Statement of Purpose and Design Plan, final take (maybe).

    For the next major assignment of my Digital Media course, I am going to create an informational presentation for the Calumet-area film club know locally as Club Indigo.  Having been to a few dinners, I feel that Club Indigo is an extraordinary opportunity for Michigan Tech students to expand their cultural horizon while meeting some of the most inspiring Copper Country natives I have met. I feel that if student knew about Club Indigo, what it does, and where they could go to get more information, many more Tech students would join the club and help keep the tradition alive.
    Since it was founded in 1994, Club Indigo has been a monthly get-together for residence of Calumet and the surrounding area.  Featuring a dinner that is themed with the movie of the night, each Club Indigo gathering is a fun and exciting way to get to know locals and experience a foreign culture's media and cuisine.  Featuring a relaxed atmosphere and friendly collective of usuals and new visitors, every Club Indigo experience is a great opportunity for students to make new acquaintances
    For my presentation, I am going to use photos and interviews from Club Indigo members to capture the interest of a audience of college students.  To better reach the target audience of trendy college students, the presentation will focus more on visuals and layout as opposed to the words on the screen.  Most of my information will be about the history of and current information about the Club, but I will also use first hand experiences to give a student's perspective to my argument.  My primary audience is college students who start new trends, so my main argument will have to be tailored to students through media that appeals to them as well as focusing on the relaxed atmosphere of the club.
    My reasoning behind appealing to the trend-setting (or hipster, as some may see it) audience of Michigan Tech is these are often the students who spread the word about new or upcoming events and places.  I feel the atmosphere at each Club event is new enough that individuals who like starting trends will enjoy telling their friends about their experience.  By illustrating the fun and diverse opportunities through visuals and graphic media, my presentation should encourage the audience to be the first of their friends to come to Club Indigo.
    With focus on what Club Indigo is about and the many benefits or attending even one Club night, I hope to increase attendance and introduce a younger generation of Club Indigo members.  Though the current group and new patrons keep the Club running, I think students with an interest in the Club could help Club Indigo expand or take place more often.  This new membership could also help spread the word about Club Indigo, and possibly even contribute to the network and culture of the Club.

Revised Statement of Purpose

    For the next major assignment of my Digital Media course, I am going to create an informational presentation for the Calumet-area film club know locally as Club Indigo.  Having been to a few dinners, I feel that Club Indigo is an extraordinary opportunity for Michigan Tech students to expand their cultural horizon while meeting some of the most inspiring Copper Country natives I have met. I feel that if student knew about Club Indigo, what it does, and where they could go to get more information, many more Tech students would join the club and help keep the tradition alive.
    Since it was founded in 1994, Club Indigo has been a monthly get-together for residence of Calumet and the surrounding area.  Featuring a dinner that is themed with the movie of the night, each Club Indigo gathering is a fun and exciting way to get to know locals and experience a foreign culture's media and cuisine.  Featuring a relaxed atmosphere and friendly collective of usuals and new visitors, every Club Indigo experience is a great opportunity for students to make new acquaintances
    For my presentation, I am going to use photos and interviews from Club Indigo members to capture the interest of a audience of college students.  Most of my information will be about the history of and current information about the Club, but I will also use first hand experiences to give a student's perspective to my argument.  My primary audience is college students, so my main argument will have to be tailored to students through media that appeals to them as well as focusing on the relaxed atmosphere of the club.
    With focus on what Club Indigo is about and the many benifits or attending even one Club night, I hope to increase attendance and introduce a younger generation of Club Indigo members.  Though the current group and new patrons keep the Club running, I think students with an interest in the Club could help Club Indigo expand or take place more often.  This new membership could also help spread the word about Club Indigo, and possibly even contribute to the network and culture of the Club.

Wysocki-Lynch Chapter 3 and Thoughts on Audience

   When I first saw the title of "Developing a (more complex) Statement of Purpose," I was worried that chapter 3 of our Wysocki-Lynch reading was going to be a dull section of proper word choice or strong fact presentation, but was surprised to find such a diverse section of tips for overall communication.  This chapter in particular made me think about how my writing style has developed and what factors influence my topics and methods of communication.  From brief essays to extensive research papers, and even now in my blog posts, I have noticed a trend in my writing that, until now, seemed foreign to how everyone else writes.  While the authors were talking about different methods of composing works (page 45), I reflected on what factors are present while I start and continue my work.
    Communication has always been a topic of interest for me, but I had never really put much thought into the logistical side as it is presented in chapter 3.  The authors provide multiple examples of how Statements of Purpose are created, but the section that really got me thinking was section four which stated "communication rarely develops in a straight line."  As anyone who has read a rough draft of one of my papers will tell you, I have a very scattered writing style.  I think that this is what Wysocki and Lynch are trying to convey in this chapter, and they only emphasize this point with all their composition tips earlier in the chapter.  Walks, short videos, comics, all of these are media forms I use to get me thinking about what I want to write about.  Before any assignment, I almost always look for a YouTube clip or Reddit article that relates to the current topic, even if to just put off the inevitable assignment for another few minutes. Through this media, I am developing a better sense of purpose and creating new ideas to get my writing started.
    Though not  quite as exciting as some of our past readings, I still enjoyed the thoughts that came up while reading the third chapter.  Perhaps one of the greatest strengths of this reading has been how it provokes argument with the reader in a constructive way.  By giving you the basic overview of what an argument is and how purpose and audience play a major role in social and educational interactions, I feel Wysocki and Lynch then present topics that cover a wide spectrum in hopes of stirring the thoughts of readers.  Perhaps I am looking too in-depth, but after reading chapter 3 I feel that I now have a better understanding of why I write the way I do and how I can better use media to provoke thoughts and purpose.

Multi-media Presentation Proposal

    In our current culture, a diverse understanding of other cultures is often a sought after trait and can be very self and socially rewarding.  For many years, the Calumet Theater has hosted a dinner social club know as Club Indigo which features a foreign film with a themed dinner beforehand.    To help other students discover Club Indigo and help the club attract younger patrons, my proposed multi-media project is a brief presentation on what Club Indigo is and how students can get involved as well as the benefits to attending.  This highly social event is not only a great way to sample different cultures, but also allows patrons to mingle and share stories with one another over some delicious, albeit at times adventurous, food.  Every time I have hosted a Club Indigo event, I have left with a new outlook on a different culture, and new story or acquaintance, and a full stomach: all of which are important to the modern college student!

Compose, Design, Advocate chapters 1 and 2

    Since we began our discussion on rhetoric, I have wondered when the topic of arguments would be presented.  Since day one, my compositions course has been centered around making valid and strong arguments as well as using rhetoric to support our claims.  While reading the Wysocki-Lynch chapters on rhetoric and design planning, I continually made connections to the readings I have done in my composition book with respect to audience and how thoughts or facts are presented.  One such section was when the author told the story of Walter and his communication errors during a presentation.
    Walter's story is an unfortunate tale, but does provide a good example of how your audience should always be the main focus of an argument.  What happened to Walter is he essentially told the Society of Women Engineers at his university that a team Walter was involved in was looking for women to do paperwork for the team.  Though this is not the message Walter or his team intended, there was clearly an error in how the team proposed their ideas to the SWE group.  Poor planning such as this is usually the main factor behind a poor presentation or a weak argument, but it can also be the difference between an easily forgiven error and a grave mistake.
    Though not everyone will have the same experience as Walter when arguing, it is still very important to take the variables of an argument into account.  When you have time to prepare for a presentation or debate, do so until confident in your information and platform for argument.  Take special care when an argument begins on the fly and gauge responses with respect to what is the point and who is being effected.  From getting extensions on projects to negotiating prices, arguments can be much more than just who is right and who is wrong.  If rhetoric is the motor for communication, argument could easily be considered the wheels and drive train: constantly moving and adapting to the communication road ahead.

Thoughts on copyright and digital media readings

    In place of a singular reading for the week, multiple pieces were suggested to help develop thoughts on copyright in the modern digital world.  With recent events such as the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) still fresh in our minds, these readings made a lot more sense when viewed with copyright as a main focus.  Though Ethics of Web 2.0 and the Article on Copyright and Fair Use provided a good background to what internet copyright is, I found that I could really relate to the video by the DJ more than reading the articles.
   Having experience with mixing music, I am familiar with the Fair Use policies as they relate to music production and distribution.  I feel DJ Spooky creates an EXTREMELY strong argument in the closing statement of his video when he states that he "doesn't mind when people use his music as it is still repaying him through its use."  To me, the ideal music library of the internet would let anyone sample tracks for their own editing and self-promotion.  As long as no monetary gain is being made, the user is simply promoting their ideas and their art, something any artist does while getting started. 
   Touching on the topic of self-promotion for artists, I feel Ethics of Web 2.0 does not give due credit to the "fake media sharing sites" like YouTube and the contributions made to the overall digital world of music.  Sites like UKF Dubstep or Machinima are good examples of sites that share media and sustain themselves through the traffic they generate.  For a site to self-sustain off web traffic, the site must obtain an audience and keep them engaged and coming back or spreading the word (rhetoric and audience??).  Once the audience is engaged in the media presented, the site or group has to make their media easily obtained by new members and older members alike.  This different type of web rhetoric seems to create a type of grey-area that I think the Web 2.0 article tries to address, but does not quite succeed.
    As far as copyright on the internet, I feel that we are in a comfort zone that has become extremely resistant to change.  When users push the boundaries of Fair Use, lawmakers should (and do) step in to take control of the situation and make sure everyone is respecting their fellow artists.  On the opposite side of the spectrum, we see internet users and artists become very vocal when their Fair Use laws become the target of legislature or new Anti-Piracy laws.  It is this middle ground that has made the internet what it is today, and I do not expect that to change anytime soon.  Being such a give-and-take situation, the only result is a "final web" in which all members are satisfied with the compromises they have made.

Response to "The Rhetorical Situation"

    While reading "The Rhetorical Situation," I feel that Bitzer creates a strong argument for rhetoric in the written and spoken word, but also eludes to digital rhetoric and modern uses without explicitly stating so.  Though my experience with rhetoric is relatively limited to the ethos, pathos and logos aspects, I found that Bitzer created a generalized sense of rhetoric that anyone with experience could relate to.  It is in this generalization that I feel the strongest relation to digital writing is made, even though the digital communications are never mentioned.
    To better understand what digital rhetoric may amount to, I thought it was useful to have a good understanding of what forms modern rhetoric can take, and what methods we are familiar with.  Bitzer makes a strong point of rhetoric and its spoken limitations when he share the story of the people who are fishing and how they relay information to each other.  The short, concise wording of the fishermen is a great contrast to the almost cyclical talking done by, say, politicians or lawyers.  How can such different ends of the rhetorical spectrum exist and be classified by the same word?  To understand the answer, I found it helpful to again look at what forms of rhetoric WE are familiar with as digital natives.
    We are all exposed to advertisements on a daily basis.  Claims of Product X being superior to Product Y mean nothing without some concrete evidence to back up the claim.  It is through these claims that I feel Bitzer could make a connection between written and digital forms of rhetoric if an updated form of "The Rhetorical Situation" was written.  By relying on facts and convincing arguments to persuade potential customers,  it is clear that modern marketing teams have brought written and spoken rhetoric to the digital age.
    Though challenging at first, the Bitzer reading was captivating and useful in relating past forms of rhetoric to the modern digital world.  With all of the new forms of media and communication, it is clear that how rhetoric has been conveyed  in the past is only the base of how it will be used in the future.  Even with interactive advertisements, it is clear that the world of rhetoric is evolving almost as quickly as the digital media itself.

Review of "From Russia with Love"

    Last night I had the opportunity to usher the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra (KSO) and their performance "From Russia with Love."  The show featured pieces by Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Shostakovic, all Russian composers with very different composition styles.  Overall the performance was a wonderful experience and left me entranced in the haunting melodies of Tchaikovsky and inspired by the almost satirical styles of Shostakovic.
     Though all of the pieces were performed extremely well, the mixture of back-story and execution of the Shostakovic made it stand out from the other numbers.  Raised in in Russia directly following World War II, Dimitri Shostakovic wrote musical numbers for the government and the Communist Party.  After expressing strong feelings of dissent towards the Communist Party, most of Shostakovic's music was banned from Russia.  In response to this ban, Shostakovic began to compose musical pieces that would start with strong, militaristic movements shortly followed by weak, almost cartoon-esque endings.  This was emphasized in the KSO by having the brass section play loud, oppressive notes (representing military oppression) and following these sections with high, quickly resolved chords by the strings and high wind instruments. 
   Though all of the movements were performed well, I feel the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra did an especially fantastic job on the Shostakovic movement.  I look forward to seeing more performances by the KSO, and would recommend the shows to anyone who appreciates good orchestral music or is interested in them.  If interested, you can get tickets with your experience tech fee with no cost if you pick the tickets up early.  Hope to see you there!
-Charlie

Response to the Williams Reading

    While reading Literacy and Computer Literacy: Analyzing the NRC's Being Fluent with Information Technology, I was intrigued by the layout of the research and documentation used by the author.  By starting with a list of themes the National Research Council (NRC) and itemizing what was and was not covered in their findings, I feel Kate did an excellent job at elaborating what all the technicality meant with relationship to the average person.  Though it did make the NRC's research look partially incomplete, I feel that the information Williams provides more than fills in the gaps left behind in the NRC's research. 
    In addition to providing good information about what computer literacy is, I feel Kate used a good example with engineers vs. lawyers with respect to technology each field requires.  Though I do not feel engineers and lawyers are the most polar opposite fields of study, the comparison did serve as a great tool to emphasize how diverse the digital world is becoming. Just like not everyone understands CAD programs or stress analysis software, there are many others who don't quite understand music software or Photoshop programs.  Though a student's major does not bar them from certain programs, (I am fairly interested in music mixing and alteration with software like Traktor Pro despite my mechanical engineer field) what a student is enrolled for does limit them to the software AVAILABLE to them (i.e. getting a CAD program for an engineering course).
    As stated in the Williams piece, this almost pre-determined availability of software makes it difficult for individuals to become fluent in different types of digital technology.  In addition to this, few software designers release trial versions of their products or release versions that have very limited capabilities until the "full" version is purchased.  When presented with tech-related challenges, many individuals seek outside help rather than take the problem on themselves.  Is this because they are not experienced with the required software or programs? Or is it the fear of learning a new skill at the risk of breaking the technology in the process?  Though the possibilities are endless, it appears that we are perfectly content to "let the pros do their jobs," while we observe and learn from a distance.
    Though this is only a portion of the topics covered in the Williams reading, Literacy and Computer Literacy: Analyzing the NRC's Being Fluent with Information Technology, it captured my attention and made me think about what it really means to be tech-literate.  If nothing else, this reading helped me better understand that the more programs and software I'm exposed to, the better prepared I will be when others are depending on me to fix something they don't understand.  From designing hydraulic systems for heavy equipment to mixing a new song, I am well on my way to becoming a go-to person for anyone with questions o the software I am familiarizing myself with.

"Born Digital" and "(Cyber) Conspiracy Theories" Response

    For the readings this week, we were given an introduction to the book Born Digital and a chapter from (Cyber) Conspiracy Theories.  Both readings, though a bit challenging, proposed many new viewpoints on the security and equality of the current internet and digital media systems.  I made many connections to both readings, and enjoyed learning about the arguments presented by the authors.
    Of the two readings, I was very interested in the introduction to Born Digital and the views of children that have grown with the internet vs. their parents who have had to adapt as new technology became standard.  It was interesting to read about how "digital natives" behave around technology as I could see all of the technology that I have grown up with and understand better than my parents or other "Digital Immigrants."  I remember many of the things mentioned in the article such as iPods after Walkmen, and the internet fad that was Neopets.  Though these are memories that happened at an earlier stage of my life, it is still evidence that I have grown with the digital world and have been given a greater advantage than those who had to learn on their own time the skills that I gained while playing.
    After reading the Born Digital piece, the Blackmon piece on (Cyber) Conspiracy Theories really got me thinking about what it meant to be a "digital native."  Having grown up with computers and relatively unlimited access to the glorious internet, it was eye-opening to see the amount of students who do not have regular access to computers or the internet.  I was shocked to see how the influence of digital media has impacted minority students and their views on how their "digital persona" is so pre-determined.  It seems unfair to me that, as individuals in the article hinted at, the only minorities that get media attention are either rappers or sports stars.  To truly be a digital community, all races should have equality in their pursuits and have a better chance at establishing their own individual digital identity among the masses.