Street Dancing was developed in the early late 60s early 70s with the foundation known as "Locking". Locking was developed accidentally when Don Campbell accidentally messed up the "funky chicken" and thus locking was born. Locking itself involves quick sharp "funky" movements followed by a lock (freezing of the body).
Through the evolution of locking came its sister dance style known as popping. Popping involved quick pulsation of the muscles in order to give the illusion that the body was "popping" or robotic. Through this evolution came moves associated with this new style of movement. Moves such as "waving" (illusion that different parts of the body are rubber), "gliding" (the illusion you are floating or gliding as you move), and "tutting" (the movement of ones arms, hands and fingers while maintaining right angles with these body parts).
The styles of "popping" and "locking" were hence forth known as street dancing due to its foundation on the streets of New York and L.A.. These street styles became a culture on its own developing the street style of New York and L.A.. This street culture became a world wide phenomenon and began to develop on "the streets" in other countries such as Canada, France, Japan and Korea. and have recently grown into other countries culture all around the world.
This evolution of dance sparked a phenomenon which soon found its way into house, hip hop hop and even lyrical dancing. While this style developed into the mainstream with shows such as "So you think you can Dance" and "America's best dance crew". McLuhan's saying "the medium is the message" is evident through this. While street dancing has its own it's own culture. It has only been recently that it has grown into a culture far bigger than the street. By using medium's such as reality TV, street dancing has grown into a new fad among children and adults alike. While these shows have grown because of the medium of television, street dancing keeps its street culture and continues to influence people all around the world.
By Christian Julal
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Communication in a Deaf Culture
It’s one thing to think about communicating with your friends and family in a regular, everyday lifestyle; you probably pick up the telephone, text, meet up and talk face-to-face. I believe that we have learned to take communicating for granted and with how much ease we can do it.
What about those who cannot hear? Sign language is a popular form of communicating with those who are deaf. In fact, communicating takes on a much more face-to-face roll with a deaf person. The majority of times when we communicate with people who can hear, the luxury of being able to hear means that we can talk over the phone, during face-to-face conversations we don’t have to maintain eye-contact with one another. We have the luxury of expecting that our words and tone of voice will help our recipient to understand our feelings and meaning. Maybe you’ve never had a conversation with a deaf person before, and may not have the correct communication skills to successfully have one if you needed to.
This video points out a few of the main things to be conscious of when communicating with a deaf person. Things which are courteous and important to remember.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7ZkAGQ23HM
Eye-contact is one of the most important and courteous things to remember because to a deaf person, a break in eye-contact says to them “what I am doing right now is more important than you.” It is important to avoid this break in eye-contact as much as it to learn the respectful ways of getting a deaf person’s attention. Communication between hearing people is a whole different ball-game than for deaf people.
Hearing people have developed many ways of communicating, those who are deaf communicate in ways which are slightly altered to fit their needs and the same goes for those who are blind. Communication will always be evolving and won’t ever stop over time. The deaf society may not be considered culture in the same way that media, religion and sports are, but I believe that the different ways in which we communicate with one another play a huge role in culture and there is more than one way of communicating.
What about those who cannot hear? Sign language is a popular form of communicating with those who are deaf. In fact, communicating takes on a much more face-to-face roll with a deaf person. The majority of times when we communicate with people who can hear, the luxury of being able to hear means that we can talk over the phone, during face-to-face conversations we don’t have to maintain eye-contact with one another. We have the luxury of expecting that our words and tone of voice will help our recipient to understand our feelings and meaning. Maybe you’ve never had a conversation with a deaf person before, and may not have the correct communication skills to successfully have one if you needed to.
This video points out a few of the main things to be conscious of when communicating with a deaf person. Things which are courteous and important to remember.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7ZkAGQ23HM
Eye-contact is one of the most important and courteous things to remember because to a deaf person, a break in eye-contact says to them “what I am doing right now is more important than you.” It is important to avoid this break in eye-contact as much as it to learn the respectful ways of getting a deaf person’s attention. Communication between hearing people is a whole different ball-game than for deaf people.
Hearing people have developed many ways of communicating, those who are deaf communicate in ways which are slightly altered to fit their needs and the same goes for those who are blind. Communication will always be evolving and won’t ever stop over time. The deaf society may not be considered culture in the same way that media, religion and sports are, but I believe that the different ways in which we communicate with one another play a huge role in culture and there is more than one way of communicating.
Defining and Expanding Communication and Culture
Communication has evolved over time to include several ideas, notions, concepts, and strategies. Most people have different ideas of what communication is, how to communicate, why we communicate and problems with communication. After reading A Cultural Approach to Communication my idea of communication has changed.
The article we read for today: A Cultural Approach to Communication starts off by suggesting that "of all things, communication is the most wonderful."
The article goes on to discuss that "to study communication is to examine the actual social process wherein significant symbolic forms are created, apprehended, and used."(Carey, 1989)I agree with this part of the article, but it also brings up the reason why I wanted to share my views about this article.
Briefly, the point of this, article, or what I got from this article is that communication can be defined in several ways and has several effects on society. The article discusses the idea that communication is contained into a certain box, is influenced, developed, defined, and controlled. Communication affects everyone and everything. It is modeled, and analyzed. I agree with the author’s perspective in certain instances but I think the article reverses the whole idea of what communication and culture is.
I understand that as scholars, we need to put some type of definition on communication and how it affects culture, but at the same time, I feel it is extremely important to understand that communication and culture do not need to be contained to religion, transportation, and scholarly theories.
Communication is defined differently by all people and culture. Communication is a part of every person, religion, government, social group, and identities worldwide. As the article suggests, “communication is the most wonderful.” (Carey, 1989)
So maybe for one second, we should forget about definitions, expectations, scholarly articles, studies, and science and focus on what communication means to us. After all, this too, is a large part of the “definition” of communication.
I have posted some photos and concepts of what I feel communication is and I hope others will do the same. What do you think communication is? How does it affect cultures you are involved in? How do science, religion, transportation and theory affect your view of communication? Remember that communication can be viewed as contained into a scholarly box, or the box can be pushed open and can explode into an indefinable phenomenon that we use in our daily lives.
James W. Carey, ‘A Cultural Approach to Communication’, in his Communication as Culture: Essays on Media and Society (Boston: Unwin Hyman, 1989), pp. 13-36.
Taylor Short
Monday, September 28, 2009
CultureGPS
I was researching Cultural Communication and how different businesses and people interact within each type of 'culture' when I stumbled upon a new application that the iPod and iPhone now have. Created by Professor Geert Hofstede this application is called the CultureGPS and it allows you to access more than 100 different countries/regions around the world to inform yourself as to how these different cultures act and why.
I personally think it's a smart idea because not many people are well informed of the many different cultures around the world and it helps us break barriers whether it's within a business or on a vacation. Whatever we are doing where ever we are, we are able to access such vital information about cultural communication and risk any offenses to others.
This application was formed through extensive research by Professor Geet Hofstede, and his group of researchers, who analyzed the various different cultural backgrounds, national values and practice worldwide. After such research they developed a validated 5-dimension model which explains cultural differences in a unique and powerful manner.
To explain a little more about the CultureGPS application here is a direct quote from the webpage:
CultureGPS is a tool for the iPhone and iPod Touch that enables you to analyze behavior differences in intercultural encounters an d to predict to a certain degree, which interactions evolve when people from different nationalities meet and work together.
CultureGPS will help you analyze, understand and handle cultural differences in a business context.
http://www.culturegps.com/About.html
Understanding another person's culture is key to success in any form of relationship, it is a sign of respect. Being helped in navigating through intercultural differences is such an important aspect in our lives today, and the future, because we live in the age of 'technology'. The age where you have access to anyone anywhere in the world with a touch of a few simple buttons.
Nada Kabbara
I personally think it's a smart idea because not many people are well informed of the many different cultures around the world and it helps us break barriers whether it's within a business or on a vacation. Whatever we are doing where ever we are, we are able to access such vital information about cultural communication and risk any offenses to others.
This application was formed through extensive research by Professor Geet Hofstede, and his group of researchers, who analyzed the various different cultural backgrounds, national values and practice worldwide. After such research they developed a validated 5-dimension model which explains cultural differences in a unique and powerful manner.
CultureGPS will help you analyze, understand and handle cultural differences in a business context.
http://www.culturegps.com/About.html
Understanding another person's culture is key to success in any form of relationship, it is a sign of respect. Being helped in navigating through intercultural differences is such an important aspect in our lives today, and the future, because we live in the age of 'technology'. The age where you have access to anyone anywhere in the world with a touch of a few simple buttons.
Nada Kabbara
Tatoos as Communication
Tattoos come in many shapes and sizes. Tattoos are the marking of skin with ink and there are many different kinds of tattoos. Tattoos can be black and white or with colour. There is also a new type of tattoo called UV tattoos. UV tattoos use an ink that can only be viewed under a black light and it allows individuals to show off a past tattoo or a hidden tattoo in nightclubs.
“Pictures are worth a thousand words,” and tattoos can be an expression of one’s self to communicate non-verbally about who they are. Tattoos are an expression of who we are and what we want our body to show to the world. Some people have tattoos that are of a great significance to one point in their life while other individuals get tattoos for no reason at all. Individuals who have tattoos on their body use it as a way to communicate to other about what kind of person they are. Individuals with tattoos use tattoos as a way to express their thoughts and feelings. Tattoo-less individuals may use a different form of art to express their self such as poetry or art.
Individuals seek a way to express themselves and in our Candaian culture tattoos have become a very popular way to express their self. In conclusion tattoos are a way of modifying your body to make it your own.
Here is a video that talks about tattoos as a way of expressing yourself and how it relates to first impressions: http://www.ehow.com/video_4939850_nonverbal-communication-tattoos-piercings.html
By: Amanda Burns
“Pictures are worth a thousand words,” and tattoos can be an expression of one’s self to communicate non-verbally about who they are. Tattoos are an expression of who we are and what we want our body to show to the world. Some people have tattoos that are of a great significance to one point in their life while other individuals get tattoos for no reason at all. Individuals who have tattoos on their body use it as a way to communicate to other about what kind of person they are. Individuals with tattoos use tattoos as a way to express their thoughts and feelings. Tattoo-less individuals may use a different form of art to express their self such as poetry or art.
Individuals seek a way to express themselves and in our Candaian culture tattoos have become a very popular way to express their self. In conclusion tattoos are a way of modifying your body to make it your own.
Here is a video that talks about tattoos as a way of expressing yourself and how it relates to first impressions: http://www.ehow.com/video_4939850_nonverbal-communication-tattoos-piercings.html
By: Amanda Burns
Internet’s Taking Over Face Time
We are the Internet Culture. This medium is used for communication, entertainment and education. It is almost impossible to find someone who doesn’t own a computer. Even cell phones and iPods are little computers these days. You can surf the net on pretty much anything these days. Video game systems such as the Wii, PS3 and Xbox all have access to the internet where gamers can enter a gaming paradise and play and talk with anyone, anywhere. It’s almost unbelievable. There are good and bad things associated becoming a computer culture.
Some good things are that no matter where you are or what you’re doing, you can pretty much guarantee that someone has internet whether it’s on their cell phone, iPod, or the new internet stick you can plug into your laptop. If you’re lost, you can pull up MapQuest on your BlackBerry, now who hasn’t either done that or wished they could have done it? It keeps people closer in the sense that they can quickly and easily have access to people they want to talk to.
Unfortunately, there are bad sides to the internet being everywhere we go. People are beginning to text more than they can talk. Instead of asking “how are you” or to see if someone who’s stolen your heart has actually given their heart to someone else, they check Facebook. If you want to know what someone’s doing, you’ll likely find out on twitter. People even check their favourite blogs to get the “real news”. We don’t even write letters anymore, we write emails. Do you remember the days of the romantic love letter? That’s soon to be over if it’s not already, we’ll soon have the “oh so romantic” love email.
Education is even online. People can get university and college degrees without even setting foot on the school’s campus. At a school such as UOIT, they rely on assignments and lecture notes being posted online. Assignments are checked for plagiarism through systems on the internet such as Turnitin. It has been reported that universities (particularly American ones) are going to start losing popularity and may one day become obsolete because people will be spending less money on these online universities.
With the computer culture becoming more and more prevalent, we will be seeing less and less of people. We will also by relying more on the internet for entertainment, communication with friends and family, and education. We are so immersed in this internet culture that we are addicted to it. Students can’t even sit through a class without going on Facebook so what are we to do in the future if this persists?
Emily Morris
Some good things are that no matter where you are or what you’re doing, you can pretty much guarantee that someone has internet whether it’s on their cell phone, iPod, or the new internet stick you can plug into your laptop. If you’re lost, you can pull up MapQuest on your BlackBerry, now who hasn’t either done that or wished they could have done it? It keeps people closer in the sense that they can quickly and easily have access to people they want to talk to.
Unfortunately, there are bad sides to the internet being everywhere we go. People are beginning to text more than they can talk. Instead of asking “how are you” or to see if someone who’s stolen your heart has actually given their heart to someone else, they check Facebook. If you want to know what someone’s doing, you’ll likely find out on twitter. People even check their favourite blogs to get the “real news”. We don’t even write letters anymore, we write emails. Do you remember the days of the romantic love letter? That’s soon to be over if it’s not already, we’ll soon have the “oh so romantic” love email.
Education is even online. People can get university and college degrees without even setting foot on the school’s campus. At a school such as UOIT, they rely on assignments and lecture notes being posted online. Assignments are checked for plagiarism through systems on the internet such as Turnitin. It has been reported that universities (particularly American ones) are going to start losing popularity and may one day become obsolete because people will be spending less money on these online universities.
With the computer culture becoming more and more prevalent, we will be seeing less and less of people. We will also by relying more on the internet for entertainment, communication with friends and family, and education. We are so immersed in this internet culture that we are addicted to it. Students can’t even sit through a class without going on Facebook so what are we to do in the future if this persists?
Emily Morris
Negative effects of a "text"
Text messaging is a part of our everyday culture and is affecting us in many different ways. According to McLuhan the “medium can be any technology that creates extension of the human body and senses.” This relates to text messaging because this can impact our culture positively or negatively. I decided to write about this topic because I have become addicted to text messaging along with many others including my friends. Even though text messaging is a very convenient way of communicating, there are many negative effects that are targeted on text messaging.
Text messaging is used affectively everyday and it is said to be one of the biggest forms of communication among youth today. It can affect us physically and creates an extension of our eyes and hands. It is also said to be dangerous to our brain this is due to the radiations waves that can be one of the causes of cancer. I am definitely a culprit of using my phone everyday and not being able to survive if it was not attached to my hip but this has impacted my life in some negative ways.
Ever since text messaging has been invented I realize that I do not communicate using my home telephone or I never talk to my friends on my cell phone. This has made communication on a phone obsolete. I do not necessarily believe that text messaging is always a quicker more efficient way to communicate than calling a friend because sometimes it will take them longer to answer or it causes trouble understanding what is being said. In a text message you cannot hear the levels or expressions in a person’s voice and the content of the message may be interpreted differently. This is another negative factor when dealing with text messaging that I have come across many of times. This affects our culture because our telephone calls or face to face conversations are becoming more and more obsolete due to the fact of text messaging.
I believe that text messaging should be banned when it comes to driving and texting. It has been proven that text messaging while driving can be equally as bad as to drinking and driving. All it takes is a split second to look down and start typing a text for something to happen right in front of your car. Many young teens have lost their lives due to texting and driving and this is something in our life that can help be prevented. Our society has been affected in so many ways when discussing text messaging, and driving and texting is just one example of a negative impact it has made.
Our culture will continue to expand with different forms of technology making communication easier or more exciting. The BlackBerry already has a different form of communication that other phones do not have. It is called BlackBerry message "BBM". This lets you have live conversations on your phone, very similar is msn messenger but this is pre set on every BlackBerry phone. Even though our culture will continue to be affected by technology and the cell phone, we have to realize how to use them safely, at the right times and for the right reasons.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/783729/the_negative_effects_of_text_messaging.html?cat=9
- Vanessa Johnstone
Text messaging is used affectively everyday and it is said to be one of the biggest forms of communication among youth today. It can affect us physically and creates an extension of our eyes and hands. It is also said to be dangerous to our brain this is due to the radiations waves that can be one of the causes of cancer. I am definitely a culprit of using my phone everyday and not being able to survive if it was not attached to my hip but this has impacted my life in some negative ways.
Ever since text messaging has been invented I realize that I do not communicate using my home telephone or I never talk to my friends on my cell phone. This has made communication on a phone obsolete. I do not necessarily believe that text messaging is always a quicker more efficient way to communicate than calling a friend because sometimes it will take them longer to answer or it causes trouble understanding what is being said. In a text message you cannot hear the levels or expressions in a person’s voice and the content of the message may be interpreted differently. This is another negative factor when dealing with text messaging that I have come across many of times. This affects our culture because our telephone calls or face to face conversations are becoming more and more obsolete due to the fact of text messaging.
I believe that text messaging should be banned when it comes to driving and texting. It has been proven that text messaging while driving can be equally as bad as to drinking and driving. All it takes is a split second to look down and start typing a text for something to happen right in front of your car. Many young teens have lost their lives due to texting and driving and this is something in our life that can help be prevented. Our society has been affected in so many ways when discussing text messaging, and driving and texting is just one example of a negative impact it has made.
Our culture will continue to expand with different forms of technology making communication easier or more exciting. The BlackBerry already has a different form of communication that other phones do not have. It is called BlackBerry message "BBM". This lets you have live conversations on your phone, very similar is msn messenger but this is pre set on every BlackBerry phone. Even though our culture will continue to be affected by technology and the cell phone, we have to realize how to use them safely, at the right times and for the right reasons.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/783729/the_negative_effects_of_text_messaging.html?cat=9
- Vanessa Johnstone
"The Culture of Love and Romance In the Media"
As I sat back and considered what to write about for my post, I thought “what keeps getting thrown in my face every time I turn on my television or enter a movie theatre?”
Then it hit me, “love and romance” are everywhere. From the thirty second tidbit about gum involving multiple women chasing after a man because of his pearly whites, to the romantic comedies of every season like “The Proposal” one is bombarded with popular views on the ups and downs of relationships.
Many writers and producers have taken notice of society’s obsession with seeing love stories unfold in multiple ways. Reality shows are a perfect example of this observation manifested in the physical. Shows like “The Bachelor,” “More to Love,” and “Dating in the Dark” take the classic approach. These shows send cast members to go on multiple dates, holding the premise that as each person entering the situation is prepared for something long term, providing the resources for a great time will result in a love story that North America and the rest of the world will relate to. While this is satisfactory for the female population, not too many men feel the need to sit back and watch two individuals acting overly affectionate for one another only to break up few weeks after the show is completed.
For these individuals, shows like “Entourage” and “The Real World”, offer an alternative. “Entourage” is based on the everyday lives of four distinct male characters who are involved in the entertainment industry as actors or agents. One joins them on their journey towards stardom and watches them pass time with numerous casual relationships with beautiful women that are usually strictly physical. “The Real World” incorporates multiple personalities into one house and films their every move, most of which involves partying and physical relationships with complete strangers, while they attempt to fulfill their lifelong dreams in the location that they’ve been placed.
I believe that these shows epitomize McLuhan’s theory that “the medium is the message.” In understanding that today’s society is very visually inclined, these television shows play into our desire to see people overcome difficult situations to find true happiness and bliss, even if such an ideal cannot be achieved in the short time period that these television shows are filmed. The use of scenes from the upcoming week’s episodes creates suspense and warrants the need to stay tuned to the television show on a weekly basis. Also, because of the “cool” nature of television, drama must continually ensue to keep the viewer interested.
At the end of the day, it is pretty clear to see that humanity is addicted to relationships, especially those of a complex nature. From the time of Shakespeare to now, people irrespective of cultural background have understood and promoted the universal of love and they continue to extend their affection in different ways.
Sammy Kyereme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYUL12fappM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPgZcW8MCaA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhKjgX_4ncs
Then it hit me, “love and romance” are everywhere. From the thirty second tidbit about gum involving multiple women chasing after a man because of his pearly whites, to the romantic comedies of every season like “The Proposal” one is bombarded with popular views on the ups and downs of relationships.
Many writers and producers have taken notice of society’s obsession with seeing love stories unfold in multiple ways. Reality shows are a perfect example of this observation manifested in the physical. Shows like “The Bachelor,” “More to Love,” and “Dating in the Dark” take the classic approach. These shows send cast members to go on multiple dates, holding the premise that as each person entering the situation is prepared for something long term, providing the resources for a great time will result in a love story that North America and the rest of the world will relate to. While this is satisfactory for the female population, not too many men feel the need to sit back and watch two individuals acting overly affectionate for one another only to break up few weeks after the show is completed.
For these individuals, shows like “Entourage” and “The Real World”, offer an alternative. “Entourage” is based on the everyday lives of four distinct male characters who are involved in the entertainment industry as actors or agents. One joins them on their journey towards stardom and watches them pass time with numerous casual relationships with beautiful women that are usually strictly physical. “The Real World” incorporates multiple personalities into one house and films their every move, most of which involves partying and physical relationships with complete strangers, while they attempt to fulfill their lifelong dreams in the location that they’ve been placed.
I believe that these shows epitomize McLuhan’s theory that “the medium is the message.” In understanding that today’s society is very visually inclined, these television shows play into our desire to see people overcome difficult situations to find true happiness and bliss, even if such an ideal cannot be achieved in the short time period that these television shows are filmed. The use of scenes from the upcoming week’s episodes creates suspense and warrants the need to stay tuned to the television show on a weekly basis. Also, because of the “cool” nature of television, drama must continually ensue to keep the viewer interested.
At the end of the day, it is pretty clear to see that humanity is addicted to relationships, especially those of a complex nature. From the time of Shakespeare to now, people irrespective of cultural background have understood and promoted the universal of love and they continue to extend their affection in different ways.
Sammy Kyereme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYUL12fappM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPgZcW8MCaA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhKjgX_4ncs
CultureGPS
I was researching Cultural Communication and how different businesses and people interact within each type of 'culture' when I stumbled upon a new application that the iPod and iPhone now have. Created by Professor Geert Hofstede this application is called the CultureGPS and it allows you to access more than 100 different countries/regions around the world to inform yourself as to how these different cultures act and why.
I personally think it's a smart idea because not many people are well informed of the many different cultures around the world and it helps to break barriers whether it's within a business or a vacation.
Through extensive research Professor Geet Hofstede and his group of researchers analyzed the various different cultural backgrounds, national values and practice worldwide=. After such research they developed a validated 5-dimension model which explains cultural differences in a unique and powerful manner.
To explain a little more about the CultureGPS application here is a direct quote from the webpage:
CultureGPS is a tool for the iPhone and iPod Touch that enables you to analyze behavior differences in intercultural encounters and to predict to a certain degree, which interactions evolve when people from different nationalities meet and work together.
CultureGPS will help you analyze, understand and handle cultural differences in a business context.
http://www.culturegps.com/About.html
I personally think it's a smart idea because not many people are well informed of the many different cultures around the world and it helps to break barriers whether it's within a business or a vacation.
Through extensive research Professor Geet Hofstede and his group of researchers analyzed the various different cultural backgrounds, national values and practice worldwide=. After such research they developed a validated 5-dimension model which explains cultural differences in a unique and powerful manner.
To explain a little more about the CultureGPS application here is a direct quote from the webpage:
CultureGPS is a tool for the iPhone and iPod Touch that enables you to analyze behavior differences in intercultural encounters and to predict to a certain degree, which interactions evolve when people from different nationalities meet and work together.
CultureGPS will help you analyze, understand and handle cultural differences in a business context.
http://www.culturegps.com/About.html
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Big Brother: Media, Culture and Society
The Key Concepts for week 3 are Media, Culture and Society, so i sat and thought what exactly i could write about. What affects all three of these concepts, then i thought about Big Brother!
Big Brother encompasses all of these key concepts: media, culture and society. For one, they create their own sort of society. They are cut off from all outside contact, no internet, to papers, no TV; all they have is each other. All different types of people are put in the house to live together, to vie for Head of Household, and in the end hope to win half a million dollars, by outwitting everyone else. Different cultures, different backgrounds, different everything are all in one house forced to live with each other.
The show basically follows the lives of these people as they live in the house together. There are TV's everywhere that following EVERYTHING they do.
This past season took the show to a different level by separating the houseguests into their old high school cleeks. The jocks and popular kids, the nerds and so on. This gave a different dynamic to the 'society' that they were living in.
I know there are a lot of people in our class who love this show so i thought this was a very fitting blog!
A. Rau
Big Brother encompasses all of these key concepts: media, culture and society. For one, they create their own sort of society. They are cut off from all outside contact, no internet, to papers, no TV; all they have is each other. All different types of people are put in the house to live together, to vie for Head of Household, and in the end hope to win half a million dollars, by outwitting everyone else. Different cultures, different backgrounds, different everything are all in one house forced to live with each other.
The show basically follows the lives of these people as they live in the house together. There are TV's everywhere that following EVERYTHING they do.
This past season took the show to a different level by separating the houseguests into their old high school cleeks. The jocks and popular kids, the nerds and so on. This gave a different dynamic to the 'society' that they were living in.
I know there are a lot of people in our class who love this show so i thought this was a very fitting blog!
A. Rau
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Canadian 'Hockey' Culture
Often hockey is portrayed as something Canadians are (seemingly) born into, and participate in instinctively. The saying, “The Pond is where the heart is” has been very familiar to me and has been an imperative passage throughout my upbringing. Hockey has been a part of my life for 13 years now. Not only am I a die-hard leaf’s fan and love to cheer for Team Canada, but I also play for the women’s varsity hockey team here at UOIT. I literally live, eat, sleep and breathe hockey. The house that I live in with three other teammates is a five minute walk from the rink, I eat specific meals according to my schedule (what would provide the most amount of sufficient energy), I have one of the most messed up sleeping schedules because of our 6am practices, and I spend at least 40 hours a week breathing in crisp hockey-rink air. I know that I am one of many who participate in this crazy and hectic life style.
The game of hockey has taught me to recognize which values I find vital to exemplify throughout my life. I have learnt that the values respected in hockey — teamwork, resourcefulness, tenacity, modesty and triumph — are the principles Canadians try to uphold on the world stage, and as individuals. The game transfers over to our day-to-day lives without us even realizing it. The Canadian emblem is a maple leaf which embellishes all team Canada hockey jerseys. Two major chains selling our favorite food, donuts, were started by historical hockey superstars Tim Horton and Eddie Shack. Over the past decade, hockey in Canada has become a multicultural game. Many of the newest faces entering the highest levels of both men’s and women’s hockey are Canadians with different ethnicities. All season long, families and friends huddle around their televisions to watch the “national drama” unfold. Although it is unfair to say that every Canadian shares this love for our “national sport”, I do feel that even unconsciously, it has helped us to recognize our shared cultural values and contribute to Canadian tradition.
This video shows how the rest of the world tries to come up with justifications as to why hockey is a Canadian game. It also demonstrates how competitive we are and how we would do just about anything to stay on top. It illustrates how we have created a sense of cultural identity with the game by having “ice in our blood” and by having an “extra hockey chromosome in our DNA.” Canadian hockey culture to me is not only a part of my life, but also a way of life. My name is Jessica, i am a girl, i love the game of hockey, and I AM CANADIAN.
-Jessica Cockburn
The game of hockey has taught me to recognize which values I find vital to exemplify throughout my life. I have learnt that the values respected in hockey — teamwork, resourcefulness, tenacity, modesty and triumph — are the principles Canadians try to uphold on the world stage, and as individuals. The game transfers over to our day-to-day lives without us even realizing it. The Canadian emblem is a maple leaf which embellishes all team Canada hockey jerseys. Two major chains selling our favorite food, donuts, were started by historical hockey superstars Tim Horton and Eddie Shack. Over the past decade, hockey in Canada has become a multicultural game. Many of the newest faces entering the highest levels of both men’s and women’s hockey are Canadians with different ethnicities. All season long, families and friends huddle around their televisions to watch the “national drama” unfold. Although it is unfair to say that every Canadian shares this love for our “national sport”, I do feel that even unconsciously, it has helped us to recognize our shared cultural values and contribute to Canadian tradition.
This video shows how the rest of the world tries to come up with justifications as to why hockey is a Canadian game. It also demonstrates how competitive we are and how we would do just about anything to stay on top. It illustrates how we have created a sense of cultural identity with the game by having “ice in our blood” and by having an “extra hockey chromosome in our DNA.” Canadian hockey culture to me is not only a part of my life, but also a way of life. My name is Jessica, i am a girl, i love the game of hockey, and I AM CANADIAN.
-Jessica Cockburn
Monday, September 21, 2009
The Tweeting Population
With Twitter being the newest most commonly used technology since email, the world is changing place. Whether it’s out of boredom or to spread the word, it seems like everyone’s tweeting about something these days. It’s even gotten to the point where there are terms for what it’s called when one sends a twitter message (they tweet). So does that make one who twitters a twit?
Celebrities, daytime talk shows, news channels, and plain everyday folk use it. TV shows encourage their viewers to follow them to get all of the latest news and see who’s going to be on the show next. Celebrities tell people when they’re eating a sandwich, going on a talk show or put rumours to rest. Plain folk like us talk about life, when we’re shopping, who we’re with, what the weather’s like...isn’t that giving away too much information? According to twitter it’s not, we’re all just answering a simple rhetorical question “what are you doing?” but it’s much more than that. We’re all slaves to know what each other is doing. With an expected 10,000,000 users on twitter by 2010, people will be addicted to twitter. It will become as much a part of our way of communicating and culture as texting and facebooking. We are developing into a society that does not rely on word of mouth, but relying on text alone; how will this affect our social interactions?
With the emergence of technologies such as twitter, we are losing face-to-face interaction more and more everyday which is a detriment to society.
- Emily Morris
Celebrities, daytime talk shows, news channels, and plain everyday folk use it. TV shows encourage their viewers to follow them to get all of the latest news and see who’s going to be on the show next. Celebrities tell people when they’re eating a sandwich, going on a talk show or put rumours to rest. Plain folk like us talk about life, when we’re shopping, who we’re with, what the weather’s like...isn’t that giving away too much information? According to twitter it’s not, we’re all just answering a simple rhetorical question “what are you doing?” but it’s much more than that. We’re all slaves to know what each other is doing. With an expected 10,000,000 users on twitter by 2010, people will be addicted to twitter. It will become as much a part of our way of communicating and culture as texting and facebooking. We are developing into a society that does not rely on word of mouth, but relying on text alone; how will this affect our social interactions?
With the emergence of technologies such as twitter, we are losing face-to-face interaction more and more everyday which is a detriment to society.
- Emily Morris
The World of Retail
Retail has provided for me - as I’ve worked in the industry for so long – a very different perspective on how people act and react when it comes to purchasing new products and services.
I’ve always been used to being social and friendly when meeting someone new, and in an environment where I’m meeting new people for the first time, I usually end up becoming friends and developing a positive rapport with the other person. Retail is completely different. Though I am still very social and friendly, the copious amount of people you meet in a day are merely acquaintances, and barely even that. This makes for an unusual and unique relationship and often brings about less personal conversations.
These new and unique relationships created are formed not from conversation and not from personal similarities (at least not often), but due to financial transactions. One person is the salesman, the other is the customer. People act much differently in this type of situation than any another, as they are forfeiting their money, a symbol of their hard work and effort, for a product or service. A comfortable and structured process received when a new product or service is purchased is imperative to a successful sale, and the relationship between salesman and customer is what makes this happen. A customer is much more content with their decision when the salesman is knowledgeable and honest.
Consumers tend to be less interested in services as a good investment as compared to a physical product. This includes, but it not exclusive to, extended warranties and information sessions. It’s interesting to see how many people disregard many of these services that are offered that can potentially save the customer a significant amount of money in the future. Most often it’s because a service is not tangible or immediately of use.
Another interesting observation is how easily a customer will rely on another’s opinion. Review websites and magazines hold more persuasion over a customer’s opinion than their own logic and understanding. The validation of another person’s experience with a product has an incredibly strong influence, even if the reader has never met the reviewer.
Though there are many interesting aspects of the retail world, these are some of the more interesting observations I’ve come across in my years working retail. People interact completely differently with someone they exchange money for products with than they do with people they meet in other more personal situations.
- David Wytenburg
I’ve always been used to being social and friendly when meeting someone new, and in an environment where I’m meeting new people for the first time, I usually end up becoming friends and developing a positive rapport with the other person. Retail is completely different. Though I am still very social and friendly, the copious amount of people you meet in a day are merely acquaintances, and barely even that. This makes for an unusual and unique relationship and often brings about less personal conversations.
These new and unique relationships created are formed not from conversation and not from personal similarities (at least not often), but due to financial transactions. One person is the salesman, the other is the customer. People act much differently in this type of situation than any another, as they are forfeiting their money, a symbol of their hard work and effort, for a product or service. A comfortable and structured process received when a new product or service is purchased is imperative to a successful sale, and the relationship between salesman and customer is what makes this happen. A customer is much more content with their decision when the salesman is knowledgeable and honest.
Consumers tend to be less interested in services as a good investment as compared to a physical product. This includes, but it not exclusive to, extended warranties and information sessions. It’s interesting to see how many people disregard many of these services that are offered that can potentially save the customer a significant amount of money in the future. Most often it’s because a service is not tangible or immediately of use.
Another interesting observation is how easily a customer will rely on another’s opinion. Review websites and magazines hold more persuasion over a customer’s opinion than their own logic and understanding. The validation of another person’s experience with a product has an incredibly strong influence, even if the reader has never met the reviewer.
Though there are many interesting aspects of the retail world, these are some of the more interesting observations I’ve come across in my years working retail. People interact completely differently with someone they exchange money for products with than they do with people they meet in other more personal situations.
- David Wytenburg
The Machine Controls Us
Our minds are saturated by various technologies that can mold the way we think, behave, and interact with people. From cell phones, netbooks, to the internet, all of these technologies can be a possible medium for disaster if a message is interpreted the wrong way.
One such technology whose messages can be easily misunderstood is the use of text messaging on cell phones. McLuhan (2001) wrote “it is the medium that shapes and controls the scale and form of human association and action” (p. 9). Because a cell phone offers its user 160 characters per text message, the user has to be creative when typing a message. Words that are used on a consistent basis are shortened to make full use of each character; words like ‘by the way’ or ‘talk to you later’ are shorten to BTW and TTYL. Although most avid cell phone users are familiar with these abbreviations, there are those who are not. For those who are not familiar with text lingo, a text message can be easily misinterpreted. This can turn a harmless text message into a hurtful insult. It’s in this instance the cell phone acts as a medium between the sender and the receiver, therefore creating an opportunity for the message to be misunderstood.
A good example of discrepancies found in a text message is a situation that happened to me not to long ago. I was out to lunch with my father, brother, and step mother. I received a text message from a friend inquiring on my whereabouts. I told her I was out; however, she decided to further probe me for answers. Of course she accomplished her goal and I texted her what I would be doing. The message I sent her read:
“I’m out with brother then driving him to Trenton.”
However, what she received read:
“I’m out gfjkhlkkfkgjf"
My friend assumed I wrote ‘I’m out’ followed by the several unreadable characters just to be a jerk. However, I had no idea the message I sent her appeared in that font. When I saw her the next day she was very upset because of the text message I sent her. I quickly showed her the original text message from my phone which immediately defused the situation.
Text messaging is a valuable feature on a cell phone. However, using text messaging as a medium to communicate with others might not be the best way to make use of a cell phone’s technology. I would suggest if you really need to send an important message to someone CALL THEM. This way no one can misinterpret your message.
By Robert Sudak
References
McLuhan, M. (2001). Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. London: Routledge .
One such technology whose messages can be easily misunderstood is the use of text messaging on cell phones. McLuhan (2001) wrote “it is the medium that shapes and controls the scale and form of human association and action” (p. 9). Because a cell phone offers its user 160 characters per text message, the user has to be creative when typing a message. Words that are used on a consistent basis are shortened to make full use of each character; words like ‘by the way’ or ‘talk to you later’ are shorten to BTW and TTYL. Although most avid cell phone users are familiar with these abbreviations, there are those who are not. For those who are not familiar with text lingo, a text message can be easily misinterpreted. This can turn a harmless text message into a hurtful insult. It’s in this instance the cell phone acts as a medium between the sender and the receiver, therefore creating an opportunity for the message to be misunderstood.
A good example of discrepancies found in a text message is a situation that happened to me not to long ago. I was out to lunch with my father, brother, and step mother. I received a text message from a friend inquiring on my whereabouts. I told her I was out; however, she decided to further probe me for answers. Of course she accomplished her goal and I texted her what I would be doing. The message I sent her read:
“I’m out with brother then driving him to Trenton.”
However, what she received read:
“I’m out gfjkhlkkfkgjf"
My friend assumed I wrote ‘I’m out’ followed by the several unreadable characters just to be a jerk. However, I had no idea the message I sent her appeared in that font. When I saw her the next day she was very upset because of the text message I sent her. I quickly showed her the original text message from my phone which immediately defused the situation.
Text messaging is a valuable feature on a cell phone. However, using text messaging as a medium to communicate with others might not be the best way to make use of a cell phone’s technology. I would suggest if you really need to send an important message to someone CALL THEM. This way no one can misinterpret your message.
By Robert Sudak
References
McLuhan, M. (2001). Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. London: Routledge .
World of Warcraft Culture
Culture can be defined in many ways but personally I believe culture is a group of individuals working together for a common goal who share commonalities such as goals, values, attitudes and beliefs. Games such as World of Warcraft (WOW) and Second Life use the internet as a way of connecting socially with other people of similar interests. Gamers have formed their own culture through the internet with other players while playing this virtual game.
Firstly, WOW has developed their own language that refers to different parts of their virtual world. Players use a variety of terminology they use in order to communicate amongst each other. For example, the word “guild” refers to a team. Language and the manner in which individuals communicate together is very important to WOW culture as it helps a community understand each other better.
Second, World of Warcraft has set goals for different team members. For instance, in one aspect of the game players can choose to work as a team and defeat bosses. The players must communicate with each other either by a chat window or by an audio device called “Ventrillo.” Players have set strategies to complete the task of defeating the boss. Each player in a team or guild has a different role. For example some players are hunters while others play a role like a doctor to save other players from dying.
In conclusion World of Warcraft is an online community that has developed its own culture over a period of time, and the way in which players interact plays a big part in how the game is played.
Here is a video that shows different players playing WOW and what the game looks like while being played:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRevrAUjHnM&feature=related
By: Amanda Burns
Firstly, WOW has developed their own language that refers to different parts of their virtual world. Players use a variety of terminology they use in order to communicate amongst each other. For example, the word “guild” refers to a team. Language and the manner in which individuals communicate together is very important to WOW culture as it helps a community understand each other better.
Second, World of Warcraft has set goals for different team members. For instance, in one aspect of the game players can choose to work as a team and defeat bosses. The players must communicate with each other either by a chat window or by an audio device called “Ventrillo.” Players have set strategies to complete the task of defeating the boss. Each player in a team or guild has a different role. For example some players are hunters while others play a role like a doctor to save other players from dying.
In conclusion World of Warcraft is an online community that has developed its own culture over a period of time, and the way in which players interact plays a big part in how the game is played.
Here is a video that shows different players playing WOW and what the game looks like while being played:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRevrAUjHnM&feature=related
By: Amanda Burns
"Speaking Culture"
Culture comes in many different forms, whether it be music, race or even school and the workplace. I found this video odd yet unique. Anazoe69 wrote that speaking Culture is about cross-cultural communication. Common cultural elements build the starting point for a possible dialogue between different people.Speaking Culture demonstrates a light-hearted look at communication through the musical production vocal sounds and whistling only. In this instance, although every attempt to communicate, risks being misunderstood, the use of humor is key to over coming many communication barriers (Anazoe69, Speaking Culture).
This video demonstrates how cultural differences make it difficult for people to interact, but once we get beyond the difference and ignorance of other cultures we are truly (in nature) the same beings. Whether it be communicating through 'whistling' or 'humming' these differences can be learned/taught and become second nature to us.
In the beginning of the video there is chaos no one understands each other, but as they continue to work together and listen to one another they began to learn the way each other communicates and, eventually, formed a harmonious melody.
In relation to our real lives, we walk through many different cultural stages in life, high school, University even our neighborhoods. We walk through these stages nervous and afraid of the unknown, but eventually we learn how to adapt and communicate in each culture we are facing and become 'harmonious' with that culture.
By: Nada Kabbara
This video demonstrates how cultural differences make it difficult for people to interact, but once we get beyond the difference and ignorance of other cultures we are truly (in nature) the same beings. Whether it be communicating through 'whistling' or 'humming' these differences can be learned/taught and become second nature to us.
In the beginning of the video there is chaos no one understands each other, but as they continue to work together and listen to one another they began to learn the way each other communicates and, eventually, formed a harmonious melody.
In relation to our real lives, we walk through many different cultural stages in life, high school, University even our neighborhoods. We walk through these stages nervous and afraid of the unknown, but eventually we learn how to adapt and communicate in each culture we are facing and become 'harmonious' with that culture.
By: Nada Kabbara
"Call It Ludacris: The Kinship Between Talk Radio and Rap"
You must have heard of Kanye West’s outlandish behavior, or US Rep. Joe Wilson’s outburst. Are they symptomatic of the decline of “manners” in today’s political discourse in the US, as CNN would have its viewers believe?
Some interesting parallels between the two (West and Wilson; hip hop and politics) are emerging. This Sunday's New York Times had an article on the "kinship" between political ranting Talk Radio hosts and Rap Culture. Both cultural forms share:
"EGO Extolling your greatness is nearly as crucial to rap as it is to talk radio."
“HATERS You’re nobody in hip-hop until you claim to have hordes of detractors.”
"FEUDS 50 Cent vs. Ja Rule. Lil’ Kim vs. Foxy Brown."
“VERBAL SKILLS Without them, you can’t rap and you’ll never make it as a talk radio opinion-machine.”
How about the gangster culture of hip hop? A veneer for a conservative politics? The journalist argues:
“Even beyond simple matters of style, rap and conservative talk radio share some DNA. Once you subtract gangsta rap’s enthusiasm for lawlessness — a major subtraction, to be sure — rap is among the most conservative genres of pop music. It exalts capitalism and entrepreneurship with a brio that is typically considered Republican. (Admiring references to Bill Gates are common in hip-hop.)”
Just a thought about the nature of the medium!
A. D.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Hip Hop Culture Miscontrued
Hip Hop itself is its own culture. While it is primarily associated with North American Culture, it has become such a world wide phenomenon that nearly every country has experienced some sort of Hip Hop Culture.
Hip Hop started in the 80s through the evolution of funk music. With its origins based upon funk music/dancing, Hip Hop soon evolved into is own culture with party beats, b-boying, and smooth lyrical rhymes. While many Hip Hop artists such as Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Common still to this day remain true to Hip Hop origins, Hip Hop has become very mainstream changing our culture.
The evolution of Hip Hop into the mainstream changed hip hop music and its original form. No longer would Hip Hop Music be about love, pain, and life in general. It soon became about guns, the police, drugs, and sex. These songs had such an energetic and "party" like feel that it soon swept into mainstream media.
This new and evolved culture began shaping and changing many youths social lives and in the process destroying what Hip Hop culture was actually about. This new evolved version of Hip Hop Culture has given off the false impression that its music is supposed to be about sex, drugs and violence.
While Hip Hop has changed there are many artists who stay true to the original form of Hip Hop. These artists are barely recognized by the average citizen and therefore are unable to fully portray what Hip Hop is truely about. The media has promoted this new evolution of Hip Hop causing the public to have a narrow mind when it comes to Hip Hop Culture.
By: Christian Julal
Hip Hop started in the 80s through the evolution of funk music. With its origins based upon funk music/dancing, Hip Hop soon evolved into is own culture with party beats, b-boying, and smooth lyrical rhymes. While many Hip Hop artists such as Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Common still to this day remain true to Hip Hop origins, Hip Hop has become very mainstream changing our culture.
The evolution of Hip Hop into the mainstream changed hip hop music and its original form. No longer would Hip Hop Music be about love, pain, and life in general. It soon became about guns, the police, drugs, and sex. These songs had such an energetic and "party" like feel that it soon swept into mainstream media.
This new and evolved culture began shaping and changing many youths social lives and in the process destroying what Hip Hop culture was actually about. This new evolved version of Hip Hop Culture has given off the false impression that its music is supposed to be about sex, drugs and violence.
While Hip Hop has changed there are many artists who stay true to the original form of Hip Hop. These artists are barely recognized by the average citizen and therefore are unable to fully portray what Hip Hop is truely about. The media has promoted this new evolution of Hip Hop causing the public to have a narrow mind when it comes to Hip Hop Culture.
By: Christian Julal
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