Windows
and Mirrors
Chapters 1-3
After reading this
section of the book what immediately came to mind was "hot" and
"cold" media that we had covered during Media Ecology. "Windows
and Mirrors", I felt, reflect what hot and cold are. Except instead of
being on what is considered traditional media, it refers to computers and how
we interact with them and vice versa. Overall this section of the book was easy
to read and understand with my prior knowledge of media ecology.
Chapters 4-6
The "Magic
Book" is something that has always intrigued me, yet I never quite knew
what to name it. Virtual reality is in fact just a way we project our
consciousness onto an already establish area and can help a person almost take
a "3rd person perspective" on what they are learning and doing. On
the downside though, having a VR classroom if you will, also takes away people
individuality and some of their creativity.
Chapters 7-9
"Terminal
Time" is an event that requires audience participation that allows them to
express their views. Essentially this is when there is a series of video clips
that revolves around a period of time that defines their history. It is both a
window and a mirror since reflects the audiences views while at the same time
immersing them, making them no longer aware that they are viewing these video
clips.
New
New Media
Chapters 1-5
This was probably the
most interesting section of a book to date. The whole aspect of social media
and creating online relationships is something that definitely applies to my
generation. You see people on FaceBook or Instagram with 1,000+ friends of
followers and you know they do not actually know all of them, yet they
"know" each other through media. In my personal opinion social media
is in fact the beginning to McLuhan's global village. A place where the entire
planet goes to communicate with one another about various topics. It's ironic
though that something that brings people together actually allows them to stay
as far apart from each other as they like.
Chapters 6-10
Blogging as another
aspect of modern technology that allows people to express themselves freely on
the internet. Whether it be by blogs or even video blogs such as a personal
YouTube channel, blogging has exploded these last few years and has paved a way
for people to express themselves. One thing blogging has done is help the
argument against journalism, and whether or not it is a legitimate profession.
Anyone, anywhere can start a blog on any topic and if it warrants praise, it
warrants praise. No degree is needed for blogging, no specific job requirement.
Just a person with a passion for a topic. This book has made it obvious that
the strides made by New New Media can never be undone and have propelled the
human race closer the McLuhan's Global Village.
Amazing
Ourselves to Death
Chapters 1-4
In the first part of
the book it talks about how media has gotten to the point where it is simply
about amusement, and no longer about serious news. Instead of hearing about the
hostilities between America and Russia, or American and China you'll see a ten
minute segment breaking down security footage of Jay-Z and Solange Knowles
getting into a fist fight. It's sad that what airs on "news" channels
is really what airs on MTV.
Chapters 5-9
In the second half of
the book, the decline of the news is talked about. In our Media Ecology class
we touched upon this, stating how news is no longer information, but
entertainment. Graphics and bright colors fill the screen with fluff news stories
to grab people's attention instead of informing them of what's truly important.
The news is now about ratings instead of actual journalism. In Anchorman 2,
they actually touch upon this subject when Ron Burgundy has to win sweeps by
himself, so he calls for graphics that mean nothing to be on the screen just to
look cool.
Another interesting
part was how nowadays everyone takes pictures or videos on their phones and
news sources use those. It wasn't until 2010 that Twitter "broke"
it's first news story, now 4 years later that might actually be one of the best
ways to get news. And while it may be good for news, it puts those people in
danger. It's almost as if people believe that while they're filming or taking a
picture that they themselves are not there in the moment, where in fact they
are.
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