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Wednesday, May 6, 2009
chapter 9 synopsis
Chapter nine addresses the occurrence of scientific looking. This term refers not only to “looking” but also the visual culture in the world around us that we take for granted. It includes a wide range of media such as fine art to popular films and television to advertising and visual data. After reading this chapter, I became more aware of the bond between images and how they interact with scientific practices and in media appropriations of various scientific methods.
We are now capable of seeing things that were considered impossible just 50 years ago. Back then, it was only a medical dream to be able to “see” inside a person’s body. Today, we take the MRI for granted as an important tool for doctors to diagnose a person’s illness or injury.
Today, we are aware that scientific knowledge is dependent on social, political, and cultural influences. The alliance between science and art during the Renaissance Period (14th -17th centuries) was a major topic of discussion and exploration. During the early part of that period, they were both very much intermingled since various artists were consumed with creating anatomically correct figures in their artwork.
One such artist was Leonardo da Vinci. It was his work of art, Vitruvian Man, an observational drawing of the male anatomy, that has become an iconic example of meshing the worlds of science and art into one. This masterpiece, drawn with pen and ink, depicted a male figure in two superimposed positions with his arms and legs apart placed inside a circle and a square. Today, that drawing may be found in every type of institution from hospitals to museums.
Later, during the 19th Century, people truly started to see and explore further the connection between these two subjects. The relationship between using art and photography was found useful with the creation of X-Ray technology. Other discoveries such as computed tomography, scanning, ultrasound, and as I mentioned earlier, the MRI, are all examples of medical imaging or “looking.”
Throughout the twentieth century these discoveries were at the forefront of a major shift worldwide toward the visual means of having the ability to represent knowledge. This is evident within the scientific community with the growth in the area of medical imaging which trained professionals will decode to help their patients.
I can’t imagine anything more rewarding than to show a couple a snapshot of their baby before he or she is even born. Sonograms have made that a common day occurrence around the world. It not only provides peace of mind to the couple, but can also detect any problems with the baby or mother before a serious problem could occur.
The Human Genome Project is another example of the interrelationship between science and art. This was an international research project to crack the DNA code and create a genetic map of a human being. This was done with the assistance of art or visual media and the scientific communities working together towards a common goal. I am sure that within my lifetime there will be great strides in medicine and healthcare to prolong our lives due to the basic integration of science and art.
We are now capable of seeing things that were considered impossible just 50 years ago. Back then, it was only a medical dream to be able to “see” inside a person’s body. Today, we take the MRI for granted as an important tool for doctors to diagnose a person’s illness or injury.
Today, we are aware that scientific knowledge is dependent on social, political, and cultural influences. The alliance between science and art during the Renaissance Period (14th -17th centuries) was a major topic of discussion and exploration. During the early part of that period, they were both very much intermingled since various artists were consumed with creating anatomically correct figures in their artwork.
One such artist was Leonardo da Vinci. It was his work of art, Vitruvian Man, an observational drawing of the male anatomy, that has become an iconic example of meshing the worlds of science and art into one. This masterpiece, drawn with pen and ink, depicted a male figure in two superimposed positions with his arms and legs apart placed inside a circle and a square. Today, that drawing may be found in every type of institution from hospitals to museums.
Later, during the 19th Century, people truly started to see and explore further the connection between these two subjects. The relationship between using art and photography was found useful with the creation of X-Ray technology. Other discoveries such as computed tomography, scanning, ultrasound, and as I mentioned earlier, the MRI, are all examples of medical imaging or “looking.”
Throughout the twentieth century these discoveries were at the forefront of a major shift worldwide toward the visual means of having the ability to represent knowledge. This is evident within the scientific community with the growth in the area of medical imaging which trained professionals will decode to help their patients.
I can’t imagine anything more rewarding than to show a couple a snapshot of their baby before he or she is even born. Sonograms have made that a common day occurrence around the world. It not only provides peace of mind to the couple, but can also detect any problems with the baby or mother before a serious problem could occur.
The Human Genome Project is another example of the interrelationship between science and art. This was an international research project to crack the DNA code and create a genetic map of a human being. This was done with the assistance of art or visual media and the scientific communities working together towards a common goal. I am sure that within my lifetime there will be great strides in medicine and healthcare to prolong our lives due to the basic integration of science and art.
Monday, May 4, 2009
pick the perp journal
After looking at the website http://picktheperp.com, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of nausea. Not only are these people demoralized on the internet, but they were not convicted of any crime and don’t deserve that type of public disgrace. This site should not be legal and it is apparent that the creators of this site are reaping the monetary rewards from someone else’s worst nightmare.
I don’t see any positive reason for creating this website since the person in question has not even been convicted. If a person is seen on that site, unfortunately, they will be presumed guilty whether or not they are innocent since we all are aware of “what you see is what you get.” The creators are just playing games with what is public record and I find that obscene.
Obviously, there are those people that deserve to be displayed in that manner after being convicted, but let’s take a step back. Keeping that in mind, did the creator of “Pick the Perp” ever think twice about what kind of damage that site could do for a child of a parent or relative who is under investigation? I am sure if he or she did, this would not be on line.
Honestly, this type of public disgracing seems extremely archaic. It has no value and everyone looses. I truly am shocked and feel there is absolutely no reason for a site like this to exist. In the year 2009, we should have moved way beyond degrading someone to entertain ourselves.
I don’t see any positive reason for creating this website since the person in question has not even been convicted. If a person is seen on that site, unfortunately, they will be presumed guilty whether or not they are innocent since we all are aware of “what you see is what you get.” The creators are just playing games with what is public record and I find that obscene.
Obviously, there are those people that deserve to be displayed in that manner after being convicted, but let’s take a step back. Keeping that in mind, did the creator of “Pick the Perp” ever think twice about what kind of damage that site could do for a child of a parent or relative who is under investigation? I am sure if he or she did, this would not be on line.
Honestly, this type of public disgracing seems extremely archaic. It has no value and everyone looses. I truly am shocked and feel there is absolutely no reason for a site like this to exist. In the year 2009, we should have moved way beyond degrading someone to entertain ourselves.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
chapter 8 synopsis
Chapter Eight makes a clear distinction between the differences in modern culture as compared to postmodern culture. Some of the aspects of modernity that remain relevant in today's society are the emphasis on science, technology and progress. Postmodern culture tends to have a cynical sense that everything has been done before and therefore, has an obsession with remakes. It is common knowledge today that, “images” are more real than reality itself.
People today, in the postmodern world are constantly searching for recognition that reality is not simply mirrored in human understanding. It is developed as the mind tries to grasp its own particular personal reality. For this reason, postmodernism is highly skeptical of explanations which claim to be valid for all groups, cultures, traditions, or races, and instead focuses on the truths of each person.
Interpretation is the most important factor in the postmodern world of thinking. Reality only comes into focus through our interpretations of what the world means to us individually. We all have to be aware that postmodernism relies on concrete experiences and not abstract principles. The author explains that we do not live in a postmodern world, but instead a world with touches of modernity that are in constant tension with post-modernity. The philosopher, Jean Baudrillard has shared his view that the twentieth century was a time when there was an explosion of hyper-reality, or a time where images replaced the meaning and representation regarding art, media and advertising.
Postmodernism denies the reality of any decisive principles, and it lacks the optimism of there being a scientific, philosophical, or religious truth which could explain everything for everybody. The irony of the postmodern view is that, in placing all principles under the scrutiny of skepticism, it must realize that even its own principles come into question.
Although we don’t have an exact date as to when postmodernism began, we can assume that it began sometime after 1968. Some theorists describe postmodernism as, "cultural logic of late capitalism." This definition certainly emphasizes the important role of various economic and political conditions of the time.
Modernity relates to a time in history characterized by industrialization, with an emphasis on the value of science and the progress that it creates. On the other hand, postmodernism emphasizes the demise of the nation-state and the skeptical embrace of science and technology referring back to the nuclear bombing of Japan. Modern thought was characterized by a sense of “knowing” that was always looking forward, positive and had the belief that one will always be able to find the truth. The postmodern thought process is characterized by the questioning of the supposed structural knowledge.
Some questions the book raises to relate to postmodernism are: “Can we really know the human subject?” “How can any experience be pure or unmediated?” “Do we really know that progress is always a good thing?” Therefore, postmodernism is described as questioning the very framework that supports society or the “master narrative.”
Postmodernism emphasizes irony and a sense of one's own involvement in popular culture and images. Conversely, modern culture basically opposed the saturation of the world with images. Postmodernism blurs the line between low and high class and makes it extremely difficult to obtain an unbiased viewpoint on culture from the outside.
Animation films such as Shrek help one to understand postmodernism. This type of film is a parody of older films and draws in the adult audience as well as the children. This movie is layered with references that date back to early fairy tales as well as what is current in today’s world. The Postmodern culture allows the ability and unfortunately, the availability to change oneself. We are living during a time where people are flooded with images that are politically or aesthetically pleasing, and messages hidden beneath their glitzy surface. With plastic surgery on the rise, the modern ideal of being who you are has changed drastically. Young girls today are being flooded with media advertisements implying they are not good enough without a little touch up here and there. It is giving a whole generation the impression that you are not good enough to succeed in today’s world without a trip to the plastic surgeon.
It is my hope that our postmodern society is on the way to changing that type of mindset and leaving a positive legacy for our children. Hopefully, their future will be filled with appreciation, not just for the world around them, but more importantly, for what God has given each of them as a person.
People today, in the postmodern world are constantly searching for recognition that reality is not simply mirrored in human understanding. It is developed as the mind tries to grasp its own particular personal reality. For this reason, postmodernism is highly skeptical of explanations which claim to be valid for all groups, cultures, traditions, or races, and instead focuses on the truths of each person.
Interpretation is the most important factor in the postmodern world of thinking. Reality only comes into focus through our interpretations of what the world means to us individually. We all have to be aware that postmodernism relies on concrete experiences and not abstract principles. The author explains that we do not live in a postmodern world, but instead a world with touches of modernity that are in constant tension with post-modernity. The philosopher, Jean Baudrillard has shared his view that the twentieth century was a time when there was an explosion of hyper-reality, or a time where images replaced the meaning and representation regarding art, media and advertising.
Postmodernism denies the reality of any decisive principles, and it lacks the optimism of there being a scientific, philosophical, or religious truth which could explain everything for everybody. The irony of the postmodern view is that, in placing all principles under the scrutiny of skepticism, it must realize that even its own principles come into question.
Although we don’t have an exact date as to when postmodernism began, we can assume that it began sometime after 1968. Some theorists describe postmodernism as, "cultural logic of late capitalism." This definition certainly emphasizes the important role of various economic and political conditions of the time.
Modernity relates to a time in history characterized by industrialization, with an emphasis on the value of science and the progress that it creates. On the other hand, postmodernism emphasizes the demise of the nation-state and the skeptical embrace of science and technology referring back to the nuclear bombing of Japan. Modern thought was characterized by a sense of “knowing” that was always looking forward, positive and had the belief that one will always be able to find the truth. The postmodern thought process is characterized by the questioning of the supposed structural knowledge.
Some questions the book raises to relate to postmodernism are: “Can we really know the human subject?” “How can any experience be pure or unmediated?” “Do we really know that progress is always a good thing?” Therefore, postmodernism is described as questioning the very framework that supports society or the “master narrative.”
Postmodernism emphasizes irony and a sense of one's own involvement in popular culture and images. Conversely, modern culture basically opposed the saturation of the world with images. Postmodernism blurs the line between low and high class and makes it extremely difficult to obtain an unbiased viewpoint on culture from the outside.
Animation films such as Shrek help one to understand postmodernism. This type of film is a parody of older films and draws in the adult audience as well as the children. This movie is layered with references that date back to early fairy tales as well as what is current in today’s world. The Postmodern culture allows the ability and unfortunately, the availability to change oneself. We are living during a time where people are flooded with images that are politically or aesthetically pleasing, and messages hidden beneath their glitzy surface. With plastic surgery on the rise, the modern ideal of being who you are has changed drastically. Young girls today are being flooded with media advertisements implying they are not good enough without a little touch up here and there. It is giving a whole generation the impression that you are not good enough to succeed in today’s world without a trip to the plastic surgeon.
It is my hope that our postmodern society is on the way to changing that type of mindset and leaving a positive legacy for our children. Hopefully, their future will be filled with appreciation, not just for the world around them, but more importantly, for what God has given each of them as a person.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
the way the music died journal entry
There has been a true "perfect storm" when it comes to the music industry and how so much of it has changed over the past 20 years. Due to the consolidation of the various record labels of the past, the music industry has had to pay a high price in artistry. Since major corporations were also taking over or merging with record companies, the focus of the music was no longer the important goal. It was now all about big business and corporate quarterly earnings. The music industry was not meant to be short term oriented. It takes time to develop an artist and a following, but due to public companies constantly having to turn profits they are constantly looking for the next quick superstar and hit. The quality of the music and performance has now taken the back seat. David Crosby speaks about how much has changed since corporate America has taken over the industry that he loved. He explained how when he first started in the industry he was surrounded by record company executives who were record collectors and truly loved music. He is frustrated to see that recording companies are now run strictly by lawyers and accountants who have no knowledge of music nor seem to care to find out. Their sole focus is on the big money. MTV has also had a huge impact on the music industry. When it came on the scene 20 years ago, it solidified the beginning of the end of the way music had always been received. It was all about marketing a new "product" and didn't care about the substance.MTV could also make or break an artist. Some feel that if a song is played over and over the freshness eventually wears down and so does the infatuation with the artist. Instead of following the saying, "less is more," MTV believed in the idea of "more is more."The industry today is treating music as a disposable item. Convenience has taken over in today's busy world. We don't have to go to the store and buy a new CD or album to hear our favorite song; we can simply download it on line. This also brings about the topic of internet piracy. This has been a true source of loss of revenue for the music industry. It seems society is constantly one step behind technology when it comes to protecting its interests. The bottom line is that it is obvious that the music industry has changed due to Corporate America, technology and the people involved. This was inevitable, as is what will occur 20 years from now. Nothing can stay the same forever, but there is a lesson here that we all must learn. It is important to gain knowledge from the past and apply it to the future. I don't feel the music "died," I believe it has evolved, for better or worse, it is up to the individual to decide.
journal entry on merchants of cool
The Merchants of Cool shows how marketers observe what teenager’s interests are to help them advertise and sell a product or image. In life people are constantly changing, especially teenagers. Growing up, a person is constantly changing. From your morals, values, style, and goals change creates the person you are. However, a lot of what a person’s morals and values may be is influenced by marketing and advertising. For example, many marketers today are using sex to sell. Although this has been going on for a while now, it has only gotten worse. Commercials even on children’s channels are sometimes very inappropriate. It only takes five minutes to catch a child’s attention. Children will imitate and copy anything they find “cool.” That child could easily think that it is okay to show too much skin, or speak in a tasteless matter to adults. Advertisers need to realize that our children today are the future, and they aren’t just advertising to teenagers. Our culture could lose sight of what really matters in life. The media advertises too much of how a person should dress, speak, and act, when we should be open to all different kinds of personalities. I can already see how people today are afraid to be themselves because we are always being judged by someone else. However, when it comes down to it, maybe sometimes we are judging ourselves. If we don’t want our culture to lose complete diversity we need to stop immating what we believe to be cool, and simply be who we are.
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