Week #5 Double Journal

Quote:  "As we proceed through stages of the Information Age there has been an increased emphasis on visual messages at the expense of aural messages."

Response:  "In a totally non-academic way, I have only one comment..... duhhhh."  That said, I would explain that as various forms of literacy have evolved in the past decade (such as media, computer, etc.) the most basic form of literacy (reading) has declined. According to UNESCO (http://stats.uis.unesco.org/unesco/TableViewer/tableView.aspx) there are approximately 18,000,000 illiterate adults (age 15+) in North America.  In todays world, with technology and advances in education, this number is far too high.

It is not logical to presume that these 18,000,000 and others who are not proficient readers are gaining their information about life skills, environmental issues, politics, and more strictly from what they can interpret from aural messages.  They are undoubtedly digesting infromation from the visual as well.  Just as the written word can have mutliple meanings the visual is far more confusing as we have learned in this class.

This assignment brings to mind the recent crisis in Egypt and the global ramifications.  I went to YouTube, where the whole issue started and searched for "anti islam video" and this is one of several videos that appeared. 

1. How does visual imagery negatively influence the truth in political campaigns and foreign relations?
As we have already studied there is a direct link between what people see and what people think.  The mind processes images far faster than it does the aural.  The saying, "a photo is worth a thousand words" comes to mind.

2. Can you think of a recent foreign relations incident that may have been related to visual imagery?    

The largest, most far reaching current event is the anti-Islam movie that was produced in the US by an organization.  This independent video resulted in riots and death in Egypt.  My video shows a different perspective on the news and how it was presented in the US.  If one were to watch this video clip, without sound the interpretation would be very different than listening to it.  I started to watch the video and then I finished the balance by listening. 

 

3. What does Ben Franklin by the phrase "Freedom of the press only applies if you have a press." 

I could propose a couple of different interpretations, but by leaving the quote in the context of the time I would put forth that Mr. Franklin was referring to "your opinion only makes a difference if you have a way to give it."  In 18th century America, illiteracy was the norm, and only the very wealthy and privledged had the ability to share their views.  They were the only ones who had access to the machinery to put words to paper.

 

4. Do you think that the explosion of digital media is akin to giving everyone a press?

Yes, and further just as the traditional press of Franklin's time had a variety of uses, so too does digital media.  Some choose to use these technology presses well and some do not.  Others totally ignore the resource and others view it as someone elses issue and they view it with apathy.

 

5. In your opinion, is the potential for more people to create their own media a positive or negative influence on our democratic society?

The ability to do more is not always a good thing, but to deny one the ability to utilize technology is a violation of the principles of freedom.  That said, I believe that there is good and bad coming from the independent media / independent technology uses.  Much of the perception is based upon what the "independent" viewer chooses to view and support.  I would offer a comparison of the website www.godvine.com vs. www.godhatesfags.com both are faith based but they share two very different messages.  Which one is positive?  It all depends upon the personal views and conviction of the reader/viewer.

 

6. Is our increasingly visual cultural a good thing or bad thing?

I believe that it is a negative in many ways.  We are losing basic literacy skills, society is losing touch with the printed word, and our ability to focus and excel in any one area is being compromised because so many in society want to see, do, experience it all. 

 

7. What can save us from the tyranny of a visual culture?

I do like the view of the visual culture as tyrannical.  There is no one answer that is suitable and appropriate for all.  For society or the government to dictate how to counter the inundation with visual messages is wrong and would not work.  Dealing with the onslaught has to be a personal choice.  We, as independent, free thinking, individuals have to make the choice to "unplug" and barring that we have to evaluate carefully not only what we read and hear, but also what we see.  It is a challenge that many will not be up to and the problems and conflict caused by misinterpretation, misinformation will continue to have major ramifications in local, regional, national, and global formats.