Virilio - Open Sky

In Paul Virilio's Open Sky, a great deal of the book made sense and confused me at the same time.  The rhythm that he writes in is tough to follow, but I was able to grasp a lot of his ideas when I separated many of the quotes and analyzed them individually.  Reading this book towards the end of the semester was very beneficial for me.  I was able to draw comparisons to other books such as Alone Together.  Virilio and Turkle seem to be weary of the same issues that can arise from increasing technology, but Virilio goes in a different direction that is very interesting to think about.

I was able to grasp three main concepts from the book, though at times I wasn't sure what point he was actually trying to make with some of his examples.  The emergence of technology is actually changing nature, the internet is pulling us farther away from the "real world," and future technologies will eventually make us unable to determine the real world from the digital.

"Having been first mobile, then motorized, man will thus become motile, deliberately limiting his body's area of influence to a few gestures, a few impulses, like channel-surfing," permitting himself only the most restricted of views (p.17)."

I found this quote to be interesting because Virilio is suggesting that technology will do the exact opposite of what the claimed advantages of it are.  The purpose of the internet and electronic media in general is to provide more exposure of information to larger groups of people.  Ideally this process would create a broader perspective within the people using it, but Virilio believes that technology will begin to serve as a crutch for its users and they will stop thinking for themselves and instead just use a small amount of information that is presented to them.

Throughout the book he seems to relate this problem to the world both mentally and physically.  Not only will we limit our individual thoughts, but we will become more immobile and become unaware of the environment that we actually exist in.

"If the possibility of acting instantaneously without having to move about physically to open the blinds, switch on the light, or adjust the heating has partly removed the practical value of space and time intervals to the sole benefit of the speed interval of remote control, what will happen when this capacity for . . . instantaneous interaction migrates from the thickness of the walls or floors of the wired apartment and settles not on, but inside, the body of the inhabitants, introducing itself, lodging itself inside their bodies, in the closed circuits of their vital systems (p.54)?"

This idea was very significant to me due to the way that I was raised during my childhood.  I was not allowed to watch television during the week, and I spent nearly every summer in sports camps.  I am certainly glad that I developed athletic ability, and I developed a lot of social skills through interacting with different people in different sports.  However, I do feel like I missed out on a lot of skills that have been more difficult for me to develop now.  Not being around computers at home or being exposed to a great deal of technology has created a steep learning curve for me now that I am in a graduate program.  I certainly understand Virilio's thought of the pendulum swinging too far in one direction, but I believe a balance can be attained between our environment and existing technologies.

He uses the term "stereoscopy" to describe the simultaneous existence of the real and virtual worlds.  His argument is that the networked telecommunications do not actually exist, and are actually pulling us away from what is real life, therefore taking away from the human experience.  This leads into the idea of living in the moment, which is one of the areas in the book where I agree with him completely.  As the world speeds up and becomes more intense, we have a natural inclination to look into the future without processing the present.  I have experienced this personally as I have gotten older.  During high school, I was able to really enjoy a lot of experiences that I had.  As I have become older and moved through my career, responsibilities mount up and I often find myself doing enjoyable activities that I do not fully process while I am doing them.  It is difficult to enjoy meeting up with friends for dinner knowing that there is a laundry list waiting for me as soon as I walk out of the restaurant.  While some of this is self-induced, I do think that technology plays a role in how we live on a daily basis.  Communication happens at a much faster rate, and we as a society seem to feel the need to push ourselves constantly without ever decompressing.

The idea of mindfulness (being aware of the present) is something that I believe we could all benefit from.  This is a meditation practice that has been used in Buddhism for centuries, and Virilio makes very solid connections to this concept.  While I don't think that technology needs the dark cloud Virilio constructs through this text, I can relate to a lot of his ideas and how technology can create a negative impact on our daily lives.

Ulmer - Electronic Monuments Part Four

I really enjoyed reading Ulmer's explanation of Mind over Machine.  Throughout all of the readings we have done in this course, the constant question regarding developing technology is the ability to make a "gut" decision.

"For a network to be intelligent it must be able to generalize; given sufficient examples of inputs associated with one particular output, it should associate further inputs of the same type with that same output. (Dreyfus, 10)."

This quote leads into the question of how technology can simulate expertise, such as the situation Dreyfus mentions earlier about purchasing a car with one's instincts.  This reminded me of a car buying decision I was faced with just before I was accepted into this program.  A dealership in south Charlotte had an RX-8, which is the exact sports car I was looking for.  It was silver, the Grand Touring Model, and had every single option that I was looking for.  I drove it several times and even kept it over night when trying to make a buying decision.  To this day, it is the smoothest and best handling car I have ever driven.  For some reason, I felt like it would be a bad idea to purchase the car.  Ultimately, I kept my car and the RX-8 was gone from the lot the very next week.  One month later, the buyer returned the vehicle under North Carolina's lemon law.  It did not pass the state's safety inspection and had a rebuilt rear axle that was considered unsafe.  My gut instinct prevented me from buying the car, but can that feeling be duplicated?

It was also interesting to read about the effect that TV and media had on how law enforcement works at the ground level.  Certain images regarding the Miranda rights have been portrayed negatively to the public which has made law enforcement officials approach their jobs differently than they may otherwise operate.

"The authors warn the trainees to avoid performing scenarios made familiar by the media, such as the good cop/bad cop routine."

"The handbook adds that, because of TV, people expect interviewers to take notes.  To be credible, therefore, one should at least have the props of writing available, unless the situation becomes accusatory, in which case such props should be hidden, so as not to remind the suspects that what is said could be used against them."

To me, these quotes basically say to tailor the law to the situation in a manner that will be the most effective in convicting a suspect.  After reading this, I can think of dozens of different television shows that I have seen that portray law enforcement in this same light.

In chapter 8, Ulmer further explains the peripheral of MEmorials and their significance.  I liked that he listed the individual components of the Y Collaboration and expanded on them.

Questions:

1. Derrida's "Structure, Sign and Play in the Discourse of the Human Science" describes the center of a structure and the idea of the center existing outside of it.  Do you see emerging technology as a potential center of our society?


2. I enjoyed the reference to the Enron scandal being the "internal equivalent" to the 9/11 terrorist attack.  When banks fail and/or merge, who should the MEmorial be constructed toward?  Should it be the people losing their jobs, the people losing their investments, or the general public that is effected by the swing in the economy?

Ulmer - Electronic Monuments Part Three

The third section of this book is certainly a lot to take in.  After reading the story of Bradley McGee, I looked at several online news articles, as well as several sites dedicated to the tragedy.  With regards to this story, it certainly seems like people have embraced the idea of a MEmorial.  There were dozens of sites that were designed for the sole purpose of making people aware of his passing and that Sheryl Coe currently had custody of another child.  If constructing a MEmorial is designed to form a type of collective intelligence to create awareness of national tragedies, shouldn't more people be aware of this?  Shouldn't this have played out differently?  After reading that and the stories after it, I found it difficult to focus on the concepts that Ulmer presented.  It may be because of the recent allegations associated with Penn State, and the fact that I have heard about that story repeatedly for over a week.  This is a very taboo and heated subject in our society, and reading so much about it is rather difficult.

I would have preferred a different example to use with his concepts, although this one definitely makes them stick.  The idea of everyone having two different identities was very interesting to me.  I like the relation he makes with gender and the emblems of the male and female on the doors of public bathrooms.  We are taught our entire life that gender and our sexuality should be kept private, although his breakdown of the fifth grader's trip is probably a little farther than I wanted to read into this separation.

I completely agree with Ulmer that we memorialize certain tragedies in our society but do not link others together.  I think the disdain for child abuse is universal, but I do wonder why it is not viewed in the same light as war casualties.  Child abuse isn't really a result of something we have created, so if anything it should be memorialized even more.  I don't think it can be classified as a sacrifice either, so comparing it with war may not necessarily be comparing apples to apples.

Ulmer first sentence of chapter 6 may be the most significant statement I have read so far in the book.  Transitioning from thinking to feeling the situation should be the source of constructing a MEmorial.  I think what he is referring to is what makes monuments, memorials, and any other image substantial.  Most of the powerful images I can think of that display some sort of tragedy stand out because of the feelings they generate.  In a way, Ulmer leads this thought by example.  When I first began reading chapter 5, I could feel the situation before I had even read anything external about it.  The way Ulmer described it and questioned the universal knowledge of the events in the text made me feel each of those stories.  I didn't enjoy reading them, which should be the point in a MEmorial to child abuse.

The idea of $incere was particularly interesting to me.  Ulmer used perfect examples to describe this term.  I think this term is a combination of sincere and what is politically correct, with financial incentive.  O.J. did

Ulmer - Electronic Monuments Part Two

After reading and discussing the first part of the book in class, I think a better approach to understanding Ulmer's text is to read it in sections, much like levels in a video game.  Writing down the coined terms he uses and looking for pieces of the definitions around them has helped me to grasp the ideas that he discusses.  I liked the explanation that Ulmer gives for EmerAgency.  I think it would have been a little better served earlier in the book, but he lists all the terms that are linked to it and what associations they have with the ideas he is conveying.

Reasoneon is the combination of neon and reason.  Ulmer takes Benjamin's concept of a neon sign and combines it with the reasoning behind a message to form this term.  Reasoneon can be applied as the approach people take when working through issues electrically, and is more of a rapid, image based type of reasoning.  Just like neon lights that run through the skyline in Las Vegas giving it an unmistakable feeling, reasoneon projects and emotional appeal that is designed to catch a netizen's attention.

Krzysztof Wodiczko's description of the homeless people in New York was very interesting to me.  After finishing undergrad, I lived in Charlotte for the better part of four years.  I have been able to see the city grow and develop into what it is, and I have been able to witness the exact occurrence that Wodiczko is describing.  During the development of a city, many different types of people settle into one area with no defined roles.  As the city gains notoriety and revenue, the architecture changes and the city begins to push out the people that are considered less successful.  As the real estate market continues to crash, you can see more and more Charlotte residents displaced from their homes and becoming the "architecture" that is actually more recognizable that the buildings themselves.

My image would have fun with her image.

Ulmer begins chapter four with the idea of all news being a part of the entertainment industry because every business is driven by profit.  Regardless of the message being conveyed, the writer and service must catch the attention of readers to remain relevant.  Ulmer relates the direction of media to a teacher that became a transsexual.  Just as the lines of gender are being blurred, so are the lines of electracy.  People don't have to accept what they are given now and are able to interpret different sources to form the role they want to.

He expands on this idea by relating the images that are given to celebrities.  Entertainment discourse gives celebrities an image that may or may not be accurate, citing Mariah Carey in particular.  In response to a tabloid portraying her, she was quoted as saying, "My image is having more fun that I am!"  This statement reminds me of Facebook and the way people construct their profiles.  While Mariah Carey had her image shaped for her, we are able to shape our own image and convey whatever message that we want to on our profile.  It is very easy to project a great, entertaining life on Facebook regardless of what you actually have going on.

Ulmer - Electronic Monuments Part One

Although I am not quite sure of some of the points that Ulmer makes in his book, I found many of his statements very interesting.  9/11 will always peak the interest of Americans, so I liked that Ulmer used this example as a springboard into some of the terms he describes.  I've never been a fan of coining terms (i.e. Al Gore, George W.), but in this particular instance I think it is necessary since he is discussing concepts and ideas that do not currently exist.

Florida Rushmore?

After reading the introduction, the text reminded me of when I met Paul Flemming, founder of P.F. Changs.  Between 2002 and 2008, Paul Flemming opened 110 restaurants, while the average publicly traded restaurant group actually closed locations.  His message in explaining this statistic was that it will always benefit people to be proactive rather than reactive.  This is similar to what I gathered from Ulmer when he addresses how we as a society have reacted to tragedies such as 9/11.  He describes America as an "idea," and tragedy gives us the opportunity to reflect on our values and possibly alter them.  

In the past, the media has essentially controlled the mourning of our nation because they construct the text and images that are presented to us.  As the internet has evolved, we are exposed to much more information, creating the needs for citizens to be self-informed.  The idea of a MEmorial is an electronic monument that would involve citizens (netizens), much like an ongoing town hall meeting.  This would provide a type of collective intelligence that would benefit democracy in general and create more of a unity between "self" and "nation."

I can certainly understand the idea of a MEmorial, and even the relation that it has with tourism.  The example of Mount Rushmore was a great example because it is a symbol of achievement rather than mourning.  However, I am not quite sure of the relationship it has with tourism in an electronic sense.  I read and re-read the proposal concerning Florida Rushmore.  It is a very interesting concept but I think that an electronic monument loses the critical feature of physical presence.  I really like the concept of forming a collective identity to solve social problems, but I don't see the relevance it has to an increase in tourism.  Each "tourist" having an opportunity to be a "living" monument is a great idea that I think would be very successful, and like Ulmer said adds functionality to the monument (46).

The Real Florida Rushmore?

The idea of an electronic monument definitely makes sense in reference to things that are generally overlooked or devalued.  Ulmer points this out with the idea of victims of car crashes, and presents some alarming statistics to support it (41,821 deaths in 2000).  I think that people place more value on lives that are lost in the pursuit to maintain our self interests (i.e. military), but not necessarily because of monuments associated with them.  Its interesting to compare the two because the military and the ability to drive and automobile both have assumed risks.  More value is assigned to the military or any other national tragedy because it is supporting the idea of America, and driving an automobile is a self interest that we are provided because of the freedom we have.

  

The Orc Assassin

My eyelids, seemingly stuck together from being in such a deep sleep, begin to peel apart from one another.  The bright light of a foreign land begins to contract my pupils.  The air has a dry, yet musty scent that I am not familiar with.  Where am I?  Where is my family?  How did I get here?  Still disoriented, I manage to sit up on the cool, dirt floor.  I am not sure where I am, but I know this is not Draenor.  It smells different.  It feels different. 

I begin to stand up.  My legs are weak.  My body is unstable.  My dry, calloused skin now has a bright green tint to it.  As I look around, the lush green swamps of my home had now been replaced with dry, compacted dirt that created a dusty haze with each step.  As my vision becomes more focused, I see a figure moving just ahead on the slope of the hill.  I move in that direction, uncertain if I am dealing with friend or foe.  I rattle off the three questions I wanted to know the most.  “Where am I?  What is this place?  How did I get here?”  The bright green beast stands up, the sun gleaming off of the chain armor draped across his shoulders.  “Greetings, Hogrik.  You have just awoken from a spell that was cast over our entire race.  Please, have a seat and I will explain the rest.”

We sit down beside the campsite at the top of the hill.  For the first time, I can feel the waves of heat and hear the crackling embers from the fire.  I anxiously await the explanation of my past as my senses are slowly coming back.  “My name is Gorek, chieftain of Razor Hill.  The Orc race was once a proud one, in complete harmony with nature.  The Burning Legion of Azeroth has destroyed our planet, and our race was put under a spell to aid them in their conquests.  The spell has been broken, and now we must fight to keep our freedom.”  I knew that I must act quickly.  Thoughts of my past began to race through my head; blurs of battles and combat blended with slavery and suppression.  I immediately proclaimed to Gorek, “I am ready to fight.  Show me the way.”  “You must get your strength and instincts back before you leave Razor Hill,” Gorek responded.  He gave me several tasks to complete to aid me with this, so I grabbed my axe and headed for the edge of the village.

My first task was to slaughter the mottled boars in the valley.  As I come down the hill, the boars are in my sight.  My senses became heightened as I gripped the cracked leather stitched down my axe’s handle.  The first boar began to run towards me.  I wind up, the rotation of the axe in perfect sync as the boar approached me.  With one swift swing the axe digs into the back of the boar, nearly splitting it in two identical pieces.  I immediately turned to face my next victim as blood poured from the first one.  Each swing contained more velocity and accuracy than the first.  I would stop at nothing to have my revenge for the Orc race.  I climbed back up the hill, dragging the carcasses of 12 boars behind me.  I did not speak to Gorek, and Gorek did not speak to me.  He knew I was ready to begin my quest for justice.

After days of trekking across the dismal terrain, I came upon a village of Taurens.  They welcomed me with open arms, appreciative of my desire to restore order to the land and make those pay who abused it.  As I looked around at the mammoth Taurens, I noticed the advanced weaponry and equipment they had.  Racks of swords hung along the walls of the Inn.  Armor covered nearly every one of them.  I too would need this.  I decided right then that I would prepare myself for battle in Bloodhoof Village.  There were many Taurens needing help, and I could gain experience and weaponry by helping them.  I first met Grimtrak, the village butcher.  I delivered meat to Orgimmar for him for a small fee.  It was a very simple task, and I moved along the village in pursuit of more opportunities.  I soon met Ahmo Thunderhorn, a seasoned warrior that had become disgusted with the way the land was being treated.  Ahmo requested that I aid him in calming the earth spirits north of Bloodhoof.  They were angry at the way the humanoids disrespect the land, burning and polluting everything around them.  I headed north, and suddenly saw figures scattering across the horizon.  I began to hug the sides of the cavern to the east, using the small tree line running down it as cover.  The shadowy figures became clear, and I realized that they were watchmen, carelessly expanding their territory without regard for others.  No wonder the spirits had grown restless.  From what I could see, there were five of them.  I was unsure of their combat skill, and still unsure of my own as well.  As they began to spread apart, I leapt from the tree line, charging toward the first one with my axe in hand.  The first swing was not the best as it glanced off of his chest plate, sending sparks in the air.  As I wound up for another blow, the watchman struck me just above the waist cutting me along my ribcage.  This was the first blow, and it was also the last.  The strike did nothing but heighten my senses, sending a wave of rage through my body.  Every swing of my axe had the rage of thousands of orcs behind it.  The blade tore through their armor and limbs simultaneously.  After killing the last one, I piled their bodies up and took the money that I could find, which would go to a fund for killing more of them.  I then headed to my original destination, and calmly soothed the spirits before heading back to Bloodhoof.

My reputation preceded me as I headed back into the village.  Several of the warrior Taurens showered me with booze and offered up lady orcs that had traveled for miles to show me just how much they appreciated my accomplishments.  I had no time for this.  Killing five watchmen was the tip of the iceberg.  The rest of the humans still needed to pay for the damage they have caused the Horde and this planet.  I took the money I had made and went to Mahnott Roughwound, the village weaponsmith.  Back against the wall stood an enormous, two handed mallet that had been taken from the Lich King’s army.  I immediately imagined the irony of killing him with his own weapon.  To complement the new weapon, I had enough silver left to buy a loose chainmail vest and leggings.  Before leaving Bloodhoof, I knew that I would need more.  I had heard that Maur Raincaller was looking to hire someone, so I headed to the west side of the village to see what he needed.  “Hogrik, I do not have my strength right now.  I was bitten by a Mazzranche and haven’t been the same since.  Can you please help me by getting the femur from a flatland cougar?  That is all I need to finish the serum to heal my wounds.”  I gladly obliged, mainly because he was paying 12 silver for it.  I also agreed to clear out the rest of the swoop up north for him since I was headed in that direction anyway. 

After returning from the quest, I was able to purchase more armor and a shield.  I was very happy with the armor.  The gloves, leggings, and vest were all brushed steel, providing me with protection but it would not draw the attention of enemies in the sun.  I was now ready to continue my conquest to avenge the Orc race.  I approached the village warrior trainer, Ruul Eagletalon, for his blessing to move forward.  “You have done great things for us, Hogrik.  We feel honored that you have trained with us, and may you restore order to this planet.  For the Horde!” 

I headed to Durotar to the Dranosh ‘ar Blockade.  Ruul had mentioned the Alliance’s desire to press their territory in this direction, and I was determined to stop them.  The first Orc I spoke with was Gor the Enforcer.  As I approached him, I could see the deep scars embedded in his chest from years of combat.  His hair and beard were stringy and blew with the faint breeze coming from the nearby lake.  He wore a mask to cover his face, concealing the pain he had endured fighting for his survival.  I knew that I must help him.  He informed me of a goblin that had been the head of some of the Burning Blade camps in Durotar.  A flood in the southwest wiped out most of the camps, but he was still down there, lurking and feeding off of unsuspecting travelers.  Once a proud leader for the Horde, he was now a nuisance that needed to be eliminated.  He had sold many of the good from the camps to the Alliance, turning his back on the very group that allowed him to survive.  With each following statement I became more and more enraged.  He still had an orb that the warlocks in Orgrimmar could use developing new spells and healing potions.  As I headed southwest to find him, I came across another Orc named Shin Stonepillar.  He had heard about my past conquests, and wanted to speak with me to ensure that my mind had developed as quickly as my combat skills had.  He began with a story about an ambitious wolf.  “You are transformed into the wolf, which is hungry and seeks prey to the east and finally eyes two battling Kodos.  He decides to wait until one defeats the other, to then feast on the loser.  When that happens, the wolf approaches the fallen Kodo, but before he can take a bite, he is slain by the other Kodo.  The moral of the story; hasty, lazy actions have ruinous results.  We mustn't take shortcuts... we must work for our rewards.”  I appreciated this message.  While I was intent on slaying every human left, I must do it carefully.  I knew that I would be approaching creatures with powers much greater than my own, and I must go about this strategically.  With this in mind, I continued on my quest to find Fizzle Darkclaw, the goblin traitor that must pay for betraying the Horde. 

Dark storm clouds began to circle around the valley.  There was no cover in sight as slight, rolling thunder quickly became booming echoes against the canyon walls.  Lightning cracked in the background and sheets of rain rushed in from the north.  The packed clay roads began to flood, hardened from years of drought.  As the rain came, I ran into a cave in just before the canyon ridgeline ended to take cover.  I gathered some of the dry, dead wood scattered across the floor.  I made a small fire and began to take my armor off to dry.  I had been carrying the chain armor for days, and needed to take it off to rest before my battle tomorrow.  As I looked into the fire, I hear the same crackling sounds and waves of heat that I did with Gorek as I anxiously awaited for my senses to return.  It was a bittersweet feeling as I thought about Razor Hill with reserved optimism.  The Alliance was moving unpredictably, and there was no way to know if the village was still safe.  Unable to sleep because of these racing thoughts of past villages, I sat by the fire until the embers faded.  As the fire died, the rain began to subside.  The sun began to rise over the ridge, reflecting on the bright red mud puddles scattered across the uneven roads.  I continued southwest, feeling a wave of excitement come over me as I approached Thunder Ridge.  I knew that I was ready, and I knew that I was different than Orcs that preceded me.  I was quicker, faster, stronger, and pissed off.  I ran into the ridge in a full sprint, pinpointing Fizzle immediately.  I pulled the mallet from behind my back, clenching the handle at the top to generate the most handle speed possible.  I was approaching so rapidly that I could have killed him before he managed to turn around, but that wasn’t what I wanted.  I wanted him to see me.  I wanted him to know why I was killing him.  And I wanted to see the fear in his eyes and in his soul as with each strike I dealt.  25 yards out, I gave a thunderous roar that shook the entire ridge.  Fizzle turned, simultaneously drawing a blade out of a sheath on his hip.  As he raised the knife, my mallet cast a shadow over his entire body as it came down.  The face of the mallet came crushing down just between his head and his right shoulder, immediately snapping his collarbone.  Through the weapon I could feel each bone crack against another.  I delivered the second blow from behind, internally separating his skull from his spine.  I sat him up against his campsite so he could watch as I took the orb, his money, and all of his food.  As I headed back to the village, I drug Fizzle behind me just outside of the ridge.  By nightfall, the animals of the region would clean up anything that was left.

Fireworks erupted from the Horde posts and children were lining the streets as I came into town.  Women offered up baked goods and casseroles.  Men offered their daughters.  I was grateful of all of these gestures, but I mission was still in progress.  I gave to orb to the warlocks, and headed further North, seeking new and better ways of helping the Horde establish its rightful place on this planet.

I came into the Crossroads, the largest town in the Barrens.  I met with Thork, who was in charge of the movement to drive the Centaurs out of Horde territory.  I knew of the conflicts between the Centaurs and Taurens, and knew this was the quest I was born to undertake.  The love I had developed for the Taurens made me want to do everything in my power to help them.  The disrespect for the land that the Centaurs show is unacceptable.    As Thork explained their location, another Orc overheard the conversation and became interested.  Mogre, a fellow warrior, was also after the Centaurs.  He too had made the journey to Crossroads in hopes of killing all of the Centaur camps.  With Thorks blessing, he and I headed to the outskirts of the Northern Barrens.  As we approached the Lushwater Oasis, scattered camps of Kolkar Marauders covered the terrain.  I knew we would not be able to overtake the camps by ambushing them, so we used the underbrush to navigate the treeline to the west of the water.  The first Centaur I could see was gathering fruit along the shoreline.  Leaning just to the right of the tree, I carefully pulled out a throwing knife from my bag.  Holding the point of the blade, I slung the knife through the air, watching it rotate end over end as the sunlight beamed off of it.  Just as the Centaur rose from the bush, the knife dug into his back.  The serrated edges of the blade gripped his flesh as he writhed in pain.  It was too far in for him to pull it out.  I watched him fall to the ground, and I slowly rolled him into the water to hide the body.  I crawled up just to the edge of their first tent before I saw the next one.  Mogre and I both stormed into the camp, immediately killing the two guards.  By the end of the attack, 16 Centaurs laid in front of the camp they once considered theirs.  Mogre and I continued into the Southern Barrens for the next two days, clearing out all Centaurs that we could find.  We returned to the village with dozens of bracers to give the Blacksmiths, and gold for the village vault.  I bid Mogre farewell, as he was off to seek further quests in Orgrimmar.  The weaponsmith had developed a new staff for me that had the brute force of the mallet with the razor sharp edge of a sword.  I exchanged the loose steel armor for custom fitted, indestructible chain armor. 

I knew there were more enemies to the north, so I headed toward Ashenvale in search of them.  I do not know what will become of all of the Horde villages, but as long as I am there, we will hold our ground.  This war is far from over, but I will only continue to get stronger.  My weapons will become harder.  I will not stop until every Orc can roam free.

My Life as a Night Elf Priest - Chapters Six through Nine

Chapter six was of particular interest to me because it deals with addiction.  I have always been a very extreme person, and I can't think of a single game that I have ever played casually.  That paired with my limited access to games growing up created the hesitancy that I have had towards gaming in general.  I remember playing Mario Kart religiously, staying up all night playing Goldeneye, and spending all of my summer savings for a steering wheel and pedal set to play Daytona USA.  All of these were solo games, so I can certainly understand how someone could become addicted to WoW.

I liked how Nardi addressed the actual term addiction.  As much as I have thrown it around all semester, I didn't really understand how strong of a word it actually is.  Referring it to a term used by medical professionals puts it in perspective, and the supporting evidence from the AMA shows that we should not apply this term to video games.  Similarly to Turkle, she relates the term addiction to things that always carry negative connotations, such as drugs or alcohol.  As demonstrated by both of them, online gaming has postive aspects, so addiction should have never been a term attached to them.  Quotes from players mentioned in the book were all supportive of each others responsibilities in RL (Real Life).

The game is harder than it looks.

Theorycraft and modding made me instantly think of the Sega Saturn that I had in middle school.  I asked for a Gamepro subscription for Christmas just so I could read up on how to beat all of the Mega Man games.  At the time, magazines like Gampro and EGM were the "forums" where information like this could be accessed.  The modding in WoW is very interesting and I was surprised to read that many people began doing it as a supplement to the game.  To me the game is till very overwhelming, so it's hard to imagine wanting to add more to it.  I would like to add some of the features that are mentioned in the text, and Cosmos has a lot of nice features.  Being able to track my statistics would be nice, and would help me stay motivated through some of the drawn out quests.

The issue of gender in WoW seems to be a combination of how are society operates paired with the freedom people feel when communicating electronically.  I appreciate that Nardi points out that she did not mind the banter because she understood they were only joking, and merely testing her.  I think that is a solid attitude to have when going into something that is dominated by men.  Females playing this game is just like females that work in restaurants.  Both are dominated by males, and many of them will often test the women to see what they can get away with.  I have seen that my entire career, and it was interesting to see how closely it translates into another form of communication.

Reading about the study Nardi did in China makes me wish that internet cafes existed here.  Internet cafes could serve as a great merging point to dispel the negative image that gaming has in general.  Though the Chinese use these somewhat as a product of circumstance, I would much rather play in a cafe with other people that I can celebrate with than in my room alone.  I enjoy interacting with people in the game, but playing with them in person would be a lot of fun.  Just like playing NCAA football at a party with your friends, the competition would become that much more intense when the people you are competing with are directly beside you.

Questions for Nardi:

1.  As you moved through the levels, did it become increasingly harder to focus on conducting research as the game increased in difficulty?
2.  After spending the time in China and seeing the cafes that they play in, which environment would you prefer?  Do you think it has an impact on the gaming experience itself?

My Life as a Night Elf Priest - Chapters Four, Five, and Six

Chapter Four begins with Nardi discussing WoW as new digital medium.  I completely agree with her and really liked some of the comparisons that she makes.  It is very much like a sport, and uses baseball as an example.  The desire players have to develop their skills to move further along in the game is very similar to players advancing through the minor league ranks of sports in hopes of one day "mastering the game."  The visual performance part of it reminds me of the types of activities that take place during sporting events.  WoW is like playing in the game, but being a spectator as well.  The player is involved directly in the competition, but is also exposed to the theatrical events, much like the halftime show of a football game.

Another interesting section in this chapter discussed the release of the first expansion, "The Burning Crusade."  This too, can be related to sports.  This new expansion divided many existing teams as players progressed through the levels more quickly than others that they normally played with.  The raids became smaller, similar to the playoff rosters for sporting teams.  NFL teams go from 84 players in the preseason, to 52 in the regular season, to 46 in the playoffs.  This created a divide that split many guilds because people that were normally involved in raids were no longer a part of them.  It was interesting to read about the sharp divide this expansion created through the subtle changes that it made.  Players and guilds had adjusted to the existing rules in the game, and the new expansion made the drastically alter the way they approached their own progression.

I found the study of Second Life to be an example of why WoW remains so successful today.  As fast as technology changes, we as a society have not had a chance to adapt to it.  I tend to agree with Turkle in that regard, and Second Life opens the door and exposes shortcomings that we have as a society.  The turn to shopping and sex does not surprise me since creating an avatar allows people to live out many desires that wouldn't otherwise be able to.  WoW provides a great deal of personal customization and social interaction, but keeps the game centered around competition.  To me, this is the foundation of gaming.  Allowing the game itself to be shaped by its players is like having a country with no government.  It will almost always shift to one extreme.  WoW has created such a rich environment that the players stay focused on the actual game-play rather than living out their suppressed social desires.

An interesting aspect of WoW is the concept of "working."  I remember being exposed to this game the first day in class and Dr. Haynes referred to the "mundane" activities as relaxing.  This is an interesting characteristic of the game, as many of the people Nardi documented did not feel the same way.  I think this is somewhat parallel to life in general.  Many people actually prefer to work and if given the choice would stay employed even if they were financially stable.  When a game is so vast and requires the involvement of so many people, I can certainly see how it would feel like work.  WoW blends the idea of work and competition which makes players feel pressured to become involved when they are not currently playing.  The idea of others making progress without them and that other players are waiting for them can be stressful.

With the combination of all these factors, games can get addictive quickly.  I remember when Nintendo 64 came out, and I played Mario Kart 64 for 24 hours without even eating a meal.  Combining the addictive traits of gaming with social media can lead to unfortunate scenarios, many of them mentioned by Nardi.  The quote mentioning the social qualities that WoW provides without the "faults" of real life really stood out to me. I think this temptation is the sole drawback of social media in general.  It is easy to feel involved in a game like this and lose sense of reality because you are still interacting with other people, but without the pressures of life.

My Life as a Night Elf Priest - Chapters One and Two

I could definitely beat Mr. T.

The first thing that I noticed about Bonnie Nardi’s My Life as a Night Elf Priest was the structure of how the game is actually explained to the reader.  Throughout the first two chapters, I enjoyed being exposed to some of the terminology and then having it explained.  It was never to the point where I felt lost, but she used terms intertwined with the definitions tied to them just enough to keep me interested.  I also enjoyed the different sides of the game that she explored and the methods that she used to do it.  When I began reading I wasn’t sure that I would be able to follow the text since I have never played, but she structured it in such a way that I feel acquainted with the game even thought I have not yet created a character.

She began the first chapter relating WoW to a blend between a movie and playing a sport, which I found interesting.  The game definitely has the cinematic appeal of a movie, along with the competition of a sport.  I really enjoyed reading about the process players go through to form guilds and must work together to accomplish things.  Before this class, I assumed the game was more like Halo, in that it is basically the same whether you are playing alone or with others.  After reading this, I would have actually incorporated WoW or something similar into our company training program.  Many companies hire most of their salaried employees at set times during the year.  Bringing all of the trainees together from different areas to play a game like this could help develop a strong bond to the company.

I thought the rest of the chapter did a nice job explaining the culture of the game.  Many general myths can be dispelled by taking into account all of the different aspects the game has.  Not only does the game expand into different age groups and social classes, but it has a lot of social appeal.  BlizzCon, as well as guild parties and forums, connect the players to each other past the game.  BlizzCon itself is an interesting event because it is a social gathering attended by people with an “anti-social” stereotype. 

I also liked the limitations of her study that she noted.  The amount of languages and how widespread the players are make it difficult to discern the factual information, but Nardi does a great job of pointing out the areas that are probably accurate.  Certain areas of information can be related from other studies that have established relationships between social classes.  The amount you can be absorbed into the game is interesting as well.  I have always related the game to being extreme; either you are completely involved or you just don’t play it.  Different guilds have different expectations and social norms that can allow anyone to play regardless of what they have going on personally.

Establishing the guidelines of her anthropological approach is very important in a study like this.  It doesn’t have the usual limitations that participatory research has, and she was also a part of the culture without having to be labeled as the one conducting the research.  She played in nearly each extreme of the game as well.  Overall, the first two chapters made me feel more comfortable about playing the game as a beginner.  It dispelled several stereotypes that I had associated with this game and ones similar to it.   

Alone Together - Part Two

In the second part of Alone Together, Turkle shifts the focus from robots to the dependency that can be developed on machines and the relationships that they can provide for people.  She begins with the idea that virtual and social networking sites such as Second Life can allow people to develop into different characters.  I agree with the points that she makes in the following paragraphs.  Social networking sites and other messaging systems have a sense of disconnect that allow people to feel more comfortable communicating things that they probably wouldn’t in person.  Turkle says, “People come together but do not speak to each other.” 

This is best illustrated by the example she provides of Pete.  Pete has a wife and two children, but feels closer to his real self when he is engaged in Second Life.  There, he is able to talk about and discuss his problems with Jade, his virtual wife.  Although he has no desire to meet the actual person behind Jade, he attributes this relationship to saving his actual marriage because he is able to discuss the issues he has without the pressure of being judged in person.  The comfort provided through these sites makes people want to feel continuously connected.  Turkle spoke to a group of seniors from a high school and they all expressed the need to feel connected to others.  Obviously not everyone has the same opinion, and some of the people she mentions make it a point to show they do not feel tied to their devices of communication. 

Another interesting point in this part of the book is the Example of Brad.  He says that he couldn’t be “A little bit on Facebook.”  This is very much how I feel about social media and the movement of technology in general.  I consider myself to be a very extreme person, and I often find myself engrossed in something soon after I just casually started.  I think this has been a large part of my apprehension to use Twitter, buy a new gaming console, or join any type of common interest forums.  I have so many other things going on in my life that starting something new may bump something else out in my “real” life.

I certainly agree with the section relating the advancement of technology leading to anxiety.  Obviously I am not an “early adapter,” and I tend to not respond immediately to text messages or to messages sent to me on Facebook.  I normally get them as soon as they are sent, and I do feel the pressure to respond.  It is easy to explain not being able to return a phone call, but rarely are people in a position where they do not receive a text quickly. 

Turkle makes a lot of excellent points throughout this book, especially in the conclusion.  I looked at technology, mainly the people using it, with a very skeptical point of view the first few class periods.  I did not understand why people would ever spend so much time on blogs, forums, social media sites, or playing interactive video games.  I have always been one to prefer face to face communication.  I still do prefer communicating in the most personal way possible for the moment, but I now certainly see why people could turn to other methods.  As I have looked at some of the sites and communities, I now know how much more there are to them.  Not only are they a means of communicating with people that share the same interests, but they also allow users to communicate openly without the anxiety that can come with in person communication. 

I also agree with what Turkle says in the first ten pages of Chapter 8.  Americans work more than ever before, and research shows that they feel more alone than they ever have, so it is natural so turn to the best available communication to feel connected to something.  Technology is developing so fast that it is highlighting the flaws of our society.  Feeling alone, paired with the natural tendency to be self-conscious, gives social media sites an appeal that can be easy to be consumed in.  Turkle does a great job of presenting these points, and has some startling research to back it up.  I think this is one of the more interesting books that I have read, and hopefully other people see the significance of it as well.

Alone Together - Part One

Alone Together is certainly a sharp contrast from what he have been reading and discussing in the previous classes.  Turkle begins the text by presenting the significant movement that technology has made in people’s lives.  It is very interesting to me that she prefaces the points she is about to make with her own skepticism of the emotional role that robots can play.  As she goes to discuss some of the interviews, I had to read several times just to make sure I was actually reading them correctly.  Some of them that stood out:

Anne’s willingness to substitute a well-made, agreeable robot for her actual boyfriend (page 9).

A thirty year old man saying, “I’d rather talk to a robot.  Friends can be exhausting.  The robot will always be there for me.  And whenever I’m done, I can walk away (page 10).”

“Inventor Unveils $7000 Talking Sex Robot (page 25).”

When I first read through these quotes I just could not see where or how society could ever possibly evolve into this.  To me, it would be more depressing to have a robot as a companion than an actual human.  The robot would serve as a reminder that I did not have real friends and that I was indeed alone.  I do understand the “somebody’s home” feeling that Turkle describes in the introduction, and I have that feeling quite often just because of the amount of technology around me.  Nearly every store, restaurant, or place of service has a camera system set up to monitor its environment, so I think it is somewhat normal to feel like you are not alone. 

As I read further into the book, I began to understand how that substitution could eventually happen.  Social media platforms such as Facebook and MySpace have laid a foundation for people to slightly alter the way that others perceive them, and possibly the way they see themselves.  I think that gaming, forums, and other online communities can help people explore themselves and in a way become someone that they otherwise could not.  This leads to the opening of one’s imagination, and I can see how that could progress into enjoying a companion regardless of its form.  It was really interesting to see how receptive people actually are viewing a robot as a companion and how many people that were asked would actually prefer it.

I like that Turkle then presented ideas supporting why this may be the case.  People view the robots as companions without the downsides that human interaction has.  They do not have to worry about being hurt or the relationship ending, but are able to experience the beneficial emotions that a companion can provide such as attention and love.  I was on board with this idea until the two are compared directly in the text.  Later in the chapter, the My Real Baby experiment will go down as one of the more uncomfortable things that I can remember reading.  Turkle painted a very vivid picture and did a tremendous job explaining the emotions that were in the room during the interaction between Edna and Amy.  The fact that a robot was able to overpower an actual child for an adult’s care and attention completely floored me.  I know that people become increasingly lonely as they become older, and maybe the My Real Baby gave Edna a sense of ownership that she could not have with Amy since it was not her actual child.  No one had ownership of the doll, and this allowed Edna to take it upon herself to care for it.  As Turkle continued describing the situation, I could almost feel Edna snap out of it and return her attention back to the “real world.” 

Although I enjoyed reading this, I had a slight uncomfortable feeling the entire time that I don’t think I have ever had reading a book.  I kept inserting people that I know into the stories and experiments that Turkle conducted, and I had a very clear mental picture of each situation.  I also think it is significant that she involved every age group and really covered every type of person that could be in different emotional places in their lives.  If a particular age was not targeted in an experiment or study, she still had very honest interviews from them.  She points out a lot of potentially negative results from her research and at first I got the feeling that she thought we as a society are moving in the wrong direction.  But I noticed that she stopped every study as someone was beginning to become too attached or too involved.  She would stop them and try to understand the emotions that were taking place so that we can understand how a robot can bring about such intense emotion.  After noticing this toward the end of the section, I think she appreciates technology and the contributions it can make in our lives, but it has evolved so quickly that we need to be able to evaluate it to make sure we are applying it in the right ways.

Convergence Culture - Conclusion

What hasn't he invented?

In the conclusion of Convergence Culture, Jenkins gives several different scenarios of how we may use media in the future.  He begins with discussing Current, Al Gore’s attempt at a less controlled news network.  I don’t think I have ever heard Al Gore make a single speech without unrealistically idealizing something; usually something he “created,”  but I like the idea of Current and the potential that a network like that could have.  However, I don’t think the pendulum has swung far enough in the direction of the consumer for something like it to compete with the deep pockets of the major networks.  I do think it can and eventually will happen, and I enjoyed reading this chapter because of the examples and evidence that support that.  It is easy to think that the direction you are going is the best path, but some of the arguments in this chapter present very realistic apprehensions about the convergence of media.

The quote, “Future TV may be unrecognizable from today, defined not just by linear TV channels, packaged and scheduled by television executives, but instead will resemble more of a kaleidoscope, thousands of streams of content, some indistinguishable as actual channels (Highfield 2003)” was one of the most powerful in the entire book.  As soon as I read this, I could immediately see the Netflix ad with the different DVD covers rotating in a circle on the screen.  A kaleidoscope is the perfect representation to associate with this format.  We can already see this in Netflix, Hulu, and Blockbuster online.  This idea also supports the comments made by Betsy Frank.  She points out that the new generation of viewers has grown up with some form of immediate satisfaction regarding media, suggesting the movement of media into more of a kaleidoscope format where shows can be viewed at their consumer’s discretion.

I liked that Jenkins gave an example of how “democratized television (Jenkins 262)” could take a completely different route in reaching its consumers.  The merging of media platforms has made it easier to access shows in different formats, but it also gives producers a different financial avenue.  A producer has less incentive to release a show on its network if it is already difficult to cover its production costs.  This may be far off, but I could certainly see cable and satellite companies becoming a non-factor, and networks charging individually for their content.  This, paired with more incentive to produce shows in a DVD series in an attempt to cover costs, could lead to media being more expensive than it is now.  This potential scenario reminds me of how boxing has evolved.  Boxing used to be regulated by a few governing bodies that did the promoting of a fight and distributed revenue somewhat equally.  As more sponsors, promoters, and channels became involved, the governing bodies have no control over anything anymore.  Championship fights are now upwards of $60 and the sport is on the verge of dying.  The convergence of media will never become this extreme, but it is interesting to think about.

My last dominant video game.

The idea of a participation gap could play a very significant role in the development of convergence culture.  As of right now, there is no one device that effectively reaches across all platforms.  This can force a consumer to choose between different forms of media or reject them all together if products are financially unavailable to them.  Culture can also play a huge role in a consumer’s willingness to engage with the new technology even if it is available to them.  Up until the age of 16, I had no TV in my room and was not allowed to watch TV during the week.  Growing up, the majority of my year consisted of being in class and then going to football, basketball, baseball, or track practice.  Now, I am apprehensive to try any new technology because I feel like I am way behind everyone else.  In college, I didn’t even want to play Guitar Hero at a party because I had never played and knew that I would embarrass myself.  

Bud Light = No participation gap.

I thought Jenkins did a great job bringing together convergence culture and the potential it has in the conclusion of this text.  He discusses several different arguments and provides examples of how media could eventually arrive at each destination.  He points out that the converging of media is still extremely new and that many rules and guidelines have not yet been established, which puts a great deal of power in the hands of consumers.  Although I did not relate to a great deal of the text personally (Survivor, American Idol, anything past a blackberry), I learned a great deal about how different technologies are moving media into an entirely new direction.

Convergence Culture - Chapters Four and Five

To date, I thought chapter four was the most entertaining chapter.  While I did not agree with some of it, the relationship between Lucasfilm and its fans is fascinating.  Whereas the book has discussed the blurred lines between producers and consumers of particular franchises, Star Wars seems to completely erase them.  The previous chapters have discussed the fan following of certain films and shows that I did not find particularly interesting because I did not see the reward in putting that much effort into a spoiler site only to gain social significance in an online community.  Creating different variations of a film and gaining actual notoriety for them is much more appealing to me.

As Jenkins begins to discuss the relationship between the franchise and the fans, it was very interesting to see how the franchise embraced the fans as part of a culture.  Star Wars seemed to be similar to The Matrix in using several platforms to build a brand, but to an even bigger extent.  Creating memorabilia, action figures, costumes, and other merchandise is the best way I can think of to extend a brand.  I remember having action figures and light sabers growing up.  I even dressed up as Boba Fett for Halloween which was by far the best costume that I've ever had (aside from the Burger King last year).

I disagree with Jenkins in his comparison to Napster regarding the attempted regulation of the franchise.  Media industries were frantic in trying to regulate Napster because their actual product was being circulated without them receiving compensation.  Lucasfilm's regulation of their franchise is definitely financially based, but they are not attempting to gain back control of the actual product that they created.  I can see why they would try to regulate the reproduction of their brand in different areas.  Creating a separate storyline with existing characters could be taken and translated into another film outside of the franchise.  A Storyline can be very universal, and changing the name and appearance of a few characters could create an entirely different brand that Lucasfilm would never profit from.  As a film maker, I am sure George Lucas is very proud of what he creates and does not like to see the pendulum swing too far away from his actual product.  Creating pornography or disgracing the brand in a parody is a legitimate reason to regulate it.

Jenkins introduces some very far-fetched arguments in chapter five, but he also explains it very well.  "None of us really knows how to live in this era of media convergence, collective intelligence, and participatory culture (p.176)."  This is the one sentence that I kept in mind throughout the reading.  Many of the secondary sources that I referenced blasted Jenkins for the arguments he presented through this chapter.  He makes a great point that someone does not possess literacy.  because they can consume something.  They must also be able to express it.  Personally, I have never read or seen anything related to Harry Potter, but I do think it is essential for younger people to read things they are actually interested in to develop a certain skill set that they never will reading textbooks.

I think the site that Heather Lawver launched is a great blend between gaining educational experience and actually enjoying it.  The example given of her written statement is probably better than anything I have ever written, so it wouldn't make sense for me to critique her.  Students that are using this site are developing the same skills that many adults do not have because this convergence of ideas did not exist.  As with anything that has the potential to be successful, it can be taken too far.  I am not sure what the exact ratio of "leisure" writing and academic writing should be, but Jenkins presents cases from both extremes.

He also becomes increasingly liberal through the chapter.  I do appreciate his case for teens to have their freedom of expression and that too often schools suppress this.  However, I think there are topics and discussions that occur between adults that they should not be exposed to, even if they choose to do so.  Although I have not been to one of these sites, I can imagine that discussions could turn explicit or sexual quickly and minors should not have the ability to interact in that conversation.  I have no idea how to regulate that, but I also do not think people should be in support of it.  Jenkins also does a great job of showing the other side.  A reverend referencing Columbine in relation to Harry Potter completely kills and credibility that may come from a conservative point of view.

This chapter seemed to bring in more of a moral debate than one involving the convergence of culture.  I appreciate and understand Jenkins' point of view as well as the views of people he discussed.  Interacting with "beta readers" is a great way for a student to sharpen their writing skills in a more comfortable environment and can also receive feedback from more than just one source.  However, writing academically and for a purpose that we do not specifically choose if more realistic and closer to what your career responsibilities will actually be.

Convergence Culture - Chapters Two and Three

Jenkins begins the second chapter using American Idol as an example of the evolving television lanscape.  I do not personally watch American Idol, but I have been exposed to it enough to know that the following is still tremendous and has had a huge influence on many different commercial businesses.  The success of American Idol was obviously beneficial for FOX, but directly for AT&T and Coca-Cola as well.  If not for American Idol and Apple, I would imagine that AT&T would be a subsidiary of Verizon right now.

I found it very interesting to look at the numbers that American Idol has helped to generate.  The increase in text messaging, the decline of major network viewers in the summer, and the sheer amount of people that are devoted to this show are all very impressive.  It is also very impressive that FOX was able to produce these numbers with a show that is not that expensive to create.  One area I did not agree with Jenkins in was the target audience group he mentions.  American Idol goes much broader than the 12-24 age groups, and I believe the increase in text messaging is probably due to the older viewers that were not that familiar with cell phones to begin with.

The fact that this book was written when TiVo was in its beginner stages is fascinating because the prediction for this technology seems to be spot on.  TiVo and DVR may have put many companies and networks into a state of panic on how to recover the revenue that advertisements generate, but it has also forced them to be more creative.  I like the interactive type of advertising and making a consumer of your product feel connected to you.  If the 80/20 rule holds true, then you should reward that 20 percent of your client base for keeping you in business.  When I began my first position in management, my employers stressed the importance of the 80/20 rule and building a loyal customer base.  I was also very limited by them in regards to our advertising budget.  This forced the grassroots type marketing, such as creating a Facebook page and advertising on foursquare.  Having people comment on our wall or fighting to be the "mayor" of our restaurant on foursquare helped generate more interest than any single marketing campaign that we ever did.

The middle sections of this text almost seem to be a melting pot of the different types of viewers and the intentions of the brands that are after them.  The studies conducted on the different types of viewers were done to determine how the "inspirational consumer" could better reach its target audience.  Some of these parts were self-explanatory.  Of course the loyal viewer will pay closer attention to the show, including the advertisements.  They will also be more influential than a casual viewer because they have more interest in the show and its outcome.  I actually respect companies like Coca-Cola for altering their approach as television itself changes.  By reaching a consumer emotionally, you are using your actual product as a springboard into other forms of revenue such as social websites and future variations of your flagship beverage.

Aside from Paul Walker, I believe Keanu Reeves to be the worst actor of all time.  However, his robotic like speech and awkward reactions to everything were perfect for The Matrix, which is why I liked the films so much.  I didn't ever get into any of the secondary information.  I read the summaries right before the next film would come out, but I do like how the franchise as a whole capitalized on every type of medium that they could.  It did indeed create a unique following.  People critical of the film for the actual content are not appreciating it for what it is.  It is a franchise, and it demonstrates collaborative authorship, world creating, synergistic storytelling, and collective intelligence. 

I have not seen Blade Runner, but the concept of the "origami unicorn" is the same concept that Survivor seemed to use to generate the massive interest outside of the show.  Throwing a curve-ball into a film can generate new interest, as well as rejuvenate people that missed it the first time.  Additive comprehension and concepts like Dawson's Desktop are very interesting to me because one form of media can spiderweb into many different forms.  This opens up opportunities for businesses to generate revenue as well.  Just like AT&T and Coca-Cola integrating into American Idol, websites catering to a show or movie create an interactive environment that companies can use as an advertising platform.  I enjoyed reading both chapters because of the adaptive nature of media.  When one platform changes such as the way television is viewed, it causes a domino effect and other companies must also adapt to the change.

Convergence Culture p. 1-59

In the introduction of Henry Jenkin's book, Convergence Culture, the author begins with an example of an edited Bin Laden photo with a Sesame Street Character that began as a joke. The image quickly spread across global media platforms and ended up being distributed throughout the Middle East.  This example quickly brought into perspective Jenkin's intentions for this book.  I liked the way he began the text with an example that pulled in his three concepts that he wanted to outline throughout the text.  Media certainly converged when the photo began to spread across the world from a high school student's computer to CNN.  Participatory culture is evident in the image being printed off and worn by American protesters, and collective intelligence is demonstrated by the entire situation.

After explaining the different concepts, he points out a way that convergence can negatively impact the way we use media.  I appreciated his story of attempting to purchase a cell phone that was just that, a cell phone.  Later in the chapter he returns to his story, pointing out that a device serving several different purposes can limit its ability to serve the single purpose it was originally designed for (p.15).  I cannot count how many times my BlackBerry has frozen during a phone call because I had previously streamed a music program. 

It was very interesting to read about the New Orleans Media Experience.  This helped me understand Jenkin's purpose of the book because it highlighted both positive and negative aspects of convergence.  The conference was open to anyone that wanted to attend, but magnified the difference between the particular groups that were interested.  Skeptics, potential investors, and advertisers all had their own agendas which make convergence extremely difficult.  I liked that different panels were touched on, such as the one for gaming consoles.  I am not what Jenkins would call an "Early Adopter," and bringing in the competition between Sony and Microsoft made the idea of convergence being difficult easier to understand. 

The last five pages of the introduction were somewhat repetitive.  The author has already mentioned that the text is going to be comprised of arguments both for and against convergence, but he repeats it throughout the last few pages as he lists that he will be using to do so.

The first chapter goes into detail about a spoiler community for Survivor.  This was very interesting to read about because I have never watched survivor and did not even know online spoiler communities existed for anything.  I have followed several shows closely including a few reality ones, but I would never think to put in the amount of time and effort to figure out how the show would eventually play out.  Survivor Sucks and the spoilers involved with it are the perfect example of collective intelligence.  The collective effort between users such as ChillOne and Wezzie allow them to uncover a great deal of spoiler information, but it becomes very clouded when considering the different layers that information can be filtered through.  Reading about this with no prior knowledge of these sites, the hierarchy of the users seems to contradict the collective intelligence that they are attempting to gain.  The more respected users, in some cases, are unreachable by the majority of the community, which seems to put information regarding the show at a premium, bringing the community back to its starting point.  If most of the community members remain starving for hints and information, doesn't that defeat the purpose of joining a spoiler community in the first place?

ChillOne's inclusion on the Amazon season seems to derail the collective intelligence that the community had used to uncover what they had in previous seasons.  The brain trusts could have been and probably were discrediting ChillOne's information out of jealousy, and the members began to focus their attention on those statements rather than searching for new information.

The fact that CBS and former contestants had contact with the message boards makes this an even more twisted witch hunt.  I find it both fascinating and brilliant that CBS was able to use the spoilers as a springboard for more publicity and attention.  That being said, the extent that people went to to uncover information upset people that made attempts to "spoil the spoilers" (p.50).  To me, the amount of twists that occurred in the spoiler forums completely negates the reason that they exist.  People beginning to complain of ChillOne ruining the season (p.54) shouldn't have been on a spoiler site in the first place.  If you want to be surprised by a show, then sit back and enjoy the show for what it is.

I enjoyed reading the last few pages relating back to collective intelligence.  Jenkins writes, "What holds a collective intelligence together is not the possession of knowledge, which is relatively static, but the social process of acquiring knowledge...(p.54)."  What I take from this is that it is for the sake of collective intelligence, it is better to be wise than to be smart.  Walsh points out that real-life experiences are more credible than formal education, which I found interesting.  I also agree with the closing paragraph that points out the often overlapping interests of producers and consumers.  This is directly supported by the ties between CBS and the spoiler sites, both benefiting from each other.