CB Radio

With a new technology being implemented would automatically lend itself to the idea that Big Brother would have more control over citizens. In this case, it seems obvious that police would more easily be able to monitor the movements of Truckers and all people with CB radios. The paper, “Mobile Communications and Governing the Mobile: CBs and Truckers”, this shows us that this is not necessarily true. When the new speed rule of 55mph on the highway was introduced, long haul truckers got the short end of the stick. Their pay was based per mile, gas prices had increased, and this impacted the number of hours that they could work in a day. The idea of a panopticon was still relevant, but the idea that someone is watching only matters as long as someone cares about getting caught. These truckers acted as a group to circumvent the police catching them speeding in order to drive faster. They would communicate with one another, and would create convoys in which they would reach speeds of 75mph. This only worked for so long, as law enforcement came up with stricter regulations about who could use CB radio, because it was citizen band, it was public and everyone could listen in. This meant that the messages that police were conveying were not secret, and this was no longer acceptable.

From the perspective of a teenager, I understand wanting to get around authority because rules seem put in place to simply impede our fun (or in this case, the amount of money that the truckers could make). Although, trying to view this objectively, I see this as a scenario between parents and their teenager. The authority (the police, people that implemented the new rules etc) are the parents and the teenagers are the users of the CB radio, in this case, the truckers. The rules seem unfair and arbitrary, thus, when there appears to be a way to get around them, we do. Although, in hindsight it is clear that the rules were put in place for a reason, and just because they changed what we like to do and how we like to do it does not make them useless or arbitrary. The speed limit is obvious as it would have been put in place for safety and its affecting how much the trucker made per day was an unfortunate side effect. The situation was unfortunate but it does make sense given the rules of society, the rules of the road and the idea of secrecy within law enforcement.

Sam Essai

The Medium is the Message

The Medium being the message is a concept that was first introduced by Marshall McLuhan in the 60’s. The idea that the medium is the message basically says that, the way that the message is presented is more just as, if not more relevant than the message itself. This idea was innovative and unlike most theories that lose their relevance as time continues on, this was has only grown stronger. His theory went into further detail to define different mediums as either hot or cold, a hot medium is one that engages one sense in a very demanding way (watching a movie) and a cold medium was one like a book that required far more imagination and thought in order to draw out the true message.

This class was also where we discussed the human senses of sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste and how any form of media can be an extension of them. For example an iPod is an extension of touch and hearing. We are in control of this media by touch and the message we hear is also controlled by us. Our laptops are extensions of our hands because we are able to type the message that we wish to convey on it.

One of the most interesting things that I read was that McLuhan said that the message itself was not simply of less importance, but it is possible that it is of no importance at all. That if someone is watching television and whether the content was a highly violent show, or a romantic comedy is irrelevant.

I feel that this is not at all correct. I understand, and mostly agree with the idea that the medium is the message. That, the way a message is conveyed is very important, but I feel more than anything, that the medium by which the message is sent through helps to compliment the message itself. We have and use different mediums for a reason, a marketing campaign for a reducing waste should use the internet and television, so as not to create the waste of paper that they are trying to cut back on. On the other hand, advertisements for a grassroots concert would be better on paper, such as posters because it agrees with the idea of a low tech show. It helps to tie together a campaign when the way a product is advertised agrees with the product or message itself.

Sam Essai

Patriotic Duty

After 9/11, the perceptions of the world were challenged. More specifically, religious beliefs became the prime way for many people to characterize others. In the USA, as much as the people tried to band together as Americans, underlying personal opinion and scrutiny of others seemed to overshadow the greater good. Suddenly it was suspicious to be connected in any way to Islam and the Western world took full advantage of people's mindset at that time to instigate these suspicions based on fear.
Remember the infamous Bush speech where he declared America's stance on terrorim? "You're either with us or against us." Seven words that instilled patriotism in the American population but in some way seemed to insult other nations against using war as a solution. Canada seemed to be undecided - of course we were against terrorism but could we possibly back up that belief with war? In the end, Canada decided to fight the good fight, taking up the responsibility of ensuring freedom in war torn areas (i.e. Afghanistan) for the greater good of all people, especially the locals.

As the years passed by and the war continued, momentum seemed to get easily displaced. Irked by the inability to find the most hunted man and the continuing attacks on American holdings, more had to be done. Enter the Patriot Act.
Although many people may think this is an imposition of freedom, I think the intention was to be safe rather than sorry. Yes, it's true that random security checks by authoritative figures can seem to be targeted, but what's the alternative by comparison? Not to take these precautions and regret it? I do not think that's an option. Yes, the world changed but again, we were told 'not to let fear control our lives' and 'live life like we normally would' but without these precautions being put into place, that would not be realistic after the attacks of 9/11.

I don’t believe that individual privacy should be compromised for behaviour that is mistaken for patriotic duty but in order to move ahead and abolish these threats, that fine line may at times be trampled upon for the greater good. Jeremy Bentham’s work famously refers to a Utopian lifestyle as beneficial to society as a whole even when in some cases it is not that way for some individuals. I think if we looked at acts like these from that perspective, it may be easier to see why they are in place today.

--Kelly Ragoobar

Use of YouTube to Promote Accurate Representations of Gay Culture

Founded in 2005, YouTube has become a Web leader as a resource for sharing and viewing original videos around the world. Aside from being a source of entertainment, individuals and groups can use YouTube’s reach to communicate their perspectives and ideals to anyone willing to listen.

This opportunity has provided a perhaps unexpected social benefit – underrepresented and sometimes stereotyped groups, such as the gay community, now have the opportunity to share their experiences with the general public. Anyone with internet access can learn about gay culture from members of its community, rather than simply forming opinions based on (sometimes false) media representations.

In the video below, a gay couple discusses their loving family environment.



YouTube may also be used as a resource for those who believe they might have LGBT (Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgendered) tendencies to learn from others in the same position. Here, a gay teenage girl talks frankly about “coming out” to herself, her friends and her family.



YouTube has provided a resource to help the advancement of accurate representations of all cultures, and the ideological spectrums within them.

By: Lesley McLelland

Multiplayer Video Games in the 21st century

Video games have come a long way from their humble beginnings. Once upon a time multiplayer games were limited to two people and some joysticks. Today, video games servers house millions of avatars, all of which representing an individual somewhere in the world. In earlier days our characters were limited to a pixilated 2d version of the developers design. However, today our characters serve as a digital emissary to an online realm in which the dynamics appear to be endless. This is the digital age we find ourselves in at the present. All of this sounds very appealing and except one must look beyond the visage portrayed by these video games and attempt to penetrate their core. These video games are not all give and no take.

This fully immersive world serves as the breeding culture for a very prominent subculture known as massively multiplayer online (MMO) gamers. In my experience these have proven to be the most addictive games. These digital environments share some real world’s qualities and when mixed with fantasy along with lore a virtual world is created. Communities are then formed within these worlds such as you may find in any other locale. According to the economy, social interactions, and infrastructure, one may actually argue that MMOs are in fact communities.

Yet another advance in multiplayer video gaming is the rise of local area network groups or LAN parties. LAN parties combine face to face gaming with online gaming and have proven to be one hell of an experience. While watching the below video I read a comment which read “LAN parties are better than Club parties”. Personally I disagree but that is an interesting notion. Let’s see why:



By: Matt Alexander

Adbusters

Adbusters is an interesting organization that focuses on the flaws of multi-million dollar corporations that appear in the media because of the way they run their company. For example, Calvin Klein, several years ago released images that are a little racy and demonstrate that media as being a beast when it comes to women all over the world. Adbusters is a good way of demonstrating the many ways that the media can scare the public into thinking a specific concept. Adbusters uses those ads released by companies like McDonalds, and Tommy Hilfiger and morphs their ads to look like something else. Another example, similar to Calvin Klein, is the Absolute ads released by add busters that are located below. Using these ads they can influence the public that not everything these multi-million dollar corporations are true.

The below is another image created by Adbusters that critisizes Calvin Klein

Adbusters, Initials. (n.d.). Spoof ads. Retrieved from https://www.adbusters.org/gallery/spoofads

The Media and Homosexuality

The media has begun to demonstrate on several levels its acceptance of gay and lesbian people in many industries. Several TV shows have created story lines focusing on the relationships between gay and lesbian men and women, and interacting with their family and friends. For example, Will & Grace, was a very successful TV show, and it focused on the relationship of a gay man and his straight friend Grace. The media has helped encourage viewers to open their eyes and be more accepting to gay and lesbian people, and show them that they are no different than anyone else.

USA: Villain, Hero or both

This week’s reading is entitled Villains, Victims and Hero: Melodrama, Media and September 11. The USA is no doubt the most powerful and wealthy nation on the planet and their influence reaches every country throughout the world. The hundreds of billions of dollars the country spends to help nations around the world has given the belief that the US is helping to keep the world safe and at peace, making them a global hero. But is this belief true? Is the US actually helping or are they hurting the world? Just like Superman and Spiderman, many of the people around the world are asking if the hero is doing more harm than good.

In Spiderman 2 Peter Parker finds himself in a situation where the people no longer believe that he is a hero. Despite all the good things he has done for the people, Spiderman is now seen as a villain in the eyes of the public. Today we are seeing the same problem facing the USA as they try to police the world and make it a safer place for everyone. But like many things the way you view the US depends on your personal perspective. A woman who is saved by Spiderman is more likely to view him as a hero and not a villain. The same goes with the US, people who are saved by the good things they do by policing the world are more likely to see them as hero’s.

Places like Afghanistan and Iraq are seen as being saved by the US government. They have taken a terrible dictator out of power and have been seen as bringing peace to Iraq. But with seven years of war, are they really making Iraq a more peaceful place? Throughout the Iraq war it is said that just over 4,000 US military soldiers were killed in action. But how many innocent Iraqi citizens died in the invasion? These are questions that many people are now asking themselves as they look at the US as a hero or a villain. Just like Spiderman the good things done by the US cannot go overlook, but many of the USA’s good intentions sometimes turn into bad situations.
The article discusses how the world felt bad for the USA on 9/11. There is no doubt that the events that occurred on that day were terrible. Thousands of innocent people lost their lives for no reason and no cause. Some will say the US got what they deserved. Conspiracy theorists will say the US did it to themselves. Others will say it was a terrible tragedy and those responsible need to be brought to justice. Whatever you believe is your personal choice, but there is no doubt those events changed the world forever.

Whether you think the US is a superhero or a villain you must believe their actions on the world stage have changed the world forever and have touched the lives of billions of people, whether it is in a good or bad way.

-Curtis Thompson

Media: Main Cause of Globalization

Prior to the introduction to mass media and satellite, cultures from around the world were impacted only by individuals migrating from one region to another bringing with them parts of their own culture from home. As mass media and social wealth have been introduced throughout the world, media has played a key role in transforming, modifying and creating culture globally.

From the early days of Globalization with the introduction of Coca Cola (the most recognized brand name in the world) to the end of communism (introduction of McDonald’s in Russia) and finally the development of the internet and satellite streaming images and information throughout the globe. Media has been responsible for bringing cultural changes from being regional to worldwide. Globalization throughout the world has greatly impacted perceptions, style, democratic views as well as social acceptance among other cultures beyond one’s one. Society can now relate and understand other cultures because of the amount of media through outlets such as internet, television, radio, and newspapers including worldly issues. This bombardment of media allows people to view aspects of the world unlike their own and gain a greater understanding of other cultures thereby removing humanity’s innate fear of the unknown allowing aspects of that culture to be intertwined with their own.

An example of globalization would be the export of hockey from North America to be throughout the world including climates that are traditionally warmer and regions that would not house cold weather sports. This shows the influence that media has within regions to make changes based on knowledge and interest from places other than their own.

As we continue to move forward and cultures adapt and amalgamate within each other, it is fair to argue that there will be a general reduction in nationalism and a greater global community where regional traditions are lost and global customs are formed.

By Carolyn Gregory

I Wonder If Redneck Translates...

So, the reading "Villains, Victims and Heroes" made me begin to think about how people view other societies. There is no doubt in my mind that there are a select number of people who after 9/11 view everyone from the Middle East as terrorists. Now, this obviously isn't the case but you can't change the minds of the ignorant too easily I imagine. But what I am really getting at with this post is how people on the other side of the world view North Americans. I believe it was Russell Peters who pointed out the fact that whenever terrorist gangs and whatnot are shown on the news, we all assume that the entire population of that country beaves in the same manor, when in reality, those are like the 'rednecks' of that region. I am so curious to know what the vision on the news is of Canadians and Americans. If it is anything to do with trailers, shot guns and mullets, I am pretty ashamed.

In fact, Russell Peters (again) has a short piece in one of his acts about the 'White Canadian Accent' and the people who don't realize that they have them. He describes it as a 'matter-of-fact' bobble head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJXedRX-0Ro

If that is how the rest of the world sees Canadians, again, I am pretty ashamed. He makes it seem pretty ridiculous. He also talks about how his very Indian father gets upset because a woman answers her phone but cannot speak English. I find this hilarious because in this situation he descirbes his dad as turning into a redneck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zge74dWHA3Q&feature=related

I am hoping that this isn't the view the world has on us, if so, things need to change.

Ashley Rickards

Through the Looking Glass

This week in the reading “The Media and Globalization” it talks about many different things but the most interesting of those things is how to be cosmopolitan. Hannerz, the author, describes it as a person who can connect with the local community but also with the global community. But how does one achieve this without being labeled with other names such as tourist or immigrant for example. He talks about how when it comes to a modern cosmopolitan they achieve this through the media and communication. People who are trying to achieve this sense of the international community look at it through “artificial eyes”, which is the way he describes it. “Artificial Eyes” means that we have eyes and we can see the news but we can’t touch, thus meaning that we are not able to have first account experiences. People who only see the world on T.V. or in newspapers or books are looking through other people’s experiences and not their own which could be described as less cosmopolitan.
The biggest example where cosmopolitanism is not welcomed is when large scale war has broken out and it is not welcomed. If you take the Afghanistan and the Iraq war then there is this sense of non freedom where only the news and film makers will dare to go in a time of crisis. This is when cosmopolitanism crumbles because you can’t travel to these places and like George Bush said “You’re either with us, or you’re against us”. So unless your the definition of being an American then you are against the country.

When the war broke out in 2002 there was almost a lock down on society because the international community could not be trusted. The two buildings on September 11th/ 2001, which were the bench mark of World Trade had fallen in the country that believes in freedom. Freedom which is intertwined into the definition of cosmopolitanism.
There is such a wide spectrum of definitions of being cosmopolitan, a world traveler who is educated but yet still participates in the world community by experiencing different culture, learning languages or living with a person of a different culture. It used to be a male explorer by definition but in the modern world any gender can be cosmopolitan especially with the rise of media and communication to get you started.

Ehren Scheffler

When Technology is Used for Bad

The internet has proven to be an amazing tool for students. Young people are using it for fun, research and above all, communications. E-mail, Facebook, chat rooms and instant messaging are being used so people young and old can stay in touch. When these online forms of communication first became popular, it seemed as if it was the perfect way to stay in touch with friends, family and others. However, what no one foresaw was the negative effect it could have on young people. Today’s young internet users have created an interactive community away from their parents. Children and teens are now using these mediums to bully and harass others. 27% of children who are bullied endure this over the internet. Teachers and parents have enough trouble dealing with bullying in schools. In this technological world that we live in, they now need to try and monitor the internet to keep bullies at bay.


These sites have made it much easier for bullies to get other children involved in their actions. Sites such as Facebook have allowed young people to create a virtual community of people against another. One may create an inappropriate group about someone, where everyone can make their comments. This is just as harmful, if not more so than what goes on in the classroom or school yard.



Instant messaging is another online communication community and yet another forum for online bullying. This type may be the most harmful of all because it will go unnoticed unless the victim steps forward and tells a trusting adult. It is interesting that this bullying medium, internet, affects the ethical behavior of children. These young bullies cannot see instant feedback on the consequence of their actions. This lack of feedback means that they do not feel empathy for their victims because they cannot see the harm they are doing.

Online bulling is an example of a negative action that arises when a new form of media is introduced. In this case, the medium is internet and the original purpose was research and communication throughout the world. Unfortunately, this communication community is now used by people young and old in negative ways. It is only a matter of time before this problem becomes a serious global issue.



By: Tamra Barlow

No Substitutes Please

Instant messaging via the computer, cell phone and portable communication device has become increasingly popular over the past several years. Using text messaging and programs such as MSN Messenger and Blackberry Messenger as a means of communicating has sky rocketed not only among teens but amongst children and adults as well. Although Instant Messaging (IM) and Short Message Service (SMS) have become excellent communication tools, they also bring about various negative effects on users.

Let’s discuss the effects these tools have on people’s relationships and interactions with others. IM and SMS do allow people to communicate quickly and it can be efficient in certain situations. However, they also tend to remove the personal and emotional aspects of the conversation and situation.

As a method of communication, IM plays a great “middle man” between e-mail and face to face conversation. It enables people to keep in touch despite possible barriers such as time, money and distance. In addition, it allows for multi tasking and the ability to maintain various conversations at one time. IM and SMS are both great means of making plans, exchanging information, quick clarification or questions, and keeping in touch with friends and family. However, if simple “old fashioned” face to face communication and phone conversations are completely replaced with these methods, that relationship is bound to suffer.

The problem is, with so many things going on at once, there must be a large lack of focus on each individual situation. In addition, the emotions of the communicators can be very easily misinterpreted in the faceless communications of IM and SMS. The tone of one’s voice is not present in this sort of conversation. Therefore, someone can type one thing and the receiver can interpret it as something completely different. Sarcasm and jokes are perfect examples of this type of confusion.

All in all, IM and SMS can be great tools for maintaining and strengthening relationships. Humans are social beings who require communication and interaction with others. Instant messaging and text messaging are often effective means of this. However, people need to be careful not to eliminate face to face communication and allow these other forms of conversation to substitute for good old fashioned contact and interaction.

BY: NIKOLE DAVIES

Media and their representation of Reality

- By Alyssa Higginson

In our reading for this week called Villains, Victims and Heroes: Melodrama, Media, and September 11 there was an in depth discussion on the media coverage of September 11th. This made me instantly think about the current melodrama in the media surrounding the H1N1 vaccine recently. This current issue is sparking a lot of discussion and is important to forming a national identity for Canada as our health care system is an area of national pride for many Canadians. The reports concerning H1N1 in the media were extremely confusing for many Canadians as some were saying that it’s not safe, while others were urging people to get the vaccine. This contradiction left many people unsure of what to do. An assistant professor of communication at Simon Fraser University, Dr. Peter Chow-White said, Chow-White believes that fervent media coverage of the H1N1 vaccine program “has seeped into our daily lives to the point where the public has trouble distinguishing between what warrants justifiable panic and concern about protection.” http://www.sfu.ca/pamr/issues_experts/issues_and_experts/issues_11030901.html

An interesting article published in Abbotsford Today suggested that the media hype of H1N1 is scaring people to the point that they are getting sick. For more information on this please visit: http://www.abbotsfordtoday.ca/?p=24222

The H1N1 crisis will be talked about for many years to come and has been a prevalent story in the media recently. It is often difficult when complex issues are reported in the media as they can often overdramatize and exaggerate the issue. This can cause many to be left confused and upset.

Reports of September 11th formed an American national identity that was created out of victimization which later led to action for protection. Similarly, while the H1N1 vaccine issue is not as large a tragedy, there have been those that were described as victims of the H1N1 virus. The National Post printed an article after Evan Frustaglio, a thirteen year old boy, died of H1N1. The National Post said, “Evan’s sudden death is credited with putting a human face on H1N1 virus and prompting people to stand in long lines across the country for the vaccine. Clinics in Toronto opened the same day he died.”

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2009/11/02/funeral-today-for-swine-flu-victim-evan-frustaglio-13.aspx

Overall the media plays a very large role in any crisis, tragedy or situation as they are the main source of information for those that are at home. The media’s mass communication has a lot of power but also a great amount of responsibility to report the truth and the facts. This is something that can be learned from both of these media blitzes.

Facebook: Good or Evil #2

The introduction of facebook to the world has brought about a new set of communicating rules into the culture of online social networking. This short video outlines 5 important rules of Facebook:

View Video

5 rules of Facebook:

1) Don’t change your relationship status without consulting the other person.

2) Don’t post embarrassing photographs of other people.

3) Be discreet when posting messages on another person’s wall.

4) Don’t steal other people’s friends.

5) Don’t start hate groups.

If all of the people who used Facebook followed these five simple rules I believe Facebook would be a better place for all. Since there is always someone who feels the need to break these rules Facebook is not always a place where everyone can co-exist in peace. Not following these rules can lead to individuals getting hurt or worse. People can get fired over such things as hate groups or a friend can get fired because of an inappropriate picture that was posted of them. Also, people have the habit of jumping to conclusions when it comes to suspicious wall posts. Instead of communicating thoughts to the person who either posted it or the person who received the post individuals will get angry and sometimes post something that they will later regret. Facebook is a means of communicating but sometimes certain things get lost in translation and that is where communication ends. Individuals need to be more open to communicating and more open to figuring out communication errors if Facebook is going to continue to be a blessing, otherwise it is only a curse.

- Liz Williams (Post for week 11)

Modern Art

When someone mentions the word "history," I don't think of wars or politics or Great Depressions. When I think about history, I think about one of the most important ways humans can communicate - art. I think about famous artists like Michelangelo, about memorable architecture and paintings and sculptures. It seems that cultures in the past found art to be of such great importance, and today their works are still renowned.

Of course, art still exists. To those who appreciate it, modern art is a big deal. But is it as big a deal as it used to be? I can't help but wonder which artworks, created recently, will remain iconic images hundreds of years into the future. Our society is so technologically-driven and has such a short attention span that I wonder if we will even care.

Of course, perhaps when Da Vinci was painting, no one suspected his legacy to last. Just like you sometimes can't tell which moments will remain in your memory, maybe it's hard to say which artworks will become classic. That's why I wanted to talk a bit about Deviantart.
Deviantart.com is an online art community whose members post thousands of potential masterpieces per day. Artists can upload traditional pieces, digital artworks, artisan crafts, poetry, short stories, photo manipulations, and virtually any other art form imaginary. Of course, they are not all high quality pieces - but many are breathtaking. The skill level some artists display is amazing- like, for example, this hyper-realistic acrylic painting by user Vijujako:


But Vijujako is just one of many extremely talented artists hosted on the site. Also, many of the works posted are created digitally in programs like Photoshop. This is why I would find it incredibly interesting to see which artworks and what medium will stand the test of time and be called upon hundreds of years from now to represent the culture of the 21st century.

You can visit Deviantart and see the art for yourself by going to http://www.deviantart.com.
Vijujako's painting can be viewed on its' original page here.

By Natalie Dallaire.