#CUINGERMANY

[cecehensley-blog]

week 3 prompt 1

Pick a concept from the chapter 14 reading on cross cultural communication and PR that you have seen exemplified during our time here so far. Perhaps at a cafe you’ve witnessed differences in how space is used (Proxemics). Maybe on a weekend trip you’ve seen ways that people from some countries view time differently than we tend to (Chronemics). Or perhaps you have seen a really clever ad that bridges cultural/linguistic boundaries. Post a photo or video, and explain how it illustrates the concept you choose.

Among the many differences between American and German cultures is out attitude towards food and drink. According to Guth, “For many public relations practitioners, cuisine is the reward for mastering the subtleties of cross cultural communication” (Guth, 434). I have included a picture of McDonalds as a sort of connection between the two cultures, but from here the attitudes change drastically. The German diet is typically full of very heavy and hearty foods designed to fill you up and make you “fat and happy”, while in America the current trend is healthy, vegan, and light food options. In Germany, a typical snack is something like bratwurst or currywurst, which in my experience are always served with fries and mayo; all of which are not super healthy options. (The entire thing is kind of ironic because the level of obesity in America far surpasses that of any other country when our focus is on healthy foods). Although the contents of our diets are extremely different, the real difference comes with portion size, and the manner in which our food is served.

In America, everything is gigantic, while in Germany the opposite is true. When I visited McDonalds I ordered an chicken sandwich meal where I received my sandwich, fries, and a drink. Typically, at an American McDonalds the sheer amount of french fries that comes with a meal is enough to feed two people, but in Germany the fries that came with a meal are equivalent to the American size small, the perfect amount to supplement the meal. This remains pretty standard when it comes to sizing of food and drinks in Germany, everything is much smaller/ promotional to what we should actually be eating. When I go to a restaurant I don’t feel like I need to take a to-go box every-time I have a meal. `

Another trend I have noticed is the fact that in Germany, ice is not typically included in drinks unless you order a cocktail. This is a huge contrast to America because most of the times when you order a drink half of it is actually ice. Maybe this is why we offer free refills, and they don’t? When I ordered my drink at McDonalds I expected a super cold and refreshing cola with a bunch of crunchy ice at the bottom, but the ice in my drink melted before I could even finish my drink.

Another slight cultural difference is that here in Germany you have to pay for every single thing you want, this includes water and condiments. Although it doesn’t seem like a big thing it is definitely something I have noticed. In America if we go to Chickfila and ask for fifteen ranches, twelve water refills, and a couple of mints it will not cost us a thing, but here in Germany I am pretty sure I would have to take out a small loan to have more than two bottles of water at dinner.

The final difference comes to the service of the food in Germany. In America, it is essentially a requirement for customers to tip wait staff, even if they have done a terrible job. In Germany and other places in Europe it is completely fine to tip .5 euro, or nothing at all. In fact it is considered rude to tip generously because they see it as an insult to their work.

[drpyleclemson-blog]

A Somber Reflection

As a white, Christian, man in the US, I’ve never experienced the kind of “-isms” that many of my friends and colleagues have. I’ve never been oppressed. I’ve never been discriminated against. I’ve never had to fear for my own safety or the safety of my family because we look different from the people around us. 

I’ve visited many museums and memorials to the holocaust and have studied it in school since I was in 8th grade. While I’ve always been troubled by what happened during the holocaust, it has never been personal for me. I’m not a member of the groups traditionally included in those who were sent to the camps. 

(Gate A - the entrance point to Sachsenhausen)

This year with @cuingermany, at Sachsenhausen, @drscottclemson was debriefing the students  on Sachsenhausen and helping to make it more real for them. He said, “If I had been in Berlin at that time, I’d have been given a pink triangle and been sent to Sachsenhausen.” He turned to me, and pointed out “Dr. Pyle would have been given a red triangle - he’d have been sent to Sachsenhausen as well.” 

As a university professor not falling in line with the Nazi party, I’d have been in a group that was rounded up and sent to Sachsenhausen. Never before had I made the connection that I to would have found myself in this terrible place. 

(”Arbeit Macht Frei” - “Work Makes you Free/will set you free” - the lie posted at every concentration camp. The reality was that freedom came only through death)

Perhaps I should have made this connection on my own, or made it sooner - but this was an incredibly sobering experience for me. It made the camps and the experience of those imprisoned there even more real for me - and made me reflect more deeply on the experience. 

(This memorial stands at Station Z, the final point in the camp for prisoners, as this is where they died. There is a trench where prisoners were hung, a room where they were quietly shot, and a a chamber where they tested gases to make them even more deadly for use at the larger extermination camps like Auschwitz)

If you’ve never been to a camp memorial or to a holocaust-related museum, I recommend it. This is a history that’s important to tell, to share, to remember. As populist movements are on the rise, and campaigns to reject people who are somehow different gain popularity, we must be willing to speak out against these hateful perspectives. There are still those who claim “the holocaust didn’t happen,” but standing in the middle of this camp makes such claims obviously ridiculous and foolish. 

This camp makes it clear just how much evil can be perpetuated by regular, everyday humans. Perhaps one of the most problematic lies about this era is that the people who ran these camps were especially sadistic. From reports, accounts, journals, and letters, we know today that with a few exceptions they were just regular people. Some were especially violent, but most were average soldiers. Quite simply, they bought into a lie - that people who were different didn’t deserve to live. We must not allow that lie to again pervade society. 

[pailzingis]

COMM 3070 - WEEK 2 - PROMPT 1 - MISCOMMUNICATION

The idea of miscommunication among the public relations and advertising world is embedded in world discussions every single day. With the ongoing information dumb through different sources such as increased social medias, apps/etc. that are tougher to navigate, advancement in conventional sources, the information becomes more and more easily miscommunicated.

The Nebel, Stobbe and Sun readings all provided example of how information can be taken in different ways, misleading etc. to the public and it can have a very serious impact. 

The relationship between autism and vaccinations, being the concept I was previously experienced the most, is a sad example of this. There was a study done about vaccines and autism; the study now proved totally false had a huge impact on Americans not wanting to give their kids vaccines out of fear. (The fear of autism in itself speaks to the true moral compass of our country). Stobbe can be quoted as saying “Correlation does not imply causation” (Pg 1). This is obviously a phrase coined many times but it does play a good meaning here. Their might be examples of kids who were vaccinated as well as been autistic but there is no correlation between the too directly. This article affected a lot of action throughout the U.S. and it still has affects today.

The example of miscommunication I found online an article about how Exxon coffee ads used a saying from a concentration camp in their advertisement. The phrase was “Jadam Das Seine” which translate to (in English) “to each his own”. We actually came across a similar sign at Sachsenhausen that translated to “work shall set you free”. The phrase here was seen at the nazi concentration camp Buchenwald's gates. The sign was used by the Nazis to indicate that the prisoners were getting what they deserved. Exxon was using the slogan in order to speak about the different kinds of coffee to which one could own. Obviously that didn't translate at all and many were outraged. Many had a feeling that the sign had an "unsurpassable tastelessness" (CBSNews). This is an example of a technology and slogan being used in the wrong way and how the interpretation caused a miscommunication.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/exxon-coffee-ads-used-nazi-slogan/

[keepingupwithkellen-blog]

COMM 3070 Week 3

Prompt #2:

Compare and contrast an example from each museum that talks about, shows, or otherwise presents a science or technology used in sports. Embed a music video of one song you would choose to play along with each sport (one for each, two songs total). Use supporting quotes from McLeod that explain why you chose the songs.

The examples I chose to include in this prompt from the DDR Museum and the Computerspiel Museum are at best incredibly different. This is so because of the roots in which they have used to anchor themselves. The DDR was not about fun or enjoyment; it was about everyone being on an equal playing field. Enjoyment had to be shared or taken away altogether, much like everything else within the communist-ruled country. The Computerspiel Museum is about the enjoyment of technology in different ways.  Whether for leisure or sport, there is a lighter sense about it and greater impression of gratification within.  

The example I found at the DDR Museum was that of The Society for Sport and Technology.  The society was created as a way to introduce young boys to the physical and technological elements of war. The activities consisted of parachuting, diving, gliding, marksmanship and more.  The technologies of war were highlighted in a fun way, because the society was meant to actively engage boys in these activities and not so inadvertently help “prepare” the DDR for any threats come their way. Quoted in our readings, McLeod says “Public spectacles, whether sporting, musical, artistic, or other, have been used throughout history to affirm power and prestige” (McLeod, 2006, p. 534).  These sporting events the DDR held were most assuredly to affirm power and establish a dominance among the new generation.  The music video I chose to embed was “We Are the Champions” by Queen. I chose this because that is the image the DDR wanted to present to the rest of the world: that they were the champions, and everyone else were the losers.  

In the Computerspiel Museum, the game that I drew most to was Dance Dance Revolution.  Dance across all cultures, much like music, is something to bring people together.  Dance Dance Revolution used the technologies of computer and touch-screen capabilities to create a game that people could enjoy in fun competition with themselves or other. With Dance Dance Revolution there are no ulterior motives or ideology stuck within the moves; only fun and enjoyment. For this I chose the song “Everything is Awesome” by Tegan and Sara from The Lego Movie.  It has a fun beat and quick pace, making it not only a great Dance Dance Revolution song, but a great song to describe the atmosphere that Dance Dance Revolution creates and fosters.  Gropes (2001) talks about the women pop stars that contributed to the sports-music confluence directed towards younger girls and women (McLeod, 2006, p. 540).  Some would argue that Tegan and Sara could have a similar effect as P!nk or Gwen Stefani because of their more androgynous appearances and edgier styles of music. 

[arhindeutschland-blog]

Prompt 1 (extended): Pick a concept from the chapter 14 reading on cross-cultural communication and PR that you have seen exemplified during our time here so far. Perhaps at a cafe you've witnessed differences in how space is used (Proxemics). Maybe on a weekend trip you've seen ways that people from some countries view time differently than we tend to (Chronemics). Or perhaps you've seen a really clever ad that bridges cultural/linguistic boundaries. Post a photo or video, and explain how it captures or illustrates the concept you choose.

pictured above; French Cathedral cir. 1705

Germany, previously known as the “Holy Roman Empire,” has long struggled over their perception of religion. In the 18th century, the "nation-state" was divided into thousands of smaller kingdoms which were not united by a central religion. Philosopher and historian, Voltaire, is quoted during this time as observing that, “the Holy Roman Empire is neither Holy, nor Roman, nor an Empire," yet, “Holy” remained in the name of the land until 1806. Skipping ahead to the early 1900s, Germany's government systems through the end of World War II were secular and some, such as the Nazi Regime, even discouraged religious practices. With a history such as Germany, how do we expect German culture to perceive religion in the present day? How does German culture communicate these perceptions?

pictured above; Census Map - Unaffliliated with Religion (Ergebnissen des Zensus 2011)

In present-day Paris, there are a total of 197 places of worship in city-center. Compare that to Berlin’s measly 11 (Berlinfo.com). Berlin, and Germany as a whole, has a culture that is less focused on religion compared with other nations. The percentage of German citizens who say they are unaffiliated with any religion is 35.4% as compared to only 24% in the United States. Those who lived in East Germany were subject to socialist ideology throughout the Cold War which discouraged faith and encouraged concrete physical community in areas such as sports. Even still today, we can see the striking regional religious differences in the map above showing those claiming to be “non-religious”.

Fun Fact: The Kirchensteuer, or Church Tax, has existed in Germany since 1827. All members of a church must pay a government tax to that church in the form of a paycheck deduction. In a 2015 poll, 84% of Germans said they disapprove of this tax model. This may contribute to German’s sour mood towards religion. (Der Tagesspiegel)

pictured above; Sign at Bus Stop Defaced by AfD supporter 

More recently, Germany has seen some changes to their cultural perception of religion. Culture is defined in Chapter 14 as, “behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought”. Regarding behavioral patterns, it has been publicized that over 200,000 Germans left the Catholic Church last year (christiantoday.com). Along with that, Germany has seen the dramatic rise of power of the AfD, which stands for Alternative for Germany. This organization is a far-right political party which was founded in 2013 and now is the 2nd most popular party in Germany (thelocal.de). The sign above stating “Muslims Not Welcome” shows the effects of this rise to power.  The party’s platform centralizes on blaming Muslim immigrants for the majority of Europe’s problems. AfD and its members’ rejection of other religions and sects of people shows a rejection of globalization – “the growing economic interdependence of the world’s people” (Chapter 14). The audacity of party leaders leads members to show their support for the party in more “vocal” ways, which explains the sign which reads, “AfD Territory” on the back.

Overall, Germany’s unique historical situation has shaped it’s culture’s struggle with faith. As you venture through Berlin, you see less religious icons and more “technological marvels”, such as the Berlin TV tower seen towering over a church steeple in the first image. Recently, German culture has reflected less church attendance and more anti-Islamic rhetoric as the world moves through the uncharted waters of the 21st century.

[laurengetsforeign]

The Ubahn is a perfect example of technology in Stuttgart. Here, a higher emphasis is placed on public transportation and environmental efficiency. In the external view, technology is emphasized as a mindless physical or social system (Ayung, p.3) The Ubahn in my opinion is definitely a mindless social system as citizens here use it to get from point A to point B daily without thinking about it. It is their normal, however, to us in America it is the opposite as we all feel the need to have our own cars. The Ubahn is an example of physical capital as it is a system/infrastructure (Ayung, p.4)

As technology is the science about practical art, mechanical engineering and other applied sciences that help the Ubahn move efficiently and carry people from stop to stop. While the Ubahn is as aesthetic pleasing as a metro can get, it is also a piece of practical technology that is used as a means of transportation in this culture daily. 

[jarlotto-blog]

Tech and the Masses

Prompt #2: Computerspielmuseum / DDR Museum: Public Communication of Sport Sciences and Technologies. Compare and contrast an example from each museum that talks about, shows, or otherwise presents a science or technology used in sports. Embed a music video of one song you would choose to play along with each sport (one for each, two songs total). Use supporting quotes from McLeod to explain why you chose those songs.

The DDR museum drew on sport and technology to relate to the masses. As a communist state they encouraged collectivist ideas as opposed to an individualistic nature. Their society was set up in a way that promoted these sort of organizations, especially in sport. Through organizations such as The German Gymnastics and Sporting League East Berlin was able to promote a collective sporting community. This organization brought in huge numbers with membership being around 3.5 million. This community can also be found in many American sports, but on a more sport-by-sport basis. An example can be found in Basketball and the connection to the hip-hop industry. It brought many people together through music and technology as well as many pop culture ideas to enjoy a sport. This can be seen through the, “crossover between music and basketball [that] has been most pronounced in the realm of hip hop, two entertainment genres that are allied by everything from shared fashions, attitudes, to urban roots,” connecting the dispersion of music and sport unifying one another (McLeod, 532). The song I thought of for this was Quad City DJ’s Space Jam Music Video:

This video caught my interest not only because you can see the crossover of the hip-hop community and sports, but also the old-school hip-hop influences. After our discussion in class in regard to Kraftwerk’s music being a large influencer in the hip-hop industry I couldn’t help but notice a bunch of those similar elements at play here. The dark, dystopia world of Kraftwerk being remade in a light, upbeat way here.

At the Computerspielmuseum I noticed the influence of games like pong and pac-man. Two games that were instrumental in the video game industry at their time. Anyone who considered themselves a fan of video games played these. I wanted to continue along that trend of games that shaped generations and the next game that came to mind was the Mario and Luigi series. With the introduction of Mario in 1981 into other games this character and his younger brother Luigi have become icons in the gaming community. Martin Garrix, one of the premier DJs and producers is only 22 years old. Growing up in the same generation he played many of these games and made a song that brings back that nostalgia and evokes that time period. These video games and the technologies they created gave many people in the generations that played them some great memories. 

[brookecasuallyabroad-blog]

Prompt 2: (Extended) Computerspielmuseum / DDR Museum: Public Communication of Sport Sciences and Technologies.Compare and contrast an example from each museum that talks about, shows, or otherwise presents a science or technology used in sports. Embed a music video of one song you would choose to play along with each sport (one for each, two songs total). Use supporting quotes from McLeod to explain why you chose those songs.

Sports history dates back to the ancient times. Practically since the beginning of recorded history humans have attempted to compete with each other for the sake of fun. It is part of the human nature to be the best possible person they can be. This is very clear in athletics. In modern history, athletes are seen as celebrities. This is not an uncommon theme running through time either. There were famous sprinters in Greece and Egypt as well as wrestlers.

Traditional sports have not changed much in the last two hundred years. Sprinters still run around tracks and the javelin throwers still use a similar technique. This is a good example of sports lasting over time. On the other hand, there has been a recent rise in new sports. This is seen in the united states with American Football making an appearance in the late 1800s as a derivation of Rugby. New sports increased interest for both athletes and spectators. This occurrence has created a market where professional athletes are highly marketable. In fact, many professional sports leagues and tournaments have begun associating songs with their events. The songs typically “feature memorable and easily sung choruses in which fans can easily participate” (McLeod, 541).

Different styles of music are usually associated with different sports. The style typically relates to the type of sport that is being played. During this trip, we have visited both the Computer Game Museum and the East Germany Museum. Both had exhibits regarding sports. Many computer games are based on sports as they are easier to relate to the consumer. An example of this is seen with the Arcade Game style Poly Play at the museum. This machine lets the user select which game they want to play. I noticed many of the options included traditional sports as the game. The East Germany Museum had a small section of their exhibit dedicated to sports. Most of the images were relating to “athletics” or traditional track and field. The main difference between the two exhibits was not only the physical versus virtual aspect but also the sense of single-player versus community. Athletics were so common in East Germany because of the way they are scored. Individual athletes take the track or field to score points for their Team. In these sports, every player contributed there part to the overall good of the Team. This is a metaphor for life under communist control during that time. On the other hand, E-Sports are very individualistic. Players compete against others or their old scores and there is no team aspect. This changes with the rise of multiplayer games however that isn't fully relevant for this time period.

The song I would assign to each sport is probably unexpected. For Athletics, my choice was “Hocus Pocus” by Focus. My reasoning behind this is that this song is as simple and catchy as you can find. It is the type of song that gets stuck in your head for the duration of a race and makes you anxious to the point where you want to run faster. It has no specific “national identity” as many sports-related songs have which makes it ideal to use as a sport-specific anthem (McLeod 536). It is easy for fans to sing with and it might raise some spirits by getting a laugh out of a few of them. The overall feeling seems to represent the traditional athletics quite well. Alternatively, for the Arcade game Poly-Play my choice would be”Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles. This song deals with changing times and in particular, tv’s role in putting entertainment radio broadcasting out of business. This is a prelude to what is happening with E-Sports in the world today. E-Sports will never replace physical sports however they are gaining popularity to the point where they may reach the same popularity level. Both of these songs are fitting because of the energy that they offer. “Sports and music have largely been driven by and appealed to the music of the youth” and these two songs have high enough energy to fit in their sports (McLeod 536). No song can fully capture the feelings of competing, however, these to represent some of the values of their determined sports. “Hocus Pocus” features a strong guitar lead with a chorus of high energy yodeling. It is perfect for fans and athletes to draw energy from during athletic events. “Video Killed the Radio Star” is perfect for Poly-Play as it represents the changing times in a similar way of poly play. 

 In conclusion, sports and music have been around for a long time. In the recent history, they have combined to further represent what each sport means and conveys to its fans. These two songs relate to their designated sport and I believe if they were to broadcast these songs live at a sporting event there would be a great reaction. 

Video Killed the Radio Star:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwuy4hHO3YQ

Hocus Pocus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9esBTlhbC_g

[communicationnation]

COMM 3070 - week 4, post 1

Describe how one of the visits you have done on your own during your free time or a weekend trip would be a great learning opportunity for our class. Be sure to use class concepts and/or readings to help explain how your discovery would fit into the @cuingermany program. Add a picture to your post.

During the long weekend, I visited both Turin and Genoa in Italy. During our tour of the cities, I recognized massive differences between the status of both government and art.

For example, as we walked through the streets of Genoa we noticed the significant value that art placed on keeping the city alive. Artists lined the sides of every road while locals and tourists alike lost themselves in the beauty they saw. While many other markets seemed to be deteriorated, striving for attention, the art district was thriving. As we walked into one gallery, we met a renowned artist who had been featured in several prominent magazines across Europe. She walked us through her gallery and even had us pose in one of her exhibits for her Facebook page. This was a noteworthy difference because she seemed to have the freedom of loving her art without forcing sales while the rest of the country was struggling to make meager sales.

In addition to the differences seen through the art industry in Italy, I also recognized notable differences in the government of Italy as compared to the U.S. and the rest of Europe. For example, some areas like the city centers were thriving while more rural areas were depleted and lacked basic necessities such as internet access, reliable transportation, and efficient plumbing. Essentially, tourist run locations monopolized the prosperity of the region while the rest of the country suffered.

Although there is not an immensely recognizable distribution of wealth in Europe and the States, there are still basic expectations for certain essentials. In addition, art does not seem to be the ruling industry in either region in an overarching way. These differences may be related to the way that science and technology are not the leading industries in Italy as opposed to Germany and the United States. 

[mmolosso-blog]

Week 4: Post 1 3070

Describe how one of the visits you have done on your own during your free time or a weekend trip would be a great learning opportunity for our class. Be sure to use class concepts and/or readings to help explain how your discovery would fit into the @cuingermany program. Add a picture to your post.

The trips I have made on this trip have been amazing but the one that stood out was our long weekend in Italy.  We first flew into Torino and then took a train to Genova. In Genova, Italy this weekend we experienced a city that contrasted with characteristics of both an utopia and dystopia.

The city was beautifully located on a port with mountains surrounding the city line.  There were great restaurants, markets, museums, and historical buildings located all over the city.  While we were walking around, we began to notice that something was catching our eye. We saw women all in the same type of dressy outfit standing in back alleys.  Then we realized that these women were prostitutes.  It was totally unexpected for the time of day, 11:00 am on a Saturday morning. This opened our eyes to noticing other dystopic parts of the city including fights and poor public transportation. Then we started looking into the government construct of Italy and found out that protestation is legal and nationalist and socialist make up the majority of the national government. This experience would fit into the @cuingermnay program by allowing us as students to see first-hand how a society functions with a socialist/ nationalist government.

This weekend allowed me to personally discover how different European countries are from each other. I hope to be able to travel more soon so I can have a better understanding for the differences and similarities between countries all over the world.  

[cecehensley-blog]

Comm 3070 Prompt 2

Prompt 2: Computerspiel museum / DDR Museum: Public Communication of Sport Sciences and Technologies. Compare and contrast an example from each museum that talks about, shows, or otherwise presents a science or technology used in sports. Embed a music video of one song you would choose to play along with each sport (one for each, two songs total). Use supporting quotes from McLeod to explain why you chose those songs.

I plan to add pictures/videos of these asap, but I lost my content when I broke my phone.

At the computerspielmuseum and the DDR Museum there were multiple examples of science and technologies used in sports. Specifically at the DDR museum there was a simulation of the cars they used to drive in East Germany. Nascar drivers use driving simulations to practice and reach peak performance. The song I have chosen to play along with the driving simulation is Thunderstruck. The reason I have chosen this song is because (in my opinion) it is the epitome of rock and roll and masculinity. McLeod mentions “The rise of rock and roll paralleled the advent of a glamorous career that, particularly in the case of young men, promised a life of pleasure, adulation, and power previously rivaled only by star professional athletes.” I also chose to use this song because in East Germany they strived for better lives through socialism/communism. At the computerspielmuseum there were many instances where science and technology of sports were used in the form of games/ simulations. There were plenty of games and simulations that function like sports, AKA you play against an opponent and score points. For any multi player game like this I would suggest the song Hey Yah! because of the point McLeod makes “Crowd chants and club songs permeate European and South American football (soccer) matches, and rock, hip hop, and pop tunes are broadcast to delineate every stoppage of play during NHL, NBA, and Major League Baseball games.” Chants and competitive sports go hand in hand, and Hey Yah! is the perfect song to bring people together around any game or sport, even if it is just tetris.

[drpyleclemson-blog]

A sampling of foods from Week 1 2018! And yes, there’s a frog and a badger in some of them. They are this year’s travel friends. Last year Daniel Tiger, this year Henry Badger and Charlie Frog.

[pailzingis]

COMM 3550 - WEEK 3 - PROMPT 2 - BMW FACTORY

The BMW Motorcycle factory was an experience that gave so much insight behind the scenes into the production of BMW motorcycles. It’s hard to imagine that our group was on the property for over two hours and still was no where near seeing enough to fully grasp the size  of the full production that goes on. We were not allowed to take pictures during the museum itself but their was a few interesting things inside the main building that relate to the Zerfass reading as well as play right into internal/external stakeholders.

Internally, BMW did a great job promoting the ideas of ‘fans’ and ‘community throughout their entire presentation to us. Obviously, the biggest component of internal stake holders is keeping them happy once their involved in your organization. Their are many types of internal stakeholders but these exhibits specifically focused on them at a fan level.

On an external level (our group being one of the external public groups) their tour did a very good job of promoting their products. Something that I noticed was that they not only gave us very up-close access to many products but they also pushed the most advanced and coolest tech that they were producing. Something like this will obviously drive up the consumers want to purchase their products. 

Something our tour guide also continuously stressed throughout the experience was how safe BMW was and how they did everything according to and by the customer. This plays on both an external and internal level. Internally, stakeholders know that their relationship with BMW is important and that BMW is going to do by their wishes. Externally, this shows how much BMW cares for it’s consumers and this should let you know what exactly you are getting into.

[keepingupwithkellen-blog]

COMM 3070 Week #2

Prompt #1: What sciences and technologies are communicated during the tour of Ecoland? Find one example to describe in detail. How effective do you think it is? 

Ecoland was one of the most interesting places I’ve ever been.  They are a leader amongst ethical production in the area and have strong roots within their community.  They employ a lot of cool technology that allows them to keep in line with their mission and their lead nationally and internationally.  

One of Ecoland’s missions is to provide consumers with fresh, real ingredients and products.  In their spice room there hangs lights from the ceiling that emit a blue-ish-green glow.  When asked what they were, our tour guide told us they keep insects from the spices.  This is important for their products because they do not want to treat them with anything unnatural to keep insects away.  It not only communicates that they are striving for a good, clean product, free of pesticides or preservatives, but also says a lot about the choices other companies or cooperatives make.  Many people do not hold themselves to the same standards of Ecoland, which in turn gives them a leg up with their competition.    

[arhindeutschland-blog]

Prompt 1: Computerspielmuseum / DDR Museum: Public Communication of Sport Sciences and Technologies. Compare and contrast an example from each museum that talks about, shows, or otherwise presents a science or technology used in sports. Embed a music video of one song you would choose to play along with each sport (one for each, two songs total). Use supporting quotes from McLeod to explain why you chose those songs.

pictured above; Poly-Play cir. 1985

In East Germany and other socialist nations, there was a focus on community, competition, and childhood. The artifact I chose from the DDR museum was a booklet of stickers used to congratulate young children on their athletic excellence. East Germany focused on educating the children to become good socialists and sports were a fantastic way to do this. The soundtrack I chose for this artifact is “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” – a classic sports soundtrack that has simple lyrics and a playful melody that seems designed for children. As McLeod says, “sports and music have largely been driven by and appealed to the energy of youth” (pg. 536). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSYWX7ZXd5I

Looking at a slightly older generation, East Germany attempted to attract the youth by using the newest innovation of the time – video games. The artifact I chose from the Computerspielmuseum is the Poly-Play system shown above. This machine contained several video games copied from the West (unbeknownst to the East Germans) and served to foster a sense of competitive community similar to the children's stickers from the DDR museum. However, this machine served less as a community tool and more as a marvel of the East’s technological ability. However, for most East Germans, they probably used it for another reason: as McLeod says, “it is arguably the very experience of sports, with its suspension of real time and space, that offers the transgressive release from oppressive reality” (pg. 535).  The soundtrack I chose for this artifact is Motorhead’s “Breaking The Law” not only because it is a “hypermasculinized sports rock anthem” (pg. 532) that riles the youth up, but also because it’s lyrics reflect the desire to break the rules and rebel against the mundane life of the socialist regime.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k9hXLwAt5o

[laurengetsforeign]

Week Four-Metropolis in Action

Prompt #2: Museum Communication meets Metropolis: At the museum, look for two examples of science or technology to relate to the film: 1 - Find an exhibit that suggests the film was accurate in communicating the future. 2 - Find an exhibit that suggests the film was inaccurate in its vision of the future.

To give a little bit of background, the film Metropolis discussed the idea that one day technology would take over the roles of humans and essentially rule us. The example I found in the museum that agreed with the film was the robots in the round square. In the film, evil Maria was a robot and in this exhibit robots were roaming around dressed like people. The exhibit exemplifies the prediction made in the movie as robots are freely roaming and built to function on their own. The robot with the hat on also looks like he has a brain which speaks to the idea that robots will one day be smarter than us and overcome humans for good. 

While a subtle example, I chose the boat exhibit to demonstrate that the film was inaccurate in its depiction of the future. Even with autopilot or cruise control, boats still need humans to function at full capacity. Someone has to steer, perform maintenance, and make the space comfortable for human use. A boat at this time is not able to think on its own or create ideals of the future. It is an object that is put to use by humans, therefore it is not in line with the predictions of Metropolis. One thing that I also think is not in line with the ideals presented in Metropolis is that everyone is susceptible to the ways of the future. While watching the film, every single one of the workers fell victim to the suggestions of evil Maria. 

In our society, I believe enough people are aware of the collusion that went on in our election with robots and see that what is happening in our “future,” isn’t necessarily the best for us moving forward. Overall, the film Metropolis made some very good predictions in regards to how our society functions today. When we look at the 2016 election, we see that another country was able to use the same method, robots, to create turmoil in democracy and deface an election. Something is to be said for how well they predicted such a marginal concept in my opinion.