A Better Understanding of "Open Sky"

In the third section of Open Sky, Paul Virilio discusses the ways in which technology effects our physical being and then wraps up the book with a deeper look into the technological arena that is changing the world as we know it. While I enjoyed the book as a whole and loved the way it pushed the envelope with its existentialism, I particularly enjoyed the mind-bending topic in the chapter "From Sexual Perversion to Sexual Diversion".

While it is clear to me that technology effects our personal lives in many ways, the ways in which it effects personal, loving relationships bother me the most. In a world where not many things are personal anymore, it is heartbreaking to me that the sense of communication, passion, and connection once shared by physically having to be in the same place as one another is lost with the addition of the internet, telephones, etc. Conversations that once centered around long discussions complete with emotion, expression, and reaction are now reduced to a break up over the phone, a text message to get asked on a date, and a Facebook chat to cancel plans. After this chapter in the book, I see now that technology is also effecting the more passionate and physical sides of relationships as well.

Virilio explains the popularity of such things as internet dating, pornography sites, and (at the extreme), forms of "remote-control masturbation". I was shocked to learn of the different technology that enables people to feel "pleasure" from a distance. In a world where people crave and desire things quickly and instantly, there is now even an option to experience the happiness and pleasure that once had to come from a warm body from world and miles away. After reading - and discussing aloud with my friends - this concept was still difficult to wrap my head around. After some thought, I feel I have taken the position of being somewhat fearful of what technology could do to our culture, our traditions, our feelings, and our emotions. For someone who mourns the loss of handwritten letters and long calls on the phone, the idea of reducing such beautiful human acts of passion to a mere visit to a website scares me. This idea of "telesexual interactivity" as Virilio calls it threatens the past, present, and future of our race by changing the fabric that holds us together - personal connectivity.

As Virilio ends the book, he sums up the pages and pages of discussion on how technology can touch and shape every part of our world. After this reading, I believe it is our job as technology and media consumers to question and fear the onslaught of speed and info and machines. It is our job to dissect our changing world rather than simply sitting back and allowing it to wash over and consume us.

What are the ways in which you can become more educated about the technological world around you? What ways do you think you hold on to the connectedness of the past and what technologies are you willing to gain at the loss of ourselves?

Diving Deeper: "Open Sky"

In continuing reading Paul Virilio's Open Sky, I have discovered more on his view on technology and the way it is shaping our world in more ways than you would think. The second portion of the book discusses many facets of technology but starts out with the idea of the way technology and new research would effect our bodies. In discussing "animates", or microscopic pieces of machinery that could be used to navigate the body and aid in disease recovery, he touches on the reduction in size of technology. The world, with all of its most recent advances, is taking a step back from other revolutions of size and space and is now focused on making all devices small and compact, increasing not only function but also efficiency.

Related to the downsize of technology, Virilio discusses our desire to "miniaturize the world", therefore creating an arena of life that knows no space or time because it is subject to internet, technology, and speedy communication. With this same idea, he questions whether a move to make all technology compact and instant actually improves us as humans or changes the very theories and concepts we live by. Advances like "animates" or other devices that can go inside the human body and improve them, or even make then better than they were biologically, begs the question of if we are trying too hard to blend technology with biology, as Virilio states.

With all of these ideas, he also discusses the ways in which our "life-size" world is in danger. If technology is not only advancing humans but also advancing travel and the idea of communication, then the real world that we live in no longer functions as it did. Virilio speaks to the gap that media creates in people making connections with each other that I often notice in my daily life. To me, it is sad to no longer receive hand written letters or enjoy a lengthy in person conversation. To me, it is impersonal to only receive text messages and emails as my main form of contact. While these methods are efficient and effective, I also wonder if we are in danger of losing ourselves to gain a world of technology that can supplement human contact.

Virilio goes on to discuss ideas of online dating, the small television screen making life speed up, and the future of super highways in France. While all the topics touched on are quite interesting and pose great questions, I can't help but think that the main concept to be taking away from his reading is how much technology will change us if we are willing to let it. By highlighting the ways it can effect us mentally, emotionally, physically, and psychologically, Virilio warns of the dangers that may accompany technology.

What dangers to you see technology creating in your life? Do you support the ways in which technology is changing and "improving" us? Why or why not?

Speaking in Legal Terms: Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of Writing for Digital Media by Brian Carroll deals with the legal issues and matters associated with the digital age and all things internet. When starting to create our own websites (as well as our blogs and anything else we publish onto the internet) it is important to be aware of what is legal and how to go our creating information properly. While the chapter covers many legal terms and issues- such as privacy laws, safeguarding, and spam- in the digital world we live in, I will focus on the important terms libel, slander, and defamation.

While we as bloggers just starting out probably wouldn't be worth a big company suing over a libel suit, it is still important for bloggers and writers on the internet to be cautious of the law. For material to be considered libel, it must be three things:

• the material must be printed or published
• it must be false or erroneous
• and it must be defamatory 

While the digital age deals mostly with written defamation, slander, or spoken defamation, is also an issue in dealing with libel. The three aspects of libel warn against and make internet bloggers and writers aware of how dangerous it is to ruin or harm someone's reputation in their written work. Carroll states in the book that "allegations of libel are included in about three-fourths of all lawsuits filed against mass media". With such a large number of suits, it is easy to imagine cases of libel in many sources of printed material, such as blogs, headlines, letters, or even conversations in online chat rooms. While Carroll goes on to state that many of the libel cases are thrown out, this is an important issue to be aware of when writing on the internet. 

Many celebrities such as Tom Cruise and the Olsen twins have experienced libel cases.

Do you think libel cases are more frequent in the digital age? Why or why not? What methods will you take to ensure that you are not harming someone's reputation before you publish internet material?  

Diving Into "Open Sky"

Paul Virilio's book Open Sky radically addresses the evolving world of media and technology and how it is effecting our lives. While the content was slightly intimidating at first, once I finished the first of three parts in the book, I was better able to understand the interesting and innovative claims made about our information overwhelmed culture.

One of the first concepts that truly resonated with me was that of "generalized arrival", or that of an object or piece of information arriving without ever having to truly leave the previous location. While I am sure this mind bending concept is not something people ponder (or even notice) often, it is amazing to think of the high paced, highly digital world we live in. Just think, the minute I post this blog writing, the information will have reached your screen without myself or the writing ever truly leaving my desk. Crazy, right?

In thinking about such phenomenon, it is also important to question how such changes in time and space effect our society. In the book, Virilio discusses how people become "channel-surfing" automatons when we have significantly less work to do with our own minds. Again, just think, how many websites are there that can convert measurements for you? How many applications on the phone that can do such human things as lock the front doors of your home? How many banks where you no longer have to deal with a human teller to deposit a check? Much like all eras of technology have changed the public in which they are born, technology and the instantaneous ability of a machine to do exactly what we can do (if not better) raises questions of how we function as a culture.

It seems to me that one of Virilio's main concern is that such shifts to technology and a lulling waterfall of information makes us a more distant, less personal society. He begs the question of the importance of "real time" vs. "real space". In simpler times when the internet and machines didn't feed on our fascination, our society could flourish in an environment based on human contact, service, and a sense of common good. Now, in a world where "real time" dominates "real space", conversations are centered around the touch of a button, board meetings no longer require the people to sit around the same table, and dating is something often defined by an online profile.

Just an Virilio raises the argument of what we are willing to lose as a society to gain in technology and efficiency, I can't help but wonder if it is worth it to live in a world where "reality is ubiquitous". While I often look to my forms of technology-my phone, computer, tv- with fondness and appreciation, I can't help but ask what skills am I losing to be gaining a machine that will think for me?

What questions did the first portion of the book raise in your mind? Do you think technology fully helps or fully hinders a society (or a portion of both)? What are the fears associated with a technology dominated society?

The Key to Websites: Getting It Right

With our final project of making our own website on the horizon, it is important to know the ins and outs of creating a successful and effective site for both yourself and your users. As with many aspects of communicating we have discussed, Chapter 2 of Janice Redish's text "Letting Go of the Words: Writing Web Content That Works" deals with 7 steps of understanding your audience. As the article states and life supports, people react differently to differnet websites based on a number of factors. For this reason, it is important to understand your audience before creating the site. The 7 steps are briefly listed below.

- List your major audiences
- Gather info about your audiences
- List major characteristics for each audience
- Gather your audiences' questions, tasks, and stories
- Use your info to create personas
- Include the persona's goals and tasks
- Use your info to write scenarios for your site

The step that stuck out to the me the most was gathering the audiences' questions, tasks, and stories. Seeing that we are creating websites that hightlight our resumes and work, and will be sending them to future employers, it is important for us to gather from people with experience questions they will be hoping to answer. Knowing what employers are looking for will help us to write in a language that pleases the audience as well as answering the right questions.

In Chapter 3, Redish gives advice on creating a successful home page, the jumping point for the whole website. Home pages need to be attention grabbing, well organized, and easily skimmable. In using these "five major functions of home pages", I hope to make my home page of my website appealing and useful for audiences. Here are the 5 functions Redish lists.

- identifying the site, establishing the brand
-setting the tone and personality of the site
- helping people get a sense of what the site is all about
- letting people start key tasks immediately
- sending people on the right way, effectively and efficiently

I hope to acheive all these functions positively by giving my website a personality that reflects my own. I also hope to create a home page with tabs to send my audience to my resume, writings, and personal bio. The Redish article was very helpful in giving great advice about creating a website.

What is the most important aspect of your website going to be? What tone are you looking to create for your website and what will it help you acheive?

A Call to Uncover the Upstate

This video story is a call to people in the Upstate South Carolina area to uncover local restaurants like the four that I feature. With such beautiful cities surrounding us, it would be a shame not to experience these wonderful restaurants and meet some kind people along the way. The restaurants featured are Duke's Doggs in Travelers Rest, Grille 33 in downtown Greenville, Mug and Muffin on Augusta Road, and The Beacon in Spartanburg. Hopefully this video will inspire you to Uncover the Upstate!

Special thanks to all the restaurants as well as Kristy Burns -owner of Duke's Doggs- and Maggie Austin, Anna Fluevog, Elizabeth Griffin, Molly Gunson, and Nanne Remington- my loyal and helpful friends.

Making a List, Checking it Twice: Online Editing

Unlike print editing, online editing is quick, constant, and ever-changing. Much like it is a very different medium, there are very different roles and skills required for online editors. In Brian Carroll's book Writing for Digital Media, he discusses online editing in Chapter 6, "Online Editing, Designing, and Publishing". Like many things in life, Carroll stresses how important it is to double (even triple) check every aspect of a website or online publication. While there are many important aspects of online editing, he lists a "universal checklist" (taken from Carolyn Rude's Technical Editing) to give a "jumping off" point for online editors. The items discussed are briefly listed below.

• Identify with the readers/purpose of the content 
• Define document structure and links
• Define the style 
• Edit
• Copyedit
• Copyedit II
• Write headlines
• Test usability 

As Carroll emphasizes, all of these steps are crucial in creating a coherent and accessible web production. Out of the steps on the list, I want to highlight the importance of identifying with the readers and testing usability. As a user of many online websites, I know I often get the most frustrated with websites that fail to target me as the audience and miss the boat on making the site user friendly. 

To avoid problems with not knowing the audience, it is important to focus not only on their needs but also on technical factors such as what kinds of software they will be using. Nothing is more frustrating than your computer not being compatible with a websites software. Solving this problem involves much research and thought, steps that fall under the job description of the online editor.

As for testing usability, in my eyes, this may be the last but the most important step. Target is one of my favorite places to shop, yet there website is a bit of a train wreck in my eyes. The site is cluttered, confusing, and unintuitive. Due to these problems, I use Target's website very little and would be more willing to shop online at their site if it was tested more, making it more user friendly. If the editor designs and tests a site that is intuitive and enjoyable to use, it will be much more likely that the site will get proper attention and use. 

What steps on the checklist did you find most important? What steps do you think often get overlooked or aren't executed properly on your most used websites? 

The Ins and Outs of Editing

When I first started planning for my video project that will highlight four more Upstate restaurants that I have uncovered, I have to admit I was a little nervous. I have never really shot video footage before, with the exception of playing around on my iPhone, of course. I was apprehensive about asking restaurant owners to let me film, shooting the footage itself, and editing the clips to make a seamless story of my eatery adventures. I doubted myself and my video making abilities. After reading the chapter The "Aesthetics of Editing" in Ronald Osgood and Joseph Hinshaw's work Visual Storytelling, I feel like I am much informed and prepared for video editing.

While the chapter discusses many important techniques of editing, I will focus on three that I find important and want to use in my video. Those three techniques are listed and quickly defined below.

• b-roll or footage that visually describes the story 
• continuity or maintaing story consistency from shot to shot and within scenes 
• establishing shot or a shot providing indication of the location of the scene 

The chapter suggests that b-roll helps to describe the story visually while a person is speaking about the topic at hand. I plan to use b-roll with each of my restaurants while interviewing owners and friends. While the person I am interviewing answers questions about the restaurant or the experience, I will cut to clips of different images/scenes in the restaurant such as a close up of the food or friends ordering at the counter. 

Osgood and Hinshaw also state that keeping continuity in my video "helps to add to the believability of the scene and maintains realism". In the filming I have already done, I have been very careful to shoot footage that connects, makes sense, and pieces the story together in an obvious manner. Since my topic is fun and personal, I don't want to confuse my viewers with unrelated, unconnected jump cuts. Instead, I want them to feel as if they were along for the journey by making it easy for them to see why I have enjoyed uncovering all these delicious restaurants. Continuity will help achieve this goal. 

The final technique that I think will add to my video is the use of establishing shots. The chapter discusses the importance of letting the audience know where a scene is taking place by way of an establishing shot or a cue in the dialogue. In my shots, I have been starting every time with a clip of the front of the restaurant, highlighting the sign especially. This will hopefully show my audience where the next scene will take place, keeping them informed and interested. 

For someone who has little experience with filming and editing, reading helpful tips such as those in this chapter help immensely. What techniques are you excited to try in your future filming and editing? Do you find it harder to film and get the right shots or edit your filmed material? 

Storyboarding: Getting My Ducks in a Row

Pointing Out Point of View

Point of view is something we have heard about our whole lives. In my experience, point of view was usually brought up in an English class in relation to a novel or poem we were reading at the time. I would have to decide, it is first person, third person, second person in the "you" form? While I admit it was never the most exciting thing to learn about, point of view is very important in all aspects of life. It is crucial to know whose point of view a story is being told from, what it is supposed to mean, and who it is supposed to target. In the article The Art of Technique by John Douglass and Glenn Harnden, chapter 3 is titled Point of View.

While this chapter deals with the same first, second, and third person lessons we have been taught over and over again in classes past, I particularly enjoyed the portion on point of view and attitude. It brings to light phenomenon that we as consumers of media deal with everyday - conflicting point of view pieces and texts addressing the same topic. The chapter referenced conflicts such as depictions of the Catholic church and French Colonial occupation of North Africa and how they might be received differently based on different points of view. However, being a 20 year old female, the example that stuck out to me the most was that of the portrayal of love. To me a perfect example is the popular Nicholas Sparks novel-based film, The Notebook. The article beautifully balances first and third person narration as well as plays to different audiences with different points of view. Again to me, the girl that falls too quickly, loves a good cry, and likes to hope that fairytales do exist, the movie appeals perfectly to my point of view and attitude. However, show The Notebook to a 20 year old male and the sentiment might be quite different. The point of view and attitude just might not line up.

After looking at this example, it is easy to see why we should be thanking our high school English teachers for hammering point of view into our brains. As a producer, or in our case, the creator of a class video, it is crucial to understand point of view to not only know how our work will be taken but also how are specific audiences will be touched.

What are some examples of effective use of point of view? Can you think of other popular movies that may reach audiences very differently? Can you appreciate movies and texts even if they don't line up with your specific point of view or attitude?

Experience Design: Crafting a Masterpiece

When I first saw the title of the article Experience Design by Nathan Shedroff, I will admit I was a little bit confused. Of course I know what the word experience means and what the word design means, but what I didn't know was that there is a growing field dedicated to "designing experiences". If you are anything like me, you are probably thinking "Wait, what? Experiences are something to be crafted, not events that just occur"? While this was my first thought, Shedroff's article showed me that "there is something important and special to many experiences that make them worth discussing". Going even deeper, the article taught me that in order to design a certain experience, there are components that can be learned and copied to recreate effective experiences.

One thing that was a bit frustrating with the article was the way in which it jumped around so frequently, talking one minute about surfers experiencing a no nonsense surfing website and the next about a simple form created by a company to make tax returns more understandable. While this theme made it a little hard for me to focus at times, I think the main reason for Shedroff taking this approach was to support his earlier claim that "all experiences are important". It doesn't matter whether you are experiencing a touching Holocaust museum or playing with an online coloring book, all experiences tell us something about ourselves and can be designed in a way to be the most efficient, effective, and enjoyable experiences possible.

Since there was an array of topics discussed, I want to focus quickly on the section about blogging- it is only fitting, right? In talking about blogging, Shedroff states, "Experiences that allow people to communicate with each other or simply to be heard tend to be rewarding, satisfying ones". It makes me happy that in this young field of Experience Design, it is being realized that people respond well to having a place to communicate openly, freely, and personally (within some design limits, of course). In a world where technology is always changing and advancing, I find it crucial for the people in the world who are designing blog websites - and for that matter designing how we experience blogging- to be able to create blogging tools that allow further communication, personality, and interactivity.

To me, having a place to spill out my creativity and my feelings (this blog!), is liberating and comforting. It is easy for my ideas and thoughts to feel lost in a world where conversations over text messaging tend to be replacing conversations in person. While blogging is still an online, text driven form of communication, it allows me an experience of sharing my experiences, and hopefully inspiring others to share their experiences as well.

Do you think Experience Design is a necessary and useful field? Why or why not? In what ways do bloggers you follow share their experiences as well as inspire you to share your experiences? Do you agree with Shedroff on the importance of having experiences that allow us to share?

The Screen Has Become the Queen

Let's face it, in today's electronically driven world, the screen -whether it be movie, television, or computer- dominates the way we view and receive information and entertainment. We watch movies in 3D, catch up on our favorite TV shows on computer websites like Hulu, and read our books on screened devices like the Nook or the Kindle.

While it seems pretty apparent to the average viewer that watching a program or movie on a screen is definitely different than looking at the real world around us, it may not be obvious all the ways in which the screen defines how the image or show appears in our eyes. The article, The Two-Dimensional Field: Forces Within the Screen, clearly and plainly lays out for us the six major types of field forces that influences the way images and shows appear within the confines of a screen. While the article discusses all six - main directions, magnetism of the frame and attraction of mass, asymmetry of the frame, figure and ground, psychological closure, and vectors- I found the rules for figure and ground to be the most fascinating and will talk about them here.

The article states that figure and ground is "one of the most elemental structural forces operating within the screen". I took this to mean that it is important for us to know what the figure is and where the ground is located in an image in order for us to establish the certain breaks in object and ground within the screen. To help differentiate the object from the ground, the article lists these 5 easy steps to keeping to all clear.

• The object is thinglike. 
• The figure lies in the front of the ground.
• The line that separates the figure from the ground is part of the figure, not the ground.
• The figure is less stable than the ground; the figure is more likely to be moved. 
• The ground seems to continue behind the figure.

These are all important tips as either a viewer or a creator of screened images and shows. I now know that when uploading pictures to the internet that I want viewer to perceive in a certain way, I can change the perception of ground and object to read however I want, even blending the two together or creating different grounds/objects when looked at two different ways, such as with the images below. By using placement of the object and ground as well as movement and ground, I can make the viewer perceive things of the image even if they are not necessarily true. 

What images/advertisements can you think of that blur the lines of object/ground? Are they effective in drawing you in? How would you use image/ground to lead an audience to a certain perception? 

The Upstate Uncovered: Putting Words to the Images

The Upstate Uncovered is an audio/slideshow combination that describes my experience uncovering local Upstate South Carolina restaurants. The four restaurants featured are Tommy's Country Ham House, Brick Street Cafe, The Little Coffee Pot, and The Mason Jar.

Special thanks to Anna Fluevog, Elizabeth Griffin, Maggie Austin, and Morgan Black for joining me on this adventure and speaking about their experiences.
Music Credit: Copyright Zac Brown Band - Song Title: Chicken Fried

A Little Bit of This and A Little Bit of That

In trying to use titles that catch my readers attention and draw them in, I chose the above mentioned, slightly vague blog title that leaves one guessing what this post would be. When I first read the title of this weeks reading, Multimodal Polyphony, by Anders Fagerjord, I was left with a similar feeling of guessing. Upon first glance, I was overwhelmed and wasn't sure what I could learn from the study of a Flash Documentary. After diving in, however, I have learned many ways to use "a little bit of this and a little bit of that" to make a combined media masterpiece.

Fagerjord's article chose to analysis in detail National Geographic's flash documentary, or "documentary films of still images and voice-over commentary," entitled "Sights and Sounds from the Way West".  If you choose to click the link and watch "The Way West" for yourself, you will discover a coming together of different media forms that culminates in a story of a historic journey West that is told so well using a number of different techniques. The flash documentary features visual elements such as paintings, writing, photography, and camera placement as well as elements that appeal to the ears such as music, speech, and sound effects.

While I found both the finished product of "The Way West" and the article by Fagerjord very interesting, the main point I took away (and hope to apply to my podcast) is the importance of images and words used in connection with one another. To me, images and words alone can both catapult our minds to great places, letting our imaginations soar. For some forms of media, this is the desired effect. Again in my eyes, the flash documentary has so much power and meaning because it combines visual aspects and words into one flowing piece in which the audience knows exactly the main focus and purpose of the work.

When I am setting out to learn more about a specific topic, such as the experience of historic people journeying to the West, or in our case a classmate's experience taking photographs for a blog, I prefer to know what is supposed to be taken from the image or from the story in the form of words. By using "a little bit of text" and "a little bit of visual stimulants", the final product is a clear and beautiful portrayal of an experience of a fellow human being. Because of this article, I am more excited than ever to begin work on my podcast and start putting words to my images, bringing the slideshow full circle.

While I am personally a fan of images and text working side by side, it begs to be asked, how do you feel about multimodal pieces such as "The Way West"? Do you think images and words work well together in explaining the purpose of the piece or do you think it takes away a sense of imagination and interpretation given to the audience?

Open Your Ears, Not Your Eyes

Buzz, buzz, buzz. Tick, tick, tick. "That's a lot of tweeting". As I sit here in my apartment, writing this blog post on our newest reading, The Zen of Listening, I hear a plethora of noises around me. The vent of our AC makes a slightly annoying buzz. The clock on our collage wall ticks in a steady rhythm. My roommates voices discuss the social media going on with the presidential debate. Prior to this reading, I probably wouldn't have been acutely aware of these sounds. I probably would have drowned them out while working away in my chair in the corner of the living room.

Because listening is so innate, I have never taken much time to think about the act of listening and how it relates to the way we consume media, specifically radio. Just as listening is innate, as the article mentions, my love of radio seems innate as well. When I get in my car, the radio comes to life immediately, usually set to 99.9, my favorite country station. I sing along with songs, let it play softly in the background, and flip the channels when I am tired of hearing commercials. It is all so natural, right?

Two of the points in the article I enjoyed the most were the discussion of our love of radio due to the power listening has on our imagination and the idea that radio was the first and remains one of the best ways to feel a mutual sense of connection at the same time as people all over the world.

The article discusses in depth the ways in which the radio allows us to take the voices and situations we hear on the radio and turn them into whatever we want. We can imagine what the DJ looks like, where a newscaster is reporting from, and how a song would play out in a video in our minds. People love radio, myself included, for the same reason they love tangible, worn in books. Yes a movie can perfectly put into visuals the characters or setting from your favorite book. But when happens, the creation of your own mind imagination is crushed. In order for people to grow as imaginative individuals, the opportunity must be given to think and create on your own. Radio does just that.

I also enjoyed the brief history of radio and the ways in which it was such a revolutionary invention when it first become widely used. In the past, the radio was a coveted piece of technology, used to connect people and pass information over miles and miles. Today, I believe we take the radio for granted, not recognizing the way in which it still represents a single moment in time, very much the same, and being shared by millions of people at the same time. It is very personal in the way we can apply our imagination and very communal in the way we share it with so many other people.

Do you still listen to the radio frequently? If not, what do you use to listen to music and other broadcasted information? An iPod, Pandora, other?
What do you like about radio that you don't think TV can offer?

The Upstate Uncovered

These 20 pictures represent the nature and atmosphere of the four Upstate South Carolina restaurants I have recently uncovered. My goal is to tell the story of the restaurant through the images by capturing and editing them in a way that makes you feel as if you were there dining with me. The restaurants featured are Tommy's Country Ham House, Brick Street Cafe, The Little Coffee Pot, and The Mason Jar. Enjoy!

Capturing Moments: Before and After

         

In the image above the Rule of Thirds is being put into place. This rule states that the main focus of the image should be placed on or near one of the crossing points of the horizontal and vertical grid lines. In this case, my main focus is the coffee mug which lines up with the top, left crossing point. 

 

     

 

Composition: It Means More Than You Think

When looking at an image, whether it be a photograph, a newspaper, a magazine, or a painting, composition may not be the first thing you are drawn to if you aren't a trained photographer or artist. You might first look at the image on a surface level, taking in the first instant of the visual. Next you might allow the emotional appeal to flood over you, deciding how it is you feel about the specific image. After reading the chapter The Meaning of Composition, I realize that how an image, article, or newspaper is laid out speaks volume for the meaning associated with what the author is trying to convey.

To explain the importance of composition, I will discuss the three interrelated systems, Information Value, Salience, and Framing, that give images meaning. It is these three things that allow us to be drawn to certain portions of the image and feel a certain way towards the image, which in turn gives them meaning.

Information Value, or how elements are placed in the space, tell us informational ideas based on the different "zones" of the visual. Whether it is right, left, top, bottom, or in the center, the placement of characters in the image means so much.

•      Left placement - represents the Given, or the information the audience already knows
•      Right placement - represents the New, or the unknown/fresh idea being portrayed to the audience
•      Top placement - the emotional/emotionally appealing portion of the image
•      Bottom placement - the factual/ or informative portion of the image 
•      Center - main ideal with support around

Because we are society that reads text from left to right, the placement of left to right mirrors the way we already digest information. Starting at the left, with info we already know, allows for the natural progression to the new info on the right side, much like the natural progression from the beginning to the end of the sentence. Similarly, we are very much a top-down society, placing the things we need to grasp the most at the top of our newspaper and magazine articles. In the same way, composition puts the emotional images at the top, grabbing the audience in and giving the factual information at the bottom. 

Although center composition is not used much in our society, center images represent a broad idea with supporting facts and information around. I believe the reason this does not work well in our society goes back to the way in which we digest our information, reading from left to right or top to bottom. 

Another of the three systems is Salience. Like information value, salience attracts us to different elements of the image based on placement, contrast in color, sharpness, and size. 

Finally, Framing, or the presence or absence of an image being framed a certain way, draws our attention, allows us to associate, or disassociate characters in an image. 

How does this image effectively use the elements of composition?

What forms of composition catch your eye the most? Can you think of some effective advertisements or images that help you to create meaning? Why do they work for you? 

The Meaning of a Viewer: A Personal Choice

Whenever my life gets overwhelming and I vent to my mom, she always tells me that only a small portion of life is the things that are placed before us, but what is truly important is how we react. Every time, I am reminded what wise words of wisdom these are (thanks, Mom!).  When reading the chapter Viewers Make Meaning, I couldn't help but remember these words. In a world were we are constantly hit with images and information from a number of sources, it isn't the items that are being sent to us but it is the way in which we respond, or take meaning, that is important.

The article begs the question of how images make meaning. Is it is the photographer who creates meaning? Is it the setting? Is it the producer or art director? I would agree with the article that while all these people or aspects play an important part and may want to create meaning, it is the audience or viewer who gives the image meaning. Let's consider the reasons why and how this happens.

While people respond to images on a daily basis, there are different types of images that should and will be decoded differently. Of course with most images coming from an advertising or product point of view, the image is meant for us to understand it in the way in which advertiser wish us to interpret it, but that doesn't always happen. People will respond in a multitude of ways considering such issues as social and cultural influence, socioeconomics, gender, and race. As the article states, you can feel happiness, fantasy, anger, or sadness depending on the moment, a familiarity for the product, or the way the product in portrayed. Take for instance the image below. You can feel the ad is too vulgar, to expressive, or very effective. If you are a "texter" while driving, you may feel guilty. If you know someone killed in a car accident where texting was involved, you may be filled with sadness and a sense of loss.

On the other hand, personal pictures of a family member or loved one also inspire people to react and create meaning differently than simple images we are unattached to, such as products defined by advertisers. As with the picture of my family below, I create a meaning very different from yours because the attachment I have to the people in the image. You may think that it is simply a pleasant picture of a family but I feel so much more. This two images clearly contrast the feeling of meaning in different images.

                                             Photo credit to Brittany Austin Photography

In these situations, the meaning given by the author or photographer is somewhat of a myth, because regardless the viewer will make their own judgements, whether the author likes it or not.
The ultimate point of this article, and I agree with its importance, is that in a world where images are thrown in our face all day, everyday, it is the job and privilege of the viewer to decode the meaning and make of it what they will. I love this aspect of the media world because it still places the choice in the hands of the viewer when we often don't have choices about media information.

Do you think the viewer is the main person responsible for the meaning of an image? Why or why not? What are some ads where you feel advertisers effectively get their message across and get people to feel the way they want? If this even possible?

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words... But the Words of Whom?

Snap. It's that easy. Grabbing a camera, focusing on a moment in time, and clicking. With three simple steps, you have succeeded in capturing a realistic, true instant in history, right? My answer to this question would be both yes and no. While I have always been one to put my full trust in images - to me pictures didn't lie - after reading the article Images, Power, and Politics, I'm not so quick to rely on the face value of a photo.

When you see an image, what is the first thing that comes to mind? To me, it is typically some emotional response followed by a feeling of concreteness, a sense that I am looking at a moment in time and discovering exactly what happened. I see now that I haven't always been an active viewer when it comes to digesting images. The article tied in many points we have been discussing in class on what gives a photograph meaning. In my eyes, a photo having a meaning and getting the meaning a certain way directly correlate with a photo having truth.

When considering how a photo gets it's truth, there are many answers to research. A few of them are listed below.

1. The photographer gives the image truth.
2. The camera gives the image truth. 
3. The viewer gives the image truth.
4. The situation gives the image truth. 
5. The objectivity accompanied with photography gives the image truth.

From studying the items listed above, it is easy to see that so much of an image's meaning and truth come from different perspectives. Is the photographer showing us all of the situation or only a small piece? Is the camera purely objective based on its nature of being a machine? Is the viewer culturally primed to decode the image in one way or another? Could the situation be taken in many different directions? 

Take for instance this image of a soldier in the Iraq War. When trying to decode the meaning behind this simple image of a soldier in a different pose than the rest of the men in the photo, many different interpretations can be formed. If you are a deeply spiritual person, you may immediately think this man is praying. If you are a soldier yourself, you may conclude that he is simply taking a moment of calm in the chaos that accompanies this role. If you are a protester of the war, you may be filled with anger that this man is in such a vulnerable state. Likewise, if you are a supporter of the war, you may be filled with great pride for you country and great respect for his man. 

With such opposing opinions that can be drawn from an image that is supposed to have such objectivity and truth, I can't help but question the amount of trust I should be putting in images. This point strengthens my thoughts that photos and writing should be paired together for the most effective source of truth. 

What was your first reaction when you saw the image of the soldier? Do you feel a solid truth can be found by viewing the image without a background story? What cultural, social, racial, or political factors do you think helped shape your interpretation of the image? 

Blowing the Whistle: Sports Photography

When I think about Sports Photography (which I will admit isn't too often), issues of gender, race, and sexuality never cross my mind. Typically what does come to mind is that, often impressively, a quick, epic, inspirational moment was captured in time. That thought is typically followed up by my amazement and lack of confidence in taking action shots. Never once in all my years of seeing newspapers, magazines, and webpages devoted to sports images have I stopped to think about all the deeper issues blended with this cultural phenomenon.

The issue I found to be the most fascinating after reading the article Framed and Mounted was the issue of sports media and gender. Being a little bit of a self-proclaimed feminist, I am always drawn in by the difference of roles between men and women, but sports was never an area I paid much attention too. I agree with the author that in sports media, women are often far more sexualized and at the same time, featured less often. Women are also featured more doing tasks that have nothing to do with sports, such as holding their children, embracing their significant other, and caring about their appearance. I feel this difference stems from the inability of society to disassociate women from their maternal/caregiver role. This is also why more women are photographed in still, reclining, inactive poses, contrary to the male image which is typically in motion.

I feel that in a time when women and men are equal in most aspects, sports and sports images are still behind. Attention to both genders should be given in a similar manner in the media. If all sexual connotation can't be taken out of the female image for obvious reasons, then coverage should at least be equal. One area I found that, in my opinion, gave attention to both male and female athletes was this years coverage of the Olympics. With sex symbols like Micheal Phelps and Ryan Lochte, is the sexualization of athletes still slanted more towards women? How do you feel about the integrity of athletes posing nude for advertisements and articles?

A Reading on Digital Still Photography

In a class like Digital Communications, it is important to learn about all aspects of media, including where they came from and how they can effectively tell a story. While we have recently studied journalism in the form of writing, until now we have yet to get to the true importance of images in media, or photojournalism. I personally love taking pictures of the things that happen in my life. What is more special than being able to capture a distinct moment in time, right? I found this reading to be very valuable and am now hungry for more information on images. Most of all, I can't wait to take food photographs for this blog, Uncovering the Upstate.

Like many things in life, you have to know where something comes from to understand why it is important and useful. By painting a picture of the early days of photography, ones that included whole camera wagons and hundreds of glass plates, the article allowed the reader to see how far we have come. It is important to know that technology often limits and defines what we can do as far as presenting stories in the media. Of course with all the equipment once required to take a simple photograph, it wasn't easy to take motion shots such as those for sports. As cameras developed and being more portable, images such as sports photographs and action shots became more popular. Much in the same way, DV (digital video) photojournalism, or platypus journalism, is seeping into media outlets because digital video imaging is the technology that is hot now. This can easily be compared to the ways in which internet is shaping the way we communicate, with blogging becoming increasingly popular.

One of the main points I got from the article is that no matter what form the images are being captured in, they are crucial to the ways in which we as humans tell stories. Often times, an image can express so much more than words can on their own, the reason why newspapers and magazines, both print and online, accompany their articles with photographs or videos. I especially enjoyed the quote from the article that "photojournalism tells stories about life". I found this to be strongly supported by the example of photographer Lewis Hines using images of children, such as the image below, to fight child labor abuse. Without an image, a face, a look to associate with the stories of child labor abuse, the story could be easily overlooked due to emotional detachment. In what ways do you think images support traditional writing? Are you more apt to find emotional connection to an image or an article?

Chapter 4 and Chapter 6

When you look at the forms of communication currently used in society, blogging is one that comes to mind instantly. It seems that most people write, read, follow, and discuss blogs in some form. Since this blogging phenomenon has set sail and picked up speed, many questions arise as to the legality and economics behind blogging. These readings do a great job of asking some of the important questions, such as: Are bloggers considered journalists? Do mainstream media and blogging mutually benefit each other? How is money made from blogging?

We can start by answering the first question: Are bloggers considered journalists? Although most people would respond "no" right away, the use of technology that is creating more "citizen journalists" is making this line blurry. I enjoyed how the articles both compared and contrasted mainstream media and blogging, letting us decide for ourselves if bloggers can be considered true journalists. Even after considering both points made in the chapter, I am still torn on the issue myself. One of the things I love most about blogging is the opportunity for anyone and everyone to have a voice in our society. Gone are the days when you had to work for a newspaper or magazine to get published, and if I am speaking honestly, I am happy to say goodbye to those times. It is by nature though, the subjectivity and inclusivity that fuel the current debate. Do you feel a blogger being openly honest and subjective adds more trust to the table or takes away from the reliability of the source? Do you trust bloggers more than mainstream media? If so, why?

The second issue that blurs the lines between blogging and recognized journalism is the matter of money. Chapter 6 suggests that if a person makes a living from blogging, they are considered a journalist. This is also an area that is not truly black and white. These days, bloggers can get paid a number of ways for their thoughts. Advertisements, sponsorships, donations, and being paid by a company are all ways ordinary bloggers can use their sites to earn a living. With it becoming increasingly easier to make money by blogging, does that mean that all who profit from blogs are journalists? Another question that begs to be asked is if bloggers being paid to write takes away the trust and integrity of the authors work? It is my opinion that as long as bloggers are open and honest about any sponsorships, advertisements, or other funds received from the blog, it is perfectly fine for people to follow their dream of writing about something they love while also earning a living.

While there are still many questions to play with and answer regarding blogging, I view this modern form of communication as a great tool for both individuals and companies. Not only does blogging give more people an opportunity to express themselves and get their voices heard, it also gives internet communication a more personal and thoughtful quality. Do you agree or disagree that blogging benefits mainstream media? Why or why not?

A Blog About Blogs: Chapter 2 and 3

   In our world today, blogging seems to be as natural a form of communication as showing printed pictures to a friend from vacation or confessing your point of view at an open debate. But the questions remain, how did we get to the Internet driven point we are at now? And if blogging really differs so much from the common form of print, how so?

   After taking a mass communications class, I have learned quite a bit about the progression from orality to literacy, literacy to print, and now print to digital media. I feel Chapter Two, From Bards to Blogs, did a great job of highlighting all the major points in the history that got us to where we are now. It is comforting to know that while print is something that seems so natural to us now, at the time the switch was made from spoken language to writing things down, many people questioned it much as people today question the goodness of online forms of writing such as blogging. This idea speaks to the ever-changing nature of technology and the way we communicate. As Chapter 3 later discusses, years into the future, blogging and social networking will be the form that seems natural to us while we are questioning some new and futuristic form. 

   One of my favorite topics covered in Chapter Two was the notion that digital media is on the rise in amount used daily in people's lives while use of printed sources have shown a decline. In the mass communications class I mentioned earlier, we were required to log our daily use of different forms of media throughout a week and write a paper on our findings. I was a little surprised to find that the number of hours I use digital media outlets, specifically my laptop, was so high. I think this shock came from the fact that to my generation, using computers in our daily lives seems just as innate as reading a book does to past generations. As the chapter mentioned, I also saw a great number of hours where I was using multiple media outlets at one time, such as checking my Facebook, watching TV, and looking at my Twitter on my phone. I believe it is this sense of constant connectivity and natural feel that make blogging such a prominent form of communication today. When you read and follow blogs, do you feel more connected to the world by following others thoughts? If so, are blogs as conversational and interactive as you would like them to be? 

   I also found Chapter Three on blog communities to be very interesting and eye-opening. While I partake in both blogging and social networking, I had never taken time to think of these sources as online connected communities. While there can be both positives and negatives to being so interconnected, I ultimately think blogging and sites such as Facebook and Twitter open so many doors for people that never could have been seen without the Internet world we live in today. These sites make it so easy to stay connected with old friends, meet other people who are searching for similar jobs, and find out news and info from people all over the world, all with the click of a mouse. On the other hand, I thought the chapter did a great job of explaining and giving advice on the dangers of putting information on the web for all to see. Unlike print, many things on the internet can't just be forgotten or destroyed, something we need to be quite careful of when sharing our thoughts. On that note, do you have any stories of people posting things on the internet that came back to bite them later? How can we be more active in making sure what we post on the internet reflects us in a positive light? 

   

A Look at NYTimes.com

New York Times.com

What is your first impression of the site? 

• When we first brought the page up, both the ads and the videos on the page took about 10-15 seconds to load, something that potentially lose audience attention. 
• The page is instantly very clean and neat, with a main headline for the page that is recognizable and draws you in. 
• Both top and left rows and columns easily list links on the page and make it easy to find information you are looking for. 
• Hyperlinks are clearly displayed in a color and text that is not far off from the content text, making it easy to click and be redirected to other places on the site. 
• The white to the left and right of the main page makes for visual rest space, not overwhelming the reader from the start. 

How does this site establish credibility? How does it establish trust? Or does it? 

Authentic voice? Genuine? Transparency? 

• In the articles Without Spirit of ’08, Mutual Fears Reunite Democrats, the author leaves aside bias and presents the facts and quotes in a straightforward manor. Other nonpolitical articles were also written without much personal bias. At the top, right of the page, there is a designated place for opinion readings. This helps the reader know up front that they are going to be getting the bias of the author if they choose to read those articles. The New York Times is being honest with their readers from the start. 
• In the Obama’s Speech article transparency is shown. The author from the start references God, showing his personal religion, something that is not typically politically correct in unbiased articles. The author also reveals his political views. He uses words like personally and “I wish”. 
• If you reference page 29 in the textbook, the NYTimes website meets many or most of the criteria for a credible site, including appears professionally designed and frequent updates. 

What is the general writing style? 

• We think the main writing style of the New York Times is objective, with the articles having facts and quotes presented in a straightforward manor that doesn’t sway the reader one way or the other. Judging by the articles posted on todays page, there seems to be more of a democratic slant with the choice of articles that are published. Overall, the site seems more reliable and neutral than openly slanted news sources such as Fox News. 

Does the writer IDENTIFY with his or her readers, or not? How (or why not)? 

• After reading a selection of articles, we find it difficult for authors to identify with readers and stay objective at the same time. It would be easier for authors of blogs or entertainment sites to identify with readers because their purpose isn’t to inform without objectivity. 

Does the writing style get to the point? 

• The articles are clean, easy to read, and easy to take in. The authors do a good job of being descriptive and wordy when necessary without being overwhelming to the reader. They do a great job of “chunking” text together to make it easy to scan and skim the articles. This is done well in the opinion article on Obama’s Speech by David Brooks. 

How is it arranged? It is arranged in reverse pyramid style? 

• We found most of the articles to be arranged in reverse pyramid style. By reading the first paragraph or two the audience has a clear idea of what the article is about and what main points are trying to be made. “The Ice Pick” article by Wendy Ruderman does a great job of catching the readers attention in the first few paragraphs, another arrangement that draws readers in.

Is content shaped for scanning? How in the content layered? 

• The content is very much shaped for scanning. As we mentioned earlier, the descriptive headlines, teaser sentences, brief paragraphs, visuals, and related stories/links, make it very easy to skim the article, pulling out the main points and being able to jump to other sites to get different info or opinions. 

Is the tone or rhythm of the site consistent throughout? 

• All the articles seem to have the same objective throughout the site and are very fact oriented. They do a good job of keeping the language neutral and basic. The articles also utilize short sentences and a direct writing style. 

How does the site use headlines? 

• None of the headlines on the webpage are cutesy or fluffy, instead, they are direct and to the point, explaining to the reader quickly what the article will be discussing. They “inform rather than entertain”. The headlines match the tone of the writing as well, presenting just the facts. A few good examples are: “ Democrats Say U.S. Is Better Off Than Four Years Ago.” and “Syrian Children Offer Glimpse of a Bitter Future.” One that was less effective was “A Summer of Easy Guns and Dead Children.” 

How does it use links? Effectively or not? 

• They effectively link within their website, using links to navigate to different portions of the website as well as linking to other related articles on their own page. They also do a good job of linking to outside sources within articles as well. The bottom of the page offers links to AP and Reuters, offering the readers other new sites that will also keep them coming back to NYTimes.com. 

How is multimedia used? 

• Along with a main picture of video for each article, the article offers a Multimedia section to the left that encompasses all related media. They do a good job of leaving multimedia out when it isn’t related or wouldn’t be effective. We didn’t enjoy how the biggest picture on each page was an ad. It distracted from over multimedia on the page. 
• While the homepage was saturated with multimedia, we both thought the site kept the homepage clean and uncluttered. 
• The graphics are consistent throughout the site, using effective and professional videos and pictures throughout each article. 
• Each page can stand on its own because of the clear headlines and navigation use. 

How is the navigation? 

• Navigation of this site is wonderful. The articles are organized by interest or topic and the topic is clearly listed at the top of the page along with the NYTimes logo. Every single page links back to the homepage which is found by clicking on the logo. 

How does the site incorporate/interact with the audience? 

- The site has places for the audience to chat about articles, follow them on Twitter, and send articles to friend’s with an email feature, making it very social and active. 

Give two examples on your site of poor headlines used as hyperlinks and fix them. Why were they poor headlines? 

- “A Summer of Easy Guns and Dead Children” > “Gun Violence Increase in the Bronx Raises Death Toll of Children” .... the first headline was vague and left us with little info about the location and specifics of the article 

Chapter 4 and Journalism of Verification

   The two readings, Chapter 4 on Hyperlinks and Hypertext and the article on Journalism of Verification, may not seem to relate at first, but with further studying, they both focus on points crucial to the success of journalism. Taking advice from the two articles, I am going to keep this blog concise and do my best to use the information I learned in these readings to contribute to my thoughts.
 
   As a frequent and dedicated user of the internet, I have come across websites that I enjoy and find useful, such as jcrew.com, and ones that I despise, like Target.com. I have clicked on links when skimming webpages, had trouble understanding what the author was trying to get across when reading articles, and become overwhelmed when a website gives me too much to digest at once. Chapter 4 offers great advice on how to successfully hyperlink, use headlines, create lists, and "chunk" your words so your followers aren't lost in a deep sea of thoughts.
   When it comes to hyperlinking, I never knew things such as color, size, and length could play such a vital role in directing the audience to the right place and allowing them to know what is coming next. Being more of a creative writer/thinker, I would think it best to create a cutesy, catchy headline followed by content that is littered with lengthy, wordy hyperlinks. I now know that to get my point across and keep my readers focused and clued in, I have to remain concise and clear, not only with the set up of my blog, but also with my language and tone. Before reading this, I never once thought that what I might say with my own cultural style might not translate properly to readers around the world.
   In the case of "chunking text", I knew that wordy webpages bogged down the reader but I never had clear advice on how to fix this problem. Starting now, I plan to display my thoughts in a way that is both visually appealing and easy to comprehend, giving my audience the opportunity to experience the information on my page as well as on linked outside sources. What sites do you feel best utilize hyperlinking and offer a clean, concise layout?

   While the textbook dealt more with the layout and attention-getting aspect of writing on the internet, the article on Journalism of Verification addressed the important aspects of any writing that must be followed to gain the trust of readers. Whether it is an author writing for The New York Times or a stay at home mom blogging about raising children, it is important for any author to be seen as reliable and trustworthy. After all, we do get all of our information from other people, right?
   I agreed totally with the articles thought that research for journalism needs to be somewhat more like the scientific method, in which facts are researched, checked, and double-checked until they are accepted to be fact. I think the internet, and the race for journalist to be the first to not get the right information across, but any information across at all, contributes to the lack of reliable information on the web. If there were a method in which to be followed, there could be less mistakes made in journalism and less false information produced. One of my favorite quotes from the article was "Facts have become a commodity." It is my belief that just because facts are a commodity, they shouldn't be false commodities. In the world we live in today, I can't help but ask, do you think method of verification is able to exist? If so, can it be mastered in the world of the internet?

Chapter 2 and 3

   As a consumer of information, it is easy to see obvious differences in Digital Media and Print Media, such as the way we access the information , the way the information appears visually, and the production that goes into creating it. Until now, I have never taken time to dive into researching both the differences and similarities in how we, as authors, publish our thoughts in both the Internet and print realms to appeal to the most readers and gain their trust in what we are saying.

After reading Chapter 2, I found it comforting that while the world is changing around us at rapid speeds, there are still clear guidelines - Communicating, Organizing, and Interpreting - to writing in whatever outlet that must be followed to make positive journalism. Seeing that the true essence of writing isn't changing even though the outlets are makes for a comfortable link between the past and the future.

   As a member of the generation that is torn between the print media that marked our childhood and the digital media that dominates our teens and current lives, I can't help but have love for aspects of both of them. I enjoyed the way in which the book pointed out positives and negatives of both, such as the way traditional print media can have stronger credibility due to the time put into it while blogs and other online forms of journalism proudly boast the voice of the individual, something large print companies have to dance around.
   I have mentioned in past posts that I am far from what you would call a computer expert. The content of this book, especially the sections on credibility and readability vs. "scan-ability", were incredibly helpful to a blossoming blogger. The internet, wether we like it or not, is changing the ways in which we think and process information. I now feel I have the knowledge to make my posts, videos, and images concise yet interesting and brief yet informative, keeping my readers active and engaged. By simply looking at the world around us, it is clear to see that these skills will be the ones we need to succeed in the future. I wonder though, what skills will be lost or stamped out if the world of print continues to be taken over? Will the ink and paper skills we once learned be any part of our children's future? 

   As we also discussed in our last class, it is important for many reasons for companies to have effective and user-friendly websites. For example, I might shop more online at Target.com if I felt their website was functional and useful. Chapter 3 in the textbook embraces the evolving technological world and offers great support in all the areas of creating a website that I never knew before. To me, my view of websites was simple, I either liked it or I didn't, never really taking time to think about why. This reading on writing style, tone, layout, etc. inspires me to learn more about successful pages to be able to get my thoughts across in a way that captures peoples attention. In the hopes of gaining as much blog advice as I can, I ask, what catches your eye first about a webpage? And once you are hooked, what keeps you coming back for more? 

Getting Started: First Class Readings

   Being a Communication Studies major, it is almost impossible to find a subject in the department, as well as many areas of life, unaffected by the societal obsession and reliance on the internet and all things digital. After reading Is Google Making Us Stupid? and the article on Electracy, it only strengthened my knowledge of the importance of technology in every aspect of life, including social media, news, education, etc.
   While reading the first article, I couldn't help but feel as if I myself were in the author's shoes, experiencing the shift from from an eager digester of knowledge to a skimmer of an onslaught of information, annoyed by anything not meeting my quick and easy standards. Much as the author feels the hunger and thoughtfulness once attached to learning and consuming is endangered, I feel I rely too much on the internet for instant tidbits of information, such as the recently researched liter conversion chart, that while delivered at a gratifying pace, will filter through my mind before I can switch to my Facebook page. Another point of the article I found to be especially accurate was the argument that digital media not only changes the way we act, but also the way we think. I often find myself surfing the web on my laptop, watching a show on TV, and perusing Twitter on my iPhone all at the same time. Like the article suggests, I believe society has been taught to think that consuming, and focusing on, only one form of media at a time isn't enough. If we don't keep up with the waterfall of ideas and info, we might miss something, right? While I am certain I am not the only person who consumes and media simultaneously and rapidly, I can't help but wonder if others are conscience of this trend, and if they are, if it an easy change to go back to simple times or is this bound to define the future indefinitely?
   While I feel knowledgable about the above mentioned topic, Electracy is a new word to me, something that required a little outside research. The second article was slightly harder for me to understand, but ultimately it further provided evidence that there is a cultural importance to being digitally literate, such as it is important to be literate in a world dominated by print. To be successful in the growing and developing world that parallels a digital lifestyle, it is crucial to be able to navigate and evolve with the technological sphere. After reading this article, I think it is important to discuss the ways in which Electracy, of lack there of, can help or hinder future plans. In society today, what all goes into Electracy and how can knowledge of the digital world further success in future careers?