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SabrinaH

Page history last edited by SabrinaH 14 years, 3 months ago

SabrinaH

Week 15: 12/2/09

 

 

From the beginning of the semester to the day of finals I have caught myself catching glimpses of what I learn about in class.  All of my classes are teaching my different but similar lessons.  One of the main aspects that I take away with this course is listening.  It is not about the listening process or how to become a good listener but rather to be aware of my surroundings.  This observance has helped me see the world in a different light.  One of the course assignments that made me do this was the Slang and Jargon Dictionary.  I noticed myself paying attention in conversations either with myself or those within my space. 

            As far as course concepts go the one that I found interesting that hit home to me was about cultural territories. Wise states, “everyday life consists of any number of overlapping territories, some with more salience than others at particular times, some of which we may not have much purchase on or agency in their construction” (108).  This was the most recent chapter we studied and I find it interesting how our culture is defined in different ways.  I consider myself part of the Raider Nation, but at the same time I take a car ride across the Bay Bridge and am in Giants territory just to travel down I-101 and become a Spartan and plow myself into the country side and root for the team my boyfriend works for, the Stockton Thunder.  We all wear many masks depending on where we are and what context we see ourselves in.  

            Secondly, technology is one that hit home.  Carey states “we are awash now in nostalgia for the future…the future is now the receding horizon to be chased, an endlessly revised, corrected, and never appearing zone outside history where the impurities of social life are bathed away in a perfect landscape.” (152).  We all want that new little gadget for Christmas and we yearn for the smaller faster laptop.  In just a few short years we have come a long way form the original IBM processor.  I found myself trying to get on the Internet at a coffee house and was unable to connect because of a “connection timeout.”  It only took me 10 minute to get royally pissed off and leave the coffee house to later realize how dependent we are on technology.  Leaving your phone at home results in an extra long lunch break to grab it.  We are all so consumed by technology that we cannot see a day without it.  It is how we get our news and stay connected.  Has anyone ever noticed some friends never sign off of Facebook and leave 20 or more Tweets a day?  Social media came into our lives only 4 years ago, yet we are already dependent on its survival.  I know I am going off topic but I thought that this is a cook fact. 

I was attending PR Day at SJSU 3 weeks ago and the director of international communications was the keynote speaker.  She was talking about her offices all over the world but declined to state China.  When we imposed the question to her she responded saying that Facebook was outlawed there and that they are working on creating a platform to expand into that abundant territory within the next few years.  I wasn’t necessarily concerned about the fact that it was China but the country did add to my assessment of the specialization within countries.  Each country sees a different Facebook.  There are different rules and regulations that each individual territory needs to fallow and the organization needs to be aware of these regulatory laws and fallow them strictly.

In conclusion I am a firm believer that culture is determined by territory.  There are many aspects of our lives that determine our culture and it is our mission to test out our internal cultures to find one that fits us individually.  Thank you for a wonderful year! Happy Holidays :)

 

 

Week 13: 11/19/2009

Option #1: How do you define your own cultural/co-cultural territories? Be specific and use examples.

 

 

I am a sports junkie and I love the Raiders.  I am also an intern in their Game Day Entertainment department.  This being said, I am part of the Raider family.   If you are a Raider fan or know someone who is a Raider fan then you know that it is a lifestyle.  The Raider Nation is filled with advocates for their culture.  These people stem from al over the bay area as well as across the nation and other countries as well.  As Wise describes “citizenship is an investment in a territory” (p. 135).  Even though the citizenship within the Raider Nation is not regulated by legal constraints it is still an investment.  The input is through the displaying of dedication, time and energy to the cause.  Every fan wants to win games and it is the goal and mission of the group to assist in any way possible. 

 

 

 

Week 12: 10/12/2009

 

The text talks about music in 3 contexts: pop culture, space and politics (p 78). One way that I fail to grasp in the reading is the way music has a profound impact on society.  Lyrics are a huge aspect that grasps an audience.  For me, I enjoy music that tells a story and one that I can relate to at that time.  It may change by week but I can relate to whatever it is.  One genre that catches my interest is always country.  It tells the story of love, loss, harmony and chaos.  Not to mention the numerous songs of drinking, girls and beaches.  No matter when it is played you will always find a smile on your face. 

An artist that has a huge impact on society is Taylor Swift.  She writes her own music from everyday personal experiences about life, love and family.  As a recent high school graduate, she writes from her memories and relates to this demograpic (mostly females).  Secondly, Brad Paisley has started writing about society today.  He talkes about finding love on MySpace and creating a fake profile of who you are as well as how society is engrosed in the iPods and smart phones.

 

 

 

Week 6: 9/30/2009

 

 

Carey (p. 152) states that “we are awash now in nostalgia for the future.” It what ways does your “nostalgia for the future” impact your present? That is, unlike nature, we construct our worlds teleologically (designed or directed toward a final result). How are your actions now designed to create your specific future? Please avoid generalities dealing with education to get a better or good job, make you smarter, etc.

P 133-154

 

America is always looking to improve the now to better the future.  Cars are now becoming hybrid to prevent future global warming.  Companies are moving toward green technology.  As a society we all strive for the better.  I am a victim of child abuse.  At the moment I am not financially stable enough to be able to help other children that are going through what I went through.  But it is my goal to one day be able to help these children and work for a non-profit to help better their lives.  I strive every day for a goal to become reality.  I feel that it is best stated by Carey when he says, “the future is a time that never arrives but is always awaited.”  People wait for the day when we begin to colonize the moon and I await for the day when I can be able to help a child.  The future is always changing while remaining constant.  The change is in the specific outcome whereas the constant is in the desire for change.  It is that desire that changes the future.

 

Yes we are all in college to get a degree to get a good job to be able to buy a house and raise a family to one day retire.  I feel that the little things in between the major ones help to define your future.  We all share this same generalized story but we differ in the specifics.  I am a student member in an organization that not too many students know about, IABC (International Association of Business Communicators).  They are comprised of individuals in various different communications fields from all over the world.  The Silicon Valley chapter holds mixers that allow you to mingle with professionals in various professions.  This is helping to build my network.  I have become good friends with the director of international communications at Cisco as well as other individuals that work at that organization as well.  The little things that one goes through shape where they will be in the future. 

 

 

Week 4: 9-17-2009

 

 

How will new technology affect the development of your future “cultural-self?” Using technological developments of past “communication revolutions,” project into the future. Think about how culture in the past might have been influenced by the technology of the time and how new technologies (say in 15 years – 2024) might impact our personal cultural selves. Try to use specific, rather than general, historical references or concepts from the text.

   

We all want to be able to say that technology doesn’t run our lives.  In reality, it does.  How many times have you left a cell phone at home and pained the entire day until it was in your hand again.  Technology is all around us and it is inescapable.   America has become one of the leaders in technological advances.  In text by Carey, he writes, “In his new version of manifest destiny, Brzezinski suggests that technetronic America will supersede any other social system because all other revolutions have only “scratched the surface…alterations in the distribution of power and wealth,” whereas the technetronic revolution will “affect the essence of individual and social existence” (Carey, 2009, p. 89).  

            In past technological advances, whatever is created marks a generation.  When Henry Ford made the first car the generation was about mobility and going places.  This transferred over into society and subconsciously made people want to improve their lives and want more independence.  There was also the music boom with Elvis.  This drove the young generation of the era to want freedom and independence.  They created their own culture.  These revolutions are a domino effect.  One generation wants to identify themselves in a different way than their parents did.  So they find something that will make them stand apart, thus, forcing technicians to create something bigger and better and forcing cultural and social change.

  

Week 3: 9-9-09

 

What is the “value” of a college degree? Why did you choose to attend college and what are your expectations (specific or general) for earning a degree?

  

To me the value of earning a college degree means a steady job upon graduation.  I graduate this December and the job hunt is weeks away.  I will be the first in my family to earn a diploma.  Growing up my parents struggled to make the rent payment.   They are both in the real estate field and when you live off of a commission each month is a toss up whether or not there will be food on the table.  My goal is to earn a steady job that will pay the bills so I do not have to worry what the next month will offer. 

  

Continuing on to my goals, I want to start of in a public relations agency and put my foot in the door to a career.  This will offer me the experience with different types of companies and will offer me the chance to see what field I wasn’t to continue my career in.  After a few years with the agency, I will move to a corporation and start my career.  Hopefully by then I will have settled down and be in the process of starting a family.

  

After receiving my Associate Arts degree at a junior college I realized how important a university was to the job market.  Many companies require an individual to have a bachelor’s degree and experience. 

   

Week 2: 9-2-09

 What communication rituals do you practice? Interrogate a media based communication ritual - trace its origins - where did it come from? 

One of the most common communications rituals is that of shaking the hands.  Many people see it today as a sign of greeting another individual.  That was not how it was always perceived.  It actually started out with only the showing of the palms of hands to show that they had no weapons.  It then transitioned into the grabbing of palms and then led to the shaking of hands to release any weapons that may be stored inside of sleeves.  But, what about the left hand? The left hand was used to grab the others' right hand to check for weapons as well.  The reasons for shaking hands have evolved over the years but the way one shakes the hand shows dominance.  My brother had a coach that every time he shook someone's hand he would turn his or her hand so that his was on top.  My brother always thought that he just didn't know how to "shake."  I learned all about body language in a psychology class one day and my professor mentioned the different forms of shaking hands.  My brother's coach was actually showing authority.  By forcing another person to reveal their palm they are being submissive and are at the command of the other individual.  If a person forces the other to put their hand on top then they are showing that the other person is in control.  This is used to gain confidence.  Lastly the most common form of shaking hands is where both hands are vertical.  This is a sign of equality and friendship to gain trust. 

 

SabrinaH

Comments (1)

SabrinaH said

at 10:35 am on Aug 27, 2009

Hello, my name is Sabrina Hengehold and am a senior graduating this December! I have no further questions because Mr. Coopman answered them over email. I was very confused on what the different websites were used for. If anyone has any questions here is what he said. I hope this helps:

"Quizzes and discussion are on Blackboard, the wiki pages for you weekly posts and most course info are the wiki."

Enjoy your first week of classes!

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