Brave New World: Interconnectivity
Teo Morales
Smore #1
Media literacy
Media is something we are almost at all times exposed to. Videos, picture, movies, radio stations are all examples of media. News outlets like Fox news and CNN are also media sources, while Facebook, Twitter, snapchat are also sources if media. Our society today is so involved in what’s happening around themselves by bring connected to the media since a lot of people do vlogs and post pictures of themselves doing their various activity. With the people having phones with their cameras available, they can record events that happen and share it to millions of other user online. People can broadcast their own news to inform others on what’s going on. This runs into being media literate. One should be able to understand the peace of media that’s presented to him/her and also if they would like to respond, for that to be in a respectful manner while also being knowledgeable of the situation. For one to be media literate, one should be able to create or be able to communicate to others, in way that’s understandable. One should not use profanity when communicating to others just because other people want their opinions to be heard. One should take precautions when being online since there are millions of websites and some of those could contain material that’s not suitable to a certain audience. Most of the time these websites have warnings before preceding into that site, and any user should take that warning in consideration.
Smore #2
What can i do?
It is really hard to change someone's mind about their eating habits even when specialists have done so much research . There majority of unhealthy people know this facts and still choose to excessively continue to consume unhealthy. I believe if we want to change something about others we first have to change ourselves and set the example. That's why for my “what can i do ?” method i have decided to continue my processed meat free diet . i have been researching for a while and more than half a year ago i decided i would stop consuming any processed meat. i only eat fish and eggs but i try to buy organic ones. So far two of my best friends have decreased their consumption and my mother no longer buys meat excessively. It was very hard for me specially because all my friends including my boyfriend love meat and they eat it every time but i know i have good reasons and therefore i haven't quit . I know if keep on believing that i can change at least a few it's better than not doing anything at all. Trying to raise awareness is the most tiring thing to do because you will hear so many disappointing statements and will make you lose your mind so my plan is to keep calm and #freethebaconSmore #3
Teo M
Danley
2 Block, 12 Lit.
6 May 2016
Super Bowl Commercial
In one of the commercials from 2016 super bowl night , the were announcing a new car by the honda company which suggests that this new and improved vehicle can prevent accidents.The creator of this commercial chose to have a car and the driver and passenger getting distracted by their surroundings.The creator decided to use this creativity in order to persuade drivers to get this vehicle in order to be safer even when they are not paying attention to the road.This commercial targeted those drivers who want to prevent accidents even when they are distracted , such as the example presented by the commercial which had a rather funny flirtatious tone to it.Smore #4
Teo M
Danley
2 Block, 12 Lit.
6 May 2016
Who are the commercials for?
People who watch tv, browse the web, or who are just on their phones have come in contact with some form of advertising. Its everywhere, businesses trying to sell their product to certain people who they believe will purchase, rent, or request that service. An example that I can think of would be a recent super bowl commercial where a father was seen with his wife at their sonogram. Doritos with this commercial implied that, men are dumb beings, with having the father eating chips, and dressed as, someone who really doesn’t care, or want to be there, to then to tease the unborn baby with a Doritos chip. Finally the mom would grab the chip and toss it away to have the baby launch out of her. These way of advertising can have negative effects on the population who watch these commercials by setting a standard and have people follow them. Advertising can really dictate how a society functions by having Victoria secret models on huge billboards. Younger women will want to strive to be that model, or a guy will want to be as strong as the athlete in the Nike commercial to look good in the gear.
Smore #5
Teo M
Danley
2 Block, 12 Lit.
6 May 2016
Media Manipulation
Commercial have a certain time limit, therefore they have to get to their point very quickly. Advertising has to be interesting to catch people's attention and this can be very challenging because of the time. Different creators focus on different factors, some are based on the funny aspects others in statistics , They all have something in common , they are trying to persuade people to buy their products .Now there are the different types, the ones that instead of going straight to their point, they take your attention and make it like a suspense . They manipulate your focus and indirectly persuade you to buy their product. For example there was a commercial once that kept on showing the players shoes throughout the commercial but in the end it was a gatorade commercial which was funny and unexpected at the same time. There are a lot more commercials out there than we are aware that use this different tactics. the creators want to create something more productive.therefore they make you think their purpose is one thing when in reality their goal is something else
Smore #6
Teo M
Danley
2 Block, 12 Lit.
6 May 2016
Should Apple fix it?
I think they should help crack the San Bernardino shooter iPhone. Apple says that if they do that then it will open a back door for hackers to get into the system of the iPhone and take any information they want from whoever they want. Thing is that if Apple hacks into the iPhone behind their doors and secure the method of getting into the iPhone then they shouldn’t be worried. If Apple doesn’t help the FBI then obviously they’ll get someone to do it and then itll become a higher risk problem because whoever found the method will not follow cautions procedures to prevent the information of how to hack an iPhone get out, but maybe even keep it to themselves and sell it to the highest bidder. Not only will Apple stand strong with their morals but they could potentially receive a heavy blow to the security of the company. Also this ability to unlock the phone can lead to more information on why and possibly who set them up to do this attack. More information is needed to prevent these kinds of attacks, possibly finding a source or how they attackers got their information can be a great help for the FBI and Home Land Security.
Smore #7
Teo M
Danley
2 Block, 12 Lit.
6 May 2016
Agree or Disagree
In the beginning of the semester we read an article that described the true meaning of thinking. the author mentioned how nowadays we misuse the word “think” , he believed that thinking wasn't remembering something that had already taken place it is rather having new ideas , or thoughts and being able to put them in words to let the public meet this new invention. Therefore in reference to his article, i agree with this statement. Something new cannot be presented unless it is well thought first and then shown to the public for their intake because it doesn't really matter if the creator believes it's the best idea ever, what matters is how society will judge the creation. If we have the words to say what goes through our minds then an idea can exist and extend, but if we keep it to ourselves then it will never leave our minds even if it's the best idea in the world. Maybe it is a really crazy and different idea, maybe we are afraid to show it because we believe people will call us out on how ludicrous something sounds and we are afraid to be judge badly, we set ourselves for failures even before we even take action. We ignore or ideas and the capacity of success they can possible have because we don't want to express ourselves, but if we don't then how can some=one know what we think and the ideas we have, we have to express ourselves no matter how crazy an idea sounds If there is a thought in someone's mind, my advice is to speak up and let the world hear them because we never know how far a new idea can go.
Smore #8
Teo M.
Danley
12th Lit 3rd
21 March 2016
Truth or a lie
I believe the most people don’t check the legitimacy of their candidate’s statements. These people are passionate for their candidate’s party to win that they would care less for the actual facts that go behind their statements. Also these candidates want to win the nominee so it’s almost likely that they would say anything to just get people behind them. When deciding to follow a candidate one should take their statements and any other things they say with a grain a salt, and probably look into their legitimacy before you make the final decision to be a part of their campaign. If one isn’t informed on who the want to follow then they’ll be putting someone who could potentially ruin the US, because of their blind following. News outlets, and other things like social media tend to hype up what was said, as something we should all follow since it sounds like it could help us however, we have to look at the fine print and see if, the media hasn’t just broaden the subject at hand.
Smore #9 "Aint rebellion fine?"
Teo Monday.
Dailey
12th Lit 3rd Block
March 27, 2016
Revolutions felt across the world
In 1952 Carlos Prio became president of Cuba. After his arrival as president he cancelled all elections following so that he could remain as president for life or make home self president for life. An anger you for Fidel Castro didn’t could not stand for a president that would be unfit to run the country of Cuba so he sought out to gain rule over the small island country. For over years Castro tried and tried to overthrow the ruler of Cuba, but failed probably due to the lack of resources and men to fight against an established government. In 1953 Castro led an invasion on a barracks, but was arrested and sent to jail for three years but his original sentence was for fifteen years. This probably happened since president Bautista wanted to show the people of Cuba that he was such a horrible person. Castro kept trying to gain power through attacks using gorilla warfare and would even ask the Mexican people to help him liberate his country from a tyrant and restore peace and hope into the Cuban people. Castro ran Bautista out of presidency and Castro became the new leader of the Country of Cuba. With his entrance into the presidency Castro declared himself president for life. Castro established a communist dictatorship and with this became a threat to the US. Cuba now becoming communist, this poses a threat to the peace of the American people since the Soviet Union held an alliance with Cuba. With the tensions of the cold war rising having Cuba neighboring the US it became clear that both the Soviet Union address Cuba where both a huge threat. After listening into some radio transmissions and looking at some satellite images, the US will find out that the Soviet Union would be sending nuclear war heads into Cuba, intensifying the relations between the US and Soviet Union. We see faint attempt in our society today with small groups of people rebelling against an unfair and unjust government. An example that can be seen is in Syria, where the citizens are arming themselves to ask for the resignation of the president Bashar al-Assad. With people seeing that determination, and great leadership skills one can overthrow an unjust government. People with strong believes and living in poverty can push a wave of people through the font gates of any presidency, to accomplish the goal of living a simpler life.
Smore #10
Teo M.
Danley
12th Lit 3rd Block
March 27, 2016
Snowden Vs. The Government
In the book 1984 Winston always seemed like he would want to overthrow the government or in their society it would be like “Big Brother” or “BB”. Winston would feel like the small things that he would do which, where outlawed by Big Brother, were acts of rebellion. An example would be, when in the book Winston had fantasized about a girl that he saw one day. In his trance the girl would strip her clothes of in such a manner that it seemed like she was doing it to show her defiance towards “BB”. This interested Winston but he still felt anger toward her since he felt like that she would never be his. Snowden believed that what the NSA was doing could not be justified. Spying on millions of Americans without their consent was not acceptable. So what he did was, copy some documents and fled the country so that he wouldn’t be found and prosecuted by the United States. In his travel to find a country that he could find asylum, he stopped to talk to journalist ,about what the government was doing and, pressure the government into stopping what they were doing. Comparisons that can be drawn out from the two would be that Winston wanted to overthrow the government and to put in a new one that would not only suppress the rights of people but also dumb them down, contrasting what Snowden wanted which was for the government to stop spying on the American people. Also it seems that Winston believed that the outer party or the party that made most of London could actually overthrow the government if they had the knowledge and possible leader, while Snowden knew with the American people being so involved in technology, that it would spread awareness, and the masses would stand up for themselves against, the government.
Smore #11
Teo M
Danley
2 Block, 12 Lit.
6 May 2016
Was Technology sent from Haven?
in 1984, you might think of CCTV and surveillance cameras, but the technology used in the novel is more than just that. While using cameras ti monitor crime could be viewed as fellow "Big Brother" himself in the action, both the United States and the United kingdom use it with to help protect the community, but also to see what the people are doing. In the book 1984, their T.V.s have cameras built in, we are almost at that stage, some tvs may have cameras but those are the "Smart TV" like Samsung and Sony. Already the government can tap into your computers web cam and can see whats going on without you even knowing, so what’s stopping them from doing that through your Smart TV. Maybe technology was sent from heaven but not for our benefit .Smore #12
Teo M
Danley
2 Block, 12 Lit.
6 May 2016
Happiness vs. Freedom
People around the world like to feel happy but they also like to feel safe. Some want both so they are willing to give up from some of their freedom and happiness for safety. Most of the time one will be happy if they are given more freedom to do the things they want to do, but also if others are given their freedom then there is not control. So one thing people do is rely on an authority figure to protect from others, but to do that one will have to lose some of their freedom. Happiness can also be found in ignorance and that is inherited by not knowing what’s going on around you, and you let a government, authority figure control your everyday life without knowledge. These people are possibly the happiest since they just follow blindly into whatever fate they are put in and don’t have to think for themselves.
Smore #13
Teo M.
Danley
2 Block, 12 Lit.
6 May 2016
Gaslighting
Gaslighting is a form of mental manipulation that someone with power or , just influence over others, and can make it so that people under their power will begin to question their sanity. This may be done by using logic that would go against that person’s belief. Let’s say someone believes that the United States is spending way too much on the military but a politician can say “well if we are then why is it that we are respected, and the one that many countries depend on when it comes to fighting militants, or having their back when another country threatens their security.” This begins to sit in peoples mind as like, would they want to be safe from any threat or have more money for the government to spend elsewhere and have a weak defense. This can also have a negative effect on society since wealthy, and powerful people can us Gaslighting so that whatever they need will work in their favor, but that’s if the people let them. To fight this, people need to become informed in the topic, the person in power is speaking about. We should not blindly follow in the words of any person they think can make a change, we should instead research and decide whether it’s a good choice to follow his/her beliefs, and to make sure that they will benefit the masses as well.
Smore #14
Teo M.
Danley
2 Block 12 Lit.
6 May 2016
In today’s world we rely on our touch devices more than over. I believe this because we are the generation to experience something new and its ease of use. Back when home PCs where coming out, only the wealthy and the patient had these devices in their homes. Now anyone can go out and buy a $20 smartphone with a data plan to stream the web, and get on social media sites. This ease of access is what is crippling our way of life. Kids who are getting exposed to this technology at such an early age, can have a good effect on them since they will get used to the technology, and not have to rely on it so heavily, but also the schools shouldn’t incorporate it so much so that kids don’t go and chasing after it. We need to start and push the next generation to go out and do things with their life like, playing with their friends, and giving them cardboard boxes to have their imaginations pushing the limits, all the while having fun. This promotes a sense independence from technology, and the ability to have fun without being stuck to a screen for hours on end. The current generation seems to rely on social media for a source of belonging to a group of people they feel right with. Thought this is wrong, since not everyone portrays their true selves on social media, but only the person that others will accept. That’s why we should all just back away, find who we truly are and post, or share that instead of putting up a fake front. Doing this can ensure that you’ll find friends that are worth the while, and will like you for who you are and not to have to put up with the fear that your friends will leave you once knowing who you truly are. Social Media can be used as a tool and one should take advantage of it, whether it’s for finding new friends, or getting feedback on a restaurant that you’ve been planning to go to, no one should let themselves be enslaved by any type of social media and their phone itself.
Part II
Teo M.
Danley
2 block 12 Lit.
6 May 2016
I feel like my views of media literacy stayed the same but I what I did learn from taking this LA course was to be open about my ideas and that meant to also be open to other people’s beliefs and ideas. One can’t be constricted to their own mind and principals because they won’t grow and learn from the ever expanding world. I feel like it’s good to listens to other opinions to get more information and the view from the opposite side of the river of knowledge. Another thing i learned was to read text carefully for there is more than one meaning behind that text, and I could also apply those meanings or lessons to my everyday life. An example I can pull from my noggin was the story from the book 1984 and how we are close to living in such a society that they live in. I learned that we have to be informed to suppress the powers of a government so we don’t become enslaved and be forced to thing eat and breath by what Big Brother wants. One thing I loved about the class was that we talked about current topics and where able to relate them to old texts like 1984 and the leaks from Edward Snowden. Watching the news in class and seeing the world unfold in a daily basis kept the class fresh and interesting, while still keeping the classics relevant. The future is unpredictable so, believe that since this class can change a good bit, based on the what unfolds in the future, I wouldn’t have a clear opinion on what modifications could be made, but if it could maybe, have a sections for the student to have a clear understanding of what Media Literacy so students would know what they are looking for and not blindly going on the wrong path.