Our society today is characterized by a preoccupation with the new modes of technology. We spend numerous hours playing with our tech toys, chatting endlessly online and leading lives dependent on these technological innovations.  The sad reality is that people can no longer leave them behind, it's as though we have been corrupted by some greater force. I can't imagine what life used to be like without these devices, and what the future has in store,  i am terrified, honestly, i wonder what lies ahead? Certainly, strides are being made with a positive intent for a brighter and more prosperous future, but will all normalcy be lost?

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Our class lecture today was interesting. We discussed consumerism, and how the media targets individuals for financial gain, we also commented on talk shows and took an in depth look at Oprah Winfrey. I find it interesting how people are so negative, when i watch the Oprah show i don't get all subjective and critical, i watch for sheer entertainment. I don't feel as though i am being victimized by advertising companies, i don't even pay attention to the commercials, i zoom through them.

I like the content, purely content dependent on the subject matter of course, but to say that the sole purpose of these kinds of shows is to instigate spending, you gotta be kidding. What are people smoking nowadays. Oprah teaches valuable lessons, she preaches equality and generosity, i am not sure she should be categorized as a product seller, sure she has shows that relate to shopping and favorite things, but clearly thats not what her program is all about. Additionally, the viewer is responsible for what he or she takes away from the program, i guess for the people whom believe that there is a conspiracy, they are missing the bigger picture, i might be in denial but i don't think so. Then again, we are all entitled to our opinions, freedom of speech, discussions only blossom over conflicting beliefs and criticisms right .... !

Our class lecture yesterday was awesome. I was engaged and eager to participate. The class discussion provoked a fire within me. The debate about why we the public audience, choose to watch shows that portray the lifestyles of the rich and famous was tackled. This subject matter made me curious, and i was overwhelmed with questions. First, i questioned what we learns from these programs and what captivates our attention? Then I proceeded to asked myself, Is it the pursuit of the lifestyle or the dream of achieving status or are we just engulfed by the drama that is ignited by the affluent minority? Additionally, i thought about whether or not the networks are doing a disservice to our youth, and whether the occupation with material possessions and vanity is healthy, as opposed to the alternative. These shows are based on superficiality, they project a world that is both unrealistic and unrepresentative of the majority, a limited view, and like they say life doesn't imitate art. A perspective has been cast on he lifestyle of the rich, it has been more or less a stigmatized outlook, the media has demonstrated that the rich subculture embody individuals whom lack ambition, willpower and are either addicted to some narcotic to battle depression or are violent and barbaric in nature. These show never seem to reveal the positive side of being wealthy, sure they demonstrate how the rich contribute to society in purely a monetary value but fail to portray then in a positive light.

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Everyday we are advancing and modifying our current state of life. The ways in which we interact are swiftly changing, we no longer take the time to create intimacy, we submerge ourselves in different modes of communication, rather then gathering with friends we message, we choose to connect through servers. I wonder what will happen next, will we lose ourselves within this form of networking? We are so caught up in checking our profiles online and keeping a close eye on our message boards and incoming mail, that we fail to see beyond, we don't take a moment to rest, and we lose sight of what is important in life. What has happened to our culture?

My First Post

 Media, Technology and Education

I really enjoyed the lecture today, the class material is fascinating, and provokes discussion. I am interested to learn about the influence that the media has on today's youth, and how i can benefit by learning more about the different mediums accessible. I am eager to learn how to create projects on the internet that i am not familiar with. I love gadgets and i love keeping in touch with friends via the internet, it allows me to stay in contact with people i haven't had the ability to see in years. The web is a great tool, it can keep me up to date  on about almost everything, with a simple click. I hope as a future educator, I can incorporate a love for computers and teach my students about the multitude of means accessible to them with a stroke of a key.