Blog #1 - Grown Up Digital Pt 1

This book is certainly an ego-booster. The author's enthusiasm for this generation is rare nowadays, and just having him gush over the prospect of a brighter future is encouraging. The critics he mentioned earlier is a discouraging read, how much technology and our generation is being put down upon just because they seem attached to their way of living so much, they forget that it's a new era and they need to accept it. Baby boomers are a puzzle. And those that call us lazy or unintelligent, or anything of that sort seem critical of how we live. It's a well known fact though, they (forgive my language) essentially fucked us over. Tuition costs are higher than ever, and the minimum wage is sluggishly trailing behind, being held back by greedy politicians. A baby boomer stayed in school longer because they could afford one year of college with a summer job. Today? I worked 40 hours each week for 4 months, and I can only pay for half a semester of college. That's what's sad, and they don't feel sorry for us. That's why we turned to the internet, a mostly cheap way to gain entertainment and information.

What is this fear that we've become more distant, when in reality we've gain more and more diverse friends and communication than ever. Why is the idea of text over speech more important than the other? However, the author looks past this, and supports our ability to multitask and absorb the new technology so easy. This book is what this generation needs. When we were born, we gained the problems the baby boomers put on us. And all they did, first thing, is expect us to do what they did, even if we can't because we don't have the luxury they had (even if it's not entirely rich).

Technology did wonders for us, some people call it laziness, but honestly it's a solution to all the shit we've been through. And it's true, we've become more accustomed to listening to other people and learning from them. We've become more connected to the world, and we're able to talk to people who do not have a say on the radio, the newspapers, the television, but from people who can freely talk on the internet. We've become more diverse and sympathetic.

It's nice to have this confirmed by somebody who cares for our generation. We need encouragement, we need hope, we need the baby boomers to believe in us, and know that we are humans who can do great things.

Sorry, I have a lot of feelings about this.

Blog #2 - A Better Pencil

I am... getting second-hand embarrassment right now. Livejournal. Holy shit, I have not seen that word in a while. Nowadays it's all about Blogger, Wordpress, Tumblr, and Pintrest. I have a confession to make. Yes, I do have a Livejournal. I've had it since 2005, and that means I was 13 years old. However, I have abandoned it in 2012. What was I thinking when I made it?

I was interested in communicating with people that had the same interests in me, and while I had at least one friend and a sister that liked the same thing, it wasn't enough. The need, the want for material to sate my obsession is what drove me online, to write for others, and draw for them. Publicly post them when I don't even show them to my friends. It seems that being able to publish things without going through a publisher or anyone to tell you "no" is a great thing about online writing. And how I feel personally about having authors online, is that it's a great place to learn. I've read so many fanfics online, written gorgeously by people I don't even now, who has the ability to make someone cry, laugh, or squeal in excitement, and that's something many books out there can't offer. It's a person with passion the same as yours is always an exciting thing to experience. I'll advocate writers online till I die. They are such passionate people who will do things for free, simply because of the freedom you can experience.

Fan written material is sometimes (personally, most of the time) better than the source material. However, this just depends on the person. But that's just what's so nice about the freedom of choice and what you choose to read.

Blog #1 - A Better Pencil (aka A long rant about technophobes)

This novel is an interesting read, while Ong seem to mainly focus on orality (at least that's what I've perceived), Baron's book is on literacy. His in-depth observations really shed some light on things I've never paid much attention to. For example, he explains the nature of humans and their tendency to rely on literature. He tells us how we see text as the truth and how it has shifted from oral to literacy in the aspect that it's easier nowadays to learn. He makes a point saying that everything important to us is mainly recorded in text.

We have books holding our "sacred texts", our laws are written down, and IOU's are too, and so forth. What this shows is that as humans, we will more than likely make mistakes through words. For an example, I for one, enjoy retelling stories of events in my day, if they are memorable enough. However, I tend to say, "I'm not sure how it went, but..." My memory is not exact when I tell the story to someone. But if I had recorded the words said, as they have happened, I could have told the specifics to my audience. It could have supported my words or even improved my storytelling. Baron also makes a point about how writing is everywhere, and not only in the form of books or stories, but just information (whether it is actually true or not). Our food packaging tells us the ingredients that make up the food, and how it might be "yummy" and "beneficial". It gives us information in text, so we tend to believe in them. It's a form of trust, even if it is a corporation out for your money, they have some form of authority and possibly knowledge that we don't have.

In a later segment, Baron touches on how computers have people who enjoy their capabilities, and also they have enemies. Technophobes, they are called. People who live by the fear that computers will destroy the life of books, corrupt writers, encouraging self-published authors. And other fears too.

I have strong feelings about these people, honestly. Not positive ones. They live in a world that constitutes that their world is the one we all should live in. Think of Sale's tale to Wired. Wired is a magazine. Magazines are typically written by computers and contact people, most likely through means of technology. Sale's audience, how did they find out about him in the first place? Was it truly all through the word of mouth. Did Sale use flyers or newspapers, or even the internet to advertise him lecture to people? If it was indeed through the word of mouth, then that is impressive. However, flyers are created through technology. Unless Sale's did all of them by hand. Why be so afraid of something that creates a convenience for society. 

Also, his world is certainly very narrow. I have a family that enjoys computers very much. My father, uncle, and even my old grandpa, find it fascinating to learn its language, its components, and anatomy. They even have hobbies of tinkering with them. However there is a side that really makes my point.

My mother came to the United States with my dad's family. Guess what? She has absolutely no family residing in the US. She left them all behind in Taiwan. How does she communicate with them? Letters? No, that is too expensive. Flying on a regular basis to talk face-to-face? No, a round trip ticket to Taiwan is already $1,000. Emails, phone calls, wireless chats, video calling, these are all so easily accessed at a cheap price. Would Sales argue that putting a price on family worthy of destroying technology? Technophobes do not understand beyond their own lifestyles, making assumptions that technology is unhelpful and toxic to the world. The world is beyond traveling on old-timey boats and the Wright brothers' archaic planes. Does he drive a car only made in an assembly line with no technology and drafting designers working solely by hand? Does he travel and fly in planes guided by computers to ensure he doesn't die in an accident?

Now, to address his phobia on self-published writing. Sales seem to vouch for the fact that writing and literacy is encompassed, and to him, rightfully so, people who have money and are of a certain age to do so. Trust should not be limited to that. He seems to have little faith in humanity. A 14 year old girl may be using computers and the internet to write her stories and thoughts to people who can share her writing. Validation of a human's capability of literacy should not be limited to if she could go off and publish her writing and share to a limited audience. She could share in a forum that specifically caters to her topic and with people who understand.

Technophobes make me sad, how something so amazing such as technology becomes something to fear, especially on narrow assumptions. Paranoia and quick judgement with little thought of the world beyond one's biased thoughts truly makes a fool out of technophobes. Am I being too critical or judgmental? I may be. But at-least I take in consideration people's experiences that can be shared easily and side with humanity. Most people do not have privileges that Sales seem to revel in. But they all have stories just as valid as a published novel. They all have a voice and it may not make sound, but it still speaks; and it's just as loud as Sales' sledgehammer.

Blog Post #2 - Things Fall Apart

Well, that last half of the book was quite the ride. I'm going to talk about the parts in the book that stood out most for me (and the fact they remind me most of Ong's book). First that caught my eye is the folk stories that the woman swap with their children. There is no written books or documents to read from, but they pass on tales through word of the mouth. In the story that Ekwefi told Ezinma, a turtle attempts to reach to the sky and eat with the birds. The story emphasizes on the turtle's cleverness and his "sweet tongue". He made it up to the sky with his words and "was soon chosen as the man to speak for the party because he was a great orator". It seems that there is no trace at all of writing or literacy in their culture, as their folk tale is based all around the skill of orality.

Later in the book Ezinma is kidnapped by the priestess, who was chanting madly to her god. Ekwefi was deathly frightened for her child and ran after them. However she was in reconnaissance and did not want to be seen. Even then, when Ezinma sneezes her mother whispered "Life to you." I LOVE THIS. Think about it, they haven't fully conformed to the ways of the Christians, so "Bless you" does not exist for them. I just have to say that I love "life to you" so much. It's lovely. No attachment to Christianity.

Now the last part of the book is when things truly falls apart. In the end, Christianity had gained the upper hand and not only did they bring religion, but also government. However neither of these bodes well for the village. The book says that they appreciate the things that they brought such as the trading posts. However, when Mr. Brown came into town, he convinced (frightened) the village people to send their children to his school to learn. It described Mr. Brown as someone who listened and understood more than his successor, and the people liked him enough. However, in the book it says that "Mr. Brown learned a good deal about the religion of the clan and he came to the conclusion that a frontal attack on it would not succeed". He may have been a listener, but not for the right reasons. Eventually his school and presence in the village began to take effect, people began going to the school and new churches began rising up. The quote "From the very beginning religion and education went hand in hand" really raises some interesting insights, if the people wanted anything that can benefit them, they have to do it with a God attached. Moreover, not their own. The way Christianity spread was through what appeared to be out of pure good faith from humans to a quest to conquer "primitive" lands with God.

Orality is important in Okonkwo's village. He was talking to Obierika when this popped up.
"Does the white man understand our custom about land?"
"How can he when he does not even speak our tongue?"
The Christians were never interested in cooperating with the natives, instead they came with the purpose to conquer and "help" the "savages". If they had, like Obierika says, then they would have learned to speak their tongues, rather than hire interpreters to speak for them.

Another thing to note, is that as a literate culture, although they see themselves as higher up than Okonkwo's oral culture, Okonkwo shows frustration with their haughtiness. "One of the most infuriating habits of these people was their love of superfluous words". It's pretty much true to this day, I believe, the more we become literate, the more we find ourselves finding intelligence connected with vocabulary, essentially, superfluous words. Is this true though? I can't say.

Last thing I want to talk about, is the Commissioner, his thoughts in the end is definitely an insight for things to come: imperialism and colonialism. "The story of this man who had killed a messenger and hanged himself would make interesting reading"..."He had already chosen the title of the book, after much thought" The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger". I feel that these are the first of the many books to come where it convinces its Christian readers that they are the superior religion, superior people, and they have the power to change primitive tribes to fit their mold.

Blog #1 - Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart is a novel that has elements of importance of orality in it. From the get-go, you are introduced to the main character, a man who is said to be extremely well known and strong. He has proven himself as the strongest wrestler in 9 different villages. He has already become a wealthy farmer with two barns of yam. He has also just married his third wife. However, the book looks at his father also. Basically he's described as a disgrace and in deep debt.

Okonkwo is also introduced as someone who can't speak well, but doesn't have to since he has proven his worth and title in other deeds. He stammers and can't speak well, which I can see is his weakness. But I think it's something that differentiates him from his father. The father seems to be someone who is well spoken, not so much greatly successful, but he seemed to have managed to get ot of paying his debts by just talking and using his words wisely.

Another character s introduced, Ezeugo, a "powerful orator and was always chosen to speak on such occasions". It seems someone in this village who has a powerful voice can easily sway the audience he's speaking to. It says in the book, "And in a clear unemotional voice he told Umuofia how their daughter had gone to market at Mbaino and had been killed...The crowd then shouted with anger and thirst for blood."

Okonokwo is escribed to have a heavy-hand in ruling his house hold, out of fear, perhaps of ending up like his father, someone weak. I wonder if it has to do with his silence? Like, his inability to speak, so he lets his actions do it for him. In some cases, anger, which ends up terrifying his wives.

It seems that after reading Ong's book, I can't help but see the descriptive ways the author sometimes describe someone when they speak, instead of using "Said, says..." There's a part where it says, "Hold your peace!' screamed the priestess, her voice terrible as it echoed though the dark voice." She didn't just scream, her voice is terrible and it echos. 

It also seems in this culture, it's mainly an oral culture, I have not read yet that they have any system of writing. It doesn't seem to affect them too much, they seem to be doing fine without it. 

Blog Post #2 - Ong Second Half

Ong opens up to discussion of being human in relation to orality. This can be seen with his example of how "civilized" people have long separated themselves from those who are inferior, considered "savage" or "primitive". He says this is a behavior that is not limited to snobby folk at cocktail parties or in opinionated conversation, but in fields of studies. Mainly, historical works and anthropological studies. What this shows is that we as society consider that "illiterate" societies are not smart enough for perhaps a sustainable civilization. This seems to put pressure on these oral-oriented cultures. Ong says that while they lament on losing their sense of culture, they're not opposed to learning to be literate, in fact he says they try to learn it as quickly. It's funny how humans begin with only orality then forget that, and try to brand the terms like "savages" or "primitive" on them, when that is the roots we began with. This shows are willingness to branch off from traditions, even if it creates a discourse with people who still has an oral based culture.

Ong goes on to discuss that speaking has a very important trait of addressing oneself. He says that our subconsciousness is fundamental to speaking. To speak, he says, you need to address another person. He makes a statement by saying that "People in their right minds do not stray through the woods just talking at random to nobody. Even to talk to yourself you have to pretend that you are two people." I think our brains learned to speak just because we needed to communicate with others. Since that is the prime reason we even speak, our brains are wired to create an audience to communicate to. Ong says that "I have to be somehow already in communication with the mind I am to address before I start speaking." It's odd to be conscious of something that we've been subconsciously doing for all our lives. I think of the nights I am hunched over a journal in the middle of the night. If someone were to walk by, they would just see me scribbling words over a page. That is all they can see. And all that I can hear, are my own thoughts. I think and write. But I don't even notice that I am speaking with another person, even if it is myself, reiterating my own thoughts to perhaps form a conversation.

In the afterwords, the man named John Hartley briefly mentions something that caught my eye. He says "One of the oddest things about printing was that it delivered monopoly control over the expression of the truth to those who controlled publication. It seemed to liberate thought for all, and was so hailed by many over centuries, but this was a read-only freedom."

This is what intrigues me the most. I've heard stories how American history books loves to omit information about what they deem unimportant. A good, recent example was of Texas' school board approved of a history book to... water down slavery. They avoided the word slavery as much as they could, like excluding that word from "slave trade", calling it instead as "Atlantic triangular trade." History textbooks are introduced to us ever since we were old enough to read. We learned of our founding fathers and how slavery was bad and a lot of stories of white men doing great deeds. History books are a publication that is primarily written by people who can decide what is important to learn, and what is optional. A good argument is that we are required to learn "American history", which neglects to go remotely in-depth of how cruel slavery was, how brutal the post-slavery era was. It hides the history of America's own internment camps for Japanese-Americans, and how the Chinese built the railroads on their backs, and how the native Americans are still living a not so luxurious life. And presently, how racism still exists today (And how there are 160 KKK groups still active today.) A publication is read-only. You can scribble and cross out words, but it will not be seen as official or published. Publishers still have a say today, and it silences the people that reads it. We can go off and publish our own, but like Sherman Alexie's book; The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, a book he claims is 78% true, is banned from school across the nation. Even a partly fictional book can be banned. Young adult novels featuring people of color are not popular. And it might be for a reason... What I'm trying to say is that the people who run publications are predominately white. They can set things in pages that we take as true facts or quality writing. They can hide things as well, like true history and experiences of people they don't understand. They decide which texts should be on the Best Selling List in the New York Times, and gain lots of revenues. While other texts which they don't see as worthy can be shelved at libraries, and hidden in #2330 popularity on Amazon's book list.

We should expand our views on publications, listen to those unheard who can only write online, or speak in public or private. Don't just read what is claimed to be true, think and question what they are saying to you.

Blog Entry #1 - Ong First Half

In Ong's book, on page 59, Ong discusses 20th century bards. I had little knowledge of bards until I played a video game called The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Skyrim is an open-world RPG that has fantasy elements and folklore inspired from Scandinavian Vikings. I've played this game for over 100 hours, finding myself immersed in a game like never before. The obsession grew to the point I'd wake up at 9 am and play until 5 am. With breaks in between, of course. I'd defend the game to my grave is someone were to say it's the worst game possible. I found many faults with it, and I admit to them, but reading Ong's discussion of bards, I find myself pondering on the dynamics of the games when it comes to the singing storytellers.

While the presence of these instrument-touting, singing folks were not predominant in the game, they still are there. It turns out that while traveling in the vast map of the game, you will happen to encounter them in the wild. Otherwise, you can easily seek them out playing in inns, taverns, and bars. You can speak to them and request a song to sing. What strikes as interesting to me in the book is that it explains that bards is part of an oral culture. It explains that bards learn by listening to other bards sing. And this happens for month and years. It's been researched that bards will not sing the same song in the same way, instead it becomes a formula. Almost like a plug and play, they can change the way it is sung, but can't change the foundation of the song and its meaning. With literacy, a bard can read the song and memorize it. But the further apart from memorization and the performance, it weakens the ability of the bard to recall the words. However oral bards found that singing the song at least a day after allows them to not be held back by the boundaries of literacy. This means that the day they don't sing, they can let the song soak in and he can essentially remix the story with his own themes and formulas. This allows creativity and diversity in their songs even if they are based on the same story.

This is an interesting observance. Referring back to the game, it seems that the bards in-game are literate bards. If the player goes into the Bards College, then they can find the vast library of the stories the bards can sing. Each story is not a song, however, it still has to be translated into music for the bards to sing. This would make one think, according to Ong's book, that they would have different variations of the same story, but with different words and flair to them. However, while this is most likely fault with the laziness of the game designers, the bards in the game each sing the same exact song. When requesting a song, they ask which one you would like to hear. So it shows that there is common folklore in the country of Skyrim. You can request one and they will sing it. Then the player can travel across the map and ask a completely different bard to sing about the "dragonborne" or something and they would reiterate the song sang by the other bard, word-for-word. Needless to say, this demonstrates that bards in the video game Skyrim are literate bards, each having attended a "college" to memorize texts and sing the same songs.

Then there's the case of traveling bards. They're more rare in Skyrim, and in personal experience, out of the 100+ hours I've played, I recall only meeting about 2 different bards in the wilds. One would think that because of their journeys and exposure to a greater world, that they would find new songs or find a way to improvise the one they learned from other bards, but that is not the case. Skyrim is an excellent game, with many bugs and improvement needed, and there are mods for that too. However their bland representation of bards leave more to be desired. A college for bards seem to create a robot mass of them, each becoming literate and memorizing texts rather than listening to other bards and improvising the songs on their own terms.

There are mods for this game. But I have yet to see someone create dynamics for bards to create music and tell stories uniquely.

DTC 375

This blog will now be used for my class, DTC 375: Language, Text, and Technology Fall 2014.