Digital Nation

     This week in class we watched the documentary "Digital Nation." The documentary concerned how much technology is impacting our lives. The documentary covered both positive and negative effects that people feel technology is having on people and society. Three main points that were covered in the documentary were; living faster, relationships, and virtual worlds.
     The documentary covered how technology is speeding up our lives and causing us to live faster. One study covered in the documentary focused on the increase of multi-tasking in students. A growing number of students are attempting to do multiple tasks at a time. For example, sitting in a lecture with their laptop, listening to the lecture, taking notes, watching a video, and checking texts on their phone. The study found that these so called "multi-taskers" were actually doing each task poorly compared to doing one task at a time, therefore showing they were not really effective at multi-tasking. Some argue that all the new technology in our lives is leading us to sensory overload and that new technology is outpacing our efforts to research it's effects on society.
     Another topic covered was relationships. Many people argue that technology has led to a distance and alienation in most relationships. For example, people used to meet face-to-face to talk and socialize. With phones, then even more with cell phones, people started talking long-distance without the social interaction of face-to-face contact. Now many people only communicate by text-based methods like texting and e-mail. The documentary also represented people who feel technology is beginning to help relationships. They claim technology gives people who feel the urge to connect to other people the ability to do so. People can reach out to friends and family in distant locales and maintain a relationship that would have been near impossible previously. With online video, you are starting to be able to have that intimacy of being face-to-face and seeing and hearing the other person.
     The last main topic I saw was virtual worlds. A lot of the documentary covered the dark side of the issue. It claimed that playing video games is highly addictive and had led to the creation of classes to teach computer usage and etiquette, as well as rehabilitation programs for video game addicts. That is a potential downside. On the upside, video games give people access to a highly immersive and powerful vicarious life. Video games give you the ability to do, and experience, things that you may never be able to experience in real life. For some, this is no more than entertainment. For others, it allows them to unleash frustrations with real life in a more healthy way than doing those things in reality.
     "Digital Nation" showed that technology is moving fast. We have no choice but to adapt. It is only going to become more integrated in our lives in the future.

Masculinity and Violence

     This week in class we discussed masculinity and violence. What makes a man masculine? Some would say rugged good looks, tall, muscular, athletic, rough, tough, etc. One of the subjects we discussed as a symbol of masculinity was the "Marlboro Man." He has been used in television and print ads for decades to sell cigarettes and has been successful due to the symbols of masculinity people apply to him. First of all, he's a cowboy. Most people think of cowboys as tough and self-sufficient. They also generally think of cowboys as rugged and handsome. These are just some of the qualities often used to define masculinity.
     We also discussed the prevalence of violent content in mass media. The two articles we read had opposing view on the impact this violent content had on our youth. One article felt that our youth were being harmed by the violence in TV, movies and games. This harm came in an increase in violent acts and a desensitization to violence. The other article felt that there were other factors that were to blame than violent media. They felt poverty, parenting, and other factors played a bigger role.
     One thing is clear about violence and masculinity. That is the fact that mass media often uses violence to define masculinity. Look at all action movies. It is usually a large, muscled tough guy in the lead role. Every Arnold Schwarzenegger film is built around violence, and I doubt you would find anyone who would argue that he isn't masculine. In Pulp Fiction, a graphicly violent film, Samuel L Jackson and John Travolta play hit men. They are depicted as rough, tough, no-nonsense types who would be described as very masculine. In media, the maculine guy is the guy who never shies away from a fight, and usually wins.

Metaphors Present in "Football High"

     We recently read "From 'Knockout Punch...'" by Ralph Donald. In it he discussed a dozen metaphors that were being interchangeably used between sports and war films, and the effect they had on male youth. In the video "Football High" we saw many of these metaphors used and the effects they had. Here are three examples:
     First is "You gotta play hurt." Young men are taught in sports that their team is counting on them. If they are hurt, they need to keep playing as long as they can. This was especially evident in the video in a scene where the running back, Garrett Harper, got his bell rung on a play. When he came to the sidelines, he kept repeating "I'm OK, I remember everything." He was trying to convince everyone that he wasn't hurt so he could keep playing.
     Second is "Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser." This is evident in the film with the team the video focuses on, the Shiloh Christian Saints from Springdale, AR. They started to receive all their recognition only when they improved their football program into a perennial powerhouse. They were consistently one of the top teams in their state and other programs started to try being like them. Then they played a larger Euless Trinity team from Texas in a nationally televised game. They lost, and that's what most people will remember. Because of that, instead of concentrating on what had made them successful, they wanted to model themselves more after the team who beat them. That way they would be winners and not losers.
     Third is "Appreciate your interference, don't hog all the glory, and sacrifice for the team." This was in evidence with star recruit QB Kyle Frazier. As an undeniable talent, he had help prepping him for his college, and hopefully pro, career. In his interviews you could see the humility he spoke with. Instead of bragging about his talents, he praised his teammates and offensive line, sharing the glory and showing appreciation for the men up front who allowed him to do his job.