Archive for September, 2010

Freaks, Geeks, and Mensches-Pierzchala

Monday, September 27th, 2010

Today’s reading, titled “Freaks, Geeks, and Mensches” was quite possibly my favorite to date.  This is so because it is very relatable for people in the college-aged demographic.  The article, by Alex Wainer, is more or less a summary followed by analysis of Judd Apatow’s two famous videos, “Knocked Up” and “40-Year Old Virgin.”  The article goes into detail about the evolutionary role of lead male actors in films.  The role has evolved from the 50’s hero, to the 60’s rebel, to the 70’s swinger, to the 80’s action hero, to today’s premature adult male.  The two films tell a very similar story about a lead male character who has certain very childish and immature characteristics which he must overcome to get what he wants and ultimately grow up.  In “Knocked Up” the main character must overcome his childish dependency on drugs and porn in order to grow into the man his pregnant girlfriend needs him to be.  Similarly, the lead role in “40-Year Old Virgin” must overcome his fear of physical intimacy and youthful infatuation with action figures in order to end up with the women he loves.

I feel this article’s author, Alex Wainer, is definitely onto something in his writing.  He does an interesting analysis into the theme and idea behind two of the most famous and hilarious films of today.  I feel he is spot on with his claim that today’s main male role is that of an immature, “slackerish” young man.  The really interesting thing about this analysis is that it draws a deeper meaning to these comedic films.  While these movies are hilarious and don’t necessarily ask viewers to dig deeper into the main idea driving the plot, the definitely offer people an inspiring life lesson on personal fulfillment.  Apatow is extremely successful at conveying a message to viewers without blatantly throwing his ideals at them.  He does this in an interesting and comedic way that keeps audiences hooked and laughing the entire time.  This article also makes me wonder what the next evolutionary stage for male lead roles will pan out to be.  Also, it inspires wonder as to when this shift will occur.

You’ve Been Poked-Pierzchala

Sunday, September 19th, 2010

You’ve Been Poked

This particular article, titled You Have Been Poked, by Brett Bumgarner is about the website “Facebook” as a social utility.  The author is not necessarily trying to prove anything about facebook in the article, he is more trying to provide a thorough analysis of the social networking implications and drives behind the website.  He starts off the article with a background of the website’s history, stating that it was founded in 2004 by Harvard student Mark Zukenberg.  He then proceeded to outline a brief history of “Facebook’s” evolution from small time information gatherer to large scale social networking tool.  The main point of the article is covered next.  Brett proceeds to analyze the website on a number of different concepts including the gratification theory, voyeurism, and exhibitionism.   He then closes the article with a summary defining how the website is primarily used.  Above all else, the site is used as a social bridge gap-er.  The site is used to portray and withhold information from peers as it is deemed necessary by a given person.  It helps people stay involved with their peers and the world around them.

While I don’t feel there is much I can agree or disagree with pertaining to this article due to its nature, I do believe that this analysis is right on when it comes to a lot of aspects of “Facebook.”  That being said, this article brings out one of the most prevalent, annoying things on my mind pertaining to such analysis’’.  While there is, I’m sure, a mental and psychological reason driving peoples’ motives and actions concerning social networking sites, I just don’t feel it is at all important.  When it boils down to it, people use “Facebook” because they want to.  Whether they want to in order to reconnect with old acquaintances, strengthen their social values, or to simply see what friends did last weekend, people use the website because they want to.  That being said, it should not surprise anyone that the targeted age group for “Facebook” is that of young adults.  As the article said, this is the age where people are first forging their own path and are out on their own for, really, the first time in their lives.  For a lot of these people, staying connected to something is very important.

The Judgment of Thamus-Pierzchala

Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

The Judgment of Thamus-Pierzchala

            This particular Essay, titled The Judgment of Thamus, is about the positive and negative outcomes associated with technological advancement.  Most people, especially in a technologically driven society such as that of the United States are very quick to see the benefits of technologies, and are relatively hesitant to see the negative connotations associated with them.  Technology, as any other concept, has pros and cons.  As mentioned above however, people in a society like ours may be significantly less likely to see the cons than the pros.  For example, the computer has made significant contributions to nearly every aspect of life in today’s modern society.  This ranges everywhere from entertainment (video games, TV, radio) to academia (Laptops, email) to work (copy machines, fax, monitors) to everyday use (vehicles, lawn mower).  It is quite clear to see how a technology such as a computer can be largely beneficial to society.  On the other hand, these same computers can take jobs away from trained, specified workers.

            I agree with this article and feel it brings a good point concerning the idea of technology to the table.  While today’s society obviously dictates advancement and progress, a certain level of personal communication and connection is lost due to technology.  In addition, a serious concern is the jobs that are replaced everyday by computers and machines.  I feel this is a concern that needs attention as it is more of an issue that is initially viewed as it is typically overlooked due to its obvious positive contributions.  All this being said, I am still 100% a fan and supporter of technology and technological progress.  I am a Technophile.

Breaking Down Borders: Hoe Technology Transforms the Private and Public Realms-Pierzchala

Monday, September 13th, 2010

Breaking Down Borders: Hoe Technology Transforms the Private and Public Realms

            This article starts off as the author, Robert Samuels, enters a Borders Café looking for a place to read a novel.  In doing so, he observes the daily routines of several people who similarly have come to Borders looking to use it as an extension of their home.  He then proceeds to go into detail about various people and their current activities.  First there is a man sitting on a table chair reading the newspaper as if he were in his own kitchen, next he describes a women who is snuggled into a large arm chair who is listening to her ipod and humming out loud and out of tune.  Next he describes another lady who breaks interview plans and makes vacation plans aloud on her cell phone.  At first it looks like the main point of this article is to show the current role of places such as café shops or book stores in today’s society.  The author makes the argument that public spaces such as these ultimately become an extension of our personal spaces.  Near the end of the article, however, it becomes clear that the article is actually centered on the role of technology in allowing this shift to occur.  While Borders is clearly a public realm, the use of portable technologies such as cell phones, laptops, and ipods turn these specific types of public spaces into a series of private spaces.

            I agree wholeheartedly with the authors observations of the current role of “public” spaces such as Borders café in today’s society.  While these places are very much located within the public world, modern wireless technologies allow for them to exist on a parallel, more private, realm.  I also agree with the author’s assessment of this new shift.  I feel that these technologies create positive and negative outcomes for humanity in general.  On one hand, these technologies create a very distance disconnection in person-to-person interaction.  We, as humans, are a very social being so this can clearly be viewed as a bad thing.  On the other hand, it can be viewed that there modern, wireless technologies allow for a new, more culturally expansive person.  While our direct interaction with other people is belittled by these technologies, they allow us to, in a sense, “multi-task” between the work and play functions of everyday life.  One minute I could be working on my laptop on an architectural design for a new high rise building to go up in Chicago, Illinois and the next I could switch the page over to YouTube to watch a 30 Seconds to Mars music video.  I feel this can be viewed as a good thing as it creates a differentiation and merger in our daily routines.  Before portable technologies such as the internet, cell phones, laptops, and ipods, there were very set locations for given daily activities.  For example, phones were rooted in a home, internet was centered on a private location, and music was limited to a large, more private player.  Now that these technologies have become portable, it only makes sense that there are to be certain public realms that act as an extension of private ones.  I don’t think this is such a bad thing.

The Miseducation of Hip Hop-Pierzchala

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

THE MISEDUCATION OF HIPHOP

            This reading was about the apparent effect hip-hop has had on our country’s youth.  Many older generation educators and professors feel that rap is not only counter-productive, but outright a bad influence on youth.  The article goes on to tell how many “baby-boomer” generation adults feel that hip-hop is detrimental to young people because it instills in them these ideas of rebellion and “thug-ness.”  If lists off numerous professors and such who feel this way then goes on to tell that there is two sides to the story.  While there are a fair amount of people (not necessarily race-specific) who do take the wrong message from rap/hip hop music and do fall prey to a life of poor choices, hoochie-ness, or thug-ness but there are also a similar amount that do not allow this to happen.  For these young people, rap is merely a form of self expression and is genuinely feel good music.  Some older generation folks have a hard tie seeing this because they only want to see the negative side to the the music.  When it boils down to it, they need to be able to see the other side of the picture.  Both parties, the students and the professors need to compromise and realize that times and experiences are not constant from one generation.  While the “baby boomers” were the generation of jazz and (the beginnings of) rock, today’s generation is one of rap and hip hop.  The sooner both parties can realize this, the sooner some of these issues will resolve themselves.  On the other hand though, there will always be a group of young people whom choose the wrong path.  People need to not be so quick to always associate this behavior with rap music and, more so, with other young people who associate themselves with this music genre.

Rap and Race: Its Got a Nice Beat but What About the Message?

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

This reading, titled Rap and Race: Its Got a Nice Beat but What About the Message?, as all about modern day rap music and how it is viewed by, and effects different ethnic groups.  The article opens up with a brief history of rap music itself, saying that it originated and had its roots in New York City.  This type of music emerged in the mid 1970’s and has currently spread to be a national, and international, phenomenon.  Since its creation, rap music has always had a connotation with civil disobedience and political unrest.  This genre, while lacking vocal pitching and tone, focuses much more heavily on the message than some of the other genres of music which, arguably, are solely for instrumental and vocal pleasure.  Often times, rap music has a very distinct connection to African Americans.  Due to this, it has been scandalized countless times by politicians and bureaucrats.  Prime examples of this were Vice President Dan Quayle, President Bush, and President Bill Clinton.  To make these matters worse, these politicians were often found to have little or no knowledge about the given rapper or album!  The article then proceeds to tell how the author,  Rachel Sullivan, conducted a series of hypothesis driven experiments to test certain stereotypes circling rap music.  Among these implications were…

  1. Black adolescents would have a stronger preference for rap music.
  2. Black adolescents would be more likely to agree with the statements, “Rap is a truthful reflection to society,” “I find myself wearing clothes similar to rappers,” and “I find myself using words and phrases similar to rappers.”
  3. Black adolescents would listen to a wider range of rap artists.   
  4. White adolescents would be more likely to say rap music has affected their opinions toward racism.

Of these implications, the author found all were largely true except for the last.

      Reading this article got me thinking about my own opinions and views toward rap music.  Personally, I am quite biased on the topic because I am an avid opponent of rap music.  I think generally speaking, with the exception with certain given artists whom can either talk exceedingly fast have a keen grasp on the English language, rap is a genre of music that takes very little talent.  That being said, I do agree with a lot of the things Rachel stated in the article.  First off, I agree that rap music is often attributed to a very specific ethnic group.  Even though there is a quite large number of white adolescents whom listen to, and enjoy rap music, I agree that it is predominantly directed toward, and thus generally viewed by, African Americans.  Next, I also agree that the genre of music itself probably has different meanings to different ethnic groups.  I feel that most African Americans take a certain level of pride in rap music as it clearly has its roots entangled in their own.  This possibly causes some to attribute certain life lessons to the music.  Caucasians on the other hand, might simply listen to the music because it has a good beat, catch melody, or good tune.  Finally, I feel the study Rachel did at the mall further proves and validates both hers and my views about the specific genre of music and its affects on different ethnic groups.


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