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.