Week 10: Games and Avatars in the Information Age: Don’t tell me World of Warcraft isn’t real. I got married there.

Question 1: Do you agree that you are cyborgian in nature?

When we think cyborgs, we think of something along this line:

Therefore, the basic understand of cyborgs is half human-half machine, like Frankenstein and Robocop. However, unbeknownst to us, claims are being made that we are cyborgs too! 

Haraway (1991) states that “a cyborg is a cybernetic organism, a hybrid of machine and organism, a creature of social reality as well as a creature of fiction” (p. 150). Therefore, the common understanding of a cyborg, according to this definition, is accurate – half human-half machine. Basically, this means that a cyborg is an embodiment that exists in the real world, whlist functioning from a virtual reality and vice versa. At this point, you would be shaking your head in disagreement – you are all human, definitely not a machine. It's okay. I've been there too.

What was originally used as a form of escapism, has become reality – cyberspace. Humans resume a cyborgian identity as ones identity in the real world can be altered in cyberspace (Robins, 2000). In short, we use avatars to communicate. When posting comments on online communities, especially in wordpress, you are asked to choose an avatar – your “self” or “face” in online communities. I was familiarized with avatars being your “face” in online communities through wordpress. Here, an individual becomes a mesh of human and machine – human communication through a machine; thus the individual resumes a cyborgian identity. This concept is best illustrated by facebook – you posting through an avatar on facebook.

In today's world, technological devices and just basically technology is integrated with our bodies – though not always literally. We are heavily dependent on machines (technology) to go about in our daily lives. Technology can even be identified to be extensions of ourselves, similar to how eating utensils such as cutlery is used to be an extension of our hands. In a way, as the machines become an inseparable part of us, in a sense we become cyborgs. Two separate entities are merged into one to create us.

This was especially true when I started having withdrawal symptoms when I had to get my laptop fixed a while back as I treat my laptop as an extension of myself. It's not so much for leisure anymore, but just the idea of being on my laptop aimlessly surfing through the net. On a random note, this perfectly exemplifies McLuhan's statement - “the medium is the message”.

This video exemplifies our reliance on technology:

Therefore, in the spirits of admitting my cyborgian identity, using the contents from Week 6, Rhetoric, I would like to end this entry with as delusional as it may seem:

• Rain fell in love with a cyborg + I am a cyborg = Rain fell in love with me.*

"reference to the korean movie "I'm a cyborg, But That's OK". The lead actor in the movie is Rain.

References: 

Chris, W. H. W. (2010). Analyzing Visual Communication. BA in Professional Communication Reader. Published by University Brunei Darussalam.

Haraway, D. (1991). Simians, cyborgs and women: The reinvention of nature. New York, NY: Routledge. Retrieved from http://www.stanford.edu/dept/HPS/Haraway/CyborgManifesto.html on 18th October, 2012

Robins, K. (2000). Cyberspace and the world we live in. In D. Bell, & B. M. Kennedy (Eds.), Cybercultures reader (pp. 77-95). London: Routledge.

Week 9: Cinema and television: Cultural literacy and the question of “What’s it for?”

Question 1: Name your favourite television show and film. Explain how the film or television show could shape a person's identity.

My favourite all-time movie will be confession of a shopaholic. As for television shows, I have two favourites; Gossip Girl and Jane By Design.

One of my favourite scene from Confession of Shopaholic movie

The purpose of this entry relates to the personal excerpt of my favourite television show and film because the question I will be answering will provide explanations as to how television show and film could shape a person's identity. With “identity” being the main focus of this entry, sociological jargons will thus be utilized frequently.

With television nowadays being accessible to many, it cannot be denied that television will unconsciously effect ones behaviours and perceptions to some things – influences from television integrates itself with the construction of identity. 

But, what exactly is identity? Identity is created by an individual during adolescence in order to “create a sense of self”, to distinguish themselves from others (Harris, 2003). The construction of identity begins from an early stage in life until death, and the process where one learns the norms, roles and values of their society is known as socialization (Marsh, 2005). As the process of socialization is an on-going process – therefore, identity is constantly being restructured and altered.

As individuals learn norms and values from a variety of domains - mass media, inclusive of television and film, is one of them. According to Shepard (2010), although the direct effects of mass media during socialization is not obvious, it is however said to be one of the contributing factors towards the creation of "self". Shepard (2010) further states that this is because "the media provides information, promote social continuity and integration, supply entertainment, explain and interpret events and information" (pg. 116). Therefore, from what is portrayed through television, individuals will pick up on some characteristics portrayed by the actors and make it their own. Though this does not necessarily mean that when one watches violent movies, they will become violent too.

Personally, both my favourite movie and TV shows had influenced the way how I want to dress myself trying new styles according to fashion trends and especially what amuses me is just the creativity in the fashion industry. Colour-blocking style, Floral prints/patterns, and others they're actually styles that exist in the past making a comeback at present. In Gossip Girl, I always love the clothes that Leighton Meester and Blake lively wore every episodes, their fashion sense is what attracts me the most whenever i watch the series.  I love to watch Fashion show (especially Victoria secret) i always dreamt of watching Victoria secret fashion show live! All of the models are so beautiful, which i secretly envy them! *.* but in a positive way because it motivates me to slim down and be fit! On the other hand, on a personal note about fashion, as I am a Muslim, I try to combine the western fashion trends into a more modest way. For example the image shown below, one of my favourite fashion role model and singer known as Yunalis Zarai!

In a sense, what I watch on the television screen is transmitted to me to form a part of my identity. That however, is just a part of my identity that is influenced by television.

In extreme cases, the influence of television and film is a lot more evident. For instance:

The same person trying to be the different 4 characters are heavily influenced by The Avengers film. To the extent where he dress up to imitate the movie characters and the main idea of "saving the world" which becomes an integral part of his identity. Althought this clip does not exactly follows the actual The Avengers film due to this is a spoof of Avengers to entertain the audience. But the main idea of the film is impersonate through this video.

References:

Harris, S. (2003). Sociology: As & a2. Essex: Pearson Education Limited.

Marsh, I. (2005). Sociology: Making sense of society (3^rd ed.). London: Pearson Education Limited.

Shepard, J. M. (2010). Sociology. Belomont, CA: Wadsworth, Cenage Learning.