English Jargon

Media Coverage of Iraq War

2005-05-03T19:05:00.000-07:00

The media spectacle since September 11th and the following Iraq war have become less prominent since it started. When it started the spectacle was very prominent. Everyone watched the news that first day. Then everyone got the flag magnets and window flags for their cars. But since then it has become less of a story. Some people believe that this war in Iraq may resemble the Vietnam War. The country is divided and tensions build between the US and other countries in the world such as N. Korea. The increasing number of marines killed in Iraq has made the war much less popular. The spectacle that the media makes out of the events, such as the two fighter jets that collided in Iraq in the last couple days, seems like a normal day of current events. Though losing two planes is definitely a tragedy it is nothing compared to what has happened already. People are losing faith in their country, I believe we either need to send more people to Iraq, or peacefully leave. Either way it will require serious losses. Either Politically or Military, but definitely has already been Economically. The increasing cost of the war has also been of concern for many Americans even though I believe that freedom is worth any cost. The spectacle of September 11, 2001 has steadily decreased in prominence, and the war in Iraq has become much less popular, due to continuing horror stories of the deaths and car bombings in Iraq. It’s a tough war, but were to far in to pull out now.

Face Book

2005-05-03T18:44:00.000-07:00

The Face book is a website that truly defines what it means to have a spectacle and surveillance. The Face Book is a website that allows you to enter information about yourself, meet new people, organize your friends into lists, and even see who their friends are. The Face book can become addicting to some people but for most its just a way to keep in touch with your old friends from high school and your current friends from any other school. For some people Face book becomes addicting and for some people like Charlie Rosenbury, has 68,000 friends, and wants to have the record. I can’t believe someone would have so much time to work on his face book profile. On face book one can search for other people with the same interests and can build relationships within all without moving from ones computer. Everyone I know is on face book so I ended up joining also. It can be a lot of fun for everyone, but make sure you don’t evaluate your self worth based on how many friends you have. That kind of addiction just leads down the wrong tunnel. The face book spectacle can be a lot fun, but can also become addictive.

Sports Rivalries

2005-05-03T18:35:00.000-07:00

The Duke vs. GT Basketball Rivalry and The Georgia vs. Georgia Tech Football rivalry are indeed a spectacle within the spectacle of Georgia Tech sports. The college rivalries are the best and greatest spectacle within the sports spectacle. The GT vs. Duke at home game, was a lot of fun. I camped out the day before, over 29 hours before the game. I think I left English and went straight there. I was able to meet tons of new people that night, everyone is a raving tech basketball fan. That night people would bring couches, radios, playing cards, grills, and even tents. During the game it is a unique experience that you will face in college. Rivalry games are the best games of the year because that is when we get to say, " we’re better than you." Unfortunately we lost that game.
During the Georgia Vs GT football game, I was in the section by the band. Everyone there was cheering loudly no matter how far we were behind. It was late in the 4th quarter and was 7 points from winning the game everyone was ecstatic. I could even see the scoreboard reading 20-19 for GT. We also lost that game, but I still lost my voice and that proves that there is definitely some kind of spectacle at work.

Georgia Tech Sports

2005-05-03T17:57:00.000-07:00

Georgia Tech Sports is by far the greatest spectacle demonstrated on campus. Our division IA school hosts a nationally ranked Basketball, Baseball, Tennis, Golf, and recently our Football team will be nationally ranked at the start of the Fall Season at 24th. Last semester during the football season, I noticed that game days are the best days of the semester. I went to the Clemson vs. GT football game away, which we won, in the last 15 seconds of the game. Of the Georgia Tech Students that were there it was truly an awesome sight. I heard that the campus went wild here when we won. I was never a big sports fan before I came to GT but I guess living across from the stadium and having a nationally ranked basketball team is what made the difference. When we are playing a football game, and when we score a touch down. Every Tech student’s day is made better by it. It doesn’t matter if that person is a football fan or not. Our sports teams bring our school together and I don’t think anything academic related can break the spirit of a winning sports team. I would work my studies around football and basketball games just so I wouldn’t have to worry about it while I watch the game. It even came to the point where I would not do work that was due tomorrow even if I would have to stay up all night doing it. Tech Sports creates a spectacle in which both students and Tech Alumni have something in common.

Star Wars

2005-05-03T17:18:00.000-07:00

The new Star Wars movie comes out in a little under 3 weeks. The Revenge of the Sith is a much anticipated movie for the summer. I believe that people will be lined around the block for tickets especially on the first showing. The Star Wars Spectacle began in 1977 with George Lucas’s low budget space film. The film became a hit within the week. The other movies came out soon after. People would wait in line for hours to be able to see the Star Wars movies. Star Wars fan clubs were created as well as Star Wars t-shirts. In the 1990’s they were redone with better special effects. TV-series were made including "Ewoks" and "Droids" were made in the 1980’s. When Lucas Films decided to make the first three episodes. I saw the first two in theatres during a midnight showing. People were dressed up as Darth Vader and Storm Troopers and they had been waiting out there for hours. They were at least 1 thousand people standing in line that night that were in front of me yet we were still able to find get find good seats. During the movie people would cheer for the good guys and during the good parts. For example, when Master Yoda used the light saber, people just began to cheer wildly. Dozens of books were also written by other authors to add on to the Star Wars story line. Even I tried to write another Star Wars book, even though I failed, it just shows exactly how much of an impact stories of this magnitude can be on someone’s life.

Vietnam Memorial

2005-05-03T16:29:00.002-07:00

The Vietnam memorial is very influential and in my opinion, perfectly describes the war. The Vietnam War was unlike any war that has ever taken place before. It was different because of the controversy that it created within our own borders. According to the video, a military man was spit on while returning home in an airport. This is just not a normal war. I also believe that when choosing the right monument was an even better description of the war. The contest to come up with the best monument turned into a very controversial decision. War veterans didn’t want the war to be a "Black Scar" in American history and war protestors wanted it to signify an American blunder. The controversy about Maylin’s origin was indeed another problem to be dealt with. People would say why do we have a college aged Asian woman designing a monument to represent and be viewed by Americans. To many people this didn’t seem right. In the end, Maylin’s monument was chosen but with additions. They added a monument to signify the great effort put into the war by the American soldiers but they also realized that the black scar represented not a useless effort, but a proud effort for a good cause at a overwhelming loss of life.

Video Game Spectacle

2005-05-03T16:29:00.001-07:00

The video game spectacle is a clear demonstration of Debord’s theory of the spectacle, and a perfect example. The game presents a false reality, in which people can create an intimate relationship within the game with their online buddies and guild mates. Those people who play online with people that they already know, perhaps people from their school, or neighborhood, or dorm room, are able to play together online and they have more fun on the game, than they would hanging out, like regular people. So a community is built amongst all the players of the game. When you meet a stranger that also plays DAOC you automatically have something to talk about, this is an example of the community that the spectacle brings to members.
The video game also demonstrates Foucault’s ideas on surveillance and control. On DAOC people didn’t give away their real names or addresses or anything else personal because even though someone may be really nice on the game, it doesn’t always portray their true self. Even though something bad happening is unlikely, the risk and possibility of something such as stalking is still their, and that is what keeps us in check on the internet. Also harassing other players on the game can also result in the banning of your account within the game. One always has to be courteous to others, because anyone can contact a game technician to get him to overlook conversations and to regulate problems between players. DAOC’s good support system keeps the game fun and rude people from ruining it.

Research Paper #3

2005-05-03T16:29:00.000-07:00

The gaming industries intention is to create a game that allows you to interact with others. This allows you to build a community within this fantasy world so that you may communicate with others repeatedly in order to make relationships with them. These online games allow members to participate in events that they wouldn’t be able to do in real life. Not too many people get to live out the life of a knight in the times of King Arthur, or travel through space as intrepid explorers, or become a Jedi Knight in Star Wars. This is what intrigues people into playing these online games, but it is the community that is created that keeps them playing the games. Without human interactions the games become boring and gamers lose interest quickly. The community that is created is a clear demonstration of Debord’s spectacle and a perfect example. The good computer gaming companies keep close tabs on the gaming community to make sure it remains fun for everyone. Everyone hates that one person that one might meet in a chat room that can’t keep his mouth shut and gets on everyone’s nerves. A good computer gaming company will have support for people who have or are being harassed by other players within the game. This support system is what keeps members having fun and harassers from spoiling it for others. This demonstrates Foucault’s ideas of surveillance. Without this support system there is no fear for people breaking the rules of conduct. The idea of always being watched, even if your not, keeps people in check and from ruining the community that keeps the game together.

Research Paper #2

2005-05-03T16:28:00.000-07:00

Dark Age of Camelot shows how an online game can become more real for some people than real life is itself. Some of these gamers only have friends on the game so that it is their life. All these people do is play the game, only stopping to go to school or work and sleeping. There are also some people who play the game with their friends from school or work, so that they can be with their friends even after work or classes are finished. They will play the game rather than hanging out with their friends in person and they have more fun doing it. The game presents a false reality, in which people can create an intimate relationship within the game with their online buddies and guild mates. This is exactly what Debord calls a spectacle. Tens of thousands of people play this game simultaneously and it creates a huge community of gamers who all share the same experience. In Dark Age of Camelot you are also able to create guilds that people can join. The guild system is a way of organizing a group of people to achieve a common goal such as taking an enemy keep, defeating a dragon, or exploring more of the world. Many things within the game are impossible to accomplish alone. The guild system is an excellent way to make friends and keep your actions organized in a way that both helps your guild and your realm.

A New Pope?

2005-05-03T16:27:00.001-07:00

The coming of a new Pope is indeed a spectacle as much as the United States Presidential inauguration. When Pope John Paul II became ill, a spectacle was born within the media. The story immediately became headline news all over the world and hundreds and hundreds of millions of people watched and read the news daily to see what would happen. When Pope John Paul II died, there was worldwide mourning for his death. After he died the media obviously turned their attention to the Cardinals to choose a new pope. All of the Cardinals fly to the Vatican to participate in the conclave. The conclave is the convening of all the cardinals to choose a new pope. This time around the Pope was chosen quite quickly, marked by white smoke coming out of the chimney in the Vatican. They choose Pope Benedict XVI, originally Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. He will be the 265th pope and the first of the new millennium. When he was chosen the entire world celebrate not only the choosing of a new pope but the life of the previous pope. The Catholic religion was elated to have chosen a new pope. I believe the Cardinals perhaps choose the new pope so quickly as to portray strength within the church. This is indeed a spectacle all on its own. The media only enhances the spectacle. With out the media the spectacle created by the death of the pope would not be nearly as great as it was.

Introduction to Research Paper

2005-05-03T16:27:00.000-07:00

For this paper I will be writing about an addiction to a video game I had for months. This video game, played on the computer, is known as a massive multi-player online role-playing game (MMORG). This game was named Dark Age of Camelot (DAOC). In this game, you play during the time of King Arthur and the Knights of the round table. When you begin the game, you choose your realm and specific role that you want to play in King Arthur’s quest. Once you reach a certain point you are finished with your training and then leave to fight for the realm against other realms that oppose Albion. Human controlled characters that choose to play against Albion also play the two other realms.
The point is, in this video game, thousands of people play simultaneously and work together to beat the enemy. For most of these people, they like playing the game more than anything else does. To them it is more real than life. Some people play the game 24/7 and have more friends on the game than they do in reality. On the game, the makers allow for people to make guilds, so people can keep in contact with their friends as more of a group, this allows for more communication and allows people to make friends quicker. Without this system the video game spectacle would not be as dominating as it is now.

Media Coverage

2005-05-03T16:26:00.000-07:00

Media coverage of the events during September 2001 is one of the greatest spectacles of all time. Media coverage of this event has influenced the world more than any other news story. The extensive news outlets such as the World Wide Web and the television have enabled a spectacle of this caliber to take place. Only a few other events could rival the media coverage of September 11th. Such events could be those of Pearl Harbor or the 1980 Soviet vs. U.S. Olympic hockey game, or other events of that magnitude. None of them could compare to the attacks on America in September 2001. Twenty years ago they did not have the Internet to help distribute the image of the spectacle. The influence of the spectacle on society has been much greater in the recent past over the distant past, which is due to the changing media coverage over the decades.
The spectacle is truly made into something bigger than it actually is, by means of the media. The technologies used by the today’s news stations are faster quicker and more reliable, and because of this more people are able to see the news everyday like everyone else. It has become necessary for the news to be brought straight to the consumer. The people of today’s society demand that the news become quicker, better, and more reliable. This has caused news events such as the September 11th attacks on the United States and the events following to be viewed through the television of one’s home so that everyone can watch and become engulfed by the spectacle.

Cyberpyschology and Behavior

2005-05-03T16:25:00.000-07:00

Cyberpsychology and Behavior is a source that I found for the research paper. It was a perfect source, since it had exactly what I needed and I could find it right in our own library. The article was titled "The Structural Characteristics of Video Games: A Psycho-Structural Analysis. This article was written to summarize a survey done of 382 respondents between the ages of 14 and 50 years. The surveyed the respondents on the importance of certain aspects of a video game. The question them on many different aspects. They found that sound, graphics, Background setting were the most important features of a video game. But it turns out that multi-player gamers find it much more important to have multi-player capabilities whether it be online or over a LAN (local area network). The aspect of Multi-player games that was most important was beating other players followed by being able to build alliances and followed by being able to communicate within the game. Also skill development was deemed to be a very important aspect of multi-player games. In Dark Age of Camelot it is almost like a race to get to the highest level. Being able to develop your character is very important to competition with your allies to have the best character. Game dynamics also proved to be very important to the players with in the game. Game dynamics refers to the "type of action that occurs while playing and the nature of the tasks undertaken."
This can include exploring new areas, elements of surprise, fulfilling a quest, skill development, finding things, and surviving against the odds. This source is loaded with lots of compelling information and is very useful, but also talks more about single player games than it does multi-player games. It is still one of my most used sources for this paper.

Miss Wyoming #3

2005-05-02T06:14:00.000-07:00

Creating the spectacle is what Randy does. Randy is the man who made a pilgrimage to Susan Colgate's place of supposed death-the plane crash. There he left a letter he wrote. That letter touched Susan and led her to him when she was in need. Randy was the only person that Susan felt comfortable going to. He was still apart of the spectacle, but different, from a different end than the others she was used to.

Susan offered Randy the opportunity that he had always dreamed of; to leave Erie, Indiana. Randy jumped on the chance and quickly quit his job, got rid of his furniture, emptied his back accounts, and began the process to change his name. All of these things were attempts to change his position within the spectacle, not remove himself from it as Susan was trying to do. The baby that Susan had that night Randy found her on his doorstep was to have a different life then Susan had lived. Susan wanted him to be brought up away from society, from the spectacle of everyday life, and most importantly away from her mother, Marilyn. She didn’t even want to alert the authorities of baby Eugene’s birth.

However, Randy was still very much apart of the spectacle. His daily life consisted of creating rumors about Hollywood stars; a sort of spectacle creator in some ways. The rumors he created amused Susan because she, being a part of the spectacle itself, knew that “it’s all crap and lies and distortions. All of it. Lies. That’s what makes the lies you spread so funny, Randy. They’re honest lies” (233). But, even those lies are a part of the spectacle.

Pattern Recognition #2

2005-05-02T04:11:00.000-07:00

This book is saturated with images of the spectacle. I found it very interesting. The issue of surveillance comes up throughout this novel. Towards the end of the book Cayce finds out the guys' email address. She emails him and finds out that the creator of this film that she and her friends/fellow online people have been obsessed with. She does this via some person who is able to track the creator down in a manner that she doesn't tell Parkaboy about before she heads to Moscow herself. In Russia, she finds herself “heavily laden with yet another nationally specific flavor of petro-carbons” (268). I find this interesting because of my own inclination towards international occurrences, but also because of the differing spectacles already seen within Pattern Recognition. Earlier on Gibson references describes Cayce in Damien’s flat: “In the kitchen she runs tap water through a German filter, into an Italian electric kettle…Bag of some imported Californian tea substitute” (3). In both of these instances, and throughout the novel, Gibson draws his readers attention ever so subtly to slight differences in products. Tap water is something that all people who have running water experience. But, in this case it is run through a German filter, and then into an Italian kettle. All of these, like the Russian petro-carbons are similar but distinct in their own spectacular way. Gibson’s use of subtle imagery and the relationship he draws between the spectacle and international living makes for a great read.

Pattern Recognition #1

2005-05-02T03:35:00.000-07:00

So far I've found this book very interesting. Similarly to Douglas Coupland's Miss Wyoming, William Gibson's character Cayce is a part of the spectacle and detests the spectacle. Cayce works as a consultant for companies that are attempting to create logos that will help their clothing sell. Cayce herself sees logos as something revolting, perhaps because of her prior obsession with clothing and image. Now, all of her clothing has the logos and brand names either removed or filed (on jeans removing the buttons would not be advantageous) down. In this book there is also a clear distinction between products made in different countries. Each of these products comes from a slightly different spectacle but one that is familiar but different.

The subject of surveillance also is evident in this book. Since there is a great deal of technology, it is possible for people to be watched most of the time. Cayce initially finds comfort in the fact that Damien’s flat has no security system. However, after discovering that there has been someone in the flat she gets very scared. She acts on instincts and secures the perimeter as her dad would have instructed her to do. She finds that the phone has been used and is confident that the flat was accessed by another individual. However, at least in this point of the story, she is unable to see the intruder. Instead she leaves booby traps and puts tape over doors to be certain about when or if someone other than she is coming or going.

Miss Wyoming #2

2005-05-02T02:20:00.000-07:00

Running away. Coupland uses the spectacle of entertainment in Susan's character to show how disillusioned people become with Hollywood. In chapter twelve of Miss Wyoming Susan has run away from everything. She like John, the producer, has wound up on the street with no money by her own choosing. She could have gone back after the plane crashed, but for some reason she didn't. She didn't want to. The spectacle of fast food quickly becomes intertwined within the spectacle of Hollywood glamour that Susan embodies. She is trapped inside of a garbage can, surrounded by “dead food [that has] overrode her hunger” (96). Similarly, John found himself trapped inside of a Hollywood dream where everyone around him was doing drugs, having lots of sex, making lots of money, and incredibly depressed or disenchanted with life. Coupland shows through the characters of John and Susan the incredible separation that comes because of image-meditated relationships that so many people endure. Without true artistic expression and conversations, many people do become depressed, even Debord himself. Susan, unlike Debord, is able to get a whiff of fresh air (reality?) when the garbage truck picks the can that she was trapped in and the interstate brings “with fresh, nonburger winds [that] fill her nostrils and cleans her hair of ketchup packets and salts and peppers”(98). Similarly to Susan’s garbage experience, people today are saturated with the spectacle and are in need of fresh air. But, if one believes Debord’s philosophies in their entirety, separation from the spectacle is not possible. I, however, believe most of Debord’s assertions, not all of them.

Miss Wyoming #1

2005-05-02T00:43:00.000-07:00

This book is really interesting so far! Debord's thoughts on spectacle are really applicable to Miss Wyoming's childhood. The idea of being a beauty queen is a spectacle itself. This is because women are put on display for people to watch. To Marilyn, Susan's mother, helping Susan become a beauty queen is everything. Marilyn completely brainwashes her daughter into thinking that her purpose in life is to become a beauty queen. The relationship between mother and daughter has, in their situation, been reduced to a unity that is because of spectacle; “the unity it imposes is merely the official language of generalized separation” (12). Here, the very thing that is uniting mother and daughter, the beauty pageants, is only uniting them in their separateness and hence they never truly communicate. This truth about their relationship is also portrayed through a conversation that takes place when Susan is four. Marilyn states, “You’re so quiet, like a Barbie doll, except Barbie wouldn’t have muffed her lighting cue on the ‘Spirit of Recycling’ dance routine” (Coupland 35). Coupland then allows the reader to know Susan’s thoughts: “She was going to be more Barbie than Barbie...” (35). Even here the relationship between Susan and Marilyn is through the image of Barbie. Coupland must have used Barbie to say something about the spectacle that occurs within beauty pageants and the way that women are portrayed in the entertainment industry today. By using these images Coupland is then able to develop Susan’s character and show how she becomes disillusioned with the spectacle of entertainment.

Deleuzian Control

2005-04-30T13:46:00.000-07:00

Deleuze offers many concepts that are being applied today. His ideas about the town in which key cards are used to regulate entrance is exactly what goes on at Georgia Tech. All individuals who go to Georgia Tech are issued buzz cards similarly to the issuing of keys to inhabitants of the Deleuze's town. These cards allow individuals who posses them to gain entrance to specific buildings or places, or as Deleuze said, “open this or that barrier” (182). By opening these barriers people gain freedom to come and go as they please. Individuals also have greater freedom because they are allowed access to areas that, without their cards, they would not be able to get to. Deleuze points out that with this freedom comes enslavement. This is because these same barriers can be controlled and deny people with key cards access on different days or times of day. People are consequently limited by the very thing that grants them liberty. These concepts are clearly exemplified within Georgia Tech’s community. During certain times of the day most buildings are open for all to enter. However, certain rooms or buildings may be accessible only with a key buzz card. On the same note, later in the day most buildings are only accessible to those who have buzz cards or keys that grant them access for that specific time. The buzz card I have allows me to enter the Campus Recreation Center thirty minutes before and after the building closes. Only people who work for member services within the CRC have these privileges assigned to their buzz cards. When I was majoring in Aerospace Engineering, I had access to the Knight Building every day until 11:00pm except on weekends. However, when I changed majors, those privileges were removed and I can no longer access the building at the times that I used to be able to. So, I am clearly both freed and enslaved by my buzz card.

On Foucault

2005-04-30T12:29:00.000-07:00

Foucault's Panopticism discusses his concepts on surveillance and how individuals can be controlled psychologically. He sets up the concept of a prison where each cell has a window that enables the inmate to be viewed. However, the inmate cannot see who is inside or if there is even anyone inside the watch tower that is in his or her constant view. Foucault argues that when this occurs, every individual who knows that they may be observed and punished for any disobedience will behave. There is a lot of surveillance today through satellite systems, cameras, and other newer technology. It is now possible, through using www.maps.google.com it is possible for one to find most locations in the world down to the street, and when enough satellite pictures have been taken previously, to see individual houses. With the ability to view houses, and even people with satellites, is surveillance a constant now?
Foucault described the panopticon and used images that would, in Foucault's words, "the utopia of the perfectly governed city" (Panopticism 228). Foucault believed that when it was possible to “induce in the inmate a state of conscious and permanent visibility that assures the automatic functioning of power,” this would create a perfectly behaved individual. But, this removes from the individual the ability to have privacy. I think that when this is applied in the right settings, Foucault’s ideas could prove to be very efficient. The only thing that is necessary is to maintain a level of accountability. Theoretically, there would not need to be anyone sitting in the watch tower observing the inmates. However, eventually someone will test the system. If there is no consequence for misconduct, or testing of the system, then eventually the panopticon will fail.

Research Paper: Alzheimer's disease and Spectacle of Society

2005-04-29T19:41:00.000-07:00

Here is an excerpt from my research paper on the topic of Alzheimer’s disease and how society treats people with these conditions:
The American Health Assistance Foundation informs us that “Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, irreversible brain disorder with no known cause or cure” (AHAF). Most people characterize patients with Alzheimer’s as people who cannot remember to the extent that they forgot how to communicate with others. Along with memory loss and the loss of language skills, the entire range of symptoms includes confusion, impaired judgment, personality changes and disorientation. The disease is the most common form of irreversible dementia and always results in death. “Approximately 100,000 victims die and 360,000 new cases of Alzheimer’s disease are diagnosed each year. It is estimated that by 2050, 14 million Americans will have this disease.” Universally, that number will be much greater as Alzheimer’s disease affects every nation around the globe.
The mere existence of Alzheimer’s disease does not display the spectacle’s lean towards control. Instead, the spectacle’s move to the displaced treatment of Alzheimer’s sufferers proves the point that society is striving for increased conformity. With 360,000 new diagnoses each year, that means that 360,000 people are cut off from society, placed in special care homes, or hospitals, securing the fact that their end is near. Deleuze writes of the control societies taking over from disciplinary societies:
“It’s not a question of asking whether the old or new system is harsher or more bearable, because there’s a conflict in each between the ways they free and enslave us. With the breakdown of the hospital as a site of confinement, for instance, community psychiatry, day hospitals, and home care initially presented new freedoms, while at the same time contributing to mechanisms of control as rigorous as the harshest confinement” (Deleuze 178).
Breakthrough technologies were originally viewed as great advancements in the health and overall well-being of patients. Now the spectacle has transformed the society into a judgmental group of conformists.

“Alzheimer’s Disease About Alzheimer’s.” American Health Assistance Foundation.
Available online at: http://www.ahaf.org/alzdis/about/adabout.htm. April 11,
2005.
Deleuze, Gilles. “Postscript on Control Societies.” Negotiations. Translated Martin Jonghin. Columbia University Press: New York, 1995. 177-82.

Current event: Societal control and therapeutic cloning

2005-04-29T19:19:00.000-07:00

In recent headlines, Missouri lawmakers are debating whether to enact a ban on a form of stem cell research called therapeutic cloning. Reproductive cloning plants a fertilized egg in a uterus while therapeutic cloning plants an unfertilized egg fussed with adult patient stem cells into a petri dish in which new cells grow and are then put back into the patient’s body to repair damaged tissues. The benefit is that this creates a perfect match for the patient. It can also aid in finding a cure for a number of different diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and paralysis. Because of the advancements being made, Christopher Reeve pushed this type of research before his death. Some congressmen are pushing legislation to ban therapeutic research because they argue that the research involves the destruction of human live and same research can be achieved with adult stem cells. Already adult stem cells are being used to treat people with spinal cord injuries and serious advances are being made. The Federal ban on therapeutic cloning passed in the House but failed in the Senate. Nine states already have some form of law banning cloning. The controversy in Missouri is complicated by money as some politicians fear millions of business dollars will be lost if ban is enacted and researchers move out of the state. Though I don’t claim to know much about genetics, when I first read this article I thought about the movie Gattaca that we have previously discussed in class. Just the idea that researchers are making greater and greater advancements in stem cell research and cloning makes me think that one day the themes of Gattaca might become a reality. The spectacle of society and its effort for control is displayed in issues such as this. Where the researchers might have good intentions now with these advancements, I fear that sooner or later this technology is going to be abused. But that happens with almost anything. So where does one draw the line to prevent society from one day gaining complete control, not only over us, but also over our future?

Applying My Knowledge

2005-04-28T20:28:00.000-07:00

We have covered a lot of material this semester in English, and I would like to spend my last blog applying some of my new found wisdom. Mostly, I want to talk about the spectacle at Georgia Tech. I realize that this maybe a little off topic, but I am going to take a little liberty here. First of all, the way I used to perceive instructors is so wrong. I used to look at their GPA’s on course critique instead of finding someone that took the class already. This has hurt me a little this semester. While my grades may be good in Calculus II, I have the worst teacher ever. The only reason I am passing the class is because the tests are open book, open notes, and we can use calculators. I have a feeling that I am going to be completely lost when I take Calculus III because I am not actually learning anything. Another thing that I noticed in a few of my classes is all of the butt kissing some students do to professors. It is cool if you are genuinely interested in engaging the professor in a conversation involving common interests, but do not do it in my lecture. I do not want to listen to anyone falsely present themselves to the professor as some wildly intelligent person that is actually having fun in lecture while I am trying to learn. Do it outside of the classroom. My other main beef with the spectacle at Georgia Tech is our GPA’s. Our intelligence is assigned a value, and we are judged by some number between 0 and 4. If our number is too low, we get kicked out, and if our number is high, we get scholarships. Our social relationship with the school is mediated by a single digit number. Isn’t that what Debord’s idea of the spectacle is? Of course, by stating all of this I am just contributing to the spectacle anyways.

Pattern Recognition analysis

2005-04-28T20:03:00.000-07:00

After reading the book, I think that Pattern recognition is an interesting novel and conveys its message to the reader. His ideas of the spectacle of the fashion world and surveillance in modern internet society are accurate. The way that he creates new words and writes original passages is an interesting method to help understand the ideas of Debored and Foucault. Unlike the primary sources by these two philosophers, this book picks a modern setting that the reader can relate to. It also shows current and relevant examples of surveillance and control that the other readings lacked. When Cayce is in her friend’s apartment in London and sees the past history of the internet sites accesses, Gibson is comparing the internet to a microcosm of the world outside of computers. He believes that inside of all internet users is a second personality which exists only on an electronic level. There are whole societies which communicate only through web pages and internet chat rooms that could never exist outside of these electronic limitations. Yet there is a downside to these newly created societies. They can be accessed and survived by anyone who owns a computer. When Cayce discovers that business firms have been accessing her favorite website, she feels that her internet society has been tainted, and this causes her to agree to seek out the maker of the mini-films. The title of the film Pattern recognition is also an allusion to the life style that Cayce and her associates live. These patterns also help her track down the creator of the footage.

Surveying Gattaca

2005-04-28T19:35:00.000-07:00

Although my research paper is on spectacle, separation, and control, I thought that I would a least mention some ideas about surveillance in the movie Gattaca. In Gattaca, surveillance is a highly visible theme. The government knows what your DNA is, so they could easily track you down by using their various DNA testing devices. In order to enter Gattaca, one must give a drop of blood. If this is true for every workplace in the movie, keeping track of citizen’s whereabouts would be no problem for big brother. At one point in the movie, the police set up a road block to test people for “invalid” DNA. For those of you that have not seen Gattaca, all people with non-altered DNA are considered to be invalid. All invalids are also forced to register with the government. Registering with the government makes it even easier to track invalids down. The only reason that Vincent gets away with impersonating Jerome for so long is because they are very thorough with their planning and daily preparation. Vincent is forced to vigorously scrub his body every morning before he goes to work. He also uses blood filled fingertips and a urine pouch to get past Gattaca’s security measures. Surveillance has become part of our daily lives too. With the internet and illegal downloading, surveillance is at an all time high. Image what it would be like is the government could not only track you keystrokes, but also track your DNA. Hopefully the world will never come to this and someone will draw the line for privacy.

Analysis of Deleuze

2005-04-28T19:29:00.000-07:00

Between the three philosophers that we studied in class, Debord, Foucault, and Deleuze, I believe that the ideas of Deleuze are the most relevant to modern society. Societal controls set the pathways of individuals. Since reading Deleuze "Postscripts on Control Societies", I have begun to notice all the different types of control in my life. Every institution is essentially a type of control. The most prevalent control in my life is Georgia Tech. This school, and the university system as a whole, encompasses every aspect of an individual’s life. You are assigned where to live, eat, and attend class. In class, you are told what information to learn, and because of the grading system in place, this control is successful. Universities are run like businesses; Business is an easy comparison for Deleuze and he writes extensively on these institutions. Deleuze says, "In the school system, forms of continuous assessment, the impact of continuing education on schools, and the related move away from any research in universities, "business" being brought into education at every level (Deleuze 182). “ In my opinion, control that Georgia tech has over its students is more prevalent because of how integrated technology is into the system. Deleuze agrees. He says that technology leads to control where "the passive danger is noise and the active, piracy and viral contamination (Deleuze 180). Because technology becomes a part of our lives, any change in it by the powers that be ultimately affects our actions as people. I think that Georgia Tech is ahead of the trend, but other universities are slowly catching up.

Research paper conclusion

2005-04-28T16:13:00.000-07:00

This research project has aided tremendously to my overall understanding of the ideas of Foucault and Deleuze. Before this project I did not understand the difference between surveillance and control. Now after doing research, and thinking through examples from Fahrenheit 451, I can see that each of these ideas has influence over the other. By increasing a person power of surveillance over another group of people, one also increases control. This can be seen in the history of the government in Fahrenheit 451. The government started of as a normal institution much like ours, but surveillance methods over the masses lead to their ultimate acceptance of the government. Once the government attains its power, they use methods of control to keep it. They then spread their control to all aspect of civilization, including intellectual thought. Deleuze termed this “…the widespread progressive introduction of a new system of domination (Deleuze 182)”. He also believed that as society advances, the controls that are in place change and adjust to new situations, rather than become old and outdated. Deleuze describes this situation as well. He says “Confinements are molds, while controls are modulations, like a self-transmuting molding continually changing from one moment to the next, or like a sieve whose mesh varies from one point to the other” (Deleuze 179). Surveillance and control are important topics that I now understand and can recognize in American culture. Knowing these methods of control and surveillance will help me from becoming a victim of the people that use them.

Reseach Paper 4

2005-04-28T15:56:00.000-07:00

In Fahrenheit 451, even though the government wasn’t the ones who initiated censorship and book burning, it is them who control and survey the people to keep the status qou. They are the ones who benefit from having the masses under its control. There are many examples of controlling tactics and surveillance methods used by the government. John Turner, a columnist for the wall street journal gives a reason for constant surveillance witch is present in this book: “The rationale for surveillance is probably best defended through the perceived need for security, the desire for risk reduction, and the logic of predictability. In each of these variables there exists an almost utopian attempt to eliminate uncertainty. Sacrificed, however, is our shrinking terrain of freedom” (Turner 106). This is especially true in how individual freedom is shrinking. When people know that they are being surveyed, they act in accordance to the demands of the people surveying them. Those who are surveying also have the added advantage they hold all the methods of control. These tactics of control are all based around government propaganda. Propaganda in this case serves two purposes. One is to be a constant remind to the people of the presence of the government. Second, when people constantly here propaganda; its ideas become engrained in people’s minds. This method is the basic backbone of fascist government prevalent during Nazi Germany, and many philosophers and historians argue that our society as well may be heading in that direction.

Research Paper 3

2005-04-28T15:04:00.000-07:00

A major theme of Fahrenheit 451 and an important topic of my research paper is the idea society allowing for censorship and encouraging the burning of books. The idea is that society would prefer to be dumbed down rather than think for itself and solve complex problems and issues. Individuals of society would rather of no control over their lives than deal with troubles. This ultimate situation that man puts himself in occurs sub-consciously, and over a long period of time. Through increase reliance and developments in technology, man needs to think less for himself, and control shifts away from the masses and towards the institutions that they put there faith in. This is an idea presented by Deleuze. In his ‘control societies”, almost everything is under the control of a higher authorities, eliminating the need for individual thought. One quote in the book explains this series of events leading to this transfer of power. A fireman in charge of book burning explains that “The zipper displaces the button and a man lacks just that much time to think while dressing at dawn, a philosophical hour, and thus a mechanical hour” (Bradbury 27). This transfer of hours is a representation of transfer of control. Additionally, the rate of change of control between people in society increases as societies advance and new technologies are discovered. Eventually, according to Ray Bradbury, our society as well will be under this same type of control, unless people realize what is going on and take some action to prevent it from happening.

Current Event 3

2005-04-28T14:01:00.000-07:00

In recent weeks, the RIAA field a lawsuit against 405 college students across the country. They are charging these students with violating copyright laws by illegally sharing movies, music, and computer programs online. 25 of those students are from Georgia Tech, thus this is a topic that hits close to home. Luckily I was not one of them, even though I have downloaded my fair share of music and movies. The program of use was i2hub, which has become increasing popular because of its fast download and upload speeds. But ever since this lawsuit, I have refused to use it because I do not want to be sued. This displays how technology is a prime target for surveillance. There is no real privacy when using these file sharing programs. The lawsuit included the IP addresses of the computers being sued, thus the RIAA can pinpoint the individual who is operating the computer.

The drop of in use of these file sharing programs shows one of Foucault’s main ideas: The Penopticon. In this situation, my fellow peers and myself are the prisoners, while the RIAA is the guard in the guard tower. We cannot see if they are monitoring our IP addresses and downloading actions, but we must assume that they are, resulting in a decrease of downloading and sharing of files. Like Foucault said, once someone is aware of their surveillance, they alter their actions accordingly. Until these lawsuits are decided in court, I will not be downloading any more music through programs that have any possibility of being under any type of surveillance, confirming Foucault’s hypothesis.

It’s Football’s Turn

2005-04-28T13:32:00.000-07:00

Over the last year or so, there has been a large focus on the steroids in baseball. It has gotten to the point where the government has decided to investigate the matter. But the congressional committee is also holding hearing for all of the other major sports. The hearing for the National Football League (NFL) was held the other day. There were a few major differences between the trials that I would like to address. One is that lack of media attention that it received. The hearing for Major League Baseball (MLB) was hyped up by the media, and many people were anticipating the hearing. On the other hand, the NFL had very little coverage. I did not even know that the hearing took place until the day after when they aired clips of it on Sportscenter. Another major difference was that there were no current players at the hearing. Many of baseball’s past and present players testified before Congress, but one the only two ex-football players present were there because he is a player’s union representative. The other player had been out of the NFL for over twenty years. I agree with Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass. When he said if Congress was "serious about investigating steroid use among football players today," lawmakers should hear from current players. These differences could be due to the fact that Football’s testing policy is more stringent than baseball’s policy. But it is probably because of the rash of media surrounding baseball. The media has made a spectacle of baseball, which has lead Congess’ investigation to focus almost solely on baseball. Who do you think is juicing more, a 6’0” 215 lbs. right fielder or the 5’11” 255lbs. halfback with 40 lbs. of more muscle?

Final Thoughts on Miss Wyoming

2005-04-28T13:12:00.000-07:00

Looking back on Miss Wyoming, we can clearly see that two of the main topics of this course are covered. Events surrounding John and Susan’s actions illustrate the themes of the Spectacle and surveillance. The spectacle is the most obvious. Both John and Susan work in snowbushes, which in itself is pure Spectacle. Everything that Susan has ever done in life has been a result of the Spectacle of society. The two main careers that she has ever had, beauty queen and movie/television star, squarely focus any attention towards Susan’s outward appearance. She never would have gotten to where she was in life if society didn’t place so much emphasis on looks. Her mother, Maralyn, knew this and embraced it, though for Susan, the end result wasn’t perfect. Susan ends up without a real purpose in life. The most obvious instance of surveillance can be seen as Jon tries to track down Susan when she goes missing. Using sophisticated government technology and computer program, Jon and his associates trace the history of Susan’s phone calls, store purchases, and driving patterns. They eventually realize that to find Susan, they have to first find Maralyn. They do so and stake out her hotel room. Once Marylan is aware of their surveillance of her, she immediately alters her plan involving the kidnapping of Eugene Junior. This display Michael Foucault’s believed that once someone is aware of their surveillance, they alter their actions accordingly. Marylin eventually gives up and Eugene Junior is returned.

Simple Patterns

2005-04-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

Throughout Pattern Recognition, I have been wondering where Cayce’s finding were going to lead her, and I am sad to say that is was a little disappointed by the ending. I found the novel’s suspense added to the excitement of the story and left me only wanting to read more. But I was very disappointed with the film creator’s character. She hides herself in an abandoned warehouse while making a tribute to her dead parents. I hoped that the creator would be a more active person. Although, I guess that the film creator’s identity fits with the absence of the spectacle in her videos. The T that the watermarks formed was also a letdown for me. I was hoping that Cayce was right and that the T was a map of some sort. Instead it was a chunk of scrap metal lodged in someone’s head. The anticlimactic ending involving Bigend’s part was disappointing also. The author never states what exactly happened when he discovered the maker of the footage. Did the Russians simply tell him that he couldn’t use it or what? I may have missed that part, but couldn’t find that part. Overall, the book was a good read, but it could have ended differently. I know that this sort of defeats the main ideals of the book, but for the entertainment value, I would have preferred a more “spectacular” ending.

New House Bill (Current Events #3)

2005-04-28T00:29:00.000-07:00

Recently the House passed a bill that would make it illegal to dodge parental-consent laws by taking minors across state lines for abortions. Some call this an attempt to ban abortion; I call it an attempt to protect minors. In my research paper, I discussed the difference in surveillance and control as an intrusion and as protection. Abortion procedures can be physically painful as well as extremely emotionally damaging. Regardless of what side of the abortion issue you stand, you have to agree on these facts. I think we can also all agree that female minors are typically emotional beings and allowing them to go through with a procedure such as this without guidance from a parent is unreasonable. That is why this form of “invasion of privacy” is one intended to protect not just the life of a child but the life of a mother as well. I do not see a down side to this bill. Even if a young girl decides to go forward with the abortion, she will have family there to help her through it as opposed to her going it alone or left with only a pamphlet and a hotline for counsel. I do not believe that abortion is ever the answer but for now the law allows it which means that we have to try to put people’s lives ahead of all else.

So I Should Speed Up on Yellow...(Current Issues #2)

2005-04-26T22:07:00.000-07:00

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/0405/27gwinredlight.html

Surveillance can be used for good. A camera set up at the intersection of Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Singleton Road, captured 500 motorists running that particular red light. While these motorists will only receive warnings, after May 15th they will find traffic citations in their mail for a fine of 70 dollars. One picture released by Gwinnett County Police shows seven vehicles in the intersection when the light is red. The police department is hoping that this new system will help to prevent dangerous driving: “Officials believe that once motorists realize they can't get away with running the light, events such as this will dramatically reduce.” This is another great example of how surveillance and control can be used for good. Less people running red lights at busy intersections means that there is less risk of an accident. It also frees patrol officers to work in other areas. This is also another example of how sophisticated surveillance equipment is; which is a common theme among movies and other such media that believe surveillance is wrong. To counter this “intrusion,” there are now guides to describe to a motorist how to beat the photo-radar system. This is similar to the radar detectors that became so popular not too long ago. So it seems that regardless of how surveillance techniques and equipment evolves, detection prevention and other tricks will evolve at a similar pace maintaining a delicate balance.

Research Paper: Concentration on Intelligence Testing

2005-04-26T21:35:00.000-07:00

I dedicated a significant section of my research paper to a discussion on intelligence testing and how especially in the West, its implementation is required in every school system to every student. Tests show correlations with career success, but they also function as barriers to advancement and second chances if performance fails to meet accepted regulations. Under these standards, a student must reach a certain level of intelligence in order to advance and where this methodology might be beneficial in the school systems, it is judgmental in the real world. Just the fact that children are required to attend school in the effort to learn how to “be successful” and “make something of oneself” is an exertion of control of society. It spurs on the misconception that one must attend school and excel in classes simply to prove that one is worth any value. Tests such as the SAT and IQ test attempt to predict the future. Based on their predictions, either advancement or restraint is exerted. These restraints are obviously acts of control in an attempt to categorize people as being unsuccessful or successful. Societies definitely strive for conformity in their efforts to categorize children and adults alike. If a test measures ability to succeed, then how does one define success? That is the catch. The IQ test is “intended to predict success (i.e., to predict outcomes that are valued as success by most people) in a given society (i.e., in a large social group carrying its own set of values)” (Sternberg 2). Again, the definition of success depends on the culture, society, and ideology, not the individual’s definition of success. One could presumably lead a successful life only to find that according to society’s standards, one is highly unsuccessful. The fallacy lies in the variance in the definition of success and the emphasis placed on the importance of performing well on tests whose sole purpose is to measure “success.”

Final thoughts on Pattern Recognition

2005-04-26T21:27:00.000-07:00

I always liked stories that end in some sort of moral or the main character learning from their adventures. Cayce definitely had some adventures and I think that it is clear that she emerged from her experiences a changed woman. She has gained a new identity from having discovered the truth behind the footage. I think that the story of the creator personally moved her in such a way to fight even harder for the creator’s protection. Cayce no longer was on a quest to find answers but on a mission to preserve the innocence and secrecy of the footage. As can be seen in the quote on page 355, Cayce has been renewed by her encounter with the footage and can now remain at peace. She describes her soul as finally being reeled in from the jet lag. Personally, I like the foreshadowing of a peaceful ending simply by mentioning jet lag and that Cayce constantly felt this sense that she was still somewhat behind her present situation. It is also mentioned that Cayce no longer feels the need to check her email multiple times a day. She only checks her email every other day and I think that there are two reasons, one being, as mentioned earlier, that she is no longer on a quest for answers so there is no urgency, and two being that the person she most corresponded with is physically there with her. That personal presence adds to her newfound sense of reality and allows her to truly express human emotions through that fellowship with Parkaboy. Their relationship transforms from the impersonal virtual-world level to the personal reality level. I especially like how in the end she is no longer lonely. Where the novel does not specifically address the duration of their relationship, I think that it is nice to have a novel end on a happy note, knowing that the main character has at least found some sort of lasting companionship.

Pattern Recognition 3

2005-04-26T14:19:00.000-07:00

On page 254 of the novel, Cayce writes an email to the person who is publishing the segments. There are a couple of interesting things that I noticed from the get go. First, Gibson shows Cayce emails, but in between he interspersed commentary. I really like this addition because it shows the reader what exactly to focus on. Also, it adds details to the email that without would feel incomplete. At first I found it weird that Cayce tells someone that she doesn’t know, and a complete stranger, details about her life. She tells him her birthday, where she is, and how her father died. After further reading, I understand this giving of information because of the connection between them. Cayce says that everyone is waiting for him to release the next segment. She describes how she is suffering without it. The segments have hit home for Cayce and have created an emotionally bond between Cayce and these segments. In turn, Cayce feels a connection to the author because he has gone through the same thing that Cayce has. This email shows the power of emotions and the new impact of technology on our lives. I think this is one of the best passages in the novel because it combines all of Gibson’s strengths.

Current Event3: The Bigger, The Better, The Spectacle

2005-04-26T14:14:00.000-07:00

This week is the first in which the Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft ever, will be launched. This gargantuan air craft seats up to five hundred and fifty five people. It has a five percent longer flight life than the Boeing 747 and it is a 1/5 less expensive for customers. The spectacle of this situation is that the air craft industry is building these bigger and more luxurious planes at a time when the air line industry is struggling severely. One might think that these new planes with thee levels, beds, shopping malls, and a multitude of saloons will attract new customers. Not only are these planes going to only be used for long flights, but the number of routes are going to be limited. Also, is there a point on having an aircraft that can hold more people than ever when current aircrafts can’t be filled? This is the spectacle that plagues America. The bigger the better, even if it is not necessary. The tendencies described are the reason that most of the world hates America. I find it interesting that our economy can be struggling but the thing that our industries choose to do is develop technologies that are expensive and will never be used to their fullest capacity. This excess use of capital describes perfectly the spectacle that exists.

Current Event2: The spectacle and the pope

2005-04-26T13:07:00.000-07:00

The spectacle is ever present in our current day society. The recent appointment of the pope is evident of this. In the square in front of St. Peter’s Cathedral there were over one hundred and fifty thousand people for the week during the conclave. The conclave is the meeting where the Cardinals vote on a new pope. The way the conclave signals the world that they have decided on a new pope is to uses smoke signals; black meaning they haven’t decided and white meaning they have. These tactics had over one hundred and fifty thousand people at the Vatican and millions more on TV mesmerized by smoke flowing from a chimney. Furthermore, the spectacle is continued when the Vatican decided to set up huge jumbo TVs so that the people in the square could see what is going on. I don’t understand why they had TVs if they are still communicating by smoke. This bothers me because the TV announcers were making comments that the “smoke is to close to call.” The pope is a very important religious and political position in the world that deserves attention, but the fact that people stayed in the square for nearly a week shows the spectacle.

Pop Culture: The Specatcle of Blogging

2005-04-26T03:00:00.000-07:00

Online journaling, or blogging, is becoming one of the ways that people can interact with one another. But, how does this fit into Debord's ideas about the spectacle? Debord stated that "The spectacle appears at once as society itself, as a part of society and as a means of unification. As a part of society, it is that sector where all attention, all consciousness, converges" (Perfected 12). Blogging is exactly that: a society and a part of society that unifies people. There are now online communities that act as a society. These societies can be either unifying individuals through a common interest like politics, geographical background, movies, or through the collective desire to enjoy thinking through writing and textual conversations. Blogs on Pakistani lifestyle and experience can be found and used to relate to other Pakistani people, or to learn about a culture that is different from one’s own (I stumbled across one when I was doing some research for another class.) But, this is all interaction within the spectacle and mediated by the spectacle of society and as Debord stated, “the unity it imposes is merely the official language of generalized separation” (12). Sharing one’s life or interests with others cannot, according to Debord, be done outside of the spectacle. So is there ever true interaction outside of the spectacle? If one uses Debord’s definitions of the spectacle that he outlines in Separation Perfected then it is not possible to escape the spectacle. All this aside, even the basic reality of the blog can be edited and become reality. Each individual can set the time and date which their blog is published; consequently, time and space (space because the blog can be accessed from any location where the internet is available) become irrelevant. Also, any individual who is the creator of a blog can edit the posts of those who now partake of that blog. So, what an individual says could even be altered. All conversations through blogging are therefore a part of the spectacular reality and may or may not be true.

Watching Ourselves

2005-04-25T21:13:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I had an astounding revelation. On the Curran parking deck a group of students were giving away small squirt guns. With the guns came a list of five students. In order to keep the guns and receive a special prize, students were supposed to find the five students on their lists and squirt them with their guns. One of my friends said, “How are we supposed to find these people? I don’t even know who they are.” The volunteer’s reply was simply, “Well, you have all the tools to find them.” That is when it hit me. I had never realized how much surveillance has been a part of our lives until then. I know that we talked about it in class, but it never really hit home. I realized how easy it was to track down these people. Through the Georgia Tech directory, one can easily find other student’s email, major, mailing address, and dorm phone number. There are a few other tidbits of information that you can view, but some students do not always list information for all of these categories. Our directory is also open for anyone outside of our school to access for free. Another directory that I came to my mind was thefacebook. If I couldn’t find what I wanted in the directory, thefacebook has almost everything. And it has gotten so trendy to join thefacebook that almost everyone I know is listed on it. Sure you have to provide a valid school email address to join, but the information listed is endless. From dorm room numbers to cell phone numbers, you have access to too much information on thefacebook. The information is out there. Surveillance is endless.

Research Paper: General Outline

2005-04-25T17:37:00.000-07:00

I ended up changing my topic for the English research paper three times. I finally decided upon the topic of how society treats people who are different from the norm, specifically those who suffer with memory loss. I discussed how society can be viewed as a spectacle in its attempt to conform everyone and ostracize those who fail to conform. I also touched on the idea of society controlling our ideas and creating stereotypes of those people with “conditions.” The beginning of my paper explains the definitions of intelligence and working memory so as to get a base for further discussion. I mentioned the use of intelligence testing and how it forms societal views on people who do not meet standards and how the mere requirement of intelligence testing is an act of control on society’s part. For memory, I gave a brief explanation of working memory and the relationships between short-term and long-term memory. I found some really great sites discussing Memento and the correlation between intelligence and working memory. I closed with some details on Alzheimer’s disease and how the brain of Alzheimer’s disease suffers literally deteriorates and their ability to function falters. The most important part of mentioning Alzheimer’s disease was mentioning the way that society views and treats these unfortunate individuals. Talking about Alzheimer’s disease has more significance than talking about Memento because more people suffer from Alzheimer’s disease than simply short-term memory loss so it is more likely to hit home with some readers. Despite the difficulty in finding a good topic, I enjoyed researching the final topic and sharing my gained knowledge with everyone else. Hopefully it will make others consider the origin of their views before they make judgments.

Research Paper 2

2005-04-25T15:38:00.000-07:00

In my research paper, I focused on the theme of censorship present in the book Fahrenheit 451 written by Ray Bradbury in the mid 1960's. While this book takes place in an imaginary future, it is actually commentary on the times that the book was written in. During this era in the 60's, McCarthyism was at its peak. Throughout the cold war, McCarthyism dominated the political scene. In this political system, politicians looked to rid the world of Communists. This involved a lot of secret government programs and illegal government acts. If there was even the slightest connection between a person and communist activity, that person would be under investigation by the highest government branches. Because people did not want to be called out for being communists, much of the populous stopped expressing any political belief that went against the current system. There was widespread suppression of ideas across the country, and this lasted for many years. It is this aspect of control and surveillance that Bradbury compares in his writing.
The idea of "book burning" present in the novel is a representation of the suppression of thought in the McCarthy era. These ideas also compare well with modern times, in relation to the witch hunt for terrorists since September 11th, 2001. This book can be used to describe government suppression of dissention throughout the histories of many countries throughout the world. Bradbury believes that this suppression will eventually curtain itself and the destructive forces of the government will collapse, creating a new generation, free from censorship. He also believes that this will happen because of physically destructive forces within societies. Wars are a good example that he uses of an event which may bring down totalitarian powers.

Research Paper #4

2005-04-25T11:02:00.000-07:00

In Equilibrium, the government was the force driving the burning of all art. Their purpose was clearly defined: eliminate feeling. Through eliminating the ability for individuals to feel, the leaders of the government and all of the citizens of Libria hoped to eradicate war, anger, and rage. However, not all of the people cooperate with these strict regulations. There are many who are in a part of “The Resistance” who work towards allowing free expressions and feeling. All of the people within this resistance are considered outcasts and express themselves through love, art, music, and other images that are encompassed by Debord’s spectacle. These individuals are portrayed as those who are able to think and live freely because they are not completely censored by the government of Libria. Kurt Wimmer uses these outcasts to make a statement about today’s society; that it is too regulating and that it limits full expression. Through my paper I was able to explore the fullness of Debord’s philosophies on the spectacle. During this time I came to the realization that his ideas are very applicable today. I am left with one question though: Is there a form of communication that is truly not mediated by the spectacle? The only way that I could think of relationships that are not mediated by the images of the spectacle is if there are relationships that are more spiritual than physical. I think that interactions that are of this nature would be more complete—more fulfilling because they are not limited by the spectacle.

Reality Jury - Current Events #1

2005-04-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

As most of us are aware, pop singer Michael Jackson is currently on trial for child molestation in what is the continuation of an amazing phenomenon: celebrity justice. While there are numerous trials across the country on a daily basis and many of them dealing with child molestation, none have received the attention that Jackson’s trial has. This is simply because he is a celebrity. With any other defendant, this case would be presented and sentence would be handed out in under two weeks. But because of Jackson’s public image, the trial is drawn out and every fact, every witness, and every word is recorded and analyzed by dozens of “experts” for Americans all across the country during their morning cup of coffee. This is just another way that Hollywood has made its stand as a source of fuel for the spectacle. One could argue that Jackson is a public figure thereby making his life of the utmost importance for everyone to know about. Don’t get me wrong; I think Jackson deserves to have his named raked across the news if he is guilty (which I have a hard time not believing). However, I believe that any criminal, especially one convicted of such a cold and heartless crime, deserves to have his face on the six o’clock headlines. Either way, I have a hard time watching so much coverage of this trial when there are much more important issues at hand.

Research paper conclusion, class conclusion

2005-04-24T15:42:00.000-07:00

Thankfully I have finished with my research paper on time. Basically, what I tried to convey with it, is that the movie genre is taking over as the preferred media to transmit culture to the masses. Nowadays, the average person does not have the time or patience to read books or attend lectures. Modern people depend on movies as their provider of information and source of issues to reflect upon. This might be why a great quantity of books are converted into movies. It is just simply easier for a person to sit through a two hour film than to dedicate days to the reading of a novel.
I am not saying that agree with this concept. In fact, I believe that a great deal of substance is lost when books cross over to the film genre. I think this is one example of the various criticisms Debord has on society. We try to make everything quicker, bigger, not realizing the things we lose in the process. Another example is fast food. It may be fast and easy, but it's fattening and bad for your health. Movies might be viewed as the fast food of culture, but at least is better than culture starvation.
These thoughts bring to and end my participation in this blog. I enjoyed sharing my ideas with this group and also reading what you guys had to say about the issues we discussed in class. Good luck to everyone in their rest of their Tech experience and whatever lies beyond.

Research project post #3: Debord ideas on the Truman Show

2005-04-24T15:14:00.000-07:00

Debord focuses on the passivity that the "spectacle" inflicts in people. Debord proposes that in modern civilization, individuals no longer live "real" lives, but are merely bedazzled by the media, which becomes their entertainment but also their imprisonment in a "false reality". Debord writes: "Apprehended in a partial way, reality unfolds in a new generality as a pseudo-world apart, solely as an object of contemplation"(p. 12). This suggestion is found in various scenes of the movie. Jennifer Hammett analyzes one particular happening in the movie in her paper "You Never Had a Camera Inside My Head": The Masculine Subject of the Postmodern Sublime. She writes:
In the final shot of the film the two security guards exchange the following dialogue: Guard #1: You want another slice? Guard #2: No, I'm OK. Guard #1: What else is on? Guard #2: Yeah, let's see what else is on. Guard #1: Where's the TV Guide? Thus, even though we see each of the diegetic audiences cheering Truman for rejecting his media-controlled existence, we return to one of them only seconds later, in the film's closing moment, to discover them anxiously seeking an alternative media diversion.(p. 80)
The scene Hammett selected accurately represents the infinite thirst for media entertainment that modern civilization possesses and that Debord criticizes in his essay. The fact that individuals are dependent on television and other technology gadgets to fill their lives, further proves Debord right regarding his theory that portrays society as living in a state of image contemplating and partial inactivity.

Research Project Post #2: Truman show as a transport of philosophy to the masses

2005-04-24T14:58:00.000-07:00

Occasionally, a popular movie will transmit a powerful philosophical message that will cause its public to reflect on the questions it presents. Some examples of movies of this type are: The Matrix, Gattaca, Minority Report and The Truman Show, the movie my paper is focused upon. All of these movies and numerous more throughout film history, serve as a source of theoretical analysis that is easy to digest and available to the general public.
The Truman Show could be viewed as a perfect experiment designed to test theories proposed by Foucault and Deleuze. Foucault proposes in his writings that society could be modeled as one that acts under the assumption of constant surveillance, and that this awareness of being watched modifies the behavior of individuals. The Truman Show stages a perfect scenario to examine Foucault's ideas, since Truman in fact is under continuous vigilance and ultimately becomes aware of it. His natural reaction to this happening could be analyzed to either confirm or deny the validity of Foucault's proposals. Another theory that is assessed in the movie, is the model presented by Deleuze of a "control" society. Deleuze views social order as enforcing restrictions over an individual's decisions and limiting the free will that persons have over their lives. In The Truman Show, Truman is exposed since his birth to various methods of control like induced fear and regulated education, to lead him into the decisions that the show producers wish him to take. Whether or not Truman's choices are influenced by these outside factors will determine if Deleuze makes a valid point with his ideas.

Spectacle alienation of social relations in Pattern Recognition

2005-04-24T14:52:00.000-07:00

In my opinion, Debord's "spectacle" theory can be divided into the two primordial messages it conveys. The first one, which I discussed in a previous post, is the "false sense of reality" that the "spectacle" creates. The second one, which I will analyze in this post, is the effect that the "spectacle" has on social relations. According to Debord, in current society, human relations are superficial and the only thing individuals have in common is the feeling of isolation that is present in everybody. Debord criticizes technological advances, that appear to bring people together but in his opinion only furthers the separation that exists among us.
In Pattern Recognition, we can find some examples in which this concept seems to occur, for instance, when Cayce speaks to Parkaboy on the phone. Although Cayce and Parkaboy have a very "close" relationship online, via the exchange of e-mails and discussions on the footage forum, she finds hearing his voice a weird episode. The book describes their conversation: ""Cayce? Parkaboy." He sounds quite unlike he "sounds" on the screen, whatever that means. Older? Different". This passage demonstrates the shallowness of web-based relationships, in which neither of them "really" knows the other. This is one example of how technology has affected the "real" human relationships. Sure, now people can get in touch with each other from anywhere in the world via the internet, but the pureness and simplicity of face-to-face conversation is losing its ground to the plastic relationships of online chatting.

Research Paper # 5

2005-04-23T17:45:00.000-07:00

Gilles Deleuze hypothesized about the theory of control and the effect it has on individuals. Deleuze believed that controls where a “modulation, like a self-transforming molding continually changing from one moment to the next, or like a sieve whose mesh varies from one point to another.” In Swordfish, this type of control is evident in the constant battle between Gabriel Shear and Stanly Jobson. Shear convinces Jobson to violate his parole at the beginning of the movie by putting a gun to his head and forcing him to break into the FBI website. The encounter continues late into the movie when Jobson leaves Shear and deprives Shear of the necessary personnel to complete the mission. Shear retaliates by killing Jobson’s ex-wife and kidnapping his daughter in order to force Jobson to finish the job. The control has been passed from the government to Shear, and in turn back to Jobson. Deleuze continues to analyze control by saying that it “is based on floating exchange rates, modulations depending on a code setting sample percentages for various currencies.” Deleuze’s theory is ever present in Swordfish because of the constant clash for the aforementioned control. The power in Swordfish is not included by accident; instead it is incorporated by the director in order to make the movie more interesting. The change of control creates conflict that is used to capture the viewer’s attention. In Swordfish, the most exciting and enticing scenes are the ones which illustrate the struggle between Jobson and Shear. At the end of the movie, Jobson attempts to destroy Shear’s hope of getting the money by transferring the money to random accounts instead of Shear’s. The movie pauses for five seconds while Shear contemplates his options and instead of listening to Jobson’s demands, he hangs Ginger, the woman to whom Jobson is emotionally attached, and threatens that unless Jobson fixes the problem, she will die.

Papalicious

2005-04-23T13:34:00.000-07:00

Yeah! After several days without a leader, we finally have a new Pope! But wait…I’m not even Catholic. Sure, Benedict XVI could be a great religious leader, but he isn’t my Pope. So why did so many people become obsessed with the election of the new Pope? I have a friend that isn’t even Christian that watched CNN all day, every day until the new Pope was announced. And why does it matter what country he is from? It seemed that the press was very concerned with his nationality. The press hyped up the fact that he was German and not Italian. The Italian tradition should end anyways. Although there are a plethora of Catholics in Italy, there are so many more in other areas of Europe and the world. There is so much press involving the Pope, not because the media is Catholic, but because he is such a huge public figurehead and role model.
The passing of John Paul II was also widely publicized. It reminds me of when Princess Diana passed away in a tragic cat wreck. She wasn’t the Princess of America, but our country was obsessed with her death. The United States mourned her for weeks after her death even though she had no ties to America. Although these two public figures were not a part of many of our lives, they were great leaders and role models. We mourned their deaths because of their contributions to the world and not just to their countrymen or religious patrons. As we can see, through the world’s reaction to the new Pope, we make spectacles of ourselves and our figureheads.

Classical Cinema

2005-04-22T07:51:00.000-07:00

As I was watching Gattaca for the third time last week, I noticed something. Knowing that this movie must obviously take place in the future, I saw that the cars in the movie were all classics. The car that Vincent drives, though I can’t place it, was designed a few decades ago. When the movie shows the scene in which Vincent is conceived, his parents are making love in the back of a car that looks to have been originally designed in the sixties or seventies. I also took note of Jerome’s wheelchair. It is surprisingly old looking. A battery does not power it, nor does it have any modern conveniences that are present on today’s wheelchairs. I looks like one that you may roll out of a hospital on when the nurse takes you to your car. I began to enjoy the movie more and more as I noticed the styles of the movie’s, “era.” When Vincent and Irene go out, they both wear clothing that is consistent with the early nineteen hundreds. Even the car that Irene picks up Vincent in has a, “roaring twenties,” look to it. The hairstyles of the characters are also very classical. Jerome, whom Vincent must imitate, always slicks his hair back. Vincent’s brother also styles his hair in the same fashion. Irene’s hair, just like the rest of her style, looks like it was designed to imitate the early decades of the last century, where women wore their hair high up in a bun. Noticing all of these throwbacks to earlier decades in the movie has made me appreciate it even more. A sci-fi movie mixed with twentieth century styles, no wonder it’s a, “classic.”

Research Paper #3

2005-04-19T19:41:00.000-07:00

In the movie Equilibrium, the city Libria is patrolled by Gramatron Clerics. The Clerics have been exposed to the spectacle of Libria’s government since they were young children. Through these spectacles—video imaging, sound clips, and swastika like symbols—children are brainwashed into obedience to the government. These images regulate the relationships that individuals have to one another. The image of “The Father” is a particularly interesting image; though all citizens of Libria have a relation to this character, “The Father” is only a reproduced image of a man who died years before. This type of relationship with the spectacle is different from how Debord described the relationships that individuals have that are regulated by the spectacle. But, this new type of relationship illustrates how Debord’s concepts on the spectacle are all encompassing and even allow for new types of spectacular relationships. Another type of spectacle that the citizens of Libria encounter is the massive rally where they attend where the voice and image of “The Father” are showed. During this time huge lines and rigid groupings comparable to those that the Nazi party used occur. During these times, individuals relate to other citizens by the spectacle that they are partaking in. However, just as Debord asserts, the relationships that these people have to one another are only through a unified separateness. Looking at these areas of spectacle will enable me to bring out the movie’s major themes as well as tie it into what we have been doing in class this semester.

Research Paper #4

2005-04-19T17:38:00.000-07:00

In Michel Foucault’s essay Panopticism, Foucault describes the idea of surveillance in relation to the observatory prison called the panopticon. In this prison, the incarcerated are secured in cells, which allow the guards to observe all of the prisoner’s actions. The constant close watch compels the prisoners to behave. In the movie Swordfish, this is evident in the opening scene of the movie when Gabriel Shear creates his own panopticon when he holds a bank hostage and the police cannot do anything. In order to create this prison, Shear straps explosives to the hostages and holds the remote that detonates them. Furthermore, if the hostages leave the bank, they will automatically detonate. Because the police have no other options, they are forced to listen to Shear’s demands. In this metaphorical prison, the police are the prisoners because they have no idea of Shear’s next move, and Shear is the guard because he observes the police and their hopeless situation. Foucault describes “the major effect of the Panopticon: to induce in the inmate a state of conscious and permanent visibility that assures the automatic functioning of power” (Foucault, p. 230). The police follow Shear’s demands because of the panopticon that is created, which illustrates the ideas presented by Foucault. Such compliance is also represented by Jobson and his obedience to complete his work because of constant inspection. This close observation eventually leads to Jobson revolting against Shear because of Jobson’s inability to make decisions for himself. This demonstrates how the securitization of one’s actions can affect the individual, and, in turn, alter that individual’s actions to antagonize his oppressor.

Research essay #3

2005-04-19T07:45:00.000-07:00

As my evaluation of Swordfish continues, it becomes evident to me that a person behavior can be affected by control. Once some is subject to such control then they have a tendency to do the same to other. This is evident in the iron triangle that is represented in Swordfish. The government uses its control to make Gabriel Shear’s job harder and try to stop him from taking the DEA slush fund. In response Shear kills the senator that is trying to stop him from doing his job. In return, Shear starts to give Jobson more responsibility and control him more by telling him what he can do and where he can go. Jobson ends up running away. In response, Shear kills his ex-wife and kidnaps his daughter. This forces Jobson to help Shear steal the money. This battle shows how control can affect individuals and their actions. Furthermore, when the girl is blown up when she runs from the bank, it sends a direct message to the cops not to mess with Shear. Shear’s control forces the police to stand down and not do anything. Delueze’s theories are very prevalent in Swordfish and show how control is passed through individuals. Furthermore, it almost seems like Delueze theories on control is what the director of Swordfish based the movie on. The battle for control throughout the movie is what gives the movie suspense and character that entices the viewer.

pattern recognition #2

2005-04-19T07:30:00.000-07:00

In Pattern Recognition, William Gibson likes to use lots of details in order to make his points. In every description, Gibson includes details so that the reader can almost picture the object. On page two hundred and seventeen, Gibson describes a “very rusty, paint spattered scaffolding.” Often times I really do not like author’s who give these long description but Gibson has a knack for just inserting little phrases of description here and there in order to capture the reader. In this passage, there is a discussion about fashions and how quickly they go out of style. I started thinking about styles and it is amazing to me how each new season, new styles replace the old and fashion advances. This is further supported by Binyamin the philosopher who said that nothing becomes outdated faster than fashion. All of the outdated fashions is directly related to Cayce’s work as a cool hunter because that is just what she does. Furthermore, it is very interesting how Ngemis tries to assure Cayce that the scaffolding is a good purchase and worth their money. This reassurance is completely based on his opinion but I guess that is what the cool hunter position is all about. The use of Gibson’s descriptions in the novel is very necessary because the job of the cool hunter is one of materialism and with out such descriptions, I feel that Cayce job would seem futile.

pattern recognition #1

2005-04-19T07:29:00.000-07:00

My first impression of Pattern recognition is completely based on the first page of the novel. In the very first paragraph Gibson describes “the dire and ever-circling wolves of disrupted circadian rhythm.” This phrase at first takes some thinking but after a little while you realize that Gibson is an author that not only loves to use description, but one who can relate to the reader. This first paragraph describes the jet lag on a trans-Atlantic flight that anyone who has taken that flight knows the effect and the feeling you have the day when you arrive. Furthermore, in the next paragraph, Gibson perfectly describes the feelings of anyone who had just gotten off the flight. The confused, head spinning world feels like you are on a rollercoaster that is out of control. This further relation to the reader makes me feel like I can relate to this work because it describes something that I have gone through. As I read more I hope that this pattern continues with Gibson relating to the reader and that his good descriptions continue. The one thing that is confusing his how the title relates to the novel. After reading Miss Wyoming, the title became clear after the first ten pages but in Pattern recognition this is not the case.

False reality (Spectacle) in Pattern recognition

2005-04-18T22:38:00.000-07:00

Although I think that Pattern Recognitions has more references to the surveillance model of society and the "Panocticism" ideas of Foucault, I could find a few passages in the novel that relate to Debord's "spectacle" concepts. One of Debord's main ideas was that the "spectacle" creates a sense of "false reality", meaning that the society we perceive is not real, but merely a projection of the actual truth, produced by society's behavior. One of the fragments in the book clearly reflects this thought.
The passage is from the part when Cayce wonders around Tokyo and ends up in Kabukicho, the "red district" of the city. The passage reads: "…the land of mahjong parlors, tiny bars with highly specialized clienteles, sex shops, video porn and probably much else, but all of it managed with a Vegas-like sobriety of intent that makes her wonder how much fun any of it could really be, even for the committed enthusiast.". This description of Tokyo's nightlife area, relates to Debord's ideas because of the false reality the spectacle creates, present in Kabukicho. Sex shops and other "adult" establishments should appeal to those with a twisted mind and a desire for separating from what society considers "right". But the district is neatly managed, law abiding and adhering to all the other things its clientele want to avoid. This is a clear example of how reality is transformed by the spectacle that society values and laws create.

Research Paper #2

2005-04-16T15:40:00.000-07:00

My research paper is beginning to come along well. I'm having a great deal of trouble finding scholarly. I've been doing searches for censorship, Christian thoughts on censorship, etc. I’ve spent many hours trying different word combinations to find articles or excerpts using the journals Project Muse , MLA Bibliography , and JSTOR . However, I have not been able to find any articles that are either recent (1990s or newer) that pertain to my topic in a relevant way. Right now the main sources that I've been using are from Kurt Wimmer, the director of Equilibrium. I also am using quotes from Mussilini, Deleuze, and Debord. Currently my paper is taking the direction of looking at censorship as well as spectacle. Debords concepts on the spectacle are very prominent in Equilibrium. Throughout the movie there are images that dictate the relationship that individuals have with one another. People interact through their identification cards and placement in society. Debord’s concepts on the spectacle are also evident through the relationship between people and art. Individuals who still possess the ability to feel use art as a means of expressing themselves while others like the main character Preston destroy art. I will also analyze how censorship can be portrayed as both freeing and enslaving in the same way that Deleuze described the use of electronic key cards in the town illustration. The use censorship in this movie is one of the main statements about today’s society that Wimmer’s wanted his audience to see.

Research Paper Part 2

2005-04-12T12:42:00.000-07:00

Swordfish incorporates a lot of ideas that are presented by Foucault. In the first scene of the movie, Shear is holding up a bank and his actions inside are very interesting. Instead of just grabbing the money and running, Shear sets up a situation in which he is completely in control. He does this to prove a point to the police that he is free of their bureaucracy and they have no control of the situation. Shear makes his point when he tells the cops that the hostages can not leave the bank otherwise the explosives attached to the hostages will explode. The scene concludes with a massive explosion which shows the power of Shear. This scene is very similar to the prison described in Foucault’s work. In this prison, everything is visible and there is no way out. In the Bank, Shear creates this prison in order to show his power and prove to the authorities that he is completely in control. Not only did this prison affect the hostages but it also controlled all of the government agencies involved.

Reviewing Gattaca

2005-04-11T12:27:00.000-07:00

Since I have begun to research Gattaca for my paper, I have noticed a few things about the movie. The movie is supposed to be against gene-therapy, but I have begun to realize its underlying themes. In Gattaca, the audience identifies with the main character, Vincent, because of his struggle to overcome the odds and fulfill his dream. He defies the discriminative hiring practices of Gattaca’s space program. We identify with Vincent because he was born like us. But I view the movie differently than some. I think that Vincent is handicapped. He is handicapped because he is hindered from normal functioning by his physical status and heart condition. I believe that societal majorities are the genetically altered people in the movie. We are the ones that function normally in society and are free to do as we please without many inhibitions. Vincent represents the oppressed. Vincent represents women, handicapped people, and other culturally different citizens. He overcomes the prejudice and stigmas that come with his birth and finally realizes his lifelong goals. While Gattaca may be a movie written to discourage gene-therapy, I view it differently. I see it as a piece to give us all the strength to succeed in life and attain our dreams. To me, it is a movie filled with hope and courage. We should all strive to achieve to achieve what Vincent has, even if our boundaries are easier to break.

Current event 2

2005-04-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

Recently, the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, aired an episode of South Park, that in my opinion, was the most edgy and controversial episode that they have ever air. Parker and Stone write and create there episode about 3 days before they air, thus there episodes usually are very relevant to what is going on in the world. There recent episode centered on the ongoing Terry Shiavo case. This is the controversy between the husband of Terry Shiavo who wants to take her of her life support which she has been on for 10 years, and Terry’s parents, who want to keep her alive. Terry had been in a persistent vegetative state for 10 years with no sign of recovery.
In the episode, Kenny dies yet again, but the doctors bring him back to life, only he is in a persistent vegetative state. A huge controversy was then raised as Cartman tries to get him to be taken off and Kyle and Stan try to keep him on. This episode aired the night before she died, and in the episode, the end result was that Kenny was taken of life support. I have never seen a television show be more honest and expressive about there views. Parker and Stone believe that she should have been taken of life support, and in there show, they compare it with the beliefs of God and the heavens. They also represent people fighting to keep Kenny on life support as representatives of the Devil. I personally agree with Parker and Stone. Also, this event is the perfect example of how a private family affair can be turned into a spectacle. It has become a national affair and was on every news station. It will also be looked at in future medical cases as technology and medical knowledge advance.

Reasearch paper 1

2005-04-11T11:48:00.000-07:00

I am planning on writing my paper on the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Fahrenheit 451 is a futuristic story about a fireman named Guy Montag. In his futuristic world, society is very different. Guy lives in an oppressive, totalitarian state. The government is present in almost all aspects. One of the main themes of this book is how the government bans books. In fact, as a fireman, it is guys job to actually set fires, many of which revolve around burning books. Throughout the book, Guy begins to question the society around him and the way he lives. Through a series of miss-adventures, Guy decides to turn against the law and sets off to bring change.

A main point that relates this book to the works of Foucault’s is the reasoning behind why books are burned in the first place. These reasons are because society no longer wants to read anymore and also because of the conflicts that literature may bring up. Much like Foucault’s “Penopticon”, in which there are prisoners under the control of a central guard, the society guy lives in is under the control of the “stimulating society”. In Guys world, people don’t have time to think about life or reflect on anything because of constant presences of televisions, radios, and fast cars. These things are the basic social fabric of Guy's society. It is the primary source of leisure and any type of conversation among Guys peers is strictly related to what they just saw on TV or heard on the radio. This is an issue that is brought up in our society as well. Are kids playing to many video games instead of reading books? Do people watch too many sports instead of actually playing them? Are MTV and other superficial television channels actually dumbing down America? All of these things are presented to people throughout there lives. There is no way around them, much like the guard in the guard tower of the penopticon. People of society are the prisoners, while the media and superficial lifestyles are the bars that hold people back.

Research Paper #1 - general thoughts/problems

2005-04-11T11:41:00.000-07:00

I'm planning on doing my research paper on the movie Equilibrium and hope to relate concepts of control and surveillance that we have discussed in class to this movie. Right now I'm struggling with all of the details of a clear thesis statement. I know that I need to argue something, but right now all my thoughts on this paper are statements about how Equilibrium exemplifies Debord and Deluze's ideas. I chose the moive Equilibrium because of all the images that Kurt Wimmer, the director, uses that are like those used in Nazi Germany. I think that the relationship between oppressive totalitarian governments and Deleuze's ideas on freedom and control as well as Debord's spectacle will be fun to explore. I may also try to discuss Foucault's panopticon and relate it to the way that people in the Equilibrium are continuously watched. The threat that these people face is that of death if they are found out to be feeling. Consequently, almost every citizen of Libria is obedient and self-injects prozium, the drug that keeps individuals from feeling.
I'm also playing around with the idea of how peace and feminism can be tied in to this movie. The main problem I'm having is not making my topic small enough nor having the ability to make a precise thesis that states what I want to argue. The next step for me is going to be looking at what specifically Wimmer is trying to say about the society today through his movie.

Research Paper: Topic Change

2005-04-09T11:13:00.000-07:00

I was having some trouble really defining the case of memory and it’s role in the spectacle. So I have decided to change the topic of my research paper ever so slightly. I have broadened the scope to include the fallacy of our society by using memory as a means of measuring intelligence. I am sure that this more general topic will prove to be much easier to research. I already have a great deal of information on both intelligence and memory from my general psychology textbook. I plan to introduce my reader to the basics of memory and intelligence using the information from my textbook. I also have easy access to other professional journals through the Georgia Tech library that focus on the topics of memory and intelligence. I also plan to use the movie “Momento” as an example of how lack of short-term memory does not necessarily mean lack of intelligence. This movie will be my primary example of how society and the spectacle view the correlation between memory and intelligence. I have already researched a bit on “Momento” and have thoroughly been pleased with the results I have achieved. I have also considered including the movie “50 First Dates,” but have yet to reach a decision on that one. The results that I found from researching this particular movie did not provide much desired information that related to my topic so unless I truly need another movie or source to include in my paper, I probably won’t use this movie. I have yet to start actually typing the paper, but only collecting data to include in the paper.

Pattern Recognition and Surveillance

2005-04-09T10:54:00.000-07:00

Surveillance is a major theme in Pattern Recognition. From Dorotea’s hiring of thugs in order to place a keyboard tap and phone tap in Damien’s flat, to Volkov’s close eye on Cayce’s apartment in New York and everything in between. Poor Cayce didn’t know whom she could trust. She was also involved in something bigger than she even knew. She thought that she could trust Boone; they even hit it off together as far as compatibility goes, but as it turns out, even he was keeping a close watch on her correspondence to Parkaboy via tapping her computer. Boone especially disappointed me with his lies and deceit. It was hard to tell who was on the good side, or if there even was a good side, but I thought for sure he was genuine. As it turns out, he was just a pretender, using Cayce and ultimately after money. Dorotea was also two-faced. She was working two sides and playing both. The only one with seemingly legitimate reasons for issuing surveillance was Andrei Volkov. He was merely trying to protect his nieces and their privacy. His reasons weren’t motivated out of self-interest or influenced by others. Does this mean that it is sometimes necessary for surveillance? I think that when a just cause is there, then yes it is reasonable. But that just throws the question to what is just. Does the protection of one’s privacy at the sacrifice of someone else’s privacy qualify as being just? What makes one’s privacy more valuable than someone else’s? I believe that all people have equal right to privacy and no one should be considered more valuable than other.

Research Paper: Post #2

2005-04-08T13:37:00.000-07:00

So with only three weeks until the research paper is due, I have decided to throw out my thesis. Well, not really throw it out but tweak it a little. After reviewing our thesis statements in class and thinking about how to develop mine, I realized that something needed to change. I was going to compare and contrast the writings of Foucault and Tom Clancy and show how one view was more accurate than the other. I have seen the error of my ways and that while Clancy displays his views throughout his books, he did not write the books to make a point, but to entertain which is hard to use as an argument against someone who published his work to try to change people’s views. So I have downgraded Clancy as an example instead of my main argument. I am not really sure who or what I can use to directly combat Foucault’s views. I am thinking that I will just use numerous examples of how surveillance has a positive effect and how Hollywood tends to make the subject surrounded by conspiracy. There a ridiculous number of movies to use: The Bourne series, Enemy of the State, The Final Cut, The Forgotten, and JFK are all on my list of possible movies to use. If I am going to go in any depth on a movie then I probably will only use one or two.

Privacy in Pattern Recognition

2005-04-07T20:10:00.000-07:00

A big part of Pattern Recognition's plot takes place in the cyberspace, where Cayce and other characters of the novel exchange e-mails, look up information and interact with one another. The author touches the issue of privacy in the internet, which has a direct relation with the class surveillance discussion.
The lack of online confidentiality is brought up in the novel very clearly in a passage in pages 64-65, when Bigend discusses the footage with Casey in a London bar: "I've had people look at all the sites. In fact we monitor them on a constant basis…Your interest in the footage is therefore a matter of public record". Cayce then thinks to herself: "The site had come to feel like a second home, but she'd always known that it was also a fishbowl; it felt like a friend's living room, but it was a sort of text-based broadcast, available in its entirety to anyone who cared to access it".
The author makes it clear that in this technological era of information, privacy is scarce. Almost everything you communicate across the World Wide Web could be accessed by anyone in the world. This makes people conscious of what they post online and what they transmit via internet. Agreeing with Foucault's panoptic society ideas, the thought of being under constant surveillance will influence our actions and makes us act in a certain different way. This is one of the many examples of the power of surveillance on modern society.

The Patriot Act and Surveillance

2005-04-05T14:49:00.000-07:00

In Washington today, much discussion over the Patriot Act and its provisions were debated. The Patriot Act was passed in October 2001, shortly after the events of 9-11, in order to allow law enforcement agencies expanded powers to track suspected terrorists. The argument is that the law distributes too much power in order to single out individuals while denying them their civil liberties. The provisions of the Act are set to expire at the end of 2006. FBI Director Robert Mueller said sections of the law that allow intelligence and law enforcement agencies to share information are especially important. “Cooler heads can now see that the Patriot Act went too far, too fast and that it must be brought back in line with the Constitution,” said Gregory Nojeim, associate director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Washington legislative office. All of this brings light to our discussions in class about surveillance and the direction that our society is going. Should the FBI have the authority to obtain personal records without the approval of a judge or a grand jury even if it’s under the assumption that it’s crucial to national security? Overall feelings toward the Patriot Act are mixed. Five states and 375 communities in 43 states have passed anti-Patriot Act resolutions. The FBI and other agencies that display their power within the Patriot Act argue that perhaps the act just needs to be revised. Personally, I am in support of the Patriot Act because I know that the core purpose of the act is to protect the country and its citizens from future terrorist attacks. When the powers are abused is when the act becomes a problem. The “sneak and peak” provisions allow federal agents to enter private homes secretly and search for evidence without immediately telling the resident that they’ve been there. The FBI only reports using this provision 35 times, one of which aided the capture of a murderer. Even though the act might support the idea of our society becoming controlled by the few in a spectacle, I am more than willing to surrender some of my privacy rights in exchange for added protection rights.

Chapter 15

2005-04-05T14:08:00.000-07:00

Today in class we talked about chapter 15 and the disappearance of Win surrounding the events that took place on September eleventh. I found that the depiction of Cayce’s day in Manhattan was incredibly realistic. It was interesting that though she noticed the low flying plane and the sirens that she did not initially respond and I think that that is a common reaction of our society today. We have become desensitized, especially in larger cities with higher populations. Her inability to focus, to truly accept the events for what they are, demonstrates the surrealism of it all. These kinds of things don’t happen to every day people. This common misconception played a major factor with Cayce even when it comes to coping with the loss of her father. There still exists the question of what if he wasn’t really there on that dreadful morning. Gibson uses the analogy of drowning in the lack of clarity of the situation. It is only when she reaches higher ground on the eighth floor with the German does she begin to see things clearly. Finally does it all begin to become more personal. We as humans tend to allow the numbness to overtake us when faced with circumstances as catastrophic as this. Additionally, I found it interesting that Cayce watched the events unfold on television even though the towers were directly in view. She later relates her own experiences to those of a television show, realistic yet not real. I am also thankful that the author did not even go into graphic detail of the gruesome death and destruction that took place that day. It is not entertainment and our society has turned blood and gore into something to rake in money in the theaters and ratings on television. Thousands of people lost their lives that day and they should be memorialized and held in reverent honor, not manipulated for the literary license of any author or filmmaker.

Research Paper: Post #3

2005-04-01T15:10:00.000-08:00

Maybe it is my three year vacation from writing real papers but I am having a rough time organizing my thoughts and ideas for this research paper. I have a much more detailed thesis and several sources (although none will be considered scholarly) and I feel like there is enough material; I just do not know what I should develop more and what I should the way it is. I do not want to develop every idea for fear of my paper running long. Does this mean I should cut back on some things and develop a choice few further? I have really begun to focus on how Foucault’s surveillance and Deleuze’s control are very closely related. This might not be apparent by looking only at the articles, but if you look at the concepts, there is obvious correlation. Foucault preaches the negative effects of surveillance and he is correct, these effects are possible and undesirable. But the negative effects only take place when the person in charge is misusing them. Unfortunately, most people who desire control will misuse what information comes from surveillance. Surveillance serves little purpose if there is not an intention to try to use what information is gathered but the best outcome is for someone to use knowledge gained for the good of others and not just oneself.

Pattern Recognition #1

2005-04-01T14:10:00.000-08:00

Is it already time to start another book? Did we not just finish Miss Wyoming? Well I did start Pattern Recognition and I somehow made it through the first few pages without hitting myself in the head. I was immediately confused by the introduction with all of the metaphors and untamed sentences. So far it has felt like William Gibson is trying to bring about excitement over his eloquence rather than excitement from the story. The only pattern I am recognizing is the repeating confusion. Maybe it is the lingo that is being used or my lack of knowledge of foreign towns. One thing is for sure, there will be a lot of references to clothing in this book, another topic I will not pretend to have a whole lot of knowledge.

One thing I find confusing is Cayce’s nausea associated with certain types of clothing. What is going on there? Also is she reading sign or is her mind bringing in its own interpretation of the images it sees? I have gathered that Cayce has some sort of unique ability to determine the success of a logo or display all in one glance. I imagine this has something to do with her reactions to images and people. Hopefully this will be explained later unless it already was and I just missed it.

Current Event: Information security

2005-04-01T10:21:00.000-08:00

This week in California, a thief stole a laptop computer from the Graduate Division office at the University of California-Berkeley. This computer contained personal information of over 98,000 people. This information included social security numbers and birth dates. Foucault talks about control and the benefits and the problems with the controls present in this society. The computer that was stolen contained information that was important that a University obtain from its students, but the information was also important enough to secure. These problems are very worrisome because of all the issues with people stealing other people’s identities and credit card fraud that takes place today. This control that is present is sometimes necessary but I feel that sometimes it is unnecessary and abused. This type of information is very sensitive and because you are forced to give the information so often it is sometimes unsettling. This story out of Berkeley I feel shows exactly what Foucault was talking about with control and the problems with it. When you go to a doctor’s office you have to give all of your information including social security, birth date, address, and credit card information. This information is very sensitive and if it falls n the wrong hands it could be disastrous. The control exemplified by our society can be a both a good and bad thing. Unfortunately, the bad side of control is portrayed in the events that happened at the University of California at Berkeley.

Pattern Recognition: Surveillance Discussion

2005-04-01T09:13:00.000-08:00

Pattern Recognition is a really hip and up-to-date novel. Its use of current trends, internet culture and aspects of the modern society in the story really attract me and make my reading enjoyable. None of the books I ever read were as focused on the current technological society as Pattern Recognition is, and this really involves me in the novel since I can identify with the environment and the behavior of the characters.
The novel describes elements and situations of the information society we live in today. By doing this, a number of circumstances that portray a "Surveillance Society" appear in the reading. It seems that technology and loss of privacy go hand in hand, and this is evident in some fragments of Pattern recognition.
For example, right in the beginning of the novel, to provide a description of the characters, Gibson writes: "Google Damien and you will find a director of music videos and commercials. Google Cayce and you will find "coolhunter"…". Instead of just providing an old-fashioned explanation of the occupations of their characters, Gibson uses the "Google" reference, in order to show how public our life really is. When you read this, you realize than anybody in the world could just type in your name on a web search, and find out things about you that you would rather keep private. This makes you aware that you are under constant scrutiny, not from anybody in particular, but from the entire world. Based on Foucault's panoptic theories, by realizing you are being watched, you behavior is affected and you are more likely to behave a certain expected way. I know that because of "Google" and other search engines, I'll be very careful of what I post online from now on.

Beginning to See the Pattern

2005-03-30T14:20:00.000-08:00

As I am beginning this novel, I find Cayce to be a very interesting character. She mispronounces her own name on purpose, which is something I will probably never understand. Her father worked as a government agent and kept their house secure, a practice that she remembers quite well. Her mantra that she seemingly randomly repeats is very weird. I also find her allergy to designer logos and clothes to be somewhat funny. I think it is very interesting that Gibson mentions the brands of all of her clothes when she dresses. He mentions that she wears Fruit of the Loom shirts, which is a huge brand name. Gibson also touches on her DKNY cardigan and her Buzz Rickson’s MA-1 jacket. She seems to have started her own fashion in her endeavors to rid herself of it. Dorotea almost seems jealous of her fashion. She seems to try to out-defashion Cayce. She also may have extinguished her cigarette on Cayce’s jacket. So Cayce has at least one person that is attempting to imitate her style. I also find it very ironic that her job encompasses her severe allergy. Why would someone that absolutely hates fashion choose to be so involved in the brand-name business? I guess it is an easy way for her to make a good income. All she has to do is to wait for Blue Ant to pull out a picture form their grey envelope and see if her allergy responds. I know one thing for sure though; I am looking forward to finding out the creator of these movie clips just as much as Cayce.

Miss Wyoming Third Edition

2005-03-30T13:34:00.000-08:00

Miss Wyoming has is the strangest novel I have ever read, but I did enjoy it. I liked how Coupland left the ending open to interpretation. After Susan finds her child and John finds Susan, the novel climaxes with all of the conflicts resolved. Susan even lets her mother back into her and her son’s life. It was relieving for me that Susan was happy to see John because, throughout the novel, John has acted like a stalker. I don’t believe that John was meant for Susan because of his dream, but rather because their lives are so similar. Both of them were raised by single mothers with no real father figure, and they both left the public eye to find themselves. Through their journey’s, neither of them probably learned much, but it seems that now they have reached the same place in their lives. They have both become jaded by their Hollywood lives. Neither of them wants the popularity that they’ve acquired, and they are both searching for someone that understands what they have gone through. They are in need of an escape,, which is exactly what they will have to do in order to escape the media frenzy that is about to begin chasing them. Their new life together will be the top news on everyone’s list. If they disappear again, everyone will be looking for them. If they come back to Hollywood together, the media will draw links between their disappearances and Susan’s child will probably be discovered. But no matter whatever they decide to do, they are perfect for each other.

Maybe I'm allergic to jetlag.

2005-03-29T15:09:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I'm probably not allergic to jet lag, but it was very difficult for me to initially get into Pattern Recognition. I thought that the first few chapters were full of incomplete, descriptive sentences that are hard to follow. It reminded me of Hemingway’s stream of consciousness and I'm thankful that it didn't go on for pages. Personally, I wish the novel could have started off with something other than jet lag because I was not compelled to continue reading. Gibson’s descriptions were so real that I actually felt like I was in the same soul disorientation state as Cayce so I guess that means he did a good job. While the beginning of the novel appeared lifeless with hardly any personality, my interest was peaked with the mention of Cayce’s allergies. This concept of actual allergic reactions to trademarks and “uncoolness” is entirely new to me. I can understand the idea of brands being diluted as I have often looked at the popular styles of today and see how they reflect fashions of a past era, but it is hard for me to comprehend how a person can physically have a reaction. In my opinion it is psychological and is something that can be controlled. Especially Cayce’s attempts to remove any sort of labels on her belongings seem to resemble obsessive compulsion actions. It seems to me that she has an over all allergy to the spectacle, but in her attempt to rid herself of all spectacle labels, she creates her own spectacle. Her manifestation of fashion in the spectacle leads her to resort to her own fashion with her CPU’s. So my reaction is that this book is different and I’m so thankful that it gets better when Cayce recovers from her jet lag.

Is there any correct answer?

2005-03-17T13:50:00.000-08:00

In class we talked about the differences between Foucault and Deluze. I think that even though they are both discussing control and how it is implemented in our society, that there are so many minute, but important differences between their ideas. But to get into specifics, one of the biggest differences between Foucault and Deluze is that Foucault follows the disciplinary idea of control of societies and Deluze goes completely against the idea of a binary definition. Foucault’s ideas are described as “signatures standing for individuals, and numbers or places in a register standing for their position in a mass” (Deluze 179). Deluze presents the idea that “individuals become ‘dividuals,’ and masses become samples, data, markets, or ‘banks” (Deluze 180). In my opinion, it’s all relative. If I were a foreigner to the United States, then yes, I would look at all Americans as just a group of people. But if I were to look closer, I would find numerous different cultures that could not simply be defined as American. I’m not saying that one definition is more correct that the other. If you look at Deluze’s money example on page 180 then you will find how neither definition is entirely right or wrong. It is important to point out, however, that we come into contact with the Foucault’s disciplinary definition of control more often in local cultures and Deluze’s control definition when looking more globally. Basically, it’s all in the eyes of the beholder.

Another Hollywood Ending

2005-03-17T12:52:00.000-08:00

I must say that even though it was a bit Hollywood-dramatic, I really liked the end of Miss Wyoming. I had a fear that the novel would end with little conclusion based on the fact that the rest of the novel was so scattered, but I was proven wrong. Looking back I can see that every single flashback was strategically placed so as to lead up to the climax in the end. I definitely like happy endings and while Coupland does not go into great detail about the resolution, it is understood that the conflict had ended and the mending process has begun. Finally, John, Susan and even Marilyn find their place. At first Susan and John both expect the other to get back to their previous Californian lives, but it is interesting to find that neither of them really want that and they make an agreement that they will not continue that lifestyle as long as the other ceases. I think that one of the underlying truths that Coupland is trying to share with his readers is that one does not have to be “as tough as nails” to be successful and happy in the world. This comes to play especially in the conclusion of the novel when, despite all the past trials intended to strengthen, John and Susan pick up and drive away from their previous lives to truly start anew.

Miss Wyoming: Surveillance Discussion

2005-03-14T22:09:00.000-08:00

Miss Wyoming has a close relation with the "spectacle" society ideas discussed in class, but it also exemplifies aspects from our "surveillance" discussions. These "surveillance" fragments, although few in the novel, transmit a profound message on the degree of vigilance that we experience as citizens of today's world.
Pages 168-169 contain the strongest references to Foucault's "Panopticism" ideas. In this part of the novel, Vanessa does some research on Susan Colgate in order to try and locate her. She finds very confidential information regarding Susan's mother, records that were probably only known to Marilyn before Vanessa found them. Vanessa finds out that Marilyn is a polyandrist, a secret that Marilyn probably tried to bury behind her. Vanessa obtains this information in less than a day, showing us the ease in which backgrounds on people can be obtained, and the difficulty to hide or erase your past. The novel acknowledges what Foucault proposes, that in today's society we are under constant surveillance.
Also, when Vanessa reports her research results to John, she reveals her analysis of Susan's phone data. John expresses surprise that Vanessa could have done this, and Vanessa replies: "Oh, grow up. The era of privacy is over". This phrase sums up Foucault's ideas on the modern society, which Coupland agrees with. In today's world, we are living in a Panoptic model, under constant surveillance. The difference between the real world and this model is that there is really no "guard" watching the prisoners, but anyone with the right means can reach the tower and gaze at people's lives. In Miss Wyoming, Vanessa exemplifies how that can be done.

The End of Miss Wyoming

2005-03-14T20:05:00.000-08:00

Maybe I am a little old fashioned, but I prefer a little more closure than what Miss Wyoming produced. Of course it had the typically Happily-Ever-After ending even if it was not addressed in such specific words. It seemed that there was a serious rush of action in the last few chapters after all the drawn out “jumping.” Of course this was aided by the fact that the two protagonists had joined storylines and all of the background information had been made known. I felt like the ending was kind of a let down. After spending so much time on the background of the John and Susan, it seemed like the present was an afterthought.

On the whole, I found Miss Wyoming to be a pretty interesting book. There were times in which it became slightly bizarre but for the most part it entertained me. I found it interesting that the author, Douglas Coupland, was Canadian. This book is written in a way very similar to how I would describe the Hollywood scene. Granted I am sure that Coupland sees films made in America all the time, but he seems to have the same take on Hollywood that I do: the people are fake. I see a lot of Debord’s concept in practice in Hollywood and in this book.

In Search for Identity

2005-03-14T19:09:00.000-08:00

One of the major themes in Miss Wyoming is the search for identity. Both John and Susan are wrapped up in the Hollywood scene and find a way to escape it for an extended period of time. Susan goes to the house of one of her pageant crushes and lives a semi-normal life for a year until Eugene dies in a freak explosion. John wanders the country alone. Neither really found their identity during their excursions. Once they are brought back to L.A., from what I can tell, Susan has a much easier time pretending to fit in again with society (until her second disappearance of course), whereas John tries the business suit for a few days but ultimately accepts his role as a “mutant” in the film industry. At this point it is obvious that neither character has found their true selves. It makes one wonder if running away from society really solves anything if no answers can be found. John’s mom even expresses her frustration with John being 37, unmarried, and basically lost even after his stint alone in the open country. Is it possible that if someone goes for so long without finding themselves then perhaps their identity is lost forever? Did John and Susan ever have their own unique identities and if they did can they find them again?

Miss Wyoming Deuxieme Etape

2005-03-13T13:25:00.000-08:00

This novel is really growing on me. At first, I hated it because it was too unrealistic and crazy. But now, I see that it was meant to make fun at Hollywood and to expose the spectacle. Now, when I read the novel, I find it humorous and even laugh at times. Copeland uses some of the weirdest and off the wall metaphors I have ever read. He compares rummaging through trash to midwives sorting through placentas and umbilical cords. He also says that the sound of a trash bag sound like a fart when it rubs against the trash can. I also thought it was particularly funny when Susan and her mom dig through the weatherman’s trash in order to blackmail him for a kiddy beauty pageant. The weatherman’s life crumbles and he refuses to throw any of his trash away. Susan’s mom has scarred him for life. The situation is funny not only because of it being for a child’s beauty pageant, but also the impact it has on the weatherman’s life. I laughed even more at how creepy Johnson has become. He is a full-blown stalker. He sits in front of his lover’s house when he does not know if she has any feelings for him. He buys a shrine to Susan and then watches all of her movies and shows. I found it so funny that Johnson got caught with the shrine in the back of his car. Even the police knew his was weird. The situations in this book keep getting weirder and funnier. I am definitely hooked on this book.

Miss Wyoming part 1

2005-03-08T19:41:00.000-08:00

The first thing that caught me off guard about Coupland’s work was his use of the title on page nine. This surprised me because normally authors save the “secret” of the title till the end of the work in order to provide some type of insight into the work. After first noticing the title, I thought that the book would become boring because the so called “secret” had been some what revealed. Instead I understood what Coupland was trying to do. By introducing the title earlier in the book, the author actually allows for more insight because it enables the reader the ability to keep in mind the title, which allows for constant realizations through the work. Furthermore it allows the reader to understand the background of the main character Susan Colgate.

I also like how Coupland writes. Coupland switches back and forth between different character’s perspectives, which I feel gives me as the reader the ability to understand the message that Coupland is trying to convey. This is a really good method for Coupland because of the complexity of the characters that Coupland uses. Over all, I really like the first hundred pages and I am looking forward to understanding the development o the characters and trying to understand the complexity that Susan Colgate has.

Research paper part 1

2005-03-07T19:06:00.000-08:00

For my research paper I am writing on the movie Swordfish and how the movie portrays the theories that Debord and Foucault present. In the movie Swordfish, an ex-CIA operative named Gabriel Shear wants revenge on the government because of his frustration with its bureaucracy. Shear sets out on a mission to steal nine billion dollars from a DEA slush fund. Swordfish incorporates the ideas of control and the spectacle through the actions of Shear. The movie has many different parts but the one constant throughout is the ability of Shear to be in charge of the situation. No matter what happens, Shear has every thing accounted for. This type of control is explained by Foucault when he mentions the prison in which every move the prisoners make can be seen but the prisoners don’t know. This is what Gabriel Shear’s life is like. He is above the law and has full command of everyone in his power. This power that he possess also allows him to incorporate other people into his scheme to steal the government’s money. This control that Shear has seems very unrealistic to me because he gets away with so many things. I tell myself that it is just in the movies but I don’t think that is the case. People in this world like Osama Bien Laden and others like Adolph Hitler have gotten away with atrocities and have never been punished. They both were able to control a large group of people and convince them to do what they want. This is one of the more disturbing issues in the movie.

Research Paper: Post #1 - Thesis Ideas

2005-03-07T17:35:00.000-08:00

I still am not sure what topic to tackle with my research paper. I know that I want to stray from Debord and mostly use Foucault and surveillance and possibly control depending on what our articles on that are like. Whenever I think about surveillance I tend to think about the CIA and Tom Clancy novels. I am a huge fan of Tom Clancy and have read each of his books in the Jack Ryan series several times. I know that generally, Clancy will have a more favorable position on surveillance than Foucault. His novels describe foreign intelligence operations that are run by the CIA. However, contrary to Foucault’s take on surveillance, the people in charge of the operations are able to produce information that helps to protect and serve the United States. Clancy writes about numerous times in which wars are avoided or Americans are spared from evils such as the USSR. This paper topic would also allow room for discussion about who this surveillance is used to control situations. With the right information, diplomacy can become a tool for shaping matters into that which is most favorable for the US. I would enjoy writing this paper because of my love for Clancy’s books. Hopefully with the help of peer reviews and other articles, I will be able to form a solid thesis statement and shape it into a excellent paper.

Miss Wy.oming Blog 1

2005-03-07T09:37:00.000-08:00

The main theme that I am getting out of this book is that people get trapped in their own lives. From the two characters introduced so far, neither one of them really likes what they are doing in there lives, and decides to make a radical change. In Susan’s case, dropping out of society for a week was her way of seeing what life is like from the perspective of an average person. She is stuck in a zone between normal people and Hollywood superstar, because her career never fully took of as she had hoped. In John’s case, his life of excess is finally catching up to him. This is a life, according to the story, that comes with the Hollywood career. John seems to try to kill himself sub-concisely, but then decides that there is another way out of the life he has become stuck in. John pretty much gives up his entire life and "wanders the earth". Most people don’t really understand John’s motives, but he seems rather content with how he is living at the time. From up to what I have read, John and Susan seem to be a perfect match with one another, having in-depth conversations after only the first time ever meeting. I am guessing that there lives will become much more intertwined as the book continues, and they will become more reliant on each other. There similiar situations in live mean that they know the mindset of the other person.

Research Project Post #1- The Truman Show

2005-03-06T20:52:00.000-08:00

In my research paper I will analyze the 1998 movie The Truman Show discuss the social arguments that are presented in it. This movie raises issues like current trends on the entertainment industry, the power that surveillance has on a person, and the ignorance and blindness that society imposes on individuals.
The movie plot is centered on Truman Burbank (played by actor Jim Carrey) and his involvement in the most extreme reality show ever created. Since his birth, Truman has been the star in a television show about his life. His whole existence has taken place inside an immense television studio, created to be his home town, and his daily routine is continuously filmed and viewed by millions of people around the world for their entertainment. Truman lives his whole life without knowing the truth until a series of incidents makes him realize that everything he's ever known is a lie.
The paper will analyze similarities and discrepancies between the essays analyzed in class and the movie. It will demonstrate how Debord's and Foucault's ideas have a direct relevance to the way we view society and on popular culture's creations.
TBS is showing The Truman Show on Sunday, March 14th at 8pm. It is a very good movie and you can watch it from a whole different perspective after reading Debord and Foucault. Enjoy it and see if you can observe the similarities with what we studied in class, which I will present as my paper progresses.

Miss Wyoming- Blog #2

2005-03-06T20:44:00.000-08:00

Continuing the reading of the book, we find that Coupland expands the background stories of the two main characters: John Johnson and Susan Colgate. Basically the author focuses on key actions of their past history, events that molded them into the persons they are now. The author recalls bad experiences, family conflicts and tragedies that altered John's and Susan's perceptions on the world. Thanks to their similar upbringings they share a skeptical view on society and Hollywood life that is a common bond between them.
Both John and Susan are rebels. They were not complacent with the destinies that were imposed on them during their childhoods. Susan constantly defied her mother's pageantry plans and dreamed of escaping her situation and starting a new life. John was a kid prone to sickness, who fought against his disabilities with the dream of becoming a pioneer in the movie industry. Both characters successfully free themselves from the ropes that repressed them since they were children. Because they share the same struggled upbringing, they connected so well the first time they met. They can both feel there is a strong bond between then, even if they don't really know each other, and that bond will bring them together sooner or later.

New Beginnings: Miss Wyoming Post #2

2005-03-05T17:09:00.000-08:00

In the past week reading Miss Wyoming has become slightly more complicated. The “jumping” has increased and while it is easy to separate the characters, it is not always easy to see the timeline. This style is a very appropriate compliment to the storyline. At this point both John and Susan’s lives have been turned upside down (by their own choosing) and we have a little better idea of who they were before they met each other. Both John and Susan have been victims of rough circumstances brought on by poor decision-making by those who were tasked with taking care of them as children. Susan was forced to do many things for her mother’s pursuit of a perfect pageant queen for a daughter. She faced unwanted plastic surgery and hours of practice and training. John found himself homeless with his mother because of his uncle’s greed. While I am not one to cite circumstances as a legitimate reason for living your life a certain way, I can understand both John and Susan for wanting to have the chance to start over. It is pretty interesting to see how they plan to get along without any money or any help. They have taken a new form and will need to learn how to live according to their new found boundaries.

Foucault and the Patriot Act

2005-03-01T12:45:00.000-08:00

Surveillance in modern society is a hot topic. With the creation of the Patriot act the rights of Americans are in jeopardy, but at the same time without such an act our security as a country is in danger. The patriot act allows the federal government to set wire taps and other types of surveillance on the public. This invades privacy and I do no think this is a good idea, agreeing with Foucault. Even though I agree with Foucault in principle, I think that his argument needs to bring up the positives of having such surveillance. I would definitely give up some of my civil liberties if the government could assure me that another September 11 or even worse would never happen again. This is where the argument lies. I think that surveillance that is minor which includes doctor files and school records are important to keeping society in check. I think that in some instances the Patriot Act goes overboard with the capabilities that it gives the government. I feel that even at GT my privacy is invaded by OIT in order to make sure that my computer is virus free. Technology has made all of these invasions into our privacy possible. As a society I think that we have brought these invasions upon our selves by relying on technology so much. Overall I think that Foucault ideas are good, but that surveillance is needed in order to sustain a working society.

Sitcoms and "Power"

2005-03-01T08:30:00.000-08:00

Though Miss Wyoming has yet to reach my all-time best book list, I must say that so far parts of it have peaked my interest. Yes, the plot is a bit vague, even fifty pages into it, but I see this book as having the potential to really be monumental. One of the first things I noticed was that every chapter alternates between characters. This seems very broken and makes it difficult to flow from one chapter to the next, but if you think about it, isn’t that like every other sitcom or television show? You get a little bit of information here and there and in the last 5-10 minutes it will be wrapped up and everything will make sense. Or so I’d like to believe about this book because I feel like I’m just treading water waiting for something to happen. However, I do like that John and Susan, both characters who seemingly had everything, realize that fame and fortune isn’t everything in life. Society placed so-called power in their laps but the truth is that power is just in the eye of the beholder. Susan and John are just two human beings just like everyone else. Society gives and takes away “power” and it is really those who are “in power” that must answer to society.

Miss Wierdo

2005-02-28T14:44:00.000-08:00

I have found the first few chapters of Miss Wyoming to be too weird. I know that this novel is fiction, but it’s not fantasy. The instantaneous strong bond between John Johnson and Susan Colgate is mystifying. I also find it strange that after their walk together, the C-list actress is whisked away in a police car while the famous director is treated like a homeless fool. Although Johnson did not look very appealing, Susan could have explained to the cops that he was a director. Their disappearances are also disturbing. Johnson leaves because of a dream he has while in the hospital. Who decides to go on a homeless adventure when you have millions? Plus, he should have put the thought out of his head and told himself it must have been the hospital’s medication. Also, if I was to embark on a homeless adventure, I wouldn’t sell all of my possessions. He should have made a better back up plan in case being homeless did not work out, and most people would have planned out how they were to live instead of only how to disappear. Susan’s disappearance is even more bizarre. She decides to run away after a near fatal plane crash, and when she walks away from the accident, she breaks into a house. When she decides to disappear, why would she break into a house during daylight out in the open? Who would let the world mourn their death as they watched their own funeral from a couch in a vacated house? Why does this book have to be so unrealistic???!!!

Miss Wyoming- First impressions

2005-02-27T21:58:00.000-08:00

The most noticeable characteristic in "Miss Wyoming" is that the narrative timeline is not continuous. The narrator plays with time and skips back and forth in the events succession that are the lives of the two main characters in the novel.
In my opinion, the beginning of the novel is the "present", which is the point where John's and Susan's lives cross paths. Then, the author travels back in time and feeds us bits and pieces on the colorful backgrounds of the two characters before they knew each other. The author is really meticulous in describing key events that marked the lives of Susan and John, giving us detail insight on their personalities and history.
In relation with Debord's essays and the "society of the spectacle" idea, this novel is also critical of the emptiness that the spectacle brings to society. Specifically, in "Miss Wyoming", the author portrays beauty pageants, fame and celebrity as a gateway to self-destruction. The novel tells us how John's and Susan's lives where affected by the spectacle of Hollywood fame, and all the purposelessness that came with it. "Miss Wyoming" takes a critical view on the spectacle and portrays a few ideas that we analyzed earlier this semester.

Take it easy on Foucault

2005-02-27T21:33:00.000-08:00

I think that the class discussion on Foucault's ideas and the panoptic model was predominantly critical and most people had a negative view of it. In contrast, I agree with the surveillance model and I believe it is essential for society to function.
Social organization requires surveillance. There are innumerable examples in which keeping track of individuals is necessary to ensure the well-being of the general mass. One of the most critical aspects of social life that requires constant surveillance is the criminal and justice system. Having a detailed information database allows police forces to easily identify and capture offenders of the law. Police keeping criminal records and having a fingerprint, DNA and other info database does imply restrictions on individual's confidentiality, but it is necessary to ensure the safety of the majority of the population. It is necessary to sacrifice some privacy to be able to live in a more peaceful and organized society. Obscurity equals chaos and surveillance is a light that we need to live in civilized order and harmony.

Refreshing Change: Miss Wyoming

2005-02-24T16:21:00.000-08:00

After reading Debord and Foucault, Miss Wyoming is a welcome change. I much prefer the illustrations of a novel than the nastiness of articles full of an author’s beliefs. I found that I was interested from the beginning. I am partial to Susan’s character. She never sugar coats words or slips out half-truths; she is real and refreshingly honest (or blunt). It was good that I found this introduction interesting because the next few chapters could be considered frustrating with what appears to be jumping back, forward, and back again through time. After realizing what was happening and that there would not be any apparent order to the jumping, I found myself accustomed to the jumps and really was able to enjoy the book. There is an instant bond between John and Susan that seems to almost return us to an elementary school playground. At first I simply thought that there was some history there that would be revealed later; I was wrong (well partially). However, after reading about John’s dream, I was able to understand a little better about the “chance” meeting of Susan and John although it still seems a little stalker-like to me. Hopefully the book will continue to be entertaining and explain a little more about where Susan and John are coming from and where they will end up.

Class Discussion - Foucault

2005-02-24T15:32:00.000-08:00

After class discussion and further review, I can see how Foucault saw the Panopticon as a perfect representation of surveillance. I also have continued with the conclusion that surveillance and control are closely related. I realize that we have not discussed control yet, but I am sure that it will involve a lot of similar topics that we have covered with Foucault and surveillance. With the prisoners of the Panopticon realizing that they are constantly watched, they will most likely behave in a different manner than normal. This is not a new concept. Just as a young man will act differently with a young lady if her parents or brother is around, so a prisoner will try to appear (if not truly be) compliant when his guard is around. Foucault typically took a negative view of surveillance and he knew the dangers of unregulated surveillance. Many of these concerns are addressed in modern movies and television shows. We mentioned several of these in class. Foucault has definitely been more interesting to study than Debord, possibly because of his relevance to a wide variety of films that I find interesting. After researching his name online I found that a large portion of his time was dedicated to the prison system and its misuse of prisoners. I do not know whether his views stated in Discipline and Punish came about before or after he had spent so much time observing prisons. Either way we can take his work as a reminder of the dangers of surveillance.

Panopticon: Marvelous Machine?

2005-02-22T07:53:00.000-08:00

Bentham's Panaopticon, described by Foucault is absolutely a marvelous idea that disciplines a great amount of power and surveillance. Consisting of the peripheric ring and the central tower, the Panaopticon allows the person within the ring to be "totally seen, without ever seeing" and the ones within the tower to see "everything without ever being seen." His idea gives a potential way into disciplining madmen, school children, patients or any one that needs a guidance by surveillance. This "marvelous machine" of compartmentalizing each individual into cells in which is governed by a central power gives a society different from that of reality. Although the surveillance would increase the awareness of individualism, such as stopping school children to copying school work, the development of learning by sharing ideas would be only be confined to each individual cell. It is true that children must be disciplined by a means of guardian that gives surveillance and excercises power onto the individual to grow and develop or else they would misbehave , yet allowing the children to interact with other children further develops thier minds and gives an individual character for themselves. Interactions between all individuals cannot be solely defined as power and disciple. Societies consists of family, freinds, neighboorhoods and governments which all at most of the time do not clearly define who has the power to have precise surveillance over the lower.

Discipline or Prison

2005-02-22T07:48:00.000-08:00

Michel Foucault has taken discipline and turned it into a prison. Maybe he was spanked too much as a child or spent too much time in timeout. Either way he has nailed the concept of visibility acting as the prison. The concept that the central tower looming over the inmate will leave him feeling trapped, watched, and spied upon. The inmate is always conscience of his “watchers” even if they are not presence. This probably borders along the lines of paranoia. If the plague served as the model for the Panopticon, then it has served its purpose well. While giving the government this kind of authority (or maybe better stated as submission) could improve efficiency especially in economics, it is no way to live as citizens. Fear would be the general state of mind. Michel mentions that this would entail “the penetration of regulation into even the smallest details of everyday life.” I would like to hope that those in power do not currently dream of a plague-like state as Foucault mentions. Beholding that kind of power would scare me.
To Foucault, the ultimate goal of power is to have it all. To paraphrase him, perfect power is brought about by attempting to reduce the number of people exercising power while increasing the number of those who are controlled by it. This is world domination at its best.