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4.28.2016 - Unit 3 Reflection

For the Unit 3 translation assignment, I chose to turn my essay into a visualized argument through the use of iMovie to create a short documentary-like video of my own.

When I originally decided to do focus on technology and identity in the physical sense, I always thought this type of topic would make a good documentary. I’ve seen a few documentaries like one entitled “Fixed” that deals with this subject, as well as the one that inspired my project, “Our Technological Identity Crisis” by then NYU Film student, Colin Marchon. This is a subject I never really talked about, outside of the two philosophy courses I took that dealt with Human Nature and Moral Theory. This topic comes up quite a bit in classes like those.

Seeing as those documentaries had a lasting effect on me, I felt that a “documentary” of my own would do the trick for this unit. It seemed like a format that would best get the point I want to make across to my audience. You can make the argument visually captivating. A short iMovie documentary sounded like the best way to approach this translation. PowerPoints on something like this could really run on and eventually get boring (something I’ve learned from first-hand experience) and I would have wanted/needed to include short videos here and there as well. What better way to create a visually captivating argument that includes text and maybe even a narration than this?

In my argument I reference various technologies out there that contribute to the enhancement of humanity. I think it’s easier to see them than to just kind of imagine them as well. these are some of the things that influenced my decision to create a short video on iMovie versus a different medium/format.

You have a very interesting topic and I think you will be able to to write a great paper with a strong argument in the path you are heading in. Definitely develop your ideas into an essay and make sure you stay true to your pitch throughout your whole essay.

-Adam Finkelstein (Unit 2 Peer Review)

“So far, I really enjoy your draft. I enjoy the making together of clips to explain how technology can particularly help enhance the human race especially when it concerns injuries and such. Just like you there isn’t much to say because the project isn’t fully complete, but definitely try to add your own words into the video. I think it’d be cool to hear what you have to say about this topic as well.”

-Asantewaah Ofosuhene (Unit 3 Peer Review)

These were two pieces of advice given to me during Units 2 & 3 that helped me to develop my ideas and topic as the units progressed. I took both pieces of advice/comments into consideration. Like Adam suggested, I tried to stay true to my argument/pitch in my essay for Unit 2. I made statements like:

“Augmentation really can be used, not only to treat those with varying ailments that present various disabilities, but, also to simply enhance existing human characteristics and capacities to make you a stronger, better, faster you.”

“What can originally start off as life-saving/changing technology for some, becomes life-enhancing to so many more.”

“Most enhancements that are around today are, more than likely, spinoffs from regular medical research that is being or has already been done.”

In the case of Asantewaah’s comment, I already planned to insert quotes into my video from my essay and a scholarly source that I found. It is hard to cover a topic like this without also talking about the ethics portion of the subject so I ended up embracing the ethics arguments made, and incorporating them into the project as well.

I decided I wanted to post my project to YouTube. I did say before that I found it hard to choose a specific audience/audience member to submit this project to because I had no one/group in particular in mind. Maybe I could have sent it to Colin Marchon seeing as he is the reason why I chose to do this specific topic. By posting my project to YouTube, I hope to hear other’s opinion on the subject if they come across the video and maybe, start another conversation on the subject. I could provide a brief description of where this project came from and what it is about.

#Unit3 #Wrt205 #Tech&Identity #TranslationReflection #Reflection #Hayidas #documentaries

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4.14.2016- Animals With Sharpies: A Graphic Novel Reflection

For this assignment, I chose a rather different kind of book to use as my graphic novel. It doesn't take on the comic book format nor is it really a novel, but I still chose to use it because of its ‘interesting’, borderline strange, content. It resembles a small children's book and could very much be mistaken for one, however, it sounds nothing like one. It's entitled Animals With Sharpies by Michael Dumontier & Neil Farber.

The cover starts off with an animal writing “4 + 3 + 43.” Each page has an illustration of an animal with a sharpie in its mouth, in the process of writing a statement or drawing a picture. I honestly am not even sure what to say about this book except that it's kind of weird but I like it a lot because it's different. I don't recall coming across a book like this or similar to this. Some of my favorite statements from it include:

“Sexuality Leads to Froglets.” –A Frog

“More Handsome = More Ransom” –A Squirrel/Rodent

“Dear Cat Asshole, How would you like it if I ate your husband?” –A Mouse/Rat

“I have no best friend because I'm weird, so now my mom is my best friend and now my wife is my mom and now I just need a wife…” –A Cat(?)

Like I said, this is somewhat strange and very random but that's why I enjoyed it. It is very different compared to the other books that I came across in the graphic novel section. I’m not sure what the authors wanted to accomplish by creating it but I’m glad it exists.

#Unit3 #graphicnovels #animalswithsharpies #wrt205 #graphicnovelReflection #reflection

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4.7.2016 - Documentary Reflection

Back in January, three other friends and I spent a night hanging out together. At some point, my friend said to me that I have to see Samsara. When I asked her what it was, the only response she gave me was: “Just watch.”

Samsara, I soon found out, was a non-narrative documentary full of beautiful and captivating images. According to Roger Ebert, “in the 1970s “Samsara” would have been known as a head trip. The critic Matt Zoller Seitz calls it “a trance movie.” When reviewing non-narrative documentaries like “Samsara”, I think critics should definitely focus on the message that is being portrayed through the visuals, of course. They should pay close attention to what kind of images are being used and in what way, how they are connected and how they allow the documentary to progress. I think they should also think back to previous work, if any, that the creator of the film has also done. This can help to determine what the creator is focusing on, what their call to action is, and why they chose to make the film the way they did. They can use guidelines like these to decipher their message and determine how well they have made an effort to portray this message. Critics also should think about how they interacted/responded to the film as they usually do and include why.

For Ebert, he does all that:

“I met Fricke and Magidson when a restored version of "Baraka" was shown at Ebertfest, and had the impression that traveling the world and recording these images was sort of their calling… these films could show visitors what was here… Although the documentary presents speeded-up images of city traffic and unseemly mechanical haste, for me the most unforgettable sequence is not one of breathtaking vistas or natural beauty, but of chickens in a food-processing plant… Now why would I dwell on such a sequence…Because I experienced it as a shriek of terror. On this ancient and miraculous world, where such beautiful natural and living things have evolved, something has gone wrong… Something is out of balance, and "Samsara" regards the sides of the equation.”

He regards it as a “rather noble” film overall.

Review: http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/samsara-2012

#Documentaries #Samsara #MovieReviews #Reflection #Wrt205 #Unit3

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3.29.2016: Unit 2 Reflection Post

Choosing the audience for this piece of work was somewhat difficult. I wasn’t pitching anything to any group, field, or company of people in particular. I wanted whatever I had chosen to write about to reach anyone and everyone. I had decided I just wanted to present this piece to the general public. I had just began to hope that whoever may have happened to come across this piece just managed to get something out of it, whether it be a valuable piece of information or just an interesting read for a blog post.

I decided not to make it sound too academic and formal. I kept things simple for my audience as it was going to become a blog post and not a traditional college writing class paper in the end. I wanted to sound relatable and I aimed to make what I had written easily understandable. I said things like:

“After watching the video for the first time, I agreed with Marchon that “this stuff is really, really crazy and cool””

“Being able to do things like create your own children the way you want them to be based off present genes or going through gene therapies to alter already existing genes for example is kind of insane.”

Whenever I have a conversation on human enhancement and augmentation (usually in philosophy courses) it always takes a turn towards the ethics of it. Questions like “Is it right?” “Should we be allowed to alter ourselves this way; so freely?” “What kind of society would we become if we allow things like this” “Under what circumstances does it become wrong?” Ethics plays a large role and usually controls the conversations that I’ve had, more so than what kind of technology is allowing us to make changes like this and the kind of breakthroughs that have been had with such technology.

A lot of the sources I first found focused on the ethics portion of the subject. Some were quite formal and very long. There are a great amount of quality academic or scientific sources out there but I feel as though a lot of them have complicated jargon. I ended up primarily using slate.com for my research. It was fairly easy to understand the Superman series that was created by the website. Multiple writers contributed to that category, referenced each other, and it provided background and other information that another author may not have covered in their piece. They also reference and link other outside sources when it comes to research and other facts they present. They are able to back up the things that they do say. Further research on where this technology can and will take us could be done.

When I sent my pitch out, I didn’t receive much engagement from the people I had sent it to. Most just said “oh that’s cool”, “sounds good”, or “nice.” I received a better response during peer review. I was told to “definitely develop my ideas in my essay” and “stay true to my pitch.” I had quite a hard time but I did my best to follow the advice. This was one of the more difficult pieces I’ve had to write but I do think that I managed to tackle it to the best of my ability and give some insight into this aspect of technology and identity.

#unit2 #unit2reflection #reflectionpost #wrt205 #technology&identity #technology and the engineered identity

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3.29.2016 - Unit 2 Project Post: Technology & The Engineered Identity (Final)

While looking for sources during our unit 1 project, I came across a short documentary series all about technology and identity by Colin Marchon entitled “Our Technological Identity Crises”. My favorite portion of the series by far, part 1, was centered on the biological aspect of technology and identity. Part 1 of the series is entitled “Identity; Engineered”. I can say it has greatly inspired the topic I chose to cover. Similarly, I entitled my project, “Technology & the Engineered Identity.”

For the first video of the series, Marchon focuses on genetics and the altering of these genetics. He takes a genetic test with members of his family just for fun, one that is easily accessible to the public, and goes over his results with his sister. We can see that this test predicts/determines things such as longevity, eating behavior, and pain sensitivity based on genetics. In an interview with bio-technologist Raymond McCauley, we learn that technologies like IVF (in-vitro fertilization) not only allows for infertile couples to have a chance at having kids but also allows already fertile couples/parents-to-be to indulge in making choices about the child that they would be bringing into the world. They’re creating designer humans in a sense. They can tweak already present genes that would result in greatly benefiting said child. But now things like picking the genes that result in a stronger immune system or reducing the risk of cancer can turn into picking genes that would result in a child being taller or having a specific eye or hair color because that is just what the parents prefer. Sociologist and bio-ethicist James J. Hughes states in his interview that “we’ve been co-evolving with our technological capabilities for a very long time.” Check it out below:

youtube

After watching the video for the first time, I agreed with Marchon that “this stuff is really, really crazy and cool” and I noticed that two statements in particular had stuck with me. One comment was made by the creator of the series, Colin Marchon, and the other, by one of his interviewees, Raymond McCauley.

Marchon states that:

"It's like we're starting to take control of our own evolution...and it doesn’t just stop at choosing already present genes."

McCauley then makes quite an interesting point:

"It's not a question of is it okay to play God; we’re playing God...we've got to get good at it; we’ve got to do it quick, and serve all the different sectors of society & individuals.”

I’d have to say that I agree with both men. Being able to do things like create your own children the way you want them to be based off present genes or going through gene therapies to alter already existing genes for example is kind of insane. We are evolving along with our technology and because of our technology. We are playing God at this point but I don’t believe that I would go as far as saying that “we have to get good at playing God”. McCauley does have very solid point though. And here’s why: it would be a shame to end up “playing God” and screw up (for lack of better words). That would have various consequences among those that you have tried to help or have “made” by “playing God.”

There are aspects of this technology that both help & enhance the human experience. There are also aspects of this technology that can have an adverse effect on us in this day and age. We are still learning. There are both pros and cons of enhancing and augmenting already present human characteristics. Augmentation can be used, not only to treat those with varying ailments that present various disabilities, but, also to simply enhance existing human characteristics and capacities to make you a stronger, better, faster you. In knowing that this is possible, is it something you should actually do?

“…I'll speculate about what's possible, what isn't, and when the possible might finally be real. What are the obstacles to human enhancements? What are the physiological and psychological costs of enhancements?” -David Plotz

Thirteen years ago, David Plotz, a Slate writer/editor had created what he called the “Superman” series. The “Superman” series he crafted consists of multiple articles that take a closer look at the technology that was beginning to develop and appear at the time; Technology that could give us “superpowers once reserved for comic-book heroes” so to speak. Plotz explored various technologies like bionic eyes and prosthetic ears, memory and alertness drugs like modafinil, and also gene therapies. In his final article of the series then focused on the ethical half of the subject of enhancement.

Most enhancements that are around today are, more than likely, spin-offs from regular medical research that is being or has already been done. A great example of this would be plastic surgery. Mark Joseph Stern, author of You Are Already Enhanced on Slate, gives a brief history of the top 5 modern medical and technological innovations that we use today that have helped us become those faster, better, stronger beings. Plastic/cosmetic surgery was originally used to reconstruct noses after patients had had them cut off for various reasons be it customs or accidents long ago. During World War I, surgeons performed these surgeries with the intent to reconstruct and restore the faces of soldiers that had been brutally disfigured by weapons of warfare. Stern states that:

“Facial restoration was viewed as a necessity rather than a vain indulgence, and generals, hoping to raise troop morale, heartily endorsed the practice...What began as a desperate measure for disfigured soldiers is now a routine procedure for anybody in want of a self-confidence pick-me-up. According to some scientists, that jump—in which a new technology evolves from life-saving to life-enhancing—may simply be inevitable.”

Stern speaks about the previously mention IVF as well. It has the potential to make the standard form of intercourse and reproduction obsolete.

“The first successful IVF conception occurred in 1978; in 2011, more than 163,000 IVF cycles were performed in the United States alone…Eighty years ago, the notion of humans reproducing through artificial means was fodder for dystopian nightmares. Now it’s the subject of romantic comedies.”

Another common/modern form of augmentation widely used today would also be Lasik surgery. Plotz writes in I Spy With My Eagle Eye, that “the eye is an obvious target for enhancement: Vision is our dominant sense, and the structure and function of the eye are relatively well understood. From eyeglasses to contact lenses to cataract removal to laser surgery, there is a long history of tinkering with vision.” In Building A Better You, he said “In a decade, when the next generation of laser eye surgery has become standard, surgeons will not only repair the four-eyed who have 20/280 vision but may also operate on the 20/20 pilot who wants 20/10 vision.” Lasik’s primary function or purpose is to correct vision. But in recent years it’s been discovered that it can do much more. As the technology used for this procedure developed and became safer to use for the doctor and safer to use on patients, the patients’ vision became more extraordinary. “Their eyesight had been boosted past 20/20—in some cases, all the way to 20/12.5. That means that LASIK patients can see at 20 feet what a normal person can see at 12.5 feet—a massive improvement.” However, “A newer treatment based on this discovery, called Wavefront-guided Lasik, uses an optical analysis program developed by astronomers to further increase patients’ chance of success.” Stern ends his article with the best summation possible:

“Unsurprisingly, the procedure is already being marketed as a path to superhuman vision. That, it seems, is the cycle of technology: Inventions designed to restore lives to normalcy are quickly harnessed to enhance lives beyond our ancestors’ loftiest aspirations. What starts as live-saving inevitably becomes life-improving…”

I couldn’t think of any better way to put it. Augmentation really can be used, not only to treat those with varying ailments that present various disabilities, but, also to simply enhance existing human characteristics and capacities to make you a stronger, better, faster you. What can originally start off as life-saving/changing technology for some, becomes life-enhancing to so many more.

Sources:

Donohoe, Martin. "Medscape Log In." Medscape Log In. N.p., 02 Nov. 2006. Web. 30 Mar. 2016.

Marchon, Colin. "Our Technological Identity Crises." Colinmarchon.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2016. http://www.colinmarchon.com/our-technological-identity-crises

Oremus, Will. "Technology Is Starting To Give People Superpowers, Like Telekinesis." Slate.com. Slate.com, 04 Mar. 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2016. http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/superman/2013/03/superman_2_0_how_human_enhancement_technologies_are_giving_us_all_superpowers.html

Plotz, David. "Building a Better You." Slate.com. Slate.com, 5 Mar. 2003. Web. 30 Mar. 2016. http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/superman/2003/03/building_a_better_you.html

Plotz, David. "The Quest for Extraordinary Vision." Slate.com. Slate.com, 05 Mar. 2003. Web. 30 Mar. 2016. http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/superman/2003/03/i_spy_with_my_eagle_eye.html

Stern, Mark Joseph. "Birth Control, LASIK, Plastic Surgery, and Other Technologies Already Make Us Superhuman." Slate.com. Slate.com, 06 May 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2016. http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/superman/2013/05/history_of_human_enhancement_how_plastic_surgery_birth_control_aspirin_ivf.html

#Unit2 #Unit2PortfolioAssignment #Tech&Identity #TechnologyAndTheEngineeredIdentity #Wrt205 #ResearchedArgumentEssay

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I enjoyed reading about your library trip. I too likes the BN bookstore but I found the library has more options to choose from and also I can get the book for free. Also your draft interesting topic good luck finishing it later. Thank you... Najla Alkhaldi

Thanks Najla, if i come across a book that i find really interesting i hate to put it back. I usually love to read it multiple times.

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You have a very interesting topic and I think you will be able to to wright a great paper with a strong argument in the path you are heading in. Deficiently develop your ideas into an essay and make sure you stay true to your pitch throughout your whole essay. -Adam Finkelstein

Thanks!

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3.10.2016 - Tech & Identity Engineered (Draft)

In unit 1, I came across a short documentary series all about technology and identity called Our Technological Identity Crises. My favorite part of the series was centered on the biological aspect of technology and identity. Part 1 of the series is entitled Identity; Engineered. I can say it has greatly inspired the topic I chose to cover. Similarly, I entitled my project, “Tech & Identity: Engineered.”

Two of the statements that stuck with me most were these, made by the creator of the series, Colin Marchon, and one of his interviewees, Raymond McCauley:

“It’s like we’re starting to take control of our own evolution…” -Colin Marchon

“It’s not a question of is it okay to play God; we’re playing God… and we’ve got to get good at it.” -Raymond McCauley

I’d have to say that I agree with both to some extent. I wouldn’t go as far as saying we have to get good at playing God, but I do think he has a solid point. Here’s why: it would be a shame to end up “playing God” and screw up. That would have various consequences among those that you have “made” by “playing God.”

#Wrt205 #hayidas #tech&identity #draft #humanaugmentation

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3.3.2016 - Project Pitch (repost)

There are aspects of technology that both help & enhance the human experience. There are also aspects of technology that can have an adverse effect on us in this day and age. I have a particular interest in human enhancement and augmentation. While I could choose to cover only the negative side of human enhancement technologies, I won’t. I want to discuss both the pros and cons of human enhancement and augmentation. Not only can it be used by and to treat those with illnesses and disabilities, but, of course, it also enhances human characteristics and capacities

#repost #original post was deleted #wrt205 #pitch #project pitch #human augmentation #human engineering #unit2 #tech #identity #tech&identity

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3.8.2016 - Criminology & Libraries

I loved to read growing up. My favorite genre was (and still is) crime/mystery. So naturally, I also liked libraries. I remember going to the library quite a bit with my mom and on school trips. However I prefer going to Barnes & Noble over the library. I always looked forward to trips to Barnes & Noble with my mother and grandmother. I’d wander off and find a book in the young adult’s sections, find a place to sit in a quiet corner (most likely on the floor), and read for as long as possible. Most times, I would end up bringing home a new book to add to the little library I had in my room. I stopped going to the library much on my own time in high school. I didn’t really like the librarian that worked in ours. I only went when my friends would be working or for class projects. I still don’t go to the library much these days either. I usually just end up working on group projects for Korean there. I find them to be much too quiet for my taste now. I still prefer Barnes & Noble to this day. I’d rather buy a crime/mystery book and read it in my room though while listening to my favorite Spotify playlists full of songs played on the piano and ukulele.

#music&books #music #books #barnes and noble #libraries #reading #crime #mystery #criminology #crime and pop culture #hayidas #wrt205

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3.1.2016 - Technology & Identity: Engineered

In Unit 1, I came across a 3 part documentary web-series entitled Our Technological Identity Crisis by former NYU film student, Colin Marchon. I found it quite interesting and in turn, used it as one of my four sources. I was most interested in part one of the series: the engineered identity. It focuses on technology and identity in the physical sense: biotechnology, and human enhancement/engineering. I would like to focus and elaborate on this aspect of technology and identity for Unit 2. In developing my 3 research questions, I chose to use two of the phrases that Marchon uses in this video, in my own questions. I came up with the following questions to test out:

1. Are we becoming “customizable creations of our own kind”?

2. Are we “taking control of our own evolution” with technology?

3. Is today’s technology enhancing or endangering us?

I asked 3 people each of these questions and the responses I received for each were very similar. For the first two questions I presented, I implied that I wanted them to think of something that related to us becoming customizable and evolving in a physical rather than virtual sense when I used the phrase ‘customizable creations of our own kind’. One response I received was this: “You can, for example, create/change a child’s DNA and make “designer babies” before they’re even born.” Another the two other responses had the same theme that “with all the technology we have currently we are able to create and be what we want. We are in a day and age where there are limitless possibilities of what we can do.” As for the second question, all 3 people said that what they said for the first would also apply here and one person elaborated on their answer saying: “New technology is biology allows us to further play around with DNA and genes of various organisms to the point of being able to possibly expand our lifespans by preventing disease.” For the 3rd question, everyone said the same thing. It is both helping and hurting us in various ways. One person stated that: “while it has made life a lot easier for us, we are losing our basic communication skills with one another. Instead of sitting down and talking to each other we just text each other even if in the same room.” The other says: “It enhances us when it comes to productivity and the rate in which we complete various tasks. It is hurting us in the sense that our population as human beings is rapidly growing and our natural resources are becoming limited hence the need to produce more chemically infused products that can potentially harm us in the future.” When I implied that I wanted them to think of technology and identity in a physical sense and worded it in the way that I had, I somewhat manipulated how I wanted my respondents to go about answering each question. I also got a great amount of engagement and insight from each person.

#Technology&Identity #Unit2 #IdentityEngineered #Biotech #HumanEnhancement #Hayidas #Writing205 #Reflection

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2.18.2016- Unit 1 Reflection

Out of the three sources that I ultimately ended up using, I think the best one is either the piece written by Joseph Darowski on biology, technology and identity using the TV show Chuck and the three-part documentary web series created by Colin Marchon. When really thinking about each source, what is was about, and its stance on the idea of technology and identity, I feel as though the documentary series was definitely the source with the best quality. I was most interested in this source first off. There is no black and white when it comes to technology’s influence on our identities.

There are parts of technology that help us and enhance the human experience. "It's like we're starting to take control of our own evolution..." he covers three different aspects of technology and identity from biology and engineering, to augmented reality, to our digital lives and personas that we’ve created. We've begun to rely on technology as a prosthetic in a way in that so much of what we do today relies on this technology or as Marchon put it, "an external form of cognition almost like a super-connected nervous system." He also says “It's like the internet is not only extending our reality but our identity and sense of self. As humans, it's like we're entering a new world of being." I completely agree with this.

One of my favorite things that Marchon says is that “We are our data.” We have to realize and accept that to own our data, we are our data. Marchon thinks that we have to come to the realization that our lives online can be just as real and valuable as our lives in the real world. Another quote from this project that I came to like quite a bit was this: Technology is already changing who we are in the sense that we can offload some of our brain into technology and in the technologies are reflecting back on us that perhaps, things that we thought were unique about being human aren’t so grand after all.” This comes from Wendell Wallach, a Yale bioethicist in relation to artificial intelligence.

Finally, Colin Marchon tackled various aspects of technology and identity in an effort to determine what it means to be human; what is humanness. He thinks this stuff is "really, really crazy and cool "and he wants people to talk about it and its influence" on humanity. "Ask questions instead of blindly embracing or antagonizing it." he says. I think this is the one rule people should follow when it comes to our ever changing technology. This stuff really is cool and we should always try to find out more and learn more about it instead of automatically loving or hating it for whatever reason and letting it rule our lives. We should learn to use it wisely as there are both pros and cons. I think I could definitely use these sources to create a longer written piece. Each provides a similar and different viewpoint on the topic of technology and identity. There are different categories under tech and identity to be covered especially with biotechnology and physically changing who you are by “upgrading” yourself with technology. I think my summaries did a decent job they could have been better.

#Unit1Reflection #ReflectionPost #Wrt205 #Technology&Identity

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2.18.2016: Unit 1 Project Post- Critical Summary Portfolio

The Flight From Conversation - Sherry Turkle

Flashpoint:

“…we have confused conversation with connection and collectively seem to have embraced a new kind of delusion that accepts the simulation of compassion as sufficient…”

In Sherry Turkle’s New York Times article, “The Flight from Conversation”, she aims to make the argument that in today’s society, connection is not conversation nor is it as valuable as conversation would be. There is no substitute for conversation. Today’s tech-enabled “conversation-fearing youth” use their devices to, not only comfort them by keeping them in touch, but also by keeping others at a distance. This act of keeping people “not too close and not too far” is, as Turkle calls it, the Goldilocks Effect. I, myself am completely guilty of this. The Goldilocks Effect is also applied to social media when referring to how we are able to change so many things about ourselves in online profiles and accounts, “not too much, not too little, just the right amount”. Turkle reiterates that we have been enabled to “be alone together”. In her article she states that “connection works like a symptom” we solve being alone by reaching for our devices because we think connection will make us feel less lonely. “…we have confused conversation with connection and collectively seem to have embraced a new kind of delusion that accepts the simulation of compassion as sufficient…” I personally love this line because she couldn’t have phrased it better. She does also note that she is a “partisan” for conversation and tells us how we can create device-free zones or sacred-spaces, We should demonstrate the value of conversation and talk to others about what really matters. Getting one to see the “down-side” of just connecting and not conversing was well done. I found myself relating to and agreeing with a lot of what she says. i also managed to reflect on certain habits when it comes to technology. I think technology isn’t all bad nor is it all good. There are pros and cons to every aspect of it.

Chuck Versus the Machine: The Intersection of Biology, Technology, and Identity on Chuck - Joseph J. Darowski

Flashpoint:

“Often the concerns expressed about the encroachment of technology into humanity take the form of humans becoming less individual and more robotic. Personality is lost while routine and efficiency become dominant characteristics of human/machine hybrids.”

In “Chuck Versus the Machine: The Intersection of Biology, Technology, and Identity on Chuck,” Joseph Darowski focuses on the extreme cases in which technology manages to become our identity using pop culture narratives. Unlike Turkle, I think he embraces technology a bit more. It is becoming much more prominent in our lives. It is also constantly changing and being upgraded. The extreme cases he highlights in today’s TV shows and media of technology and identity/personality psychically becoming one, would be that of the cyborg (cybernetic organism) usually made out to be the villain in TV and comics. His main idea is that terrible side effects can result from individuals using technology that hasn’t been intended for them, whereas for others, this technology can be a tool until it becomes their identity. He approaches the topic of identity, biology, and technology using the TV show Chuck. Darowski explains the history of cyborgs in media and how they’ve come to have a negative connotation and image. He explains the plot of the series Chuck and how much of a role technology plays in his life. It starts off by defining who he is and slowly changes through the seasons. Eventually, the computer program that Chuck has had downloaded into his brain is only a tool he uses to complete his job versus previously having his identity be “subsumed” by the technology. Darowski states that “If an individual can maintain their own identity, independent of the technology, there is no danger in having a computer encroach further into our personal space, past our environment, our bodies, and into our very minds” I find it interesting how much more we rely on technology in this day and age. To some, it is a crutch. I do think people tend to over exaggerate some of the effects technology can have on us as individuals, especially in pop culture. This piece, I think does, a good job at staying away from that. Chuck is a great example of the point he makes: “It is dependent on the individuality of the technology (clearly one size does not fit all in the Chuck universe), and the ability of the person to assert their own identity in the face of internal and external efforts to label them as something new or different than what they were.”

Growing Up Digital - Chandra Johnson

Flashpoint:

“Technology can also make it more difficult to form an identity. There are more versions of "self” than ever before.” “The focus on external image detracts from the creation of a true identity, they’re tailoring and promoting almost a branded ‘self’.”

Growing Up Digitally, written by Chandra Johnson for Deseret News National, dives into the subject of teen identity in today’s digital age. This particular article is “the final story in a three-part series on the ways new technology is impacting kids and teens.” She starts off the piece with a story about a young British girl named Hannah Smith who was 14 years old. Smith, in hopes of receiving assurance and validation from friends who she hoped would come to her defense, had used her Ask.fm to send hateful messages about herself to herself and proceeded to kill herself a month later. Johnson brings up her main point that many children and teens are turning to social media for identity validation when they open up to others online and its changing the way/s in which they present themselves as well as how they see themselves. They seek affirmation from friends and strangers. The internet is changing and affecting how this generation that is growing up online forms their own identities. One psychologist she quotes in the article to further her point is Catherine Steiner-Adair. Johnson makes the point that “it [the Internet] also opens teens up to exponential ridicule or an amplified feeling of invisibility that can influence the perceptions they have of themselves.” She includes data results from a few different studies in her text as well to say that digital culture is in fact changing the way teens behave like teens. She quotes Steiner-Adair afterwards saying that “Steiner-Adair says that while technology changed how teens seek and get feedback about identity, teen behavior is much the same.” The way in which identity and technology connect with each other in this instance is on the negative side of the spectrum. Kids and teens today have issues “differentiating between online and real-time identities.” She further emphasizes this idea by using this quote from researcher Katie Davis saying “There’s this interesting dichotomy online where there’s an emphasis toward identity consolidation and having this crystallized identity that is well-formed for many different audiences versus an increased opportunity to present different identities.”

Our Technological Identity Crises - Colin Marchon

vimeo

For this final source, I decided to create a Prezi. Check out the link below:

http://prezi.com/mfuh3x22jra_/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

#Wrt205 CriticalSummaries TheFlightFromConversation ChuckVersusTheMachine TheIntersectionOfBiologyTechnologyAndIdentityOnChuc #Wrt205 #Critical Summaries #unit1 #turkle #Darowski #Johnson #Marchon #TheFlightFromConversation #Biology & TechnologyOnChuck #GrowingUpDigitally #OurTechnologicalIdentityCrises #Hayidas #Prezi

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hayidas-blog · 8 years

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2.9.2016 - Critical Summaries

The Flight From Conversation - Sherry Turkle

Critical Summary 1

Flashpoint:

“…we have confused conversation with connection and collectively seem to have embraced a new kind of delusion that accepts the simulation of compassion as sufficient…”

In Sherry Turkle's New York Times article, "The Flight from Conversation”, she aims to make the argument/point that in today’s society, connection is not conversation nor is it as valuable as conversation would be. There is no substitute for conversation. She gives numerous examples/scenarios involving today’s tech-enabled “conversation-fearing youth” using their devices to, not only comfort them by keeping them in touch, but also by keeping others at a distance. This act of keeping people “not too close and not too far” is, as Turkle calls it, the Goldilocks Effect. The goldilocks effect is also applied to social media by Turkle by referring to how we are able to change things about ourselves in online profiles and accounts, “not too much, not too little, just the right amount”. This is how Turkle makes an effort to remind us of how we live in such a technology oriented universe that promotes/allows us to connect with others but still remain at a distance and even hide from one another. Turkle reiterates that we have been enabled to “be alone together”. In her article she states that “connection works like a symptom” we solve being alone by reaching for our devices because we think connection will make us feel less lonely. “…we have confused conversation with connection and collectively seem to have embraced a new kind of delusion that accepts the simulation of compassion as sufficient…” Turkle does note that she is a “partisan” for conversation. She tells us how we can create device-free zones or sacred-spaces, how we can benefit from conversation and that we should demonstrate the value of conversation and talk to others about what really matters. She endorses talking to one another face-to-face. This article does well in getting the reader to see the “down-side” of just connecting and not conversing. I am able to entirely relate to her article. I found myself agreeing with a lot of what she says. She does a great job of making one reflect on their habits when it comes to technology with the stories/scenarios she tells.

Turkle, Sherry. “The Flight From Conversation.” New York Times 21 April 2012. Online

Chuck Versus the Machine: The Intersection of Biology, Technology, and Identity on Chuck - Joseph J. Darowski

Critical Summary 2

Flashpoint:

In “Chuck Versus the Machine: The Intersection of Biology, Technology, and Identity on Chuck,” Joseph Darowski focuses on the extreme cases in which technology manages to become our identity using pop culture narratives. Technology is becoming much more prominent in our lives. It is also constantly changing and being upgraded. The extreme cases he highlights in today’s TV shows and media of technology and identity/personality becoming one, would be that of the cyborg (cybernetic organism) usually made out to be the villain in TV and comics. The main idea of this body of work by Darowski is that terrible side effects can result from individuals using technology that hasn’t been intended for them, whereas for others, this technology can be a tool until it becomes their identity. He approaches the topic of identity, biology, and technology using the TV show Chuck. Darowski explains the history of cyborgs in media and how they’ve come to have a negative connotation and image. He explains the plot of the series Chuck and how much of a role technology plays in his life. It starts off by defining who he is and slowly changes through the seasons. Eventually, the computer program that Chuck has had downloaded into his brain is only a tool he uses to complete his job versus previously having his identity be “subsumed” by the technology. Darowski states that “If an individual can maintain their own identity, independent of the technology, there is no danger in having a computer encroach further into our personal space, past our environment, our bodies, and into our very minds” I find it interesting how much more we rely on technology. I do think people tend to over exaggerate some of the effects technology can have on us as individuals in pop culture. This piece, I think does, a good job at staying away from doing that. Chuck is a great example of the point he makes: “It is dependent on the individuality of the technology (clearly one size does not fit all in the Chuck universe), and the ability of the person to assert their own identity in the face of internal and external efforts to label them as something new or different than what they were.”

Growing Up Digital - Chandra Johnson

Critical Summary 3

Flashpoint:

“Technology can also make it more difficult to form an identity. There are more versions of "self" than ever before.” “The focus on external image detracts from the creation of a true identity, they’re tailoring and promoting almost a branded ‘self’.”

Growing Up Digitally, written by Chandra Johnson for Deseret News National, dives into the subject of teen identity in today’s digital age. This particular article is “the final story in a three-part series on the ways new technology is impacting kids and teens.” She starts off the piece with a story about a young British girl named Hannah Smith who was 14 years old. Smith, in hopes of receiving assurance and validation from friends who she hoped would come to her defense, had used her Ask.fm to send hateful messages about herself to herself and proceeded to kill herself a month later. Johnson brings up her main point that many children and teens are turning to social media for identity validation when they open up to others online and its changing the way/s in which they present themselves as well as how they see themselves. They seek affirmation from friends and strangers. The internet is changing and affecting how this generation that is growing up online forms their own identities. One psychologist she quotes in the article to further her point is Catherine Steiner-Adair. Johnson makes the point that “it [the Internet] also opens teens up to exponential ridicule or an amplified feeling of invisibility that can influence the perceptions they have of themselves.” She includes data results from a few different studies in her text as well to say that digital culture is in fact changing the way teens behave like teens. She quotes Steiner-Adair afterwards saying that “Steiner-Adair says that while technology changed how teens seek and get feedback about identity, teen behavior is much the same.” The way in which identity and technology connect with each other in this instance is on the negative side of the spectrum. Kids and teens today have issues “differentiating between online and real-time identities.” She further emphasizes this idea by using this quote from researcher Katie Davis saying "There's this interesting dichotomy online where there's an emphasis toward identity consolidation and having this crystallized identity that is well-formed for many different audiences versus an increased opportunity to present different identities."

#Wrt205 #CriticalSummaries #TheFlightFromConversation #ChuckVersusTheMachine #TheIntersectionOfBiologyTechnologyAndIdentityOnChuck #GrowingUpDigitally #Hayidas

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