HW 14-Draft 1

The first excerpt i read was about comparing video games to books. Steven Johnson still believes that reading is better than video games, but he also thinks that video games have their benefits. Besides restating the argument that video games increase your hand and eye coordination (which we hear very often), he also points out that video games can be also be very hard. Johnson alsp says he doesnt think its fair for people to judge video games on the second hand basis. Most people do these based off of experiments they have done on OTHER people, it isnt their direct experience with video games so how can it fully be true? He argues that video games do require thinking (more thinking than people who havent played them may realize).I found the fact that he questioned how fun video games actually are. He wonders how fun can video games really be when you're spending so much money trying to get through these unseemly complex scenarios.

The second excerpt I read was about the advancement of T.V. given through a history of T.V. shows in the 80's ( and before that). Johnson points out that back then, television shows didnt really require much thinking because there was usually one pproblem, and 1 or 2 main characters to follow. He explains how the 80's show "Hill Street Blues" changed T.V. at that time because it caused viewers interact with the show more than usual. This was because the show hadd more than one problem (thread) to follow, causing the viewers to connect it to a previous show. He also explains how modern T.V. has a handful of characters and threads to follow, causing you to remember what happen earlier in that season/series. I feel like his major point was taht television today requires a bit more thinking than it used to, even though it is more passive.

I mostly agree with the two excerpts I read. He points out that T.V. and video games have their bad aspects, but also some good aspects that most people fail to look at. I like these excerpts mainly because he seems to give a well balanced opinion on both subjects. He doesn't go to the extreme on either side which i think gives him a fair/balanced opinion. For example, in the T.V. excerpt he doesn't say that watching T.V. is the best thing to do if you want to become smarter, however he doesn't say it would make you an idiot either. Instead, he goes in to say that t.v. shows are less passive than they used to be.

HW 13- Feed B

Originally, I never thought of Feed as a work of art. After talking about it in class, and writing a few blog posts about it, I can see why some may think that this book is a piece of art. M.T. Anderson uses an allegory to show how teenagers in our society are affected by the media. I think this allegory (even though a little extreme) is there for the reader to compare/contrast their life to the lives of the characters in the book. the allegory also causes the reader to look further than what is presented to them. Symbolism and what the author is really trying to say all goes in how the book is to interpreted. Art is usually presented without a definite answer on what it represents, or what it means. I think that Feed is like that in a certain way as well. Even though we know that Feed is about digital technology and media, every person has different perspectives on it. Certain things may stand out to someone, but not to another...just like art.


Throughout the book, M.T. Anderson presents this problem, however by the end of the book there is no official solution. I think there is no real resolution to this problem because maybe he feels there isn't a real solution to this problem. Society is stuck in this state that should be fixed, but doesnt really know how to start fixing it. Pointing out that there is a problem, and not giving a solution, also leaves the reader with a choice. Should they try to make things better, or follow the rest of society and how they live their lives.

I feel that M.T. Anderson this a book, and not a website because it would further support his point of view. If he made his thoughts into a website that would make him kind of go against what he was trying to prove. Him showing that he thinks digital technology/ media is bad for us, by putting it on a website (media, he would be contradicting himself. I also think that he made it into a book to reach the people that agreed with him. People who also believe that digital media is harming us, wouldnt go onto a computer and view his thoughts. I think it would go against their beliefs in a way.

With the quote "Art is not a mirror with which to reflect the world. It is a Hammer with which to shape it", I think that Feed is both a mirror and a hammer. Feed is showing how an average American teenager would act on the day-to-day basis, and how pointless their lives seem. It mirrors how all we care about is material things, and how superficial things can seem so life altering at that time. However, I feel like these mirrored views can in turn be a hammer, and shape the reader. It can bring to the readers attention what is wrong, and may cause them to change their ways. I would want my art to relflect the same things.

HW 12- Feed A

After reading the book "Feed" by M.T. Anderson, I see a lot of similarities to my lifestyle and the lifestyle of my friends. I feel like this story is more of an allegory of how teenagers act in todays society, but its also apart of a wake up call. I think M.T. Anderson wrote this story partly to show people how society has become obsessed with media.

In the book, the Feed controls everything the teenagers(and most of society) do. Titus and his friends are constantly thinking about what to buy from from places like 1eatherbee and Crotch, just like teenagers today are thinking about what they want or need to buy. Whether its clothes, games, food, or the new hottest digital device, teenagers in the book and our society today are always wanting for something. I feel this has to do with the constant use of advertising. With Titus and his friends, the Feed is always showing them sales and specials at their favorite stores, but also geàring certain products towards them.

HW 11- Self Experiment

The experiment I decided to do was see what would happen if i went without AIM, my blog sites, and Internet in general for a couple of days. Ok, I didn't really choose to do this experiment. My 'G' on my sidekick (the symbol that show you have Internet and AIM service)has not been there for the past week. I decided since this isn't something that I have to make up, I might as well do it for my assignment. On a regular day when I have my'G' I am usually on my phone 24/7. Whether its changing my 'away' on AIM, on facebook, or looking at various blog sites, it seems like I am always on this stupid phone.

I noticed that without these services, I was freaking out. At least 3 times a day i was asking my friends if they had gotten their 'G' back and if they had called t-mobile to complain. Instead of being on AIM and the Internet, I spent most of my time texting. I also noticed that even though I missed these few services, I felt too lazy to get up and use my computer. I felt like this was a torturing experience, but I didn't want to use an alternative way to get what i wanted, so how 'torturing' could it really be. I found this weird and interesting.


After this experiment I feel like the biggest idiot and hypocrite. I feel like in previous posts I pointed out that I wasn't like other teenagers because I didn't spend a lot of time on these digital representation devices, or let them control my life. However I've realized that my phone is MY LIFE. I think that this is something I need to change. Even when I didn't have my AIM or my Internet, I still let it control my life by making me miserable. I think that this experience will change how I spend my time

HW #9

To Julie,
Thanks for taking the time to watch my video and read my thoughts. I appreciate you adding your thoughts as well =]

In your comment you pointed out that I sould talk more about why these digital representaion devices are satisfying at the moment, but then quickly forgot about. This was helpful because even though I talked about it a little bit in my post, your comment made me think about it more deeply.

In my post I was more focused on the recreational part of technology. How it usually used as something to just pass the time, and is often useless. In your comment you brought to my attention that technology often distracdts us from doing work. I never really thought about something often considered useless can stop someone from doing something useful.

After reading you comment (and rereading my post)I noticed that we both were interested in how different digital devices keep us from connecting/ bonding with the ones that we care about most. We both realized that we would rather talk to people who don't really matter (or who we don't care about) instead of spending time with the ones we love.

Thanks for your comment =]



To Devin,
Thanks for taking the time to watch my boring video, and leaving a comment. In your comment you talked about having a balance (like you did in your post). Having a balance with technology can be between anything (for you its sports, for me its relating to people face to face), this made me want to try harder to have this balance and was also very helpful.

You mentioned taht if we were to film ourselves reading a book that it wouldn't be as boring and we wouldn't have the same reactions. I would have to somewhat disagree because reading a book can cause us to look "zombyish" as well. I feel like we can get enveloped in a book just like a computer or any other type of technology. I feel the only reason a book is different (or accepted?) is because it is considered educational.

Something that we both seem interested in is how we could be making better use of our time. Even though we know this do you think we would really make the effort. It's like knowing you should be doing something...does that mean you're going to do it just because it's right???

Thanks for the Comment =]

HW #8- Video Comments

To Julie:

Hey Julie,
I liked that your video was very natural. I guess because I know you very well, but when you get around your mom you always act like this (lolz). You kept up with your regular routine.

In your video you also talked about the balance between these digital representaion devices, and physical experiences. It isn't right for us to be doing unproductive things for so long. It's good that you wouldn't want your kids or your little brother doing the same things you are doing.

You and Devin's thoughts to your videos are similar. I thought it was interesting that you both thought there should be a balance between productive and unproductive basically. That we shouldn't be spending so much time with this technology but instead we should be productive by being active.

I think that to make your post better, you could talk more about your experience. Why do you think that you felt so emotionless, or why it makes people dull.

Your post made me realize that a lot of the time when I am on the computer I don't really have much emotion, I feel like I am devoid of feeling
good job julie

Aja =]



To Devin:
Hey Devin,
I liked your video because it seemed so natural. Like you didn't put much thought into what you were going to do. The balance between technology and physical activities is something important to have. It seems like you already have this balance. Even thought there are some devices that incorporate technology and physical activiy, it's not the same as a full work out.

You mentioned the wii ass beinga devices that incorporates technology with being active. the wii and especially the wii fit is something that alot of people want. Your post makes me think that this is all a gimmick. That it makes people want these products, and they think that they are working out/losing weight. It just makes me wonder how productive these products are.

In your next post, I think that you should connect your experience (your physical activity) to how other people may live their lives. Do you think they have the right balance of physical activity, and "technology time" (computes, video games etc.)

Your post makes me think about the "balance" in my life. How do we know what is a good balance, who has a say in it?

Good video, and post Devin
Aja =]