In society people relay messages from one person to another and that is the way in which we communicate. Whether it is through writing or speech (even sign and body language) both are the only ways to transfer information from one person to another. Throughout the ages speech has always been around and has generally stayed the same. However, writing has developed and become easier throughout many different varieties and forms. In earlier prehistoric times the notched stick was a form of communication in which societies communicated and kept outside information that they couldn’t remember from their brains. Now-a-days instead of people using a notched stick, technology has made it so we can use computers or pens and paper. Therefore, from the computer and the cell phone to the pencil and paper writing has become the dominant form of communication for our society.
Without the creation of the alphabet writing would never have become a form of communication. Johanna Drucker writes about the alphabet, how it came about and its purpose. “The basic principle of alphabetic writing is to represent a single sound of a spoken language by a single letter.” She then goes on to say, “In addition to serving as the means to record speech or ideas of writing, the letters of the alphabet also constitute a set of visual symbols.” (Drucker, 46). Her main point is that the creation of the alphabet made it easier for our society to remember words and speech.
Although, speech may seem to be the more dominate, easier, or better way to communicate writing allows individuals a chance to get their point across in their own timely fashion. They can take time and pick their choice of words before transferring the information to whom ever they are writing/talking to. For example, when text messaging or writing an email anyone can put their thoughts down and think about what they want to say and how they want it to come across. But, if they were to not have time to think about what they wanted to say or word it the way they wanted to, then the message or information might come out wrong. Also once someone speaks, it is harder for him/her to take back what he or she said rather than writing it down and making sure their message got interpreted the way in which they wanted it to.
Writing is defiantly less confrontational for the exact reason that I could write down what I wanted to say instead of blurting something out that maybe at the time I might have felt, but in the long run, not have meant. For example, I got in an argument with my sister on the phone and instead of hanging up and letting myself cool off, I said what was on my mind. I didn’t really mean anything that I said and if I would have given myself some time and written down what I wanted to say or sent her an email I wouldn’t have upset her as much as I did. (I said some rude and mean things.) Writing has permanence and that is why it has the upper hand in communication and in our society. That is what Walter Ong is trying to portray in his essay, “Orality, Literacy, and Modern Media”. “Sound exists only when it is going out of existence. It is not simply perishable but essentially evanescent, and it is sensed as evanescent. When I pronounce the word “permanence,” by the time I get to the –nence,” the “perma-“ is gone, and has to be gone. There is no way to stop sound and have sound.” (Ong, 67). Ong’s point is that when people want to remember something important they will write down what has been said. This is why in classes for example, the majority of students take notes and write down their teachers lecture in order for them to go back, remember, and understand what was being taught. Personally I am a very visual learner and I can sit and listen to what my teachers have to say, but I also need notes to understand exactly what he/she was trying to teach.
In Howard Gardner’s essay “The End of Literacy? Don’t Stop Reading” he states that, “Computers, they maintain, are destroying literacy.” What he is trying to demonstrate is that, with the invention of computers and the Internet, literacy and writing in a few years are going to be completely diminished in the American society. He thinks that because of the Internet, people do not know how to read and write since we do everything on the computer. I disagree with him because I think that with the invention of computers and the Internet writing and literacy for Americans has only gotten better. Now instead of writing a letter we can type an email or send an instant message. Also I think that even though people might not be reading books or going to the library for research we are still reading things online and doing our research with a much faster and easier tool. Later on in the article he goes on to say that, “In the past 150 years, each new medium of communication -- telegraph, telephone, movies, radio, television, the digital computer, the World Wide Web -- has introduced its own peculiar mix of written, spoken and graphic languages and evoked a chaotic chorus of criticism and celebration.” So, really he is saying that throughout all of these inventions new ways to communicate have been created and used by society. Therefore, I do not understand why the Internet and computers are such awful tools for communication.
Although I think that speech is a strong from of communication and I use it a lot, I think that overall writing has and will always dominate our society. Speech and talking can get the job done, but without writing and literature, communication will never succeed in society.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
The Daily Show vs. Local News
Snoutbreak 09. Jon Stewart’s way of introducing the discussion of swine flu during his show on April 27, 2009. And he continues his segment by showing clips from several news outlets and how, in each one, they “don’t want to freak anybody out”, but are constantly showing maps of infected areas and saying that the swine flu could eventually lead to the deaths of tens of millions of people throughout the world. Now, while it is good to be presented with the hard facts, which the news outlets are doing, and it is also helpful to know what signs to look for and in what areas of the country cases of the swine have been reported, it is also, to a point, being blown out of proportion by these news outlets. As Stewart says on his show, the only reason that we are freaking out is because of the news. Obviously, on the surface, news outlets like ABC News or Fox News are going to be given more credibility then something being shown on Comedy Central. But should it? Is there any reason someone watching The Daily Show should not believe what is being told because they haven’t heard it on Fox News? No, absolutely not. The thing that makes Stewart’s show, and
Stewart himself, so popular is the fact that he can report the news, the real news, while adding a comedic effect to it.
Obviously, the mainstream news is not bad news or wrong news, but it certainly does not give its viewers the entire truth. But just because of its seriousness and location (NBC, CBS, ABC, etc.) it is just given credibility; the validity of the news is assumed. This idea helps The Daily Show. As Rachel Smolkin cites in her article from the show’s main web site, "One anchor, five correspondents, zero credibility. If you're tired of the stodginess of the evening newscasts, if you can't bear to sit through the spinmeisters and shills on the 24-hour cable news networks, don't miss The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, a nightly half-hour series unburdened by objectivity, journalistic integrity or even accuracy." This ‘mission statement’ is a direct ploy at the mainstream news and its attempts to evade the hard truth. Regardless of how controversial or intimidating something may be to report on, it should still be done so accurately, and Stewart and his correspondents have no problem questioning anyone. Simply by showing recaps or old footage of senators putting their foot in their mouth, seeing the President say something in June and the complete opposite in July, or something as blown out of proportion as the swine flu, The Daily Show reports accurately and honestly, even with the humor and comedy included. I think that because the premise of the show is a satirical one, more ‘truth’ is presented. The last thing that cable news outlets want is reporter or journalist speaking up too much about a certain important person or important topic because there could be ramifications that too much information was presented or that the information reported isn’t true, although that is a bit rare. However, because The Daily Show is a show on Comedy Central, if something like that were to occur, it would just be overlooked as being funny or Stewart just trying to get a laugh at someone’s expense before being seen as true, but to normal viewers of The Daily Show, who are used to the antics and reporting styles of the anchor and his correspondents, they would know they are receiving true material. Continuing on, speaking about the validity and credibility of the show, initially, there will be none by a new viewer. The Daily Show is something that must be viewed consistently because the viewer needs to grasp the concept of how the news is presented. A first time viewer or someone not included in the youthful generation (at which the show is aimed) would see the show as a stereotypical attempt at getting a laugh at any expense. But not until they watch the show on a steady basis do they realize that ‘any expense’ translates into ‘regardless of the situation, we will give you the news with as much truth as we can’. It isn’t trying to make people look bad. They just aren’t scared to talk about the people who make themselves look bad.
Stewart himself, so popular is the fact that he can report the news, the real news, while adding a comedic effect to it.
Obviously, the mainstream news is not bad news or wrong news, but it certainly does not give its viewers the entire truth. But just because of its seriousness and location (NBC, CBS, ABC, etc.) it is just given credibility; the validity of the news is assumed. This idea helps The Daily Show. As Rachel Smolkin cites in her article from the show’s main web site, "One anchor, five correspondents, zero credibility. If you're tired of the stodginess of the evening newscasts, if you can't bear to sit through the spinmeisters and shills on the 24-hour cable news networks, don't miss The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, a nightly half-hour series unburdened by objectivity, journalistic integrity or even accuracy." This ‘mission statement’ is a direct ploy at the mainstream news and its attempts to evade the hard truth. Regardless of how controversial or intimidating something may be to report on, it should still be done so accurately, and Stewart and his correspondents have no problem questioning anyone. Simply by showing recaps or old footage of senators putting their foot in their mouth, seeing the President say something in June and the complete opposite in July, or something as blown out of proportion as the swine flu, The Daily Show reports accurately and honestly, even with the humor and comedy included. I think that because the premise of the show is a satirical one, more ‘truth’ is presented. The last thing that cable news outlets want is reporter or journalist speaking up too much about a certain important person or important topic because there could be ramifications that too much information was presented or that the information reported isn’t true, although that is a bit rare. However, because The Daily Show is a show on Comedy Central, if something like that were to occur, it would just be overlooked as being funny or Stewart just trying to get a laugh at someone’s expense before being seen as true, but to normal viewers of The Daily Show, who are used to the antics and reporting styles of the anchor and his correspondents, they would know they are receiving true material. Continuing on, speaking about the validity and credibility of the show, initially, there will be none by a new viewer. The Daily Show is something that must be viewed consistently because the viewer needs to grasp the concept of how the news is presented. A first time viewer or someone not included in the youthful generation (at which the show is aimed) would see the show as a stereotypical attempt at getting a laugh at any expense. But not until they watch the show on a steady basis do they realize that ‘any expense’ translates into ‘regardless of the situation, we will give you the news with as much truth as we can’. It isn’t trying to make people look bad. They just aren’t scared to talk about the people who make themselves look bad.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Medium is the Message.
Marshall McLuhan coined the saying “the medium is the message”. McLuhanis a technological determinist who some people might not know, “but is considered by many to be the first father and leading prophet of the
electronic age”. (www.leaderu.com). He would argue that technology determines our patterns and trends in our society and culture. When he
stated that “medium is the message” what he meant was that in every
message there is a medium so therefore the medium influences how people understand the message. Medium can be defined as anything that can change or manipulate the way in which we look at something. Messages can be sent through such mediums as televisions, Internet, radio, magazines, newspapers, blogs, etc.
While watching television you are focused solely on the screen which is composed of many tiny dots that make up the images. These images on the television make our brain work really hard to comprehend what we are looking at. Our minds become focused on the “message”. We can usually control what we see since vision is continual, but when watching television or the “medium” we lose the ability to control what our brains are taking in and what we are watching or “the message”. Therefore “The medium is the message”.
As for the Internet, there are many ways also that demonstrates Marshall McLuhan’s idea. A couple famous websites on the Internet are Wikipedia, YouTube, and my favorite Perez Hilton. On Wikipedia and YouTube any body can submit or change the information on these sites, which changes the way people see things all the time, these websites are controlled by the people. This is showing just how much the medium changes and controls our society.
People in our society may not notice how much the medium really effects us. In “Understanding Radio” the presidents were listened to during debates on the radio. The people liked Nixon more than JFK and tended to agree with him. However, the story changes when the two presidents were seen on the television. Once the people saw the two presidents the people were convinced that JFK must be better for office because of his good looks and charisma. Little did they know it but the medium had influenced them and changed their thinking and the way they saw things.
McLuhan believes that there are “patterns” in life. In the McLuhan video he describes that it’s when people realize these patterns that they want to change it and a lot of them are dropouts. McLuhan references Hippies as people who realize the pattern. People don’t usually notice these patterns, but when they are drastically changed and their routine is changed people do notice. These changes usually occur from a new message from a new medium. In Mark Federman’s “What is the meaning of the medium is the message” he says ,”McLuhan tells us that a "message" is, "the change of scale or pace or pattern" that a new invention or innovation "introduces into human affairs." This describes the change in patterns caused by the message. The point is that technology is ever changing and it’s hard to control. As technology grows and changes our minds have to adapt, we have to teach and train our minds to see and comprehend messages faster.
Along with our minds adapting to technology, technology now allows us to bring in even more information then it used to. Television now allows us to Tivo and DVR shows etc. This allows people to tape shows and watch them over and over, controlling how we now see live television shows and television in general. Another example is instant replays, which McLuhan discussed in the video. Instant replays show the people maybe something that was amazing or how the player got hurt etc. Instant replays the “medium” although not ever noticeable has very much changed things in our society. They have made aspects of the sport/game change, there are now huge screen in arenas to watch instant replays, and sometimes people even bring small T.V.s to watch them up close and personal.
Thinking about Marshall McLuhan’s idea of “The medium is the message” I see how it fits in my generation and how it’s true. Facebook is very popular and a lot of advertisers and companies are now taking advantage of it to get through to people. This has changed our society and the way our culture works. Although his saying is hard to understand and people don’t often notice it, it makes complete sense.
electronic age”. (www.leaderu.com). He would argue that technology determines our patterns and trends in our society and culture. When he
stated that “medium is the message” what he meant was that in every
message there is a medium so therefore the medium influences how people understand the message. Medium can be defined as anything that can change or manipulate the way in which we look at something. Messages can be sent through such mediums as televisions, Internet, radio, magazines, newspapers, blogs, etc.
While watching television you are focused solely on the screen which is composed of many tiny dots that make up the images. These images on the television make our brain work really hard to comprehend what we are looking at. Our minds become focused on the “message”. We can usually control what we see since vision is continual, but when watching television or the “medium” we lose the ability to control what our brains are taking in and what we are watching or “the message”. Therefore “The medium is the message”.
As for the Internet, there are many ways also that demonstrates Marshall McLuhan’s idea. A couple famous websites on the Internet are Wikipedia, YouTube, and my favorite Perez Hilton. On Wikipedia and YouTube any body can submit or change the information on these sites, which changes the way people see things all the time, these websites are controlled by the people. This is showing just how much the medium changes and controls our society.
People in our society may not notice how much the medium really effects us. In “Understanding Radio” the presidents were listened to during debates on the radio. The people liked Nixon more than JFK and tended to agree with him. However, the story changes when the two presidents were seen on the television. Once the people saw the two presidents the people were convinced that JFK must be better for office because of his good looks and charisma. Little did they know it but the medium had influenced them and changed their thinking and the way they saw things.
McLuhan believes that there are “patterns” in life. In the McLuhan video he describes that it’s when people realize these patterns that they want to change it and a lot of them are dropouts. McLuhan references Hippies as people who realize the pattern. People don’t usually notice these patterns, but when they are drastically changed and their routine is changed people do notice. These changes usually occur from a new message from a new medium. In Mark Federman’s “What is the meaning of the medium is the message” he says ,”McLuhan tells us that a "message" is, "the change of scale or pace or pattern" that a new invention or innovation "introduces into human affairs." This describes the change in patterns caused by the message. The point is that technology is ever changing and it’s hard to control. As technology grows and changes our minds have to adapt, we have to teach and train our minds to see and comprehend messages faster.
Along with our minds adapting to technology, technology now allows us to bring in even more information then it used to. Television now allows us to Tivo and DVR shows etc. This allows people to tape shows and watch them over and over, controlling how we now see live television shows and television in general. Another example is instant replays, which McLuhan discussed in the video. Instant replays show the people maybe something that was amazing or how the player got hurt etc. Instant replays the “medium” although not ever noticeable has very much changed things in our society. They have made aspects of the sport/game change, there are now huge screen in arenas to watch instant replays, and sometimes people even bring small T.V.s to watch them up close and personal.
Thinking about Marshall McLuhan’s idea of “The medium is the message” I see how it fits in my generation and how it’s true. Facebook is very popular and a lot of advertisers and companies are now taking advantage of it to get through to people. This has changed our society and the way our culture works. Although his saying is hard to understand and people don’t often notice it, it makes complete sense.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
How I Communicate.
When I want to talk to a friend, family member, or teacher I usually use three different types of communication to get in touch with each one. Depending on the person that I am talking to determines what type of technology I use to get in touch with them. When I talk with my friends, for the most part, I text them because I never know if they are in class or doing something in which they cannot talk and that is the easiest way to communicate. I don’t really like to text message, but since it is all that my friends do I guess that I have changed the way that I feel about it a little bit. If I need to talk to my mom, dad, grandmother, or someone from the older generation I normally use the telephone (well not a telephone, but my cell phone). My mom has finally started to get texting, so now sometimes I text my mom, but I would say that over all I prefer to use my cell phone to talk to people.
I like to talk on the phone with my friends and family more because for one thing I am a very fast talker and have a lot to say, therefore typing or texting takes a lot more effort and time rather than a phone call. Also I feel that face-to-face or a verbal conversation is more personal than a text or email. And I also think that an e-mail is more personal than a letter, I could not tell you the last time that I actually sat down and wrote a letter though. In the past year I have not written any letters by hand, but I do use my email on a day-to-day basis. Sometimes I wish that people still wrote letters because I think that they are more personal than an e-mail, but now-a-days it is so much easier to just hop on your computer and type a note or letter. I also feel that letters are way more personal because with an e-mail you can not see the handwriting that the person writes and with an e-mail anyone could technically be writing it and you would never know.
I use my cell phone everyday all day. I honestly do not know what I would do with out it. I recently just got a black berry and now my phone is attached to my hip more than it already was before. Even though I love my phone and feel naked when I do not have it, I do enjoy when my phone either dies or is broken for a few days because then I do not have the distraction. Also people are unable to get in touch with me and it is kind of nice sometimes. Now that I have a blackberry I can get on the Internet, which also means that I can check my Facebook more than I already do with my computer.
I get on my Facebook page at least three times a day and I am what you can call addicted. I really like to get on and see what my friends are doing and keep in touch with old ones. I stay in touch with a lot of my friends from high school, old time elementary school friends, and even friends from college who I might not see everyday. Facebook also has a new application in which you can chat with other friends and it is kind of like instant messaging. That is another way that I keep in touch with people that I have not talked to in a while. I really enjoy Facebook, I really wish that I didn’t, but I would say that it is a big way I communicate with others in my life. I hope that communication stays the way it is because it is becoming less and less personal and if that is the case then in a few years people will be communicating with out any verbal interaction.
I like to talk on the phone with my friends and family more because for one thing I am a very fast talker and have a lot to say, therefore typing or texting takes a lot more effort and time rather than a phone call. Also I feel that face-to-face or a verbal conversation is more personal than a text or email. And I also think that an e-mail is more personal than a letter, I could not tell you the last time that I actually sat down and wrote a letter though. In the past year I have not written any letters by hand, but I do use my email on a day-to-day basis. Sometimes I wish that people still wrote letters because I think that they are more personal than an e-mail, but now-a-days it is so much easier to just hop on your computer and type a note or letter. I also feel that letters are way more personal because with an e-mail you can not see the handwriting that the person writes and with an e-mail anyone could technically be writing it and you would never know.
I use my cell phone everyday all day. I honestly do not know what I would do with out it. I recently just got a black berry and now my phone is attached to my hip more than it already was before. Even though I love my phone and feel naked when I do not have it, I do enjoy when my phone either dies or is broken for a few days because then I do not have the distraction. Also people are unable to get in touch with me and it is kind of nice sometimes. Now that I have a blackberry I can get on the Internet, which also means that I can check my Facebook more than I already do with my computer.
I get on my Facebook page at least three times a day and I am what you can call addicted. I really like to get on and see what my friends are doing and keep in touch with old ones. I stay in touch with a lot of my friends from high school, old time elementary school friends, and even friends from college who I might not see everyday. Facebook also has a new application in which you can chat with other friends and it is kind of like instant messaging. That is another way that I keep in touch with people that I have not talked to in a while. I really enjoy Facebook, I really wish that I didn’t, but I would say that it is a big way I communicate with others in my life. I hope that communication stays the way it is because it is becoming less and less personal and if that is the case then in a few years people will be communicating with out any verbal interaction.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
My Media Habits- Blog #1
I am Abbey Swift and I am a senior here at UMBC. I play on the Women’s Lacrosse (http://www.umbcretrievers.com/) team here and I am a Media and Communications and American Studies major. I come from a big family and I love spending time with my family and friends.
My media habits started at a very young age. I have three brothers and two sisters and my mother was a stay at home mom, so in the early morning I would watch the news, then her favorite morning talk show was Regis and Kelly and I loved watching that with her as well. At night when my family was done dinner my mom would watch the evening news and then Entertainment Tonight was always on at 7, so we had to watch that. My two older sisters have two different interests when it comes to their media habits therefore I got both spectrums. I was influenced by one who loves celeb gossip, reality television, and primetime TV where as my other sister likes to watch and be updated with worldly and political news. Since I look up to my older sisters I have, I guess followed in their footsteps when it comes to media habits because I always wanted them to think that I was cool.
I would say that I have pretty good media habits. I at least try to get all aspects of the media because I love reading about celebrity gossip and I really enjoy watching the daily evening news. Since I watched the news as a kid it makes me feel at home while being at college. The only thing that I wish that I was more “in-tune” with when it comes to the media is currently I would like to be more informed with the new president and worldly news. I have been trying to stay up-to-date with most recent news with our new president, but I have trouble keeping up with it. My goal for this year is to learn more about this topic and stay interested in it. Also, I believe that has a lot of impact on people’s lives. The things that people see on television or hear about in the news influences how they perceive people in the media.
My media habits started at a very young age. I have three brothers and two sisters and my mother was a stay at home mom, so in the early morning I would watch the news, then her favorite morning talk show was Regis and Kelly and I loved watching that with her as well. At night when my family was done dinner my mom would watch the evening news and then Entertainment Tonight was always on at 7, so we had to watch that. My two older sisters have two different interests when it comes to their media habits therefore I got both spectrums. I was influenced by one who loves celeb gossip, reality television, and primetime TV where as my other sister likes to watch and be updated with worldly and political news. Since I look up to my older sisters I have, I guess followed in their footsteps when it comes to media habits because I always wanted them to think that I was cool.
I would say that I have pretty good media habits. I at least try to get all aspects of the media because I love reading about celebrity gossip and I really enjoy watching the daily evening news. Since I watched the news as a kid it makes me feel at home while being at college. The only thing that I wish that I was more “in-tune” with when it comes to the media is currently I would like to be more informed with the new president and worldly news. I have been trying to stay up-to-date with most recent news with our new president, but I have trouble keeping up with it. My goal for this year is to learn more about this topic and stay interested in it. Also, I believe that has a lot of impact on people’s lives. The things that people see on television or hear about in the news influences how they perceive people in the media.
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