Getting Back On Course by Monday, 2/23

By Monday, 2/23,  you are to have read up until the end of section 1, Chapter 20 (p. 105 in my version) of White Noise.

We will resume with our Student Leaders, and at this time. 

As we are reading a novel, it will be important to talk about:

1) The novel as commentary on technology and culture, through characters,

2) through plot,

3) through setting

4) and from the narration and exposition (the language of the text).

Also, as mentioned in class this past Monday, our general theme for discussions while discussing this novel is How "we" deal with technology in our lives.

All of the above should help our discussions, and I ask that we try to focus more on these ideas so that we can really explore the specific impacts of technology in our modern, everyday lives.

for Monday, 2/9

Examples of Technology:

Rater than picking out your reading for you, this time I want you to find and read an article that interests you (on our topic, of course).

We've had many talks about the general effects of technology, but we have yet to really explore with much depth singular examples/ real-world examples.

And, since your Midterm Essay (handed out on Monday, with the due date moved to Monday, 2/16) will have a component in which you will explore the role of a particular technology (chosen by you) currently in use by culture --it's purpose/use and the effects in the present, past and/or future.

We will decode this statement in class, for better clarification!!!

1)
For now, explore the following on-line technology sections of prevalent magazines (click on names), or go to a Borders or local book store and peruse the technology periodicals.

CNET: news section

Technology Review

The Christian Science Monitor: innovation section

New York Times: technology section

2) Pick out one article that deals with a specific technology, and hopefully one that talks about its intended uses and some of its effects on our culture.

3) We will go around the circle Monday, discussing each of our articles. To prepare for discussion: write down an explanation of the product and what its intended uses are. But, also think about write down some of the possible unintended consequences of the product and how you think those consequences may come about by the integration of this technology.

I warn you, try and think specifically, but creatively. Think about actual, tangible effects.

A brief example: One article from the NY Times discusses how Google and other cell phone companies are putting more books on phones! A starting thought I have would be--will this effect people's eyesight? Another thought, will books eventually be 100% morphed from paper to downloadable?