Monday, February 14, 2011

Blog #6

I think the main point that Jerkin is making is—why ban something from the classroom that is obviously growing with our communities and that has the potential to do great things. Why ban social networking sites, Wikipedia and Youtube when it offers so much towards a learning environment. I believe that this can be connected to what Weinberger believes that web 2.0 is miscellaneous, that information doesn’t have a set place anymore it is everywhere, that the web context can also be used for the same endless criteria. Web 2.0 allows multiple people to control what is going out into the digital world and what is not, in other words, who the “boss” is. This freedom can allow a child in school to create and market anything they want including tools and statements regarding classroom appropriate material.

As I can see the problem with allowing more freedom in the digital world in schools the more I think it is necessary to have it being taught. If this is apart of our culture and is apart of the world then it should be introduced to students to better have them prepared when they encounter it. Weinberger talks about how anyone can publish content on the internet and how information can reach anyone at anytime. I think this notion that “the average Joe” can in theory be heard is enlightening! I agree with Jerkin’s that this social networking should be allowed in schools. If for nothing more than the message it sends to kids. You can be heard and make a difference. I don’t understand why would exclude our youth from a valuable skill and a mind set that anyone’s voice is worth being heard.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Blog #5

“The meaning of a particular thing is enabled by the web of implicit meanings we call the world” (170). I believe that this is in relationship to how we as people see things in the real world and the connections we make to the unfamiliar to the familiar. If we see something in the digital world that doesn’t make sense we will connect it back to what we know to make sense or to figure the problem at hand out. Trying to make the web have meaning and this can also be said for other art forms. People connect what they know to make sense of what they don’t. In songs, visual art, poetry, the web even—people find underlining meaning. This is a great example of metaphor. Metaphor is used to disguise another meaning, for the super cliché, reading between the lines.

I thought it was interesting how Weinberger explained the start button in Allston gas stations. However the button was not raised and people got confused. (pg.153). I believe this is because people took what they knew and related back to what was in front of them. Trying to make sense of what was presented to them. We put “implicit” meaning to items to make full sense of that item. Like the gas station buttons, people tried to put implicit meaning to the upraised button to understand but failed. This lead to confusing for the consumer and there for was not proven to be a failed concept.

I chose the song “People Say” by Portugal the Man. I find patriotic meaning in this song and I find a different view of what that means. I have made a Photoshop image that I think a computer would have composed to make sense of this song. The image showcases protestors which is a right for Americans and there is also patriotic colors displayed within the image. This is not only how I believe a computer would see this song but me also.

Save me,

I can't be saved,

I won't.

I'm a president's son,

I don't need no soul.

All the soldiers say

"It'll be alright,

we may make it through the war

if we make it through the night."

All the people, they say:

"What a lovely day, yeah, we won the war.

May have lost a million men, but we've got a million more."

All the people, they say.

Share with me

all of your pain,

I won't share your love,

I need all your love.

All the soldiers say

"It'll be alright,

we may make it through the war

if we make it through the night."

All the people, they say:

"What a lovely day, yeah, we won the war.

May have lost a million men, but we've got a million more."

All the people, they say.

Save me,

I can't be saved,

I won't.

I don't need no love.

I'm a president's son.

All the soldiers say

"It'll be alright,

we may make it through the war

if we make it through the night."

All the people, they say:

"What a lovely day, yeah, we won the war.

May have lost a million men, but we've got a million more."

All the people, they say.

It'll be alright,

It'll be alright,

It'll be right now.