American Zeitgeist, our course blog, will enable us to make a multitude of connections between our class and contemporary American culture. The idea is that we can, literally, extend our thinking beyond the lesson itself. Also, one of the primary uses of the blog is to provide a forum to share the "cultural artifacts" we each encounter. In the role of a cultural anthropologist, we want to take on an invigorating, intellectual challenge: to better understand the culture that surrounds us.
So, stay active and observant. You can post links, videos, images and your analysis. During the fall, we will cover topics listed below:
- visual arguments
- icons and auras
- media
- consumerism
- branding
- advertising
- objectification of women in advertising
- "Big Brother" technologies
- resonant artifacts of Brave New World
- resonant artifacts of White Noise
- technology’s effects on the individual
- toxicity and technology
- social networks
- simulation
- the mediated moment
- the American Dream
- the current zeitgeist
A song that I've found is relative to what we are studying in class is "There's a War Going on for Your Mind" by the band Flobots. This song, through its use of metaphor and repetition captures the essence of the whole "corporate America" idea. Below is a link to a video with the song which also contains the lyrics. Watch the whole thing to get the full message.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP5yA3RwzOk
I recently heard the song "Testify" by Rage Against the Machine. It took me awhile to fully understand the message of the song, but
ReplyDeleteit is criticizing the misrepresentation of world events by the US media. (For example, "mass graves for the pump and the price is set" is a reference to our continuous fighting in foreign countries for oil.) Americans only desire the glamour of the media instead of the real stories causing the media to focus on glamour and Americans to continue to desire the glamour. This song becomes even more relevant to our class when one verse says, "Who controls the past now controls the future. Who controls the present now controls the past." The group is challanging our world to fix the present media crisis through revolution before it spins out of control into the unstoppable chaos of 1984.
The song with the lyrics can be watched at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_ZT8sjsOjU&playnext=1&list=PLBC8256EFE7DE725E&index=22
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ReplyDeleteDuring my free period, I began browsing through some article in the Economist and came across "Living on a Platform". This article is about the growing desire among industrialized and post-industrial countries for "smart" cities. By smart, the technology industry is talking about smart technology, the same technology in your Iphone, Droid, or any other smart phone. The article goes more in-depth, but the hope is that such technologies will increase efficiency, conserving precious resources. Cisco introduced the idea of a "command center", which would have access to the city's security cameras and be able to react to any incidents within the city instantly.
ReplyDeleteHowever, with any benefit comes an inherent risk. The idea that a "command center" will be able to monitor virtually any part of a city sounds very much like Big Brother. Today we are constantly concerned about acquiring the latest and best green technology, in order to continue existing as a species. However, we must keep a wary eye as we acquire these technologies so that in our quest to preserve humanity, we don't put at risk the freedom that makes us human.
http://www.economist.com/node/17388308?story_id=17388308&CFID=149876720&CFTOKEN=16056303
I recently found an article on the New York Times website. This article, entitled "Digital Devices Deprive Brain of Needed Downtime," explores the effects of technology on brain function and thinking. A certain part of the article caught my attention:"Almost certainly, downtime lets the brain go over experiences it’s had, solidify them and turn them into permanent long-term memories." Nicholas Carr, in his book "The Shallows" makes a similar point when he emphasizes the difficulty our brains have transferring short term memory to long term memory. When the faucets of information are "going full blast" (Carr 125) it is close to impossible to process all of the information coming at us. The constant bombardment of data doesn't allow our minds to actually formulate new ideas or store old ones. Just a little bit of down time from technology-a walk in the park, a jog through your neighborhood-allows for clearer thinking and more brain function. People aren't giving their brains any breaks from the constant flow of information-from their iphones, laptops, and televisions-and it's taking a toll.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/25/technology/25brain.html?pagewanted=1&ref=your_brain_on_computers
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ReplyDeleteI already sent this video over, but I thought I'd share it on here as well. It basically shows, in a very humorous way, the fact that the average individual believes it necessary for him or her to keep up with the current fad in technology, whether it be the bone back in the Stone Age or the iPad today. The caption of this video is "Fire was the original iPad", showing that it has been a part of humans to have the new invention since the beginning. In the end, the video predicts that the tides will turn and technology will take over our lives, and the entire world, causing us to go start again with the most basic technological "advancement". Also, I read a book called The Hunger Games, and it takes place in the future of North America, in which the land is destroyed and split up into 12 different districts. It resembles the scene in the end of the video because both societies are forced to pretty much start over. (Also, the book is really good!)
ReplyDeleteHere's the video:
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1943957
The song "Windowsill" by Arcade Fire accurately describes the effects technology and modernism has on our progressive society. The first verse starts each breath stating what the writer "don't want" regarding common commercial aspects such as the "noises on TV" and "salesmen knocking on doors". The writer, Win Butler, expresses his stance that these elements of our fast-paced community will eventually lead us to "a holy war" with ourselves. He infers that he does not want to continue living the way America wants him to live. With the constant fluctuation of interests and commercial aspects that are shoved at him everyday like his "father's debt", he has gone past wanting to stay in the popular masses of America, and completely engulfs himself in his own sensation of NUMBNESS. He has no feeling toward anything except his desire to never see the intolerable conditions and dispicable manners outside his window again; thus the phrase of the song "I don't wanna see it at my windowsill".
ReplyDeleteButler conveys his sentiments of depression and despair of his society when he mumbles the phrase " And I don't wanna live in American no more". He is tired of the necessities America pursues him to do and therefore refuses to submit to its demands. But along with this submission, comes the dread and hopelessness he begins to feel for his country. Butler then points out the great impact TV programs such as MTV has on our growing generation. He is appalled and frightened by the effects of the steadily growing "maturation" of the young generation. He then shouts out in anger and protest "MTV what have you done to me? Save me soul, set me free!" He carries on even more fervently with the phrases "I can't breathe! I can't see! World War III, when are you coming for me?" properly elaborating his view that America will certainly be the death of him. He is clouded with the hastiness of modern society and as a result, becomes to feel a kind of deadness towards his community.
Butler finally loses all hope in his country and murmurs "Why is the night so still? Why did I take the pill? Cuz I don't wanna see it on my windowsill". He commits the sin of suicide so he can forever refrain from witnessing the incorrigible acts America has fastened on its inhabitants.
live performance of the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc3VgUtTTZQ
Our discussions about the objectification of women in recent weeks, made this commercial specifically catch my eye. As we all are now aware, society is inundated with propaganda from companies such as Mattel, the owners of Barbie, from childhood. It is true that girls are often raised with a Barbie doll in one hand and a bottle in the other yet, is it justifiable for a doll company to take credit for women leaving the home and taking jobs that require great intelligence—essentially make them equals to men? This clip closely resembles a Simpson’s episode that we watched in class where Lisa discovers that dolls have essentially ‘corrupted’ the minds of young girls and that ‘corruption’ has followed them into adulthood. This commercial is trying to take credit for women’s strides, just because they played with a Barbie in childhood but also emphasizes that “dreams are what make us alive” insinuating that playing with one of Barbie’s many identities plants the seed for these girls to dream about a career and gives them the motivation to achieve it.
ReplyDeleteSociety is driven by consumerism and this commercial is no exception, just in the process it slightly degrades the achievements women have made. I believe the last line in the clip reveals the most about advertising today stating, “Barbie: Over 125 careers & counting.” For isn’t it the best strategy in marketing to re-attract a previously loyal audience and a new innocent childhood audience as well? The colorful, warm atmosphere of the clip attracts women and reminds them of the bliss their Barbie brought them—making them want to share that joy with their daughters and other young girls. And so Barbie continues to spread from generation to generation, taking credit that is not theirs for the taking.
http://www.youtube.com/user/barbie?v=bz_XFdPBkLY&feature=pyv&ad=6722554768&kw=barbie
Also view:
http://www.facebook.com/barbie
One song I feel clearly defines the current state of our times is "Rising Down" by The Roots (feat. Mos Def, Styles P and Dice Raw). The image the song conjures is one completely depressing, and paints a bleak landscape of a new era in America. One where the people are plagued by natural disasters, global warming, drug addiction, and crime. The beat drones with a deep bass and a dark guitar riff coupled with the socially-conscious rhymes to create a perfect atmosphere. The music is powerful and gets right to the core of how many of us feel when faced with our modern day problems. The words do the heavy lifting in displaying the message, and one of the most telling lyrics is in the third verse by Styles P. It relates directly to our study of technology and its pitfalls: "Look at technology, they call it downloadin',/I call it downsizin', somebody follow me/ Does a computer have an astrology/ and when it f-ck up could it give you an apology?". This questions whether our online interactions are making us better, or just really "downsizin'" our lives into a database. The lack of accountability computers leave us is astonishing. They have nearly unlimited power, but have no human qualities to keep them in check. They can cause mass destruction, and never be reasoned with, this makes them inherently dangerous. The responsibility we have vested in them is enormous, which only heightens the damgage they could unleash. The song's chorus states that "earth's spinnin' outta control" and with the current climate the way it is, this statement isn't hard to believe. It's the blue-collar blunt truths found in this song that make it's message so effective, and so frightening.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jB1MT4Tkvg
An interesting article I found on The Onion satirizes the existence of applications in Facebook. Many of these applications became notoriously addicting...we all remember Farmville. But what is the true use of these applications? We may see it as being able to listen to music, play simple point and click games, or other menial tasks while in the comforting home that is Facebook. What if we get a chat message while using an app in facebook? We can instantaneously respond to it. The point is we find life to be so BORING that we spend our time using these apps while something happens on Facebook. In the meantime, Facebook makes some hard-earned cash for the time you spent looking at that page.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theonion.com/articles/facebooks-popular-applications,8366/
“My Favorite Tweets (a Social Network Song) by WorldWideWadio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAfJ3FAc53Y
ReplyDeleteA YouTube video I recently found called “My Favorite Tweets (a Social Network Song)” has a humorous take on social networking. Through high quality animation and well-written lyrics to the tune of the classic Sound of Music song, the song sums up what sites like Facebook and Twitter have done to us. It believes that useless quizzes (Which classic polka song are you? How flatulent is your cat?) and time-consuming games (“FarmVille and Fish Life and Mafia Wars”) are just distracting us from doing more important and productive things. The deep and serious voices proclaim that we are “Sharing and commenting, poking and liking/ Even while showering, even while hiking/ Having no message won't stand in our way/ We tweet to say we have nothing to say” which reveals how ridiculous our society’s obsession with social networking is becoming or already is. The video ends with someone removing us from their friends for posting so much useless material. Although all of a minute and twenty-six seconds escalates to that mouse clicking the “Remove from Friends” button, a question still remains: How much is social networking affecting our lives beyond the screen? Also, will this ever end or be replaced by a new technology?
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDisregard the comment above :)
ReplyDelete“The Future, Touchable and in Color” a interesting article I found in the NY Times, made me think twice about society’s values and where this will take technology 5 years from now. The author David Pogue bases the article on the description of the “new Nook color” which surpasses that of the current Nook. People “can’t believe they actually bought” the old nook as it has so many flaws, showing our easiness into throwing an old device away in search of the new and better. The new nook device is touch screen, of course, and can be navigated like an I-pad. There’s a web browser, access to magazines, newspapers (at a price), 3 home screens, millions of apps to choose, a quick navigation bar, status bar, media bar, library (that can hold over 35,000 books), and recent items menu. The author accurately comments our values, in which we believe more is always better. However, is there ever a point where it gets to be too overwhelming? There is even a special feature for children which offers a read to me feature. Is technology going to replace the nurture of a parent reading a bed-time story? I know in my house my younger brother always bring the I-pad into bed before going to sleep. I remember in the good old days I would simply bring a good book and read for hours. No more tales of wizards going to magical schools; now its video games in bed, playing pocket god where you control a world filled with Pigmys revolved around violence. I feel the title sums up a point not really touched on by the author, if technology is getting more like real life, touchable and in color, where does this leave reality. Can the two blend into one? In the future will people always have technology at hand to the point where real life isn’t stimulating enough? We will just have to wait and see….
The importance of Wikileaks as it keeps releasing classified government documents grows with every leak. But along with this importance comes a degree of notoriety as many of these documents are classified top secret and perhaps leaking them may jeopardize the United States along with others. However, I believe that Wikileaks has risen as some sort of anti-Big Brother agent, revealing things about the government despite huge efforts in trying to hide that information. Now the public has become a counterpart to Big Brother, watching over the actions of the government through the lens called Wikileaks. This brings about another idea, the idea that the media is a malevolent agent that spreads lies and misinformation. Clearly the media in this case has not placed a blindfold over our eyes; rather, they have opened the windows to let the sun into the realm of information, trying to promote transparency. The NY Times article gives compelling arguments in support of Wikileaks, citing freedom of speech as well as the responsibility the activists have taken by censoring parts of the leaks that could endanger lives. The press may support it, but politicians have actively seeked to destroy it: Mike Huckabee having been quoted demanding the execution of Wikileaks’s founder while Sarah Palin called the man “an anti-American who has blood on his hands”; clearly the idea that the public may watch over them has struck a major nerve.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/13/business/media/13carr.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&hp
Our time is filled with political corruption, wars, and technological invasions of space. These ideas are reperesented perfectly through the FOX TV show, 24. The fact that at the will of one man, Jack Bauer, a complete history of one's phone calls and recent bank and credit card transactions can be accessed and tracked should seem a bit unsettling to the average person. This is, however the realitiy of th world in which we live, a world where the government can easily access most of our recent actions. It shows that we are clearly al belong ot each other (as in Brave New world) if the government is an agent of the people it represents. 24, also depicts the current time as one abundant with violence. Although there are not daily terrorist threats, it is clear that this is possible. The correlation between 24 and today's America is unsettling, however they seem all too true to be ignored.
ReplyDeleteAs we continue to read White Noise, it becomes more and more clear that the motif of a facade is incredibly important. Yet this motif suggests a deeper meaning heading towards existentialism; that is to say what defines our reality or existence. Relating directly to this, was in AP Psych, while learning about intelligence, came the idea of constructs and confirmation bias. These two terms -- a construct being an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances, and confirmation bias is to look for an answer that supports what we already think -- both support White Noise's idea of the facade. Instead of an object being something different and unique human nature demands it fit a concept even if that means we have to morph reality to fit our needs. This can severly limit our ability to problem solve and to learn. However, for children who have not yet had society's limitations in the forms of barriers on ideology, learning is simple and natural - they don't have to fight an ingrained construct or facade.
ReplyDelete"Consumerism the Musical."
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGaOQKJik-s&feature=related
I came across the interesting video on youtube of people who composed a musical about consumerism. While it was entertaining, the video conveyed many of the messages we have gone over in class. Consumerism is what drags our attention away from what we need and draws us to the next big thing. In the song, he says "bought a samerai sword but forgot to pay my rent." This demonstrates how we lose track of what is important. A sword is obviously not something he needs and by letting advertisers speaak to his mind, he is neglecting what is important. The song lists a lot of things such as large houses, expensive cars and other things and even after listing this, he states "we want more." Why is it that the things we have never seem to satify us? Advertisers try to convince us that what we have is never enough. We let all of these ideas get into our heads thinking that it will be good in the long run and is something we have to have. Once something new is being advertised, people will forget about something like a flip phone and only want the itouch. The videos overall message is that we crave to have everything and it is nice for a while; but if we become over consumed, in the end we will be left with nothing. Our pull in the consumer world overcome our conciences and we end up sacrificing the things we need, for worthless desires.
-Nicole Talbi (this is the edited post
http://www.visualnews.com/2010/12/16/bmw-burns-their-logo-into-viewers-eyes/
ReplyDeleteThis is the future of advertising according to BMW. They now burn the BMW logo into your brain. Read through the article to find out more.