For the virtual class discussion, follow my blog (and twitter feed) over Thursday and Friday (I’m attending the Society for Cinema and Media Studies conference in Chicago – brrrr!), then post a short critical response to one of my posts as a reply to this post below. After some other classmates post their comments as replies, then comment on two of your colleagues comments (leave some time between replies so that you show that you’re reading other comments and not simply doing a quick and dirty response to this assignment). So, 1 critical comment on my blog or twitter feed (be sure to post your comment as a reply below and not on the teach-screen blog) and 2 comments on the comments of others (also posted below). Comment + comment + comment = virtual class discussion. All three of your posted comments are due by 12 midnight Wednesday March 13, 2013.
Here is a link to my own blog: teach-screen.org (there is also a page link to the left below documents)
Mind and Media 
As for Facebook being a hangout and a way to keep in contact with people we don’t see often or people who are miles away, I can’t see it being used for teaching. I think there are a lot of ads and it is highly commercialized by the site coming up with advertisements that “fit your interests”. It seems like most things people post are just about what they are up to and whats going on in their lives. Being a person that doesn’t like Facebook, I don’t think it would be an effective way to teach or learn. I feel that Facebook may be useful for social media purposes but I can’t picture it being used for teaching. I had a teacher in high school that tried to teach through the site and said she posted the homework on it. The class didn’t seem to want to use the site in relation to the “hangout” being part of the classroom.
I would have to disagree and say that it would serve as a great teaching tool. Looking at what people post, like, and comment on could say a lot about a person or it could say nothing at all, but it is still valuable information about our current culture and society and how new technologies affect our actions. I also think it would be a good teaching aspect by using the option of private groups because it is essentially the same thing as this blog but it happens to be on a social networking site.
I agree to a certain degree with Raquel, Facebook is a huge distraction that often causes students to stray away from studying and focus on other peoples lives. I will have to say though that Facebook can be used as a tool for learning. Once you get past all the distraction it is a great way to communicate with other classmates and get feed back about ideas or homework in class. I think using Facebook to compliment educational practices would be beneficial but it would not be a good tool to rely completely on. The trendiness of Facebook and its concentration on entertainment are the reasons why I think that it would not be very beneficial tool to use in order to teach.
I agree with Nathan, Facebook’s concentration on entertainment would be problematic. Not only that but personally I prefer to keep my personal life separate from the classroom. Though Facebook could be a beneficial tool for learning, I think that academica and Facebook are two worlds that should remain separate.
I agree. I also think that there is a limit on how much social media a professor can require a student to have. Technology can definitely be an effective teaching tool and it is the direction that our world is moving in, but some people have a level of discomfort with Facebook and I do not think that a class should make it a requirement to have a Facebook.
After reading everyone’s comments, I think a better word that would fit into what Raquel is saying the usage of Facebook and how we use Facebook as a social meida tool. In my response, I talked about the advertisements and whether if it should belong in a place like Facebook? Well, should advertisements be placed in social places? I think that the more companies, industries and employers are using Facebook and promoting advertisements, it does not seem as a social space anymore. To answer your question Raquel, I think Facebook does teach us something to an extent but not completely. I would agree with Nathan that we can use Facebook as tool to communicate with our classmates to dicusses about what we learned in class or if we have questions about homework. But I would like to pose a question: how does incorporating education or just the idea of being in a classroom affect the social space that we call Facebook?
I think you raise great points Sonia, I would say that advertisements do not belong in Facebook since its created for people to communicate. I have been fascinated by this idea of Facebook as a means to teaching, I would have to say that I do think Facebook can be use as a classroom tool. It is a great way to teach somebody about issues that one is passionate about. You can post videos or articles that you feel are important and it might capture the attention of one of your friends. This is education, when one promotes something in order to teach something and that person reads it then you have made a great contribution. The other day I posted a youtube video on Wealth in our nation and I purposely post it in order that people might see the problem of our nations distribution of wealth. I tend to think that this can be a teaching tool.
Facebook has this malleable quality to it that undergraduates really feel comfortable with. It is constantly changing and that mutability keeps the users present to hangout. Facebook has become embedded within societal discourse. My friend Brett poignantly called it a kind of social resume, In that you have so many number of friends, photographs and possibly a hint of socio-economic background. I think that the “social resume” quality of Facebook as a reference hinders the educational teaching tool aspect because the exchange of information is on a more reductive forum.
I really like this idea of the “social resume” and how it is mainly used to show off the more lavish aspects of one’s life. However, education is a large part of one’s social resume (paper resume too) and I see a lot of people posting about their education on Facebook. I believe that teaching could be possible through the Facebook medium, however, Facebook also seems to be used for venting frustrations about work (specifically schoolwork) and other daily tasks as well. Overall, Facebook is mainly used to connect with people and transforms into wasting time (which is almost inevitable). Teaching through Facebook would be difficult solely on the fact that there are many other gizmos and widgets grabbing at your attention while on the site. Maybe Facebook is the anti-library???
I like the idea of the “social resume” as well, though it is also on other sites like Linked In. I don’t know what I think about people posting their education of Facebook. I don’t like the idea of posting where you live, or where your from, or where you go to school. Yes, people do vent about work on Facebook and it is like a way of passing time. I don’t know how to picture it as the anti-library other than that everything is online, but I see what you mean.
I agree with you! I feel like facebook in education is just more of a distraction because it is all about keeping a social life and image and is usually the kind of thing that just distracts people from their studies. I know people might say that education is part of our social lives, but from experience and from what I’ve seen, social networking sites and apps just keep people from doing the things they need to get done.
Despite the fact that social media an be an extremely effective tool in teaching, there is also a lack of professionalism and a lack of privacy associated with it. Some social media sites were created for businesses and professors to utilize, or are at least more susceptible to the utilization, such as Tumblr, or Twitter, however, Facebook was created as an outlet for college students from academics. I agree with Omar that Facebook has a social resume quality and I do not believe that an academic or professional resume should be mixed in. I believe that technology has made classrooms, professional relationships, and teaching relationships too relaxed and unprofessional and utilizing a social media website for teaching further blurs the lines of professionalism and privacy. There needs to continue to be a separation between school and personal life.
I agree with Hayley. FB, twitter, tumblr are channels of communication that are more colloquial in nature and the informalness of these sites lends itself more to a natural social setting. One major difference is that the “natural social setting” is now digital and visible to all. These sites are not desinged like LinkedIn where professional motivations are priority BUT one should take into account that a potential employer WILL look at these sites and that internet integrity should be managed and taken seriously.
I agree, I think that out of the popular social medias Facebook seems to be the one that most people keep their pages private. And that this is a result of Facebook being designed as a place for college students to stay updated with the lives of their friends. Other outlets were made for other purposes such as business and would seem to be a better fit in regards to educational reasons.
If people don’t keep their profiles private anyone can access it and basically see all these things about a person that they shouldn’t know, especially if they don’t even know the person. Privacy is important so one’s life is not out in the public. I agree that Facebook becomes a place for people to privately interact. If teaching comes in and is used through the site it change the way people see the site and it wouldn’t be the same.
I like the notion of blurring between professionalism and privacy and I would like to add something else to this conversation. To what extent does Facebook’s own image as a company using modes of surveillance hinder the quality of education. I know this harkens back to McLuhan’s “The Medium is the Message.” I am interested in how the medium of Facebook changes the meaning of the possible educational content?
I completely agree with Hayley in the sense that if Facebook became another regularly used teaching tool the lines between school and personal life would be blurred. Facebook is not necessarily a space where students should have to maintain a professional face but instead they should be able to exert their freedom of speech. Professiors communicating with students via Facebook seems highly unprofessional and takes away from the formaility and respect that should exist in a student/teacher relationship. Soon there will be no reason to go to class if professors can teach via Facebook.
I actually disagree with some of Hayley’s points because I think Facebook allows easy access for teachers and students to communicate online. Privacy should not really be a concern for students or teachers because they can edit their information so that the only information available to the public is something they feel is appropriate for their friends to look at. So, based on the fact that Facebook is so easy to use for everyone and can be made private, I think that it could potentially be a good teaching source.
Facebook is merely a tool. Every tool, must in my opinion have a force acting upon the tool in order to prove it’s function. For example, one grasps a hammer and smashes a nail. The hammer was the tool…you get it. Just like the hammer, face-book is a tool, that until utilized by some self governing agent, proves functionless. Once we log on into the internet and begin to utilize the tool of face-book we are DOOMED? Hardly so. Although others may experience a relatable feeling. The clear conceptions and downfalls to face-book that are mentioned in the comments above are essentially comments on technologies influence on us..people. Social Media and technology has had such great social implications on those that utilize them that the user has lost control. The nail was not stricken by the hammer, rather the hammer was to small, or to big, or even too heavy. The blame has fallen on the tool itself. This is where it gets tricky in my opinion. We are a product of the created tool, and we are a result of it as well. Rather then assume and attribute procrastination of homework or any other activity to the use of social media, attribute it yourself. My thoughts seemed scattered, but I believe within this paragraph there is some worth.
But it is a bit like hanging out at the shopping mall. Commercial space pretending to be a public social space, extraordinary surveillance and exploitation of social activities, and such and such. Though the mall has pizza.
Dan Leopard Associate Professor Media Studies and Communication Saint Mary’s College of California 310-779-4908 dleopard@mac.com drl1@stmarys-ca.edu teach-screen.org Teaching with the Screen: Pedagogy, Agency, and Media Culture: http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415640626
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I disagree. Although I think the specific content of what students post on Facebook should be left out of the classroom, there are a lot of social or not so social, interactions happening there and they should be addressed. The way we communicate as a society has completely changed because of all of the technology we have at our disposal. The way people interact and perceive Facebook is important for us to understand. Also as Dan pointed out in his original post, businesses are using it to sell us all their product, doesn’t that change the purely social aspect of Facebook?
While I don’t want my professors seeing every little thing I post on Facebook I think it should be discussed, especially in comm classes, so we can understand its influence and social complications.
I agree with your statement but I don’t think that it changes from a social aspect to a marketing tool. Instead the company may attracted to using it as a way to be more personal and interactive with it’s customers.
I too appreciate this idea of Facebook being a “social resume” but can not say I would feel entirely comfortable having professionals making valuable decisions about my future based upon something as trivial as a social media page. Students want to be able to speak freely on Facebook and if one feels constrained by the possibility of Facebook being a resume this will not happen. Over the years, I have felt less comfortable posting on facebook because once something is on the internet you can never really get it back and one silly comment or photo from 2 years ago could easily follow me for the rest of my life. The Facebook environment is not as layed back as it would seem, instead it is an environment full of pressures.
Karlene, I agree with you. My mom always checks Facebook and other social media sites when interviewing her employees. I realize that Facebook is an instant out source of expressing “what are you doing, Ashley” doesn’t need to be shared with the world. In the long run, I think that posting inappropriate comments and explicit photos can hinder in the long run. Just recently, the little girl I nanny said that her mom stalked my Facebook to make sure I was a decent fit for their family and demonstrated responsibilities and a good example for their daughter. Since younger generations use Facebook frequently, the exposure can jeopardize careers and what they have worked so hard for.
I totally agree with Karlene. Facebook is basically a digital representation of which we are as it can provide multiple types of information one would need to actually understand us. Also, you are right that is kind of scary to think about that someone can look at our status or picture from two years ago. This is really interesting to think about because who would have thought some picture or status could come back to haunt us when at that time we may have thought nothing of it. Your final statement of how Facebook is full of pressures is so true as we can’t just be ourselves on facebook as now people such as prospective job employers will look at our profile and be able to judge us.
To go off your point, I agree that Facebook is a sort of “social resume”. Often there is more concern for what is posted because of a recognition that different types of people will see the page. There are times where it has dictated how I viewed people, based on what they chose to use as their profile picture as I thought that it said a lot about what they thought of themselves and valued most in themselves. And there are plenty of times where I am somewhere and I take a picture and I say, “don’t tag me in that, my mom is my friend on Facebook.” It becomes a quicker easier way to make snap judgments of people just the same way a resume would work in the workforce.
I agree with what you are saying. You find yourself always judging a person based on what is posted on their Facebook. I think it’s sad tht our society today forms so much around social media, Facebook in general. I often wonder if things would be different if eir wasn’t Facebook. I especially agree with what you said about being tagged in pictures, not only for your parents but also for your future clients or bosses. Facebook is something that anyone can access and if your applying for a job and they look you up, there basing their fort opinions on your Facebook page rather then who you actually are
After viewing the short film “Breaking the 4th Wall Movie Supercut” (http://vimeo.com/groups/audiovisualcy/videos/60845952) it brings up an interesting aspect of cinema and television in general. The camera, which is our (The viewers) actual lens of viewing said film, movie, documentary, etcetera… is depicted as actually “there” whereas in most cases, the camera is an omnipresent ghost that captures actions, which tell a story. This film (linked above) is semi-similar to “The Clock” (viewed in class) because it performs many cuts from copious films that, over time, build a sort of continuity and make sense. In this case it was a film showing characters from films addressing the camera, sometimes with a coy glance and smile and other times actually speaking directly into the camera, as if the camera, for only one brief moment is actually there (or alive). Obviously, this the where the “breaking of the 4th wall” comes from. I am not quite sure what to make of the characters addressing the audience directly. In some examples it seems fun and provides comic relief, in other situations I question why it even occurs. I am not saying it shouldn’t happen, but it does not really add anything to said film. I am interested in hearing other’s thoughts on the breaking of the 4th wall and how an audience reacts to being addressed by a character in a film.
I’ve noticed in films that when characters “break the 4th wall” it’s because they’re directing an insult to the audience. You can see this line pop up a lot, “Blah blah blah, that’s such a silly idea, who’d believe/pay to see that?” (cue awkward turning of heads to look at the audience).
Does narration count as braking the 4th wall?
WOW! *breaking haha
I don’t believe narration counts as breaking the fourth wall, unless the character looks at the camera. This supercut film uses the movie “Goodfellas” as an example of breaking the fourth wall, a film that is narrated throughout, however, the main character only breaks the fourth wall when he is in court and turns around to address the camera (in my opinion). Narration should fall into a different category, but I do not believe it breaks the fourth wall.
I love Meta work when the character addresses the audiences and comments on the scene itself. I think in some cases it breaks the suture between the audience and the screen and that can make the relationship between the audience and the visual piece dynamic. Although I agree with Max that at times it breaks continuity and takes the spectator out of the experience and dissipates the energy of the narrative.
I disagree, to an extent, that it does not add anything to the film. Many of the films in this series, for example, A Clockwork Orange, Fight Club, and Psycho, have psychological aspects and therefore use the interaction with the audience as a way to engage them further in the thrilling component. I believe that with that genre of movie, audience interaction is extremely effective in enhancing the audiences intrigue and emotions. Other films, such as, Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Ferris Beuller’s Day Off, use the technique for comedic reasons. By “breaking down the 4th wall” they allow the characters to address the audience directly, deepening their involvement in the humor and irony of the situation.
^Above comment is a response to Max’s comment.
I agree with Haley I do think that address the audience directly can add to films in many different genres. However as for Max’s comment about narration, I’m not sure if I agree. I think that narration can break the fourth wall. In Richard III for example, I feel that his addresses to the audiences can count as a narration.
The relationship between digital humanities and media studies is tense based on the introduction given by Miriam Posner because the former seems to be edging out the latter. Of course, digital humanities is completely relevant in the “digital age” we exist in and theories on praxis are beneficial for understanding progressing technologies. However, this is a fairly recent phenomena of the last 40 years; we’ve had Internet for how long? Dvds for how long? Cds? Digital cameras? Film, or the concept of projecting moving images, as been around far longer. Now, we have “digitized” and “born-digital” technologies, which is the case for why DH has roots amongst many disciplines. MS and DH, are essentially looking at the same thing however—how technologies organize, mediate and reflect humaness. The major difference is that DH plays on a digital arena BUT film is now in the game with the presence of CGI( special effects, 3D, Real-D). There doesn’t seem to be a huge leap between these focuses so why not just blend the two into a hybrid-study? With any research it is in researcher’s best interest to not see the topic of inquiry as isolated and static, because findings will be limited and not representative. There can be multiple causes for one overarching effect and its important to establish a contextual lineage. Dan, based on previous experience I feel like your class(es) do a great job of incorporating the digital technologies we’ve grown so used to using but grounded them in media, film, cultural theories, tying in many of the sects that contribute to DH and MS today.
With all of the new digital technologies that we have seen emerge in past years it is important to think about where the studies are headed. Media studies has been the main focus to many studies but now that much of the media has been digitized it is important to look at digital humanities. However with the introduction given by Miriam Posner it seems like many are nervous to venture into this new field even though it is where we are headed. I think that is because it is such a new thing and that within the next few years people will start making the transition not only because they will have to but because there will be more groundwork laid out than there is now.
In my humble opinion, a function of technology, is in it’s most basic concept an ability to replace old forms of media, with newer ones more adept to their environment. I say this in regard to the statement regarding the contemplation of where the digital technologies are headed. It is of grave importance in my opinion to always keep an active and reflective contemplation on media and its progress within each generation. The implications of new media are always taking effect in the conscious and unconscious of society. It is not the individual media that necessarily needs regulation or to be monitored more or less…Rather I believe it is the general scope of media; analyzed not weekly, but perhaps yearly or by the decade. This reflection, I would hope, would shed light upon of the growth or decay of the public in terms of media.
Media studies is so important because media is everywhere. Whether it be social media, advertisements, or television (just to name a few) it is literally everywhere. I’m sure while all of us were writing these posts we were on Facebook or were listening to music or were watching TV. I think it might be a kind of risky thing to study only because it is so new, but clearly media is here to stay so we should all invest some time into really looking at how the media influences our actions and decisions. Like MaceyMorgan said, someone has to step out and just begin the research process, and then it will become a regular and accepted research topic. I am surprised that more research hasn’t been done already, since the major boom of media and technology was quite a few years ago. Obviously it takes a while for things to get published, but this is an important topic that we all have some sort of connection with.
Reading the comments above really started me thinking about media ( social networks/social technologies) and their importance. Although i realize that media (in the social sense) is something that is very prevalent in our culture and something that is slowly but surly becoming a necessity for other the idea of social networks and other media outlets is a “privilege”. So for us media is a necessity and something that we cant live without where as in other nations it not as important. So my question to you all would be, maceymorgan said ” within the next few years people will start making the transition not only because they will have to but because there will be more groundwork laid out than there is now”. Thinking about other nations is the idea of media studies and media being everywhere going to be something that even up and coming nations have to conform to, and what are the consequences or enhancements that come with transferring to media centered age?
Facebook is primarily targetted at the undergraduate student, not the professor. When a professor wants to become a student’s friend or somehow views the student’s Facebook page it almost feels as if one’s privacy has been breeched. Facebook no longer feels like a safe space when the people who are viweing it are your elders that partially hold your academic success in their hands. As I look forward to my future and applying to graduate school I contemplate deleting my facebook so as to not allow others in a position of power to make judgements about me based off of some social media page. Nonethless, even amongst peers Facebook is not just a cool hang out place, it is a place of judgement where we think we know one another based off a comment or a picture.
I agree with this completely. Everyone “Facebook stalks” and talks about it to other people and comes to conclusions and assumptions about these people based off of what they see on their profiles or photos. As much as we’d like to deny it, we all do it, and I think that bringing educators into that could create an awkward relationship between the two. I mean, I’m friends with some of my old teachers from high school on Facebook, but I don’t really post super personal things on there so I’m not as self conscious about my profile.
I do agree that a lot of people Facebook stalk. I just don’t think that it is that big of a problem because if you are friends with somebody on Facebook, you should censor what you put on your Facebook so that it is appropriate for all of your friends on there to see. I think that using Facebook as a teaching source would benefit many people because they would be more careful with what they post and not post things that may be inappropriate.
I agree with Katrina. I think actually being friends with professors violates the purpose of Facebook. My argument is that we need to look at Facebook as a social media to understand its social implications. It is such a vital part of all of our every day lives, it needs to be looked at as a way we communicate. Because it is different from other forms of communication.
so in terms of having “others in positions of power” looking at our Facebook page is this necessarily a bad thing? I think that weather we like it or not, we also, to some extent understand that our facebook page is an extension of us. We write what we think, feel, and experience in our status’ and i would argue that our fb pages are very much an indication of who we are as people (although ho we are is not limited to just what we write on our Facebook page). So i guess i have to follow this up with the question of, is this a bad thing?
I think it is just a confusing thing because the site is advertised as a social meeting ground with your peers so as is often done in reality, we present a different form of ourselves in different situations so when we have multiple versions of ourselves that we have to portray on the site it becomes tricky and difficult. The site was most successful and useful when there was one purpose for it and that was to meet and connect with other college students your age. Now we are more wary to post things, thinking once, twice, even three times before pulling the trigger and posting a comment or a picture or a status. By being so cautious, the site loses its appeal.
I would have to agree with your response. When we check out that red box with a number on it on the friend request icon, we can see that it is an older family member or our professor. We are used to seeing them in different spaces and different areas in our lives but the fact that Facebook is targeted more to the undergraduate student population, it does not seem fit that an individual who does not belong in this group of people accept someone who does belong in the group. I like when you said that when a professor tries to add you on Facebook, it feels like your privacy has breeched. I also feel that way when the article talks about how advertisements are appearing more on Facebook and large corporations and employers are using Facebook to check up on their employees or even potential employees, which I dont think its right. I feel that these corporations, advertisements and employers are similar to a professor or an older person trying to add you as a friend on Facebook. They are both violating our privacy and I think this can go back to how we define a social space and the reason/purpose that Mark Zuckerburg created Facebook in the first place.
Thats is very true. Don’t you think that the longer we live in a world with this technology that we will learn to adapt. I am pretty sure that within the next ten years, every you meet will have or had an account on a social networking site.
Funny enough, don’t add the SMC Cilsa page, olivar hall, and all those other fb pages, i am pretty certain the faculty have acces to them, and can you see them to scope people out
I feel like people have an image or persona they feel they have to live up to with their Facebook profiles. Whether it be to keep in contact with people or as a form of entertainment through socializing and browsing people’s profiles and pictures, everyone puts information and photos of themselves to make themselves look a certain way. I don’t really see Facebook as a place to hang out, rather it’s where people can create a visual image and representation of who they are, what they like and dislike, and what their lives are like.Bringing management or education into the Facebook world of college students pretty much limits what people can post in fear of what their management or educators might see. Many times I’ve heard of my friends changing their last names on their Facebooks or blocking being tagged in photos that other people post and all other sorts of privacy settings that they have to deal with in fear of someone seeing.
The way through which we view art adds to the meaning we tact on to it. As with the pictures of the art from the Chicago museum, the frame and the intricate details are lost because those aren’t visible to the human eye through a photograph. A few comments were said about how the last picture posted may not be considered high art, but what if we cannot see the details and the effort the artist put into it. We are lacking information and are viewing it through a different medium and thus the way it is interpreted is altered. Since we didn’t attend the museum, it is therefore the medium or lens by which we look at it that adjusts our interpretation of the art. As Marshall McLuhan says, “the medium is the message”. Therefore my interpretation is going to be different if I see the painting in the museum, on the blog from my computer, or printed out. All of these factors have the potential to change the interpretation and often times lessen the original intent of the author by the way it is presented. So would this then make Dan the author of his picture because he posted it on the blog, or do we still say it is the original artist’s work just viewed through a different medium? How is instagram any different if we take a photo taken by someone and put a filter on it, does it make it now someone else’s art? With Photoshop, instagram and other technologies that allow one to alter photos are a growing aspect of today’s culture. This relates to the opening speaker’s definition of digital humanities, “use of digital technologies to investigate humanities questions”. So what do these applications say about our culture? Does it portray an innovative culture or one that yearns for instant gratification?
I do christiania that the medium is the message. A great example is the first picture that is posted. This may look just like a red and black mess but when you look close there is texture to the artwork. When you are physically there looking at this picture I am sure the texture really adds another element to the picture. Simply the picture does not do justice. Also the picture of the three people sitting in a circle looks like it might be huge in person but we cannot get a good perspective of this picture because it is taken from the a camera. The medium ultimately has changed these picture drastically and this change is worth noting and commenting on. How does the angle, view point, and order of these picture change their meaning?
Although this article was a long one, I really enjoyed reading it, so much that i retweeted it ahah.
The article im talking about is “Our brains, and how they’re not as simple as we think.”
I think that it higlights a key argument, in the words of Bell “Yet instead of revealing the beautiful complexity at our core, we live in a culture where dull biological platitudes make headlines and irritating scientific cliches win arguments. In response, we do not need a simpler culture but one that embraces complexity.”
Bell maps out our obsession with the brain in terms of daily interactions and the media is a keep point in his argument .
Bell ultimatly gets on the media for taking very complex studies (having to do with the brain) and using them to reinforce our our own ideas through siting the brain, or neurological function as a reason why we do the things that we do. He critizizes many news outlets for not allowing complexities (age, sex, localtion, socio-ecomomic status) to explain social phenomenoms but instead using the brain or neurological function as the only ways to describe the reasons or factors that contribute to any one problem.
For example he states, “It’s not that neuroscience isn’t relevant to these concerns, but just that it has gained such rhetorical power that explaining your concerns in terms of fairness, success, pain or poverty no longer seems sufficient.”
So what do people think? Have we counted on science as the highest form of knowledge for so long that evidence that is biased on experience is no longer valid?
Does this rob more quantitative approaches of their validity?
I think that Facebook can be used for promoting your company and its products without diminishing the social aspect from Facebook that people are attached to. I think that companies that use Facebook to promote are smart and it actually works pretty well. It makes it easy for people to check out new products but it in no way diminishes the social aspect of Facebook because the main reason people use the website is to keep in touch with their friends online. Everything else that is added on to the site just makes it better because it makes Facebook users lives easier. Adding a teaching element to this could further enhance this website as well.
I agree with Jordan, I firmly believe that those that join Facebook to communicate will do just that. Yes having companies advertise to you can sometimes be tedious, however, it is not part of the main function of Facebook users. Although, people do get expose to various products, they can easily eliminate those ads and continue to socialize with their friends. I also agree and would argue that it is already a teaching tool for some people.
Def agree, many companies are taking advantage of the ad space that fb provides. and it does not diminish the social aspect, because imagine Fb as a park with a bunch of ads , or mall, or street. but more intense. I don’ think adding a teaching element would enhance it, because then companies would try to exploit that as well. School sometimes needs to be excluded from certain medias. you wouldn’t our school full of nike Bk, and coke ads all around. but then again this class and this major is all about that
First off you are very on point about how facebook is a great advertising website as millions upon millions of people use facebook. Also, by what we like on facebook and links we click on facebook learns that and uses that as way of how and where to place the advertisements. This doesn’t diminish the purpose of facebook as the advertisements are just off to the side and the main part of facebook such as ones wall and IM messages are not disturbed by them. You are also right in saying anything that is added to facebook is useful as it adds more things to do and makes it easier on the user such the games on their, the birthday reminders, and a teaching/school tool.
I watched the clip, 4XELEPHANT (http://vimeo.com/groups/audiovisualcy/videos/60800333), and I related it to Rose’s point, “that in order to analyze one image, or a few, it is necessary to look at the images they are constructed in contrast to, or in relation to” (126). After watching this video I wondered whether or not the contrasting perspective were constructed to make the climaxing point more powerful or if the perspectives given were more of a diversion, just to make the climax more shocking?
With the Facebook article, I agree that Facebook is used as a social space but how I interpret social space is that people are interacting with one another. I would also like to include that I personally write things that are academic related or something that is considered “intellectual”. But why are these things not so much appreciated in a social space like Facebook? That is like you and your best friend are talking about something personal but yet you bring in some kind of intellectual knowledge background of the topic and it does not mix. I also think that Mark Zuckerberg,the creator of the social media network, intended to make Facebook as a social space, not anything “business” related. As the article talks about, more and more companies are using Facebook for advertisment and other purposes and poses the question if Facebook is losing that “social space”? To be honest, I think that people do not use Facebook as much as they used to and I have seen people write down as their status “Facebook is overrated” or “Facebook sucks! I am ready to delete my account”. I think that the social space is becoming invaded with all of these companies, advertisements and other things that we do not consider as part of the social space. It just does not mix well. The purpose of advertisments is to grab the audience’s attention and try to make them buy their products. I would like to ask the question: should these companies and advertisements BELONG in this social space that we call Facebook? Where do the expectations of what belongs in a social space come from? I can tell that more and more corporations are using Facebook and even employers are using Facebook to check out information about their employees. I personally believe that if these companies are in this space called the social space, they are defeating the purpose and usage of a social space and that they do not comprise of what our society defines as a social space.
I think that because the site has become a place where you build your marketability, there is too much concern for image about how you will be labeled to have an effective learning environment on social media sites. So much concern goes into things such as profile pictures, tagged pictures, and other non-related educational aspects that the site itself is too distracting to benefit the learner. In order to truly learn, there needs to be a feeling of safety in that what a person says in the classroom setting will not be used against them later, and that it will only be used to further discussion. The fact that anything on the internet is permanent might make students less likely to speak up freely in fear of being judged, because in reality, even before parents, employers and teachers were on the site, the nature of the internet did make posts permanent and users are more careful and thoughtful of what they say more. And it goes beyond just thinking about what you say before you say it like you should in real life. Because so many people can check the site and interpret what you say however they wish, users fear that they can use it in any way too.
I agree with your statement and how people would be concerned with their image the most. I think it is the factor that changes Facebook from a hangout environment to a more academic once. There are suddenly consequences for what someone posts on Facebook because of its’ traceability. Businesses are now going to the Internet to advertise instead of billboards and newspapers and there seems to be a shift in marketing. How does this change affect our society, is it helping or hindering us?
I definitely agree that Facebook is a student space for students; in order that, they may socialize and share things about themselves. Your questions are very intriguing and definitely thought provoking. I would sadly have to agree that as companies gather information on particular individuals it becomes a place of “money” instead where people can share their day or a profound fundamental answer to all of the worlds problems (I am being slightly sarcastic). Its interesting that so many companies have pages. I personally have a few liked pages, however, I tend to stay away from these marketing places because I prefer the contact that I have with my friends on Facebook. If I want to purchase something I would do it through their website not via Facebook. In this sense, since people are being attracted to the “gold” of products and other things, they forget that Facebook was created for a hangout aspect and that perhaps there is something beautiful about that. The fact that you can contact people instantly, leave a message on somebodies page, or a video can create the foundations for a common understanding or a deeper relationship.
What sense do you get about the conference from the picture in the Social Media Elbow? This goes back to my previous response that the angle and perspective to which the picture is taken can really change the meaning of the picture. With the man’s elbow on his chair next to him, I get a sense that the conference may have been going on for a while and this individual may be running out of steam. Simply said, he looks bored. Also each person in this picture seems to be looking to their left and the fact that the subject talking is not in the picture gives me the sense that the person taking this picture may have been distracted. Maybe the subject taking the picture may have been a little bored?
or perhaps the man was very captivated by the conference, and that was his deep thinking pose?
I read the blog on Facebook and noted the contemporary notion of it as the undergraduate space. I could and will serve as a testament to that sense of attachment with that space of social media. There is an inherit quality about Facebook that provides the user with an experience that personalizes your space of social media. Your thoughts that you post are very personal feeling and experiences that are brought into pubic view. However, I do not want to waste my time covering half life again. I want to focus on the undergraduate generation that I am a part of and I want to draw on the experiences and testimonies of my own in order to shed light on the undergraduate relationship. First off, has it been in history, shown that with the development and creation of a new media specific to a certain generation, that users attachment increases? It seems to me plausible and logical, although they are one in the same. I have grown up with it, I have shared my thoughts in it (political, social, scientific, spiritual, etc), and I have immersed myself in it. For me, and for many others although they may not admit it, It is the invisible yet apparent eye of judgement for the user. You are able to view, and experience as well as form conclusions on topics such as other users in this media. When you are not in the actual public realm of school for example engaging in dialogue, you are out of the public disconnected. Face-book is the modern day public sphere. Instead of walking down to the corner market and checking on your friends, you dismiss actual interaction with cyber interaction.
So in what ways could FB be used as an educational tool? I see the potential it has because of its popularity and mass used, but if anything is simply a good tool to get info out. If anything a new free site should be created that would be specifically for the classroom use. but i guess thats what this blog is.
I don’t know if I think Facebook can be used as an educational tool. I find it way more as a social media site Esther then an educational one. I agree with a new site needing to be created. I don’t think you can share them both. I know from personal experience that I often get distracted in class by Facebook, so having it s a learning tool I don’t think would be beneficial.
I honestly do not see it as an educational tool in my opinion. I think that you can access Facebook from many sources, computers, phones etc and I think that hinders any educational value, merely something to do. I think it affects my education because when I get bored in class, my go to is to check Facebook. I think it is more of a hinderance.
Generally speaking, Facebook targets the younger generation of teenagers and young adults, resulting in deficient social skills. However, there are still all ages on Facebook. A constant problem for young adults, is that while all their time is being spent on the computer and through visual media, they lose their communication skills when it comes to real life. In other words, their effect on social communication skills through technology, creates something that they can hide behind. I think with social media becomes more prevalent to how we relate because of it. For example, talking with abbreviations or in conversation people often hear, “Oh I heard it on Facebook already” so I think that it lacks a personal touch.
Facebook is a good and bad idea as a social educator. As many people do use facebook and a majority of the more active users are the younger generations it would be a good idea to have some type of education tool on facebook. This would help for such things like how do our virtual class discussion but also help on homework from classmates or a teacher and one can get missed assignments from it. However, the bad par about it is that all of the students in the class and the teacher can see your profile and that is kind of disturbing as Facebook is where one is supposed to feel safe and as if they can act like themselves and not like they’re in school. But, with doing facebook that would be taken away and the freedom of being online would be taken away. The solution to this would be maybe a side link or something similar to that that’s sends us to a virtual class where we are able to create our own facebook/school image for the online class and I think that would be agreeable for both the students and educators. With the advertisements I do think it adds to the cool place to hang as it helps show us what is maybe cool to by, go see such as music or movie and even play a game n facebook as we see others doing it or it is advertized to us. Yes, the profile image is definitely the branding image of showing who we are as a person and someone viewing r is able to assume things from that visual and then add on the information they get from looking at our profile info.