The Pre-Socratic philosopher, Heraclitus, once wrote, "You never step into the same river twice." He was noting the eternal shift and change in life. Nothing is constant except, of course, change. With this notion, I create this first blog post.
Although I have studied media, I was hesitant to embed myself into the many facets that personal media have taken: Facebook, LinkedIn, Blogging, Smartphones, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, etc.
A virtual world where the irrelevant and the sublime are given equal voice, where critical reflection and examination are ghosts but the latest buzz or trend is a vibrant and seductive temptress, and where "friends" are no longer people but words or, at best, pixels of still or moving images.
With some luck and a little ancient (and not-so-ancient) wisdom, may we find the sublime through all the noise, resurrect the ghosts of critical thinking, and hopefully, better understand ourselves in a world where media bombard us at every turn.
“Shifts and Changes” Response
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the “Shifts and Changes” for a number of reasons. The main reason being that it referenced a philosophical quote that my favorite high school English teacher read to my class, as we were preparing to graduate. Another reason I enjoyed the blog was because it addressed the issue of adapting to new forms of media, a problem I have been trying to overcome. This reminded me of an article that I read in my Contemporary Issues in Professional Writing class titled, "#Realtalk for the J-School Graduate on the First Five Years of Your Career". This article explained how adapting to new media can greatly improve your writing skills in the modern age of media.
I must agree with Brian. The quote used resonates through so many different senses. The link and connection it makes towards the new forms of media and adapting to the constant change is accurately clear. It helps show how learning to use different forms of modern media, it can positively influence your writing techniques. I really enjoyed the "Shifts and Changes" blog.
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ReplyDeleteMy feelings on today's media fluctuate depending on my moods. I consider myself a fairweather friend of social media, putting myself out there on days that I am feeling optimistic and spry and detesting the very nature of social media on my off days. I feel as though I have lost a connection with people I was once very close with. Our perceptions of each other are now influenced by what we see online rather than face to face. We ponder why our family and friends like some posts and not others, and this creates insecurities. I suppose the biggest problem I have is that I don't truly know anyone anymore. The media allows us to take on radically different personas with no consequences. There is plenty of good that has come with media as well, but from my own experience it has impacted me more negatively than positive.
ReplyDeleteI too was hesitant in joining the social media world, but after some time I admit I have been sucked in to the social media tractor beam. Like everything, social media has its pros and cons but I think the pros can ultimately outweigh the cons so long as we learn to use social media in a useful way and not let it control our lives. Much of the content on Facebook and Twitter is pointless and useless, and as I scroll through these sites I can often feel my brain cells melting. However, there is tons of useful information and knowledge right at the tip of our fingers, and if we use it properly can be very useful in our every day lives.
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ReplyDeleteI remember when I was younger and Myspace was the "Facebook" of the mid to late 2000's, I remember having no fear in what I said or wrote or posted on it. But now I am hesitate on what I say and bring into the world. Not because I fear being judged by others, but because whatever is placed into the world will never officially go away. Anyone can take a screenshot of your post and use it against you in some way. With the increasing amount of technology, where you can look up your worst enemy or your best friend at the touch of a button, it can be nerve wracking to think that someone could know everything about you just by looking at your name and your email address.
ReplyDeleteAs our society changes and technology advances, humans depend more and more on social media. We are so used to getting a hold of information at the click of a mouse or by simply typing a couple of words into a search engine then being provided endless amounts of information. With the internet today, we could have any information at our fingertips. Going back to change, I remember when Xanga first came about when I was in eighth grade. I would post the events that happened to me throughout the day. Next, MySpace was the new thing and people started to have "friends" on their "top 8". All of the hype over social media really started when FaceBook and Twitter were invented, That's when I believe social media started to heavily influence our society. People feel this emotional connection to their smartphones and have to tweet about how many times they blinked that day. Although social media has impacted the world in many positive ways as a means of connecting, but the addiction to is what takes a toll on the people of our world today.
ReplyDeleteToday, our society relies on the use of technology to get through our everyday lives. I was never hesitant to exploring social media because it plays a large role in the way we communicate with each other. Social networking also gives the public news fast. I find myself learning about breaking news stories from Twitter. Since news teams have twitter accounts they are being updated frequently. The public wants the news fast. Although there are many pros to social media, there are cons. When using social networking sites, people need to understand posts can be seen anyone. Recently, a student tweeted about bombing a school if their team did not win a basketball game. He was supposedly joking, but police were enforced and he was arrested. When joining social networking sites, the public needs to play at their own risk because posts can be used to hurt you.
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ReplyDeleteI take issue with the line "...and where "friends" are no longer people but words or, at best, pixels of still or moving images." One of the problems with online media is the common inability to remember that there is a person behind the post. It does not matter if two people have not met in "real life" or that the only reason they know each other is because of tumblr or Twitter. Though all one sees is the blog, there is a person managing that blog. That person has a job, a family, a birthday, feelings, triggers, nightmares, etc. They are human.
ReplyDeleteMedia is all about spreading information, no matter how fake or real it may be. Sometimes that information is someones hobbies or dreams, and that information spreads to someone with similar hobbies and dreams. They form a friendship as real as one made in a classroom or on a park bench.
"Friends" are in fact people. "Friends" can be friends.
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ReplyDeleteAfter reading the part about being hesitant to joining the whole social media gamut. I can see how you might become hesitant at first in joining such sources of social media because in a sense I can see where you are coming from when you say "friends" are no longer people but words or, at best, pixels of still or moving images." It is also similar to Text Messaging people; you do not get a real sense of emotion from reading someone’s text versus actually talking to them in person or one the phone. It becomes more difficult to tell whether someone is angry or upset over a text then it is if they were to talk to them in person or on the phone. Therefore, in this case I can see a resemblance with your statement.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I believe that because social media has now become so popular it has help peoples emotions as well. In a sense that social media has made it possible to stay in touch friends and family who you might not see for a very long time and still be able to communicate with them even though you are not physically there with them. Social media has also made it easier to communicate your emotions with your friends and family not only by text but by being able to post videos and images as well.
The words of Heraclitus ring true to this day. The winds of change are a constant reality. Some people see change as a threat, but I believe that media holds a promise of human advancement in communication and in result the creation of a sense of global consciousness. As with all things, media has its pros and cons. It is a tool that can be used for both good and bad. Social media such as Twitter and Facebook have served to topple tyrannical regimes, destroy friendships, and create long-lasting addictions to questionably mindless games such as Farmville. Countless duck-faced selfies have been posted in a plea for virtual attention and affirmation of one’s visual appeal. Meaningful relationships have been forged through Xbox Live and Instagram interactions, whilst devious criminals have spent thousands of virtual dollars under another person’s name. Media is a tool. If there are any faults with these new technologies, it is in humans that we can accurately place blame. Communication is largely subjective in nature. It is how we use these new mediums of communication that we may better understand and work around the pros and cons that it presents. I acknowledge that there is nothing that can replace a physically experienced interaction. Yes, there are webcam services such as Skype and Facetime in which you can have a conversation that inculcates the personal quality of body language, but certain elements cannot be artificially constructed by technology (eye contact/touch). These virtual exchanges may create friendships that will only ever exist virtually, but there is nothing stopping people from meeting up in “the real world” for some good ol’ face-to-face conversation. In conclusion, media offers us both problems and solutions. I find social interaction particularly entertaining over the internet. When people sit behind the safety of their computers/social devices, they do so without the threat of real-time consequence. They can experience unbridled conversation without the risk of face-to-face awkwardness, the inability to proffer a quick witted response to a condemnation, or simply avoiding a swift punch to the face after saying something with ill intent. In the spirit of this conclusion, I’ll offer a quote that I find relevant to communication through media. “Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth” –Oscar Wilde
ReplyDeleteI think media, facebook, Skype and all social networks play a major role in our society today. I also believe that our ability to communicate on a person to person face to face basis has diminished over the years. Society today has forgotten the importance of communicating with individuals. Does social media contribute to our ability to Skype people from other countries , or be able to be home and talk with your friends who live only a block away from you ? The answer is yes but it diminishes our ability to communicate on a interpersonal level. Facebook, instagram all these social networks have played a role in how people communicate in today's society. I personally like to communicate face to face I'm not a social media kinda guy and I don't think I'll ever be.
ReplyDeleteI believe social media is an important part of the world today, and that a lot of the critical attitudes towards it are unjustified, especially coming from an older audience who simply aren't used to all the changes the world has brought on. Criticism of social media often comes across as pretentious and unnecessary. At the same time, however, being somewhat skeptical towards it is understandable and perhaps needed.
ReplyDeleteSocial media allows for a lot of damages messages to be spread and for false information to be passed along as if it were real. This can especially be negative for younger teens who may be gullible, easily influenced, and not always capable of critical thinking, and sometimes even their older counterparts.
I agree with Brandon Rowe I agree that people hide behind computer screens and are consumed in the new technology of this day and age now that technology is becoming more advanced u don't really see people interacting as much such as hanging out with your friends now a days is just sitting around checking out social media (what ever happened to going out side and playing!?) I also agree that kids these days don't care what they post online even if they look ridiculous making "duck faces" or doing the "Kylie Jenner challenge" kids these days and even some adults will do anything to fit in with what media thinks is "cool".
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