Here's a link to a guide to Twitter users
http://crazycrackerz.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Twitter-Style.jpg
14 years ago
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
HW 2-21
1.
Firstly what I found interesting was the section on Subliminal messages. I've often wondered, simply, if it worked or not and how often it is used. Thanks to Ad Nauseam I know the simple answers, no it doesn't work, and it isn't actually used for that precise reason. I think the endurance of the myth has to do more with the money riding on its coattails, than any veracity.
Secondly, was Lysol's dubious past as an extremely painful and crude spermicide. Sure Lysol kills sperm, it kills everything and would burn your skin, I cringe.
Thirdly was the eye-opening brazenness of Johnnie Walker's advertising. They were clearly trying to craft an image for consumers to inhabit, oh and that image happens to drink scotch, just btw.
My question for section five is, considering how substances deemed medicine in the past are poison in the present (heroin for example) how can we be sure we aren't doing the same thing to ourselves today with new pills and drugs?
My question for section six is, finishing the book I wonder what the next step is. It is perhaps an open-ended question, but what can we do next, does a savvy consumer live a different life?
2.
a.
Johnson's thesis is; Twitter has created a platform of communication that advances ambient awareness in important ways, but ultimately more important is the innovative ways individuals adapt this new technology to new ways.
b.
In support of Johnson I applaud the use of Twitter to create shadow conversations that can work as a set of citations for a conversation, it's exciting. I also like the idea of using Twitter to engage in nation-wide dialogues about issues like education, the connecting and sharing of ideas is always good.
Against Johnson I have this; that nation-wide dialogue would unfortunately be limited to a small demographic who have the access to Twitter, and the know-how and motivation to use it. This limits the number of participants in this conversation. Additionally, I worry that any digital intimacy we might be receiving from our tweets is replacing physical intimacy, a far more important commodity.
c.
I don't personally use Twitter, but that was mainly because I couldn't find a use for it, the idea of the shadow conversation is intriguing though, and I can now see the place this technology is beginning to occupy.
3.
Five things I learned from the Merchants of Cool
1. The Mook is a fabricated calculated character. I was unware of his hollow nature and origins.
2. Limp Bizkit was also helped significantly on their rise to fame, I never listened to them, but I knew of them, I'd no idea they were so propped up.
3. The idea of a feedback loop is a frightening concept. The MTV Spring Break being an example of it, they make it exciting by showing it non-stop for the other 50 weeks of the year it isn't being filmed.
4. The idea of companies paying people to talk up their products online or gather information about them is unnerving, I won't give them any more ammo.
5. The Midriff just seems to reinforce awful appearance-oriented values that only seem to give rise to more and more consuming.
Firstly what I found interesting was the section on Subliminal messages. I've often wondered, simply, if it worked or not and how often it is used. Thanks to Ad Nauseam I know the simple answers, no it doesn't work, and it isn't actually used for that precise reason. I think the endurance of the myth has to do more with the money riding on its coattails, than any veracity.
Secondly, was Lysol's dubious past as an extremely painful and crude spermicide. Sure Lysol kills sperm, it kills everything and would burn your skin, I cringe.
Thirdly was the eye-opening brazenness of Johnnie Walker's advertising. They were clearly trying to craft an image for consumers to inhabit, oh and that image happens to drink scotch, just btw.
My question for section five is, considering how substances deemed medicine in the past are poison in the present (heroin for example) how can we be sure we aren't doing the same thing to ourselves today with new pills and drugs?
My question for section six is, finishing the book I wonder what the next step is. It is perhaps an open-ended question, but what can we do next, does a savvy consumer live a different life?
2.
a.
Johnson's thesis is; Twitter has created a platform of communication that advances ambient awareness in important ways, but ultimately more important is the innovative ways individuals adapt this new technology to new ways.
b.
In support of Johnson I applaud the use of Twitter to create shadow conversations that can work as a set of citations for a conversation, it's exciting. I also like the idea of using Twitter to engage in nation-wide dialogues about issues like education, the connecting and sharing of ideas is always good.
Against Johnson I have this; that nation-wide dialogue would unfortunately be limited to a small demographic who have the access to Twitter, and the know-how and motivation to use it. This limits the number of participants in this conversation. Additionally, I worry that any digital intimacy we might be receiving from our tweets is replacing physical intimacy, a far more important commodity.
c.
I don't personally use Twitter, but that was mainly because I couldn't find a use for it, the idea of the shadow conversation is intriguing though, and I can now see the place this technology is beginning to occupy.
3.
Five things I learned from the Merchants of Cool
1. The Mook is a fabricated calculated character. I was unware of his hollow nature and origins.
2. Limp Bizkit was also helped significantly on their rise to fame, I never listened to them, but I knew of them, I'd no idea they were so propped up.
3. The idea of a feedback loop is a frightening concept. The MTV Spring Break being an example of it, they make it exciting by showing it non-stop for the other 50 weeks of the year it isn't being filmed.
4. The idea of companies paying people to talk up their products online or gather information about them is unnerving, I won't give them any more ammo.
5. The Midriff just seems to reinforce awful appearance-oriented values that only seem to give rise to more and more consuming.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Environmental Art
Texas floats inside the jar, the same way garbage floats in our ocean. The garbage I'm alluding to specifically is located in the Pacific Ocean and is about the same size area as the Lone Star State. The sea-glass inside the jar is both topically appropriate and personally relevant as I cut my feet wide open on the very pieces of glass in the jar. My project is an homage to things that upset me.
HW 2-16
Ad Nauseam Parts 3 & 4
1.
The chapter about Channel One hits home for me simply because I saw that program every morning my sixth grade year. It may've been a long time ago but i remember it distinctly as the first tv I saw in a classroom. Looking at the reading it really worries me that not even the student teachers can differentiate betweene an ad and a public service announcement. The Persuaders frontline special talks about this kind of advertising as selling not just a product but an idea, a philosophy. Imprinting young kids with a brand philosophy is pretty scary too, considering how effective those ads are.
Secondly, in part 4, Coca-Cola's efforts to get more "stomach share" is pretty frigtening, again it's like in the persuaders, amoungst all the clutter companies need to use new methods to reach people. The phasing out of water is particularly upsetting considering how harmful that much soda can be in place of simple water.
Is Google Making Us Smarter
2.
Cascio's main thesis is, the constantly-changing nature of technology and the subtly accumulating nature of the changes will mean that over time our intelligence will increase in ways that seem frightening now but at the time they occur will seem inevitable and beneficial.
I really thought his comment about the travel agent industry was interesting. I hadn't thought about how you don't see or hear about them anymore. I really hope that the loss of pattern-matching jobs doesn't result in a loss of that ability in people at large.
I also like Cascio's description of PDA's as an example of augmented itelligence in our everyday lives, and his explanation of writing as an augemented intelligence expansion of our memory.
I disagree with Cascio's opinions about the widening gap of rich and poor extending to technology. I think the speed of it's development puts it in a different boat that just monetary distribution.
Secondly, although I think he has good points regarding A.I., I think Cascio is underestimating our ability to regulate and control such a rapidly developing technology. I hope that the prevasiveness of the "robot threat" will prevent a terminator-like event. But in the same way that A.I. is possible I think a singularity event could grow out of our control.
The Persuaders
3.
-Frontline highlighted the shift from "head" to "heart" advertising. It was a change that while I've been marginally present and aware of, I didn't notice.
-We've lost the tangible differences between different brands of products, it's about selling a lifestyle now. Like a Mac, "not just a computer, a lifestyle" I've heard.
-I'd never been aware of how obvious the advertising of Fed Ex is in Castaway, it's scary how well it's integrated, I never noticed.
-Even Bob Dylan is a sellout! I'd had no idea.
-Lastly, I've looked at old political ads and it's startling, it isn't about the politican's stands on the issues, or the facts. Narrowcasting is a dangerous technique, it's basically advertising segregation.
1.
The chapter about Channel One hits home for me simply because I saw that program every morning my sixth grade year. It may've been a long time ago but i remember it distinctly as the first tv I saw in a classroom. Looking at the reading it really worries me that not even the student teachers can differentiate betweene an ad and a public service announcement. The Persuaders frontline special talks about this kind of advertising as selling not just a product but an idea, a philosophy. Imprinting young kids with a brand philosophy is pretty scary too, considering how effective those ads are.
Secondly, in part 4, Coca-Cola's efforts to get more "stomach share" is pretty frigtening, again it's like in the persuaders, amoungst all the clutter companies need to use new methods to reach people. The phasing out of water is particularly upsetting considering how harmful that much soda can be in place of simple water.
Is Google Making Us Smarter
2.
Cascio's main thesis is, the constantly-changing nature of technology and the subtly accumulating nature of the changes will mean that over time our intelligence will increase in ways that seem frightening now but at the time they occur will seem inevitable and beneficial.
I really thought his comment about the travel agent industry was interesting. I hadn't thought about how you don't see or hear about them anymore. I really hope that the loss of pattern-matching jobs doesn't result in a loss of that ability in people at large.
I also like Cascio's description of PDA's as an example of augmented itelligence in our everyday lives, and his explanation of writing as an augemented intelligence expansion of our memory.
I disagree with Cascio's opinions about the widening gap of rich and poor extending to technology. I think the speed of it's development puts it in a different boat that just monetary distribution.
Secondly, although I think he has good points regarding A.I., I think Cascio is underestimating our ability to regulate and control such a rapidly developing technology. I hope that the prevasiveness of the "robot threat" will prevent a terminator-like event. But in the same way that A.I. is possible I think a singularity event could grow out of our control.
The Persuaders
3.
-Frontline highlighted the shift from "head" to "heart" advertising. It was a change that while I've been marginally present and aware of, I didn't notice.
-We've lost the tangible differences between different brands of products, it's about selling a lifestyle now. Like a Mac, "not just a computer, a lifestyle" I've heard.
-I'd never been aware of how obvious the advertising of Fed Ex is in Castaway, it's scary how well it's integrated, I never noticed.
-Even Bob Dylan is a sellout! I'd had no idea.
-Lastly, I've looked at old political ads and it's startling, it isn't about the politican's stands on the issues, or the facts. Narrowcasting is a dangerous technique, it's basically advertising segregation.
Monday, February 8, 2010
An Introspective Introduction: Redux
Edit: Bonus, here's Bill O'Reilly interviewing John Stewart
Hi, my name is James Wagenknecht. I was born in Massachusetts where I lived until I was 11. Then I returned to my ancestral home here in VT where I went to high school in Fairfax. My winter break highlights were secluded snowshoe trips in the woods deep behind my parents house. But on a frightening note I can only describe the sound a frozen lake makes as you walk alone across it several miles away from another person, as terrifying. In regards to the Media there are a huge number of things I do like about it, the volume of information available and the speed of access to it being my favorites. But I sincerely worry that the tide of technology is moving too swiftly. I worry that in a short number of years we won't have to interact face to face with anyone if we choose not to. My future lies in the realm of direct food production, a farm. But I move towards the rural world while deliberately keeping a foot in the urban one, knowing all too well that the two are creeping closer and closer.
Hi, my name is James Wagenknecht. I was born in Massachusetts where I lived until I was 11. Then I returned to my ancestral home here in VT where I went to high school in Fairfax. My winter break highlights were secluded snowshoe trips in the woods deep behind my parents house. But on a frightening note I can only describe the sound a frozen lake makes as you walk alone across it several miles away from another person, as terrifying. In regards to the Media there are a huge number of things I do like about it, the volume of information available and the speed of access to it being my favorites. But I sincerely worry that the tide of technology is moving too swiftly. I worry that in a short number of years we won't have to interact face to face with anyone if we choose not to. My future lies in the realm of direct food production, a farm. But I move towards the rural world while deliberately keeping a foot in the urban one, knowing all too well that the two are creeping closer and closer.
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