The songs on the list posted on our media, politics and society class website, were not current songs. These songs were written during times of political upheaval, gathering, and change. All of these artists may not have intended to present a political standpoint. The artists' vision is conveyed through their song. Songs become political because they convey a message. The viewer or listener has a better connection to the song because of the message. Each viewer looks at the lyrics and message differently.
For an example, I will talk about the song, imagine by John Legend. One of the main lyrics that is repeated and emphasized is the statement, "I am a believer." It may be viewed today as impractical, but being a believer is timeless. Looking forward instead of dwelling on the past is what this song really focuses on. John Legends imagines the world where there is no trouble. He emphasizes how people will have peace, no greed or hunger, and no killing your brothers and sisters. Living life is peace.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Is Hate Speech in the Media Directly Affecting Our Culture?
"Hate speech" often means different things to different people. Although the First Amendment to the Constitution ensures freedom of speech, in general, hate speech is exempted from the First Amendment. The term is meant to convey the deliberate bias toward and discrimination against persons that could be incited because f the form of speech. Hate speech is almost always evaluated based upon the context in which it is presented. This definition becomes more unclear when we think of the political ideology behind criticizing others, or the levels to which persuasive tactics may hide the actual intention of hate. Information and entertainment media normalize a culture of cruelty by discussing meanness and power in entertaining ways.
Georgie Ann Weatherby and Brian Scoggins, who represent the no side to this issue, investigated how four white supremacist Web sites present information that may appear benign but mask the ideologies of the groups they present. By presenting their ideas to the mainstream society, these groups attempt to gain compliance from persons who may be recruited to the extremist group's side.
Our history in the US of hate speech legislation often is targeted toward groups that exhibit bigotry or contempt for racial, ethnic, religious, or gender groups. We have had a long history of extremist groups of all kinds, hoping to se the media to defend their positions and recruit new members.
I think that we should have the freedom of speech, but to a certain extent. The issue of free speech has become even more extreme in the case of the Internet, where there is so much freedom to post information. In both mainstream media and on the Internet where extremist Web sites exist, we can see how hate speech is sanctioned, practiced, and in some cases, endorsed by the public.
Georgie Ann Weatherby and Brian Scoggins, who represent the no side to this issue, investigated how four white supremacist Web sites present information that may appear benign but mask the ideologies of the groups they present. By presenting their ideas to the mainstream society, these groups attempt to gain compliance from persons who may be recruited to the extremist group's side.
Our history in the US of hate speech legislation often is targeted toward groups that exhibit bigotry or contempt for racial, ethnic, religious, or gender groups. We have had a long history of extremist groups of all kinds, hoping to se the media to defend their positions and recruit new members.
I think that we should have the freedom of speech, but to a certain extent. The issue of free speech has become even more extreme in the case of the Internet, where there is so much freedom to post information. In both mainstream media and on the Internet where extremist Web sites exist, we can see how hate speech is sanctioned, practiced, and in some cases, endorsed by the public.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Are People Better Informed in the Information Society?
There are tons of people who feel that as we move toward a more technologically oriented lifestyle, as participants in the new information society, are inevitably moving toward a better quality of life. It almost seems logical that better technology is the result of moving from more primitive forms of communicating to more sophisticated, faster, and efficient means. New technologies challenge us to think of new practices, nee values, and new structures.
Linda Jackson et al. found that youth who use the Internet more had higher scores on standardized tests f reading achievement and higher GPAs. This work supports the optimism surrounding the Internet as a tool to level the educational playing field. To contrast, Mark Bauerlein found that the youth spend much of their leisure time in front of computer and television screens, but the information age has failed to produce a well-infomred, thoughtful public.
Jackson and her colleagues demonstrate the potential of the Internet to enhance educational outcomes for low-income children. The Information highway and the Digital Age stimulated hopes for generation able to multitask, plumb and depths of digital information, and create a sophisticated synthesis. Bauerlein states that despite the numbers or sources and technologies available, people are not better educated or more informed today. If he is correct, there is much evidence to support the idea that as time goes by the public's knowledge of basic civics and politics becomes even weaker.
I personally think that people are better informed in the Information society. To use one example, you retrieve news and information so much more efficiently and faster from the Internet, rather than newspapers. I feel as if there is a lag time with newspapers because they have to be written, edited, and then published. We can achieve more, but have become more dependent on it.
Linda Jackson et al. found that youth who use the Internet more had higher scores on standardized tests f reading achievement and higher GPAs. This work supports the optimism surrounding the Internet as a tool to level the educational playing field. To contrast, Mark Bauerlein found that the youth spend much of their leisure time in front of computer and television screens, but the information age has failed to produce a well-infomred, thoughtful public.
Jackson and her colleagues demonstrate the potential of the Internet to enhance educational outcomes for low-income children. The Information highway and the Digital Age stimulated hopes for generation able to multitask, plumb and depths of digital information, and create a sophisticated synthesis. Bauerlein states that despite the numbers or sources and technologies available, people are not better educated or more informed today. If he is correct, there is much evidence to support the idea that as time goes by the public's knowledge of basic civics and politics becomes even weaker.
I personally think that people are better informed in the Information society. To use one example, you retrieve news and information so much more efficiently and faster from the Internet, rather than newspapers. I feel as if there is a lag time with newspapers because they have to be written, edited, and then published. We can achieve more, but have become more dependent on it.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
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