Street Interviews:
Anthony: Works at Tasti D-Lite
Waiting for him to take the customer’s order we started to ask Anthony questions about the word cool and our society: “Who would you say is the coolest person in our society and why?” After thinking for a while he states: “I would have to say the coolest person in our society is Cameron Diaz; she gives a lot to the society by doing charity work.” “What would you say is the true meaning of cool?” “Cool is something to be, you do everything to be cool in your own way.” “Why do you think the word cool is always taken as a compliment?” “Everybody does their own thing and they get compliments, if you think it’s cool to rob then you’re going to rob, you may not get compliments for that one though.” I ask him: “Do you think anyone can be born cool?” He answers: “No, I guess actions cause you to be cool.” “What do you think of when you hear the word cool?” “I think about cool as in the weather or temperature, it feels good. Like a cool breeze or something like that.” Who would you say was the coolest person in high school?” “Hmmm, I would say myself because I was known but I was humble as well. I was cool with everybody meaning that I got along with everyone. High school was the only school where I didn’t get into a fight with anyone.” Later on he states: “To me my father is the coolest person in the world; he gave up his whole career for me.” (after a while replaces father with parents).
Michelle (42): Works at Jewelry Store
While taking a break for a smoke outside we asked Michelle some questions about cool in our society: “Hi, we are interviewing people about the word cool and what it means in our society; would you like to contribute some thoughts?” “Cool! Yeah, sure. Why not? My parents were hippies from the 60’s. I always use the word cool, my coworkers always make fun of me because I use it so often.” While giggling, I ask: “Who would you say is the coolest person in our society and why?” She states: “Well Obama made an important speech last night about sending more troops over to Afghanistan that was pretty disappointing. I would say Obama is cool, he is honest and truthful. That guy has the hardest job on the block.” “Would you say you are cool yourself?” I wouldn’t be called cool by my kids but yeah I would say I’m cool.” “How do you think cool differs in different societies?” “Well, I have been to places like Germany, France and Tahiti. I was in a beach in Tahiti and I had these toys for the beach; all of the sudden these people started to come up to me and began to play with the toys. This is cool they said. The word is used a lot in different parts of the world.” “Who was the coolest person you knew in school?” “Eddie Fisher; he was the guy who had combat boots before anyone else, this made him trendy.”
Brian/Mr. Cool: Works with Michelle
After finishing our talk with Michelle, Brian joins us and gives us some thoughts about the word cool: “What is the definition of cool in your dictionary?” “He states: “Something that people admire.” “Who is the coolest person in our society?” “I would say Jeremy Piven from Entourage, his attitude, very cool and aggressive; he is sharp and quick with words. He doesn’t care how it comes out in real life or on television.” I ask him: “Why do you think the word cool is always taken as a compliment?” He answers: “Because it’s something people admire.” “Can you be born cool?” “You cannot be born cool, you have to earn it and gain it on your own. It’s like a degree; you need a couple of years to get it. Some people fail the course miserably.” “Would you say nerds are cool?” “Nerds are cool in their own way.”
Family:
I went around and asked each family member in my house: “What does cool mean to you?” and gave the one minute to answer; this is what they blurted out:
Nabil: “Being popular, for boys its trying to get the most girls, having your head held high and thinking you are better than others and showing it as well. In our society basketball is the coolest sport, the players are automatically considered cool. Kobe made that miracle shot so he is considered cool these days. To be cool you gotta be from coming from “the hood”.”
Mujeeb: “A nice breeze, good weather, an easy going person is cool.”
Bushra: “Talking like a “cool” person using the words: “peace out” or “yo”. Popular kids, being mean to people just to be different and stand out. Jumping over the turnstile in a subway station.”
Shahana: “Casual and relaxed, no formality. Having a different style and setting trends. Having the latest gadgets, if you like something then it automatically becomes “cool” to you, doesn’t have to be considered “cool” by others though.
Friend:
Kavita:
Over an aim conversation I asked my frien Kavita some questions about "cool" in our sciety; this is how she responded:
What is your definition of cool?
My definition of the word "cool" is a word describing a content feeling; it can be replaced with the words "alright," "awesome," or "that's fine."
Can one ever be born cool?
Based on my definition of the word cool, I think that if a person is born with no complications, they would be born cool. Based on my definition of cool, someone being born cool is like saying the process of being born is cool like "I was born cool" would mean "the birth process was cool"
Who would you say is the coolest person in our society?
Okay, I would say the coolest person in our society is Obama, because it makes me feel content
How so?
Him being president makes me feel content because I am glad he won the presidency; he will make the country better for us as well as for the future generations, and he is for the common people.
How do u think cool differs in different societies?
I think my definition of cool seems to be the consensus in most societies, but people's opinion of content change because for Americans, our range of "coolness" varies because of the diverse cultures in this country. However, for other societies, "cool" would be defined as something that supports or enhances their culture.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Hw 26
Jamila W:
Who do you think was the coolest person to live?
“Steve Biko; I think he was cool because he was a political activist, who during the Apartheid in South Africa, he stood up to the Bantu system. Being cool is admirable, he is someone I admire.
How does “cool” differ in different societies?
“Having traveled to many countries other than the U.S. I would say imitating Americans. For example I was in Guatemala and I attended school there; the cool thing to do there was to dress up in a hip hop kind of way. It was not unique to Guatemalan culture; they were imitating what they saw on television.
What is cool?
“Cool is to be an individual and true to yourself, it’s the cool thing to do.”
Is it possible for one to be born cool?
“Yes, celebrities have kids that are born cool. There are people out there offering millions of dollars to take pictures of them. They are always being watched and this is what makes them cool. Angelina Jolie’s daughter is already cool and she can’t even talk yet.”
Can Cool be perceived differently between males and females?
Yes, for example if a boy and a girl are observing how another female acts, the girl may say that is not cute/cool, but the guy may think the total and complete antithesis.”
Cierra M:
What is your definition of cool?
"Someone that is kind, sweet and they have to have a good head on their shoulder."
Can anyone ever be born cool?
"Yea it all depends on how they are raised."
Okay, so how should a kid be raised to be considered cool?
"With respect and they have to have manners and know how to try their best."
Do you think it's cool for people to use the word cool in different countries other than in the U.S.A.?
"Yes."
Okay…why?
"Because it does not matter where you are from you are allowed to use the word."
Why do people want to be considered cool?
"Because they want to fit in with other people and want to change the way they are. They want to change their looks and personality with other people and try to convince then that they are worth hanging out with."
Sienna G:
Who is the “coolest” person in our society and why?
“I think Jay-Z is the “coolest” person in our society because he always seems to be layed back and never stresses out much. He just has the cool swag, also because his music is the greatest.”
Do you think it's possible for one to be born cool? How so?
“I think in some cases people are born cool, but that also depends on your definition of cool. Cool is something that can’t be forced, it just happens.”
So, what is your definition of cool?
“Cool to me is somebody who is real layed back, chill, social, book smart, street smart, can hang with anyone and is not judgmental towards anybody.”
Do you think cool be perceived differently between males and females?
“Yeah, but not just between males and females...it can be perceived differently by everybody because there is no real definition of cool.”
Monday, November 23, 2009
Hw 25 - comments and analysis
Michelle:
Hey,
I liked many things about this character in your story; he has a lot of confidence and only cares about himself. He doesn't pay any attention to what is going on around him. The guy doesn't let anyone tell him what to do, he does his own thing.
Larche:
I like how you have 2 “cool” characters in your story. Your first character is “cool” because she is setting off new trends, she stands out for this. Later on she is over shadowed by someone else that is “cooler” than her.
Mohammed:
Your character stands up for himself in front of an elderly figure which does not happen a lot in our society. Usually if this happened to someone they would mutter something under their breath and keep quiet, instead your character does the opposite of this which makes them stand out amongst others.
Charles:
Haha, I agree with Jakob. “Andy” feels very happy and excited about showing off his new Gucci products to the ladies. Your character has loads of cash and loves to let others know about this. It seems like without money, this character wouldn’t have been cool at all. Good comeback :P
Rachel:
I like how you tell the story from your own point of view, as if you were looking at this girl right now and thinking about the first day you saw her. Your character doesn’t seem to want all this attention or be cool; she is naturally a pro at it. You don’t use money, or “cool” clothes to show that she is cool, she is just “cool” the way she is.
Response:
Many of the stories I read showed that the character had a lot of confidence. Many of the characters were going to their first day of high school, and they did not show any signs of nervousness. They just went with the flow. The amount of confidence seems to be cool in our society because we are not used to that. Usually many people have knots in their stomach, or start to get tense on their first day of school. The characters in most of these stories were cool as cucumbers; they did not give a shit about if it was their first day of school. They just went to school as if they would any other day; it was no big deal to them at all.
One of the stories showed how their character was “cool” because they had a lot of money and they loved to show this off to others. He wants to let everybody else know that he is a very rich man and feels like money is all he needs to be cool, without it he wouldn’t stand out at all. The writer assumes that everybody thinks you are “cool” if you have a lot of money. I wouldn’t say that this is true for everyone. Yes this shows that you have loads of money, but money can’t buy you everything. Yes you will have higher status when compared to others, but what are you trying to prove here?
In a couple of stories I read, the main character was standing out by her choice of clothing. This helped her stand out amongst her peers. I agree with this situation, I think that if someone has the guts to go out and wear something retro then I would consider you “cool”. This connects to me in some ways. Sometimes I try out new things by creating ideas in my head, or having unique choices in style that stand out. For example these days I have been setting a trend by wearing a chain through my earrings. I have gotten tons of comments from others saying “Oh my god! That is so cool!” They keep saying that they are going to do the same thing. I guess I relate to these types of characters because I usually aim for things that make me stand out as an individual because I like to be known as my own person.
Some stories I read were about students standing up for others or standing up to their teachers. This also makes you look “cool” since you receive attention from others because you stand out compared to them. Not many people would stick up for someone in front of a bully; they would just keep quiet and fit in with the background. Another example in one of the stories is when the student stands up to their teacher. They let themselves get heard, at the same time they are viewed as “cool” individuals in other people’s eyes.
Hey,
I liked many things about this character in your story; he has a lot of confidence and only cares about himself. He doesn't pay any attention to what is going on around him. The guy doesn't let anyone tell him what to do, he does his own thing.
Larche:
I like how you have 2 “cool” characters in your story. Your first character is “cool” because she is setting off new trends, she stands out for this. Later on she is over shadowed by someone else that is “cooler” than her.
Mohammed:
Your character stands up for himself in front of an elderly figure which does not happen a lot in our society. Usually if this happened to someone they would mutter something under their breath and keep quiet, instead your character does the opposite of this which makes them stand out amongst others.
Charles:
Haha, I agree with Jakob. “Andy” feels very happy and excited about showing off his new Gucci products to the ladies. Your character has loads of cash and loves to let others know about this. It seems like without money, this character wouldn’t have been cool at all. Good comeback :P
Rachel:
I like how you tell the story from your own point of view, as if you were looking at this girl right now and thinking about the first day you saw her. Your character doesn’t seem to want all this attention or be cool; she is naturally a pro at it. You don’t use money, or “cool” clothes to show that she is cool, she is just “cool” the way she is.
Response:
Many of the stories I read showed that the character had a lot of confidence. Many of the characters were going to their first day of high school, and they did not show any signs of nervousness. They just went with the flow. The amount of confidence seems to be cool in our society because we are not used to that. Usually many people have knots in their stomach, or start to get tense on their first day of school. The characters in most of these stories were cool as cucumbers; they did not give a shit about if it was their first day of school. They just went to school as if they would any other day; it was no big deal to them at all.
One of the stories showed how their character was “cool” because they had a lot of money and they loved to show this off to others. He wants to let everybody else know that he is a very rich man and feels like money is all he needs to be cool, without it he wouldn’t stand out at all. The writer assumes that everybody thinks you are “cool” if you have a lot of money. I wouldn’t say that this is true for everyone. Yes this shows that you have loads of money, but money can’t buy you everything. Yes you will have higher status when compared to others, but what are you trying to prove here?
In a couple of stories I read, the main character was standing out by her choice of clothing. This helped her stand out amongst her peers. I agree with this situation, I think that if someone has the guts to go out and wear something retro then I would consider you “cool”. This connects to me in some ways. Sometimes I try out new things by creating ideas in my head, or having unique choices in style that stand out. For example these days I have been setting a trend by wearing a chain through my earrings. I have gotten tons of comments from others saying “Oh my god! That is so cool!” They keep saying that they are going to do the same thing. I guess I relate to these types of characters because I usually aim for things that make me stand out as an individual because I like to be known as my own person.
Some stories I read were about students standing up for others or standing up to their teachers. This also makes you look “cool” since you receive attention from others because you stand out compared to them. Not many people would stick up for someone in front of a bully; they would just keep quiet and fit in with the background. Another example in one of the stories is when the student stands up to their teacher. They let themselves get heard, at the same time they are viewed as “cool” individuals in other people’s eyes.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Hw 24 Short Story 1
She grabs her coffee and mutters a thank you. Walking out she can feel everybody’s eyes on her, she smoothes out her Burberry coat. While walking out the door with her head held high she has her assistant hail a cab. She checks her watch and sighs learning that she is already fifteen minutes late to school. Finally a cab decides to stop and she gets in, her assistant gives the driver directions to her school and in 10 minutes she has arrived in front of her school. She pays the cab driver “keep the change.” The assistant hurries up to open the door for Harmony. She reapplies her Lancôme lip-gloss and steps out of the cab; then walks in through the gate of the school. Walking calmly she enters the school, classes are in session, she is thirty minutes late. The principal gives her a strong stare, but she ignores him and keeps on walking.
Principal: “Mhmmmm, Harmony you are already thirty minutes late to your class, why don’t you spend the rest of the time you should have been in class in my office and tell me why you are so late.”
Harmony’s Assistant Responds: “She is sorry but she had to get her beauty sleep and I just could not disturb her.”
Principal: “Oh, I see. Well tell her that if she has another one of these beauty sleep lateness’s, she will be expelled, this is the last time I will be repeating this.”
Harmony: “Expel me now.”
Principal: “excuse me?”
Harmony: “Expel me now”
Principal: “I am afraid that I cannot do that until the next time you are late.”
Harmony: “Alright, I guess I will be expelled from this school tomorrow.”
Principal shakes his head and walks away to his office and Harmony walks calmly to class. The next day…
Assistant: “Miss, you are already ten minutes late to school, the cab ride will take another 10 if we get lucky.”
Harmony: “I don’t care, he is lucky that I am attending his school; I am the reason why the school’s name is all over the place. If it’s hurting anyone, it’s hurting him.”
Assistant: “True.”
Harmony gets expelled from her current school and when everyone finds out what happened they are very surprised and say that they would never do what she did because they would never have the guts to.
Principal: “Mhmmmm, Harmony you are already thirty minutes late to your class, why don’t you spend the rest of the time you should have been in class in my office and tell me why you are so late.”
Harmony’s Assistant Responds: “She is sorry but she had to get her beauty sleep and I just could not disturb her.”
Principal: “Oh, I see. Well tell her that if she has another one of these beauty sleep lateness’s, she will be expelled, this is the last time I will be repeating this.”
Harmony: “Expel me now.”
Principal: “excuse me?”
Harmony: “Expel me now”
Principal: “I am afraid that I cannot do that until the next time you are late.”
Harmony: “Alright, I guess I will be expelled from this school tomorrow.”
Principal shakes his head and walks away to his office and Harmony walks calmly to class. The next day…
Assistant: “Miss, you are already ten minutes late to school, the cab ride will take another 10 if we get lucky.”
Harmony: “I don’t care, he is lucky that I am attending his school; I am the reason why the school’s name is all over the place. If it’s hurting anyone, it’s hurting him.”
Assistant: “True.”
Harmony gets expelled from her current school and when everyone finds out what happened they are very surprised and say that they would never do what she did because they would never have the guts to.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Hw 23 - "Cool"
I don’t think that there is one set definition of “cool”. It all varies because the term “cool” is used throughout many subjects. When looking up the term in a dictionary it says: cool >adjective 1 of or at a fairly low temperature. 2 keeping one from becoming too hot. 3 unfriendly or unenthusiastic. 4 free from anxiety or excitement: he kept a cool head. 5 (of jazz) restrained and relaxed. 6 informal fashionably attractive or impressive. 7 informal excellent. 8 (a cool ) informal used to emphasize a specified large amount of money: a cool £50 million. >noun (the cool) a fairly low temperature, or a place or time characterized by this: the cool of the day. >verb make or become cool. There is more
than one definition; it depends on what you are using the word for.
I guess the feeling of “cool” also depends on when the term is being used. When talking about weather than the term is responding to the temperature and the physical feeling of cool. When talking about someone being “cool” it’s usually a good thing because it’s like you are receiving a compliment. “Cool” is usually something that is said in a positive manner. If someone says “oh what do you think of him/her?” Usually the response would be he/she is “cool”. Not many people now days say that someone is nice or kind. Cool is just a word that is used in our everyday life. These days it seems like it’s one of the words we cannot live without like the word “the”. Cool can be referring to clothing, someone’s personality, temperature, and many more things. From my own experiences, I find that cool is always taken as a compliment. You feel good when you hear that someone hears that you are cool. I have never experienced or heard that someone is not happy when someone considers them “cool”.
There are many questions that come to mind when thinking about the word “cool”. Who came up with the word cool? Why are there so many concepts of such a small and random word? Why does the word cool usually have positive response? How are the interpretations of “cool” different throughout various parts of the world? Why would you be cool rather than uncool? What are the pros and cons of being “cool”? Uncool? When did this whole being “cool” thing begin? What was/is the original definition of cool? Would you rather hang out with the “cool” crowd or “uncool” crowd? Why?
There are many ideas that I have had in my mind since we started talking about this word “cool”. When actually thinking about the word “cool” here are some thoughts I have: Out of the ordinary, opposite of “weird”, latest equipment (technology), swag, better than others, standing out, what’s “in”, skills, basketball, higher status, showing off, reputation, style, number of “friends”/entourage, who has you back? Society, acceptance, mucho diner, “fitting in”, leader/follower. These are just some of the thoughts I have.
An example of someone that is cool is like basketball players in the NBA. Lets say if there is a game on tonight with the Cavaliers vs. the Nuggets and Lebron James makes the winning shot; he is going to be considered cool because not only is he a good player he made his team win and it all depended on him that night. Everybody is going to be like “Damn he’s cool”. But what about the other players? That’s what I mean when you have to stand out to be cool. If you are not different from others then you would not be “cool”, you would just be there. It all depends on what you are cool in and what society thinks is cool, these days the “coolest” sport out there is basketball, and if you are a good player then you are automatically considered cool by the society. I guess there are different types of “cool” based on society. Let’s say if you do something out of the ordinary then that would be cool. From my experience this can be proved correct; I have different customs and I am from a different culture. Even though I was born in the city, I have a very diverse background. When I do something traditional and someone hears about it they are look oh that’s cool because this is not usual for them, they do not see this everyday. I guess I am considered cool with some people, but I don’t really care. If I have some close friends then that’s all I need, I’m not really with that “cool” shit. Even though I use the word quiet often, I don’t really care about my status, I only care about the people I am close with and my future because none of this will matter later on.
than one definition; it depends on what you are using the word for.
I guess the feeling of “cool” also depends on when the term is being used. When talking about weather than the term is responding to the temperature and the physical feeling of cool. When talking about someone being “cool” it’s usually a good thing because it’s like you are receiving a compliment. “Cool” is usually something that is said in a positive manner. If someone says “oh what do you think of him/her?” Usually the response would be he/she is “cool”. Not many people now days say that someone is nice or kind. Cool is just a word that is used in our everyday life. These days it seems like it’s one of the words we cannot live without like the word “the”. Cool can be referring to clothing, someone’s personality, temperature, and many more things. From my own experiences, I find that cool is always taken as a compliment. You feel good when you hear that someone hears that you are cool. I have never experienced or heard that someone is not happy when someone considers them “cool”.
There are many questions that come to mind when thinking about the word “cool”. Who came up with the word cool? Why are there so many concepts of such a small and random word? Why does the word cool usually have positive response? How are the interpretations of “cool” different throughout various parts of the world? Why would you be cool rather than uncool? What are the pros and cons of being “cool”? Uncool? When did this whole being “cool” thing begin? What was/is the original definition of cool? Would you rather hang out with the “cool” crowd or “uncool” crowd? Why?
There are many ideas that I have had in my mind since we started talking about this word “cool”. When actually thinking about the word “cool” here are some thoughts I have: Out of the ordinary, opposite of “weird”, latest equipment (technology), swag, better than others, standing out, what’s “in”, skills, basketball, higher status, showing off, reputation, style, number of “friends”/entourage, who has you back? Society, acceptance, mucho diner, “fitting in”, leader/follower. These are just some of the thoughts I have.
An example of someone that is cool is like basketball players in the NBA. Lets say if there is a game on tonight with the Cavaliers vs. the Nuggets and Lebron James makes the winning shot; he is going to be considered cool because not only is he a good player he made his team win and it all depended on him that night. Everybody is going to be like “Damn he’s cool”. But what about the other players? That’s what I mean when you have to stand out to be cool. If you are not different from others then you would not be “cool”, you would just be there. It all depends on what you are cool in and what society thinks is cool, these days the “coolest” sport out there is basketball, and if you are a good player then you are automatically considered cool by the society. I guess there are different types of “cool” based on society. Let’s say if you do something out of the ordinary then that would be cool. From my experience this can be proved correct; I have different customs and I am from a different culture. Even though I was born in the city, I have a very diverse background. When I do something traditional and someone hears about it they are look oh that’s cool because this is not usual for them, they do not see this everyday. I guess I am considered cool with some people, but I don’t really care. If I have some close friends then that’s all I need, I’m not really with that “cool” shit. Even though I use the word quiet often, I don’t really care about my status, I only care about the people I am close with and my future because none of this will matter later on.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Hw 21 - Art Project 1
I would say my artwork is like a mirror. It reflects the history and modern times of our society. I chose to create a clock that shows technology and how it has modernized throughout some time. I start with the video game which came out around the late 1950’s. Then it’s the internet which came out in the late 1960’s. After that E commerce came out in the 1970’s. Game systems came out around 1972, cell phones in 1973, digital video in 1975, compact discs in 1982, the minidisc in 1992, digital television in 1993, and at last the e book which came out in the 2000’s. I wouldn’t say this piece of artwork is a hammer because I am not creating many new ideas about what is going on in our modern technological world. I show what is already going on. I guess I use a bit of the hammer because I predict what will happen in the future with the last two pictures; after the e-book I made a brain with a “feed” implanted and for the last one I drew a picture of a robot. I would say most of it was a mirror since it is reflecting what is seen day to day, towards the end it shows a bit of work requiring my handy hammer.
Yes, when looking at my artwork it does make me “fink and theel”. It makes me look at what is going on in our world today. We are all blindfolded with our technology. Will this “blindfold” ever come off? If so what will happen? How will it change us? While creating this piece of artwork I kept asking myself these questions. To be honest I don’t think that this “blindfold” will be coming off anytime soon; and if it does than it would be a miracle. Looking at our society today, we can assume that we cannot live without our digital/electronic devices.
I like the whole clock idea in my artwork. It shows how technology has evolved throughout the years and makes the me think about what kind of impact it has made on us. I showed the hands pointing to the e-book because this is where we are standing at currently. We have a short time left until we will become into a piece of technology ourselves; shouldn’t we be scared?
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Hw 22 Final Paper
How has digital obsession affected our society?
Introduction
Do we ever ask ourselves how has digital obsession affected our society?
We wake up in the morning get our daily coffee and catch the next train which will drop us by our destination. After getting there we realize that we left our most prized possession at home; our cell phone/laptop/I pod or any other electronic device. This is why the whole day becomes a “bad day” simply because this one item is missing from our life. But have we ever given any time to think about how these digital/electronic devices affect us and the way we live. They are creating us into robots; we rely on technology more than we rely on our family. Has this world gone mad? These materials have made us into completely different creatures; they have impacted our society in a negative manner. Technology is used without any limits, it harms our mental and physical health and it leaves us in a state of disembodiment. The permeation of digital devices has massively affected the way we live in a negative way.
Limitless access to technology
In our society, technology is used without any limits which affects us negatively. M.T. Anderson wrote a book based on the digital/electronic craze and how it has affected our society. The book is titled Feed. We are all living this life that is controlled by technology; we cannot live without our electronic equipment. Majority of the characters in Feed have a “feed” hooked up to their brain. This is the most important part of their body; when something goes wrong with their “feed” then they are in danger.
One character named Violet gets to be the victim of this problem. She has a hacker that keeps messing with her “feed”. This malfunctions with everything in her body, and causes her relationship with her boyfriend to end. When Violet is completely malfunctioned her ex-boyfriend gives her a visit. He feels bad because the reason they broke up was because of Violet’s “feed”: “And for the first time, I started crying. I cried, sitting by her bed, and I told her the story of us. “It’s about the feed.” I said (Anderson 297). Since Violet had a hacker hack into her “feed” her life was ruined. She had nothing left; she had someone else controlling her life, her boyfriend couldn’t help her so he broke up with her; there was no other option. Everything was up to the hacker because he had all the control over Violet. This is exactly how we are living in this world; we are controlled by the digital devices that surround us. Without them we cannot seem to live; we seem to massively depend on these devices and cannot leave them behind. This is because we are used to them and rely on them too much.
Even if we try to detach ourselves from the usage of such materials we are forced to use them by our society. Without the use of technology, it seems like our futures will be in jeopardy. This is true, because of this whole craze with digital/electronic media; everything seems to rely on technology.
Computers are the most common things out there. Everyone has to own a computer; in fact if you do not own a computer then you would be considered an outcast. Suddenly, applications are being filled out online, homework is being typed and students are goggling certain things for their research papers. For example many students that are applying to colleges fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). When filling out this form students are given the choice of filling it out online or doing it by hand: “You have two choices when you fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid: online with FAFSA on the Web, or the old-fashioned way— on paper. FAFSA recommends that you save a tree and fill out the FAFSA online” (University Language). FAFSA recommends that their students fill out the application online; later on they state that applying online has the benefits of access to help, automatically checking errors, faster student aid report, more spaces to fit in college choices and much more. They make it seem as if filling out the application by hand is an “old fashion” way of doing so. If a student were to fill out a FAFSA application they will be encouraged to do it online using their computer.
This is never ending; even if we try to keep our distance from these devices our society doesn’t let us do so. We spend more time using technology rather than getting a full night of sleep. M.T. Anderson has predicted our future and so far it seems like he is right with how the way things will end up later. Technology is taking over our generation and molding us into different creatures. Not only do we use digital devices without limits which cause negative impact, they can cause much harm to our health, both mentally and physically.
Harm to health caused by technology
Technology can cause one much harm without them knowing about it. Digital/electronic media usage has really boosted up within a decade. When thinking about it, our society was very different a decade ago when being compared to the way it is right now. These devices are just bought without having any research done. We see an ad and if it catches our eye then it’s ours no matter what happens. After bought, these devices are showed off to others to make them know that we are “up to date” with this digital/electronic craze. This makes the people you showed it off to go out and purchase these devices; this chain keeps going on and on and on until the product gets “old” and a “new” one comes out. Nobody really knows how these devices have harmed us, mentally and physically. Spending some time doing research on these devices and how they harm us can really change ones decision when they are about to purchase their product.
Cell phone radiation is a big concern and there are many health concerns associated with it. “As of August 2005 there have been 2 billion cell phone users worldwide” (Wikipedia), yet they seem to ignore this fact. This concern has raised the number of researches being done about the possibility of having health problems connected with cell phone usage. Some researches show that there are no risk factors present, but other researches show that they are the cause of some health problems. One research claims when using a cell phone, radio waves are absorbed by the human head. These lead to harmful effects with memory, sleep, the brain, and many more parts of the body. After reading such an article one may be very surprised because none of these risks are shown in ads or as warnings in packages when purchased. If cell phone usage stays the same way it is right now, in a couple of decades many users will have to suffer with affects on their health caused by cell phone usage. Looking at the way things are now, the usage of cell phones seem to be expanding more then ever.
Another big health concern regards the usage of video games and how they affect gamers. There are many video gamers out there that are completely addicted to their favorite games. They want to reach the hardest level of the game and tell everyone else how they are the best at this certain game. What they don’t realize is how all this gaming has been affecting them in a negative way. One study finds that male video gamers are affected physically while females are affected mentally: “Female video-game players reported greater depression and lower health status than female nonplayers. Male video-game players reported higher BMI and more Internet use time than male nonplayers” (Science Daily). Obesity is very common for video gamers, they become lazy and get used to sitting around and playing their favorite game for hours. It is not very common to hear that video games can cause depression. There are many reasons for why these females playing video games are depressed. For example female characters in games may seem to be “attractive” and females playing the game may want to look more like them. Another example is all the violence and nudity in games, these may not be appropriate for all players yet they do not care. These graphics may not be suitable for a player that has had bad experiences in the past associated with violence or nudity. All these digital devices affect the society in a negative way, from the “outside” they may look very appealing, but digging deeper we find that they are not very good for us. Another negative affect associated with technology is digital devices cause us to be in a state of disembodiment.
Technology causes disembodiment
When using digital/electronic devices, we are in a state of disembodiment. Wall-E is an animated movie which is about a robot named Wall-E that is abandoned in our world full of trash and litter. This movie attracts many young viewers because it looks “cute” and kid friendly, but there is much more behind it. When looking at every aspect of this movie, it shows the viewer how our world will look like in the near future if things stay the same way as they are right now. Our planet will be a useless pile of dump, and every living human will be aboard a spaceship containing all the latest technology. We will all be obese and sit in a power chair that will take us every where automatically. We will have no sense of where we stand; instead we will be chatting away with others on the screens provided in front of us.
At one point of the movie, Wall-E disturbs a lady named Mary who is chatting to a monitor while sitting on her power chair. At first she doesn’t seem to nudge at all; she is too busy talking to her screen. Some how Wall-E makes the screen in front of her disappear. This is when the lady realizes that he is trying to talk to her. Which leads her into realizing where she is at and all the amenities that surround her. “I didn’t know we had a pool” Mary states (Imdb). Even though this scene is ten seconds long, it really shows how disembodied she is; she has no sense of where she is. The digital/electronic materials surrounding her are enough to keep her alive. This connects to how we are living in our world today. We are always watching television, texting away on our cell phones and type away on our computers. We are always in a state of disembodiment and never realize it.
Another example from this movie is when Wall-E enters the space ship and seems to be amazed when he sees all the digital and electronic media surrounding him. He is very confused at first, but later on it excites him. Since he doesn’t have a power chair like all the others do, he is on his own feet. Wall-E is very different compared to the others since everyone there is being transported by their power chairs, and they are used to it. While he is walking around he bumps into a guy that is being transported on his power chair. He falls off the chair and cant get up; when Wall-E helps him he states his name and the man is very confused and does not know how to respond. He has a very confused face on and mutters his name: “Uh hmmm, my name is John” (Wall-E). This is exactly what happens day to day in our society. We will be walking by and when we bump into someone that is typing away on their black berry or “crackberry” as they call it nowadays, they are very confused and do not know how to respond. They are completely in a state of disembodiment. They do not know what’s going on around them. They just know what is going on in the screen in front of them.
We ignore each other because we are too busy with these devices which we depend on way too much. We have no control over ourselves: we are controlled by the technology we are handling at the time. This is affecting us negatively since we are becoming too dependent on them and we cannot detach ourselves from these materials. We cannot sense our surroundings, yet we seem to only look at what is in front of us. Our minds are lingering somewhere else while we appear to be here by others. This is caused by our limitless access to digital/electronic devices.
Connections
The forms of technology developed a lot throughout the years of its inventions. One piece of technology that is commonly used around the world is the computer. Computers can be found in any part of the world. There were many types of computers that were invented in the 1900’s. “The first IBM PC came out in the 1953” (Computer Hope). After the inventions of the computer, it started to spread all around the world for many uses, usually for business and research. This situation will likely lead to the events that happen in Feed by M.T. Anderson. “Feeds” may not be implanted in the brains of future generations but many other things occur already, it wouldn’t be surprising to hear “feeds” being implanted in brains of future generations. The limitless usage of technology which causes us to act like different creatures. It will lead to many health problems for current users and many may permanently stay in a state of disembodiment since they will be used to the limitless amount of technology they are used to using for years.
Opposing view points
Everything Bad is Good for You is a text written by Steven Johnson. He talks about our generation and all the technology that surrounds us. He wants his readers to realize that all these devices are doing us good. In his writing he talks about what is said in the society and what he thinks about it. In one part of the text he states: “television and video games corrupt young children’s and teenager’s minds.” (Anderson, M.T.) He argues this statement by talking about how video games stimulate the gamers mind. He backs this opinion up by saying we make challenges for ourselves without knowing it. A gamer may be setting up a challenge to complete a game with certain difficulty or reach a certain level, but researches show many health concerns regarding video games. Even though we are making “challenges”, we are harming our selves at the same time as well. How will playing video games help us in the future? Will we require these skills for something important? Will a player that is great at playing video games related to basketball join the NBA? Video games will never help us; players just want to use an excuse so they can play these games. The fact is no excuses are true at all, and everyone knows this but no one wants to admit it.
As an assignment, students from Andy’s class went outside to the “real world” and asked victims of this digital craze questions about the digital/electronic craze. Walking around the city we see many different age groups; when asking the question: “If I were to say you look like a person who is captured in the digital world, would you be insulted or complimented? Why? When asking young individuals many were neutral or usually said that they would be insulted because it would be as if someone were saying that they were from an unreal world. When asking an aged woman the same question she stated: “I would be complimented because you think that I am younger than my actual age…I own a cell phone” (Random aged lady on corner of 22nd St Lexington Ave). What she does not know is that in her generation technology was not surrounded in every corner of the planet. This caused a small amount of people having limitless access to technology, less people had health concerns regarding technology, and there were less people in a state of disembodiment caused by technology. She should be happy that she lived in such an environment where everyone was not involved in technology; instead they were concerned about other things that actually mattered. We should all learn to survive without all this technology surrounding us which causes much negative impact. We should learn to behave more like our previous generations; they were able to survive without this digital/electronic craze, why can’t we do the same?
Significance
The permeation of digital devices has massively affected the way we live in a negative way. Why does this matter so much? Why is this important? That’s because we have no more control over ourselves. Instead we are relying on technology and even though it may seem like it is helping us out, instead it is controlling us. We live off of technology; society wants us to think that without it we would end up nowhere in the future. You ask for the evidence proving this point? Well the evidence is right here before your eyes. Where are you reading this paper? Online, how was this paper put in writing? By typing it on a computer. Technology has seeped within us and we are living off of it, what’s surprising is the fact that we do not even realize this. This topic matters because we are lost in a world surrounded by limitless use of technology which may lead us into health problems cause us to be in a state of disembodiment.
Conclusion
The permeation of digital devices has massively affected the way we live in a negative way. We rely on technology without any limits, technology causes us mental and physical harm, it also causes us to be in a state of disembodiment. We do not know who we are and what is going on with us, yet we never blame technology. When asking others how has digital obsession affected our society? What will their response be? Many say that it has been affecting us in a negative way. Others say that it has done us a lot of good. Then there are those that have no idea where they stand. All sides have good arguments, but what is the right answer to this question? The only way to find out is if we stick around long enough to see for our selves.
Works Cited
1) Anderson, M.T. Feed. 1st. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2002. 297. Print.
2) University Language , . "FAFSA Online vs. FAFSA on Paper." n. pag. Web. 7 Nov 2009.
3) Wikipedia, . "Mobile phone radiation and health." (2009): n. pag. Web. 7 Nov 2009..
4) Science Daily, . "Links Between Video-game Playing And Health Risks In Adults Found." n. pag. Web. 7 Nov 2009..
5) Imdb, . "Memorable quotes for Wall-E." n. pag. Web. 7 Nov 2009..
6) Wall-E directed by Andrew Stanton
7) Computer Hope, . "When was the first computer invented?." n. pag. Web. 7 Nov 2009..
8) Johnson, Steven. Everything Bad Is Good for You . Print.
9) Lady at corner of 22nd on Lexington Ave
Introduction
Do we ever ask ourselves how has digital obsession affected our society?
We wake up in the morning get our daily coffee and catch the next train which will drop us by our destination. After getting there we realize that we left our most prized possession at home; our cell phone/laptop/I pod or any other electronic device. This is why the whole day becomes a “bad day” simply because this one item is missing from our life. But have we ever given any time to think about how these digital/electronic devices affect us and the way we live. They are creating us into robots; we rely on technology more than we rely on our family. Has this world gone mad? These materials have made us into completely different creatures; they have impacted our society in a negative manner. Technology is used without any limits, it harms our mental and physical health and it leaves us in a state of disembodiment. The permeation of digital devices has massively affected the way we live in a negative way.
Limitless access to technology
In our society, technology is used without any limits which affects us negatively. M.T. Anderson wrote a book based on the digital/electronic craze and how it has affected our society. The book is titled Feed. We are all living this life that is controlled by technology; we cannot live without our electronic equipment. Majority of the characters in Feed have a “feed” hooked up to their brain. This is the most important part of their body; when something goes wrong with their “feed” then they are in danger.
One character named Violet gets to be the victim of this problem. She has a hacker that keeps messing with her “feed”. This malfunctions with everything in her body, and causes her relationship with her boyfriend to end. When Violet is completely malfunctioned her ex-boyfriend gives her a visit. He feels bad because the reason they broke up was because of Violet’s “feed”: “And for the first time, I started crying. I cried, sitting by her bed, and I told her the story of us. “It’s about the feed.” I said (Anderson 297). Since Violet had a hacker hack into her “feed” her life was ruined. She had nothing left; she had someone else controlling her life, her boyfriend couldn’t help her so he broke up with her; there was no other option. Everything was up to the hacker because he had all the control over Violet. This is exactly how we are living in this world; we are controlled by the digital devices that surround us. Without them we cannot seem to live; we seem to massively depend on these devices and cannot leave them behind. This is because we are used to them and rely on them too much.
Even if we try to detach ourselves from the usage of such materials we are forced to use them by our society. Without the use of technology, it seems like our futures will be in jeopardy. This is true, because of this whole craze with digital/electronic media; everything seems to rely on technology.
Computers are the most common things out there. Everyone has to own a computer; in fact if you do not own a computer then you would be considered an outcast. Suddenly, applications are being filled out online, homework is being typed and students are goggling certain things for their research papers. For example many students that are applying to colleges fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). When filling out this form students are given the choice of filling it out online or doing it by hand: “You have two choices when you fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid: online with FAFSA on the Web, or the old-fashioned way— on paper. FAFSA recommends that you save a tree and fill out the FAFSA online” (University Language). FAFSA recommends that their students fill out the application online; later on they state that applying online has the benefits of access to help, automatically checking errors, faster student aid report, more spaces to fit in college choices and much more. They make it seem as if filling out the application by hand is an “old fashion” way of doing so. If a student were to fill out a FAFSA application they will be encouraged to do it online using their computer.
This is never ending; even if we try to keep our distance from these devices our society doesn’t let us do so. We spend more time using technology rather than getting a full night of sleep. M.T. Anderson has predicted our future and so far it seems like he is right with how the way things will end up later. Technology is taking over our generation and molding us into different creatures. Not only do we use digital devices without limits which cause negative impact, they can cause much harm to our health, both mentally and physically.
Harm to health caused by technology
Technology can cause one much harm without them knowing about it. Digital/electronic media usage has really boosted up within a decade. When thinking about it, our society was very different a decade ago when being compared to the way it is right now. These devices are just bought without having any research done. We see an ad and if it catches our eye then it’s ours no matter what happens. After bought, these devices are showed off to others to make them know that we are “up to date” with this digital/electronic craze. This makes the people you showed it off to go out and purchase these devices; this chain keeps going on and on and on until the product gets “old” and a “new” one comes out. Nobody really knows how these devices have harmed us, mentally and physically. Spending some time doing research on these devices and how they harm us can really change ones decision when they are about to purchase their product.
Cell phone radiation is a big concern and there are many health concerns associated with it. “As of August 2005 there have been 2 billion cell phone users worldwide” (Wikipedia), yet they seem to ignore this fact. This concern has raised the number of researches being done about the possibility of having health problems connected with cell phone usage. Some researches show that there are no risk factors present, but other researches show that they are the cause of some health problems. One research claims when using a cell phone, radio waves are absorbed by the human head. These lead to harmful effects with memory, sleep, the brain, and many more parts of the body. After reading such an article one may be very surprised because none of these risks are shown in ads or as warnings in packages when purchased. If cell phone usage stays the same way it is right now, in a couple of decades many users will have to suffer with affects on their health caused by cell phone usage. Looking at the way things are now, the usage of cell phones seem to be expanding more then ever.
Another big health concern regards the usage of video games and how they affect gamers. There are many video gamers out there that are completely addicted to their favorite games. They want to reach the hardest level of the game and tell everyone else how they are the best at this certain game. What they don’t realize is how all this gaming has been affecting them in a negative way. One study finds that male video gamers are affected physically while females are affected mentally: “Female video-game players reported greater depression and lower health status than female nonplayers. Male video-game players reported higher BMI and more Internet use time than male nonplayers” (Science Daily). Obesity is very common for video gamers, they become lazy and get used to sitting around and playing their favorite game for hours. It is not very common to hear that video games can cause depression. There are many reasons for why these females playing video games are depressed. For example female characters in games may seem to be “attractive” and females playing the game may want to look more like them. Another example is all the violence and nudity in games, these may not be appropriate for all players yet they do not care. These graphics may not be suitable for a player that has had bad experiences in the past associated with violence or nudity. All these digital devices affect the society in a negative way, from the “outside” they may look very appealing, but digging deeper we find that they are not very good for us. Another negative affect associated with technology is digital devices cause us to be in a state of disembodiment.
Technology causes disembodiment
When using digital/electronic devices, we are in a state of disembodiment. Wall-E is an animated movie which is about a robot named Wall-E that is abandoned in our world full of trash and litter. This movie attracts many young viewers because it looks “cute” and kid friendly, but there is much more behind it. When looking at every aspect of this movie, it shows the viewer how our world will look like in the near future if things stay the same way as they are right now. Our planet will be a useless pile of dump, and every living human will be aboard a spaceship containing all the latest technology. We will all be obese and sit in a power chair that will take us every where automatically. We will have no sense of where we stand; instead we will be chatting away with others on the screens provided in front of us.
At one point of the movie, Wall-E disturbs a lady named Mary who is chatting to a monitor while sitting on her power chair. At first she doesn’t seem to nudge at all; she is too busy talking to her screen. Some how Wall-E makes the screen in front of her disappear. This is when the lady realizes that he is trying to talk to her. Which leads her into realizing where she is at and all the amenities that surround her. “I didn’t know we had a pool” Mary states (Imdb). Even though this scene is ten seconds long, it really shows how disembodied she is; she has no sense of where she is. The digital/electronic materials surrounding her are enough to keep her alive. This connects to how we are living in our world today. We are always watching television, texting away on our cell phones and type away on our computers. We are always in a state of disembodiment and never realize it.
Another example from this movie is when Wall-E enters the space ship and seems to be amazed when he sees all the digital and electronic media surrounding him. He is very confused at first, but later on it excites him. Since he doesn’t have a power chair like all the others do, he is on his own feet. Wall-E is very different compared to the others since everyone there is being transported by their power chairs, and they are used to it. While he is walking around he bumps into a guy that is being transported on his power chair. He falls off the chair and cant get up; when Wall-E helps him he states his name and the man is very confused and does not know how to respond. He has a very confused face on and mutters his name: “Uh hmmm, my name is John” (Wall-E). This is exactly what happens day to day in our society. We will be walking by and when we bump into someone that is typing away on their black berry or “crackberry” as they call it nowadays, they are very confused and do not know how to respond. They are completely in a state of disembodiment. They do not know what’s going on around them. They just know what is going on in the screen in front of them.
We ignore each other because we are too busy with these devices which we depend on way too much. We have no control over ourselves: we are controlled by the technology we are handling at the time. This is affecting us negatively since we are becoming too dependent on them and we cannot detach ourselves from these materials. We cannot sense our surroundings, yet we seem to only look at what is in front of us. Our minds are lingering somewhere else while we appear to be here by others. This is caused by our limitless access to digital/electronic devices.
Connections
The forms of technology developed a lot throughout the years of its inventions. One piece of technology that is commonly used around the world is the computer. Computers can be found in any part of the world. There were many types of computers that were invented in the 1900’s. “The first IBM PC came out in the 1953” (Computer Hope). After the inventions of the computer, it started to spread all around the world for many uses, usually for business and research. This situation will likely lead to the events that happen in Feed by M.T. Anderson. “Feeds” may not be implanted in the brains of future generations but many other things occur already, it wouldn’t be surprising to hear “feeds” being implanted in brains of future generations. The limitless usage of technology which causes us to act like different creatures. It will lead to many health problems for current users and many may permanently stay in a state of disembodiment since they will be used to the limitless amount of technology they are used to using for years.
Opposing view points
Everything Bad is Good for You is a text written by Steven Johnson. He talks about our generation and all the technology that surrounds us. He wants his readers to realize that all these devices are doing us good. In his writing he talks about what is said in the society and what he thinks about it. In one part of the text he states: “television and video games corrupt young children’s and teenager’s minds.” (Anderson, M.T.) He argues this statement by talking about how video games stimulate the gamers mind. He backs this opinion up by saying we make challenges for ourselves without knowing it. A gamer may be setting up a challenge to complete a game with certain difficulty or reach a certain level, but researches show many health concerns regarding video games. Even though we are making “challenges”, we are harming our selves at the same time as well. How will playing video games help us in the future? Will we require these skills for something important? Will a player that is great at playing video games related to basketball join the NBA? Video games will never help us; players just want to use an excuse so they can play these games. The fact is no excuses are true at all, and everyone knows this but no one wants to admit it.
As an assignment, students from Andy’s class went outside to the “real world” and asked victims of this digital craze questions about the digital/electronic craze. Walking around the city we see many different age groups; when asking the question: “If I were to say you look like a person who is captured in the digital world, would you be insulted or complimented? Why? When asking young individuals many were neutral or usually said that they would be insulted because it would be as if someone were saying that they were from an unreal world. When asking an aged woman the same question she stated: “I would be complimented because you think that I am younger than my actual age…I own a cell phone” (Random aged lady on corner of 22nd St Lexington Ave). What she does not know is that in her generation technology was not surrounded in every corner of the planet. This caused a small amount of people having limitless access to technology, less people had health concerns regarding technology, and there were less people in a state of disembodiment caused by technology. She should be happy that she lived in such an environment where everyone was not involved in technology; instead they were concerned about other things that actually mattered. We should all learn to survive without all this technology surrounding us which causes much negative impact. We should learn to behave more like our previous generations; they were able to survive without this digital/electronic craze, why can’t we do the same?
Significance
The permeation of digital devices has massively affected the way we live in a negative way. Why does this matter so much? Why is this important? That’s because we have no more control over ourselves. Instead we are relying on technology and even though it may seem like it is helping us out, instead it is controlling us. We live off of technology; society wants us to think that without it we would end up nowhere in the future. You ask for the evidence proving this point? Well the evidence is right here before your eyes. Where are you reading this paper? Online, how was this paper put in writing? By typing it on a computer. Technology has seeped within us and we are living off of it, what’s surprising is the fact that we do not even realize this. This topic matters because we are lost in a world surrounded by limitless use of technology which may lead us into health problems cause us to be in a state of disembodiment.
Conclusion
The permeation of digital devices has massively affected the way we live in a negative way. We rely on technology without any limits, technology causes us mental and physical harm, it also causes us to be in a state of disembodiment. We do not know who we are and what is going on with us, yet we never blame technology. When asking others how has digital obsession affected our society? What will their response be? Many say that it has been affecting us in a negative way. Others say that it has done us a lot of good. Then there are those that have no idea where they stand. All sides have good arguments, but what is the right answer to this question? The only way to find out is if we stick around long enough to see for our selves.
Works Cited
1) Anderson, M.T. Feed. 1st. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2002. 297. Print.
2) University Language , . "FAFSA Online vs. FAFSA on Paper." n. pag. Web. 7 Nov 2009.
3) Wikipedia, . "Mobile phone radiation and health." (2009): n. pag. Web. 7 Nov 2009.
4) Science Daily, . "Links Between Video-game Playing And Health Risks In Adults Found." n. pag. Web. 7 Nov 2009.
5) Imdb, . "Memorable quotes for Wall-E." n. pag. Web. 7 Nov 2009.
6) Wall-E directed by Andrew Stanton
7) Computer Hope, . "When was the first computer invented?." n. pag. Web. 7 Nov 2009.
8) Johnson, Steven. Everything Bad Is Good for You . Print.
9) Lady at corner of 22nd on Lexington Ave
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