Hw 13 - Feed B

I just finished feed and I can’t believe how horrible it makes me feel. I’m frustrated with the whole society; they just seem so ignorant and just plain out retarded. The whole society was filled with self absorbed consumers; it makes me sad to think that people actually view my generation as being so horrible. In the end I ended up hating everyone all together but realized it was suppose to be an allegory for me and my friends. I’m not sure why but I view the book as a personal insult to me. I think Titus is so ignorant! But truthfully I would just be calling myself ignorant as well. It’s killing me to admit this but if I look at the general picture I might actually relate more to Titus and his friends than Violet and her father.

At the beginning of the unit I never viewed any of my technology use as being something bad. I still don’t in a way, now I just blame myself. I wish I could be more like Violets dad and use the “feed” to benefit myself in some way other than to always just be entertained. This might sound stupid but I have the sudden urge to be educated in some way, I don’t know what about but I rather just cover up this guilty feeling the book left me with. I’m sure it will go away and I will be back to my old ways in no time but that’s because it’s what I’m use to, reading this book has made me realize how much I’m in the dark about the world around me.

Bert Brecht said that, "Art is not a Mirror with which to reflect the World. It is a Hammer with which to shape it." I think the mirror is the hammer, by reflecting the world so that people can gain a better understanding of something is just the start. By taking what you have learned and making it into a hammer for yourself is what feed represents. True that Anderson did not give a solution to fix the mess my generation has created but is work being the mirror just allows others to then turn it into hammers for themselves if they want to. I now view feed as artwork because he made me gain new insight into something that was just in my face the whole time, it’s up to me if I change the world or not. I think in any situation art can be either a mirror or hammer, most artist create art to be hammers but can be viewed as a mirror if not viewed in the right light.

HW 12

For starters, I’m ashamed to be associated with the teens in Feed. For an allegory about my generation I think Feed seems to do a good job summing us up. As most allegories do have drastic views to a situation I think once people get over the whole façade of a chip implanted in your head and start to look between the lines Anderson picked up on a teen’s everyday life style.
I share so much in common with them that it’s making me rethink my life style. Although I don’t technically have a Feed, I am always connected. My phone makes it possible for me to have a mini Feed where ever I go. I continuously say that my generation’s use of technology is harmless. In the book there excessive use of the Feed left them blind to the world deteriorating around them. My own obsession with “myself” and the activities within it makes me not care for current news or bother to study past events in the world. You could call me blind just like the teens in Feed but before I had no real grasp of the surreal impact that it could have. I might look down on the teens in Feed but I would be lying to myself if I didn’t say I was just like them.
Some ideas that came to mind when thinking of Feed’s teens were how lonely they seemed, but to be honest it seemed as though the technology was a companion. This was the most relatable concept from the book. I often don’t feel lonely because I can easily text a friend or be entertained by my music or television. I even amaze myself when I spend a whole day in my room locked up watching TV for hours or on the computer. Moments when I’m alone and my room is quite I become anxious and feel the need to do something else.
If my dad were to read this book and see how a teen party is, he would agree completely. In this case I disagree with Feed. At family gatherings my cousins and I usually get together in one section of the house and hang out there. One time my dad came into the room and at that instant everyone was either looking at their phones, ipod or on the computer. He made a comment on how pathetic we all were and left the room. That could have been a perfect example of Feed’s teens but I don’t care how advanced the world becomes; people love to party and conjure up some chit chat with people. As much as I love to text people interaction can never get be put down by technology.
I’m truly beginning to realize how out of touch I am with my fundamental living. I’m not sure if I’m using the term correctly but things I once valued have become foreign and irrelevant. For sure Feed has opened up my eyes to how dense my generation can be and made me want to change my own lifestyle.

reminded me of class

reminded me of class

HW 11

My experiment: Go a whole afternoon and night after school being un-digitalized.

Results: Every Wednesday feels sort of like a Friday to me. When I go home I don’t do any HW those days because of internship the next morning. So yesterday (Wednesday) when I got home after school my first instinct was to turn on the TV and relax. I did this for about 10 minutes when the idea of HW came to mind and then this experiment. I jumped up and shut it off ASAP. I was sitting on my bed with nothing to do. Every idea that came to mind had something to do with technology. It made me think how different my life would be if I had none of these things, I realized how much of my day was actually made up of these possessions. With nothing to do I turned to HW and even then I had the urge to play music or listen to my ipod. Most of my HW now is even technology based so I couldn’t finish it. Day turned into night and the hours felt so long! My experiment failed because after only after 4 ½ hours of trying I couldn’t do it anymore. I started off by attempting to do some HW online but it didn’t work because the urge to surf the internet took over and from then on I was completely digitalized.

HW 10 - Informal Research Internet

I find visuals to be much more educational so I found these great pictures to describe the possible caner of cell phone use.



http://www.marques-houston.com

I think the picture itself interesting. I for one never knew that cell phone use could even cause radiation to people; so to see that only after about 15 minutes that’s how much radiation the person got, it makes me think of the times I spend hours and hours on the phone. After seeing this, the first thing that came to mind was people who spend several hours in the day on the phone due to their job. The amount of damage that these people must have is probably shocking. Since I can’t help but to make phone calls, this just makes me realize I might use my speaker phone more for future reference.


Healthy Energy Lifestyle

People have come out with a product to put on your electronics so that you don't get bad energy from them. They are using state-of-the-art bio-wave technology to help prevent bad energy. It's based off of 'chi' materials that neutralizes bad energy.


Healthy Energy Lifestyle

Can your cell phone give you cancer?

This article seemed to have a lot more evidence than the others. Like it turns out that radiations from phones spark the cell division problems that lead to cancerous tumors. But there is also no concrete evidence to suggest that the actual mobile signals in and of themselves cause long-term health risks. With such major arguments it makes me wonder why people still use cell phones, or at least make it known in the news. As I said before I won’t stop using cell phone but I will use my speaker phone to lower the chance of getting a brain tumor.

Phones with High and Low radiation:



It sucks to see that all the nice phones have the most radiation.

HW 8

Ja Min!
Your video is so cute, If is a good representation of yourself. I really liked your quote bubbles explaining the devices significance to yourself. I also really liked the idea of breaking your video into two parts, one being the electronics and then the other things you get from the internet like watching anime and menga. I think you had a unique vision and executed it well.
You mention the thought process of making the video and the reactions it caused you. You also mention the comparison of lifestyles that you and your sister share. I also agree that I would not like my little siblings to spend too much time on the internet. Finally the biggest argument that I agree with is watching yourself (or you’re younger sister) use electronics. I have noticed as well the same zoned look people seem to have.
When I look back at my video I notice the dull emotions on my face. Even though that is what it might seem on the outside, inside I am actually enjoying myself. I think case I can relate your younger sister, not in having a sad face but one of concentration into something you like.
I think an idea worth expanding is that you mention it was awkward for you to show your possessions on the video to people. Why do you think showing the electronics you own make you feel vulnerable when others seem to love to flaunt their possessions?
After viewing your video it made me consider the joy that I get from the internet or other electronic devices. You seem to love what electronics provide for you. I see anime has become a big part of your life and that may be because of the internet or TV, who knows. It just made me think of what things make me happy and what is the main source that provides those things.
You and I seem to have similar insights and I look forward to seeing your angle of insights on this unit.
–Lauren


Na Lin!!!
My initial reaction to the video was that it is so cute! I loved how you obeyed your parents’ wishes and substituted yourself with the stuffed animals. You seem very creative! I also thought you did something that no one else did and that was adding in pictures of what you thought the internet represented.
To be honest it seems like you had so many great ideas about this topic, that it was hard to follow your thought of process. If I’m correct I think your main argument is that the internet traps us, therefore we should not let that happen and choose a free path instead.
You also mention that people always have a crazy instinct to want the newest thing that comes out. When I was a child I never begged for toys that I saw on television. I feel like this has carried with me now, maybe I’m just lying to myself but I feel as though I don’t need to have new things but that new things seem to catch my eye and if I can’t have them I’m fine with that.
The quotes that stood out to be the most were “Don't we get bored; every bird wants to be free so they can fly.” And “If our lies pile up we may drown in them, the world is full of lies.” I think these tow are worth expanding your ideas. What does lying have to do with the use of technology? Do you think the use of technology causes these lies? Also to answer your first question I think looking within yourself is one possible answer. As for me when I get bored I just get the urge to move on to the next website.
You made me really think more about how much my priorities have changed as a child. I use to value my stuffed animals and crayons as my most prized possessions. Now I have my cell phone, Ipod, laptop and so many other things that I keep near and dear to my heart. I never thought of the transitions between those two phases of my life.
You seem to have so many ideas and I’m looking forward to see you explain yourself more. I think you have some solid ideas and good arguments to offer to this class. I look forward to see what else you have to say! :)
-Lauren