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Post 12: Final Reflection

Post 12: Writing for this multimedia class, and specifically the remediation project, has been an entirely different experience for me. I have written papers for years now, and though I am far from a professional writer or essayist, I generally do fairly well even on a last-minute basis. I worked on a journalism team for a few years and am a fan of deadlines. I have the proclivity to wait until the very last minute to complete essays and papers. Some look at this tendency and call me a procrastinator. I'd like to think it goes a bit deeper than that---I simply know myself well enough to recognize when I can be most effective, and that just so happens to be at the very last minute! However, procrastination does not work well in video writing. I did not even attempt it since I was clearly not working alone. Iris, Noelle, and I complemented each other well. Iris was the technological mastermind, Noelle could pull pictures at the speed of light, and my quirky ideas helped bring everything together. When you write a paper, it's typically just you, your research/books, and laptop. Writing a video demanded so much more. We had to include the text embedded within images that had to be engaging, but not distracting. This was just one of the tough balancing acts that we helped each other manage. Something I found interesting was the issue of the title of our video. When I write essays, I usually put a general title before I begin my outline/paper. The title sometimes changes after the paper is complete, but is generally not my biggest focus because I know the professor/TA has to read and grade it anyway. On the other hand, the video demanded a title that catches eyes and maintains attention. We hadn't even thought of the issue of a title past "Kristen Stewart's poem" until a couple days ago. The issue of popularity for a grade is something that, like you said in class, can not be ignored. However, it does make me feel uneasy and uncomfortable. Being employed and actively engaged in the fitness industry, I have easy access to photographers and models who will tell you that is truly is all about who you know. Networking and making human connections (ironically, they oftentimes begin online/through social media) plays a huge, huge part in your success. Knowing how to draft up and perfect a great essay will help some people achieve their dreams. Being technologically savvy and photoshop literate will aid others in reaching their aspirations. However, one thing that this class taught me that I had yet to learn in other classes is that the world of writing is advancing and being shaped by the ever-changing world around us. We, as writers, either have the option of sitting back and reminiscing on the good 'ol days when we would write in cursive or read actual newspapers, or we can remain malleable and grow as well. This project, as well as the rest of the course, shoved me out of my comfort zone and taught me to grow with the times.

iriseevahn

In the Bitter Limelight: K-Stews Poem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctsP4tFp-Zc

Post 11: "Suck a Thumb" Review

https://www.dropbox.com/s/khrq7h64uprx2mj/suckathumb.mp4 I got so excited when I saw that I was assigned to review "The Story of a Little Suck-A-Thumb." Our group sits pretty close to theirs, and I had heard the creative juices flowing from their group and was definitely not disappointed! I love the way the group chose to portray the children's story. They could have acted the story out themselves, but the infantile nature of hand puppets hand-drawn signs, and voice manipulation definitely added to the eerie nature of the story. The inclusion of their own thumbs in the video enhanced the creepiness of the story as did the use of ketchup/siracha/tapatio or whatever was used instead of blood. The visuals are entertaining as they should be, the voice inflections are great, and the WAY the story is told is engaging. I really liked that the lines of the story were depicted through hand-written voice bubbles and spoken in character voice. I think the important fact that this is a CHILDREN'S story would be lost if the story were just told through scrolling text or by someone just narrating it. With all this said, I do think that the use of music could help and would not take away from the short story and this remediation. I actually think it would add to the humor to add little clips of music during scary, eerie or bizarre moments. I think that some of the transitions could be smoother and the volume could be leveled a bit, but overall, it was creepy and entertaining...a job well done!

Post #10: Our plans

The text that Iris, Noelle, and I have chosen for our text remediation video is Kristen Stewart's poem "My Heart is a Wiffle Ball/Freedom Pole." The poem, written for her ex-boyfriend and ex-costar in Twilight, is a heavy one, with a lot of material to unpack and translate visually, for which we have already developed great ideas. Beyond painting a picture of what Stewart is probably talking about, we are choosing to focus on the incredible scrutiny Stewart has received from the press, professors, and everyone else who isn't illiterate. Stewart's poem is a current one, as it was recently published in Marie Claire. The media has been and is all over the topic, so bringing even more attention to it will not be a problem as it is already a trending topic on social media and in print. Our plans to remediate the text involve clips from celebrities dating back to the early 1920s all the way to present day who have undergone through serious media scrutiny. The examples we have chosen to use evoke many emotions--sadness, nostalgia, shock, and maybe a laugh or two. We have also selected "Bella's Lullaby," an instrumental song that "Edward" (Robert Pattinson in Twilight) wrote and played for "Bella" (Kristen Stewart) to play while we read the text. One of the hardest parts of working in a group is the scheduling, however, we lucked out in this group. Neither of us have any classes after our 105M class, so we will be meeting directly after that class. We can also meet on the weekends provided our work schedules allow us. Most of our work will be research-based, since we will be using already-existing clips/photographs for the most part. Because most of our work will be finding previously published and photographed/recorded material, most of our work will be done in the lab. Our contributions will be similar in that we are all assigned a different area to research and collect. Since we are using historical clips, clips from newspapers/TV news/ tabloids, movies, etc. we will all have a lot of material to start collecting. We are all going to take part in reading the poem (we will be narrating it ourselves). Of course, we all participated in the brainstorming/storyboarding. Iris has experience in film editing, an area Noelle and I are lacking, so she will be showing us the ropes with that, but Noelle and I plan on learning and helping as much as possible.

#kstew whatsawiffleball

In-class writing assignment 02/18

1) Describe one of your favorite reading experiences (which book, poem, story) and explain why it is your favorite.

One of my favorite reading experiences is Shel Silverstein anthology of poetry Where the Road Ends as well as his book The Giving Tree. Spanish is my first language, so I read many simple books in English like these two.

I remember checking out these books from the public library so many times before my mom actually just paid for them to keep at home.

2) Describe one of your favorite learning experiences (what class, lesson, skill, etc.) and explain why it is your favorite.

One of my favorite learning experiences has been studying for my NASM personal training certification. I am an English/Comp. Lit major so I loved the opportunity to expand my learning horizons to a different level. I am competing in my first fitness competition in just five short weeks, which is a new experience that is completely challenging my mind and body in a way I have never done. The challenge and change excites me.

3) Describe one of your favorite viewing experiences (film, TV series, etc.) and explain why it is your favorite.

My favorite TV series is, without a doubt, Breaking Bad (*tear*). I love movies like Goodfellas, The Godfather, etc. I love the action and violence and sassy humor. It's incredibly entertaining for me to live vicariously through these really, really good "bad guys."

4) Describe one your favorite YouTube videos and explain why it is your favorite.

One of my favorite Youtube videos right now is one of a baby girl laughing at her dog eating her popcorn. I have "viewed" the video at least fifty times in the last three or four days and have literally laughed to tears and side-stitches. I have shared this video with my friends and family because it's the funniest thing I have seen in a while.

Multimedia Project: Hope for Paws Timeline and Maps

JS TIMELINE: http://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline/latest/embed/index.html?source=0AkQ9dqpniZ6jdFRDYklSTXlCdEl0R1R3cVJWd2NfUmc&font=Bevan-PotanoSans&maptype=toner&lang=en&height=650 ZEEMAPS: http://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=849083&x=-117.817857&y=33.911912&z=8 My Zeemaps and JS Timeline projects are focused on the non-profit organization, Hope for Paws. I have volunteered in a few different pet adoption centers and have seen animals nearing the end of their lives get saved and given a second chance. I have witnessed, firsthand, the power of love and support through a group of dedicated people and the changes that can result from it. I chose to research the start of Hope for Paws because it is a life-changing and well-known organization that is completely run by two people: Eldad and his wife, Audrey. They met by chance, and connected through their passion for love of animals, and consequently found passion for each other. Their love for animals and for each other is what started this entire organization and has saved hundreds of animals and changed not only their lives but the lives of the families who adopted them later. Yahoo news has featured Hope for Paws' rescue videos, claiming it "will make you cry, smile, then cry again" (http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/blind-dog-rescued-trash-pile-gets-eyesight-back-141952873.html). There is no doubt that Hope for Paws has caused change in many lives, however, the true influence is that this amazing organization has the potential to inspire FURTHER change from others. The Examiner has also featured Hope for Paws and calls their mission to save animals from neglect and abuse "heartwarming" (http://www.examiner.com/article/blind-dog-rescued-by-local-group-makes-national-news). ASPCA featured Fiona, one of the most famous rescues in Hope for Paws history, as dog of the year in 2012. This media exposure has helped Hope for Paws tremendously, allowing them to appear on shows like Ellen, the Today show, and Anderson Cooper. Celebrities like Fergie are even tweeting about Eldad and Audrey's mission through their organization. (ASPCA.com) For my Zee timeline, I decided to start at the very beginning: when Eldad and Audrey first met. Not only was their first encounter romantic, but it spoke volumes of the relationship they were about to embark upon. Eldad was helping Audrey get her cat inside from her balcony. From the very beginning, they shared as love for animals which later blossomed into the Los Angeles-based non-profit that is now known as Hope for Paws. I continued on with some of the most famous rescues, Fiona and Miley, and the media exposure that ensued. I believe that celebrity outlets such as Fergie and Ellen allowed Hope for Paws to gain the notoriety that it needs and deserves to make an even bigger difference in Los Angeles, and hopefully, more areas. I decided to include some of the youtube rescue videos on Hope for Paws' account because that was how I first encountered the organization. My current employer knows the passion I have for animals and shared the video with me via Facebook, and that is what sparked my interest in using this topic for my project. The videos, of course, are heartwarming and tear-jerking. They force a reaction. They are not easily forgotten. The sentimental music and background story that is shared brings out many emotions. The videos are imperative because they, I believe, are what make a huge difference. They are easily shareable and attainable. It's as easy as copy and paste. Zeemaps was a lot more straightforward of a program to understand. This was the easy part for me. I knew what my intentions were for the maps right away. I wanted to elucidate the areas that were most populated by stray animals. As I mentioned before, I have worked at a few different animal shelters and they were all no further than 15 miles apart. This is important to mention because even with locations so near to each other, there is still an undeniable surplus and overflow of neglected animals. Hope for Paws is a hugely influential organization, however, it only has one location and two owners. Thus, I wanted my Zeemaps to outline the most most prevalent locations in which Hope for Paws has made a difference. It blows my mind that just two people have helped so many animals through only one location: the heart of LA. I am from La, myself, so I am aware of how many neglected animals run rampant throughout the county. Clearly, Eldad and Audrey can not humanly save every single one; however, through this timeline, we are able to see the most prevalent areas of rescues. This allows us to make note of where, if and when it is financially feasible, there should be another location for Hope for Paws rescue mission. This project brought to my attention the difference that two people and a lot of passion can make. It also reignited my own passion for helping organizations like Hope for Paws. I hope that my timeline and maps is able to spark a tiny bit of inspiration in at least one or two people so that missions like Eldad and Audrey's are able to continue. Bibliography: http://www.hopeforpaws.org/ http://www.aspca.org/ http://petnewsandviews.com/2009/12/rescuing-dogs/#sthash.ic0dZfpr.dpuf http://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/hope-paws/38502#sthash.jFrRQsEr.dpuf http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-767038 http://www.today.com/pets/story-behind-fiona-blind-dog-whose-video-has-gone-viral-573747?franchiseSlug=petsmain http://www.examiner.com/article/blind-dog-rescued-by-local-group-makes-national-news http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/blind-dog-rescued-trash-pile-gets-eyesight-back-141952873.html https://www.flickr.com/photos/eldad75/

Digital anxiety

1. Digital media is changing what we do and how we do things because it is all about convenience. I feel as though there is nothing you can't find as long as you have your smartphone on you. If you want to find a good sushi place in the area, you just Yelp it, and you can find a spot in your price range closeby. If you want to know what kind of rolls that sushi place has, you can oftentimes even download the menu from their yelp account. If you are not sure what a certain type of roll contains, you can just Google it. If it looks like you found the winning spot, you can Mapquest directions or just use the Maps app, and boom! You're there. When I went without my phone for half a day, the reasons I missed it most was for the convenience factor. I wasn't able to check my schedule, my apps, my music for my workout--it was all in one spot: my phone. 2. The ways digital media is changing how we express ourselves and our language is seen in the shortening/abbreviation of words that are really just not necessary. One example that I find most irritating is "obvs" for "obviously." The way people are speaking reflects the effect that digital media has on its users. It's almost as if people are speaking just how they would text. ONe of my coworkers lost her iphone and had to go back to using a "dumb phone," an old flip phone of hers, which obviously does not have the same capabilties as her iphone. As a result, she was not able to use Emojis in her text and she was explaining the anxiety she was having texting because she felt her "personality did not come through" in texts without the smiley faces! I told her to use her words and she laughed like that was a joke :P 3. Digital media changes the way we relate to other people because it often takes us away from the real, social relationships we have in our lives. I see it every day and I have definitely been guilty of this, but there are people texting every time they are out to lunch with their friends or at a social event. If they aren't texting, they're taking pictures and uploading it to social media with captions and hashtags like #besttimeever #favoritedayofmylife #bestfriendsineverwanttoletyougo...yet they are really not enjoying the moment or the people around them. When I think of the own relationships in my life that have been affected by digital media, I think of the little jail box my sister has at her house for cell phones. When we sit down for dinner, she literally collects our cell phones and puts them in a cell phone prison that sounds if someone touches it. I LOVE IT because it allows us to just talk to each other and enjoy each other's company. I need one for my place. 4. Digital media changes the way we think because we are so used to having everything answered for us or just a couple clicks or phone taps away from being answered. I also think that the various stimuli keeps our brain hyperactive and keeps us distracted to a whole new level. I think we are also more concerned with what people think of us on social media which affects our self-development and identity. I only allow people I know personally to follow me on Instagram, so if someone says something rude, I can shoot them a quick text or call and say "hey dude, whats up? you having a bad day or what?" I choose to not deal with a random follower saying something rude on a picture, because I really do not care what someone who does not know me has to say about a picture of my labrador pitt mix, because I know he is perfect in every single way. I think that digital media has a lot of positive potential, but it can definitely do a lot of damage as well if one is not careful. 5. I touched on the effect on social identity briefly earlier, but I do think this is a huge area on which digital media has influence. My little sister is pretty popular on "Vine" and it scares me because I am a pretty private person, so the idea of 3k people liking a video of mine makes me more nervous than excited. She, on the other hand, thinks it's pretty cool and entertaining which is fine. Considering most of her popular videos are of her singing or doing Disney impersonations, I am pretty cool about her Vine account, but the moment ANY sort of "twerking" takes place, it's over. Social identities, especially at a young adolescent age, are shaped by the perceptions others have of us. If someone does not like something we say, upload, or do---it does affect us. Futher, when we have a digital media account, we CHOOSE what we portray. There are, I';m sure, various accounts that do not reflect the true person. This can be good for those who are shy and are not great at in-person conversations, but would like to be a little more goofy or free-spirited online, but it can do some damage for those who are still learning about themselves and not really sure who they are just yet.

Social survival skills

First things first, I had to actually use an alarm clock to wake up. I had to ask my housemate to wake me up just in case. I also didn't get to have my routine musical in the morning while I was getting ready for work. However, I didn't really feel lonely without my phone for a day. I was surprised! Don't get me wrong, it was weird not texting anyone, and it sucked when everyone around me was texting and playing on their phones, but I'm pretty proud of my social survival. I did feel a little out of the loop because my friends would say "hey did you see that Instagram picture I tagged you in?" and I had no idea what they were talking about. Walking into work after hours of not having my phone was strange. Many of my coworkers, who are like my family, welcomed me with an overwhelming "wow, thanks for texting me back" as I walked through the front door. It was almost embarrassing how many times I reached for my phone to google something or text someone only to remember that I had banned myself. I didn't feel too out of the loop because I was around a lot of my friends. Luckily, one of my best friends, Anthony, lost his cell phone for the second time this year to the Isla Vista abyss and so I wasn't alone on my no-phone adventure. He said he felt "naked...like he was missing a part of his soul." A piece of good news is I performed well at work since I wasn't distracted. I also talked to my mom and my sister (who is making me a first time aunt). Thank goodness I know their numbers by heart. A piece of bad news is my workout was weak because I couldn't listen to my Beyonce/Disturbed playlist. Not having access to the time, a calculator, gps, or my planner (calendar) was super inconvenient and annoying. Overall, I am really happy I didn't feel lonely or "naked" without my phone or social media, but I definitely appreciate my phone that much more now. When I got a hold of my phone, the first thing I did was start with the 153 texts that had accumulated over the twelve-hour span. After that, I perused through the Instagram and Facebook newsfeeds to "catch up" on what's going on with my loved ones. It was a fun experiment, but I am definitely keeping my old iPhone as a backup in case I ever lose my phone like Anthony.

Always, in all ways.

The phrase “always, in all ways” is a saying that has been in my family since I was a little girl. We are a huge traditional family and have been raised to put faith and family first always, and in all ways. My siblings are my best friends and I owe that all to the mindset with which we were raised. I chose to use a photo of me for my floral telegraph because my family has made me who I am today. I strategically chose the flowers and herbs because of their names. I chose to use some herbs for my message because food is a huge part of my culture—French and Mexican. cooking is how we show our love and affection and eating together is a huge part of our bonding and familial ties. I chose to use a few familiar flowers: a poppy because it reminded me of The Wizard of oz and how my sisters and I grew up singing the songs from the movie; forget-me-nots, because no matter how far my family and I are spread apart, we manage to always stay close and tight-knit; and the hyacinth which represents beauty and rebirth in Greek mythology and also reminds me of a great book: The Girl in Hyacinth Blue. There are a couple of flowers I chose to use just because of the way their names sound: honeysuckle and sweet pea sound endearing and—well, sweet. I also chose the carnation because it’s my mother’s and my birth flower and despite our very rough beginnings, have grown to be very close. I also used thyme, because my family and I often go several weeks without seeing each other yet when we do—it’s as if no time has passed. I originally had the flowers together like a bouquet in a completely different family picture, but later decided to start the project over completely. I ultimately chose spread to the flowers apart because all my siblings and I are separated and out of the house—some of us are away at school, my brothers are off on their own starting their careers, and my sister is starting a family of her own. Although we are all spread apart geographically, I have never felt so close to them in my life. I chose to design the floral telegraph as something to not only communicate the message: “always, in all ways” but also to help compose the picture of me as well as the borders, which hold the picture together. The flowers, spread across my shoulder, ears, and hair, literally make up my person and show that my family completes me. The ones around the border represent that which holds me together. In turn, all these flowers represent my family which symbolizes the the traditions, childhood memories, losses and new lives to continue the legacy our family immortalizes: that we are to love each other always, in all ways.

“always, in all ways” 37- always flowers/herbs used: thyme, hyacinth 69-in flowers/herbs used: sweet pea, sage 33-all flowers used: forget-me-not, honeysuckle 874-ways flowers used: poppy, convolvulus, carnation

post 5: floral telegraph

For my floral telegraph project, I decided to use the phrase "Always, in all ways." This is a phrase that means a lot to me because it is something that my family and I live by. My mom raised the five of us with the notion that faith and family came first always, in all ways. As I was going through the index of flowers to use for my bouquet, I really let the names of the flowers govern the decision making process. Some of the ones I selected were the forget-me-nots, which speak for themselves. I am blessed to have my family only an hour's drive away, but sometimes that still seems too far! The sweet pea is just as self-explanatory--my family is sweet. The poppy reminds me of The Wizard of Oz which I remember watching with my sisters as a kid. I didn't only use flowers, though. Being part of a heavily traditional, old-school French-Mexican background, food is an integral part of our culture and, of course, our family, so I also used some herbs for the project as well. I used thyme and sage because my mom always says experience and an open mind toward those who support you makes you wiser, not necessarily time. Also, being a full-time employee and student, I don't see my family nearly as much as I would like, but regardless of how long I go without seeing them, I always feel as if no time has passed. My family is my everything always, in all ways.

noelleann2-blog

Hashtag guidelines

1. Should be used as a way to search posts or pictures

2. Don’t use unrelated hashtags on pictures for likes and publicity

3. Use hashtags with a purpose, like specific events

4. Keep hashtags on the shorter side, and don’t use too many words in one hashtag. It gets distracting because there aren’t spaces between the words

5. Don’t use hashtags on Facebook- they should stay on Instagram and Twitter

noelleann2-blog

About three weeks ago, Instagram’s weekend hashtag project used #WHPresolutions to tag pictures that reflected users New Year resolutions and goals for 2014. When I searched this hashtag, 14,022 posts were found with captions from a variety of languages.

The broad instructions for the #hashtag...

elviacampos

I agree! It is pretty annoying when you are actually interested in the hashtag and the pictures and posts that would fall under that umbrella only to find that there are tons of irrelevant pictures. Just like we talked about in class, there are some users who hashtag completely unrelated things for exposure and views. The entire point (besides sometimes just for comedic purposes) is to categorize themes for people searching for those things in particular. I like how you included the pictures also! It helps illustrate your point.

#hashtagchallenge

Instagram has weekend hashtag projects where people all around the world will submit their photo that pertains to the given hashtag that weekend. One weekend the task was #throughthefence. As of January 21, 2014, there are 4,784 posts ranging from places and photos from Downtown San Diego showing graffiti past a chain link fence to the image of a plane through a fence in Paris. Some of the entries from the #throughthefence challenge were featured on Instagram's blog and shows just how variable and eclectic its user's are. The blog goes from a rustic picture of a white picket fence featuring an ear-to-ear smiling goat, and just a few scrolls down, there is a rusted chain link fence exhibiting the Golden State Bridge. Users uploaded pictures of their beloved pets of even family and friends from behind fences. They submitted their point of view from behind fences in their industrial neighborhoods, peaceful farm homes, and even grand gates in Europe. There was a little bit of everything in that one hashtag, and I was excited to see how it could bring together so many people in so many places. The single hashtag which was interpreted in a variety of ways had the ability to connect people all around the world. It allowed Instagram's users to not only see things from a different perspective, but to take a virtual tour of the world's fences and what lays beyond them. One thing I found interesting is that when I went to search for the hashtag on the Instagram iPhone app, there were many other options that came up under #throughthefence. 12 other possibilities came up: #throughthefences, #throughthefencehole, #througthefencephotography and #throughthefenceshot, to name a few. While these hashtags may have very well existed prior to the challenge and might be completely unrelated, I wonder how many of these submissions were intended to go under the #throughthefence hashtag. Just as in face-to-face communication, online communication has a vast possibility for miscommunication. Furthermore, online communication has the possibility of typos, which can also make a significant difference. To be honest, I had no idea that hashtag challenges even existed, so to see how many people not only knew about them but actively submitted their photos, really surprised and excited me. It was a really awesome experience to be able to virtually travel the world's fences through an app on my phone.

http://blog.instagram.com/post/13120184445/throughthefence

noelleann2-blog

Video that accidentally went viral: Bed Intruder “remix” by Antoine Dodson, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEAKsaQOCpQ

I think that this newscast with the infamous “hide yo kids” quote really went viral after someone made a remix of Dodson’s statements into a rap song. The newscast in itself is...

elviacampos

I agree! I encountered the same scenario with my video: the Sweet Brown "There's a Fire" news clip. The story factor is what really grants the video the ability to be spread and shared across a variety of networks and sources of media. The news clips themselves are pretty entertaining but the remixes and enhanced versions are what really get the story shared again and again.

Sweet Brown

http://youtu.be/udS-OcNtSWo This news clip featuring Sweet Brown has accumulated a lot of fame. Not only has the original clip been viewed over 30 million times, but there are also countless memes with key phrases that she says in the interview. There are also a few remix/autotuned versions of this news clip that are catchy and hilarious, and so have also gained a lot of fame. I think that there are a variety of reasons this video accidentally went viral. Initially, the reason the video even got aired was because of the practicality--it was on the news because the fire was newsworthy. However, the story value is why I believe the news clip went viral. After it earned its fame, the remixes definitely promoted even more views with their catchy tunes and funny catch phrases.

H. Jenkins "Media Literacy"

H. Jenkins' "Media Literacy" delves into the importance behind teaching our youth to be just as literate with media as they are with texts. Before a student can learn to format a sentence, he must first learn the letters of the alphabet. Then, he will learn small, elementary words such as cat, dog, and apple. After he has mastered these fundamental tasks, then he is prepared to be successful in his attempts to not only create sentences, but to create a strong, solid argument composed of several sentences. However, without the ability to both read an existing piece of literature critically and successfully analyze it, the probability of a strong written argument is not likely. So though the student may have impeccable grammar and perfect penmanship, without critical reading and analyses skills, his media literacy skills are greatly inhibited. Jenkins argues that one major goal of media education is to "encourage young people to become more reflective about ethical choices and the impact they have on others." Although this student may be ethically sound and have the ability to understand his sway on others through what he publishes on the World Wide Web, it is not likely that his sway will be much at all if he is not able to grasp, break down, and rebuild the knowledge he finds on the internet. The goal of media literacy, just like the goal when teachers first teach their students to read, is not just to read and write. The goal is to use these basic skills to enhance and enrich the world with individual and collective pieces. Jenkins argues that media literacy should be seen as a social skill since it is a medium wherein conflicts are often negotiated, different views are embraced, and a large variety of social norms exist. If the student, though technically savvy ( that he can log on, search and edit online), can not negotiate these differences critically--is he truly media literate? Without the social aspect of media literacy, which is an arguably significant facet of the skill, the skill's effectiveness is undoubtedly truncated. When it comes to the question "Which is more important? Writing/Coding skills or Critical reading/analysis when it comes to media literacy," I argue that they are both necessary, but critical reading/analysis is more important. If a teacher assigned an essay, the student with writing/coding skills, has only the skillet to regurgitate a summary, though perhaps well-written--it is not a personal contribution, and thus perhaps does not enrich the text. However, the student with critical reading/analysis skills is equipped to comment on and critique the reading at hand, providing an insight perhaps not seen before. Furthermore, this gives way to potential backlash. There may be people who read this student's essay and disagree--but only other readers who also possess critical reading and analysis skills would be able to construct a rebuttal, further enriching the text.

The Ryan Gosling "Hey Girl" series of memes is probably my favorite. I work at a gym downtown, which is where I first encountered some of these memes.

They are, for the most part, pretty motivational and geared toward females, but they always make me laugh--and yes, sometimes they stop me from eating cupcakes.

This actual photo was posted on the fridge in the break room during the holiday season when tons of members brought in homemade food and unhealthy treats.

As most of the girls at work are competing in a fitness competition this March, pictures like the one shown above as well as the "Hey girl, go squat" and "Hey girl, go run" have become the gym break room decor.

Beside being really, really, really nice to look at, Ryan Gosling lends his face to an easily customizable and shareable picture that generally promotes a motivational meaning.

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