In today’s class, I want to do a bit of housekeeping. First, I want to lay out the calendar for the rest of the year. Second, I want to review Project 1, paying attention to some pretty cool projects. Third, I want to handout the homework.
Reflecting on Project One
A few projects that stood out:
If you want to resubmit the project, then send me an email with the URL and a note that highlights what specific changes you made (use the rubric as a guide).
In general, let me say that I would appreciate it if you would STOP CENTER-ALIGNING TEXT. Thank you.
1. I want to clarify what Ong is arguing a bit: Ong believes literacy, and the way it leads us to think abstractly and logically, is a good thing. However, he also wants us to recognize that it transforms the way we think, and prevents us from seeing other ways of thinking (especially ways ground in feeling, emotion, pathos). In short, Ulmer believes new media–images, websites, television, motion pictures–engender a return to feeling.
2. When you write: “Ulmer is also interested in how to update the way we communicate given the prevalence of new media” I immediately expect the next sentence to follow-up: what does it mean to update our methods of communication in light of new media? This question left me hanging a bit.
Of course, later parts of the installation address the question in terms of aesthetics. This is smart, and you do a nice job thinking through some pretty complex theory here. To your emphasis on the “supplemental” nature of electracy: I would argue that Ulmer wants us to realize that electracy *ins’t* a finished product yet–he hopes that, if we take the time to recognize that the process is under way, then we can actively shape what we want electronic writing to be(come).
3. I was a bit concerned in your postmortem when you wrote: “Ong says literacy can hinder human beings ability to think critically. He mentions in oral cultures how the mind must remember every detail otherwise that story or bit of their culture is lost forever. The invention of writing and therefor literacy promotes yes easy access to stories, information, and traditions but looses some of it’s meaning in the process.” This is a tricky point: Plato feared that literacy would take away from our ability to think. He also feared that if ignorant people attempted to read, then ideas would be “left out there” with no one to care for them (that is, no one is there to help ignorant people overcome their misunderstandings). Ong, however, disagrees with Plato. Ong argues that literacy promotes the kind of abstract analytics that Plato encourages.
Calendar
I have updated the calendar on the syllabus. The important date is that Project 2 is due next Thursday. But this is up for negotiation.
Homework
Read the Stockman .pdf I sent out via Canvas. We will generate the Project 2 rubric in Thursday’s class.
