Media convergence and emerging technologies has created an ability for information to be created and dispersed at a rate that previous technologies could simply not afford us. While this can be extremely empowering, it can also create an illusion of greater individual visibility cloaked over an deep pool of irrelevance.
Members of society have always competed for the podium. Whether in class, at social gatherings, or simply at one's home, we all want/need to be heard. Our voices need to resonate. Being the emerging voice in a crowd of opinions and ideologies can be both empowering and freeing, yet also difficult to obtain in the era of social media. All too often a solitary view/opinion will compete with a plethora of similar stances and an equally large plethora of opposing stances. Though more individuals are given the chance to speak their minds than ever before, it is still the voices of the elite that are the loudest.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Communal watering hole
"We gather at the communal watering hole as we always did; only now we don't reach out to those around us. Instead, we communicate with far-flung souls using means that would be indistinguishable from magic for all but our most recent ancestors" (Friedberg & Varneslis, 2008, p16).
This extremely profound statement left me reflecting on the period of society in which we currently live in. Social interactions with those in our vicinity are no longer the sole, or perhaps predominant, mode of communication, but rather a secondary option competing with the growing networked public. However, we still find the need to gather in a close vicinity, e.g. cafes, while communicating with the networked public. Does this stem from a desire or need for familiarity? Perhaps, though the answer is may be more complex. Though there has been a decline of face-to-face interactions in such environments, the creation of the social network community breeds a familiarity of network-practicing peers. Much like the communal watering hole ensured the gathering of individuals wishing to converse verbally. the emergence of "Wi-Fi cafes" ensured the gathering of a like-minded grouping: individuals willing to participate in the networked society.
The progression of human interactions and gatherings has seen gradual steps. The creation of the telephone and broadcast television, for examples, have led to varying discourse about their effects on social interaction, much like the current discourse surrounding the networked society. An emergence of such prior discourse can be seen in the doubling of space concept, presented by cultural theorists Marshall McLuhan and Joshua Meyrowitz ( (Friedberg & Varneslis, 2008, p16), which displayed a presumed social benefit of the creation of television: one's simultaneous presence in two different places. Cultures which had previously relied on a singular space of close vicinity for socializing and communicating were now adapting to the nuanced perception of spaces and interactions. Broadcast television, and other technological developments, were altering, the perceptions of a culture founded on physical contact.
Though many thought-provoking discourses have been addressed in this assigned reading, I felt as though the profound leap that the internet and smart phones have taken from prior technologies has not been fully emphasized. Though telecommunications have undoubtedly altered social interactions, they have not diminished audible communications to the degree in which has been caused by the internet and smart phones.
This extremely profound statement left me reflecting on the period of society in which we currently live in. Social interactions with those in our vicinity are no longer the sole, or perhaps predominant, mode of communication, but rather a secondary option competing with the growing networked public. However, we still find the need to gather in a close vicinity, e.g. cafes, while communicating with the networked public. Does this stem from a desire or need for familiarity? Perhaps, though the answer is may be more complex. Though there has been a decline of face-to-face interactions in such environments, the creation of the social network community breeds a familiarity of network-practicing peers. Much like the communal watering hole ensured the gathering of individuals wishing to converse verbally. the emergence of "Wi-Fi cafes" ensured the gathering of a like-minded grouping: individuals willing to participate in the networked society.
The progression of human interactions and gatherings has seen gradual steps. The creation of the telephone and broadcast television, for examples, have led to varying discourse about their effects on social interaction, much like the current discourse surrounding the networked society. An emergence of such prior discourse can be seen in the doubling of space concept, presented by cultural theorists Marshall McLuhan and Joshua Meyrowitz ( (Friedberg & Varneslis, 2008, p16), which displayed a presumed social benefit of the creation of television: one's simultaneous presence in two different places. Cultures which had previously relied on a singular space of close vicinity for socializing and communicating were now adapting to the nuanced perception of spaces and interactions. Broadcast television, and other technological developments, were altering, the perceptions of a culture founded on physical contact.
Though many thought-provoking discourses have been addressed in this assigned reading, I felt as though the profound leap that the internet and smart phones have taken from prior technologies has not been fully emphasized. Though telecommunications have undoubtedly altered social interactions, they have not diminished audible communications to the degree in which has been caused by the internet and smart phones.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
The new literacy
I have always been an advocate of reading something, anything, daily. My first choice has always been a good book, followed closely by some well written news or opinion articles. However, much like the majority of individuals with internet access, I find myself being consumed more and more often by online reading materials. Yes, I do read the news online as well as some ebooks, but the online reading materials of which I speak are more along the lines of websites, blogs etc. This has raised a question which I often ask myself: Am I receiving the same benefits from online readings sources as I do from readings books?
The answer to that question is most likely several years, or perhaps decades, worth of research away. If I were to form a thesis, I would say that while both serve important purposes, only the reading of books can improve the traditional form of literacy that we have come to understand. In the meantime, I will now advocate a combined reading of print and online readings.
The answer to that question is most likely several years, or perhaps decades, worth of research away. If I were to form a thesis, I would say that while both serve important purposes, only the reading of books can improve the traditional form of literacy that we have come to understand. In the meantime, I will now advocate a combined reading of print and online readings.
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Approaching literacy as a social practice
I must admit, I repeated the subject line for this blog over and over again in my head until some sense of its meaning became apparent. I've always considered approaching literacy as more of an individual systematic practice or even a traditional education group practice, but never as a social practice. However, any and all reflections on my own literary practices, coupled with the assigned readings, brought forth new-found understandings how of literacy can be approached as a social practice, and how doing so can benefit ones understanding of certain literacies.
Perhaps nowhere is literacy more of a social practice than through the use of blogs. The essence of a true blog is thought or expression through texts, which will hopefully be utilized by a portion of society that chooses to read that blog. But how exactly are they utilizing those texts in a social setting? Are they grasping your sentiments and playing them forward? Are they using your thoughts and/or expressions to surface thoughts and expressions of their own within society? How will their comprehension of your texts serve a purpose in their future lives? In attempting to answer these questions one must first accept that literacy, whether or not it is first approached in an individual or classroom setting, will more than likely make its way into society. Once texts have been shared, we must pay "careful and sensitive attention to what people do with texts" (Gillen and Barton, 2010, p. 9), in order to fully understand and appreciate their impact.
Perhaps nowhere is literacy more of a social practice than through the use of blogs. The essence of a true blog is thought or expression through texts, which will hopefully be utilized by a portion of society that chooses to read that blog. But how exactly are they utilizing those texts in a social setting? Are they grasping your sentiments and playing them forward? Are they using your thoughts and/or expressions to surface thoughts and expressions of their own within society? How will their comprehension of your texts serve a purpose in their future lives? In attempting to answer these questions one must first accept that literacy, whether or not it is first approached in an individual or classroom setting, will more than likely make its way into society. Once texts have been shared, we must pay "careful and sensitive attention to what people do with texts" (Gillen and Barton, 2010, p. 9), in order to fully understand and appreciate their impact.
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