When I first entered this class I was afraid to blog and to share my opinion on the readings. I don't feel like I participated enough. However, I enjoyed all the debates and constructive criticism on the readings from my classmates. My classmates helped me understand the readings more and helped me gain a better perspective on the material. My classmates opinions many times even influenced my own. I feel that this class really helped me express myself and really helped me gain knowledge about things that our happening in the world that affect me but that I never gave much thought to.
The media is an essential part of our lives. We are around media everyday. It influences the way we think, speak and view life. This class opened up my ideas to the affects of social media and helped me view my generation as one sucked in by this unrealistic realm. Prior to this class I did not have a Facebook. Even though sometimes the class readings and some of our discussions further steered me away from having a Facebook, this class gave me the courage to open up my Facebook again and not be a afraid to express my opinions and be one more face to the world. ( weird how that worked considering we did read many books this semester that discouraged us from using FB) However, the knowledge I have gained from the Digital Networks class is one that I will always remember. Digital Networks Class topics were topics that I would end up going home and have conversations about.
This course also introduced me to many people prior to this class I never knew before. Working with my classmates was a great experience because of the way we were able to view each others ways of thinking. I never really knew about blogging before this class. Now I find myself looking at other blogs aside from this class and becoming interested in a lot of the ways people think. Sometimes I fell behind with blogging but I can successfully say I caught up on all my blogs. Blogging was a great experience. I think blogging is an excellent resource and a positive one in terms of the media. I think that it is safe to say that blogging definitely had an impact in my life. I hope to share what I learned to others one day and maybe blog in the future once this class is completed.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The Shallows ( 144-End)
During class we spoke about an idea that Carr points out about the media making us less compassionate. I thought this idea was very interesting. I must say that I agree with this idea. I really liked how we linked the death of Osama Bin Laden to this idea. I feel that the US did well in gaining justice for those that died in the 9/11 attacks however is it morally right to take another human's life? They killed Osama which shows us that they never really had the intention of taking him to trial....
This class really gave me a lot to think about in terms of our connection to the reading and Carr's argument that the media makes us less emotional and less compassionate. I think that this is true. I think that yes Osama did a lot of horrible things but the media does make us less compassionate about a lot of the things that go on in the world.
The media feeds us reasons to be less emotional. It pushes our buttons to not think as much deeper into the issue emotional wise.
" theres another, even deeper reason why our nervous systems are so quick to merege with our computer. Evolution has imbued our brains with a powerdul social instinct, which, as Jason Mitchell ( Harvard's head of neuroscience lab) entails a set of processes for interffering what those around us are thinking and feeling." ( 213)
In the last section Carr focuses on the Internet's affect on our emotions and its large impact. I thought this book was extremely interesting because I must say that I feel the Internet has made us slower thinkers. We are so dependant on the source because we no longer have to remember things as much as before. With a click of a button we can get all the information from sites like Google we need and educate ourselves on pretty much anything. This book made me think about generation and what is there to come. Will future generations be less intelligent? This book served as food for thought. It really opened up my mind to think about the Internet more critically and the affect on our brains. After reading this book I felt almost as if my mind has been frying all this time. Interesting Ideas and a lot to think about...
This class really gave me a lot to think about in terms of our connection to the reading and Carr's argument that the media makes us less emotional and less compassionate. I think that this is true. I think that yes Osama did a lot of horrible things but the media does make us less compassionate about a lot of the things that go on in the world.
The media feeds us reasons to be less emotional. It pushes our buttons to not think as much deeper into the issue emotional wise.
" theres another, even deeper reason why our nervous systems are so quick to merege with our computer. Evolution has imbued our brains with a powerdul social instinct, which, as Jason Mitchell ( Harvard's head of neuroscience lab) entails a set of processes for interffering what those around us are thinking and feeling." ( 213)
In the last section Carr focuses on the Internet's affect on our emotions and its large impact. I thought this book was extremely interesting because I must say that I feel the Internet has made us slower thinkers. We are so dependant on the source because we no longer have to remember things as much as before. With a click of a button we can get all the information from sites like Google we need and educate ourselves on pretty much anything. This book made me think about generation and what is there to come. Will future generations be less intelligent? This book served as food for thought. It really opened up my mind to think about the Internet more critically and the affect on our brains. After reading this book I felt almost as if my mind has been frying all this time. Interesting Ideas and a lot to think about...
The Shallows (58-143)
In this section of the book Carr argues:
1) Books change the way we think and analyze material
" the growing ability availability of books fired the public desire for literacy, and the expansion of literacy further stimulated the demand for books" ( 70)
2) Carr criticizes how easily distracted we become with computer programs. examples YouTube videos etc
3) discusses the use of e books and the potential affect it might have on authors who try and publish books. We read articles online more than we actually read books the affect of this is something he discusses.
" the net commands our attention with far greater insistence than our television or radio or morning newspaper ever did." (117)
4) He makes a point about the human brain and its connection to the Internet being bad for us. He connects this to our ability to retain information. The impact on our memory. " other studies suggest that the kind of mental calisthenics we engage in online may lead to a small expansion in the capacity of our working memory." (139) He gives a series of study examples.
However, I am left to wonder? can the Internet be this bad? I don't think I have a memory loss because I use the Internet everyday? How does every one else feel about Carr's points? I do see how the Internet can be detrimental to us sometimes though.
1) Books change the way we think and analyze material
" the growing ability availability of books fired the public desire for literacy, and the expansion of literacy further stimulated the demand for books" ( 70)
2) Carr criticizes how easily distracted we become with computer programs. examples YouTube videos etc
3) discusses the use of e books and the potential affect it might have on authors who try and publish books. We read articles online more than we actually read books the affect of this is something he discusses.
" the net commands our attention with far greater insistence than our television or radio or morning newspaper ever did." (117)
4) He makes a point about the human brain and its connection to the Internet being bad for us. He connects this to our ability to retain information. The impact on our memory. " other studies suggest that the kind of mental calisthenics we engage in online may lead to a small expansion in the capacity of our working memory." (139) He gives a series of study examples.
However, I am left to wonder? can the Internet be this bad? I don't think I have a memory loss because I use the Internet everyday? How does every one else feel about Carr's points? I do see how the Internet can be detrimental to us sometimes though.
The Shallows "1-57"
"Every technology is an expression of human will. Through our tools, we seek to expand our power and control over our circumstances-over nature, over time and distance, over one another. " (44)
First off, I must point out one of my personal favorite sections in the first part of the book. I really liked when Carr spoke about Nietzsche. I'm reading Nietzsche for another class with Jodi Dean and while reading Shallows gave me a whole different perspective on what initially thought of Nietzsche. It gave a different insight. He talks about Nietzsche way of thinking and his way of writing as an affect of his thoughts. I thought this was cool considering what I have learned about Nietzsche this semester. “You are right Nietzsche replied. Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts" (19)
I really liked the connection of Digital Networks to my Political theory course.
However, aside from this I was able to understand some of Carr's points. I think that a lot of his arguments were accurate and things that I had thought about briefly before on my own. However, never with as much depth and analysis as Carr's book feeds us. I found myself agreeing with a lot of the arguments that Carr makes. The Internet to us seems like this great reliable source. Thanks to the Internet we have learned so much and it has made our life so much easier. However, while making our lives easier it also has "dumbed" us down. Yes, I agree!
“The intellectual ethic of a technology is rarely recognized by its inventors. They are usually so intent on solving particular problems or untangling some thorny scientific or engineering dilemma that they don't see the broader implications of their work. The users of the technology are oblivious to its ethic" (45)
Before the Internet we had more time to think and come up with more concrete opinions on our own ideas. We did not rely on Google to give us all the information that we needed. We no longer think for ourselves because someone else is thinking for us. (GOOGLE)
The first part of the book was interesting because Carr talks about humans becoming almost brainless creatures who are losing their sense of self because of the Internet. The Internet allows us to read in a whole different way. We understand material less. We are distracted by everything the Internet provides for us.emails, Face book, Google, Wikipedia. Our reading comprehension has decreased and our attention span has decreased. I feel that personally the Internet is the reason why I feel I have A.D.D. (attention deficit disorder) I think online has made us less able to think because we are so distracted.
Carr understands how essential and great the Internet can be. However, his concern revolves around how it actually hurts us. He feels it is important that we save ourselves from becoming the mindless robotic like humans the Internet is constructing us to be. Technology takes a huge toll in our life.
" the oral world of our distant ancestors may well have had emotional and intuitive depths that we no longer appreciate" (56) We no longer appreciate the way we used to learn without the media and without the technology that is so strong a part of our world. We are lost and further sucked into this realm that kills our brain activity.
First off, I must point out one of my personal favorite sections in the first part of the book. I really liked when Carr spoke about Nietzsche. I'm reading Nietzsche for another class with Jodi Dean and while reading Shallows gave me a whole different perspective on what initially thought of Nietzsche. It gave a different insight. He talks about Nietzsche way of thinking and his way of writing as an affect of his thoughts. I thought this was cool considering what I have learned about Nietzsche this semester. “You are right Nietzsche replied. Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts" (19)
I really liked the connection of Digital Networks to my Political theory course.
However, aside from this I was able to understand some of Carr's points. I think that a lot of his arguments were accurate and things that I had thought about briefly before on my own. However, never with as much depth and analysis as Carr's book feeds us. I found myself agreeing with a lot of the arguments that Carr makes. The Internet to us seems like this great reliable source. Thanks to the Internet we have learned so much and it has made our life so much easier. However, while making our lives easier it also has "dumbed" us down. Yes, I agree!
“The intellectual ethic of a technology is rarely recognized by its inventors. They are usually so intent on solving particular problems or untangling some thorny scientific or engineering dilemma that they don't see the broader implications of their work. The users of the technology are oblivious to its ethic" (45)
Before the Internet we had more time to think and come up with more concrete opinions on our own ideas. We did not rely on Google to give us all the information that we needed. We no longer think for ourselves because someone else is thinking for us. (GOOGLE)
The first part of the book was interesting because Carr talks about humans becoming almost brainless creatures who are losing their sense of self because of the Internet. The Internet allows us to read in a whole different way. We understand material less. We are distracted by everything the Internet provides for us.emails, Face book, Google, Wikipedia. Our reading comprehension has decreased and our attention span has decreased. I feel that personally the Internet is the reason why I feel I have A.D.D. (attention deficit disorder) I think online has made us less able to think because we are so distracted.
Carr understands how essential and great the Internet can be. However, his concern revolves around how it actually hurts us. He feels it is important that we save ourselves from becoming the mindless robotic like humans the Internet is constructing us to be. Technology takes a huge toll in our life.
" the oral world of our distant ancestors may well have had emotional and intuitive depths that we no longer appreciate" (56) We no longer appreciate the way we used to learn without the media and without the technology that is so strong a part of our world. We are lost and further sucked into this realm that kills our brain activity.
WikiLeaks- Good or Bad?
WikiLeaks: "WikiLeaks is an independent, non-profit online media organization that publishes submissions of otherwise unavailable documents from anonymous sources. The WikiLeaks website was launched in 2006 by the Sunshine Press."
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/wikileaks.html
I think the presentation on Wikileaks was pretty interesting. I really liked that we were able to discuss the negative and positives of Wikileaks. I wrote down some of the arguments that were made and I thought the class had some interesting points.
Good: Wikileaks are good because they give us first hand information on things that are occuring in our world that without wikileaks we would not know about. Some of this information is important and we need to know these things.
Bad: How do we know if wikileaks are realible? They might give us the wrong information and cause the country to get false information that might lead to a bad reaction? Paranoid country.
I really enjoyed the debate that went on in class. People gave some pretty strong and interesting arguments on how they felt. I was on the bad side where my group argued against wikileaks. However, personally I think that Wikileaks are positive. Wikileaks have provided very important information to the people that without this source we would not be aware of. It is our right to know what is going on in our world and wikileaks does a good job at disclosing this information.
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/wikileaks.html
I think the presentation on Wikileaks was pretty interesting. I really liked that we were able to discuss the negative and positives of Wikileaks. I wrote down some of the arguments that were made and I thought the class had some interesting points.
Good: Wikileaks are good because they give us first hand information on things that are occuring in our world that without wikileaks we would not know about. Some of this information is important and we need to know these things.
Bad: How do we know if wikileaks are realible? They might give us the wrong information and cause the country to get false information that might lead to a bad reaction? Paranoid country.
I really enjoyed the debate that went on in class. People gave some pretty strong and interesting arguments on how they felt. I was on the bad side where my group argued against wikileaks. However, personally I think that Wikileaks are positive. Wikileaks have provided very important information to the people that without this source we would not be aware of. It is our right to know what is going on in our world and wikileaks does a good job at disclosing this information.
Understanding Bifo Helpful Class Notes
The Movement of Autonomy
laziness
points:
account of generations-displaced class thinking
people tend to make statements
pathologies-affiliated with the connected generations
we learn more about language from a machine, less from our mothers.
Precarious Rhapsody:
1) Idealogy Critique: dominant view, "what does this description block us from
2) Media Ecology: complex information mileau, what can flourish, what can't flourish
3) Social Studies/Science
technology (interactive with it)
Bifo: primary concern : our brains connected to communication etc
media activist ( semio capitalisn) ( signs and capitalism)
fusion of media/capitalism
poetry meets capitalism
language= site of confrontation
1968= creative explosion/ first generation of mass education
(1977) unemployment, oil, shock, revolution
laziness
points:
account of generations-displaced class thinking
people tend to make statements
pathologies-affiliated with the connected generations
we learn more about language from a machine, less from our mothers.
Precarious Rhapsody:
1) Idealogy Critique: dominant view, "what does this description block us from
2) Media Ecology: complex information mileau, what can flourish, what can't flourish
3) Social Studies/Science
technology (interactive with it)
Bifo: primary concern : our brains connected to communication etc
media activist ( semio capitalisn) ( signs and capitalism)
fusion of media/capitalism
poetry meets capitalism
language= site of confrontation
1968= creative explosion/ first generation of mass education
(1977) unemployment, oil, shock, revolution
Precarious Rhapsody (4-8) "Autonomy/ Capital/Labor"
Autonomy and its connection to capitalism
The development of an "Evil Desire"
Autonomy = the right to self govern
Bifo explains that " autonomy is the Independence of social time from the temporarily of capitalism" ( Bifo 75)
"This is the meaning of refusal of work. It means quite simply: I don't want to go to work because I prefer to sleep. But this laziness is the source of intelligence, of technology, of progress. Autonomy is the self-regulation of the social body in its Independence and in its interaction with the disciplinary norm." (75)
I was a bit confused in terms of what Bifo was trying to argue. However, I was able to understand his argument on autonomy and its affect on society. According to Bifo our right to self regulation allows for the rise of a lazy generation. Technology creates a rise of human dependency on the media and its advances.
However, I was able to come to the conclusion that although I previously thought that Bifo was attacking autonomy, he is actually discussing how things that are good ( in terms of people being able to have more power) things can actually go bad.
Flexibilazition benefiting capital?
Workers aren't getting hired because technology replaces the massive need for work? This is what I got from his argument. This was a scary point considering the generation we are a part of. Each day government funded programs are being cut. People are making less money because their aren't enough jobs. Technology replaces the physical worker because it is working to increase profit without really paying anybody to work. Think about it this way? This may not be the best example but its an example that came to my mind while reading this chapter. Technology replaces human labor (Example: we no longer need people to sell and distribute soda's we have machines who we can put the money in and it throws out cans of soda) This isn't the best example but it is the same idea of what the media does. A persons job is lost because the machine replaces the person. It is the same thing with computers. It is good to move away from capital. However, isn't it bad if people are losing jobs over this? How will people survive. Technology doesn't have a problem with lower pay and doesn't have the problems humans complain about..I think this was Bifo's strongest point and the one I agree with him the most on.
The development of an "Evil Desire"
Autonomy = the right to self govern
Bifo explains that " autonomy is the Independence of social time from the temporarily of capitalism" ( Bifo 75)
"This is the meaning of refusal of work. It means quite simply: I don't want to go to work because I prefer to sleep. But this laziness is the source of intelligence, of technology, of progress. Autonomy is the self-regulation of the social body in its Independence and in its interaction with the disciplinary norm." (75)
I was a bit confused in terms of what Bifo was trying to argue. However, I was able to understand his argument on autonomy and its affect on society. According to Bifo our right to self regulation allows for the rise of a lazy generation. Technology creates a rise of human dependency on the media and its advances.
However, I was able to come to the conclusion that although I previously thought that Bifo was attacking autonomy, he is actually discussing how things that are good ( in terms of people being able to have more power) things can actually go bad.
Flexibilazition benefiting capital?
Workers aren't getting hired because technology replaces the massive need for work? This is what I got from his argument. This was a scary point considering the generation we are a part of. Each day government funded programs are being cut. People are making less money because their aren't enough jobs. Technology replaces the physical worker because it is working to increase profit without really paying anybody to work. Think about it this way? This may not be the best example but its an example that came to my mind while reading this chapter. Technology replaces human labor (Example: we no longer need people to sell and distribute soda's we have machines who we can put the money in and it throws out cans of soda) This isn't the best example but it is the same idea of what the media does. A persons job is lost because the machine replaces the person. It is the same thing with computers. It is good to move away from capital. However, isn't it bad if people are losing jobs over this? How will people survive. Technology doesn't have a problem with lower pay and doesn't have the problems humans complain about..I think this was Bifo's strongest point and the one I agree with him the most on.
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