Having read through most of Selfe’s Essay, I can safely say that it touches on a lot of subject matter that is relevant to today, even though it was written in in the 90’s. For one it touches on the duality of man regarding technology. On half of any group of people can and probably will say both technology is a godsend and that it is a curse, making people lazy and more dependant on today’s advances.
She also talks about how contrary to the mass media’s belief; technology will not bring us together in a digital utopia. Bringing people together from across the globe will not magically make all our problems disappear; it will only magnify the issues. Plus, by bringing people together in a “global Village” we are merely exchanging geographic distances for moral and psychological distances.
Hopefully I will have time to further post on this blog as I read.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Technological Revolution p. 292-294 Slavik Shportko
1. Teachers have to update class technology in order to keep students interested.
2. Technology us becoming more expensive. Also, teachers have to reform their curriculum in order to introduce the technology. In addition, teachers must educate students to use the new technology.
3. Americans believe that technology is very helpful and convenient. However, there are thoughts about computers being dangerous for our future. The question that rises is: will we regret later?
4. Over the decade from 1990-2000 the technology became a large part of the English curriculum, which provided students enthusiasm to study English.
5. Al Gore (Vice President) realized that technology is able to provide people communication with foreigners. In addition, many businesses and government are accessed easier through technology.
6. Americans are frightened about the reformation into the technological world. In fact, some people are putting quite of effort to prevent the transition. Furthermore, reactions of those who are not willing to transition are something to look at.
7. The technology for us Americans provides so much, that we are just amazed at our technology. Technology is all about what we Americans value, and think. In addition, we realize that technology is something that we are in need of. Advertisements in this article are reflecting how technology is truly our.
American today feel undecided about technological reformation.
Author states “At one level, we believe in the pairing; we believe in the computer’s power, and we believe strongly in the beneficial ways that technology promises to improve our lives.” (292) Cynthia L. Selfe
The author sates that we think that technology is assisting us. However, is there any part of technology that is brings us any disadvantage?
2. Technology us becoming more expensive. Also, teachers have to reform their curriculum in order to introduce the technology. In addition, teachers must educate students to use the new technology.
3. Americans believe that technology is very helpful and convenient. However, there are thoughts about computers being dangerous for our future. The question that rises is: will we regret later?
4. Over the decade from 1990-2000 the technology became a large part of the English curriculum, which provided students enthusiasm to study English.
5. Al Gore (Vice President) realized that technology is able to provide people communication with foreigners. In addition, many businesses and government are accessed easier through technology.
6. Americans are frightened about the reformation into the technological world. In fact, some people are putting quite of effort to prevent the transition. Furthermore, reactions of those who are not willing to transition are something to look at.
7. The technology for us Americans provides so much, that we are just amazed at our technology. Technology is all about what we Americans value, and think. In addition, we realize that technology is something that we are in need of. Advertisements in this article are reflecting how technology is truly our.
American today feel undecided about technological reformation.
Author states “At one level, we believe in the pairing; we believe in the computer’s power, and we believe strongly in the beneficial ways that technology promises to improve our lives.” (292) Cynthia L. Selfe
The author sates that we think that technology is assisting us. However, is there any part of technology that is brings us any disadvantage?
Jim On:Selfe's Narrative #3
Cynthia L. Selfe in this narrative brings up the issue about a technological work place that will allow for a non-gender work place. Where people will be able to be credited for their work not based on their gender. She also goes on to tell about how we have not, so far succeeded in this lofty yet very difficult adventure. She explains in sort, that the gender role of males and females or so ingrained in American culture, they we have made very little progress in changing them.
Although there is a new technological landscape that as Selfe puts it, “retains a value on innovation, hard work and individual contributions of people of both genders, but only as they are practiced appropriately- with in the traditionally gendered context we have historically and culturally ratified for women and men in our culture (pg 307).” The landscape seems to follow the same pattern that is the way of American culture.
The essay goes on to explain a little of how the roles of women and men have been put into play in this country, how after WWII that women that were in the workforce during the war were sent back home so that their men would have jobs. During this time there was advancement in the home that set up the image that the women had it pretty good at home while the men worked hard to make the women’s life easier. It also gave omen the time to be the better mother and wife, the time to look into the things that the man did not need to know, like advancements in vaccines, nutrition etc.
The women now had the time to look good for her husband, to pursue aspirations of her own, perhaps education. In time the role of women began to show up in the work place again but in a slightly different way. Perhaps the competent secretary, yet pleasant to look at and have around.
So I think what Selfe is saying here, is that not to much has changed in our gender roles. Will the new technology allow for that change to occur? It does not seem so as of yet. Do American women and men really want it to change? It is hard to tell. I think that as far as people being recognized for their personal achievements, we are doing much better with this. Do men want women to be no longer alluring? Do women not want to be considered not alluring any more? Do we really want to look at each other as the same? Who knows?
Maybe, equals yet still different.
Although there is a new technological landscape that as Selfe puts it, “retains a value on innovation, hard work and individual contributions of people of both genders, but only as they are practiced appropriately- with in the traditionally gendered context we have historically and culturally ratified for women and men in our culture (pg 307).” The landscape seems to follow the same pattern that is the way of American culture.
The essay goes on to explain a little of how the roles of women and men have been put into play in this country, how after WWII that women that were in the workforce during the war were sent back home so that their men would have jobs. During this time there was advancement in the home that set up the image that the women had it pretty good at home while the men worked hard to make the women’s life easier. It also gave omen the time to be the better mother and wife, the time to look into the things that the man did not need to know, like advancements in vaccines, nutrition etc.
The women now had the time to look good for her husband, to pursue aspirations of her own, perhaps education. In time the role of women began to show up in the work place again but in a slightly different way. Perhaps the competent secretary, yet pleasant to look at and have around.
So I think what Selfe is saying here, is that not to much has changed in our gender roles. Will the new technology allow for that change to occur? It does not seem so as of yet. Do American women and men really want it to change? It is hard to tell. I think that as far as people being recognized for their personal achievements, we are doing much better with this. Do men want women to be no longer alluring? Do women not want to be considered not alluring any more? Do we really want to look at each other as the same? Who knows?
Maybe, equals yet still different.
Corrina: "Land of Equal Oppurtunity" and "Land of Difference"
I was in the group that looked at narrative #2 by Cynthia Selfe, "Land of Equal Oppurtunity" and "Land of Difference". Selfe takes a look at a few different ads that show white families portrayed living comfortable, happy lives. Selfe talks about the American cultural belief that we are the land of equal oppurtunity for all, regardless of class, race and religion. But in these ads they only show white or as Selfe calls them, "mighty white". None of the ads viewed show any other race or group of people. Our constitution says we are all equal, but over the years history has shown us that this isn't the case. Our nation has been responsible for genocide, and slavery and other crimes against people "different" from us. But now in this day and age, all races ARE equal. They are portrayed in commercials, magazines, and movies. I belive that because America has struggled with slavery, the "mighty white" have had a longer time to prosper and become powerful, that is why they were shown more in ads back in the 80's and 90's. It has taken us as an American whole a while to finally become the land of equal oppurtunity but we've made it, at last.
Selfe claims that "Our cultural experience, indeed, tells us something very different-that America is the land of oppurtunity only for some people." (page 304 par 1) In Selfe's time I would have toagree completely with this statement, but today in the 21st century we ARE the land of equaloppurtunity for all people. We have had to deal with slavery and other hardships. Therefore it has taken a longer time to become the place where all races are equal. No nation starts perfect, we sure as heck didn't but after time and learning from our mistakes we have become the nation we always talked about being.
Selfe claims that "Our cultural experience, indeed, tells us something very different-that America is the land of oppurtunity only for some people." (page 304 par 1) In Selfe's time I would have toagree completely with this statement, but today in the 21st century we ARE the land of equaloppurtunity for all people. We have had to deal with slavery and other hardships. Therefore it has taken a longer time to become the place where all races are equal. No nation starts perfect, we sure as heck didn't but after time and learning from our mistakes we have become the nation we always talked about being.
Brandon's Selfe Post (Un-genderd Utopia)
Cynthia Selfe, in her essay "Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution", is communicating the narratives we assume to be true when relating to change and technology are often skewed from reality, and the way technology is changing. The third narrative Selfe covers, called the "Un-gendered Utopia" (305), is the assumption that when it comes to computers, males and females are equal. This narrative is terribly skewed, and full of idealism. In reality, there are more men using computers, and using them for productive tasks. Women are expected to use technology to better tend to their roll of "housewife". Selfe notes that most video games are designed for men/boys, and the technology is dominated by men.
Cynthia Selfe, makes many thought provoking claims, but her claim that "We cannot, indeed, even imagine, collectively, ways of relating to gender outside the context of our familiar historical and cultural set of experiences", I believe is very important. The problem is, we cannot even begin to relate to people of the opposite gender as anything but what history has taught us they are. To change this, we have to make the assumption that men and women are the same. In today's world, this assumption should be a given. Women and men are intellectually even and can accomplish all of the same tasks. If we look into history, when men started being the leaders of society, it was because they had to be. Women are generally smaller then men, and the only "hard" things to do at the time were physical labor. Men, being bigger, were thought of as leaders, because they could accomplish the most difficult tasks. In today's society, problems don't usually involve brute strength, so, in theory, women could easily rise to the top of the corporate ladder. The problem is the people with the 1950's era ideals, who refuse to believe everyone is equal.
Cynthia Selfe, makes many thought provoking claims, but her claim that "We cannot, indeed, even imagine, collectively, ways of relating to gender outside the context of our familiar historical and cultural set of experiences", I believe is very important. The problem is, we cannot even begin to relate to people of the opposite gender as anything but what history has taught us they are. To change this, we have to make the assumption that men and women are the same. In today's world, this assumption should be a given. Women and men are intellectually even and can accomplish all of the same tasks. If we look into history, when men started being the leaders of society, it was because they had to be. Women are generally smaller then men, and the only "hard" things to do at the time were physical labor. Men, being bigger, were thought of as leaders, because they could accomplish the most difficult tasks. In today's society, problems don't usually involve brute strength, so, in theory, women could easily rise to the top of the corporate ladder. The problem is the people with the 1950's era ideals, who refuse to believe everyone is equal.
Lest: Narrative #2 (301-305) - Emily Mathews
In Narrative #2 entitled "Land of Equal Opportunity" and "Land of Difference", Cynthia Selfe expresses to us a world that we have come to adapt. That we see as a perfect land, but why? Because we are white? Because we are not in poverty? She portrays the American landscape as being open to everybody. In Paragraph two she states, "male and female, regardless of color, class, or connection". After which she goes against what she was saying and continues to say how this is all backwards. That this is the "land of opportunity narrative", or and "American tale".
On page 304 she continually talks about the "land of opportunity". But in this she states that "America is the land of opportunity only for some people", "the differential school graduation rate for blacks, whites, and Hispanics, the fact that we have never had a woman president, and the presence of border guards and the razor-wire fences over the Rio Grande. All these things remind us that opportunity is a commodity generally limited to privileged groups within this country." I think that what she saying here is that even though we seem equal, whites still hold the seniority over most things that happen, over most things that we are allowed to have. That America isn't a land of opportunity for all people, but for only those who have what it takes to make it that far. I don't agree with what she is stating here. Even though the black and Hispanic graduation rate differs from the white graduation rate, we have a black president and doctors, dentists, lawyers, teachers, of all races. We have a barbed wire fence over the Rio Grande not to keep people out and way from the success they can have here in the U.S., but to help them become legal here to further their success. We have privileged groups here, as does every country.
What Cynthia Selfe is stating in these few paragraphs of Narrative #2 I suppose is that America comes with a price tag. That in order to have the "land of opportunity" you have to have acceptance towards other races, sexes, just human beings. The "land of opportunity" is created by us
On page 304 she continually talks about the "land of opportunity". But in this she states that "America is the land of opportunity only for some people", "the differential school graduation rate for blacks, whites, and Hispanics, the fact that we have never had a woman president, and the presence of border guards and the razor-wire fences over the Rio Grande. All these things remind us that opportunity is a commodity generally limited to privileged groups within this country." I think that what she saying here is that even though we seem equal, whites still hold the seniority over most things that happen, over most things that we are allowed to have. That America isn't a land of opportunity for all people, but for only those who have what it takes to make it that far. I don't agree with what she is stating here. Even though the black and Hispanic graduation rate differs from the white graduation rate, we have a black president and doctors, dentists, lawyers, teachers, of all races. We have a barbed wire fence over the Rio Grande not to keep people out and way from the success they can have here in the U.S., but to help them become legal here to further their success. We have privileged groups here, as does every country.
What Cynthia Selfe is stating in these few paragraphs of Narrative #2 I suppose is that America comes with a price tag. That in order to have the "land of opportunity" you have to have acceptance towards other races, sexes, just human beings. The "land of opportunity" is created by us
Summary for "lest we Think the Revolution is a Revolution Images of Technology and the Nature of Change" sumaary by dereks group
In the section that we read of "Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution" by Cynthia L. Selfe. The pages we read we read 309-322, the basic structure that Selfe is reffering to is that how the media is affecting women and men in different aspects. The first few paragraphs start out by breaking down how media is affecting the "womans" side of beauty, relating that as sooon as she is "connected" she is beautiful. She is depicted this way threough the TV add,(pages 309-315) and also the computer add. Selfe is adddressing women as products of sexuality, and seductivity. Later on, on pages 316-322, Selfe is addresing the mans point of view, and how a man is supposesed to be looked at as the"bread winner" and a more rebelious person. According to Selfe,"In these ads , we see reflected the roles that our culture can imagine women playing in relation to technology." (Selfe page 315) the way i view this, i can imagine and see howe society is looking at women as beign "seductive" and people wanting to buy into this technolgy of digital media, and video text. The thing is, this has benn going on for years, and she clearly shows it. If society is going to change, it needs to change now! Selfe explains it, but realyy how , why, and are we going to change?
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