In Christine Rosen's article "Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism," Rosen argues that unspoken rules and communal norms in online social networks have influenced users behavior in the offline world. One of these rules or communal norms is the relationship status on Facebook. The relationship status is seen as a way to track a relationship and the official representation of that relationship to the public.
The New Atlantis is a journal of technology and society. Their mission is to reach out to scientists and policymakers and force them to think about "the ethical and social implications of their work." This journal also wants to be at the center of the movement of politics in the technological age. This article's audience is most likely directed at people who are older, and who are probably not very fluent in the social networking world. Rosen has left out those who have the most understand of social networking, who can refute or agree with her arguments because they have influenced it first hand.
Rosen establishes her credibility by stating her position at The New Atlantis. She is a senior editor there and a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.
To support her claim that relationship status on Facebook is the official representation of that relationship she tells a story about a friend who had a very public break up through Facebook. This is credible because I think anyone using a social networking site has seen this happen. She could strengthen her claim by giving more examples, but the overall idea and argument is very accurate. Our class also agreed that this argument is valid and that Facebook has changed the way relationships are publicized. I agree with this because I have seen this happen over and over again. My brother and his girlfriend ended up breaking up because he refused to make their relationship official to Facebook. And my best friend from back home also just ended a relationship of three years because her boyfriend ended their relationship on Facebook just as a way to show her that he was upset. This relationship change fueled so many arguments and they ended up breaking up for good. Rosen could have addressed this idea more by researching Facebook relationships better. I also realize that this article is from 2007, and at this time couples were not as dependent on Facebook for their status.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Schwegman In Class Writing #1
Technology is a huge role in my everyday routine, especially when I first wake up. My alarm clock is my cell phone. Before I get out of bed, I check all my texts messages received during the night and respond. Then I check my Facebook for any new notifications and I also check my Twitter timeline. Also, anytime I go near a computer my Facebook is always checked.
I define technology as a continuously growing field. It is also something that is very beneficial to our society and daily life, but it is also something that is a distraction in our everyday life.
Technology gives me a short cut when I'm thinking, reading, or writing. Instead of thinking through something I can look it up online. This hurts my critical thinking processes that could have been better developed if it wasn't for technology. Also when writing(typing) or reading papers on the computer I am distracted because I am just a click away from finishing initial goal when I started on the computer.
I have no idea what is means from digital objects vs analog objects.
Characteristics of a "digital native" can be someone who was raised in a digital world and also in fluent when it comes to technological problems.
A "digital immigrant" is someone who has grown up without any type of modern technology and struggles to conform to society's growing dependency on technology.
I define technology as a continuously growing field. It is also something that is very beneficial to our society and daily life, but it is also something that is a distraction in our everyday life.
Technology gives me a short cut when I'm thinking, reading, or writing. Instead of thinking through something I can look it up online. This hurts my critical thinking processes that could have been better developed if it wasn't for technology. Also when writing(typing) or reading papers on the computer I am distracted because I am just a click away from finishing initial goal when I started on the computer.
I have no idea what is means from digital objects vs analog objects.
Characteristics of a "digital native" can be someone who was raised in a digital world and also in fluent when it comes to technological problems.
A "digital immigrant" is someone who has grown up without any type of modern technology and struggles to conform to society's growing dependency on technology.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Schwegman Blog Post #4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U - Dove Evolution- Campaign for Real Beauty
The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty is something that is seen on TV commercials very frequently. In this commercial, Dove shows to us the process in changing the face of a model to make it "acceptable" for a billboard. A woman is seen at the beginning with a fresh face (meaning that she has no make up on) and hair that is short and unkempt. The woman has a camera set to her face while people begin the process of applying make up to her face and fixing her hair. In a fast-forwarded process, we see her face being transformed. Her face becomes flawless, her eyebrows and lips are more full, and the color of her eyes are changed. Her hair has extensions put into in to make it longer and fuller. Then her hair is styled, making her look like a model. The women begins taking photo-shoots and her image is then brought up on the computer screen. Now, her face is being transformed even more by photoshop. Her neck is made longer, her face becomes thinner, and other features are changed. The women is completely transformed at the end of the video and is then a photograph of her is placed on a billboard on a busy city street. Dove then shows are text box saying, "No wonder our perception of beauty is distorted."And then gives the consumer the opportunity to "take part in the Dove Real Beauty Workshop for Girls"with a website to go to.
This ad gains the attention of its audience by showing the drastic changes that happen in making a ad with a model. It also adds dramatic text to go with it. The ad establishes its credibility, or ethos, at the beginning of the ad. It states of the creator of the ad "Dove," a well known body care company. Later in this ad we will see that it has to do with the work of a model. Obviously being a body care company, Dove knows what goes on in "creating" a model or ad. Dove appeals to our emotional needs, ethos, by making its audience more confident. It makes the audience feel normalcy that a model looks like everyone else before she is completely transformed by make up and computer editing. It shows the use of logos by showing the process of creating the ad. Without showing the complete logical process, the commercial would have no credibility or explanation for how the woman's face changed.
This ad appeals to a mainly a feminine audience. We know this because of the text box at the end about the Dove Real Beauty Workshop for Girls. Also, because we know many women are self conscious when it comes to their appearance. Dove tries to make women feel more confident by showing our edited our perception of beauty is. Most people, or women, would not know that models are transformed like that. Dove grabs our attention by this. Consumers learn a lot from this commercial and every second of it is intriguing.
The association that Dove achieves by this ad is that they are a "down to earth" company. They are not interested in all the degrading ads. It gives the company a good reputation because they are interested in service and helping girls gain confidence with themselves without superficial expectations. It helps consumers want to buy Dove products, because they know that money from their purchases goes to a company that is trying to promote an image of "real beauty."
Dove used television commercials as the medium in this ad. By using television, the commercial and its message is more widely seen. Because it was displayed on television, this ad can also be virally seen on YouTube and other websites.
The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty is something that is seen on TV commercials very frequently. In this commercial, Dove shows to us the process in changing the face of a model to make it "acceptable" for a billboard. A woman is seen at the beginning with a fresh face (meaning that she has no make up on) and hair that is short and unkempt. The woman has a camera set to her face while people begin the process of applying make up to her face and fixing her hair. In a fast-forwarded process, we see her face being transformed. Her face becomes flawless, her eyebrows and lips are more full, and the color of her eyes are changed. Her hair has extensions put into in to make it longer and fuller. Then her hair is styled, making her look like a model. The women begins taking photo-shoots and her image is then brought up on the computer screen. Now, her face is being transformed even more by photoshop. Her neck is made longer, her face becomes thinner, and other features are changed. The women is completely transformed at the end of the video and is then a photograph of her is placed on a billboard on a busy city street. Dove then shows are text box saying, "No wonder our perception of beauty is distorted."And then gives the consumer the opportunity to "take part in the Dove Real Beauty Workshop for Girls"with a website to go to.
This ad gains the attention of its audience by showing the drastic changes that happen in making a ad with a model. It also adds dramatic text to go with it. The ad establishes its credibility, or ethos, at the beginning of the ad. It states of the creator of the ad "Dove," a well known body care company. Later in this ad we will see that it has to do with the work of a model. Obviously being a body care company, Dove knows what goes on in "creating" a model or ad. Dove appeals to our emotional needs, ethos, by making its audience more confident. It makes the audience feel normalcy that a model looks like everyone else before she is completely transformed by make up and computer editing. It shows the use of logos by showing the process of creating the ad. Without showing the complete logical process, the commercial would have no credibility or explanation for how the woman's face changed.
This ad appeals to a mainly a feminine audience. We know this because of the text box at the end about the Dove Real Beauty Workshop for Girls. Also, because we know many women are self conscious when it comes to their appearance. Dove tries to make women feel more confident by showing our edited our perception of beauty is. Most people, or women, would not know that models are transformed like that. Dove grabs our attention by this. Consumers learn a lot from this commercial and every second of it is intriguing.
The association that Dove achieves by this ad is that they are a "down to earth" company. They are not interested in all the degrading ads. It gives the company a good reputation because they are interested in service and helping girls gain confidence with themselves without superficial expectations. It helps consumers want to buy Dove products, because they know that money from their purchases goes to a company that is trying to promote an image of "real beauty."
Dove used television commercials as the medium in this ad. By using television, the commercial and its message is more widely seen. Because it was displayed on television, this ad can also be virally seen on YouTube and other websites.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Schwegman In Class Wring #4
Images used on the Virginia Tech homepage are used to lure in prospective students by showing the university as a campus that is used for academic excellence, but also as an overall gorgeous campus. There are advertisements for open houses and a text box slide show showing all the academic enriching causes that students are working on. This text box gives prospective students, their parents, and also current students confidence that Virginia Tech is preparing their students for a successful life after college.
The homepage consists of two different color schemes. The first being maroon an orange, an obvious display of school pride. The other color scheme is blue and green, most people see these color schemes as “natural” or “environmental.” The school is trying to prove that as Virginia Tech, we are environmentally aware and trying to work towards a better environment. Also, this color scheme attracts attention to different places on the website.
The site is appealing and easy to navigate. Links are clearly marked and there are places for quick links, making if easy for students to get where they are going. The homepage says that Virginia Tech is a school filled with a sense of community, pride, and academic excellence. It also shows that Virginia Tech is a worldly school, having locations for study abroad programs across the globe. This is shown by a map that is in the center of the homepage.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Schwegman Blog Post #3
1. I googled, "online shopping," simply because I have been online shopping a lot since I have been in Blacksburg, VA. My first three websites were; Macy's, Nordstrom, and Amazon. The first two websites are extremely relevant to me because they are the two places I browse when looking for clothes. Amazon is a little bit random. From Pariser's book we learn that Amazon is a huge advertising website, so that is why it appears in my top hits. Amazon most likely has a contract with Google to make sure this happens. All three of the websites were just the homepages, so I was not directed to a certain section.
2. I had my roommate, Kaitlyn, google "online shopping." Her results were very different compared to mine. Her first three results were Amazon, OverStock.com, and HSN. From the website selections, it appears my roommate does not online shop as much as I do. Because she is a beginner to it, the top three online shopping sites are trying to pull her in. I am not very shocked at these results because I know she doesn't online shop because most of the packages that come from her are from her parents, not like me, who gets Nordstrom packages "every once in a while."
3. I actually think individualized search is a good thing. I am a very impatient person and when I am "Googling" something I do not want to spend immense amount of time looking for what I want. If someone is researching something in a professionalized manner, they do not need to be doing it on Google. They should be using library databases, not using a website that doesn't always give you accurate information. Also, this individualization does not completely shelter us from the rest of the internet. We are still highly exposed to all ideas and knowledge, even if our Google searches are personalized.
2. I had my roommate, Kaitlyn, google "online shopping." Her results were very different compared to mine. Her first three results were Amazon, OverStock.com, and HSN. From the website selections, it appears my roommate does not online shop as much as I do. Because she is a beginner to it, the top three online shopping sites are trying to pull her in. I am not very shocked at these results because I know she doesn't online shop because most of the packages that come from her are from her parents, not like me, who gets Nordstrom packages "every once in a while."
3. I actually think individualized search is a good thing. I am a very impatient person and when I am "Googling" something I do not want to spend immense amount of time looking for what I want. If someone is researching something in a professionalized manner, they do not need to be doing it on Google. They should be using library databases, not using a website that doesn't always give you accurate information. Also, this individualization does not completely shelter us from the rest of the internet. We are still highly exposed to all ideas and knowledge, even if our Google searches are personalized.
Schwegman In Class Writing #3
The image in the advertisement is of a woman and a man in industrial clothing, and they are on lunch break. The texts reflects that women are capable of doing a man's job and that they are now equal and accepted in the work force.
The purpose of the advertisement is to get women out of the house and to get them working in factories to support the war effort. It also shows to men and women that women are now equal. There will be no more comments that "women cannot do this job," women are important to help win the war.
The creator of this advertisement is the government or industry management. They need women to start working in the factories because a lot of men are off at war.
The advertisement ties into all the rhetorical appeals of ethos, logos, and pathos. The ethos are that everyone is equal which is very ethical. The logos is that a man is reinforcing a women's work, this shows to men that it is logical that a woman can work. The pathos is that this advertisement relates to both sides, giving empathy to women's and men's opinions. If it didn't reinforce both sexes, this advertisement would not be as effective.
Cultural assumptions in this advertisement is that women were not capable of fulfilling a man's job, they were inferior. In this time period, it was assumed that women were supposed to be at home, not in a factory. This advertisement shows a change in culture mostly from the war effort. Cultural contexts are that a man is reinforcing that a woman did a good job. If it was a woman reinforces another woman, this advertisement would not treated the same. This shows how different the culture is in that time period.
The purpose of the advertisement is to get women out of the house and to get them working in factories to support the war effort. It also shows to men and women that women are now equal. There will be no more comments that "women cannot do this job," women are important to help win the war.
The creator of this advertisement is the government or industry management. They need women to start working in the factories because a lot of men are off at war.
The advertisement ties into all the rhetorical appeals of ethos, logos, and pathos. The ethos are that everyone is equal which is very ethical. The logos is that a man is reinforcing a women's work, this shows to men that it is logical that a woman can work. The pathos is that this advertisement relates to both sides, giving empathy to women's and men's opinions. If it didn't reinforce both sexes, this advertisement would not be as effective.
Cultural assumptions in this advertisement is that women were not capable of fulfilling a man's job, they were inferior. In this time period, it was assumed that women were supposed to be at home, not in a factory. This advertisement shows a change in culture mostly from the war effort. Cultural contexts are that a man is reinforcing that a woman did a good job. If it was a woman reinforces another woman, this advertisement would not treated the same. This shows how different the culture is in that time period.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Schwegman Blog Post #2
A 21st century education looks like something I viewed in a futuristic movie as a child. Smart Boards, computers, laptops, iClickers, virtual textbooks, and other technological advanced devices are all found in 21st century classrooms. As a child this is something I never imagined to be apart of. Homework is based off using a computer; assignments are posted online, research papers using online databases, and online quizzes and textbooks. This is what a 21st century education and classroom look like today, but it is not something I would want in my own 21st century dream school.
My 21st century education system would be as old fashion as I could get it, pen and paper. I said "as I could get it" because I realize as a student that you need to conform to society's needs in order to be successful. Society's needs in this century is to be digitally literate. My 21st education system will be designed to give students an education involving reading old fashioned books, doing research papers based off of finding information in paper books, writing essays, and taking notes by hand during lectures. I would incorporate technology into the education system by giving additional assignments to read educational articles online, some online quizzes and giving students assignments that they would need to complete on Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, and Excel. In Nicholas Carr's article, "Is Google Making Us Stupid" it is concluded that the internet and search databases are at fault for our inability to focus literature these days. While some may disagree, I believe this statement and would convey it through giving my students assignments that would have to use deep thought. Such as reflection papers and annotated bibliography that require long outlines and books to back up any ideas.
Carr's thought on our changed brain processes is accurate and needs to be addressed by educational systems and that is something I would be able to do. I think that the analytical thought that would be used in my system would help students be better prepared for the work force and also help high school students score better on standardized test. Education needs to still have "old fashioned" components to its system, even as our world becomes full of digital natives. The old ways of pen and paper are useful and something digital natives need to continue using and teach to generations to come.
My 21st century education system would be as old fashion as I could get it, pen and paper. I said "as I could get it" because I realize as a student that you need to conform to society's needs in order to be successful. Society's needs in this century is to be digitally literate. My 21st education system will be designed to give students an education involving reading old fashioned books, doing research papers based off of finding information in paper books, writing essays, and taking notes by hand during lectures. I would incorporate technology into the education system by giving additional assignments to read educational articles online, some online quizzes and giving students assignments that they would need to complete on Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, and Excel. In Nicholas Carr's article, "Is Google Making Us Stupid" it is concluded that the internet and search databases are at fault for our inability to focus literature these days. While some may disagree, I believe this statement and would convey it through giving my students assignments that would have to use deep thought. Such as reflection papers and annotated bibliography that require long outlines and books to back up any ideas.
Carr's thought on our changed brain processes is accurate and needs to be addressed by educational systems and that is something I would be able to do. I think that the analytical thought that would be used in my system would help students be better prepared for the work force and also help high school students score better on standardized test. Education needs to still have "old fashioned" components to its system, even as our world becomes full of digital natives. The old ways of pen and paper are useful and something digital natives need to continue using and teach to generations to come.
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