delicatethinggoatee-blog

[delicatethinggoatee-blog]

Logging Off :-/

From the beginning of this semester, I can certainly say my experience with both the internet and new media has evolved. Prior to this class, I wasn’t all that sure what “new media” entailed, but now, I understand that it basically refers to any form of mass communication reliant on (often modern) technological advancements. The term itself sounds intimidating, like a practice you’d need a degree just to fully immerse yourself in, but this class taught me that we are all interacting with new media; whether it be on Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or here on Tumblr, we are each products of this new generation of sharing, of posting for the world to see. 

Being able to create these individual websites has been a rather interesting experience for me. I never considered myself to be capable of designing something so precise, yet I suppose if this class has taught me anything, it has been to expect more from my capabilities. Beyond this class, I ideally would wish to continue learning about website production (outside of Wix) and the other realms of new media not covered here. The topic would be neat to incorporate further into our education at Chapman as creative writing majors, yet I’m not sure how many other opportunities there are... so far. Realistically, I will continue interacting with new media through my social media accounts-- to a lesser degree this time around. The literacy narrative assignment at the beginning of the semester, along with its re-imagination through the website, have made me reconsider my relationship with these accounts, have made me redefine my-selfie. Our experiences as a class have made me realize that, just because we have these advancements and opportunities, that does not mean we are required to utilize them. Addiction comes easily at this day and age of limitless possibilities and un-mediated app time, so it is up to us as individuals to set healthy boundaries, to know ourselves and how we function given such freedom. This class has educated me on more than new media, it has educated me on my own inner-workings and for that experience, I am thankful.

[delicatethinggoatee-blog]

A Better Look at My-Selfie

My project is mostly centered around the importance of Instagram and how it shaped my relationship with the art of the “selfie” and with myself. The intended audience is mostly young women, or to put it broadly, anyone who’s used Instagram and felt the effects of social media impact the way they see themselves. With this website, I’m attempting to highlight the way the media, beauty standards, and people you surround yourself with influence one’s sense of self-love and self-esteem. Though I can’t speak for everyone, I’m hoping my experiences are enough to resonate with those who’ve faced similar struggles in the process of growing up. I’m currently still working on the delivery of my project, because to be honest, my computer does not seem to be a fan of Wix, or me in general :/ it’s been difficult putting the site together (to say the least), but that’s been another lesson: patience (just kidding... maybe).

Relying on the visual mode of communication to strengthen my story, the website I’m creating focuses heavily on images-- specifically,my selfies-- posted on Instagram over the years, utilizing the linguistic mode in the explanations that follow. The spatial mode of communication is mostly demonstrated in the organization of my site; pictures are grouped with intermittent “blog” posts that provide elaborations on the different phases of my social media presence. I definitely need to fine-tune this aspect a bit to make the page more accessible and visually appealing, and the text portions of the site are a work in progress, but they have potential! Aural mode of communication doesn’t really apply here, seeing as I do not plan on posting any videos or clips that require sound, but if I had a history of sharing vlogs or videos of myself online, that would have been a different story. Regardless of any bumps in the road or flaws in the final result, I’ve had an interesting and thought-provoking journey with this piece, and in response, I actually decided to delete Instagram from my phone. While this doesn’t sound too major, as someone who often links their worth to likes and comments, I’ve been considering this step for some time, but I never had the motivation-- not until this class inspired me to take a closer look.

[delicatethinggoatee-blog]

Pups 4 Public Schools

For this project, my group and I created Pups for Public Schools, an “organization dedicated to the creation and promotion of dog-friendly environments for the public schools of California” (the description listed the project’s social media bios). Personally, with this project, I wished to spread information regarding the idea of dogs in classrooms, because, in the recent years, there have been quite a few relevant studies on the effects of animals on human anxiety. As someone who struggles with several anxiety disorders, I can attest to the positive impact my dog, Winston, has had on my every day life. 

We chose to utilize several social media platforms with this project, like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and a website we created. By establishing a Twitter and Instagram presence, we targeted a younger audience, specifically college students. With Facebook, on the other hand, we attempted to attract a higher age range as well, including faculty and admin of public colleges. The website works as a universally approachable platform, not specific to any age group; there on the site, we also link the other pages, allowing a connection between all profiles. The three social media accounts were mostly composed of spotlights, featuring owners and their “pups,” and the Twitter, which was my responsibility, also shared facts from studies pertaining to the cause. 

As the final hours before presentations tomorrow approach, our project is nearly complete. We’re working on the finishing touches, such as reviewing spelling and grammar on the website and publishing final posts on the Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. We’ve all had a lot of fun working on Pups for Public Schools; it’s definitely gone beyond a school project, pulling from our own passion when it comes to dog-friendly schools. Throughout the process, we’ve maintained contact, sharing and bouncing ideas off of each other, even in terms of personally assigned tasks. I genuinely believe we’ve all put in our best work, and I am proud of the project we’ve created B-)

[delicatethinggoatee-blog]

Aerie: Keepin’ it Real

For my post this week, I am going to be analyzing Aerie’s Instagram account (@aerie). To provide a little background, according to their page, Aerie supports “Girl power. Body positivity” and has been “Retouching free since 2014.” They sell a variety of products, like bras, underwear, apparel, swimwear, etc. By promoting an image of inclusivity in their bio, Aerie welcomes women of all shapes and sizes, defining their audience range as vast, limited only by one’s choice to purchase their clothes. Though this could be interpreted as a ploy to procure more shoppers, the pictures shared reflect the genuineness of their message. 

In a post from October 26th (yesterday), a shout out was given to Cleo Wade, an author, and Symone Sanders, an activist and feminist, for traveling to Pittsburgh to lead a discussion on “the power of being YOU.” Pictures are included of a diverse audience of women listening in the crowd, asking questions, and posing with the speakers. Four posts up, and there is an image of Iskra Lawrence, described in her bio as a “#AerieReal RoleModel,” posing in a bra, a smile on her face. Despite her obvious state of undress, Iskra’s face is still centered, given the same attention as her chest and torso-- she truly does look happy. 

These two examples work to paint a picture of a wholesome company. Not only do their models vary in race and body type, Aerie also features disabled models and models over 40, traits not often recognized as beautiful in society. Through their inclusion, they entice more users to follow them, to buy their products. All these claims of being “real” would be meaningless if they did not follow through-- and they do. Aerie products are sold at American Eagle Outfitters, and the first time I looked over them, I was impressed by the range of sizes and styles, offering a flattering/comfortable bra for most, if not all. These shots of women displaying their underwear and clothing are mixed with images of real-life women who are capable inspiring others (like Symone Sanders). By associating women of power with their brand, Aerie subliminally implies that wearing their products will give us that same sense of confidence and strength. After trying on one of their bralettes and seeing the light, I almost want to believe them. 

[delicatethinggoatee-blog]

Analysis? I hardly know her

Through my experience with the rhetorical analysis, I learned that the modes of communication and rhetorical situation can be found practically anywhere. In the past, I’d never considered the idea of an Instagram profile directly utilizing rhetoric in its posts, no matter how simple it may be to discern ads from genuine snapshots. Commercials, TV shows, social media accounts, books, everything features the rhetorical situation and modes of communication, each to a varying degree.

When writing this paper, I subconsciously considered the rhetorical situation. Though I did not directly write to a specific audience, whenever I work on essays in the academic context, I tend to use a specific voice/tone that differs from the one used in my creative writing pieces. As I discussed these rhetorical elements, I gained a better understanding of their functionality. Using Lil Miquela’s profile as a tool to study the topic with worked effectively; though I learned from the lecture and textbook, having this firsthand experience cleared up any unresolved confusions. Something as simple as an Instagram profile seems so void of purpose, yet upon breaking her down by these rhetorical categories, I was able to find the meaning in Miquela’s existence and creation.

In this analysis, I took a closer look at my writing process, realizing that I usually stick to the same genres and fields of discussion. If given the choice, I would never choose to analyze a piece in my writing—not because I do not enjoy analyzing, but because I do not feel versed in the subject. I learned that drafting is important to my process, a step I often attempt to skip. By creating a framework for my essay, I made the transition from thought to page that much smoother.

Though writing an analysis was slightly out of my comfort zone, I do believe I did a solid job of incorporating tangible evidence into my descriptions of the rhetorical situation and Miquela’s page. In the instance of such a complex “person,” it was difficult at first to make sense of her profile, let alone find a way to portray it as plausible to an outside audience, but through her posts and those of her agency, I was able to make sense of it. If I were given more time to work on this paper, I would like to rework my concluding paragraph a little bit, maybe find a way to wrap up the essay a bit more effectively. Though I finished the piece a week or so ago, I’ve been struggling with the concluding paragraph ever since, attempting to get it just right… not sure if I ever did (oops).

[delicatethinggoatee-blog]

[Insert Creative Title Here]

As defined in Writer/Designer, the rhetorical situation is a set of circumstances in which the author creates a text. The degree to which the rhetorical situation is addressed can often dictate the audience’s reactions; to utilize it to the greatest degree, authors must consider each aspect of the situation: the audience, purpose, context, genre, and writing/design choices. To put it simply, the audience is the who the piece is intended for, who it was created to impact. When analyzing texts, to discern the audience, it can be helpful to ask questions like, “What values or opinions do the primary and secondary audiences hold?” (Ball 38). The next aspect of the rhetorical situation is purpose, which can be described as the what and why. Purpose should answer the question: what is this text meant to accomplish? What was the author attempting to convey by writing this piece? There are myriad purposes behind writing, such as to persuade, to argue, to describe—words can serve any purpose if we use them correctly. Then, there is context, or how, what, when, where. Context should depict what the author wishes to communicate to their audience, how they wish to share it, and when/where they decide to; it describes the setting in which the piece was created. After context is genre, which in its most basic terms, refers to “static categories of texts in broad terms” (Ball 63), or a text’s medium. Audiences have different expectations, depending on the genre of a work, so it is up to the author to work with and around those standards. Lastly, there is writing/design choices, the how. These choices can be broken down into emphasis, contrast, color, organization, alignment, and proximity, all of which shape the way a multimodal work is portrayed. Through these choices, the author can visually make the work whatever they want it to be.

Relaying back to the visual appearance of the work, with multimodal pieces, there are also five modes of communication: visual, aural, spatial, gestural, and linguistic. The visual mode refers to the author’s usage of images or other elements that the audience can view. Color, layout, style, size, and framing can all contribute to the visual effectiveness of a work. With the aural mode, this is referring to the sound accompanying a piece. Sound can be projected through speech, videos, sound effects, music, etc. Through the aural mode, we can signal information like feelings and responses through sound, rather than imagery. Next, there is the spatial mode, covering the realm of physical arrangement. Spatial mode is crucial for online creating, seeing as the organization of elements pertains greatly to the setup of smart phones and computers, allowing navigators to find their way through with minimal difficult. Gestural mode then refers to movements, like body language, and their meanings. This mode includes hand gestures, interactions between people, and facial expressions. Gestures like these enable an audience to determine how those depicted are feeling and what they are experiencing. Lastly, there is the linguistic mode, pertaining to the usage of language, or spoken/written words. This mode is utilized to produce or comprehend meaning, through word choice, the coherence of words/ideas, and the delivery of a text.

In my rhetorical analysis, I chose to investigate the pertinence of the visual mode, gestural mode, purpose, and context, in regards to Lil Miquela’s profile. Through the images she shares and the body language depicted in them, Miquela played into the viability of artificial intelligence existing in society, leaving her followers to debate her level of sentience. The purpose and context of her account are rather linked, though, seeing as she appears to have been a product of societal changes, created with the purpose of uniting humanity—at least that’s what her “makers” have claimed.

[delicatethinggoatee-blog]

Fifty Shades of OC Weekly

For our discussion on Friday, I brought in OC Weekly, a free magazine distributed in Orange County. When comparing the online and printed versions, the first difference I noticed was the lack of ad space online. In the paper edition, nearly every page had at least one ad, some were only ads, yet as I scrolled down the website, the only visible advertisements were those that might have been incorporated into an article. The magazine itself is, as I stated, free, which might explain the over-inclusion of ads. If the publishers are distributing without profit, where would the revenue come from? You guessed it: advertisements.

Another variance I noticed between the two modes was the usage of white space. In the printed magazine, there was an overall lack of white space. Each page was dominated by text, images, graphic design, or an overwhelming combination. Due to their page limit, it seemed as if they were trying to make the most of the space, yet I’m not sure it worked to their advantage; it made the magazine rathe difficult to follow at times, actually. On the website, the layout allowed for white space on both the left and right sides of the page, and there was a decent distance between each promoted piece. The online edition was maneuverable and self-explanatory; the plainness of the design works to the publishers’ and readers’ advantage.

In terms of the layout, the printed version’s mirrors that of a newspaper, while the website looks modern and organized in a grid-like system. The magazine paying homage to a newspaper leads me to believe its intended audience is older than that of the website. Those who read printed texts, like magazines or newspapers, tend to be from the previous generation, because this is the technology they’re comfortable with, while the younger generations are more familiar with online news. A strength of the website, though, is that it’s accessible to both most age ranges, simply because of its direct and organized nature (not to imply that the magazine is not accessible).

[delicatethinggoatee-blog]

The Narrative Journey

As I was working on this narrative, my writing process was fairly linear. Initially, I followed my experiences with Instagram throughout time, beginning in seventh grade, continuing until the present, making sure each anecdote pertained to the questions at hand (“when did Instagram become less about our own presences and personalities and more about catering to what our followers wish to see? When did we stop thinking for our-selfies?”). Upon completion of this basic outline, I then focused on incorporating narrative elements—to my best ability. The “clear” point of this piece is to pinpoint when Instagram became less personal and more public through my own relationship and progression with the ‘Gram. The best details I provide, in my opinion, are those which elaborate on the different phases of my accounts and how they each related to my place in life at the time. I hope to have established a consistent point of view in my piece, through the usage of accessible language and a prominent voice.

If given the chance to continue working on my narrative, I believe I would add more specific memories to the experiences I depict. Though I attempted to be descriptive, I do believe there is potential to build on individual moments and elaborate on their relation to the discussion at hand. While I might lack in this department, I do believe there are strengths in the narrative as well. I’m rather proud of the voice in my piece; assuming I accomplished what I was attempting, the point of view here is distinguished and relatable.

[delicatethinggoatee-blog]

Telling a Single Story

Upon listening to Chimamanda Adichie’s TED Talk, both times, I found myself inspired, simply by the way she relayed her experiences and the details she used to make these memories that much more tangible. Within the first couple of minutes, she states, “I grew up on a university campus in eastern Nigeria. My mother say that I started reading at the age of two, although, I think four is probably closer to the truth. So, I was an early reader, and what I read were British and American children’s books.” Just with these three sentences, Adichie provided extensive details of the situation at hand and also alluded to the point she would be making as the talk progressed. 

I do not believe that Adichie’s speech necessarily centered around a singular event, but rather, that it depicted myriad moments that culminated in her overall theme, “the danger of a single story.” From the lack of representation in her early reading experiences, to the ignorance of her American roommate in asking “where [she] had learned to speak English so well,” Adichie highlights these instances to demonstrate to an audience the influence a lack of information can have on a person.

Along with the descriptions and examples, the point-of-view in this talk is consistent throughout its entirety, to say the least. Adichie maintains a voice that reels readers in with her wisdom and wit and keeps their attention with recollections of real-life struggles and genuine concern for this unspoken under-representation. Even if not every listener can relate to her life and the stories she shares, every listener can take them in and consider how their own privilege might be contributing the repression of another. It is that level of strength and assurance in what she is saying that makes Adichie’s speech encourage you to think, to question if will ever know the “full” story of the world, of the lives around you. 

In my literary narrative draft, I personally believe I’ve got the details and examples covered. A majority of the piece runs through my early experiences with Instagram and particular phases of posting, and in the process of depicting this, I explore particular memories relevant to discussion at hand. The clear point is still in progress, but through a solid point-of-view, I will attempt to emphasize the statement I wish to make-- which is essentially somewhere along the lines of “we don’t ‘gram for ourselves anymore” right now. The conclusion paragraph is also a work in progress, simply because I always find it difficult to wrap things up when there is so much left to say, like right now for instance.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[delicatethinggoatee-blog]

My Digital Delivery (or lack thereof)

Whenever we choose to post on social media, there is generally a message or image that we are attempting to depict of ourselves. For me, the specific platform that I put the most thought into would have to be Instagram. Let me just start with a disclaimer that when it comes to social media, I know I sound rather petty or superficial in my descriptions here, but to put it simply, I am a product of my generation.

As I’m picking images to post and brainstorming captions, I tend to visualize the “vibe” I will be portraying and come up with a caption to match it. Usually, these captions are humorous (in my opinion) or don’t necessarily relate to the picture at hand. The body/identity that I have established online is one that is very sarcastic, which is why I choose to use “sassy” gestures in my posing and emoticons like  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ in my captions. In a way, this is my attempt of going against Instagram norms and trying to prove that I post for my own enjoyment, rather than to meet someone else’s standards-- which is only somewhat true. 

When it comes to distributing/circulating my posts, there is a little less thought required. If I’m going to post a selfie or a picture of me with my friends, I utilize Instagram, because it’s been established that this is a platform based on sharing images of oneself (and also because this is where I’ll get the most likes, sorry, not sorry). If I wanted to share a comical video or a snap of something random with my friends, I would post on Snapchat. From my perspective, Snapchat is a platform to share random moments of your life and to be (somewhat) free of judgments. Lastly, Twitter is where I go to share my thoughts and incidents that have occurred throughout the day. This is where I go to actually enjoy my time and be myself, not some image I’ve created in the hopes of receiving more interaction from my followers. 

Regarding interaction, the response of others is a key element when it comes to sharing online. A lot of us post simply to garner a reaction (ex: to receive likes, to have people “slide into your DMs”), but that doesn’t mean we would stop posting without it. In my case, as I’ve become a veteran of social media, I’ve realized that certain content will inspire more responses, or “interactions.” If you post a full-body shot, maybe showing a little skin, you’ll most likely receive some male interaction (or female, depending on your preferences/audiences). If you post a picture of your dog, you’ll get responses from animal lovers. If you post a picture with your family, other family members will comment and share it. The power comes from what you post and where you post it.

Lastly, accessibility is complicated in regards to the platforms I’ve chosen. No one in my family (aside from my brother and cousins) has Snapchat, so anything I choose to share there will be solely directed at my friends. In comparison, both of my grandmas and my parents have Instagram accounts, so anything I post will be visible to them, based on how often they check social media. Twitter, on the other hand, is just starting to reach those in my family. My father recently made a Twitter, and now, he’s able to like and retweet all my questionable thoughts, just like the rest of the world. 

[delicatethinggoatee-blog]

LOGGING ON

Ever since I was in kindergarten, I’ve been a big fan of the internet and its endless wonders. At that age, my computer surfing tendencies were centered around computer games, like Pajama Sam and Lego Chess. My parents made sure I wasn’t allowed access to other, more luring websites, fearing I might see too much of the real world. Games such as these and Microsoft Word were my first, real glimpses of just what a computer was capable of, but it wasn’t until around fifth grade that I was handed the reigns and given my own desktop. While it was a crappy, chunky Dell, there was nothing I loved more than typing up stories and watching whatever random videos popped up on YouTube—that’s when I became a child of the age of technology.

Aside from Facebook, I didn’t dip my toes into the realm of social media until much later: high school. I consider myself a late bloomer in regards to this aspect of the internet; I didn’t create an Instagram until junior year, and Twitter followed after amid senior year. Though I didn’t use either of the two even somewhat regularly, I downloaded the apps, regardless, in an attempt to match the pace of my friends and peers.

Now, on the other hand, I tweet almost obnoxiously. I’m not talking about the excessive, minute-by-minute details of my life, but the second something even remotely comical occurs in my life, I find a way to word it in the minimum amount of words necessary for my “fans.” Instagram is a different story, though. It’s difficult to post regularly on IG without coming across and full of yourself or narcissistic, so I try to limit myself to one post a week (max).

Time is fluid, and as the days progress, technology and the internet never even attempt to slow down, leaving us to match its pace. If we wish to utilize all the resources at the tip of our fingers, we must be willing to advance with them—you can only stand in place for so long before the world falls out of your grasp.