flickering_friends_a_far_cry_from_a.html?cat=47

The Day My Blog Changed.... Winston spotted in society

Today is the day my blog changes from an iPod free zone, to a place where I record my spotting of the theories of MacLuhan, Meyrowitz, Winston, Hilmes and Starr. I am attempting a spoof of Gossip Girl's famous line: spotted in.... I will be spotting and recording my realization of these men's theories in the society around myself. Earlier this week I spotted Winston's theory in the honors lounge. HIs idea that society and individuals incorporate media technologies into the fabric of a daily life bluntly appeared before my very eyes. This encounter/realization occurred after waiting....and waiting....and waiting for my group members to show up at the honors lounge to work on a college 101 project. We had discussed earlier that week on facebook the time and place of our meeting, but no one besides myself showed. Finally, I grew frustrated and left the lounge, then drove home. When I got home, I checked my facebook, sure enough, there was a message canceling our meeting. Too many group members could no longer make it because of being sick, car troubles or too much work. I addressed the group leader about my predicament and she replied that she had sent out a mobile facebook alert and couldn't understand why I hadn't received the message. She never thought to ask if I had internet access on my cell. Well, I have a Virgin Mobile phone, a pre-paid cell, with no internet service. So I definitely did not get the message. In today's society we all rely heavily on our cell phones. My group member's assumption that everyone would check his or her cell's connection to facebook and instantly be alerted is not farfetched. Facebook and cell phones have become a deep part of the fabric of a daily life. Both are heavily relied on for communication and thus are huge pieces of our lives.When I personally forget my cellphone, I find myself lost throughout the day. Cut off from society. It is as if a piece of me is missing. And when I drop my cell, I find myself saying, darn I dropped it on its head! My cell definitely does not have a head, but yet I refer to it as if it is a person....and I know Im not the only person who does this because I hear cell phones drop every day in my drawing class, and the same reactions are heard. Thus, facebook has seeped into the fabric of my daily life, as now I must check not only my numerous email accounts, but also my facebook for important school related alerts.

Last Day of Blogging

I never realized before this experiment that a simple ipod could influence my life in so many ways. I have now realized that my iPod is more than a source of entertainment when I am bored. My iPod keeps me company while I work on hw or artwork or even babysit in a quiet house after the kids go to bed (thank god i didn't have to babysit during this experiment). It also stabilizes my mood. When I've had a bad day, I simply hit my iHome's power button and listen to "It Happens" by Sugarland or "One Day YOu Will" by Lady Antebellum. These songs calm me down after a terrible day. Or if I am trying to relax the night before a huge event, I find myself drifting off to my fav tunes. It is the familiar sounds of my iPod that are soothing enough to put me to sleep. I have also realized that I play songs according to my mood. When I have just come back from a great horseback riding lesson, I love listening to upbet songs of Keith Urban. These past few days without my ipod I have found myself feeling the need to turn on my iPod in order to simply feel better (it sounds like an addiction), but i have always fought the urge!!! But this urge could always be because I knew that I could not listen to the ipod, which made me want it more!!! Who knows???!!

Entered the World of Pandora Radio

About a half hour ago, I signed up for Pandora radio (instead of turning on iTunes to work on my hw like yesterday). I found it pretty amazing that by simply typing in a favorite band, the website was capable of finding similiar music for me to listen to. Overall I really liked the selection! A few of the songs it selected I also have on my ipod! That was pretty cool! However, a few songs in, an ad came on from Ford... which was kind of frustrating. I turn to my ipod to get away from radio ads. Now that I don't have that option and Z100 has frustrated me enough, I was upset that my country music had to be interupted. But I guess thats a small price to pay for free radio right??? Overall though, I think Pandora will stay on my computer even after this crazy experiment!

Not sure if I cheated

Today is wet and gloomy and this morning I really wanted to listen to my ipod's up beat songs. But instead I started cleaning up my room's messing midterm look. It was really lonely without my iHome on, but Im pretty much frustrated with the radio all together at this point. I walked my dog in the rain and then my fam went out for alil. I realized that it has become a habit to have my ipod with me in the family van. I even went to grab it on the way out... but stopped myself. When I returned home, I could no longer procrastinate on art history hw. So I started typing my assignment in an ipod free room... it became wayyy to quiet. I then clicked on iTunes and gave into listening to the music that is also on my ipod. Is that cheating??? Technically my ipod is not in my ears right?? Im thinking of setting up a Pandora account because Limewire is not an option in a household with a computer programmer.

Lonely ipod

My art midterm/critic is MOnday. I have a lot of artwork to prepare and make the edges crisp (it sounds like im baking or something, but just means i shouldn't have any smudges). While working I normally hit the remote on my iHome to ipod, but today I had to leave it on radio...all throughout the intense rapping, terrible remixes and ads. Like did I really need to be reminded 17 times in the 2 hour time span that the Yankees are on tonight at 7??? And yes I counted....it was exactly 17 times. I normally would switch over to my ipod, but today I had to fight the terrible urge. So my ipod sits, sadly, quietly in its iHome dock....it is getting dusty. I even took a pic of its dusty state, but its not to clear in the pic... trust me though, its screen is getting dusty!!!!!!!!!!!

Called my student Keith Urban

I teach a Saturday morning sculpture class. After my students had completed his/her art, I write down his/her name. There is this little boy in my second class who told me his name was Keith. When I wrote down his name, I wrote Keith Urban...so I think that alone proves I miss my country music ipod!!!!!!!!!!

Cable OUt

So yesterday all of my hometown lost their cable. I had no tv, phone service or internet. I was pretty technologically deprived! I definately did not enjoy it. Working on artwork has proved to be difficult without my ipod. During 3 hr studios, I normally have my ipod to pass the time. So of course the 3 hr time span felt like 10 hrs

Art without ipod

So while I was touching up some of my artwork, I had to listen to the radio instead of my ipod. In the hour that I listened to Z100, Lady GaGa's Paparazzi came on at least 10 times. Im used to just switching my ihome to ipod, but this time I endured the songs in hopes that something new would come on....it didn't change.

Micheals Disaster

So I just returned from a 3 hr trip at Micheals. Getting all the supplies for teaching a sculpture class, plus staying on budget. But the hardest thing about my trip, was the TERRIBLE music playing in the store!!! Normally I can just plug in my ipod, but today I had to deal with the shopping music. Lets just say, it was not a fun experience without my ipod!

Hey!!! Welcome to my blog!! I never made a blog before, so this should be interesting... During the course of this week, I will resist the urge to listen to my ipod. I am a big country music fan (I know, weird for a New Yorker, right??) and finding a country music radio station to fufill my country urge might just happen. Also, as an art major, I often listen to my ipod when working on art pieces. I normallly work on this big workspace in my basement, all alone. It will definately get creepy in my basement without my ipod and I just hope my art will not suffer!!! It should be an adventure....