One aspect of this class that I especially enjoyed is the way in which I still get to interact with my peers even though it is an online class. In fact, I think I have interacted with all of you More than in a normal lecture where I just go, sit, listen, and leave. Another aspect of this class that I liked is how all of the assignments served to enhance my knowledge of the concepts. I didn’t think there was anything we did that was just “busy work.”
On that same note though, I did feel that our final paper and journal entries were kind of one of the same. I know professor Perez just wanted us to find examples of the concepts in the book in our everyday lives and in a fictional piece of media, but I felt like many of the concepts that I analyzed in my journal entries, I also analyzed in my final paper. Although I didn’t think the work load was too overbearing, I think this class could do without the last paper.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
post #2 week 12/6-8
Although I think this is one of the better communication studies books I’ve read in terms of being thorough and covering all aspects of communication, the one chapter I didn’t feel was very insightful was ch. 12, intercultural communication. Maybe it’s because I’ve taken two other classes that are purely on intercultural communication, but this is the one chapter I feel I didn’t learn much from. As far as a specific concept that needs more discussion, I cannot think of any concept that I felt like I didn’t understand, however, I would like to learn more concepts about intercultural communication than the ones I read over and over (ie collectivism, and stereotypes). Although other parts of the country may benefit from the information in ch. 12, I feel that here in Silicon Valley, it takes some very insightful information about intercultural communication to teach us more than what we can learn just by interacting with the people around us.
Post #1, week 12/6-8
1). What concept/s in this class have you found most interesting? What was it about the concept/s that you found interesting.
The two overarching topics that I found most interesting in this class are the topics of interpersonal communication and mass media communication. The first, interpersonal communication I find has the most use in my every-day and professional life. Additionally I feel as though interpersonal communication incorporates many of the other types of communication such as nonverbal, verbal, and the concept of listening. Another aspect of interpersonal communication that I think I particularly enjoy is how it delves into ways in which we can improve our relationships with others. While reading chapter six I feel like I was constantly comparing the concepts in my head to the relationships I have already established. Specifically, I like what Trenholm had to say about managing conflict and I found the section on relational development very eye opening.
My second favorite topic would have to be ch. 11, communication and the mass media. Popular culture has always been something that interests me and I feel that this chapter’s analysis of media was thorough and insightful. I had never really thought about how the “medium is the message,” but now that I have a better understanding of how each type of media lends to communication, I definitely agree with this statement.
The two overarching topics that I found most interesting in this class are the topics of interpersonal communication and mass media communication. The first, interpersonal communication I find has the most use in my every-day and professional life. Additionally I feel as though interpersonal communication incorporates many of the other types of communication such as nonverbal, verbal, and the concept of listening. Another aspect of interpersonal communication that I think I particularly enjoy is how it delves into ways in which we can improve our relationships with others. While reading chapter six I feel like I was constantly comparing the concepts in my head to the relationships I have already established. Specifically, I like what Trenholm had to say about managing conflict and I found the section on relational development very eye opening.
My second favorite topic would have to be ch. 11, communication and the mass media. Popular culture has always been something that interests me and I feel that this chapter’s analysis of media was thorough and insightful. I had never really thought about how the “medium is the message,” but now that I have a better understanding of how each type of media lends to communication, I definitely agree with this statement.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Media Effects
At one end of the spectrum is the powerful effects model, which theorizes that receivers "are relatively passive; they accept media messages at face value and unconsciously allow media sources to tell them what to think." On the other hand, there is the limited effects model which theorizes that "audience members interpret messages according to their own preexisting beliefs and values and use these messages in unique ways" (pg. 303).
Although I believe we cannot fully escape the influence of media, my views are closer to the limited effects model. I believe that people rarely take anything they watch, hear, or read at face value, but at the same time, these things are not completely disregarded and often can change a person's opinion or views or lead them to want to learn more.
One day when I was watching TV, the talk show I was watching had a segment on this company called Kiva where you can make loans to citizens of third world countries to help them start their own businesses. At first I thought this sounded like a huge hoax, but I researched it and the company was actually very legitimate. As a poor college student I don't really have to means to participate however, this was an example to me of how the media can influence my beliefs and be a gateway for learning.
Although I believe we cannot fully escape the influence of media, my views are closer to the limited effects model. I believe that people rarely take anything they watch, hear, or read at face value, but at the same time, these things are not completely disregarded and often can change a person's opinion or views or lead them to want to learn more.
One day when I was watching TV, the talk show I was watching had a segment on this company called Kiva where you can make loans to citizens of third world countries to help them start their own businesses. At first I thought this sounded like a huge hoax, but I researched it and the company was actually very legitimate. As a poor college student I don't really have to means to participate however, this was an example to me of how the media can influence my beliefs and be a gateway for learning.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Medium
2). Do you agree with Marshall McLuhan that the medium is the message, i.e. that the format or logic of a medium is as important as its content and, in fact, determines what content will be broadcast through that channel? Evaluate his idea that television is a cool medium.
I feel like the medium you chose to send a message is like the nonverbal communication of f2f talking; included in this is that it needs to enhance the message not contradict it. I actually read an interesting study concering this topic for another class involving teacher/student communication in Japan and the United States. In this study the scientist were trying to figure out if college students in these two counties communicated through different mediums with their teacher because the have different concepts of power distance (United States tends to see people as equal whereas Japan places emphasis on a defined power structure). The conclusion was that Japanese students tend to communicate more through face to face interaction because they believe it shows more respect for their professors than say email or instant messaging whereas American students use email or instant messaging more because although they respect their professors, they are more concerned with saving time and convenience than with going out of their way to use more formal ways of communication.
I agree with McLuhan's interpretation of TV (and movies) as a cool medium. For instance, my friend is currently outraged that the Twilight movies don't follow the book exactly. However, in my opinion, not everything in a book can be translated into a movie. Thoughts, feelings, and situations can take tens of pages to explain in a book but with tv or a movie, no one wants to sit through a five hour movie where every detail is spelled out. Therefore I think TV is a cool medium because it requires its viewers to fill in between the lines.
I feel like the medium you chose to send a message is like the nonverbal communication of f2f talking; included in this is that it needs to enhance the message not contradict it. I actually read an interesting study concering this topic for another class involving teacher/student communication in Japan and the United States. In this study the scientist were trying to figure out if college students in these two counties communicated through different mediums with their teacher because the have different concepts of power distance (United States tends to see people as equal whereas Japan places emphasis on a defined power structure). The conclusion was that Japanese students tend to communicate more through face to face interaction because they believe it shows more respect for their professors than say email or instant messaging whereas American students use email or instant messaging more because although they respect their professors, they are more concerned with saving time and convenience than with going out of their way to use more formal ways of communication.
I agree with McLuhan's interpretation of TV (and movies) as a cool medium. For instance, my friend is currently outraged that the Twilight movies don't follow the book exactly. However, in my opinion, not everything in a book can be translated into a movie. Thoughts, feelings, and situations can take tens of pages to explain in a book but with tv or a movie, no one wants to sit through a five hour movie where every detail is spelled out. Therefore I think TV is a cool medium because it requires its viewers to fill in between the lines.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
cyberspace
1). Have you made friendships that exist exclusively in cyberspace? If so, how are they different from f2f relationships? If you have not formed cyber relationships, why not?
I have never had a friendship that existed exclusively in cyberspace because I am generally an untrusting person and believe there are a lot of crazy people in this world. Even when it comes to Facebook or Myspace when they have pictures of 'themselves' and belong to a college network, I don't automatically believe they are who they say they are.
I have used cyberspace to grow aquaintences into friendships though. For instance, when I was 15 (obviously before I could drive) I really like this guy who I had met at a dance but he lived all the way in Hollister. Although we probably could have just talked on the phone, we ended up instant messaging for hours. Just like texting, instant messaging is a good way to get to know someone because it doesn't have that conversational pressure like talking f2f or over the phone and you can talk to someone all day because they dont expect an immediate reply and you can do other things while messaging.
I have never had a friendship that existed exclusively in cyberspace because I am generally an untrusting person and believe there are a lot of crazy people in this world. Even when it comes to Facebook or Myspace when they have pictures of 'themselves' and belong to a college network, I don't automatically believe they are who they say they are.
I have used cyberspace to grow aquaintences into friendships though. For instance, when I was 15 (obviously before I could drive) I really like this guy who I had met at a dance but he lived all the way in Hollister. Although we probably could have just talked on the phone, we ended up instant messaging for hours. Just like texting, instant messaging is a good way to get to know someone because it doesn't have that conversational pressure like talking f2f or over the phone and you can talk to someone all day because they dont expect an immediate reply and you can do other things while messaging.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Self-disclosure
Overall I really enjoyed reading chapter six because I felt like I could directly apply most of the concepts to the relationships and events that are going on in my life right now. One concept that I have heard a lot since I started taking COMM classes is self-disclosure. As Trenholm states, self-disclosure is "the voluntary revealing of information that would normally be unobtainable."
Although you shouldnt disclose everything about your life the instant you meet someone, having someone who you can be completely open with is what I believe to be one of the most gratifying aspects of a relationship. However, I have also found that the expressive-protective dialectic can be a very tricky to balance, especially with romantic partners. Once I dated a guy who kept a lot to himself and it drove me nuts because I am the opposite and generally when you disclose part of yourself to someone, you expect them to disclose back. After learning about self-disclosure in a class last spring it made me realize that self-disclosure is directly linked to vulnerability and although I may feel comfortable putting myself out there, I can't expect everyone I meet to feel the same and that I needed to learn how to encourage disclosure without demanding it as I was doing with the guy I was dating.
Although you shouldnt disclose everything about your life the instant you meet someone, having someone who you can be completely open with is what I believe to be one of the most gratifying aspects of a relationship. However, I have also found that the expressive-protective dialectic can be a very tricky to balance, especially with romantic partners. Once I dated a guy who kept a lot to himself and it drove me nuts because I am the opposite and generally when you disclose part of yourself to someone, you expect them to disclose back. After learning about self-disclosure in a class last spring it made me realize that self-disclosure is directly linked to vulnerability and although I may feel comfortable putting myself out there, I can't expect everyone I meet to feel the same and that I needed to learn how to encourage disclosure without demanding it as I was doing with the guy I was dating.
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