Comp 106 has been an awesome experience for me. I have never had a blog before and in fact, never knew how to even make one. That was one of the biggest things I learned: how to set up a blog and turn in assignments online. I am not very technologically savvy so at times I had problems with it, but now, I think I have finally mastered it. It was actually quite fun to see what everyone else in class was up to. My favorite part was looking at everyone’s Activity 2, just because it was so visual and a lot of the songs were songs that I knew. I loved to see how different people in our class portrayed words differently. I also liked to update my own blog and try out different fonts and colors to make it visually appealing.
My favorite assignment was Module I because it was very hands on. I actually went to Detroit, walked around, found things that interested me and related to my topic, and took pictures. I then edited them and highlighted a single color that I felt would depict what I was aiming to depict. It is very rare to have that kind of experience in a Composition class. Not only that, but this assignment was challenging at the same time. It wasn’t easy find exactly the kinds of pictures I had in mind, but it gave me a good opportunity to really walk around Detroit and get a sense of the city that I don’t know that well. I also enjoyed writing about my pictures because I feel like the topic I chose is very important and quite pertinent in current times. I am actually quite proud of all the work I did in this class. All the topics were so interesting that I would not like to go back and revise anything. As I go back and read my older works from this class, I still like them all and besides minor grammar mistakes, I would not want to revise anything.
Lastly, now that Comp 106 is over, I definitely intend on using my knowledge of creating blogs to make my own personal blog. This will allow me to record anything I may want to and allow my friends and family to read them.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Microserfs Reading Response
Why do you think Coupland's characters speak in computer jargon, and use technical expressions to describe their lives and environment? How does this compare to your experiences of the workplace and home? What effect does this way of speaking have on others?
Coupland’s characters use computer jargon and technical terms to describe all aspects of their lives. Furthermore, majority of their conversations are linked to technology. For example, Karla and Daniel casually discuss artificial intelligence and the future of the “Entity” that it will create and whether or not it will be only human. Also, when Dan goes to hang out with the Nintendo geeks, they talk about “what sort of software dogs would design if they could” (Coupland 14). The characters are self-described geeks who have no lives because their lives revolve around their work, therefore it only makes sense that computer jargon and computer related topics have seeped into their everyday lives making it hard for them to talk about anything else. This is not entirely uncommon for professionals in any field. I am a premed student and hope to go to medical school. Often when my other premed friends and I get together, we talk about which medical school is the best, argue about the ideal MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) score, and whether or not prosected cadavers are better or not. This always seems to annoy our other friends that are in different fields because many of them don’t even know what the MCAT is or what the grading system is like. When one is on the outside looking in, as we the readers are in Microserfs, they realize what it feels like to be an outsider in a world that seems so foreign or different than their own. It also makes us as readers realize, that perhaps we too have our own jargon or technical terms relating to our specific field of interest.
Karla says, "computers will continue to be developed . . . an 'entity is going to be created that has its own intelligence." What is Karla saying about artificial intelligence (AI)? What are your perspectives on AI?
Karla is suggesting with time, advances in technology may be able to come up with computers that have their own intelligence, like humans. However, because they will not be humans, they will be separate “entities.” I personally agree with Karla in that the future of technology is headed in that direction. I recently read an online article that articulates that by the year 2040 there will be robots that are “able to assist humans with their every…emotional and physical need” (Windsor). According to the author, a robot already exists in Japan that can breath, walk, and blink like humans, however this is just the beginning. He claims that researchers are in the process of creating a robot that “bonds with humans and provides all that our individual urges require” (Windsor). Although, I don’t know that this change will come about in the next thirty years, as Windsor suggests, I do think it is a possibility within the next 100 years. However, with
the benefits that come with it, I am sure there will be many drawbacks; creating “entities” that can emotionally and physically bond with humans is treading on uncharted waters and may have consequences. For example, when having this conversation in Microserfs, Todd says, “the Entity is what freaks out his ultrareligious parents. He said that they’re most frightened of the day when people allow machines to have initiative—the day we allow machines to set their own agendas” (Coupland 34). But its not only the “ultrareligious” people, the idea of machines having power to make their own decisions and do things on their own, makes even someone like myself very skeptical and fearful.
Douglas Coupland seems to be on some kind of spiritual journey. Where do religion and spirituality fit into Microserfs?
Religion and spirituality are a recurring theme in Microserfs. Throughout the book, Daniel seems to be in a constant quest to fine some kind of truth. He says, “I have no pictures of an afterworld for myself. In the past I have tried to convince myself that there is no life after death, but I have found myself unable to do this, so I guess intuitively I feel there is something. But I just don’t know where to begin figure out what these pictures are” (Coupland 15-16). Dan further says how it death is one of the things all the Microsoft employees are not willing to talk about. When he asks any of them about death or the afterlife, he gets no answers. This may be because they are in the same quest to figure it out like Dan, or that their faith lies in the machines they work on and the future of possibilities of these machines. Not only that, as mentioned above, Todd claims how his “ultrareligious” parents have a problem with technologically advanced computers and the like, suggesting that it would be difficult for someone of religious faith to be in this field. Furthermore, throughout the book, Dan is trying to come to some sort of piece with the death of his young brother, Jed. The book emphasizes the expiry date that exists with everything; he industry that these characters work in, which is emphasized by Dan’s dad losing his job and more importantly, life.
Works Cited
Coupland, Douglas. Microserfs. New York, NY: Regan Books, 1995.
Windsor, Michael. "Love and Marriage - Robots Designed to Replace Humans in Next Five Years?" Ezine Articles. 12 Oct. 2007. 10 Dec. 2008.
Coupland’s characters use computer jargon and technical terms to describe all aspects of their lives. Furthermore, majority of their conversations are linked to technology. For example, Karla and Daniel casually discuss artificial intelligence and the future of the “Entity” that it will create and whether or not it will be only human. Also, when Dan goes to hang out with the Nintendo geeks, they talk about “what sort of software dogs would design if they could” (Coupland 14). The characters are self-described geeks who have no lives because their lives revolve around their work, therefore it only makes sense that computer jargon and computer related topics have seeped into their everyday lives making it hard for them to talk about anything else. This is not entirely uncommon for professionals in any field. I am a premed student and hope to go to medical school. Often when my other premed friends and I get together, we talk about which medical school is the best, argue about the ideal MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) score, and whether or not prosected cadavers are better or not. This always seems to annoy our other friends that are in different fields because many of them don’t even know what the MCAT is or what the grading system is like. When one is on the outside looking in, as we the readers are in Microserfs, they realize what it feels like to be an outsider in a world that seems so foreign or different than their own. It also makes us as readers realize, that perhaps we too have our own jargon or technical terms relating to our specific field of interest.
Karla says, "computers will continue to be developed . . . an 'entity is going to be created that has its own intelligence." What is Karla saying about artificial intelligence (AI)? What are your perspectives on AI?
Karla is suggesting with time, advances in technology may be able to come up with computers that have their own intelligence, like humans. However, because they will not be humans, they will be separate “entities.” I personally agree with Karla in that the future of technology is headed in that direction. I recently read an online article that articulates that by the year 2040 there will be robots that are “able to assist humans with their every…emotional and physical need” (Windsor). According to the author, a robot already exists in Japan that can breath, walk, and blink like humans, however this is just the beginning. He claims that researchers are in the process of creating a robot that “bonds with humans and provides all that our individual urges require” (Windsor). Although, I don’t know that this change will come about in the next thirty years, as Windsor suggests, I do think it is a possibility within the next 100 years. However, with
the benefits that come with it, I am sure there will be many drawbacks; creating “entities” that can emotionally and physically bond with humans is treading on uncharted waters and may have consequences. For example, when having this conversation in Microserfs, Todd says, “the Entity is what freaks out his ultrareligious parents. He said that they’re most frightened of the day when people allow machines to have initiative—the day we allow machines to set their own agendas” (Coupland 34). But its not only the “ultrareligious” people, the idea of machines having power to make their own decisions and do things on their own, makes even someone like myself very skeptical and fearful.
Douglas Coupland seems to be on some kind of spiritual journey. Where do religion and spirituality fit into Microserfs?
Religion and spirituality are a recurring theme in Microserfs. Throughout the book, Daniel seems to be in a constant quest to fine some kind of truth. He says, “I have no pictures of an afterworld for myself. In the past I have tried to convince myself that there is no life after death, but I have found myself unable to do this, so I guess intuitively I feel there is something. But I just don’t know where to begin figure out what these pictures are” (Coupland 15-16). Dan further says how it death is one of the things all the Microsoft employees are not willing to talk about. When he asks any of them about death or the afterlife, he gets no answers. This may be because they are in the same quest to figure it out like Dan, or that their faith lies in the machines they work on and the future of possibilities of these machines. Not only that, as mentioned above, Todd claims how his “ultrareligious” parents have a problem with technologically advanced computers and the like, suggesting that it would be difficult for someone of religious faith to be in this field. Furthermore, throughout the book, Dan is trying to come to some sort of piece with the death of his young brother, Jed. The book emphasizes the expiry date that exists with everything; he industry that these characters work in, which is emphasized by Dan’s dad losing his job and more importantly, life.
Works Cited
Coupland, Douglas. Microserfs. New York, NY: Regan Books, 1995.
Windsor, Michael. "Love and Marriage - Robots Designed to Replace Humans in Next Five Years?" Ezine Articles. 12 Oct. 2007. 10 Dec. 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Module 3: Research & Writing Across the Curriculum Final Draft
Obesity is a problem that is plaguing our nation, as well as the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 39.8 million or 57.8% of American adults are overweight. Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 300 million adults worldwide are obese. Even though obesity can be caused by biological factors, particularly genetics of hormonal imbalances, more often than not, it can be attributed to behavioral factors, the main one being overeating. Overeating consists of consuming more calories than the body needs, which the body stores as fat. But what affects the way people eat and the amount people eat? Studies show that human eating behavior has social or external influences that most people are unaware of, resulting in most cases to overeating, however in some scenarios to under eating.
In a recent study published in Physiology and Behavior, Marion Hetherington and colleagues suggest that external factors influence overeating. They conducted a study that followed the eating behaviors of participants in a social setting and concluded that human eating behavior is influenced by the presence of others and by the availability and palatability of food. Data in the study suggests that eating with friends or family can enhance the amount one eats by over forty percent (498). Hetherington gives a couple reasons for the increase in food intake when around familiar faces. The first reason is “time extension” (498). This means that when one is eating meals with others, conversation extends the time that one is exposed to food. Secondly, while the exposure to food is greater, one is also multi-tasking, in a sense, when conversing over a meal. Therefore the social aspect serves as a “distraction, which impairs the ability to self-monitor” (498) how much food one eats. Furthermore the study found that it is easier to overeat when watching TV, listening to the radio, or doing something else that requires more attention. Lastly, the study showed that when people overate in social situations, they tend to pick foods high in sugar and fat (cakes/chips vs. coleslaw) “indicating that social facilitation effects might be greater for particular food types (highly palatable, high energy snacks) which are more commonly consumed in social settings” (503). This article highlighted the fact that people eat more in social settings because this gives them more exposure to the food and also because conversations serve as a distraction that does not allow the person to monitor how much he or she is eating. Furthermore, the fact that individuals are more drawn to foods high in fat and sugars while in social settings may be a problem for the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle.
Lenny Vartanian et al. in a similar study published in Health and Psychology found that even although external factors did influence overeating, more often than not, people were not aware of these factors. Vartanian says, “people tend not to acknowledge their own susceptibility to a number of environmental influences on their food intake.” This is consistent with the fact that “although people generally acknowledge that external elements (i.e. media, advertising) influence others. They deny the influence of these elements on their own behavior” (537). The study was set up so that pairs of participants (that already knew one another) watched TV together and had access to food. These participants were later surveyed. Most participants in the study attributed overeating to hunger, satiety, and taste, however the “vast majority of participants did not report any reason that was even remotely related to the presence of the co-eater” (535). This study sheds light on another important barrier to maintaining a healthy diet. Not only is it the fact that overeating occurs in social settings, most of the time people are completely unaware that they are overeating and what the cause is.
It is clear from these two studies that overeating has a social influence, which may be harming a person’s ability to eat healthy and as a result may cause obesity. However, the social influence of eating with strangers was not observed in either of these studies. In her journal article titled Effects of Social Context on Overweight and Normal-Weight Children’s Food Selection, Sarah-Jeanne Salvy sought to figure out if the presence of peers can influence the way overweight or normal children eat. The study paired up an overweight child with a normal weight child. These children did not know each other and were offered snacks. The study concluded that the obese children ate more when alone and less when with the normal weight children, while the normal weight children ate less when alone and more when with the overweight children showing that the two groups tried to match each other’s food intake. This study, like the two before does show that social influence affects overeating, however, unlike the other two, this time the presence of a thinner peer who was a stranger decreased the amount of food intake by the heavier peer. The researchers concluded, “overweight individuals may modify their food selection in front of others to avoid incurring the stigmas attributed to overweight individuals” (191). This study further solidifies the point that overeating can definitely be attributed to social surroundings, however, it shows that when around strangers and non-family members, individuals tend to match their food intake with the other person. This example shows how social influence could actually aid in maintaining a healthy diet for some individuals.
It is evident that social influences and factors play into overeating considerably. While eating with family and friends, individuals spend more time with exposure to food, therefore may inadvertently eat more. Furthermore, certain foods that are more common in social settings and happen to be high in fat and sugar tend are consumed at higher frequencies and often inadvertently. When eating with strangers, however, individuals often try to match the other individual’s food intake as to not be embarrassed by the amount of food that they eat. Whether eating with strangers or with family, one thing is certain, unless people realize the extreme importance of social influences on overeating in their own lives, overeating and obesity will continue to be a problem.
Works Cited
Hetherington, Marion M., Annie S. Anderson, Geraldine N.M. Norton, and Lisa Newson. “Situational Effects on Meal Intake: A Comparison of Eating Alone and With Others.” Physiology and Behavior 88 (2006): 498-505.
Salvy, Sarah-Jeanne, Elizabeth Kieffer, and Leonard H. Epstein. “Effects of Social Context on Overweight and Normal-weight Children’s Food Selection.” Eating Behaviors 9 (2007): 190-196.
Vartanian, Lenny R., C. Peter Herman, and Brian Wansink. "Are We Aware of the External Factors That Influence Our Food Intake?” Health Psychology 27 (2008): 533-538.
In a recent study published in Physiology and Behavior, Marion Hetherington and colleagues suggest that external factors influence overeating. They conducted a study that followed the eating behaviors of participants in a social setting and concluded that human eating behavior is influenced by the presence of others and by the availability and palatability of food. Data in the study suggests that eating with friends or family can enhance the amount one eats by over forty percent (498). Hetherington gives a couple reasons for the increase in food intake when around familiar faces. The first reason is “time extension” (498). This means that when one is eating meals with others, conversation extends the time that one is exposed to food. Secondly, while the exposure to food is greater, one is also multi-tasking, in a sense, when conversing over a meal. Therefore the social aspect serves as a “distraction, which impairs the ability to self-monitor” (498) how much food one eats. Furthermore the study found that it is easier to overeat when watching TV, listening to the radio, or doing something else that requires more attention. Lastly, the study showed that when people overate in social situations, they tend to pick foods high in sugar and fat (cakes/chips vs. coleslaw) “indicating that social facilitation effects might be greater for particular food types (highly palatable, high energy snacks) which are more commonly consumed in social settings” (503). This article highlighted the fact that people eat more in social settings because this gives them more exposure to the food and also because conversations serve as a distraction that does not allow the person to monitor how much he or she is eating. Furthermore, the fact that individuals are more drawn to foods high in fat and sugars while in social settings may be a problem for the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle.
Lenny Vartanian et al. in a similar study published in Health and Psychology found that even although external factors did influence overeating, more often than not, people were not aware of these factors. Vartanian says, “people tend not to acknowledge their own susceptibility to a number of environmental influences on their food intake.” This is consistent with the fact that “although people generally acknowledge that external elements (i.e. media, advertising) influence others. They deny the influence of these elements on their own behavior” (537). The study was set up so that pairs of participants (that already knew one another) watched TV together and had access to food. These participants were later surveyed. Most participants in the study attributed overeating to hunger, satiety, and taste, however the “vast majority of participants did not report any reason that was even remotely related to the presence of the co-eater” (535). This study sheds light on another important barrier to maintaining a healthy diet. Not only is it the fact that overeating occurs in social settings, most of the time people are completely unaware that they are overeating and what the cause is.
It is clear from these two studies that overeating has a social influence, which may be harming a person’s ability to eat healthy and as a result may cause obesity. However, the social influence of eating with strangers was not observed in either of these studies. In her journal article titled Effects of Social Context on Overweight and Normal-Weight Children’s Food Selection, Sarah-Jeanne Salvy sought to figure out if the presence of peers can influence the way overweight or normal children eat. The study paired up an overweight child with a normal weight child. These children did not know each other and were offered snacks. The study concluded that the obese children ate more when alone and less when with the normal weight children, while the normal weight children ate less when alone and more when with the overweight children showing that the two groups tried to match each other’s food intake. This study, like the two before does show that social influence affects overeating, however, unlike the other two, this time the presence of a thinner peer who was a stranger decreased the amount of food intake by the heavier peer. The researchers concluded, “overweight individuals may modify their food selection in front of others to avoid incurring the stigmas attributed to overweight individuals” (191). This study further solidifies the point that overeating can definitely be attributed to social surroundings, however, it shows that when around strangers and non-family members, individuals tend to match their food intake with the other person. This example shows how social influence could actually aid in maintaining a healthy diet for some individuals.
It is evident that social influences and factors play into overeating considerably. While eating with family and friends, individuals spend more time with exposure to food, therefore may inadvertently eat more. Furthermore, certain foods that are more common in social settings and happen to be high in fat and sugar tend are consumed at higher frequencies and often inadvertently. When eating with strangers, however, individuals often try to match the other individual’s food intake as to not be embarrassed by the amount of food that they eat. Whether eating with strangers or with family, one thing is certain, unless people realize the extreme importance of social influences on overeating in their own lives, overeating and obesity will continue to be a problem.
Works Cited
Hetherington, Marion M., Annie S. Anderson, Geraldine N.M. Norton, and Lisa Newson. “Situational Effects on Meal Intake: A Comparison of Eating Alone and With Others.” Physiology and Behavior 88 (2006): 498-505.
Salvy, Sarah-Jeanne, Elizabeth Kieffer, and Leonard H. Epstein. “Effects of Social Context on Overweight and Normal-weight Children’s Food Selection.” Eating Behaviors 9 (2007): 190-196.
Vartanian, Lenny R., C. Peter Herman, and Brian Wansink. "Are We Aware of the External Factors That Influence Our Food Intake?” Health Psychology 27 (2008): 533-538.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Module 3: Research & Writing Across the Curriculum Rough Draft Changes
When writing my paper, I naturally had to make some adjustments from my rough draft. Besides the expected fine-tuning, editing, and adding of details and examples, I made two major changes.
The first major adjustment I made from my rough draft outline was switching around the order of the first two paragraphs. I felt like the article I had originally chosen to put second fit better as the first paragraph because it was more general. It simply proved that people overeat when in social situations and gave a couple reasons why. I felt like the other article (that I had originally chosen to go first) went better in the second paragraph because it built upon this issue further and demonstrated the potential problem that it caused and why it may cause obesity. This article proved that while people do overeat in social situations, most of this overeating was inadvertent, which presents a major problem for maintaining healthy diet.
The second major change I made was completely changing the third article. I felt like the article I originally had focused more on the gender issues of eating around others, whereas I wanted to focus more on overeating and obesity. I feel like the article I put in now flows better with the topic, because while it does clearly agree with the main point of the other two articles (eating is influenced by social factors), it also presents a different point that eating in front of strangers, may in fact reduce overeating, which could be a potential benefit and may help in maintaining a healthy diet.
The first major adjustment I made from my rough draft outline was switching around the order of the first two paragraphs. I felt like the article I had originally chosen to put second fit better as the first paragraph because it was more general. It simply proved that people overeat when in social situations and gave a couple reasons why. I felt like the other article (that I had originally chosen to go first) went better in the second paragraph because it built upon this issue further and demonstrated the potential problem that it caused and why it may cause obesity. This article proved that while people do overeat in social situations, most of this overeating was inadvertent, which presents a major problem for maintaining healthy diet.
The second major change I made was completely changing the third article. I felt like the article I originally had focused more on the gender issues of eating around others, whereas I wanted to focus more on overeating and obesity. I feel like the article I put in now flows better with the topic, because while it does clearly agree with the main point of the other two articles (eating is influenced by social factors), it also presents a different point that eating in front of strangers, may in fact reduce overeating, which could be a potential benefit and may help in maintaining a healthy diet.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Module 3: Research & Writing Across the Curriculum Rough Draft
Since I am a pre-med student and a biology major, I was looking through the science related journals. While browsing through Health and Psychology, I came across an article about overeating and some factors that influence it. Many overeaters may not even be aware of these external and social factors that cause them to overeat. I read the article and thought it was very interesting and relevant because of how common obesity is in America. The United States has the highest rates of obesity in the developed world, where 32% of the adult population is obese. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that obesity will replace malnutrition and infectious disease as the largest cause of poor health. Therefore I feel this topic is very important and relevant. For my rough draft, I put together an outline of how I anticipate my essay to be constructed and organized. A. Statistics about obesity and how it’s so common
B. Overeating common reason for obesity, important to find why people overeat
C. Possible reasons for overeating→ social or external influences
II. External factors influence overeating, however often inadvertent
A. This first article talks about how many times people are not aware of the external environmental factors that influence their food intake.
i. This could be a potential problem for dieting and reducing weight, because often people
B. Overeating common reason for obesity, important to find why people overeat
C. Possible reasons for overeating→ social or external influences
II. External factors influence overeating, however often inadvertent
A. This first article talks about how many times people are not aware of the external environmental factors that influence their food intake.
i. This could be a potential problem for dieting and reducing weight, because often people
inadvertently eat.
B. The article concludes that, “people tend not to acknowledge their own susceptibly to a number of environmental influences on their food intake.” This is consistent with the fact that “although people generally acknowledge that external elements (i.e. media, advertising) influence others. They deny the influence of these elements on their own behavior.”
C. Citation: Vartanian, Lenny R., C. Peter Herman, and Brian Wansink. "Are We Aware of the External Factors That Influence Our Food Intake?” Health Psychology 27 (2008): 533- 538.
III. Overeating more common when around others
A. The second article articulates that people usually overeat when they are with others because the social aspect serves as a “distraction, which impairs the ability to self- monitor.”
C. Citation: Vartanian, Lenny R., C. Peter Herman, and Brian Wansink. "Are We Aware of the External Factors That Influence Our Food Intake?” Health Psychology 27 (2008): 533- 538.
III. Overeating more common when around others
A. The second article articulates that people usually overeat when they are with others because the social aspect serves as a “distraction, which impairs the ability to self- monitor.”
B. Citation: Hetherington, Marion M., Annie S. Anderson, Geraldine N.M. Norton, and Lisa Newson. “Situational Effects on Meal Intake: A Comparison of Eating Alone and With Others.” Physiology and Behavior 88 (2006): 498-505.
IV. Overeating more common around others that one knows, but not around strangers
A. The last article serves as a further elaboration on the second article. It asserts that while people do overeat in the presence of friends, in the presence of strangers people usually try to “inhibit their food consumption or match the other’s intake.”
B. Furthermore this study sheds light on the issue of eating around those of the opposite gender. The study concludes that women feel more comfortable eating around women that are strangers as opposed to men that are strangers, quiet possibly to produce a positive impression with the opposite sex.
C. Citation: Salvy, Sarah-Jeanne, Denise Jarrin, Rocco Paluch, Numrah Irfan, and Patricia Pliner. “Effects of Social Influencing on Eating in Couples, Friends, and Strangers.” Appetite 49 (2007): 92-99.
V. Conclusion
A. A lot of overeating can be because of external or social influences that people are not even aware of
B. Around others, people often lose track of how much they are eating
C. Around strangers, people often match the amount of food eaten by the other person
D. People should be more aware of these inadvertent ways of gaining weight, may help them lose weight
IV. Overeating more common around others that one knows, but not around strangers
A. The last article serves as a further elaboration on the second article. It asserts that while people do overeat in the presence of friends, in the presence of strangers people usually try to “inhibit their food consumption or match the other’s intake.”
B. Furthermore this study sheds light on the issue of eating around those of the opposite gender. The study concludes that women feel more comfortable eating around women that are strangers as opposed to men that are strangers, quiet possibly to produce a positive impression with the opposite sex.
C. Citation: Salvy, Sarah-Jeanne, Denise Jarrin, Rocco Paluch, Numrah Irfan, and Patricia Pliner. “Effects of Social Influencing on Eating in Couples, Friends, and Strangers.” Appetite 49 (2007): 92-99.
V. Conclusion
A. A lot of overeating can be because of external or social influences that people are not even aware of
B. Around others, people often lose track of how much they are eating
C. Around strangers, people often match the amount of food eaten by the other person
D. People should be more aware of these inadvertent ways of gaining weight, may help them lose weight
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Module 2: Individualism in the Digital Age, Part 3
For my blog post, I read the article called MySpace and Facebook: Applying the Uses and Gratifications Theory to Exploring Friend-Networking Sites. The main purpose of this article was four-fold. The first thing that the authors were trying to discover was some general information. This included the number of people that had Facebook or MySpace accounts, how many times they logged on, and how many hours a day were spent logged on. Furthermore, researchers looked at the kinds of information that people had posted and how many friends they had. The research showed that 75% of the participants had a Facebook and a MySpace account. This is a significant number considering that the participants did not know the topic of the survey before taking part. Also, approximately 87% of these people made information about themselves available on their accounts.
The next purpose of this research project was to look at whether gender differences existed within use of these websites. The researchers concluded that men are more likely to have more friends and more likely to log on during the day, whereas women changing their appearance on their accounts more often, to name a few. The conclusion was that gender differences on several key factors did exist.
Next, the study aimed to figure out what “gratifications” the users were getting from these websites. The researchers concluded that most people wanted to keep in touch with old or current friends.
And lastly, the study aimed to get an idea of the type of college students that had MySpace or Facebook accounts versus those that did not and what the reasons were for those that did not have an account. In general, those that did not have an account were older, compared to those that did have an account. Furthermore, those that did not have an account mostly attributed it to the fact that they just had no desire to have an account. I think the researchers succeeded in the goals that they laid out for themselves in the beginning of the study. However, I do agree with them that more extensive studies have to be conducted because it is difficult to reach conclusions with such a small sample size, particularly the small size of nonusers.
This article was very interesting for me because I wrote an essay on the article that’s main purpose was to evaluate the gender differences between the MySpace profiles of men and women. Therefore the gender differences section of this article was most interesting and relevant for me. I found it interesting that women were more likely to change their appearance and make personal information more available via their profiles. The article I read concluded that women were more likely to mention their significant others in their profiles and that was a somewhat reflection of the traditional gender roles. It makes me wonder if women changing their picture more often is a reflection of traditional gender roles, where appearance is heavily emphasized for women. The research also indicated that men were more likely to have a larger amount of friends than women were. I wonder if this too is a reflection of traditional gender roles where men are expected to be more outgoing than women are.
The next purpose of this research project was to look at whether gender differences existed within use of these websites. The researchers concluded that men are more likely to have more friends and more likely to log on during the day, whereas women changing their appearance on their accounts more often, to name a few. The conclusion was that gender differences on several key factors did exist.
Next, the study aimed to figure out what “gratifications” the users were getting from these websites. The researchers concluded that most people wanted to keep in touch with old or current friends.
And lastly, the study aimed to get an idea of the type of college students that had MySpace or Facebook accounts versus those that did not and what the reasons were for those that did not have an account. In general, those that did not have an account were older, compared to those that did have an account. Furthermore, those that did not have an account mostly attributed it to the fact that they just had no desire to have an account. I think the researchers succeeded in the goals that they laid out for themselves in the beginning of the study. However, I do agree with them that more extensive studies have to be conducted because it is difficult to reach conclusions with such a small sample size, particularly the small size of nonusers.
This article was very interesting for me because I wrote an essay on the article that’s main purpose was to evaluate the gender differences between the MySpace profiles of men and women. Therefore the gender differences section of this article was most interesting and relevant for me. I found it interesting that women were more likely to change their appearance and make personal information more available via their profiles. The article I read concluded that women were more likely to mention their significant others in their profiles and that was a somewhat reflection of the traditional gender roles. It makes me wonder if women changing their picture more often is a reflection of traditional gender roles, where appearance is heavily emphasized for women. The research also indicated that men were more likely to have a larger amount of friends than women were. I wonder if this too is a reflection of traditional gender roles where men are expected to be more outgoing than women are.
Module 2: Individualism in the Digital Age, Part 2
Gender role norms have existed in history since as far back as we can remember. There have always been traditional codes of masculinity or femininity that have existed, and our current time is no exception. The formation of gender norms has evolved from social norms and has become a part of society in more recent times via magazines, the Internet, and television, all of which affect how males and females are expected to behave.
According to a recent article called Development of the Conformity to Feminine Norms Inventory, by James R. Mahalik, et al. gender norms are so prevalent that they help to form the identity of individuals. Mahalik’s study aimed to identify some of the feminine norms in the dominant culture of US. Mahalik concluded that these norms included women being nice in relationships, thinness, modesty, maintaining the home, caring for children, investing in romantic relationships, sexual fidelity, and investing in appearance. Most women can agree that these things are expected of them in society through various sources. In a similar study by James R. Mahalik, et al. in a an article called Development of the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory, some of the masculine norms in dominant US culture were identified. They included wining, emotional control, risk-taking, violence, dominance, playboy, self-reliance, primacy of work, power over women, disdain for homosexuals, and pursuit of status.
The first and most prevalent source of these norms according to Mahalik are “social agents such as parents, teachers, peers, and the media teach women and men the rules and standards of femininity and masculinity.” In fact the learning of gender norms occurs as early as five years of age where, “children have already developed clearly defined notions of what constitutes appropriate behavior for men and women.”
Another source that has shaped the gender norms for men and women is the media. In television and magazines, women are expected to behave a certain way that makes them more feminine. According to an article by Dana Hinders called Gender Norms in Women’s Magazines, “women’s magazines consistently promote stereotypical gender behavior…women’s magazines promote the idea that woman’s role is to be a wife and mother.” Furthermore, this problem exists in teenage girl’s magazines too, such as Seventeen. Hinders says that according to a study, these magazines “encouraged readers to present themselves as sexually desirable, develop the skills of sexual therapy to enhance men’s sexual pleasure and performance, and become communication teachers to help men become better relational partners.” However, this problem of traditional gender norms surfacing in media outlets exists for men too, particularly younger men. According to a journal article from Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, gender norms for men come from “television, movies, magazines, and toys” and have a lot to do with body image, which affects the self-esteem of many younger men. For example, “the ideal heightened muscularity and very low body fat” is a look that is common in men’s magazines and even in toys for boys such as the GI Joe toy which has “gotten progressively more muscular” with time.
With Internet becoming as popular as it has, there has been an increase in websites that are solely for the purpose of social interaction between males and females. Some of these websites even ask people to post pictures for others to rate on a numerical scare (ratedesi.com, hotornot.com). According to an online article by Marj Kibby called "Babes on the Web. Sex, Identity and the Home Page" women “predominantly depict themselves through shots of their breasts framing their clothed, semi-nude or naked torso from shoulder to waist.” Furthermore, studies of social networks such as MySpace and Facebook have shown that these forums are a valuable way to look at the way males and females represent themselves and provide insight into what this suggests about their gender identities.
Lastly, television has played a huge part in the formation of gender norms for young adults. Music videos often depict women in a stereotypical female role and men in a masculine role. In fact, sometimes lyrics to songs are playing into the formation of gender norms. For example, in a Britney Spears song called I Was Born to Make You Happy, Britney chants: “I don’t know how to live without your love/ I was born to make you happy.” Ignoring the fact that Britney is scantily clad and the male model in the video has a chiseled six-pack, the lyrics alone are packed with gender stereotypes. What is even more troublesome is that this song is directed at an audience of teenage girls. It’s no wonder that traditional gender norms are still so prevalent in our society when they are fed to kids from such a young age.
Gender norms do still exist today and become incorporated as a part of social norms in a child’s life at a very early age through teachers, parents, and other figures of authority around them. As time goes by, society and the media, particularly through magazines, Internet, and television, further emphasize these norms. There needs to be drastic reforms of our media and what we allow children to watch, what we allow them to have access to, and what we let them read. But more importantly, we as a society need to change our views on what is expected. Unless this happens, we can’t expect change.
Works Cited
Dana, Hinders. "Gender Norms In Women's Magazines." Associated Content. 15 Nov. 2005. 28 Oct. 2008.
Kibby, Marj. "Babes on the Web. Sex, Identity and the Home Page." Popular Culture: Gender. 9 Nov. 1997. Washington State University. 28 Oct. 2008.
Mahalik, James R., Benjamin D. Locke, Larry H. Ludlow, Matthew A. Diemer, Ryan P. J. Scott, Michael Gottfried, and Gary Freitas. "Development of the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory." Psychology of Men & Masculinity 4 (2003).
Mahalik, James R., Elisabeth B. Morray, Aimee Coonerty-Femiano, Larry H. Ludlow, Suzanne M. Slattery, and Andrew Smiler. "Development of the Conformity to Feminine." Sex Roles 52 (2005).
According to a recent article called Development of the Conformity to Feminine Norms Inventory, by James R. Mahalik, et al. gender norms are so prevalent that they help to form the identity of individuals. Mahalik’s study aimed to identify some of the feminine norms in the dominant culture of US. Mahalik concluded that these norms included women being nice in relationships, thinness, modesty, maintaining the home, caring for children, investing in romantic relationships, sexual fidelity, and investing in appearance. Most women can agree that these things are expected of them in society through various sources. In a similar study by James R. Mahalik, et al. in a an article called Development of the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory, some of the masculine norms in dominant US culture were identified. They included wining, emotional control, risk-taking, violence, dominance, playboy, self-reliance, primacy of work, power over women, disdain for homosexuals, and pursuit of status.
The first and most prevalent source of these norms according to Mahalik are “social agents such as parents, teachers, peers, and the media teach women and men the rules and standards of femininity and masculinity.” In fact the learning of gender norms occurs as early as five years of age where, “children have already developed clearly defined notions of what constitutes appropriate behavior for men and women.”
Another source that has shaped the gender norms for men and women is the media. In television and magazines, women are expected to behave a certain way that makes them more feminine. According to an article by Dana Hinders called Gender Norms in Women’s Magazines, “women’s magazines consistently promote stereotypical gender behavior…women’s magazines promote the idea that woman’s role is to be a wife and mother.” Furthermore, this problem exists in teenage girl’s magazines too, such as Seventeen. Hinders says that according to a study, these magazines “encouraged readers to present themselves as sexually desirable, develop the skills of sexual therapy to enhance men’s sexual pleasure and performance, and become communication teachers to help men become better relational partners.” However, this problem of traditional gender norms surfacing in media outlets exists for men too, particularly younger men. According to a journal article from Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, gender norms for men come from “television, movies, magazines, and toys” and have a lot to do with body image, which affects the self-esteem of many younger men. For example, “the ideal heightened muscularity and very low body fat” is a look that is common in men’s magazines and even in toys for boys such as the GI Joe toy which has “gotten progressively more muscular” with time.
With Internet becoming as popular as it has, there has been an increase in websites that are solely for the purpose of social interaction between males and females. Some of these websites even ask people to post pictures for others to rate on a numerical scare (ratedesi.com, hotornot.com). According to an online article by Marj Kibby called "Babes on the Web. Sex, Identity and the Home Page" women “predominantly depict themselves through shots of their breasts framing their clothed, semi-nude or naked torso from shoulder to waist.” Furthermore, studies of social networks such as MySpace and Facebook have shown that these forums are a valuable way to look at the way males and females represent themselves and provide insight into what this suggests about their gender identities.
Lastly, television has played a huge part in the formation of gender norms for young adults. Music videos often depict women in a stereotypical female role and men in a masculine role. In fact, sometimes lyrics to songs are playing into the formation of gender norms. For example, in a Britney Spears song called I Was Born to Make You Happy, Britney chants: “I don’t know how to live without your love/ I was born to make you happy.” Ignoring the fact that Britney is scantily clad and the male model in the video has a chiseled six-pack, the lyrics alone are packed with gender stereotypes. What is even more troublesome is that this song is directed at an audience of teenage girls. It’s no wonder that traditional gender norms are still so prevalent in our society when they are fed to kids from such a young age.
Gender norms do still exist today and become incorporated as a part of social norms in a child’s life at a very early age through teachers, parents, and other figures of authority around them. As time goes by, society and the media, particularly through magazines, Internet, and television, further emphasize these norms. There needs to be drastic reforms of our media and what we allow children to watch, what we allow them to have access to, and what we let them read. But more importantly, we as a society need to change our views on what is expected. Unless this happens, we can’t expect change.
Works Cited
Dana, Hinders. "Gender Norms In Women's Magazines." Associated Content. 15 Nov. 2005. 28 Oct. 2008
Kibby, Marj. "Babes on the Web. Sex, Identity and the Home Page." Popular Culture: Gender. 9 Nov. 1997. Washington State University. 28 Oct. 2008
Mahalik, James R., Benjamin D. Locke, Larry H. Ludlow, Matthew A. Diemer, Ryan P. J. Scott, Michael Gottfried, and Gary Freitas. "Development of the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory." Psychology of Men & Masculinity 4 (2003).
Mahalik, James R., Elisabeth B. Morray, Aimee Coonerty-Femiano, Larry H. Ludlow, Suzanne M. Slattery, and Andrew Smiler. "Development of the Conformity to Feminine." Sex Roles 52 (2005).
Module 2: Individualism in the Digital Age, Part 1
A Hypothetical Experiment that relates the article’s topic
This hypothetical experiment supports the thesis from the article Gender Differences in “Social Portraits” Reflected in MySpace Profiles by Melissa Joy Magnuson and Lauren Dundes. They conclude that the differences between MySpace profile pages of males and females give a good indication to the vast differences that exist between the two genders, even today. Magnuson and Dundes conclude that women “learn to balance their own needs with defining themselves in relation to others,” whereas men do not. For this reason, women mention their significant other in their profiles far more often then men do. The authors furthermore say that “females’ career goals and family goals are seen as connected and affecting one another, contrasting with males’ tendency to see them separately.”
The following experiment would further shed light on this issue:
Who: This experiment will be conducted with 20 working women in a relationship and 20 working men in a relationship who do not already have a MySpace account.
What: The experiment will ask the women and men to separately create a MySpace account and fill in as much as they care to reveal about themselves, including uploading photographs. In the subsequent weeks as the new users add friends and get more acclimated with their accounts, they will be asked to write down every time they log on.
Where: This study will have the 20 men and 20 women sitting in different rooms and provide them with access to computers and the Internet and assist them in the basics of creating a MySpace account.
When: The study will begin in separate computer labs where the men and women will create their accounts. However, it will be continued over a period of 4 weeks, where the participants will be asked to document every time they log on and will be encouraged to add friends and remain active on MySpace, if they so desire.
Why: The MySpace accounts created will be assessed according to the guidelines and conclusions that have been laid out by Dudes and Magnuson. Researchers will evaluate how many times women mention their significant others or post pictures with them. Not only that, but since the authors conclude that women are less apt to differentiate between various aspects of their life, researchers will assess how often women include other information, such as friends and work, as compared to men. Furthermore, the number of friends and the times logged on for men and women will be noted by the researcher to see if women do in fact define themselves “in relation to others” and add more friends and log on more often then men do.
This hypothetical experiment supports the thesis from the article Gender Differences in “Social Portraits” Reflected in MySpace Profiles by Melissa Joy Magnuson and Lauren Dundes. They conclude that the differences between MySpace profile pages of males and females give a good indication to the vast differences that exist between the two genders, even today. Magnuson and Dundes conclude that women “learn to balance their own needs with defining themselves in relation to others,” whereas men do not. For this reason, women mention their significant other in their profiles far more often then men do. The authors furthermore say that “females’ career goals and family goals are seen as connected and affecting one another, contrasting with males’ tendency to see them separately.”
The following experiment would further shed light on this issue:
Who: This experiment will be conducted with 20 working women in a relationship and 20 working men in a relationship who do not already have a MySpace account.
What: The experiment will ask the women and men to separately create a MySpace account and fill in as much as they care to reveal about themselves, including uploading photographs. In the subsequent weeks as the new users add friends and get more acclimated with their accounts, they will be asked to write down every time they log on.
Where: This study will have the 20 men and 20 women sitting in different rooms and provide them with access to computers and the Internet and assist them in the basics of creating a MySpace account.
When: The study will begin in separate computer labs where the men and women will create their accounts. However, it will be continued over a period of 4 weeks, where the participants will be asked to document every time they log on and will be encouraged to add friends and remain active on MySpace, if they so desire.
Why: The MySpace accounts created will be assessed according to the guidelines and conclusions that have been laid out by Dudes and Magnuson. Researchers will evaluate how many times women mention their significant others or post pictures with them. Not only that, but since the authors conclude that women are less apt to differentiate between various aspects of their life, researchers will assess how often women include other information, such as friends and work, as compared to men. Furthermore, the number of friends and the times logged on for men and women will be noted by the researcher to see if women do in fact define themselves “in relation to others” and add more friends and log on more often then men do.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Module 1: Visual Advocacy
The latter half of the 20th century has seen the largest increase between the wealthy and the poor in the history of America. Ever since the economic downturn beginning in 2000, Michigan, specifically Detroit, has been one of the cities that has been hit the hardest. In fact, according the Census statistics, Detroit is among the poorest cities in the country with a staggering one third of its population living below the poverty line . For this reason, I chose to visually illustrate the gap between the poor and the rich, specifically in Detroit. I took a series of pictures that illustrate this ever-increasing gap, however, I chose to depict some elements of both and wealth and poverty in each photograph to illustrate the irony and paradox of the situation. Where the rich and the poor coexist within society in almost every aspect, yet there is no change, and the poor keep getting poorer, while the rich keep getting richer.
In my photographs I tried to show a wide variety of aspects that are very different for someone who is rich and for someone who is poor. To make my point more obvious visually, in all the pictures, I made the object or person associated with wealth standout in color, while the person or object representing poverty in black and white. The lack of color depicts the dark and difficult life that is poverty. In each photo, I also tried to compare similar things (transportation, shelter, etc.)
The first photograph depicts modes of transportation. I have shown a BMW Z4 therefore most likely belonging to someone in the upper class, next to the transportation of a homeless man: a simple bicycle with all the man’s belongings hanging front the handle bars. To further illustrate the point, I highlighted the blue colors on the “BMW” sign of the car, but left the bicycle in black and white.
The second photograph depicts the actual person, one poor and one wealthy. The picture shows a homeless man sitting with a garbage bag of his belongings, while behind him a girl is walking with an expensive designer bag to carry her belongings. The clothing and accessories of the two people are sharply contrasting. Once again, to make the point more evident, I added color to the area of the designer bag, especially where the label on the bag is (Bebe), but left the homeless man and his bag in black and white.
The third photograph depicts the differences in living conditions of the wealthy and poor. The picture shows luxurious lofts, with balconies, flowers, and a very nice building, right next to an old abandoned building with graffiti all over it. Once again, the sharp contrast to where a wealthy person and where a poor person might live are illustrated. As I have done before, I brought color to the flowers on the balcony of the lofts and on the sign advertising for the lofts, but left the old abandoned building with graffiti on it in black and white.
The fourth photograph depicts billboard advertisements aimed at different audiences, yet ironically enough, right next to each other. The billboard on the right is aimed at those who have had home foreclosures, something that is becoming increasingly common in Detroit because of the economy, and which is aimed of course towards those who are not as wealthy. The billboard on the left is an advertisement for a Kawasaki bike, which clearly is not aimed for the same person who is having a home foreclosure. This advertisement is aimed at someone wealthier, someone who can afford to spend money on things such as motorcycles and jet skis. Here once again, I tried to highlight some of the color in the Kawasaki sign and left the other sign in black and white.
The fifth photograph depicts the actual difference in financial status between wealthy and poor. It shows a homeless man sitting outside of a very extravagant looking bank, definitely one with very rich customers, holding up a “Spare Change” sign. I tried to show the bank in color, but leave everything else in the picture black and white.
The last photograph depicts perhaps the difference between how wealthy and poor spend their day. The wealthy are out and about shopping at stores such as Tiffany & Co. and driving around in nice cars. Across the street, a homeless man sleeps on the grass. Once again I left the Tiffany’s in color but left everything else black and white.
Through my photo series I tried to depict how the poor and wealthy are so different in almost all aspects (living conditions, transportation, financial means, clothing, etc.), yet they coexist every day within the same neighborhoods and same streets. Hopefully these photos help people think about what they do everyday: maybe the next time a school girl walk by with her designer purse, she will stop and give the homeless man at the bench a couple dollars, or the man who lives on the 4th floor of his expensive loft will come down and say hello to his neighbors in the graffiti building, or maybe the couple leaving the fancy bank, will drop a couple of coins for the homeless man sitting outside. Unless we realize the huge discrepancy that exists, nothing will change.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Designing With Text: Activity 2
For Activity 2, I chose a song produced by Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, they lyrics of which are inspired and based on a speech delivered by Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential primaries. The song is called "Yes We Can," just like the speech, and is sung by various actors and singers. The basic message of the song is hope and optimism for the future of the United States. Personally, I believe this song is very relevant. With the current state of affairs in the United States: the failing economy, homelessness, joblessness, global warming, hurricanes, and the war overseas, among many other things, its easy to despair and be cynical about our future and what we will leave behind for upcoming generations. This song, however, provides hope by giving many examples of others and how they persevered and overcame difficulties (i.e founding fathers, slaves, immigrants, etc). It also urges and motivates all Americans to go out and make a difference, help the world become a better place, and that every voice counts, counts.
I depicted the song visually in an American flag, just because the nature of the song is very patriotic. Also throughout the background of the flag, it says "We Want Change," which is chanted in the background of the song.
Here is a link to the song on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Visual Advocacy Proposal
For my Visual Advocacy project, I would like to show the wide gap between the rich and the poor in our capitalistic society. In 2002, the wealthiest 20% of households accounted for 50% of the total US income, and this number has only increased with the worsening economy, as more poor have lost their jobs and increasing numbers of homeless, especially in urban areas, such as Detroit.
For this reason, I would like to illustrate, through a series of six pictures, the huge gap that is everywhere in American society, and how the poor and the rich coexist. An example of a photo that would depict this huge gap, would be perhaps a photograph of a homeless person in a shot, while in the same shot, a businessman/woman by their expensive car.
I would like my series of photos to depict this gap and show the coexistence of the rich and the poor within the same communities so that it evokes an emotional response within the audience. To hear about inequality is one thing, but to actually see the wide spectrum next to within one photograph ( where you see a man or woman not have enough money for their next meal at one corner of the photo and a man or woman that is driving a car worth thousands at the other end) is an affective way of making the audience realize the extremity of the gap and evoking an emotional response from them.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Screen Capture Composition
While working on Activity 1, I periodically took a couple of snapshots of my desktop and at the end went through them and picked out the one I liked the best. When I saw this photograph of my screen, I immediately noticed how, if you look at the tabs, it looks packed. The open tabs include the course tools website, the image that I used to answer one of my questions, some information about the possible meanings of this image, and several search engines I used to answer other questions. In addition to all this, there is the word document that I had been working on to answer the questions at the same time. Once composition is viewed in a digital space, the complexity that goes into a simple paragraph or list can be illustrated. In order to come up with a couple of words in the list, or a couple sentences about each search engine, a considerable amount of work and thought had to go into it, which is evidenced by the number of tabs open on my computer screen. However, at the same time, composing is considerably quicker in digital spaces, where rather than searching for each topic in encyclopedias or books, I can find them instantly with just one click of a button. And then, type up my thoughts, just as fast.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)