New Media and Digital Culture

The Smartphone Paradox

  1. Introduction

An introduction to the various theories surrounding technology, this chapter also introduces the overarching theme that smartphones are neutral devices

  1. History of the Smartphone

Discusses the history of smartphone models, usage, and addictiveness. The iPhone is considered the first smartphone, with usefulness changing from communication, to productivity, to entertainment

  1. Habit-Making Devices

Focuses on smartphone addiction, differentiating it from other types of addiction. Also discusses parameters for diagnosis and how certain habits lead to addiction

  1. Use. Gratify. Repeat

Introduces the uses and gratifications theory which "determines how media is consumed and why it is sought after and obtained." Also discusses the debate on whether the instant gratification smartphone notifications offer is good or bad

  1. Outsourcing Memory

Discusses smartphones negative effects of memory; because we have access to information in our pockets, we do not need to memorize new material. Also discusses our heavy reliance on phones, which causes less understanding.

  1. Digital Socialities

Asks the question, "Do our phones actually make us more connected, or do they instead decrease our connectivity?" While social media may cause us to think we know more about a person, we are only getting this information at surface level, rather than forming a meaningful relationship through physical interaction

  1. Going Dark

Discusses the major cons of technology: privacy concerns, digital crime, and boredom. With technology being developed at an advanced speed, it is hard become more hard to catch criminals while also protecting the general public's privacy. Also discusses the importance boredom has on our creative development that smartphones are taking away

  1. Conclusion

Discusses the importance of technological awareness and self-regulation. While we cannot stop smartphone usage entirely, we can use it sparingly and with good purpose

Film Analysis

Spike Jonze's Her

This movie, set in futuristic LA, follows a man who falls in love with a computer, and the complications that arise as a result

Read and Respond

New Media Projects

Marvel App Creation

In this project, I was challenged to create an app for CCU students with a productive purpose and an easily understandable interface

Technology Mindfulness

In this project, I was challenged to collect my smartphone usage data and write weekly blog entries to record this data and my thoughts on it

I found that I use my phone more than I would like to admit, and while I would like to make a change, it is harder than it sounds. This project made me more aware of my technology usage and how it impacts me negatively; this realization caused me to want to make a change in my phone habits

I created an app called Study Buddy which allows students to set due dates, goals, and study times with their classmates for group projects. This project taught me how to take a problem and solve it creatively and technologically

Her is intended to shock the viewer with both an absurd storyline and explicit scenes; however, in the end, the viewer becomes accustomed to the futuristic lifestyle, perhaps realizing that this future is not so far away.

It ends abrupbtly, leaving the viewer to question whether technology is good or bad, restrictive or freeing

I analyzed Her using the formalist method, focusing on Theodore Twombly's character development

What is New Media? - Socha and Eber-Schmid

New media does not have one set definition, it is constantly changing with technology. However, it is most identifiable by the "nesting"qualities (links to open-ended sources) that physical texts like newspapers do not have. This text was a good introduction to the class.

Google Knowing- Lynch

Through the use of technology, we have developed a new way of learning, which is called "google-knowing." However, we have become so used to an infinite pool of information, that we are no longer storing information, but simply memorizing where information is stored. Googling also causes our brains to process information faster, which can be a good thing, but also bad when we choose to skim over important information

Kurzweil & the Technological Singularity- Kurzweil

Technology is growing exponentially and improving quickly; because of this, Ray Kurzweil believes there will be a singularity of technology and the human mind. The goal is to create technological machines laced with human intelligence that will benefit society. He believes there are downsides, however, which is biotechnological abuse

The Internet Debate - Shirky, Carr, and Poundstone

Shirky embraces the internet, claiming that we have accepted the past advancements of society, so what is different regarding the internet? Carr, on the other hand, discusses the negative effects technology has on our ability to concentrate, stating that that we now have to discipline ourselves to reach a level of deeper thinking. Poundstone also discusses technology's influence on our memory making us dumb; but states that we do not try to do this on purpose, and are just ignorant of our thinking habits.

Approaches

Film Criticism

Contextualist: discusses the context in which in the film is made/ the time and place that influenced it

Realist: discusses how cinematic techniques tells the viewer what the director's intended reality is

Formalist: discusses characters/plot development and techniques used to effect viewers

Four Levels of Meaning

  1. Symptomatic: references to society
  1. Implicit: character change/growth
  1. Explicit: story morals
  1. Referential: basic plot

People Would Rather Be Electrically Shocked - Whitehead

Because of our phones, we are rarely left time to just think alone; many people view this as a good thing, however, preferring an electric shock over sitting in a room with nothing else to do. The goal of the experiment was too understand why people are so unhappy when forced to be alone with their thoughts

The Case for Boredom - Zomorodi

Because of our phones, we have the option to not be bored anymore, but is this a good thing? Creativity stems from boredom, however, we cannot get a chance to realize our potential since every free second we get is spent on our phones. Zomorodi created a Bored & Brilliant initiate to encourage people to put down their phones and spend time being creative.