![\"\"](\"http:\/\/courses.digitaldavidson.net\/dig215\/files\/2017\/05\/Screen-Shot-2017-05-11-at-3.13.55-PM.png\")
Because I feel online relationships and interactions are so frequently devalued, I came across as\u00a0an unequivocal supporter of them. \u00a0As a result (and it pains me to admit this), I think I ignored some of the nuance in the issue. \u00a0In my opinion, technology is fantastic and people criticize it because a – it’s new, and people hate change and 2 – they want to feel superior to the mindless lemmings who dare to use Google. \u00a0But right there, I’m making an incomplete and ungenerous generalization. \u00a0As much as I love technology and the Internet and the opportunities it provides, my posts suggest that I may need to take a break from being so defensive and acknowledge that just as technological development isn’t all bad, it isn’t all good, either.<\/p>\n
The other theme that appeared in my posts is that I love pop culture and like to bring it into these discussions. \u00a0Whether it’s Rosemary’s Baby, <\/em>zombie\u00a0tropes, or bad video games, I can’t refrain from applying these concepts beyond the class. \u00a0Sci-fi and horror are two of my favorite genres, so I really had a lot of fun learning about them and getting the opportunity to watch\u00a0The Exorcist\u00a0<\/em>for class. \u00a0I think my excitement about the subject is pretty evident in these posts.<\/p>\n A third and final theme I noticed was that I was often critical of the representation of women, mentally ill people, and minority groups in our assigned texts. \u00a0I think this criticism is a lot fairer than my staunch defense of technology. \u00a0I’m still not sure how I feel about Marjorie being characterized as violent as a result of mental illness, as I talk about in this post<\/a>. \u00a0I had plenty of criticisms of\u00a0Dead Set’s\u00a0<\/em>treatment of its black, gay, and female character<\/a>s. \u00a0As I mentioned earlier, I consume a lot of sci-fi and horror, and I think I go into these pieces expecting the mentally ill to be vilified, women’s sexuality to be condemned, and black and gay characters to be seen as expendable. \u00a0That being said, these representations are rarely black and white. \u00a0I think particularly in reference to Marjorie, I was asking questions far more than making accusations. \u00a0Nevertheless, I can’t set aside my critical lens when consuming media.<\/p>\n Overall, I don’t think I looked at what we read or watched for class from an apolitical, detached perspective. \u00a0I definitely analyzed pieces with my own agenda. \u00a0I don’t think that’s inherently wrong, but I think especially in the case of defending technology, I may want to be a bit more conscious of nuance and different perspectives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Reviewing my posts over the past semester, I’ve found three main themes: 1 – I love technology, especially the Internet, and seem to think people unfairly criticize it, 2 – I tend to apply what we learn in class to other pieces of art or pop culture I enjoy, and 3 – I tend to … <\/p>\n