What You See Isn't What You Always Get?

After reading The Image Culture by Christine Rosen, I was struck with the idea that what you see is not always what you get! Throughout history, society has been tricked into thinking that what they saw in photos was reality. But, the truth, was that many photos have been altered to sway the public into thinking the way some governments want to be portrayed. This makes me think about how many times I have been fooled into thinking a photograph was real when it was fabricated to sway my thoughts about it.

She continues to discuss how catastrophes around the world are suddenly given to us as if we are there. It isn't uncommon these days to see natural disasters or the struggles people face. In the past, we were reluctant to see these events unless we read the paper. Now, our lives are filled with visions and pictures of people and events we wouldn't even be aware of. Everyday, our society has become filled with pictures that we have become desensitized to the actual severity of what is in front of us. I think this has made us believe that these problems aren't as bad as they really are. More importantly, we are now so reluctant to care about the world unless we feel it is an emergency.

She talks about Photoshop and how it has become the norm of our lives. Again, what we see isn't what is really there. Since Photoshop was invented, new pictures of people and places have come up that are based more on a perfected reality rather than the mundane reality we live in on a daily basis. Magazines in stores are filled with people who are suppose to be the perfect ideal. They are shaped, colored and contoured so that they represent the perfect human being. I fear, that while this image may sell magazines, it misleads the consumer to believe that these people are perfect. The fact is we are so use to seeing this that we have now come to believe that it is true. We have been programmed since birth to see these images and take them for fact.

The last thing that struck me was about television. Now, they say that there's nothing like a "live" sports game. But, I have become so conditioned to watching sports on television that when I am at a "live" game, I miss the instant replays and the commentary of the announcers. Odd as that is, I am the first to tell you that I do miss that when watching live sports. I look forward to seeing that playback. I've been to a few tennis matches and was hoping for a playback of the shot the player hit only to be disappointed that it didn't happen. It makes me now wonder if other people feel the same way as I do? Have we all become so affected and conditioned by television that anything else is not real? I think television has conditioned us to believe that life is more colorful and exciting than it really is. When we don't get that digital image or that instant gratification, we are left with the boring images in front of us.

What's next?

Who's Using Who?

I just watched Postman's Interview on Youtube and found it very enlightening. He mentions how cyberspace is a metaphorical idea which is suppose to be the idea where your consciousness is located where you're using computer technology on the internet. In this fast paced world where technology is moving faster than we can keep up, I think he makes a point of saying how cyberspace was for us to communicate with each other. No longer are we communicating via face-to-face contact. We now have the internet, cell-phones, and texting as the next generation of ways of communicating.

The internet has now provided people to talk to other people around the world from there homes. At first, this idea scared me because it feels like I'm inviting other people into my home and personal space. But, Postman says that you can be anyone you want on the internet. I think this is a true statement because you can edit, change or even embellish your vlog to your liking. I've tried making a few vlogs since taking English 414, but haven't posted any for fear of actually posting something that will be frozen in time. I think a lot of people feel this way for fear of exposing themselves to the unknown faces who may see them. I've had the opportunity to watch a few vlogs and have been impressed that the people are brave enough to post themselves. I wonder if I'll be brave enough to do that?

Postman also talks about the end of face-to-face contact with others. We no longer have that with the advancement of new ways of communicating. He thinks this could be the end of community life. I thought this was an interesting statement because I feel that people who vlog are people who are building a community. They have an audience, they get recognized, they build friendships and they also build bonds. But, I don't know if this is real. Personally, I like seeing my friends face-to-face. It's something with having that person physically there that is different than talking with them through texting or email. I don't get to see there reactions if we're talking face-to-face and they can't see mine, too. The one technology I started using was Skype. On this technology, you can talk and see the person's face. You can see their expressions, hear their voice (real time) and see them laughing. These are things that texting or emails can't do. I think it's important that we don't lose our "community" of friends and become a world where we never see each other.

He ends his interview with asking 3 questions:

1. What is the problem to which this technology is the solution?

2. Who’s problem is it actually?

3. Is there a legitimate problem that is solved by this technology, what problems will be created by using this technology?

For me, the last question was the most important. Our society is always finding ways to do things faster, quicker, and better. But, in doing so, it has caused a backlash of people going back to the basics. For example, the E-card is something that has become more popular in recent years. But, I like getting hand written cards especially from my mom or dad. They in turn like when I write them something in pen and not in an email. It might be "old school", but I think there is some merit in taking the time to write a letter or card, put a stamp on it and mail it to someone. It's too easy to just open your email and send out a "quick" note to someone. On the other side, I struggle with the same idea because writing a note would require a tree to be cut down which would be bad for the environment, the paper used would have to be recycled, and the pen used would have to be manufactured putting more toxic chemicals in the air for us to breath. It makes me wonder what other things in my life I've done to make my life faster, quicker and better for the sake of saving the planet but becoming more detached from the real world?

The Machine is Us!

Wow! The Youtube video of "Michael Wesch: The Machine is Us/ing Us" was amazing! I really had to stay focused to watch everything. The production of the video was fast moving. A few times, I had to stop and blink my eyes because there was so much information. I thought I wouldn't be able to keep up. There were a few times I paused and had to go back to watch it.

I liked how he started with pencil and writing, then erasing what he wrote. The images quickly changed to more of a digital format that we are use to seeing on computers. He talked about the creation of HTML then XML. He showed how they both changed how information was sent and received. The new format made it more user friendly for people to search and share ideas over the internet. Texting, Youtube and flicker were also mentioned as ways people communicate today.

I enjoyed how he brought us into his world by quickly changing words and images. This made me have to process what I saw very quickly. But, it made me realize how quickly I had to take what I saw as fact. It was only when I finished watching that I could sit and process all of it.

I think the most important part of the video was the caption of "who will organized this data". For me, it brought it back to people. People or "users" are the ones who will not only organize but more importantly create what we see on the internet and the world around us. He says that we teach the machine what we want it to know. In effect, we are teaching each other how to communicate faster and in a language we can all follow. But, he says we need to rethink a few things such as copyright, authorship, ethics, love, family and ourselves. I couldn't agree more with this statement because we are moving so fast with new technology that I have to wonder if we ever stop and ask ourselves if it's a positive thing for our lives. Do we ever stop and question if it's right?

Look At Me!

After watching the Vlog on Youtube, I was hit with the idea that people show the world how they want the world to look at them. Without knowing it, people have been actors in their own movie. They write their own script and then film themselves until they feel they've gotten it right.

I've done some commercial and print work and it always cracks me up that I've been cast as an architect, computer technician and even a doctor! I'm far from those occupations, but because I look a certain way, I can pass as those people. When I look at print ads or commercials on television, I look at them with more skepticism because 9 times out 10 those "real" people are actors.

I enjoyed that the Vlog discussed the idea of wearing a mask. I know that my school and work persona is different. I am able to change masks depending on the situation and not even know it. I think that the invention of Youtube was just an extension of what people were already feeling. It gives them the opportunity to voice what there feeling without the risk of getting feedback from a "receiver". The only feedback would be if there were comments posted. But, that is not as risky as being face to face with someone. In a way, this may help the person feel more connected with others without risking being embarrassed or laughed at. In addition, we are able to edit ourselves the way we want to be seen. But, is this real or are we just building something that is make-believe?

Feeling Together but Really Alone

After reading The Medium is the Massage, I was struck with the idea about how our lives are affected by the continuous invention of technology. I can remember playing cassette tapes and thinking this was the greatest invention. I could listen to music when I wanted to and as many times as I chose. Today, I have my Ipod to turn to. It has a selection of music, movies, and videos that I've chosen to listen to. I wouldn't have dreamed this technology would ever happen. In fact, when the Ipod first came out, it was a "WOW!" feeling for me. Here was a new technology made to bring people together. I can remember talking with friends about which one they were getting. But, I've observed that in our attempt to come together, we've gotten more separate. Our lives have taken on a world that has lost it's social aspect and gotten more individual. Closing out the world around and putting on your earbuds is not an uncommon sight today. It makes me wonder if we have really decided, by our own will, if the music, television and news, that we look at, is by our own choice? Or are we being bombarded and affected by outside forces that we arent' even aware of?

When comparing this to the Vlog on Youtube, they share a common idea that although technology has made us more communicative with each other, it has also made us more closed off. The Vlog stated that we all wear a mask on Youtube. How different is that from real life? We show people what we want them to see. Youtube has offered individuals the chance to voice their opinion on the internet. They can wear and say what they want. There isn't the risk of showing your true colors on the internet. If you show a person you want your viewers to see and are criticized, you won't be offended because it's not really you. On the other hand, I've seen videos of people where they use it to create characters of themselves. They become the stars of their own Youtube shows. Once news gets out that it's a must-see, then the video begins it's ascent up the popularity chart and the person becomes a celebrity.

Another point from Medium is the Massage is the idea of who your family is. When he talks about it, he says, "The family circle has widened. The worldpool of information fathered by electric media--movies, Telstar, flight-- far surpasses any possible influence mom and dad can now bring to bear. Character no longer is shaped by only two earnest, fumbling experts. Now all the world's a sage". With Youtube, brave individuals can post stories about there lives for the world to see. They can get feedback about how they're doing and begin to build a network of followers. But, I have to wonder if this new found "family" is really a substitute for people to building face-to-face relationships? Furthermore, he says the world is a sage. Can we truly turn to the new media as our source for philosophical and spiritual guidance?

Stay tuned...