"Masculine"

He never understood the wild beating of his heart

nor the pain when it was torn apart

he never understood much of his emotions

he just deal with them in  varying situations

as a young boy he didn't have the privilege of expressing

as the trait was deemed feminine

so now grown up, alone in the wild

he never knew how to express anything inside

binded in the shackles of masculinity

his other interests were disregarded completely

he loved cooking, sewing and painting unicorns

but in the end, he's forced into sports

and when it was the the time the boy fell in love

he never learned how to express his feelings

he always try to appear rude and absurd

as it was how he was raised in terms of expression

so in the end love was out of reach for him

as every chance he had with a girl was slim

and when he had a chance for love

he always finds a way to mess it up

so now grown up, as a broken adult

and was criticized by those responsible for his result

the audacity of those who have broken him

are the ones to first condemn

Pagitan.

Ang kandilang sinindihan ay ay namatay na
sa tagal ng panahon na ito'y nakasindi
natagalan man nito ang malalakas na ihip ng hangin
siya na rin ang kumitil sa sariling buhay niya

nawalan ng amoy ang mga bulaklak
napaltan na ng luha ang bawat halakhak
at sa pagbabalik sa mga lugar na nagdala ng galak
ay nagdudulot na ng sindak na tila may sibat sa puso na nakatarak

matagal na panahon na nga ang lumipas
kahit ang pinakamatingkad ay kukupas
sa pagitan ng pagkikita at paglisan
alaala na lang ang naiwan

mula sa "ikaw ang pahinga ko"
nauwi rin sa "pagod na ko sayo"
sa pagitan ng mga salitang binitawan
ay isang habang buhay na panghihinayang

Broken People

I offer these bittersweet lines
to someone special I can't call mine
whose eyes are like the stars that shine
and who never lose a smile so wide
eyes that tells a thousand stories
and graceful lips that told a million sorries
I guess broken people are drawn together
even though they are better off apart
because once they caused each others broken heart
the sad parts are the sole memories they will remember

fixing each other while one is broken
is like picking up the puzzle and a cut starts bleeding
how can one person who was torn apart
fix someone broken from the start
I guess the comfort of similarity
is a trap we all fall deeply
broken people deserves every love there is
but for the meantime, not the sweet type and cliches

Two broken people falling in love
is a disaster waiting to happen
because soon one's love will be snubbed
when the other one return
leaving the two broken people
just one miserable person
one returns to the love they lost
and the other one drowns in remorse

Fantasy

the image I have you in my mind
is the best version there could be
it's a place where I call you mine
living my fantasy freely

maybe that's why I can't pursue you
as I have constructed an elaborate fantasy
and that every time my mind flew
it becomes an alternate reality

maybe that happens to a lot of people
and pursuing is not something they are not able
that they confine the people they love
within poems, letters and songs

maybe some people are meant to be liked
but not pursued for romance
because love is more complicated
when tried and given a chance

because when you get to know them
they shatters the ideal person in your head
that through times and years ahead
cute things then are those you condemn

because people are not perfect
it's just us inlove who insist it
and the person I wished that was mine
should have been left a fantasy in my mind

Knowing you has been a pain
and I will say that over and over again
If only them I thought ahead
I should have left you inside my head

Ikaw pa rin...

Ikaw pa rin ang laman ng bawat katha
at ang bawat salita na tumutugma
sa iniaalay ko sa hangin na tula
lahat naman sila sayo nakatalaga

ikaw pa rin ang hiling
sa isang gabing madilim
sabay sa taas at langit titingin
at hiling sa unang bituin

ikaw pa rin ang iniisip
sa bawat dasal na taimtim
kahit ang mga salitang binigkas sa hangin
ay umaasa na sayo ako ay dalhin

ikaw ang nasa isip ko
sa tuwing maghuhulog ng barya sa balon
sabay pipikit
at hiling na pagmulat ko'y ikaw ay sana mapasakin

matagal tagal na pala
nung una kitang hilingin sa mga tala
ngayong lumuhod na nga sila
wala pa rin akong nagagawa

siguro kahit ikaw pa rin
ay alam kong hanggang dito lang tayo
dahil kahit anong gawin na paghiling
wala pa rin, kung di talaga tayo

kaya sa isang sulok ako magsusulat
ng mga tula at talata na sayo nakatalaga
marahil isang araw isa itong librong mabubuklat
kung saan nakaukit ang mga alaalang wala naman

Song of the person

I think every song is assigned to a person
just like how you meet one for a reason
some happy songs encourage life
while the sad and gloomy ones are not only for style

sad songs existing are more prevalent
than the happy songs you hear not so frequent
but one person in your life comes along
and suddenly, comes every love song

as if the days will never pass
for songs of love that you hope will last
and in days you feel like love is blue
comes her songs proving feelings true

every song has parts to listen
there's refrain and bridge up to ending
and when things fail the love songs then
feels like blood coming out of your ears end to end

then this person suddenly left
as if all the moments were theft
then you understand to your dismay
why are there more sad songs today

Peanut Butter

gusto kita, pero ayako maging akin ka
nakukuha mo ba? kasi nakakatakot na
makilala mo kong lubusan, at umalis ka ng kusa
kaya nga kahit gusto kita, diyan ka lang muna

wala naman kasing problema sayo
mabait ka at maalalahanin ng todo
siguro sadyang ako lang talaga
sa isang relasyon ay hindi pa handa

pasensya ka na ha, minsan na kasing naloko
ang galing nung una, ang galing din humanap ng bago
ang hirap lang magtiwala, kahit magkaiba kayong tao
dahil sa huli ako lang mag isa, ang haharap kapag iniwan mo

kaya nga takot ako magcommit
sadyang takot lang masaktan ulit
pero minsan hindi naman yung ang dahilan
sadyang mas trip ko lang makipaglandian

parang hindi pa panahon
magpapasok ng tao sa buhay ko
dahil kapag umabot na sa puntong nagkakasawaan
ay lalabas na ang samut saring dahilan

kaya ganun wala na munang personalan
hindi ko lang trip ang relasyon
pero gusto kita ha? wag mo kakalimutan
baka sadyang di pa ukol sa ngayon

Ikwento mo sakin ang araw mo

Ikwento mo sakin ang araw mo
nang sa ganon ay para kasama na rin ako
sa mahabang oras na magkalayo
gusto ko malaman anong nangyayari sayo

gusto ko malaman ano naramdaman mo ngayon
kung lumuha ka ba, umiyak o tumawa
ano kaya ang ginagawa mo sa mga simpleng pagkakataon
na ikaw lamang magisa

ikwento mo sakin kung ano ang iyong tanghalian
kung masarap ba o sa waiter nasungitan
mabilis ka bang nakasakay sa jeep kanina?
o matagal din, mabuting naglakad ka na lang pala

nalungkot ka ba kanina?
kung gayon anong sanhi nito?
kung naging masaya ka naman
ikwento mo, para parehas tayo

anuman ang naramdaman mo kaninang umaga
noong simula ng pagbangon mo sa kama
kamusta naman? nahirapan ka bang maligo?
lalo na malamig ang tubig kapag umaga ng alas otso

hindi ako lagi nasa piling mo
at dun ay nagpapasalamat ako
dahil kahit wala sa piling ng isa't isa
ay may sarili tayong mundo

basta bawat detalye ng araw mo gusto ko malaman
para maramdaman ko na nandiyan ka lamang
kahit ilang oras handa naman akong makinig
para maramdaman ko ang saya, lungkot at iyong kilig

at sana wag ka magsawa sakin magkwento
ng mga nangyayari sayo dito sa mundo
dahil ibig kong malaman kamusta ang araw mo
kahit kaibigan lang ako

A's

Autumn leaves began to fall

as my feelings for you starts to grow

 Cold as winter I had no hope

 even when spring flowers came along

 spring was nice like your smile and flowers bloom

 when you're in sight.

a garden of roses could not compare

 to this one of a kind tulip already there

then summer came and the heat was on

 like the fiery feelings I had all year long

 but even with the fire in my heart

I could not admit my feelings from the start

 then autumn came back once more

but I'm still in the place I was before days will pass

and seasons repeat but these feeling of mine, I won't admit

Ang sarap mong sulatan

Bawat sulyap sayo ay isang obrang nabubuo
sa loob ng isipan kong sa pagtakbo ay di na huminto
bawat sulyap at tingin ko sa iyo
ay parang gumaganda ka lalo
Sa bawat anggulo at sulok ng ngiti mo
ay isang magandang tula na hindi pa nabubuo

ang sarap mong sulatan dahil sa iyo
hindi ako mauubusan ng salita

ang sarap mong sulatan
dahil lahat ng iyong ginagawa
ay isang pinong sayaw

ang sarap mong sulatan dahil kahit ang boses mo
ay tila isang tinig ng musika
na ang himig ay naglalambing

ang sarap mong sulatan dahil
sa lahat ng maganda ay maaari kang ikumpara
at kahit ang simpleng bagay ikumpara sayo ay gaganda

ang sarap mong sulatan dahil sa mga ngiti at tawa
mong kahit kailan ay hindi nang insulto
mga kumukurbang labi na laging masaya
at tawa na nagaadya ng kagalakan

ang sarap mong sulatan dahil hindi ka na kailangan sulatan
sapagkat tanga lamang ang hindi makakakita ng iyong halaga
isa kang obra na higit sa kahit anong salita
o kahit anong tulang ikatha

ang sarap mong sulatan dahil ikaw ang tula na hindi ko magagawa
at ikaw ang isang bagay na higit sa isip ay makakatha
pambihira ka sa mata ng nakakilala
at pangkaraniwan sa mga matang bulag sa tunay na maganda

ang sarap mong sulatan dahil kapag ikaw ang nasa isip ko
hindi ko ramdam na nagsusulat ako o nagiisip
basta nahuhulog ang mga salita
pumorporma ng mga talata at tula

ang sarap mong sulatan dahil bago pa man kita sulatan
ay may sarili ka nang halaga na di napansin ng iba

Emotionless lovers

Forced love never worked out

every moment is a clout to the heart

the ache inside persistently throbs

as I never missed isolation this much

What started as friends, we mistook for feelings

as we tried to ignite a small kindling

but from the start I never had your heart

as it was one sided from the start

we built this love, on foundation of lies

cause you pity the look in my eyes

the love we had was false reality

as your feelings for me, are built from sympathy

there was no love in the thing we built

as it was all a product of guilt

we did not wish to disappoint one another
that's why we settled as emotionless lovers

we squeeze those feelings dry

until we are both tired to try

and when we decided to walk away

it feels like a storm waiting a sunny day

Ellisha

Can you calculate the mass of how light my heart is
when you are near and how heavy it is when you're away?
How does your presence always magnetize the smile of my lips
and how it repels my happiness when you leave?
 Can the grains of sand on earth and stars on the sky
 quantify to how many times you cross my mind?
I may never fully comprehend how things in the world works
nor how most of it matter but
what I know is that every time you walk in the room,
 my mind becomes blank and filled with thoughts
at the same that it has become impossible to determine how one began
and when did the other one ended.
Few months that I know you
 has been the best ones so far that
the future ahead is what I am nostalgic of
and I look forward to the past that may come.

40 days

it's been forty days since you left
but all the scars are still deep etched
you shock us all when your heart stopped
and ever since then we could only fall apart

I still remember that dreaded night
a hard cough disturbed my peace
and there you are, fighting to breathe
we did are best to save you, but we lost the fight

I was the one you last embraced
and till now I feel the falling grace
how heavy you got when I carry you
knowing that it was our last embrace

You always loved the purple color
but it has become you last demise
as I watch the life escape from you
your face turned to your favorite color

Recalling those moments I still feel weak
As beside you then, I could do nothing but weep
you were at our grasp
but we lost you in a single gasp

now all I can do is accept your fate
that destiny has another tale to tell
but the pain inside will alway throb
when every seventh day of the month comes

but forty days has already passed
it feels like yesterday, it was too fast
still now it's hard to take
but we'll build upon from what you made

Morgue Walls

Morgue walls have heard the loudest cries
the only place where the tears never lie
the wails will echo along the corridor
as the pain is almost unimaginable
as you still stare waiting for a miracle

But the room has no mercy
as it took the loved one swiftly
the cracks on the wood so sturdy
is the one telling the story

It has heard the most sincere prayers
even more than church walls and altars
Begging God for one more chance
but every once, he can only do so much

You speak to him with no reply
and all the echoes are none but cries
Saying what you want with feelings
with shaking hands and heavy breathing

your sweat is cold and tears are warm
with clenching jaw and inner scars
chest is heavy, with mind so blank
you lose all thoughts while your heart sank

The most sincere place is where it hurts most
where you hear the most sincere cries saw its cost
the morgue walls will always echo
to the hearts that was filled with sorrow

Day 366: Miss mo?

                     Ang hirap pala kapag may namimiss ka pero hindi ganun ang pakiramdam nya paukol sayo. Nakakainis lang pala na lahat noong nangyari at naganap sa pagitan niyo ay ikaw lang ang nagbigay ng kahulugan, na ang pinakamasasayang bahagi ng buhay mo ay pampalipas oras lamang niya. Kaya maiisip mo na lang kung pinahalagahan ka ba talaga sa simula dahil ambilis niyang nawala nang wala man lang pasabi na para bang wala kayong pinagsamahan. Kaya ikaw na tanga iisipin mo kung san ka ba nagkulang o kung nagkulang ka ba talaga o sa simula pa lang ay wala ka naman talagang halaga.
                    Mahirap pa ay hindi ka gusto makita ng taong namimiss mo. May galak ka pa na nadarama sa aksidenteng magkasalubong kayo pero siya ay may halong ilang at pandidiri pa kapag nakita ka. ikaw naman pilit umaasa pa kaya panay ang parinig sa social media habang sya ay masaya nang naguupdate ng buhay sa iba. Iba pala talaga yung kirot kapag may hinahanap hanap ka tapos yung hinahanap hanap mo may nahanap ng iba. Madali kang palitan pero ang hirap mo makalimot, sumugal ka sa laro ng pag ibig at ikaw na lang ang laging talo.
                   Kapag ganung sitwasyon iniisip mo na sana natulog ka na lang sa late night talks o kaya hindi ka gumayak sa mga spontaneous trips niyo na napupunta kung saan. Dahil sa bawat puyat na iyong ginagawa ay ang alaala na kausap siya at sa bawat lugar na pinuntahan ninyo ay isang masakit na alaala na ang matatamis na halik niya noon ay naging mapait na panlasa sa mga pagkakataon na tinatraydor ka ng alaala. Naglaan ka ng oras sa taong panandalian lang ang tingin sayo, panindigan mo yan.
                    Sa huli, hindi naman kasi talagang naging kayo, nagexpect ka lang. Kasalanan mo yan.

For the one

She was beautiful in her own way without being conscious of it

All the wonders of the universe for her dowry

But the night sky is already on her hair

and the stars are in her eyes

the sun is in her smile

and the moon is in her gaze

even the seasons go crazy for her

as her laugh chased the winter from the human face

summer is present in her warm glow

and spring bloomed flowers for her show

she was the perfect flower, even when autumn came

24 hour no gadget challenge

               The 24 hour no gadget challenge turned out great from me as I discovered a lot of things in the home that I barely noticed and I manage to see some things into a new perspective. I did not find the activity to be draining or exhausting as such, but rather the anxiety building upon the day was the frustrating part. Overall, it was a great experience and helped me in a lot of things.

               First of all, out of sheer coincidence, I was asked out on a date by a former colleague on that exact day and as compliance I agree. It was pretty weird for me since I’m used to dating with my phone at hand and whenever I’m lost for words, I resort to my phone. I know it’s rude but I’m not really confident with myself. However, this was not the case for this one. I had no phone and I have to maintain a conversation which I surprisingly did. I get to know my colleague better and the date went well. It’s one of the perks I had during the no gadget day, I was forced out of my comfort zone therefore I have to move and the results went better than expected. 10/10 would go to date with no phone again.

               I’ve mentioned earlier about the anxiety building up is the worse feeling than the actual day itself. It is true that I have become technology dependent as most of my notes, reminders and reviewers are in my laptop and phone. I was so anxious that I finished most of my paper works that is due even for the next week. Surprisingly, I was productive even before the actual day come. My notes were written down on yellow pads as I prepared myself to read them and most of the tasks and subject to reviews were posted at my bedside. I also have a 7am class the coming Tuesday so I set my alarm 2 days before since I cannot touch my phone the day before. I wouldn’t say that I only did those things out of panic but also out of the wakeup call that I should have more responsibility. Yes, most of my schedules and notes are organized digitally however; they end up being a mess after, since I get too distracted.

               I had more time to study since the distractions were all eliminated. In my regular study sessions, I have the urge to check my phone every minute but since this was a challenge (my sisters were in this too) I was forced to avoid them. The funny thing I found out is that I never realized how much time simple browsing can take. Usually in studying one subject, it takes me two hours before reading every passage once, but when I had no gadgets I had mastery of the topic in two hours and I could answer every sample question my sister gave me. The study sessions that usually takes me almost 5 hours a day before I can even fathom, was comprehensible in a shorter span of time. I guess the saying “I’m not stupid I’m just distracted” is true. Funny how a simple scroll on social media takes up so much time before we even knew it. I’m not saying their bad; it’s just maybe it’s all a matter of discipline the pursuit of goals.

               In the end of the activity, I realized that gadgets are not the one to blame since they merely caters to the needs of the people. They serve in some aspects but unfortunately abused. When I had the idea of the gadgets taken away from me even for a day I was planning ahead and it all paid out in the end. I realized how distractions were affecting us greatly with us being okay with it. I would like to do the challenge once more but with a larger timespan and uncontrolled environment.

Digital Rhetoric Assignment

1.      Persuasion  in online communication encourages self-expression, participation and creative collaboration contrary to the traditional in which every persuasive means only comes from a single person. Additionally, it also promotes interactivity in which people have more opportunities for feedback and discussion which can lead to better persuasion. Aside from having the opportunity to deliver a feedback, the audience also has access to perspectives in which they see fit according to their belief; it makes the world so big smaller in and closer by a push of the button. The rhetorical strategies are deployed in online spaces in the same means as traditional communication but with a larger scope. In taking and avoiding sides, people don’t mind taking and not avoiding anymore since they have the freedom to express themselves. Because whatever side they take, there will come someone or a group of people who will support their cause no matter how questionable it is to the majority(e.g. flat earthers) In creating aspirational identities or directly influencing the audience, it is much simpler in digital persuasion as one can be anything or anyone in the digital media. It’s one of the perks or dangers of digital persuasion. In conclusion, it is much easier to create a persona digitally therefore attracting more audience deeming the rhetor more effective no matter how true or false their stand was.  
2.      Computer programs has offered new ways of self-expression and interacting with others. As a tool it persuades by simplifying or customizing the information, by this manner, more audience are paying attention to the rhetor as one way or another the rhetor has multiple means of persuading the audience, with the aid of computer programs, persuading is easier than ever. It can also simulate situations and play as a social actor through physical, psychological and social cues. In the modes of persuasion, computer programs function achieves the credibility of ethos and pathos.
3. People now have double identity in which they act differently online compare to their offline lives. Some act too different that they became a new persona of themselves or for better or worse, a whole new person. It can be difficult to find credibility in a system when anyone can be an impostor. Persuasion may become perplexing or even ineffective in wildly changing community in which people can exist in multiple ways. Especially today in the presence of trolls.

Political Rhetoric Assignment

1.            The four main persuasive strategies stated by Condor are: Taking and Avoiding sides, explicit appeals to Common In-group Membership, Constructing Aspirational Identities, and Implicit displays of rhetorical alignment. There were also a few supporting strategies mentioned in the readings such as: The flexibility and vagueness use of pronouns, using pronouns to display complex political allegiances, and using the first person plural nouns to convey ideological messages. I did not consider the last three as main strategies as they merely support the statement of the fourth.
2.        I have seen the four main persuasive strategies in every campaign material. But to cite examples I would like to use Bong Go’s and the Otso Diretso Campaign. First take a look at this photo:                                                                                             
   

-        In this ad, Bong Go is shown as interacting with the ordinary Filipino family. Taking and avoiding sides is seen in this picture when you put things in the context. It is not new to the public that the campaigning senator is loyal to the president. In order to preserve that loyalty while campaigning to the mass public, he opted to go for the ordinary citizens. While a lot of candidates have done such, he is one to be the most prominent of all. Another persuasive strategy here is that we all know that Filipinos have a familial culture. It is evident in our media as well as in our daily lives. By catering to the public that he is a “family man” or someone who values the traits of familial mentality he exhibits the explicit appeals to common in-group membership; here by simply shaking the hand of the people he shows that he is like any other. It’s the thing that Filipinos tend to lean on people they can relate to and this ad tries to show that this candidate is exactly like that.

-        On the other hand take a look at this ad:                                 

-        I would like to focus on the statement “Ipaglaban ang ating bukas, boto mo ang lunas!” as it exhibits the constructing aspirational identities and implicit display of rhetorical alignment. In the statement “boto moa ng lunas” they are implying that there is something wrong with the society and they can fix that if given a chance. They cater on future of the society. Building the future today is what they aspire to be, curing their perceived illness as they ask the people for votes. For the implicit display of rhetorical argument the phrase “Ipaglaban ang ATING bukas” is noticeable. “Atin” directly translated to Filipino is “us” but it was used on this sentence as an “our” as the phrase is loosely translated to “Fight for our future” using these inclusive pronouns makes the reader feel like the people asking for their vote like them. In this ad, it they wish the people to relate to them by including themselves in the statement by saying that it is their tomorrow too.

\    3. Such campaigns did not make an impact on me. For one reason, those types of statements and campaign strategies are done very election period. It’s always the same, besides; I have already established the candidates I wish to vote for in the upcoming elections.  Sometimes, trying to cater to the mass feels a bit off since it feels like there is always that ulterior motive. I mean you don’t see candidates going to poor communities after winning. Maybe the main reason such campaigns did not work on me is that, I am knowledgeable of the things that circulate the politics therefor mere words of persuasion isn’t enough to convince me.

Activity 2.2: Reflection paper

                On indication of learning is discomfort, I had experience such during the reports done by other groups and while making ours ourselves.  Being a young adult, I had dreams of changing the world. But what I did not acknowledge that it was already shaping and changing before I could even begin at step one. That is when I realize that to change the big things, first you must notice the little things in the world and I saw that in the commercials shown during the program. They were shaping the people’s minds before the people could even realize such. Additionally, I also learned that to conclude that something is evil, toxic or harmful. One must put things into context. Not every jargon fad in required to be plastered in every statement to prove a point. Being “woke” is good. But digging things into deeper context is before concluding is better.

                The commercials viewed by my group and others are seemingly innocent. But once a pattern is established, things start getting sketchy. For once, commercials always portray women as the one washing clothes or doing the chores. It was never men, as men are always portrayed as the successful ones. One example is the Emperador commercial that Coco Martin is featured it has the lyrics “Galing ng Pilipino, iwagayway” a great sense of nationalism yet sketchy since it noticeably had a man in front and the women are in the sidelines, it can also be noticed that men came from office work and women are from drinking with friends. Little things matter in sublime messages such as this. Another thing that commercials are doing is that they expose insecurity of young people today, especially the young Filipina. It has been enforced in commercials such as “Dove”, “cream silk”, and more beauty products that white skin and straight long hair is the standard of beauty contrary to the natural curly and brown skin of Filipinos. Often asked is why Filipinos are obsessed with white skin, such researched were done when the answer is simple. It was embedded in us in those innocent advertisements.

                Discomfort is what I felt because when I saw things in perspective, I may have noticed it but in context, I am also a buyer or a victim of that mentality. One way or another I have woken up to late in realizing these things, the good news is that I can still act upon it and do everything in my power to change it. Another discomfort I felt is that I want to do something upon it but there is only so much that this young man can do. The media has become too powerful to conquer and it is only a matter of time until most are influenced by it.  I just hope that most people would realize how the media affects us before we all succumb to it.

                Despite my criticism to media, I applaud the part where most commercials are family oriented. Considering that it is a culture of Filipino, it was a great show of context. Appealing to the mass while establishing what is important. Though there were criticisms that familial culture is the reason that the Philippines is poor, one cannot deny that the love for family is something that cannot be erased within us. Using familial context is fine so why can’t commercials just do that? Instead of exposing our insecurities and enforcing norms, there is a way for media to become healthy; it just takes the right amount of execution.

                Media is not limited to the commercials on televisions but they also extend on internet platform. I have noticed that the word “toxic masculinity” has been thrown as usual than before. This may seem biased in my opinion but not all things are toxic masculinity. Some things should be put on context is what I am saying. They keep saying toxic masculinity but fail to prove how. I see this as an example how people are desperate to appear “woke” or open to trends that they conclude even without deeper understanding of the context. Such phrase is thrown around but when men are criticized for doing household chores, they turn a blind eye on it. Research and finidng proof is essential before making ones judgment and this apply to everything. May it be ordinary people, work or literally anywhere you converse.

                In conclusion, putting things into context is important in analyzing critical things and jumping to conclusions would not do any good as it raises more problem than before. Overall, it was enlightening and made me realize that there are more things that I would need to study more onto.

Activity 2: Introduction to mass communication: media literacy and culture

The greater achievement we have for human race, the better communication media we required. This is evident on how we evolved from a print media to radio and television where the audience or the consumer can be farther than we have ever known. But we did not stop there; rather we digitized videos for better delivery of information to the public. However, despite this great connectivity that the world has achieved more than any era know, there are still some positives and negatives that we can derive from this evolution.

The printing press was invented in the so called “Gutenberg revolution.” It changed the platform of media forever. As it was accessible in every corner of the street and everything can be put into paper and disseminate to the public. Funny how people tells how mobile phones made us distant from one another yet when it was during this era is that when people prioritized reading newspapers rather than communicating in public., Funny how people sees the past as interactive and full of friendships when it was pretty much the same from today. Another thing that the printing press did is that it made written communication available to all. Reading was only a luxury but became a necessity when printing press emerged. Suddenly, the world that did not feel the need to read became a literate one. Butcher’s needed to understand the king’s list and many more. 

One economic factor that helped the evolution of media from print to audio is the industrial revolution.  Printing was responsible for building things and disseminating knowledge but as the machines grew and the farmers, agriculturists and fishermen became industrialist workers. They had more leisure time. Therefore, printing media became not only as a source of information but also a source of entertainment. Then enter the radio, where the media did not only become entertaining or informational but it was available for every household there is. The media that was only available at stores became convenient at homes. But it did not stop there as the moving pictures available only at the theaters became the television at home. People started earning more as well as having more time that they demanded what to do with those things. The world was also becoming more interconnected then meaning that people have to be updated in the ever changing world. Print media would take days or weeks to produce sell or update but at the convenience of televisions they could distribute information faster than ever before.

Digitization of videos made vast differences for the producers and consumers. For the producers’ part, they did not need to spend vast amount of money to produce information available to the public. Most were convenient and can be done by amateurs as well as distributing them would not be difficult as the medium to present them were presented already and is at the hands of the consumers.  For the consumers part they can access whatever information or entertainment they require faster and more efficient.  The platform of media today has also contributed to that efficiency where everything is in the click of a button.  One more benefit is that information is easier to preserve access and also share.  The things that were once out of reach are now at you mobile phones of computers.

All things have been said as media being more accessible but one cannot deny that despite connecting the human society today, there are repercussions to it. One thing foremost is the widespread of “fake news” especially nowadays. Since media is accessible to everyone, everyone can make their own content therefore the information uploaded today are not as much as reliable. Anyone can mold the information into their own liking and distribute them as if it is the absolute truth. Another thing is that people can be humiliated or glorified in a matter of minutes. Imagine having your reputation ruined by a stranger who does not know a single thing about you but since they took a video or photo of you in your most vulnerable moment, the whole world will judge you for that.  As the information uploaded is there forever, they can make or break someone’s reputation.

Going back on the good bits, media accessibility connected the world like never before the friends we have are extended to overseas as well as our love ones. The world that seemed so wide became smaller as media accessibility grew, everything was at the point of our fingers and information was easier to access. Everything grew and became convenient.

In conclusion, media has changed over time and shaped the world as we know today.it will always have its pros and cons but there is no denying how useful and how our world revolved around it now.

Orality and Literacy

               In the age of scientific achievements and great man made achievements, funny how we took simple means of communication between two people into connecting the world. This only shows how that even in the grandest scheme of things, communication is the one thing constant that will always be relevant and has room for improvement. But before these man-made wonders are achieved, before we relied heavily on technology to communicate there were simpler times where there is oral and literacy culture.

            Orality came before literacy by a long shot. Back then, people had no means of recording the knowledge they attain. To compensate for such, they created chants, epics, stories and songs of a tribe in order to retain the information they want. Another thing about orality is that it had empathetic values and felt closer and personal as every person speaking has an immediate reaction or response. It was not also the shackles of constraint that literacy cultures, since dictionaries, thesaurus and other references are not available in an oral culture therefore there few disagreements regarding semantics, grammar and political correctness. Most of the time, every matter of discussion and every meaning of the word are agreed upon the two who are speaking at that very moment. One last thing that distinguishes orality from literacy is that orality lives solely on the present while literacy seeks to connect the past to the present whilst predicting the future.

            Literacy, as mentioned earlier, came way after orality. The latter was unstructured and based solely on understandings of the speaker and receiver while literacy had a formal style and structured as it was bind in written rules that most literate then, agreed upon. Since the structured form was introduced, it became distant from the emotions that orality has. It became a basis of intelligence while failing to appeal to emotions. Sure, there are letters expressing love and gratitude but one cannot deny that the being said in person “I love you” beats a written note everyday. The rules of grammar and punctuation also have been complicated for some that they fail to convey the proper message they wish to say in the first place, focusing in the structure rather than message. These may be a few repercussions but there is no denying how literacy shaped the world of today; from writing the history to writing further bodies of language. Everything we can think of can be written to down to further expand for the future generations. The possibilities and potentials of this world have grown limitless.  Imagine if we did not learn to write, then all the marvels of the world would cease to exist.

            These two forms of medium coexist in ways that they cannot be separated. Both had its flaws and strengths but there is no denying how one needs the other. Some ideas spoken orally are written down for further discussions. Orality came first and started communication but it was expanded and enriched by literacy. Once we learned how to write, all those dispensable things that we said that are gone with the wind are now retained. There was thrive for further knowledge, cultures were preserved better, and laws were made unitary. Orality should not be seen as primitive rather than a gateway for better seeking of knowledge as it guides the literacy in which most of us have today.

             Intersubjectivity if media was also given attention by Walter Ong. To put simply, intersubjectivity is the agreement between the speaker and receiver among the definitions and meanings of the words they are using while conversing. Going back to Ong, he pertains that communication should work as a two-way street as one would speak or write expecting an immediate response. Media does not have this privilege, as it delivers the message to receiver which does not have immediate or rather, certain response. It simply gives out the message it wished to convey without regarding the words, feelings and other things that may affect some audience.  Feedback is essential in a close conversation and this is what the media lacks despite having a larger scope of audience.

            Media model of communication shows that there is no definite audience. It became a one way type of communication as literacy seeks to be factual and while informational speeches of oral are performance based. In a nutshell, media model of communication seeks an audience for spreading information may it be oral or written but it does not have the feedback mechanism.

References:
Benjamin, J. (1990). Recognition and destruction: An outline of intersubjectivity. Psychoanalytic psychology, 7(suppl), 33–47. (Reprinted in 1999 in S. A. Mitchell & L. Aron (Eds.), Relational psychoanalysis: The emergence of a tradition (pp. 181–210). Hillsdale: The Analytic Press).

https://blogs.ubc.ca/etec540sept12/2012/09/30/1150/

http://newlearningonline.com/literacies/chapter-1/ong-on-the-differences-between-orality-and-literacy

https://comm10sec14.wordpress.com/page/1/