Week 8, Chapter 26 #2

I wanted to emphasize more on the definition of "democratic pluralism". Hall defines democratic pluralism as "the myth that society is held together by common norms such as equal opportunity, respect for diversity, one person- one vote, individual rights, and rule of law." (p. 335) I guess I can say I agree that this is s myth. People immigrate to America for these rights and come here to see that there is still unequality here. Up until the 1960's, Blacks did not even have the same rights, when they were slaves and even after slavery was abolished, they did not have the right to marry. Interracial marriage was also shunned upon. There is still unequality. Even with people who are American and of all diversities. Like with same sex marriage. Religion and politics should not be tied with each other. I think that everyone should have the right to marry and have the same rights as everyone else in their country. Just like America stands for. So I do have to say that democratic pluralism is a myth.

Week 8, Chapter 26

"Corporate Control of Mass Communication." (p. 338) This part of the chapter reminded me of a project I did last semester at SRJC. It was called project censored and was based out of SSU. We learned about how the media portrays and filters the news because it is owned by certain corporations. That's why we only see a certain realm of media on the news. The corporations have such a power to control what we know about, so its basically junk food news (thats what they call it). I don't watch the news because I don't necessarily learn anything new from it. I think it brings more fear than information to people. From the project, I also learned that this filtering happens in journalism too. Journalists who let information out about a certain subject that may involve or connect with the corporate companies that own the media will most likely get assigned to another area or get fired. I'm not trying to preach or hate on the news, this just reminded me of a project that I studied a lot about, and appreciate. It's also cool because this is now a worldwide organization and it started in my hometown :-) If your interested in learning more about it heres the site:
http://www.projectcensored.org/

Week 9, Chapter 24

In this chapter, I really appreciated Marshall McLuhan's Media Map of History. (p. 315)
There are four ages and one possible age. In order from oldest to newest, they are the Tribal Age, The Literate Age, the Print Age, the Electronic Age (present) and the Digital Age (future). The Tribal age was a era when the only base of media communication was by ear and the community. The Literate Age started when the Phonetic Alphabet was invented (2000-1500 B.C.). It was a visual era where most media communication was done by visuals and because "the eye is the dominant sense organ" (p. 316). The invention of the Printing Press in 1450 started the Print Age. The Print Age was also a visual era when a mass production of books "usher in the industrial revolution and nationalism, yet individuals are still isolated" (p. 316). The Electronic Age started when the Telegraph was invented in 1850. It is an era of "instant communication; a return to the global village with all-at-once sound and touch." (global village: a worldwide electronic community where everyone knows about everyone's business and all are somewhat testy.") (p. 317)
Lastly, there is the Digital Age, which hasn't started yet, and we don't know when it will or if it will. The digital age would be wholly electronic. It is defined as "a possible fifth era of specialized electronic tribes contentious over diverse beliefs and values." (p. 317) I think that there is a good chance we will go into a digital age, since there are so many electronic things replacing the old fashioned devices. I guess we just have to wait and find out.

Week 8, Chapter 23

This whole chapter stood out to me and reminded me a lot of qualitative research. The information that is passed on is by story telling and other narrative ways. My professor told me that story telling was one of the most reliable and better ways to get information on a particular culture or story, because those people know it the best (even if it isn't particularly true, it is still valid because its someones story). On page 302, it states that "people are essentially story tellers", which makes a lot of sense because we usually tell stories everyday. It also ties into the previous chapter, where there were the "acts" and "scenes" of narrative story telling. Fisher states that a narrative paradigm is " a theoretical framework that views narrative as the basis of all human communication." I agree with this definition and believe that the narrative paradigm is one thing we use all the time. even as toddlers, we would tell stories about what happened to us/them. I also appreciated the story about Ruth and David, the greatest King of Israel, I think that is a clever and interesting story.

Week 8, Chapter 22

I think we use Kenneth Burke's dramatism theory all the time without even realizing it. People use it in everyday life. I know I do. I act and over exaggerate to get my point across, to make the situation seem more serious than it is and to use other ways that may fit into what I'm saying (that only words can not say). I think I experience the "act" and "scene" terms the most. I usually or usually hear people talking with dramatic verbs to illustrate and summarize what has been done. I think this helps me understand more of what they are trying to say because sometimes one good word can say it all. The "scene" idea is my favorite. Although books and authors don't necessarily tie in with this idea, their description of the scene is a perfect example of how it should be executed. If people were to talk in that complex, they would be great at the "scene" demonstartion because it is like painting a picture through words. I think these are great ways to better understand the situation and communicate it with others.

Week 8, Chapter 21

I agree with Aristotle's three Rhetoric qualities that build high source in credibility. I would rather listen to a credible speaker than a non credible speaker, even if I did not agree completely with the credible speaker. The three qualities are intelligence, character, and goodwill. I think that the book was right on track when they mentioned Martin Luther King. Though I was not alive when he was, I have heard his speeches and have seen how he changed and moved his audience, which resulted with a change in history. The book says that MLK had "competence (intelligence), trustworthiness (character), and care (goodwill)" p. 283. I think there are other people in society that have those credible qualities too. Even though views are different, I can say that most Republicans think that McCain is a high source in credibility because of his military intelligence, "maverick" character (lol) and goodwill for his country. Most democrats and liberals believe that Obama has those same qualities but in different ways. Obama shows a lot of intelligence in his speaking and knowledge, healthy character and care for the people of his country. I'm sure there are many Republicans and Democrats who think that their opposing candidates are not a credible source. Just like others thought that MLK wasn't a credible source. But as long as their audience and listeners think that they have those qualities, they are considered a credible source.

Week 7, Chapter 20

A lot stood out to me in this chapter. Deetz did a great job of explaining the communications that take place in organizations. There were a few things that stood out to me. The first one was about the mangement and the power trips that they can have. I liked the Dilbert comic on p. 267. I think that was a good way to show how some managers are very selfish and don't necessarily think about how they are treating their employees. The manager only wanted to make effort in communication because he thought the company ould do better, but he didn't pay attention to what his employees might need. Also, on p. 265 it has the quotes "because I'm the boss", "because I say so", "if you don't like it, quit", and "it's my way or the highway". When people say that to me it makes me extremely mad. I've had someone say the first three quotes to me and it infuriates me. It makes me feel (and I'm sure it makes others too) like I am unappreciated and if I quit it really wouldn't matter. Though I try to be the best associate and hard worker I can be. I've been in leadership and management positions before and I would never do that to my associate, I would want them to be heard and welcomed. I would want them to feel safe and appreciated even if we don't agree on things.

Week 7, Chapter 19 #2

Geertz writes about writing ethnographies and ways to research different cultures. I have to say that the cultural approach to research and communication is one of my favorite kinds of approaches. This semester, I am also taking Qualitative Research and I absolutley love it. I love writing thick descriptions and ethnographies and I love studying and exploring different cultures in a qualitative research approach. I like this approach better than quantatative because you get to interview and experience the culture first hand rather than conduct surveys which is mostly good for statistical research. I love the idea of going to a culture and studying them in a way where I can really get something out of it. Plus, it is challenging because there are research ethics you should follow and sometimes you may have a fear of that particular culture. Someone in my class asked why we even did qualitative research, since it is not straight logical and there is not real correct answer. You can find something in your research and sometone else can find something else totally different, yet both findings would be correct because qualitative research is about finding new things and theories about cultures. It is not like math, where there is only one right answer. I think that even if there is not only one answer, it is still imporatant to learn. It is because you personally can take information and experience with you, which is very rewarding. I think that this is what education should be about, the experience and knowledge you take with you, even if it is not the "only" correct answer.

Week 7, Chapter 19

Geertz defines the word culture and what it is in the beginning of Chapter 19. Even though there are so many different definitions that can fit into the term "culture", I agree with Geertz's definition. He defines it as "webs of significance systems of shared meaning." (p. 251) Geertz stated what culture was and was not. He said that "culture is not whole or undivided" (p. 251), which made me agree with his definition of culture the most. I think that culture is not just one thing, it is not whole. It has many aspects and influences to it. I think that it is a certain way of life or doing something. It can't just be one thing or another. Culture is fluid and can't just be black or white, or whole and undivided. It is broken into all of these different parts that can also intertwine with each other. Like a web, it all goes in separate ways or paths but it also connects in some ways.

Week 6, Chapter 18 #2

"Some people make things happen.
Some people watch things happen.
Some people have things happen to them.
Some people don't even know things are happening."
(p. 244)

I read this and my mind started wandering from the book and into that quote. I'm not sure why, but I fell in love with this quote when I first read it. I thought it was so true. People can be all around each other physically but in such different worlds. This is true in groups as well. In my experience with small groups. there has always been individuals who fit this quote. There is always the person who wants to get everything done, the person who watches, the person who gets things put on them and some members of the group don't even know what is happening. In my experience, only one or two members are left to do all the work while everyone else is clueless. I think these types of problems can be solved by communication and having a deadline and outline for everyone in the group so they all do an equal amount of work and no one feels like they are doing everything or like they have done nothing.

Week 6, Chapter 18

In the beginning of chapter 18, British sociologist Anthony Giddens "suggests that people in society are active agents in the sense that they are "able to act otherwise" and have the capacity "to make a difference." (p. 237) I agree with Giddens statement. I think people in society can almost in a way structure what society is. I think if how society used to be and how society is today. People have changed that. They have stood up and fought for their rights and practiced what they believed in. Society used to be more conservative and now it has more liberal and less conservative traits. Today's society is also much more materialistic than it was 20 years ago. I don't know from experience but I know that even when I was a kid, I used to play sports and with beanie babies and creepy crawlers.. that was fun and entertaining for me! But now it seems like my nephew and neices all want video games! I know this has a lot to do with advances in technology, but it also has to do with the people wanting more and more materialistic things. I don't know many people my age who don't have the latest video game console, an ipod, or the latest "hip" phone. I think it kind of sucks that todays society is so materialistic because you have to keep on spending money to feel "status" or satisfied with fitting, but I guess it also depends on how you live your life.