doctoral candidate in rhetoric and scientific and technical communication
cultural & textual studies
tidbits
03 years ago
I wanted to share a few things, today, that I’ve been saving to share.
“Should buying sex toys be as easy as buying a gun?”
Yes, that is the byline to an image of a gun seller in response to the change in the Texas law allowing the sale of sex toys. Is there a disconnect here? Are sex toys *really* on the same level of destruction as guns? Don’t you love the pathos being employed in this situation?
Check it out at viz, where there is a whole blog post about it.
the way I am
I love this video/song because it’s really what love should be about. Things suck, but I still love you. You’re falling apart, I’m a mess, but I still love you. It’s not a conditional love.
the future of reputation
I haven’t read it yet, but I love that the entire book is online and I have the opportunity to read it this way. If you are interested in identity, reputation, technology, and / or law, you might want to check out this book by Daniel Solove.
youtube as portfolio
I was actually up late enough to see a segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live (which is an odd occurrence for me because I don’t watch that show and I’m rarely up late enough anyway). However, what I did see, I really enjoyed. This young man, Brandon Hardesty, is using YouTube for his acting portfolio, and is being featured on Kimmel’s show. What a great use of social media.
This is something instructors should look in to for their portfolio needs. How can YouTube, blogging, wikis, podcasts, etc. be used to promote your students?
New Directions in Critical Theory
This conference, held at the University of Arizona in Tucson, has extended its call for papers. While the extension dates are not listed, I just received this on Friday from the University so I know that it didn’t close on the 15th. You may want to check it out if you’re interested in presenting a paper this year.
identity crisis
04 years ago
I have recently been asked to present to several campus groups (at different times) regarding the issue of identity in social
networks. I guess, in some way, I’m considered the campus expert on this issue because it is what I’m doing my research on and it is something I’m constantly thinking about, working on, and researching. One of the things that one of the groups asked me to cover is the issue of problems that we can create with a seemingly innocuous identity construction. In particular, it seems that they want me to use the scare tactics to show how dangerous it can be to do certain things with your online identity — how it can cause the loss of a job, the denial of credit, the missed opportunity of graduate school.
Phoenix news channel 5, KPHO, ran a segment at the end of November about some Phoenix area school teacher’s MySpace pages (you can see the video at the link and read the article). The first sentence of the article states
CBS 5 Investigates discovered some Valley teachers making their private lives public by posting them on the Web.
Our private lives have often been public. We go out to bars, hang out with friends, take pictures, do stupid things. The thing is, we’re now posting it on the Web where it can be found by nearly anyone. In the past, it used to be only the people who were physically present who could be a danger to our careers. Now it’s any person who gets upset by someone taking a drink, dressing in a silly costume, or flipping someone off. Unfortunately, the biased perspective of the reporter made this whole thing into a witch hunt.
Today’s NYTimes shared an article about Stacy Snyder, a 25-year-old student teacher who’s MySpace page had her dismissed from her student teaching program.
In the absence of strong protections for employees, poorly chosen words or even a single photograph posted online in one’s off-hours can have career-altering consequences. Stacy Snyder, 25, who was a senior at Millersville University in Millersville, Pa., offers an instructive example. Last year, she was dismissed from the student teaching program at a nearby high school and denied her teaching credential after the school staff came across her photograph on her MySpace profile. She filed a lawsuit in April this year in federal court in Philadelphia contending that her rights to free expression under the First Amendment had been violated. No trial date has been set.
Her photo, preserved at the “Wired Campus” blog of the Chronicle of Higher Education, turns out to be surprisingly innocuous. In a head shot snapped at a costume party, Ms. Snyder, with a pirate’s hat perched atop her head, sips from a large plastic cup whose contents cannot be seen. When posting the photo, she fatefully captioned her self-portrait “drunken pirate,” though whether she was serious can’t be determined by looking at the photo.
This kind of snap judgment on the part of a school worries me. I know that the students in my classes have had MySpace and Facebook pages. I have seen some of them. I know that some of them have created YouTube videos. I have seen them. While I would not put up the same things on my pages, I understand why they are doing it. I have a feeling that if I had had access to the Internet when I was younger, I may have been doing the same thing. I wouldn’t have been thinking about the consequences but I would have been thinking about having fun and enjoying my time with my friends.
They are adults. They do need to take responsibility. However, I also believe that we, as a society, need to lighten up. We are so judgmental about these kinds of things. We are so hypocritical about them. I can bet that the same people who are angry about a young woman being photographed with a cup in her hand have probably had a drink or two in their lives as well. Heck, I’ve been out drinking with some of my instructors. It made me like them more because I knew that they were just like me–human, fallible, flawed, and fun.
I’m not a first grader or the parent of a first grader. I know that my view may be skewed because of that. But there needs to be a balance. Or do we have to start hiding everything? Are we going to go back to J. Edgar Hoover’s time when we had to be secretive about everything so we wouldn’t be brought before Congress, and yet the very man doing the hunting had his own skeletons?
Online identities do need to be considered. We also need to be a bit more balanced and less reactionary.
experimental
04 years ago
I found a fun little quiz on Lili’s site and took it (results below). That’s not a big deal, really, because so many of us take the quizzes that go around the blogosphere.
I started thinking about the consequences of posting it on my blog though. And I started thinking about one of the questions that came up during my defense. One of the professors asked me about having multiple identities on the Internet and how we could separate those (if we can) and how we can keep one consistent identity throughout. She asked (I’m paraphrasing here), for instance, about our sexuality. Doesn’t that eventually come through and should it be kept secret just to safeguard our careers, our educations, and our offline lives?
I told her that if anyone read my blog, they would get to know more of me than if they just read my facebook page or my twitters. I talk about my life here — the good and bad. But it’s still not all of me. I do filter — and mostly because I know how accessible I am on the Internet. If you know my name, you can find me. I’m not too secretive about where I am online (and that was done intentionally to see how my identity construction compares to someone who may desire more anonymity).
That being said, I don’t post a lot about what happens in the privacy of my bedroom (unless you count the comments about waking up next to Dakota — which, in reality, is the extent of what happens in the privacy of my bedroom. Heh.). Seriously, I don’t see the need to post some of the more intimate analogs of my daily life. They just aren’t relevant to what I write here. If I was writing about a relationship (beyond my relationship with Dakota — who is a beagle, for those of you reading for the first time), those discussions might be relevant (and I have talked about those aspects of my life in earlier entries of my blog, when I was in a relationship).
I also consider that some of the universities that I am applying to have access to what I write here. They know I’m an avid blogger. They know they can find me online if they want to. While I haven’t seen evidence that they’ve been here, it is possible for any of them to find me (and I am linked to some of the people in facebook so they do see new blog entries pop up in there).
Anyway…this whole identity / openness idea is interesting to me. I am constantly thinking about it and how I can be affected by what I post. Do you all think about it? Does it concern you? How do you filter yourselves?
Ok, ok…I know you’ve really been waiting for this part of the post, the part that led me on that esoteric journey into “self.” Here it is…
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| Do you have an inclination for BDSM? created with QuizFarm.com |
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| You scored as Experimental
Experimentation is a great place to be. Open-mindedness when it comes to sexuality can open doors and allow you to discover things that you didn’t think you would find engaging. Having such a curious attitude can help you learn more about your own sexual nature as well as the nature of others.
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defintions of…
04 years ago
I saw a link to definitions of rhetoric on Michael’s site. The first thing I noticed is that they came from a Stanford class on
Gender and the History of Rhetoric. Then guess what I noticed. Oh, yes…not a female among all of the people who are quoted as defining rhetoric. I recognize that historically women’s views on this discipline have not been recorded (if, indeed, there were many women who were writing their views on this topic). However, there isn’t even a current definition attributed to a woman, and there are plenty of women writing about rhetoric now.
However, I then went to the site where the definitions were chosen from and there were plenty of women. Whew. Really, it bothered me because this discipline that I love (and I do — I think it is the basis for so much that we do) seems to be just another field that I’ve chosen (being in a technology field and having a minor in geology) that does not seem to have a balanced view. Not true for modern-day research and instruction, though. There are plenty of women writing about this discipline. Take, for instance, Sonja and Karen Foss (whom I’ve quoted in papers):
“Rhetoric is an action human beings perform when they use symbols for the purpose of communicating with one another . . , [and it] is a perspective humans take that involves focusing on symbolic processes.”
This is the crux of my argument in my thesis. We use symbols to communicate and that perspective that humans take is what makes the process interesting. Mostly because most people don’t really pay as much attention to the symbols they are using as those of us who study it do. They don’t look at how they place an image, what font they choose, what colors are chosen, or what wording is specifically chosen and how that will affect audience perspective.
I digress, however, because I didn’t want to go off on my dismay with the focus on male rhetoricians or my interests in a particular area of this discipline. Instead, I wanted to share more definitions and resources for those of you who are interested in rhetoric, methods of argument, and in understanding the components of persuasive writing/speech.
Wikipedia gives a good, albeit brief, overview of the history and use of the term “rhetoric.” You get the gist of rhetoric for what took me over a semester to study in ancient rhetorical studies. Even in the list of contemporary rhetoricians, however, there are very few women. Very unfortunate.
The staff/faculty in the Division of Classics at the University of Kentucky has posted a A Glossary of Rhetorical Terms with Examples. I like this list because it really shows some of the great devices that are used in creating a rhetorical appeal. Reall it’s because the list starts off with alliteration and I’ve long been a fan of alliteration. I mean, just the word is beautiful in the way it rolls off the tongue. Ahem.
BYU defines rhetoric in one page with some great links to discuss components of rhetoric. They discuss two of the three main types of rhetorical appeal (pathos and logos — but where is ethos???).
Finally, Robert A. Harris shares a Handbook of Rhetorical Devices (many of which will be redundant if you looked at Kentucky’s list first). Harris, however, really goes more in depth with his explanation of the uses of rhetorical devices. It’s not enough to just know what a device is and what the definition of it is. It even more important to understand how it is used and how you could use it in your own writing and speaking. You probably already do and don’t realize it.
I think I love rhetoric because of how it really is a part of every day of our lives. We all use it. It’s not limited to political candidates telling us what they want us to believe. Each of us who has a website or blog uses it each day in the ways we choose to present ourselves. Each of us uses it when we talk to others or when we write an email or memo. We all use it, but we don’t always realize that we are using it.
(image of plato courtesy of wikipedia)
how much?
04 years ago
Have you ever wondered how much advertisers spend to get you to buy their products? How much do you think that space you’re occupying is worth?
The people at GOOD Magazine have made a video that shows us just how much space and time is worth. It’s an interesting look at commerce and the value of placement.
found via .viz.
colors, fonts, and styles
04 years ago
What do colors, fonts, and styles say to us? In politics, as well as on our blogs, in our photography, and in our presentatio at work (or school), these elements matter a great deal. If they matter so much, why do so few of us give them the respect they deserve?
The New York Times has a GREAT editorial about the differences and impacts in fonts, colors, and styles in the U.S. Presidential race.
found via .viz
write me a letter
04 years ago
Remember, back in the day, when we used to put pen to paper and write lovely, heart-wrenching personal letters to our loved ones? We would catch them up on what has been happening since the last letter and let them know how we were doing. We might ask a few questions to encourage them to write back. I know, I know. Some of us still write snail mail but it seems to be a fashion that is quickly going with the horse-drawn carriages — a relic of days gone by.
The thing about the letters, at least my letters, is that I took care to write them. I was careful with the wording. I wanted to get it right. I wanted to make sure that my message was clear and that the person on the other end (my audience, if you will) was able to understand what that message was (typically: I love you. I miss you. Please write me back.).
I was careful with the wording. This is key. Words are power. How we use them, what context we frame them in, and how we present them are all elements of style that can either convey or convolute a message.
In today’s world of email, IM’ing, Twitter, Pownce, Facebook, MySpace, and more, we are shooting words all over the place without understanding their velocity, power, or impact. We need to do that more.
AgentXPQ takes that into account when he writes a “getting to know you” email.
Words are key. How we use them determines how others view us.
what do they learn?
04 years ago
Alan Lew, a professor I respect at Northern Arizona University, where I work, wrote,
Unfortunately, there are few more frustrating challenges for me than the poor writing ability of many of my students. If they cannot write a coherent sentence and paragraph (let alone a whole paper), then they will not be able to effectively communicate in the real world when they graduate. You cannot gain professional respect unless you are able to write to the level of your professional peers. And I am always wonder just what my students are being taught in those required English classes that they take.
I’m not calling out a professor nor am I trying to start a intra-campus / college versus college war here. But I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard that outside of the English department, and how frustrating it is to hear it.
It must be the instruction. It must be the lessons that the students are being taught because it couldn’t be the students themselves. It couldn’t be that students are coming in with nearly non-existent writing skills, and it is expected that they will be writing at professional levels by the time they have completed the required semester of freshman English.
It couldn’t be that this college has the least amount of resources and funds and the highest number of students that go through it. It also couldn’t be that so many of those students barely have the requisite reading and writing skills to pass basic levels of composition, let alone college level composition courses.
I don’t teach freshman English courses (thank goodness), but I may have to when I start my doctorate. I have been teaching the technology section of those courses in recent weeks (to assist the GAs who are not as learned in technology as I am) and I can tell you that it is nearly impossible to get those students to even pay attention, not to mention learn something. It’s nearly impossible to get them to cite sources (which I have them do when they grab an image off the ‘net) or to even be able to write a coherent, well-developed paragraph in the allotted time.
It’s not about what they are being taught in the requisite English classes. It’s about having a system that is underfunded, overloaded, and being met with skills that aren’t up to par in the first place.
That’s a hard place to start.
composition revised
04 years ago
I was reading Michael’s blog where he links out to Liz Kleinfeld, who writes about using “This I Believe” types of audio recordings for composition. She discusses the changes that had to occur once a student with hearing disabilities entered her class. She is having that student create a visual contribution to the assignment.
In my class, we do digital storytelling. This exercise allows students to include visual, audio, or both in a project that describes them. They can use still images (photographs, drawings, paintings, etc.) or video to tell their story (which is usually a reflective piece about themselves or an issue that they want to share more about). They can include music, narrative, and other sounds to enhance the work. We talk about attribution, creative commons, copyright, TEACH, and Fair Use. We talk about the elements of good narrative, good photography/videography. We discuss the use of technology (we use MovieMaker and iMovie in our labs).
Many of these are poignant, incredible pieces of work. We really get to know one another even better through the use of this exercise (I also do the assignment alongside the students).
The magic in this, though, is that students who have trouble writing share in a way that is more conducive to their skills. And it’s fun.
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In another composition area, Google for Educators just came out with a lesson on “Teach Collaborative Revision with Google Docs.” I think it’s worth a look and it could be easily revised for university instruction.
the rhetoric of rhetoric
04 years ago
I have a pet peeve about the use of the word “rhetoric.” The consensus in modern day usage is to use it as a derogatory term. For instance, “the politician spewed his rhetoric to convince us to think his way.” What does that mean? He shared his form of persuasive language to influence us.
We all do that. Each and every day, each of us engages in rhetoric. Got a kid? Want him or her to clean his or her room? How do you convince your child to clean a room? You use rhetoric.
Do you have clients who need a little convincing that what you are offering is really the best product/work/idea that they can get anywhere? You use rhetoric.
Want to convince your IT person that you’re really not insane and Word really did just reformat itself to mess up your entire thesis (my little rant against Microsoft Word — which thinks it knows how to format my paper better than I do — although I didn’t go to an IT person for assistance)? You use rhetoric.
Rhetoric is, simply, the act of persuading. We post images and hope that someone feels something about them. That’s visual rhetoric. I post a rant about crazy water usage by Phoenicians (who really do need those lush lawns in the middle of a DESERT!). That’s linguistic rhetoric.
It goes further but basically, that’s it. We all use it.
I was a little irritated when I was searching for videos about rhetoric and found this. I thought, oh, yeah…another video about politicians and their rhetoric. Except that it isn’t. This is a very good film on the use of words, typography, and images to produce an argument.
Rhetoric.