Blog Three: Technology

The promise of technology is that our lives can be simplified to better utilize time, money, our environment, etc., yet some people say many technologies do quite the opposite.  These critics argue that some technologies create a paradox, in that people believe they are freeing up our lives, but really the technologies are tying us down.  In thoughtful paragraphs, reflect and respond to the following:

Step One:  List technologies you use every day, both simple and complex (refer to discussion notes on simple vs. complex technology.)  After your brainstorm, list these technologies in terms of how crucial they are to your life.

Step Two:  Reflect on your list above.  What would an outsider say about your list?  The critics?  Do any of these technologies create a paradox?  Which ones separate us from the natural world?  Which ones bring us closer to the natural world?  How do these technologies impact your view of other people?  Of rationality? 

Step Three:  Connect your views on technology with those themes you perceive so far in the novel.  Which technologies (both yours and in the novel) bring us closer to individualism?  Which ones bring us closer to universalism?  How do they help us cope with the fear of death? 
Which technologies transfer our decision-making to technological systems?

Step Four:  Agree or disagree, with explanation, with one of the below quotes:

“As technology enhances human capacities, it simultaneously erodes other capacities and experiences: it intervenes between our senses and the world, mystifies formerly mundane tasks, and creates new forms of human dependence and ignorance” (Melley, 78).

“As technological rationality extends life, it inadvertently spawns anxiety about machines, uncertainty about the real, a resurgence of irrationality, and a heightened fear of mortality” (Melley, 81). 

Melly, Timothy. "Technology, Rationality, Modernity: An Approach to White Noise." Engles, Tim, and John N. Duvall, Ed. Approaches to Teaching Delillo's White Noise. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2006. 73-83. Print.

Blog Two: Anti-Advertisement

A big aspect of Don DeLillo’s White Noise is our culture’s increasing dependence on mass media information.  Your assignment is to create an Anti-Ad that showcases, and makes fun of, one of our dependencies.

Today will be a three part blog in preparation for your Anti-Ad:

Part One:

Brainstorm at least ten iconic products or companies in our society (Note:  Do not list and go into beer or cigarette products – those have been discussed in detail in health classes.  Focus more on consumer culture.)

            Ex: Apple, Evian (no, you may not use these in your list now....)

For two of the above products you listed, find an iconic ad that people connect with the product, then complete the following:

1.     Post a link and/or picture of the ad to your blog post

2.     Answer the following questions:

a.      Why do we (society) think we need the product?

b.     What does the product do for us? What are the benefits?

c.      What are the side effects of the product?

Part Two:

Browse the following websites to find effective and appealing commercials/advertisements.  Take some time to look at a number of sites so you can get a feeling of typical techniques used and products advertised.  Also note the emotions the companies are trying to elicit. 

·       http://10steps.sg/inspirations/artworks/50-extraordinary-and-attractive-billboards/

·       http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1030291-50-best-super-bowl-commercials-in-nfl-history

·       http://newsdrilldigital.com/?p=874

·       http://www.onextrapixel.com/2012/02/07/50-creative-and-effective-minimalist-print-ads/

·       http://spyrestudios.com/hilarious-print-ads/

·       http://www.businessinsider.com/the-10-best-ads-of-2012-2012-11#10-cartier-lodysse-de-cartier-by-marcel-paris-1 - 2012 Best Corporate Ads

·       http://www.therichest.com/rich-list/most-influential/top-10-corporate-publicity-stunts-across-the-world/ - Corporate Publicity Stunts

·       http://www.cbsnews.com/media/top-10-most-viral-super-bowl-commercials-of-all-time/2/ - Top 10 Most Viral Super Bowl Commercials of All Time

·       http://bestadsever.com/

·       http://www.cracked.com/photoplasty_490_19-famous-advertisements-revised-accuracy_p19/#14 - Some examples of Anti-Ads

  

In a thoughtful and well-organized paragraph or two respond to the following:

What advertisement do you find that display the most overt use of propaganda? What advertisements do you find to be the most subtle? What advertising techniques are used the most? Which advertisement do you think reaches the widest range of audiences? Which do you think reaches the narrowest audience? Try to predict at which time slot and channel certain advertisements are aimed. Which advertisement is the most surprising?  If someone from outside our culture watched/looked at a number of these advertisements, what would they believe about our societal values?  Why?

Do not worry about watching every single advertisement and answering all of the above questions. I do, however, expect you to watch a range of ads and provide a thoughtful and eloquent response to current advertisements in our society. Use examples with links or pictures to elucidate your points.

  

Part Three:

Definition of Anti Ad:  an art project of sorts that's basically the philosophical mirror image of the traditional ad.  

Choose two ads you viewed today and explain how you would create an Anti-Ad for that product.
Make sure you respond to the following:  What does the advertisement demonstrate about American society?  How can you make fun of our values using the product?

Anti-Ad Example Taken from Adbusters at https://www.adbusters.org/spoofads/environmental

Post a response to the blog as well as a thoughtful response to a peer's blog by Sunday night.

Blog One: Emerging Themes

White Noise immediately introduces us to some of the reoccurring ideas of the novel: 

·      purchase and consumption

·      the overarching preoccupation with death

·      omnipresent television and mass media

·      the modern desire for individualism coupled with the comfort of consensus

·      commentary on contemporary academia.

Discuss how the novel treats one of these topics by finding examples where the topic is mentioned, then reflecting on how the author and/or narrator approaches the topic.  Are they critical?  Supportive?  Neutral?  Do the opinions of the author and narrator differ?  How do you know?

Also, since this book comments on modern society (as modern as the 80’s came!), comment on how you see this topic reflected/discussed in our society.

A caution: even though this is an informal writing, remember to keep in mind qualities of good writing.  Use your own voice, but don’t throw out the window what you know of strong vocabulary, sentence structure, and proper grammar.  In a digital world where a message you write today can haunt you in your job search, college application, and presidential election, it’s important to think about what you post online.  Welcome to modernity.