Week 12 reflection

In the main, I thoroughly appreciated this learning space and its potentialities for interaction within and between our discrete and collective thoughts. Furthermore, the accessibility of discussions of the virtual world in which we live, are necessarily inclusive and engaging in their relevance. To this end however, there is an emotive and personal assurance we feel in our own views and comforts when discussing not only our online experiences, but infiltrating our ideas of the freedoms and limitations we expect from this virtual world. For better or for worse, we all came to the table with experience and opinions of this world. Also, for better or for worse, some of us are repulsed by the ideas of Haraway's "cyborg" and perhaps paranoiac of the perceivably ever-encroaching technologies. This has led to some dynamic and diverse experiences interacting in this space, and, in a very difference capacity, in the classroom. Suffice to say, we all approached a lot of dynamic discourses throughout the semester and grappled with the morality, laws and mechanisms of a very important modern domain.

In essence however, I cannot eschew certain deconstructive urges I feel towards our epistemic of the "cyborg", as founded in Haraway's oeuvre. Accordingly, if you consider debates of embodiment and virtuality, you're really retreading not only psychoanalytic discourses of the Real, Imaginary and Symbolic, but long-standing notions of phenomenology and consciousness theorising. Also, these 'transhuman' depictions have existed in folklore and mythology for thousands of years; that's not to say that theories rooted in a hermeneutic reframing are moot - if so, academia would be in trouble. Rather, I'm merely saying that we should proceed with conceptual clarity of what it is to be a "cyborg" and why we can't merely (or just more explicitly) theorise about consciousness, liberty, and pedagogy, within a less emotive paradigm. Also, we should likely proceed in a manner that acknowledges, cites and synthesises any influencing texts and theories, which I am not convinced has been the case within pockets of cyber-culture rhetoric. Progressivism is no doubt important, as is fostering new theories and modes of understanding, however these must be balanced against rational considerations that do not proclaim but investigate - and do not sensationalise notions solely because of their palatability and accessibility to the masses (which is how I would personally categorise the popular 'cyborg' theorising of the 1990s). Again, this is in no way demeaning of the importance the informational revolution that has happened in the virtual space, but just emphasises the need to proceed with caution and reason and understanding that while business isn't quite 'as per usual'... it really is.

Thank you everybody for a productive and interesting semester!

Andrew

Week 10 article and thoughts

Hello all! I just thought I'd quickly post my belated (and sickly) Week 10 article of interest - namely concerning the contrasting freedoms and limitations of virtual anonymity in the public sphere.

Mainly, this will reference and expand upon the mid-year developments in cyber-bullying protection in the Family Court as discussed in this ABC article. Summarily, a 21 year old man was sentenced to community service for sending threatening text messages to a 17 year old boy who subsequently committed suicide. I believe instances such as this show a responsive invocation of society's methods and means being applied in a progressive manner. Here, Victoria's stalking laws we relied upon; laws which have themselves been progressively interpreted to adapt to the emerging virtual realm. Accordingly, they were shown to extend to matters such as the present, where a framework is needed so that "...people can operate and know what they can and can't do..." (Mr Nicholson, Chair of the National Centre Against Bullying, quoted on p. 1). This would appear to be a step towards our acceptance of "virtual" responsibility as an extension of those we labour under the "real" world. Seems radical?

I believe that while there are obvious differentials in aspects of physicality in the virtual world, it is an abrogation of our existing sociological systems for us to draw absolute distinctions between the "real" and "virtual" whereby we renounce the practical ramifications of actions we take, albeit while sitting in front of a screen. Furthermore, I don't think that the citation of isolated instances such as that of the above should be utilised for undue fear-mongering about the dangers and insecurities people feel online - insecurities they similarly feel in the "real" world. Rather, these are small pieces of the puzzle of how our sociological mechanisms and processes must adapt in tandem with our own development.

Conversely, it has been suggested at one or two junctures this year that maybe our liberties are at stake in this processes of delimiting the ideal and virtual realms. There is merit to this, along the lines of its interior logic of John Stuart Mill, regarding the continuance of our inalienable rights to conduct ourselves as we wish - up until the point that it impinges upon others. Just like life. Until we can wholly extract ourselves from the spatio-temporality of "reality" while navigating the virtual world, how can we maintain these illusory distinctions and allowances of "imaginary" and "real" without it necessarily collapsing into a solipsistic selfhood of everything we are, have been and always will be. All in the name of anonymity we're conditioned to fear in "reality"; underneath that Burqa, lying underneath our bed. And yet it's pragmatically tolerated, in part merely because the digital technologies we have developed are one step ahead of our historic systems of governance? Whether or not we're "appearing offline", there are real consequences to everything, seen not only in similar cases to the present, but the very fact we're not - in line with such pragmatics - where we aren't when we're anywhere (i.e. the fact of we're surfing the internet doesn't mean that we've ceased to exist anywhere else nor can we be assured that if we live out our dichotomous delusions, our cat won't die, husband/wife won't leave, and tax collectors won't beat our doors down).

In conclusion, we should also consider the reasons driving our longing for such an idealised 'virtual' space. Who are we really running from? Even if we had the keys to the kingdom of such a Utopia, where have ideals ever existed unfettered from the realities of poisoned apples, persuasive talking snakes and/or the very structure of the ideal that dictates "this is ideal, this is not. You are, and you aren't."

Andrew

Reflective Post

Much like Jasmine, I found the blog at times challenging due to the amount of people and their ideas. But although there was ten or more posts a week, this also made me understand peoples thoughts better, allowed for information from/about tutorials to be recorded and helped me realise the magnitude and importance of the internet in my life.

While I found the amount of information on the blog confronting and tedious, the ability to read peoples presentations before they presented, refer to their information after they have presented, and the ease of sharing links to pages/things talked about in the tutes was much greater. I found this to be one of the most interesting units not only for its content, but for the fact that tutes were practically recorded, so while I was sick at home I could still find out what had happened in the tutorial.

I feel like I need technology, from a chair to a computer and mobile phone, but would never have considered myself a cyborg. After this unit, I have questioned what a cyborg is and whether I am one, but I am yet to find a definitive answer. I guess that might be part of it- the fact that I am so attached to technology that I can't recognise it.

I really enjoyed the unit and the tutorial discussions, the ease of communicating with the tutorial group and getting information, but found it sometimes difficult to remember what weeks to post on the blog, and what to post. Once I realised the blog's importance to my degree and, in a way, my weekly routine, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thanks!

Reflective Post

While at times I felt like there was an overload of information in the blog, overall I thought it was quite useful for sharing information that extended beyond our discussions in the workshop and tutorials. I think a tutorial blog has the potential for being a great learning tool for formulating and sharing ideas relevant to the unit. It would be great to see if there was a way to get people more involved with the blog on a daily basis as opposed to just posting the required amount of information. As mentioned previously I also think that the blog gives people who may not speak a lot during tutorials and workshops and avenue through which to express their opinions. The spacing out of the required tutorial activities also made the blog seem like less of an assessment. However, while I enjoyed reading the daily contributions to the blog, I still wasn't personally compelled to make any additional blog posts (I would call myself more of a lurker). Overall I felt it was a different but interesting assessment and I definitely enjoyed partaking in the blog more than I thought I would.

Before I began this unit I had never thought of myself as a cyborg and while I still don't like view myself as one, after our many discussions over the semester, by definition I am a cyborg. I wear glasses, contact lenses and have had braces and I am able to modify how I look with the help of technology. I have an online community of friends, some of which live on the other side of Australia but with whom I speak daily. I like to view my online persona as simply a reflection of who I am in the offline world but admit that through online communities I am able to modify the way people may potentially perceive me. I do feel a reliance on technology through my ability to access information and people whenever and wherever I choose, so perhaps whether I want to admit it or not, it has become an extension of who I am.

Overall I really enjoyed this unit. I thought the content that was covered was interesting which made preparing for assignments and tutorials more enjoyable then some of the other units I have participated in. The unit really made me challenge the original views that I held towards some of the topics covered in our tutorial debates, in particular out discussion on the ethics of pornography and cyber-rape. I think these sorts of discussions are very relevant to today's society as technology is advancing at ever increasing rate. Attitudes and laws surrounding internet-use are taking a while to catch up so I think it is really important to form a societal discourse on some of these issues. Anyway I wish everyone all the best of luck for exams!!

Jasmine :)

Week 12 Reflective post.

On the blog

I personally found the blog both interesting yet relatively tedious and time consuming. I feel that while the blog allows me to take time to process the information shared, it takes so much time just trying to get through some of the posts as well. I think that our face to face tutorials were a lot more meaningful as we tend to challenge each other's ideas. However, I must also say that as our discussions are very often pretty intense, it is really difficult to progress the information so quickly. Thus, the blog has definitely allowed me to think about the issues we talked about in tutorials in more depth. Also, I did find the blog really useful for following the links shared on the blog. The blog has made sharing these links so much easier.

Am I a Cyborg?

Before starting the unit, I would never have classified myself as a Cyborg. However, after this course, I am starting to accept the fact that I may be a Cyborg at the end of the day. As humans, we are becoming more and more dependent on technology and our generation practically cannot live without technology. However, I do agree that cyborgs and humans should not be mutually exclusive and at the end of the day, it is up to the individual to decide what they see themselves as. Thus, while I am starting to accept that I may be a Cyborg, I still don't think that I am one.

Likes/ dislikes

I have really enjoyed this unit tremendously. Our tutorial discussions are always stimulating and it has definitely changed the way I view Cyborgs and technology. I also really enjoy the readings that we have to do for this unit. They are always interesting and force me to think about issues or angles that I have never thought about prior to the unit. The workshops are my favourite part of the unit when we can watch certain clips or articles and analyse them. It forces us to think and discuss issues in the classes. They have been really enjoyable.

My last favourite part of the unit is probably the webliography. I didn't find the assignment very useful or helpful.

This unit has been a pleasure I must say! I really enjoyed it.

Signing off!

Week 12 Reflective Post

Blogs:

I am particularly involved in every tutorial I participate in at Uni, so this may not go for everyone but due to this I found the blog of little use to my learning for Self.net. Discussion was at times good on the blog, but I found it more pertinent, engaging and interesting in the tutorials. It also seemed like that there was too much information on the blog to engage with, as there were over 140 posts. That said however, I did find the blog really useful for following people's links and engaging with material outside of the unit readings and which I'd never seen before. This was definitely very interesting for me, even if I thought that discussion was more stimulating in tutorials.

Am a cyborg:

Undoubtedly yes and I have no insecurities or worries about saying so. I use Facebook, and a mobile phone to socialise. I entertain myself through electronic media and the internet. I use many pieces of technology to improve my quality of life and to help me live it. I think it is impossible to not be integrated into technology in Western society. We are as I see it, all cyborgs whether your consider yourself one or not.

Feedback:

I found many aspects of the unit really stimulating and the content was really good. I did however find that sometimes lectures were a bit lack-lustre, being almost lists of theorists and what they said, without any real analysis. Also I felt that workshops were underwhelming, and would have been better as more of a general discussion on the lecture topic. Tutorials were however really good, and the tutorial reading was particularity engaging.

Anyway, good luck with assignments and exams everyone. :)

Week 12 Reflective Post

Blogs

I think that blogs may be a useful tool for learning, in that people unfamiliar with blogging and internet culture can immerse themselves in it and gain a better understanding. However, I feel like having such "required posts" does not help to generate discussion online. If I was interested in discussing one of the questions posed in a tute presentation post, I would rather wait until the tute to do so. In a tutorial environment it is much easier to bounce ideas off one another and, thus, further your own understanding. Also, studies have shown (and I have experienced) that when people read online, they skim read and don't engage fully with the writing. I think this detracts from using blogging as a learning tool because I like to engage in discussion.

Am I a cyborg?

I suppose if I use the definitions provided and studied in this unit, then yes, I am a cyborg. I can understand how "cyborg" can be a useful term for describing phenomenon occurring in the digital age. Having said that, I feel like "cyborgs" are more of a conceptual fiction. They aren't the crux of who we are, simply a convenient designator that allows for elaboration of ideas. Put that way, I do not regard myself as a cyborg. I guess it's convoluted to say that I both am and am not a cyborg, but I think it depends how the idea itself is approached.

Feedback

I really like the content in this unit. The approach was interesting and I feel like it has made a significant impact on my world view. One thing I didn't like about Self.net was the workshops. I feel like there were too many people to facilitate effective discussion of ideas when it came to share. Rather than these, I would have liked to do the workshop exercises as tute prep. Also, the tutorial presentations were good, but more guidance would have been better.

It was lovely to meet you all :) Wishing you the best of luck with your assignments and exams!

Becky ♥

Week 12 Reflection

On the Blog

I found the tutorial blog to be useful for preparation, reflection and interaction. Getting a sneak peek of what people wanted to talk about in their tute presentations made tutes more inviting, and being able to comment on people's posts later on gave me enough time to think more about the topic before I shared my opinions. I also thought it was really good to be able to read each other's work to gain more perspective (and maybe just to not feel like I was the only one having to slave over assignments)!

On the Cyborg Question

I know I'm dependent on technology in a lot of ways, but at this point, I don't see "cyborg" and "human" as being mutually exclusive. I understand that the machine/organism dualism is breaking down because of developments in biotechnology and artificial intelligence. But even then, I see myself as having a close relationship with technology, rather than experiencing symbiosis or convergence. I actually see "cyborg" not as a separate ontology but as a condition we all possess simply because it is a necessary consequence of living in the era that we do. I don't think we are turning into another species altogether because it's not we're able to reproduce with a machine. (But that's just how I try to keep distinctions clear in my head.)

On the Unit

Overall, I thought the unit was really interesting and well-organised. I particularly liked the workshops because they provided a setting for small-group as well as whole-class discussions, and that doesn't happen in most of my other units. Plus, the activities were really engaging!

Thanks for this semester, everyone :) It was a pleasure meeting you all!

Blogs, good or bad for make learning well?

How did I find the blog?

Overall I found the blog both fun and interesting, as well as a time consuming, frustrating and an ultimately redundant learning tool. It was fun as I’d never blogged before so having part of my unit being assessed in this manner meant I had to learn how to use this software, no biggie, because I enjoy learning new things. Interesting in that discussions had in tutes could flow over into this arena and continue, regardless of room time constraints and class clashes.

The time consuming part of doing this blog comes in where the internet is having difficulties, so it takes ages to load, or I’m not near a computer and have to wait until I’m near one to do my work. Or in the case of putting a post up or responding to a post, continuously checking it for responses, and being disappointed in the apparent lack of interest in some topics, and heated debates in others. In the case of the latter, not checking it for a day or two can mean whole conversations happen and conclusions reached without the chance to have input.

The blog was redundant in my mind how ever, since we already have discussion boards that can be utilised in the same manner on WebCT. Perhaps the funky colour backgrounds engender further discussion in a way that WebCT doesn’t. Or is that we are encouraged to use the blog since it is a part of our assessment process? Forced participation sounds a bit harsh, but the more people interacting gives a richer experience in the blogosphere so may be a good way to go.

I didn’t find it easier to say something in the blog than in a tutorial, the only differences really being that I don’t have to wait for someone to finish talking before I can have my turn with the blog. On the same note though in a tute there is instant response to my utterances whereas the learning environment of the Blog can either happened really fast or really slowly. A plus for the blog is that I can Hyperlink, a tool which I’d not known how to use up until now, and which I’m having great fun using, to prove my points, or add illustration to an argument. These are things which I can say in a tute but I believe visual images help people to understand a topic so much more.

Either way I have found that units where discussions are continued on outside of the class room give greater understanding of subject matter, than those who have cobwebs in the halls of their discussion boards. Surely though, more information can be exchanged so much quicker and easier than on a blog, when done with a face to face conversation. I’m curious to know about the experiences of people who use blogs on a regular basis and how they found this blog. I personally don’t blog, and don’t follow blogs, mostly because I find the constant checking to see if any new posts are up really frustrating. I have better things to do with my time. Plus I get bored quickly if I don’t see any progress. I liken it to being chained to technology, always needing to be with it, even if it doesn’t need you.

Am I a Cyborg?

I don’t consider myself a cyborg, although we are greatly advanced from our ancestors technologically speaking, the same can be said of most generations of man, in comparison to the ones that came before. It’s just that now we’re getting to the stage of creating things on a smaller level with finer detail. If however in our lifetime they do come up with a viable option for cybernetic limbs, I would certainly consider them and become fused with technology permanently. I'm keeping a close eye on developments in the field.

Likes/dislikes about the unit in general

I really enjoyed this unit in every way. It was taught on a subject about which I am fond, and gave me new ideas and perceptions of things that I interacted with on a daily basis, but didn’t give a second thought about. I’m still reeling over the idea of ethics in cyberspace. The first 3 movie snippets that were shown in workshops were from movies that I’d really enjoyed, and helped me to understand the ideas discussed in the lecture on a whole new level, and to help others in my group to understand the background of the scenes shown and apply new points of view on things of which I really enjoy.

Sometimes the tutorial didn’t seem to have enough time, other times the tute didn’t seem to be moving at all. This second one may have been due to the topic, or perhaps no one read the readings that week, or perhaps the questions being asked just weren’t engendering responses from the students. I’d had times where I enjoyed the readings and had one or two things I wanted to say, but the questions being asked weren’t relevant. So it’s either a case of putting it down in the Blog, or steering the tute away from the presenter to talk about that interesting point. Politeness would generally stay my hand from the second option, unless boredom won out and I’d say it anyway.

Donna Haraway- She still confuses me. So much of what she says comes across as techno-babble to me. I can see that she’s had some really interesting ideas, but I think I need a translator to help me understand most of them. I suppose that's where this unit comes in, branching out from her ideas and expanding on them through out the semester.

This unit was awesome, and I don't know of any changes that will improve it, other than perhaps more class time. Thanks everyone for your input and making this unit such a rich experience.

Last Words

I really enjoyed this unit, as I have enjoyed all other Women's Studies units. I particularly enjoyed the contemporary feel this unit had - we constantly related all topics and discussions to current, contemporary and relatable issues/ideas. The unit really made me reconsider how we, as humans, interact and have come to rely on technology in this digital age.

Some fo the issues that we have discussed I had not even considered, for example being raped on the internet or the introduction of racial discrimination to the internet, until we discussed them within this unit.

I really enjoyes that the lectures and workshops (particularly) followed the same idea as the tutes and gave "real" examples of "real life" issues. This unit overall has been an incredible eye-opener.

I find that I now think about my use of technology more, and feel almost powerless at how much of life revolves around it - I feel as though there are no alternatives anymore than to be saturated by technological devices.

Do I think I am a cyborg? When I looked at this question at the beginning of the semester, I had already thought in my head that I would be answering "No". However, throughout the unit my ideas surrounding the term "cyborg" have changed, and I can't help that think we are all increaisngly becoming cyborgs. We find it more and more difficult to distinguish ourselves from our technologies, and can't imagine living life without them. I had never thought of technology as an extention of myself, but this unit has made me relaise just how much I'm becoming a cyborg.

In terms of blogging for the unit, I had never blogged before EVER, so it was intersting to be trying something new at uni. I quite enjoyed the idea that you could plan and structure any arguments you wanted to make, and had as muhc time as you pleased to think of what to say - no moments were passed by with someone else making anew point - I could sayexactly what I wanted to.

It does however, as I see other people have mentioned, become a time consuming process to continually check and update the blogs. Not time-consuming enough though to be a negative impact on any other work I have been doing.

I also really liked that using the blog meant we could all post links to things that were relevant. Since the internet is such a huge resource, it was good to make use of it.

I would definately recommend this unit to others interested in a contemporary and digitally enhanced look at women's studies.

Byeeeee!

Caitlin Ede

Week 12 Reflection!!

Firstly I would like to say that I have really enjoyed this unit. Not only have I found the readings and the topics of discussion very interesting and intellectually stimulating, but I have also enjoyed blogging! This unit has provided us with a forum in which we can write our extended thoughts about a particular topic, and has encouraged us to post blogs about things that we find interesting and would like to share with others.

I never really knew why people blogged and expressed their every thought. However, after actually blogging myself, I have realised that one can become quite involved in the blogging process, where after reading what other people have to say, I am encouraged to post my own opinions.

Blogs are definitely effective as a learning tool. People like myself, who don't talk as much as they should in tutorials, have the opportunity to express themselves in this forum. I often have many ideas in tutorials, however as discussions become heated and people change topics, I am often unable to convey my thoughts about each idea expressed.

Blogs have also been very effective in teaching me firstly how to use blogs and hyperlink etc. But also the required blogging (as set out in the unit outline) has forced me to post and respond to comments, where I have become more interested in the topics of discussion and the blogging process in general.

Do I regard myself as a cyborg?
I do not regard myself as a cyborg, because I don't consider myself to be a hybrid of machine and organism. Although I am constantly using technology, such as my phone and computer, I do not think that these technological items are an extension of myself. I think that as technology continues to become more advanced, we will become more obsessed with it and eventually we will all become cyborgs. However, I am not at that stage yet! Maybe students who are undertaking this unit in 20 years time will all say that they are cyborgs!

Good luck with all your studying and exams! The holidays are not far now!

Caitlin.

Week 12 reflection: seeya later alligator!

I have really enjoyed this unit as it has been quite different to any I have done before, and it has linked in nicely with a number of units I have done in the past, particularly Anthropology of Media and Postmodern Narrative.

The lectures have been my favourite part of this unit, particularly the week on media resistance and culture jamming, as well as one of the earlier lectures on race and gender (with the clip from M. Butterfly). I also think that the use of examples of work from contemporary artists such as Stelarc and Piccinnini hs been a really useful and interesting way of expanding upon more complex theories of posthumanism and the cyborg.

I also really enjoyed the weekly readings because the topics seemed really relevant to how we are living today (and will possibly be living in the future), and it is definitely much easier to understand and relate to readings thathave some significance to our own lives. Also the readings were never too long which was great!

My least favourite part of the unit would have to be doing a tut presentation, but this is just something that I should really get over!

How did the blog work for me?
I think that the idea of having a blog an an extra learning forum is a great idea. It proved useful for me in that I had the time to gather my thoughts together in a way that made some sense, rather than being put on the spot in tutorials. I also found to be a useful way of remembering tut discussions and furthering these discussions through the integration of images, video clips and articles.

Cyborg?
Up until yesterdays tutorial discussions, I considered myself a cyborg due to the fact that I find it hard to function without technology, and seem to be always checking my phone for the time, date, texts or missed calls without even realising that I am doing it. Now after yesterday I am no longer sure. I agree with what a few people said about not really liking the label cyborg, as to me it does sound quite futuristic - ie people walking around with Stelarc-like contraptions as arms. Maybe if the label was substituted with something less revolutionary, more people would be willing to consider themselvs cyborgs?

Week 12 Tutorial Post: Post-Human Conclusions

Hello all.
Below is my tut presentation for tomorrow.
It revolves around what actually is post-humanism and what it entails

The questions I will ask in the tute, and I don't necessarily expect answers to. They are semantically and philosophically very complex.

Anyway, presented below the major points of the reading, some elaboration and interpretation, as well as questions for rumination until 11am tomorrow.

Flesh and Metal: Reconfiguring the Mindbody in Virtual Environments (Katherine Hayles)

Hayles begins by asserting that the body is human form perceived from outside a cultural perspective. Embodiment is the experience from the inside.
Hayles suggests that body is in fact a term that means little. Her argument is that Western liberal humanism should be done away with. The Cartesian mind/body dualism does not hold. In the vein of Derrida and post-modern literary theory (and a little of Nietszche) everything boils down to relation.
“Propriocetion” the sense that gives us the feeling we in fact occupy our bodies rather than possess them.
Body arises from a dynamic flux of culture, biology, evolution and technology. Hayles resists the idea of some masculinised and patriarchal post-humanist thought idea that we can download our consciousness into virtual information.
Embodiment requires that we are already changing from information rich environments. She suggests that technologies have always co-evolved with the brain.
Her examples are the neuron growth as effected by information technologies and video-games as our keyboards and video-game controllers become parts of our body-interface, or mindbody as she calls it.
More radical examples include the Lamprey experiment, where cultured brain tissue interacts with robotic parts, the growing use and development of neural implants and pervasive computing.
For Hayles cognition involves the environment, this she calls the “extended mind”.
She also asserts that language is a parasite in symbiosis with us. We developed language and it has developed our neural arrays at the same time. We are inseparable from it.
Hayles cites the artist Maturana’s viewpoint is that we only perceive reality. This perception is based in reality itself. He goes on to suggest that simulation technologies are a continuation of western patriarchal military domination.
Hence the art projects Hayles makes reference to (Traces, Einsteins Brain, and nØtime) all play with this idea. They are concerned with tying virtual worlds to real world phenomena such as the moon cycle, peoples’ motions and the stock market. They create feedback loops where in input creates an effect, which will further stimulate input. The idea is to demonstrate to the viewer (and at the same time the subject) that there are no fixed objects, no unchanging contexts.
There is no autonomy, no freewill, rationality, individual agency, identification of consciousness as identity. We relate in order to exist.

Questions:
If our brains have coevolved with technology over time does this make us all cyborgs? Furthermore which other species become cyborgs? Dolphins? Apes? Monkeys? Cuttlefish?
If existence is relation, and there is not ultimate locus of cognition, does the term human mean anything at all? Is post-humanism therefore a perspective on the human condition? Furthermore does this imply internal contradiction?

Speculative Fabulations for Technoculture’s Generations (Donna Haraway)

Haraway strarts her discussion on colonial memory. She suggest that decolonisation is a further western application of colonial techniques. We should now be caring for the land in harmony with ancient techniques and relation standpoints as opposed to trying to patch over the damage we have done with new-fangled postcolonial techniques. She suggests that this is not true reconciliation.
Haraway suggests that western thought is future-orientated, the present just a stepping stone to that future. The past is the past and we go forward from there. Indigenous thought is ancestor facing, with descendents coming up to take over responsibility. One has responsibility to both the past and future.
Haraway interprets Piccinnini’s art as reconciliatory. There is a link to introduced species and the efforts to conserve endangered species. Salvation is a western idea, a return to wild times and is ultimately using decolonisation to patch the damages of colonisation. We should instead care for the environment as we act. Ethics as continual responsibility, not clear cut moral actions.
The protector species that Piccinnini creates are playful and serious embodiment of that idea. They are the use of modern techniques to achieve a more ancient standpoint of interaction and relation to the environment to protect it. Piccinnini also asks on the subject of our future kin and creations that we made them but are we able to love them? Or are they to go the way of introduced species. Haraway makes the point that indigenous culture treats indigenous and introduced species without special differentiation. They both become part of the environment.
Technocultural people, she suggests, (and we are all technocultural) must learn to situate themselves facing ancestors of many different kinds and bearing the responsibility for those who come after.
The unbridgeable dichotomy of traditional and the modern is a myth.

Question:
Is Haraway’s argument of the post-human, as a need to adopt ancient kinds of “seeing” congruent? Or is it self-contradictory in its refutation of post-colonialist ideas?

Adios Amigos - Saying goodbye to Self.Net Identity

Wow! First of all I would just like to take a second to say how fast this semester has gone! It seems like only yesterday I felt like a foreigner entering a new country when I wrote my first blog post. I had never used a blog properly and wasn't really aware of how many blogs were out there and how easy it was to become a part of one. I assumed you had to pay to join them all and I always felt as though I would be frowned upon for not being informed enough to publish my thoughts publicly. But by using this blog, I think it is just the best way to be introduced to the world of blogging. If you already had blogging experience then that's great, but for those of us who are a little less savvy when it comes to it, it was such an easy and friendly environment to participate in.

That being said I would most definitely say that a blog is a highly effective teaching method for University purposes. Like the discussion we had in one of our first tutorials, we all have our reservations about expressing ourselves in tutorial situations. This has allowed every member of the tutorial a chance to express themselves and a chance to reflect and put time and consideration into our thoughts on the weekly readings or what we have been seeing in general. I know that when I am sometimes put on the spot, i stumble and stutter and eventually just end up dribbling off onto some irrelevant point, but this has allowed me to concentrate my thoughts into one medium and express my ideas clearly, in a safe environment.

It also allowed us, I feel, to learn more from each other, because everyone had put thought and effort into their posts. As a result, we were able to teach each other and to provide interactive examples to further reiterate our points. We use examples in our speech so often, by being able to refer to something and then open it up in another browser is a fantastic aid for teaching!

Am I a Cyborg?

I think I am on my way to becoming a cyborg. My technology is a part of my everyday, however I don't find it to be an extension of myself. I think the fact that we now express ourselves so regularly via technology shows that we are becoming cyborgs, however I am going to say I am not there yet. I still much prefer to express myself verbally. I think verbal speech is always going to be the most powerful medium and I like to think I can still effectively use it, without having to resort to technology to get a point across....though sometimes it does help. I don't go into meltdown if I leave my phone at home and I don't feel lost if Facebook isn't always open, but I would definitely miss these things should be taken from me.

What did I like/dislike about the unit?

I really enjoyed the unit. I love these units because we are able to relate to them so well. Many units are looking back at how things were or how other people see them, whereas in this unit, we are the statistics, we are the users we are talking about, which I love. I feel so much more confident writing and talking about it because I can relate. The only suggestion I would have was maybe to not use the blog as the only interactive element, but maybe minor assignments requiring us to find and participate in a different blog, or to play an online game for a tutorial (something we did in one of my other units). I just think this would give us a bit more context for what we are talking about, as well as helping those of us who aren't very knowledgable to learn about these sites and learning how to interact online, so we are confident to continue to do so when we leave the unit.

All in all I have thoroughly enjoyed this unit and have really loved the blog. I think it is a great idea and so relevant to the intended outcomes of the unit.

As I write my final blog I wish you all the very best with your future studies and whatever else you set off to do. I have loved being a sounding board for you all and hope that I have made you think about something, you may not have before, with one of my posts!

Adios amigos!

Jac :)

Week Twelve Refective Post.

Reflective Post

It was only in one other unit studied during my time at university where I had posted on a community blog. The unit was an art history unit, entitled, Art and Games: From Dada to Data. Like this Women’s Studies Unit, the blog was designed to act as both an extension of the tutorial sessions and also a space in which people could comment on topics of interest which may be relevant to the unit.

While blogs may offer a broader opportunity for people to express themselves and also enables them time to process and structure their thoughts, I do find them to be quite time consuming. Unlike a real-time conversation where response in communication must be prompt, a conversation within a blog is a slow and drawn-out process. Wouldn’t it be much better to have the same conversation in a face-to-face situation where bodily expressions may be exchanged and thoughts teased out? And while the blog offers an opportunity to express thoughts in a highly constructed and materialised way, I do not believe it betters communication or conversational skills. In fact, I believe that as we rely on, and become accustomed to a blog to be the space in which we interact and express our thoughts and opinions, that our person-to-person interactions and our ability to interact and socialise, diminishes.

As far as learning purposes are concerned however, the blog does offer an opportunity for those less inclined to speak in a tute or workshop to speak and offer their contributions and opinions. So in this way, the blog is very much a democratic and open space. However, I don’t think, at least in my experience, that the conversations which take place on the blog extend into a real-life conversation. That which is posted on the blog, tends to stay only within that space. Conversely, conversations which take place in real-life, stimulate, and provide the foundations for the blog. So it would seem the blog does not stimulate conversation, but rather that conversation stimulates and provokes the blog. Reasons for this it would seem, could be found in the separation between the blogging world and the real world. The two exist as separate entities, different realms, which are constituted by their purposes and necessities.

For these reasons, I do not consider myself a cyborg but merely a student participating in the necessary assessment criteria. My body has not been altered and my cognitive processes remain the same. I may be participating within technology, but I myself have not been technologised. I remain the same.

Blake Chitty.

Signing Off: A Reflection and Evaluation

Hey Everyone

Here is my reflection for what, in my opinion, has been a really great and different unit. 

Use of blogs for learning purposes: Evaluation

I found the the use of blogs really useful for me and from my perspective helped my learning process. 

What I liked about it was the idea of the blog was that it provided an extension of tutes. So often you will have just finished are tute, or are just trawling through the interent and see an article or think of something that would be of real benefit to tute discussions, but often it is not practical to bring it up in the next weeks tute. By using the blog, this unit was able to overcome what I see as an issue with tutes, and in that perspective I really liked the blog. 

It also gave those who may not feel comfortable talking in tutes a forum for sharing their ideas and also allowed people to elaborate on controversial topics that they may have not had time to completely cover in the tutes. 

What I did not like about the blog was in some cases low quality of discussion. For a blog to work and truly be taken seriously, it must have a give and take relationship, people will only post on the blog if they know what they post is going to be read and going to be responded to. In terms of this blog, I would often post material only to have one or two, or in some cases no comments, and, if I didn't enjoy blogging so much, may have been disheartened by such low levels of interation in some cases. 

Overall, the blog is really relient on the members of the tute to make it useful, but for me I still found it an important aspect of the learning process. 

I think that it is risky to further add requirements to the blog, simply because I don't think you want to make it too much of chore for people to do. Those that enjoy blogging and get something out of it will post when it is not required, and to force people to post, in my opinion, destroys the fluid nature of blogs. 

Am I a Cyborg now?

Haraway writes that "We are all chimeras, theorized and fabricated hybrids of machine and organism; in short, we are cyborgs." Without a doubt I would definitely consider myself a cyborg. Thanks to constantly changing and evolving nature of technology and the all encompassing influence on our everyday lives, from my perspective we we have almost evolved into a posthuman stage. Technology use for me is second nature. If the future is being constantly digital connected and in contact with others and having access to limitless amounts of information at a whim, then we are living the future now. Through my iPhone, I can instantly contact anyone, anywhere and any information I want is a simple click of a button away. I am rarely, if ever without some piece of technology, I would arguably have my phone on me, or within hands reach 24/7 and arguably am unsure whether I could/would want to survive without it, so yes I am proudly a cyborg.  

What I most liked/disliked about the unit?

What I liked about the unit is the way it was taught. I liked the lectures and how they were used to give more contemporary examples of some of the concepts we covered and I really enjoyed the workshops. The workshops allowed us to put some of the concepts learnt into practice, and also allowed us a chance to mix and to talk with people who were not in our tute groups. The activities in the workshop were fun, engaging and also lead to me learning a lot of things I didn't know for example the ToS for Facebook etc. 

My one change for the unit would perhaps be to extend the time allocation for tutes. To have up to 3 people presenting on, in some cases, 3 different readings all in 45 mins with discussion was often a challenge, and I would probably like to see tutes consist of 1.5 hour tutes like they do in upper level English units, or maybe make a better use of the online blogs when it comes to tute presentations. I also think it would be really cool if we could arrange to maybe have a lecture or a workshop within Second Life, as the topic of Second Life came up a lot. 

Overall I really enjoyed this unit, and it is nice to see a unit coordinator embracing technology as a learning tool, as opposed to shunning it like so many other coordinators do. 

See you in cyberspace,

Luke 

Week 12 Reflection & Evaluation

Use of blogs for learning purposes: Evaluation

I found the the use of blogs helpful and it has greatly enhanced the learning process.

What I liked about it was it was easy to refer to ideas talked about in class. In addition, the blog is a platform that allowed for the sharing of relevant scholarly material that enabled me to understand the readings better.

What I did not like about it was the quality of the discussions. Responses to posts fluctuate, some posts garnered many comments while there were zero responses for certain posts. Moreover, the adequacy of resources found on the blog is completely dependent on the users, therefore it is crucial that the users respond and post relevant articles.

Overall, the blog is only as useful as its users make it but it is still an important aspect of the learning process. The objective of using the blog for educational purposes has been met and it allows for easy reference to discussions brought up in class.

I feel that the blog system can be further improved. To prevent a deluge of comments for one post and zilch for another, what can be done is a designated number of people can be assigned to give feedback each week. This would ensure a steady flow of comments rather than the current fluctuation. EG The two presenters from the previous week must comment on the posts in the upcoming week.

Am I a Cyborg now?

I would consider myself a cyborg because I now see the integration of technology into human lives in a new light. The idea that humans are more cyborg now than our ancestors were is a prevalent theme throughout the course of this subject. Thanks to the evolution of technology and the pervasiveness of its use in our everyday lives, we have evolved into the posthuman stage where we can actually categorize ourselves as cyborgs. A quote from Haraway's Manifesto best describes this "We are all chimeras, theorized and fabricated hybrids of machine and organism; in short, we are cyborgs."

Studying theories by Haraway, Stelarc and Moravec has allowed me to see the omnipresence of technology in our everyday lives and realise that it has and now become second nature to me. Therefore, yes, I consider myself a cyborg now.

What I most liked/disliked about the unit?

What I liked about the unit is the way it was taught. For the workshop, I liked the idea of giving scenarios of how we could apply the concepts to real life and breaking up into different groups to discuss the execution of the concepts further. For the lecture, I liked the method of explanation. During lectures, the more difficult concepts were linked to visuals or interactive material which allowed for easier comprehension of the concepts.

What I did not like about the unit would be the distribution of the marks. I find that 50% for the major essay is a little too high for one assignment. I think if more percentage was awarded to the weblog, it would enhance the function of the weblog greatly. This is because an added percentage would serve as motivation for a more steady stream of discussions and comments.

Webliography: Paddy Then

For reasons Alison is aware of, I've been unable to submit my online webliography until now. Sorry for the confusion, everyone else. I'll be doing this week's presentation too. See you in the tute!

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Computers and the Communication of Gender

Elizabeth Lane Lawley’s article is an exploration of feminism within the field of technology, focusing on virtual creation of gender. She outlines certain trends, how the digital generation has changed our reliance on technology, how the internet is sexualised more so for women, and how this disturbs male supremacy, leaving critics and analysts, predominately male, ruffled and prone to warning. The article also looks at differing views, from Jan Zimmerman’s view that women can gain control by being part of the development of technology, however argues that this does not give importance to grass-root movements and the power of users. Lawley sees the flexibility of transforming identity as a freeing task, one that is no longer restricted to the physical body and one that may help to dissolve gendered bias. As a paper that was written first in 1993, with its latest page modification set at 2008, it is perhaps not the most current piece in existence, yet it is a useful study as a pre-existing text of a growing gender/technology theory, I would suggest this report be used as the key in arguing the guiding question. The author is an assistant professor of Information Technology at the Rochester Insititute of Technology in New York.

Online Technology and Networking Some Gender Perspectives

Hari Srinivas’s paper for the most part, is a broad view of technology and networking, and to a certain level, looks at what this means for women in the workplace. It states its focus is based primarily at the small and medium enterprises working in the Japanese, Indian, Venezuelan and South African technology networks, and unfortunately, seems rather generalised and somewhat out-dated, with references to half-forgotten browsers such as Netscape. Nonetheless, it does bring up some good points about technology, that in “terms of television, radio or newspaper, the vast majority of participants are passive”, and how with digital communication, women have a more active platform on which to work on. Srinivas states that it is the lack of access that has created disadvantage between the genders, and drives it as the centre of her argument. This piece would work better as a side-text to use, or perhaps as research to better augment the essay.

Gender perspectives on health and safety in information processing

Ruth Pearson’s article observes health and safety in association to technology, and makes specific mention of attitudes towards women in view of data entry. She warns that women are in danger of reverting to a lower class basis again, as more and more women work technologically menial tasks, rather be involved in the development process. The article also looks at health risks, that rumour women suffering more from RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) and birthing issues. This would make a good point for how the physicality of the body and the social connotations of how feeble women are still dominating women issues. Pearson herself is a lecturer at The University of East Anglia, UK, and in the research field of information technology and gender analysis. As a text, this report is a online version of a pre-existing publication, and holds more than just one scholar's opinion as the website in which it is attached to, holds the entire book volume, which may also present useful information.

A Gender Perspective to ICTs and Development

The report by Anita Gurumurthy focuses on women who have little opportunity to access technology, and its main objective seems to be a encouragement of how women can overcome the odds. The emphasis of the piece is on ICT (Information and Communication Technology), and how policies within companies are gendered, and brings up suggestions as to how to overcome gender opposition overall. Gurumurthy has some fascinating examples of how women have risen to use technology, such the Women to Women video and Akshaya e-program, though there is little about men in general. However, it must be noted these are only small examples, they don’t point to an active revolution or awareness. For this to be used in an essay, it might be cautious not to place too much weight on Gurumurthy's argument, and instead use the positivity as an example. The site in which the piece comes from is a online documentation of world summit issues, mainly centering on German-based topics, which the site is hosted by.


A gender perspective on Internet use: consequences for information seeking

Ann Britt Enochsson’s article is an assessment report on findings based within a Swedish classroom, looking at how attitudes towards the Internet and technology differ between boys and girls. As a case study, it looks at a specific example of how children are gendered to technology at a young age, and outlines how social expectations influence the use of computers, coming to the conclusion a lack of IT education for girls. She also discusses how it is perceived that the use of internet for young girls is intrinsically linked with the media and sexuality, a concern of parents who may restrict assess within the home sphere. This article would support the guiding question’s attitude of masculine control and female participation, as Enochsson uses select questioning as part of her research, by asking a boy and a girl the same question and comparing the difference in vocabulary and understanding. While it is a restricted glimpse into a large field of research, and perhaps the lack of statistics underpin her argument, the source provides a fascinating look at how early gendered indoctrination begins. However, it might be said that this should be a supplement, rather than the focus of the essay.

References

Enochsson, AnnBritt, 2005, "A gender perspective on Internet use: consequences for information seeking" http://informationr.net/ir/10-4/paper237.html, accessed 15/10/10.

Gurumurthy, Anita, 2003, "A Gender Perspective to ICTs and Development", http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/web/701.htm, accessed 15/10/10.

Lawley, Elizabeth Lane, 1993, "Computers and the Communication of Gender" http://www.itcs.com/elawley/gender.html, accessed 15/10/10.

Pearson, Ruth, 1995, "Gender Perspectives on health and safety in information processing" http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu37we/uu37we0v.htm, accessed 15/10/10.

Srinivas, Hari, 2008, "Online Technology and Networking: Some Gender Perspectives" http://www.gdrc.org/gender/ait-paper.html, accessed 15/10/10.

wk 12: reflecting on our own little blogosphere

I had actually never been part of a blog before this unit, I'd never even really read blogs so I suppose you could say having to do a blog has been quite educational for me. Generally I liked having a blog as part of the unit, although I find contributing on the blog much more worrying than contributing in our tutes - I'm much more paranoid about saying something ridiculous on the blog, where it will be recorded for everyone to see, than saying that same ridiculous something in a tute. I suppose this is the whole idea of being visible on the internet - we really do become our own self regulating system (for anyone who's doing comm, I love those panopticon lectures! rampant paranoia is just such fun to witness).

I think doing the blog is a great opportunity for those who don't always get to say things in tutes to go crazy, the internet really should be used in education for people to gain confidence in their opinions and just to stretch the way they think in general. Basically I think the internet is a great space for creative thinking. At least before it becomes the horrible filtered place that Stephen Conroy wants it to be.

I've really enjoyed all the passionate tute discussion we've been having all year, also the readings are great - it's so nice to have clear, interesting and most importantly not over 30 pages long readings.

Do I regard myself as a cyborg now? I'm not sure that I do, I've found contributing to a blog really interesting but I think being a cyborg requires a greater connection.

Oh and I've been listening to these three great songs while writing this so felt like sharing the musical joy (how is it that this word is suddenly appearing in speech all the time?) But here we go: Will Stoker and the Embers - see the King; Seams - We are not your neighbours; and Sneaky Weasel Gang - Visionary.

Plastic Bodies

Hi Guys,

On the front-cover of a certain tabloid magazine, I saw two juxtaposing images of a 'real' body (that is, free from cosmetic surgery) and a 'fake' body (one heavily altered through plastic and cosmetic surgery). Both bodies were deemed to have "killer curves" and considered to be beautiful and attractive. The article more specifically however is asking which is more 'perfect'. Ideas of perfection aside however, I was curious as to whether or not those bodies altered through cosmetic surgery are considered to be cyborg? Or does a cyborg need to be more robotic and electronic to be considered so? Is any altered body a foreign and unnatural body? Comparatively, are male body builders such as Arnold Schwartzaenegger, who strive for the perfectly chiseled and proportionate muscular body, often enhanced by using anabolic steroids, considered cyborgs of some sought? if not, why not?

Cheers,

Blake.

Week 11 Tutorial Presentation - Work and Play

Hi everyone!

For my presentation, I'd like us to talk about the Gregg article, "The Normalisation of Flexible Female Labour in the Information Economy." The article discusses the concept of flexible labour, the assumptions behind this practice and the effect that it has on women in particular. Gregg suggests that while women are now given more choices and opportunities to travel or work from home, it would be wrong to conclude that flexible labour has only brought benefits and that it has been so for all women.

I will focus on two of Gregg's most significant points. The first is that women are geared towards flexible labour because of traditional (and restricted) understandings of gender. The second is that the representation of flexible labour in the media is inaccurate.

To get your views on the points that Gregg raises, I have prepared the following questions:

1. Has the emergence of flexible labour put more pressure on women by expecting them to be BOTH successful workers and homemakers? Do you think childrearing should be treated as a matter external to the economy?

2. What is your view on how flexible labour has been presented? Is flexible labour the IDEAL working arrangement?

Lastly, In my analysis of flexible labour, I also found that it recalls a number of binary oppositions such as masculine/feminine, work/leisure, etc. I'd like to know if you think flexible labour changes our perceptions of any of these dualisms.

Thank you and see you on Wednesday! :)

Tutorial Presentation Week 11 – Work and Play

This week I will look at the forward by Henry Jenkins and Justine Cassell, written for Beyond Barbie and Mortal Kombat: new perspectives on gender and gaming edited by Yasmin B. Kafai.

From Quake Grrls to Desperate Housewives: A Decade of Gender and Computer Games looks at the development of the computer game scene since the 1997 conference Jenkins and Cassell held which focused on the girl game movement and what it would take to expand the female market of games.

This forward covers the ideas of: Can, do and should girls play computer games.

Why women are still under-represented in the design and digital technology fields.

The girls game movement of the mid 90's and it's conflicting aims. Which include the economic drive for marketing towards females, the political aspect attempting to shrink the gap between the genders by getting girls interesting in computer, the technological introduction of the CD-ROM and it's ramifications, the entrepreneurial aspect for women starting up new businesses focusing on girls games and the aesthetics developed for girls games upping the ante on visual and audio game experiences.

Attitudes towards women and the reasons discussed as to why they don't design/play computer games. Stereotypes and 'pink box' thinking.

What girls want to play and how to get them to play.

It appears that these days the only time games are marketed towards women are when the game companies want to try and expand their market and earn more profits. Not for the sake of making games for women who would enjoy the experience, and thus want to be a regular gamer. The 90's girl game movement saw many startup companies focusing on girls games, they had a smaller marketing base in comparison to Sony and Nintendo for example, so didn't have the capability to expand very far. I've linked a talk given by Brenda Laurel in 1998 where she explains about the software company she started up which was designed to make games for girls and the approaches she took to ensure that the games would be what girls wanted to play. Her approach, to me at least, seems to make more sense then trying to market a 'boys game' for girls.

Some questions I would like to look at are: The number of female gamers has increased but not the number of designers. How many other fields are there where there are plenty of participating women but not nearly as many 'movers and shakers' of the field? Why is that? Is there any truth to the idea that there are some things that men do and some things that women do better, and that's where this divide occurs?

Do you think the computing industry is actively trying to get more women to play their games/ become software designers? What approaches do they/could they take? Is it in their interest to try and attract more women?

Has there been an increase in the number of 'games for girls' or is it just clever marketing to get girls into boys games?

Do you play computer games? Would you consider them male or female games? Or are the terms butch and femme more appropriate?

Has there been much development in games since the 90's in making them more accessible to everyone?

Reflection: Gaga for Gaga

Published in The Weekend Australian magazine of September 25-26, was a very interesting and relevant article written by feminist critic, Camille Paglia. In “The World’s Gone Gaga”, Paglia undertakes a critical, if not, scathing analysis of the pop icon, Lady Gaga. (A subject of discussion for all of you at some point, I am sure). Paglia claims that Lady Gaga is “the first megastar of the digital age” and that “her success only shows how culturally impoverished we have become … living in an era of miniaturisation, image saturation and manipulation … and in a disconnection from nature”. While there is no questioning Paglia’s observation that we are in fact living within a digital age, does she gone too far to claim Gaga as a highly superficial, “manufactured personality” and as a “plasticised android”?

Paglia claims that Gaga is a mere replica: whose persona is founded on the copying, duplicating and apparent blatant forgery of past pop identities such as David Bowie, Madonna, Cher, Isabella Blow, Marlene Dietrich, Andy Warhol, Theda Baras, Clara Bow, Marylin Monroe, Jane Fonda, Gwen Stefani, Jane Russell … the list goes on. Paglia states that Gaga, through imitating such personalities (all of whom are understood by Paglia to be ‘authentic’), is essentially a living cliché. An agglomerative pastiche of artificial personas and superficial characters, who lack depth, originality and substance.

However what marks Gaga differently to her predecessors, and valorises her concept to a certain extent, is her usage of the internet (the very environment from which Gaga has manifested). However Paglia goes deeper then this to argue Gaga’s popularity and success through the consequences, effects and bi-products of the internet and the digital age. Paglia identifies the blurring borderlines that the internet has created between the real and the fake; the true and the false; the primary from the secondary; the virtual from the real; the public and the private, claiming “… in the sprawling anarchy of the web, the boarderline between fact and fiction melt away” Furthermore, Gagas fans, aged predominantly in their teens to tweens are “marooned in a global technocracy of fancy gadgets but emotional poverty. Everything is refracted for them through the media … processing reality as cluttered, de-centred environment of floating bits”. It seems that Paglia has adopted a very post-modern critique of Lady Gaga and the internet generation. However is Paglia correct in making such assumptions?

The lack of engagement with the real world by the Gaga generation has been the responsibility, or at least aided by their current obsession with the digital age, whose iPods, mobile phones and keyboards have become “sticky extensions of their bodies”, who “have abandoned body language in daily interactions … are not attuned to facial expressions and communicate mutely via a constant stream of atomised, telegraphic text messages…” This observation by Paglia, is an apt one. The current generational obsession with technology, gadgets and mew media is limiting people’s capacities to engage within the real world. It seems to me that in a world in which people are constantly surrounded by noise, gizmos and gadgets (I am not talking here of street or the sound of people socialising in a bar or a café, but rather the noise of glitching mobile phones, the clicking of iPod wheels, the beeping of pagers, the constant drumming of music, advertising and television) are infact becoming increasingly uncomfortable within the real or natural world and their capabilities to interact with it, is diminishing. Perhaps the current obsession with Lady Gaga, who seems to be a highly constructed, refracted and digitalised character, devoid of humanistic qualities or artistic talent, is an apt reflection of a media-obsessed generation whose diminishing social capabilities and lack of real world engagement is a direct result of a life lived on the net.

Cheers,

Blake Chitty.

The Simpsons - Banksy Style

Hey Guys

I came across this video today which I thought was an interesting take on the whole issue of sweatshops. Remember that the Simpsons franchise is owned by Fox, part of the News Ltd group of companies. It is an interesting take on hacktivism and the ideas that we covered surrounding that topic but also the topics we looked at in todays workshop.

This title sequence was actually designed by British Graffiti artist Banksy.

Cheers,
Luke

Week 10 Reflection: Alter Ego

This is a blog post posted by Mark Jones discussing Alter Ego, a documentary profiling members of the online gaming community of Second Life. I have found that Second Life has popped up in a number of our discussions of virtual communities, the ways in which these communities can be a reflection of the 'real-world' and the potential for avatars to become an extension of the individual self. Unfortunately the documentary has been removed from the sbs website but I managed to find a short clip from the documentary detailing a couple who live out their dream lives on Second Life.

It is interesting to see the way in which Blair and Alegria view Second Life as an opportunity to live their "real life dreams", dreams that they view as difficult to attain in their offline lives. Blair and Alegria's avatars as not only an extension of themselves but an improved version of their offline identities and bodies. Alegria reveals that in Second Life she is able to have larger breasts without having surgery and blond hair without using peroxide. It is interesting to see how the short clip juxtaposes their offline lives with their Second Life virtual realities. In Second Life Blair is a DJ with an potential worldwide audience of half a million people and Alegria is a successful fashion designer. In their offline lives they clean cars for a living and live in a modest home. The offline activities they undertake are constructed as mundane in comparison to the fantasy lives they live in Second Life.

I think this clip demonstrates the ways in which virtual realities have the potential to intertwine with 'real life'. Alegria is able to make 'real world' money with her online creations and Blair has paid hundreds of dollars to attain his sought after looks in Second Life. They are both able to live in an environment where they have greater control over their looks, the activities they undertake and the sucess they experience in life. They are able to achieve greater validation and pleasure from the lives they live on Second Life as opposed to their 'real lives' and it is because of this that Alegria and Blair choose to spend more time living life "in there". On that note here is another short documentary on a member of the Second Life virtual community. I think this further demonstrates the way we can construct and have control over our online identity and the way we choose to present ourselves to others within a controlled environment.

Week 10 Reflection

Enhanced Reality

It's becoming incredibly close. In fact many iPhone and smart phone applications can be defined as 'enhanced reality'. Applications like Google maps and Streetview already bridge the distance between the digital world and the physical world in everyday navigation. New technologies are being developed now that will integrate those types of applications with our vision. In 5 to 10 years, as this SBS news article puts it, "our eyes alight for the first time on a skyscraper in a foreign cityscape, a disembodied voice whispers in your ear the phone number of a posh bar on the top floor."

Things will certainly be interesting when you can instantly see someone's Facebook profile just from looking at them at on the bus.

Online Communities as Countries

Hey Guys

This picture looks at the idea of online communities as simply being another form of country. It is an interesting thing to consider when the membership of Facebook is larger than some "real life" countries.

Just something to think about,

Luke

Week 10 Reflection: "Eyeborg"

This blog follows Rob Spence, a Canadian filmmaker, was the victim of an accident in his childhood that damaged his right eye, and he was later given a prosthetic replacement. While for a long time he was content with the replacement, he recently decided to fit a camera inside the empty cavity, turning himself into a self-proclaimed “Eyeborg.”

Now, while he is currently working towards the goal of putting a camera in the socket, he has decided to divert for the time being and outfit himself with the stylish red LED - this is the first time he’s been able to fit an electronic device and a power source inside.

Reportedly, the camera will record anything that enters his field of vision, and will relay that image back to a computer, providing a very unique perspective (as far as video surveillance is concerned).

This reminds me of the JenniCam that we discussed earlier in the semester, and puts a new spin on a 'documentary' being from that persons perspective - considering we will literally see through his eye(s).

Whether or not we will see anything but the ordinary life of one of our fellow human beings is another question - but the idea of seeing from someone else's perspective seems somewhat cool. Whether this is a progression of technology or just something creepy watching you without your permission, it's certainly creative.

Is seeing through his actual eye any different to seeing through a camera someone is holding their eye? Will it really provide any more insight into someone else's life? Will be even be able to tell the difference between the footage this "eyeborg" will capture than any other camera?

Reflection: Real Virtuality Project

Researchers Want to Add Touch, Taste and Smell to Virtual Reality by Alexis Madrigal is featured on Wired.com and discusses advancements in virtual reality technologies; in particular, The "Real Virtuality" project. The term 'real virtuality' was first coined by Manuel Castells in his 1996 work The Information Age wherein he said: "It is a system in which reality itself (that is, people's material/symbolic) existence is entirely captured, fully immersed in a virtual image setting, in the world of make believe, in which appearacnes are not just on the screen through which experience is communicated, but they become experience." To me, real virtuality differs from virtual reality as the virtual experience becomes our reality and not vice-versa.

Real virtuality could be achieved through immersion of the senses in a "virtual cocoon". Reality is an experiential concept perceived through the senses; so, if the senses receive virtual input that mimics the real, the virtual input becomes reality. Madrigal does not seem entirely convinced of this idea but does assert that technologies for sight and sound are quite advanced; further, those for smell exist. Smell and taste are connected, so virtual taste could be closer than expected. If the 'real virtuality' team could overcome the problems of haptic technology and simulate touch as well, the sci-fi dream is conceivable.

If reality can be created, a shadow of doubt is cast over the permanence of reality itself.

Week 10 Reflection: monitoring social networking sites

This article entitled “Facebook can ruin your life. And so can Myspace, Bebo…” talks about the monitoring of peoples online accounts. The article states that “employees and authorities are now monitoring what people imagined were private websites – and using the contents against them.” Numerous examples have been included in this article, where it becomes apparent that people have been fired or have gone to court or jail due to the content on their Facebook or Myspace accounts.

“A survey released by Viadeo said that 62 per cent of British employers now check the Facebook, MySpace or Bebo pages of some applicants, and that a quarter had rejected candidates as a result. Reasons given by employers included concerns about "excess alcohol abuse", ethics and job "disrespect". I find these statistics alarming, as I had no idea that so many candidates have been rejected because of the content on their online accounts. Facebook users, including myself, believe that their Facebook accounts are private and that they can put up and be tagged in any images they like without repercussions. This is clearly not the case, and after reading this article I am encouraged to check my Facebook, delete photographs that may be deemed inappropriate and ensure that my account represents me in a positive light.

The article suggests that “rather than looking at what information constitutes a risk, it's better to think, 'Who am I sharing this information with?' If you're not sure about the identity of a third party on the website then you have to ask yourself if you would do that in an offline context, and the answer is that you probably wouldn't."

In America, software is being put on the market that will automate the process of monitoring social networking sites. I wonder, do we even need to make our profiles private anymore if our current or future employers are able to access our pages? There is a simple answer to this; start monitoring your profiles and your careers will be safe for the long haul.

Week 10 Reflective Post - The Internet, Relationships and Social Change

The article “Small Change: Why the revolution will not be tweeted” by Malcolm Gladwell is critical of the contemporary assumption that social networking makes a significant difference to political activism. Gladwell argues that “real” social movements are characterised by strong ties among its members was well as a defined hierarchy or authority responsible for their organisation. He uses a 1960s demonstration against racial discrimination in America as his example of activism before the technology of the internet, and renders this type of activism as ideal. He then contrasts this with events that he suggests are falsely defined as revolutions, such as the democratic movement in Iraq that was supposedly aided by Twitter and the website created to successfully battle theft through the online dissemination of information.

This article got me thinking. It’s relevant because it sheds light on the potential of the internet but also draws attention to the limitations as it is being used presently. I generally agree with Gladwell in terms of his belief that revolutions have a physical dimension to them; they cannot be trapped in theory let alone in cyberspace. Joining an advocacy group on a social networking site does not communicate the same conviction as going on a hunger strike or braving physical threats. However, I believe that such online groups need not trivialise issues of injustice if they are used for raising awareness and sharing ideas; in this way, the internet would be complementing concrete demonstrations like strikes instead of appearing halfhearted attempts at protest.

While Gladwell writes specifically on political movements, I have come to realise that his criticisms of cyberspace and its proposed benefits can really be understood more broadly. The internet has allowed ideas—revolutionary or otherwise—to reach more people more easily, but these online bonds tend to be weak or even artificial. Social media has given us the gift of quantity, but it’s probably up to us to determine the quality of its use.

Reflective Post - Net Censorship

The Net is already censored, and not by the Government

This article contributes to the many discussions surrounding the internet censorship plan proposed by Stephen Conroy. I read quite a few articles and one particularly funny website (see the bogus adverts down the side) before deciding on this one. There was also a very entertaining rant about Stephen Conroy from the Opinions section of The Australian which is just great to read.

Ultimately I chose Matt Smith's article because of the comments and discussion that followed it. His article presents a negative view of the net censorship proposal, focusing on the existing levels of censorship already present in the internet. Smith discusses the censorship measures of companies like Apple and Google, emphasizing the bias that Apple has in censoring its apps while the Google Blacklist is completely ridiculed.

To be honest I do think Smith could have been more critical in his article although he does make some good points. His agreement with Fiona Pattern that the Government should be aiming its funding at removing child pornography sites and not merely filtering them is much more effective in that it proposes alternatives rather than just offering criticism. As to who decides what sites should be blacklisted, this I think is a question of who controls information and are mandatory filters really the answer to this? After all there are filters already available on the net that can be customized depending on the users needs. Smith's point that the Google blacklist is not mandatory is an important distinction and one of the main problems with the filter.

I found this article relevant because it discusses the very real possibility of how we currently use the internet and how it might soon change. Should this plan be implemented (from the backlash that its getting I really hope its not likely) what kind of information would be lost? It made me think of that article we read a few weeks ago about the self esteem options that some forms of pornography can offer. Perhaps the link seems vague but I like it because it shows how a morally ambiguous industry can be interpreted in a really positive light. However if sites that are morally ambiguous (such as euthanasia sites etc.) are being banned I think it limits the possibility for new ideas about things in the future.

A final note: having never really read blogs before I found the comments hilarious - check out 'the badger' being badgered. I think this more than anything else made me realise how involving a virtual community can be.