Sunday, November 23, 2014
In Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried, he expresses a difference between "story truth" and "happening truth". "Story truth", I would say, is him expressing real life stories but not how they legitimately happened, yet still getting the meaning and the feeling across. On the flip side, that would make "happening truth" what actually happened, events and all. O'Brien definitely prefers to play with "story truth" more because he retells a story of Kiowa's death multiple times throughout the book in different chapters, each time it is told differently. However, the reader still has sympathy for Kiowa when he dies no matter how the story is told. The fact that O'Brien had a friend who he lost in the war still pulls on the reader's heartstrings. He notes at one point in the text that a true war story "makes the stomach believe", and that is why he favors "story truth" over "happening truth".
Sunday, November 16, 2014
If I were to expand on any of the four essays, I would most likely choose the one I wrote on social media. While having the argument that all people on the Internet, regardless of the distance between you or how often you talk, have the potential to become ones friend, I would probably expand more on the actual analysis of friendships online. For example, there is a show on MTV called Catfish that tries to unite people who are in long distance relationships. A lot of the time, though, one of the two people ends up being fake. I have yet to see an episode of this where the relationship actually goes as planned, with both people being who they said they were.
In my essay, I had also touched on how having a bunch of online friends that you don't talk to at all would be considered "pathetic". I would probably cut that part out and everything that has to do with that, because it would have nothing to do with my analysis for online friendships.
Key Terms:
-Facebook friends
-Internet vs. face-to-face
-Catfish (TV show)
-online relationships
-Gaming friends
In my essay, I had also touched on how having a bunch of online friends that you don't talk to at all would be considered "pathetic". I would probably cut that part out and everything that has to do with that, because it would have nothing to do with my analysis for online friendships.
Key Terms:
-Facebook friends
-Internet vs. face-to-face
-Catfish (TV show)
-online relationships
-Gaming friends
Monday, October 20, 2014
Summary:
In Tim O'Brien's "On the Rainy River", he tells a story about being drafted but running away. O'Brien flees his home and heads toward Canada, where everyone went at the time to escape the war after leaving a simple note to his parents informing them of his decision. His reasoning he tells us is that he does not believe in the war, therefore refuses to fight. During his journey, he stops at this place where an older man lives, who doesn't question him whatsoever and simply allows O'Brien to stay a few nights. After staying there and doing work for the older man, the man ended up paying him instead of the other way around. He refuses the money but ends up being given it once more. Soon after, the older man takes him fishing right up to the shore of Canada, where if he crossed, he would have successfully escaped being drafted. However, O'Brien ends up breaking down into tears and the journey is rewound. After giving the man back his money once more, O'Brien returns home and becomes a part of the war. He notes that he is a coward for not being able to escape and going into the war instead.
Response:
When someone is drafted and they want to run away or escape from a war, typically they are the ones who are referred to as a coward, not the ones who actually participate in it, Aside from that, though, I'm curious as to why the older man had no questions to ask. I mean, I'm sure he was thinking about questions to ask and used his better judgement (or was it better?) not to ask. But human nature makes us humans curious about most things, even if the matter at hand would bring us no beneficial gain. If I were in the older man's position, I would have let curiosity overtake me and I would have asked questions. If not all, at least one. Going my life with unanswered questions would frustrate me, and the only way to rid the future frustration would be to ask a simple question or two, such as "Why have you come here?" or "Would you feel comfortable answering some of my questions?"
In Tim O'Brien's "On the Rainy River", he tells a story about being drafted but running away. O'Brien flees his home and heads toward Canada, where everyone went at the time to escape the war after leaving a simple note to his parents informing them of his decision. His reasoning he tells us is that he does not believe in the war, therefore refuses to fight. During his journey, he stops at this place where an older man lives, who doesn't question him whatsoever and simply allows O'Brien to stay a few nights. After staying there and doing work for the older man, the man ended up paying him instead of the other way around. He refuses the money but ends up being given it once more. Soon after, the older man takes him fishing right up to the shore of Canada, where if he crossed, he would have successfully escaped being drafted. However, O'Brien ends up breaking down into tears and the journey is rewound. After giving the man back his money once more, O'Brien returns home and becomes a part of the war. He notes that he is a coward for not being able to escape and going into the war instead.
Response:
When someone is drafted and they want to run away or escape from a war, typically they are the ones who are referred to as a coward, not the ones who actually participate in it, Aside from that, though, I'm curious as to why the older man had no questions to ask. I mean, I'm sure he was thinking about questions to ask and used his better judgement (or was it better?) not to ask. But human nature makes us humans curious about most things, even if the matter at hand would bring us no beneficial gain. If I were in the older man's position, I would have let curiosity overtake me and I would have asked questions. If not all, at least one. Going my life with unanswered questions would frustrate me, and the only way to rid the future frustration would be to ask a simple question or two, such as "Why have you come here?" or "Would you feel comfortable answering some of my questions?"
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Summary:
In Jack Solomon and Sonia Maasik's "Semiotics and the New Media", one part talks about how easy it is for news to go viral. News on the Internet is "available 24/7 and constantly being updated" (448), so it can be accessed by anyone at any time. Two examples were given about how fast information can be leaked, and how sometimes what we read on the Internet may only be a glimpse of the truth, even if it is or seems like it is from a valid source. One of these examples talked about how a clip from a speech someone had made was posted to a blog and that single clip went viral. This clip, however, made the speaker sound like she was being racist. But in reality, she was talking about a time when she "overcame her own racial prejudices" (448).
Response:
Regarding social media, it is incredibly easy for something, such as a video or a statement someone made, to go viral. News and other information is shared through reblogging, reposting, or any other sharing option provided by these sites. Information can travel all throughout the world wide web just by a few people clicking a single button, Even meaningless things, such as the Nyan Cat video, can go viral. Whether it be something absolutely love, or something everyone hates with a burning passion, anything has the ability to be known and/or seen by billion of people on the Internet.
In Jack Solomon and Sonia Maasik's "Semiotics and the New Media", one part talks about how easy it is for news to go viral. News on the Internet is "available 24/7 and constantly being updated" (448), so it can be accessed by anyone at any time. Two examples were given about how fast information can be leaked, and how sometimes what we read on the Internet may only be a glimpse of the truth, even if it is or seems like it is from a valid source. One of these examples talked about how a clip from a speech someone had made was posted to a blog and that single clip went viral. This clip, however, made the speaker sound like she was being racist. But in reality, she was talking about a time when she "overcame her own racial prejudices" (448).
Response:
Regarding social media, it is incredibly easy for something, such as a video or a statement someone made, to go viral. News and other information is shared through reblogging, reposting, or any other sharing option provided by these sites. Information can travel all throughout the world wide web just by a few people clicking a single button, Even meaningless things, such as the Nyan Cat video, can go viral. Whether it be something absolutely love, or something everyone hates with a burning passion, anything has the ability to be known and/or seen by billion of people on the Internet.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Summary:
In Ian Daly's piece "Virtual Reality Isn't Cool - It's Pathetic", he talks about how people get too involved with social media pages. Daly says that people have a false sense of popularity from the amount of friends they posses on sites. He comments how an "adult male converts to behave like 13-year-old girls" when they are on these sites, meaning they are basically giddy and easily obsessing over small things. In addition to seeming to be talking down to social media, he also comments on how people aren't really secure when they become engulfed by social media. Typical things you see people post, such as pictures from that party last weekend, are seen by potential employers and could be the difference between someone getting the job or completely missing out.
Response:
When it comes to social media sites, both of my parents have enforced keeping most things about my life private from the Internet. For example, if I go on a trip either with friends or with my family, I am advised not to post anything about my departure online because people who may know or have the ability to find out where I live could have access to anything and everything. Just by knowing that the house is vacant from whatever days at whatever times, it puts me, my family, and everything we own on the line. Yes, this may be a bit extreme, judging how Stockton isn't as bad as people make it out to be, but everything has potential to happen. Because of this, I am very cautious on what I allow to be posted to the Internet, and whenever I do post, I have to filter the type of information that I choose to put out there for the world to see.
In Ian Daly's piece "Virtual Reality Isn't Cool - It's Pathetic", he talks about how people get too involved with social media pages. Daly says that people have a false sense of popularity from the amount of friends they posses on sites. He comments how an "adult male converts to behave like 13-year-old girls" when they are on these sites, meaning they are basically giddy and easily obsessing over small things. In addition to seeming to be talking down to social media, he also comments on how people aren't really secure when they become engulfed by social media. Typical things you see people post, such as pictures from that party last weekend, are seen by potential employers and could be the difference between someone getting the job or completely missing out.
Response:
When it comes to social media sites, both of my parents have enforced keeping most things about my life private from the Internet. For example, if I go on a trip either with friends or with my family, I am advised not to post anything about my departure online because people who may know or have the ability to find out where I live could have access to anything and everything. Just by knowing that the house is vacant from whatever days at whatever times, it puts me, my family, and everything we own on the line. Yes, this may be a bit extreme, judging how Stockton isn't as bad as people make it out to be, but everything has potential to happen. Because of this, I am very cautious on what I allow to be posted to the Internet, and whenever I do post, I have to filter the type of information that I choose to put out there for the world to see.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Summary:
In Steve Craig's "Men's Men and Women's Women", different methods of advertising were discussed. According to Craig, men and women are usually targeted with specific commercials. For example, commercials for beer target men and beauty products target women. A men's men commercial has at least one male who is well-built and handsome. A men's women commercial usually has one or more "sexy" women, usually young, blonde, and wearing little clothing. Both of these are ways advertisers appeal to a specific gender through manipulation. With a women's women commercial, a woman is usually slim, busty, and has flawless skin. A women's men commercial has an attractive young male who is well-built and appears without a female.
Response:
I agree with Craig's words that men and women are targeted with different commercials. Subliminally, consumers are being fed information to draw them into a product, but sometimes, not through the product itself. Our minds are susceptible to influence, which makes us more likely to buy a certain product that is being advertised. But only if the advertising is done right. By men and women seeing themselves through other people in an advertisement, the advertising is more likely to be successful. Humans try to be the best they can be, and if a product will help them achieve this or if they see someone who is "better" than them that is using the product, they will be encouraged to purchase said product.
In Steve Craig's "Men's Men and Women's Women", different methods of advertising were discussed. According to Craig, men and women are usually targeted with specific commercials. For example, commercials for beer target men and beauty products target women. A men's men commercial has at least one male who is well-built and handsome. A men's women commercial usually has one or more "sexy" women, usually young, blonde, and wearing little clothing. Both of these are ways advertisers appeal to a specific gender through manipulation. With a women's women commercial, a woman is usually slim, busty, and has flawless skin. A women's men commercial has an attractive young male who is well-built and appears without a female.
Response:
I agree with Craig's words that men and women are targeted with different commercials. Subliminally, consumers are being fed information to draw them into a product, but sometimes, not through the product itself. Our minds are susceptible to influence, which makes us more likely to buy a certain product that is being advertised. But only if the advertising is done right. By men and women seeing themselves through other people in an advertisement, the advertising is more likely to be successful. Humans try to be the best they can be, and if a product will help them achieve this or if they see someone who is "better" than them that is using the product, they will be encouraged to purchase said product.
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