weekly response 7 and 8

Most squares contain images to represent the pieces of information given to us. All expect for mine, due to the fact that the images given to the class when it was my turn, somehow provoked words to best describe them instead. All of the squares contain multiple images or words, except for one, where only one image appears. There does not seem to be a trend amongst all four squares, its interesting to note that I can only remember what was asked in one of the squares, the one where medications and assorted pills are drawn. All contributions are different and show how different people think, or how they would choose to best represent the information/words given to us.
It is very hard to put the various squares together to form anything other then four individual spaces holding different representations within them. They could each serve as clues to a mystery, seeing as how they don’t directly bring the original terms or images to head, but if given time and maybe the context of the information, one could see how the original images and how we as the students interpreted them correspond with each other. It may seem more apparent then.
When connecting this assignment to the main themes that Lasn discusses, its easy to see that production and consumption do somewhat influence the representations that formulate in our heads when we are asked to choose a way to depict the various words or images that were given to us. I would say that about half of the representations that were used are influences by what we associate them with, using what we see around us in our every day lives. Some of the images although hard to recognize when standing alone, are surely influenced by something that has occurred, or something that is visually recognizable to the individual responsible for the representation. I believe that this would be the outcome of such an experiment seeing as how associations are made between objects and somehow resonate in our minds to correspond with other objects or ideas, even if we don’t intend for them to do so.
It is fun to see how different people respond to such information, some is taken more literally, the medication for example, very recognizable pills and pill containers, maybe even a doctor appear. Explanation marks, seem to represent some type of excitement, whereas other images and words don’t clearly spell out the original image. The words however do seem to spark certain visual cues, “long” would appear to mean some type of long line would have been the original image, or “flower” representing a more organic flowery shape.
I think it would be interesting to go back, and claim who was responsible for each square on our papers, and discuss the images that came to mind and why we used what we did in order to best represent the information given to us.

Meghan Kelly's Automatist Excercise

In the first square, when shapes were drawn, they are quite representational. There is an image that resembles a clock, a keyboards, a bowling pin, and the others are more abstract, perhaps a wave in water, what resembles fireworks or a beard, and a square/diamond which because of the location to another image reminds me of a kite.

The second square when the first memory of pain is very short but descriptive. It simply says “Doctor’s Office, Needle, Arm, Pain.” Which everyone has experienced.

The third square with the drawings of medicine was very similar to the things I drew. There is a spoon with liquid, and a few bottles.

The fourth square is writing things that came to us when images were drawn. The words are: horse shoe, torch, cord, target, and flower.

Because the second square is on top of the list of words, it seems as if those two squares go together. The same goes for the second and third square, because it talks about doctor’s office and there is medicine in the other square. It can also be the other way around, with the first two squares and last two squares going along with each other. Possibly the images were describing what the person tried to think about while in the doctor’s office to avoid thinking about the pain. With the last two squares maybe the flavor or shape of the medicine made someone think about those words.

Because we all did this was done in squares, I feel as if it is like a comic, a very abstract comic, but a comic nonetheless. Even though some things are drawn and other things are written, it still fits together. It seems like a very abstract story of someone’s life. All four can relate to each other, and because of this it is quite interesting. Even though they are in different handwritings, some in pencil, some in pen, they fit together.

I think that there is an influence of consumerism on the responses gathered. The first square has drawings that very much represent material things, third has images that we all connect with medicine, and the fourth are things that are also material goods. The second square is more abstract with its connection to consumerism, or influence of it, but it is still there, because whatever was in that needle was advertised to cure or prevent illness. Because all of the responses can be linked to consumerism, it makes me wonder if it is at all possible to associate things with connecting them to our consumer habits. There was a word said that made someone draw a bowling pin, how was that connection made? There was a shape drawn that made someone think of a cord and a horse shoe, but why? I think because we have things coming at us from all directions of life that influence us to consume, we have images in our minds connected to things that may not make logical sense. Advertising leads us to subconsciously connect things that we would not necessarily associate with something.

But the thing that is interesting to me about this exercise was that aside form the medicine square, my responses were quite different. The fact that someone thought of associating certain pictures and words to things that I would have never thought of made me think. I notice that certain items are advertised more to certain people, possibly the other people grew up in an area far from where I lived. Everyone experiences different things in life, even though we also experience the same advertisements. Maybe certain associations are drawn out of experiences a person has had rather than what has been advertised to them.

World Changing Response # 7 - Educating Girls

If girls are allowed to go to school from a young age, she will be more likely to have knowledge of contraception, have fewer children, hold a better job, and perhaps start her own business. She would know about her civil and human rights, have more self confidence to stand up to potential sexual abusers, and when she does have children will know how to better take care of them. Knowing what needs to be done is easy, actually doing it is being taken in greater strides. Gender disparity in primary and secondary schools still largely exists due to government and patriarchal structures. It may require the unveiling of child labor practices or changing a culture so a wife is no longer viewed as property. A number of religious fundamentals also try to restrict women’s freedom.
The World Food Program gets girls into classrooms and also provides one meal a day. However, when food is scarce women and girls are often shortcut while the source of income, men and boys, are better fed. Girls are typically slighted in protein, which contributes to brain development. School feeding programs enhance student performance, reduce absenteeism, encourage parents to enroll their children for longer periods, and has reduced drop out rates. However, girls’ labor is an important source of income and contribution to the family and teachers often engrain in students that boys are superior. In this aspect, getting the community and parents involved is gravely important. In India, the Uttar Pradesh school gets women to walk girls to school, organize parent-teacher functions, encourages the parents of children not yet enrolled, and leading support groups to expose the importance of a girls’ education which would end the cycle of female illiteracy and impoverishment (Steffen 316-321).

Steffen, Alex. World Changing: A User’s Guide For The 21st Century. New York: Abrams, 2008.

World Changing Response # 6 - Refugees (Steffen 203-210)

A refugee, a person forced to leave their home in order to flee from violence or disaster, can be caused by many reasons There is a growing amount of “environmental refugees,” people who are forced to leave due to environmental degradation. Human activity of deforestation, soil erosion, and overpopulation has been changing the climate. The climate changes cause drought, floods, rising seas, and worsening storms affecting those living in their crop or coastal areas.
There are also “internal refugees” due to natural disasters of socio-political conflict. The United Nations outlined the human rights of refugees in the 1951 Refugee Convention: those fleeing violence have the right to asylum and protection in other countries until the person feels safe enough to go back. However, the treaty does not include “economical” refugees even if poverty is life threatening

While stopping the conflicts that cause refugees is important, treating and rehabilitating the current refugees is also vital. Aid workers, United Nation’s blue hats, and Doctors with out Borders work to bring people back in touch with their lives. Inventing better refugee camps that deal with issues of overcrowding, hygiene, adequate shelter, clothes, food, and supplies is in dire need. Products like LifeStraw filter bacteria which cause diarrhea, typhoid, and cholera are a step in the right direction. Plumpy’nut was developed to help fight malnutrition, it can be eaten right from the package with out mixing with clean water like the previously used milk powder (Steffen 203-210).

Steffen, Alex. World Changing: A User’s Guide For The 21st Century. New York: Abrams, 2008.

World Changing Response # 5 - Travel and Tourism

One of the worlds largest industries is tourism, which creates 9% of all the world’s jobs. A large portion of the population counts on tourism revenue for their survival. However, a majority of the money spend towards a trip rarely reaches the country. Many travelers seek for all-inclusive deals where the money usually goes to multinational chains. Local alternatives may be cheaper and more beneficial to the host community since product transportation costs are reduced. Traveling has become about efficiently getting from point A to B but traveling as a learning journey has not lost its flame. Traveling with this mentality elicits a deeper understanding of the impact of our actions. Programs like Mbonise (Zulu for “to show someone”) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa offer visitors an accurate insight into the rural Zulu community instead of a rural community pit stop transformed into a gift shop. One of Mbonise’s mission is to have travelers feel like a member of the community and uses home stays. “VolunTourism” is also on the rise where tourists work with local villagers to create a future tourist lodge. The revenue from the building will fund various community needs like schools and clinics. Programs like this act as a modern mode of philanthropy where making contributions to the advancement of a society involve hands on experience and a direct education (Steffen 363-367).

Steffen, Alex. World Changing: A User’s Guide For The 21st Century. New York: Abrams, 2008.

World Changing Response # 4 - Land Mines

Land mines cost about $3 to make and are still scattered through many war zones around the world. While 1,500 people are killed or maimed by land mines monthly an estimated 45 million still remain actively undiscovered. Despite damage to the body, land mines also damage the development of communities because they are placed where people are most likely to walk. Farmland is left unplowed that could feed hungry people and roads/trails don’t link villages for fear of accidental detonation. Many mines are made with plastic which makes detection even harder. The most common way for removing land mines now is through trained animals and experts crawling on their bellies with large poles.

Innovative responses are emerging such as MineWolf; Heinz Rath, a retired German engineer designed a modified tractor paralleling the process of extracting sugar beats from the soil. It is the first landmine-clearing device with humanitarian instincts – transforming minefields into crop fields. MineWolf which explodes the bombs is still dangerous as it releases chemicals into the air and soil. The Dragon was engineered to burn out the mines with a torch instead of detonating them. The Dragon is low cost, easy to use, and safer for the environment and people though it does not till the land for farming.

In a very different approach, Danish scientists are using nature to detect land mines. When the explosives in the mines gradually decay they release nitrogen dioxide into the soil. A genetically modified flower changes color when its roots come into contact with NO2. The movement of “adopting-a-minefield” is also on the rise with wealthy patrons who fund the 2 month clearing of minefields for the civilians who desperately need it. Smaller pools of money and donations to the same organization go toward the survivors in the form of treatment, loans, counseling, and job training (Steffen 218-220).

Steffen, Alex. World Changing: A User’s Guide For The 21st Century. New York: Abrams, 2008.

World Changing Response # 3 - Rethinking Refugee Reconstruction

Refugees usually end up living wherever they can for several years until permanent housing can be established or until they can return to their homes. Providing temporary housing and schools for refugees is often cast aside in the news stories. Poor sanitation and lack of infrastructure lead to waterborne illnesses and deforestation of the surrounding land to improve the tents. Many aid agencies are reluctant to fund temporary or even permanent shelter during the crises.

A movement towards sustainable and practical housing based on the needs of the refugees requires the community’s involvement not an imposing outside force. Research has found that getting schools back up and running after a disaster is hugely beneficial. Schools provide a sense of routine, regularity, and safety that can divert children’s focus from the crisis. The involvement of parents and the rest of the community in building the schools also alleviates their focus and can turn shock into action. Technology has also become a huge tool in the healing process. Video cameras are used to document stories as well as open-source textbooks for further translations. Radios for spreading information, organizing community resources, and can be a means of spreading stories when all other forms of communication fail. The Freeplay is a crank powered solar radio used as a teaching device that broadcasts educational and public health programs. Fuel-efficient stoves are in use in Darfur to protect the health and safety of mothers to also reduce the amount of fuel needed to feed their families (Steffen 221-223).

Steffen, Alex. World Changing: A User’s Guide For The 21st Century. New York: Abrams, 2008.

World Changing Response # 2 - Global Culture & Film

Living on a shrinking planet has demanded us to broaden our perspectives – film is an excellent way to understand the lives, places, and cultures foreign to us. Film also illuminates histories, hopes, and dreams of other cultures. The evolution of digital cameras and editing software has made film more accessible for people’s use versus wealthy producers. This allows smooth transitions between cultures while still maintaining individuals to retain their cultural identities. As film emerges it does so with strong national identity.

For example, Nollywood has grown out of Nigeria and is known for it’s low budget though widely distributed films in open-air markets. The Nollywood films are rooted oral storytelling such as traditional folktales and family based dramas. Nigeria has a growing demand for these local films, which creates local jobs. While piracy and government funding are an issue some filmmakers have taken Nollywood to the next level by touring their films in international film festivals. Jeta Amata’s Amazing Grace (2005) is a good example of the power of globalization as it is one of the few Nollywood films in circulation in North America. The growing film industry recognizes the power in addressing touchy social and political issues. Before Sunrise (2006) is a product of feuding border nations (Nigeria and Cameroon) coming together to produce a film which the major theme that love is greater than hatred or vengeance. Nollywood’s success has inspired other African countries such as Kenya and Uganda to start their own film industries. These emerging African cinemas prove that creativity - not standardized industry and hefty budgets – is what’s needed to produce a good film (Steffen 368-373).

Steffen, Alex. World Changing: A User’s Guide For The 21st Century. New York: Abrams, 2008.

World Changing Response # 1 - Lagos

agos, Nigeria is a largely overlooked megacity and is also one of the fastest growing cities. If Lagos continues to grow at its current pace, Tokyo and Mumbai will only outnumber it in 2015. Most residents live in slum neighborhoods made of whatever materials are available. A majority of the houses do not meet government approval and are with out electricity or sewers. Raw sewage submerges entire parts of the city during the rainy season. It is estimated that half of the population is infected with malaria. Poverty is severely prevalent as many residents live on less than a dollar a day. Lagos is also viewed as the most dangerous city in the world. The “rent-a-cop” officers wield machine guns and half wild dogs. The ratio is 1 officer per 1000 tenants. Lagos’ diversity is exemplified in the 250+ languages spoken in the streets due to the amount of people pouring in searching for a better life. Lagos also has a huge underground economy where a living can be made while still searching for a better opportunity; being business-savvy is a survival skill. The general success and thriving nature of Lagos is due to the Nigerian’s ability to turn dysfunction into productive urban forms such as trade or modes of transportation. (Steffen 279-280).

Steffen, Alex. World Changing: A User’s Guide For The 21st Century. New York: Abrams, 2008.

Jenny's Automatist Exercise

Each square was approached in a completely different sense. Some included drawings and stories, while others included writing and ideas. The first of the four boxes includes a baseball, a crab, and headphones, TV. When given terms, these are the shapes that came about. The next, regarding the injury, is a series of words and arrows, giving us a sense of the event but not full details. The third box lists superstition, growth, boundary, target, and natural world as responses to the shapes drawn on the blackboard. The final square depicts a pillbox dispensing pills into a pill bottle regarding their memory of medicine.

To my surprise, these squares become a narrative when you see them all together. The first square includes a baseball and a bat (among many other shapes). The square to the right depicts an incident involving a rock and a baseball, ending in a cut and blood. The underlying idea of exercise, sports, and baseball is clearly seen in between these two stories. It is intriguing, because the baseball and bat were just objects floating in the first image, but become part of a story in the second. The result of the incident was blood and injury, which directly correlates with the medical image below in the next box. Though pills aren’t directly used to cure cuts, there is a clear relationship between injury and medicine. And finally, next to this medicine lies a box with words that do not relate to each other, but can be related to medicine in many ways. Superstition, growth and boundaries all apply to situations that can compromise or enhance human life. People cross boundaries and sometimes get hurt. If they are hurt, they grow and improve to feel better.

These bits of information are not separate chapters of a story, but incidents of cause and effect. Specifically, we can classify them as injury and cure. To be specific, I have split each of the pieces of information on this piece of paper (disregarding the lines) into these categories. Injury includes baseball bat, crab, baseball, playground, spin, rock, ground, cut, blood, superstitions, boundaries, target. All of these objects can be dangerous, lead to a disaster, or are associated with danger and injury. That leaves us with headphones, television, parents, candy, medicine, growth and the natural world. When someone is recovering from an injury, they take support from their loved ones, relax with music and movies, and hope to grow from both medicine and faith.

Composition wise, as a piece, the paper has a nice balance between image and text. Two boxes are solely image, and two are solely text. It is interesting, because the text and image create a pattern being that they are aligned in diagonals. The images are more abstract in that they come with less information, and the series of words are more informative. The balance between ink and led is also a visually interesting, but has no relation to the content of the boxes.

Not every piece of every box has an underlying meaning relating to consumerism, but some do more than others. The baseball and bat, and playground are eye openers, in that they show a progression in our society. When asked to describe our first injury, this person described one in that he or she was outside, in nature, playing at the playground with a baseball and bat, causing her injury. This made me remember of my childhood, where we were not very influenced by video games and television. We spent much more time outside. Cuts and scrapes were the types of injuries that we encountered, because of our experiences outside. Now days, kids are more likely to get brain injuries from staring at the computer or watching the microwave pop their popcorn. Consumerism is most definitely a driving factor in this progression. This goes for medicine as well. We don’t associate the healing with the actual contents of the pill (the herbs and chemicals and materials that are actually going inside of us), but with the coated caplet and pill bottle that they are in. When you walk into a drug store, these are what you recognize and associate with medicine. The packaging of containers and advertisements in hospitals and doctors offices has changed our perception of medicine. It is readily accessible, and not difficult to attain. Consumption, and production has made this possible.

The actual exercise (as opposed to the results of the exercise) did not seem to me as anything cult-like. Yes, we did follow instructions, because that is what school is to us. We learn from teachers, take exams, and follow their lead in order to grow and change. I don’t feel that consumerism has caused this. Yes, it is a factor in the way in which students obey their teachers because of the new attitudes of our youth, but it is not something that is unoriginal or different to us. We have much experience in agreeing to go along with instructions, and I do not feel as though it was ‘manipulation’ as Lasn would say. I even think that some people work better under direction. Hearing what they should do, or having a specific time frame in which they can do it often gives them a drive to do better or more efficiently.

Lasn, Kalle. Culture Jam: The Uncooling of America. New York: Eagle Brook, 1999

Sally's Automatist Excercise

Observations: Reading the four squares in from the top left clockwise around to the bottom left I do see the exercise as a narrative. First, there is simple, geometric, numbered order though with a slight disarrangement in the end between the circular patterns of numbering the shapes (5,4,7,6). The second square describes how the person felt when the fluke occurred; “dizzy head” and “blank…” Everything seemed fine but now something has disrupted the pattern. What is the cure? Medication. Medication in all forms, pill packs to pop, capsules in bottles, syringes to inject, and liquids to drink. Medicate to regulate, to get back to order, an effort to get back to how things were in the beginning. The results are upside down and catastrophic; “magnet, communism, toothbrush, top toy, jellyfish.” They have significantly diverged farther away from the first square. Reverting to the source has evolved into a new problem. Something along the way corrupted the original order and the means to restore it. Small signs are shown in the first square but the mystery lines in the line between the medication and the words. The diving lines are where the real investigation should take place.

Analysis: my observation was largely influenced by Lasn’s discussion of the media’s ability to manipulate our thoughts and large corporations to disrupt order. His discussion of the history or corporations really resonated with me: it makes sense that we were skeptical of large powerhouse companies and what happened? How could we let them take over and give corporations the rights of an individual citizen. Our government ruled and passed it! I really parallel this exercise to the historical growth in power of companies. Something small sent the shapes out of wack, like the civil war. It slowly happened before we got the chance to realize making us dizzy and leaving us blank. Consumerism threw a majority of the American population into a depression from the 1950’s on and as a result the pharmaceutical companies are legitimizing our distress with all their drugs. Associated words like “magnet, toothbrush, and top toy” all have to do with consumerism. I picked the words based on products I bought that resembled them. My associations with the forms that brought forth “Communism and jelly fish” were more freely associated. However something in the “Communist” form resembled enough iconography or symbolism to embody the political movement. Perhaps I chose this because Communism was largely effective through propaganda and media advertisements. The jellyfish I would like to think is my one response that went against the grain and still defines me as an independently thinking individual. Not a brain washed member of a cult.

world changing response 7 or 8

One of my favorite things to do in the whole entire world is taking showers. I can easily take up to three in one day! Although “shower time” is my favorite part of any day, I also realize how much water I’m using. In “Recycling Shower”, (page 188) they discuss alternative ways to shower, which include conserving water by recycling it. Developed by a design student in London, Peter Brewin, a system was created which filters the water once it goes down the drain, and then is brought to a comfortable temperature, and is then reused. This design is mentioned to be great in drought prone areas, as well as help individuals save money on some utilities. While this design seems to be a great idea, one that would benefit society, do we really think that bathing in recycled water would appeal to many people? I for example do not know how thrilled I would be to be showering in water that I have already used, even if I knew it had been filtered. Aside from my own opinions, if its believed that this would be a good addition to society as a creative solution to a major problem, why is this new design for a shower not being introduced into our daily lives, and our own personal bathrooms?

WR Prompt 7&8: Automatist Exercise

-Hannah Höch, Cut with the Dada Kitchen Knife through the Last Weimar Beer-Belly Cultural Epoch in Germany, 1919, collage of pasted papers, 90x144 cm, Staatliche Museum, Berlin.

Throughout this class, we have been discussing the far reaching tentacles of influence of our capitalist (production driven/ consumer oriented) society. We have contemplated the intense and pervasive nature of consumerism through the perspectives of Leopold, Diamond, Pollan, Lasn, and of course your own experiences and observations.

Although we could choose several points in history (and art history) from which to consider the roots of today's issues and REACTION to those issues, I want you to consider the revolutionary, rebellious nature of Dadaism.

Dadaism (1920s) whose disgust and disillusionment with WWI (its devastating consequences as well as the 'bourgeois' values that, they believed, led to conflict) generated a movement of opposition. Dada rejected categories, labels, and all established "values" (both in the art world as well as broader society). Techniques that were developed during this turbulent, anxious, angry time would (arguably) influence later art movements* which would all have an important role in social commentary. Throughout your response, consider the degree to which Lasn (and perhaps yourself) are influenced by Dadaist priciples. (Definition of Dada below (*) and a quick search on Wikipedia should give you a good background).

Your assignment:
1) Scan your 4 squares
2) Discuss general observations about the nature of what was written/ drawn:
How does the content of each square relate to the others? Is there an interesting repetition of a theme? Is there a narrative implied by the juxtaposition of elements? What is the aggregate effect of the 4 people's contributions?

BE CREATIVE HERE. This is YOUR interpretation, so anything you see/elicit from the image is valid as long as you sufficiently support your statements. Look at the 4 squares as an artist/ poet/ designer/ creative person. Do you see this as an overall composition? Are they chapters in a story? Is it a map? Something else?

3) NOW, I want you to look at your Automatist Exercise and consider Lasn's main arguments: Consumer society, we're all in a cult, we don't think but do what we're told, etc. In a way, this exercise embodied that relationship (I told you to do something, and you all obeyed...) BUT each of your contributions was unique and came from you. In addition, you all knew, (and "agreed"), to go along with the instructions, whereas Lasn argues that you are unaware of your actions/choices being manipulated. So now, the MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION is: How much of the content of your 4 squares could you interpret as being influenced by the broad reaches of CONSUMERISM? Do any of the shapes make concrete reference to production/consumption? How about more abstract associations?

IMPORTANT last notes:
- Remember this week's response is worth double.

- If you want to respond to the prompt visually you may, as long as you include an artist statement addressing how the visual work addresses the questions I've asked.

- You will need to post under "New Post" instead of in the comment section under this prompt. Please title your post: "(your name)'s Automatist Excercise"


* "Dada is the groundwork to abstract art and sound poetry, a starting point for performance art, a prelude to postmodernism, an influence on pop art, a celebration of antiart to be later embraced for anarcho-political uses in the 1960s and the movement that lay the foundation for Surrealism."
—Marc Lowenthal, translator's introduction to Francis Picabia's I Am a Beautiful Monster: Poetry, Prose, And Provocation

Surrealism, (a contemporary of Dadasim which was greatly influenced by Dadaist priciples) is Pure psychic automatism, by which one proposes to express, either verbally, in writing, or by any other manner, the real functioning of thought. Dictation of thought in the absence of all control exercised by reason, outside of all aesthetic and moral preoccupation.

Weekly Response # 6

Ekta Shah

Response #6

ADP III: techonology and the environment

When Lasn states that the consumerist, capitalist, and materialist tendencies of “ American” culture are unhealthy, he means that gap between people and nature is constantly growing as technology and materialistic goods become increasingly important. We are becoming more interested in technology that is faster and more efficient, so we companies cater to that need while consumers are drawn into these rapidly improving product. By using the adjective “ Unhealthy” Lasn is explaining how much of an obsession we have with objects, and how they have become an overwhelming part of our life to the point where our perception of what nature is, and our ability to enjoy as well as appreciate it have been skewed. One of the examples Lasn gave was families watching television during their dinners, instead of spending that time out of their days to have conversations and spend time together. I find that this varies in cultures, and is more prevalent in the American culture. When I spend time with my relatives in India, no one even thinks of having the television during meals, and because my parents grew up this way the same rules apply to our family at home. There is no television in our kitchen, and we are not allowed to eat meals in our living room. But when I see other families, many have televisions within view of their dining tables, and for others it is a tradition to eat on their couches while watching different tv shows. One example that I do not think is not completely accurate is the idea of “ the end of the American dream”. Overtime the increase in technology has created a change in our daily actions and perceptions of how we want to lead our lives, but I do believe that now in 2009 with the effects of global warming and other environmental destruction becoming apparent and well-known, there are many people that are trying to disconnect themselves with these things and live different lives. We have classes that teach us about the environment, and how to use sustainable materials. We have developed new concepts such as biomimicry and come up with new inventions to help solve our problems. Professor Trumpey has his own farm, while my other professor Jan-Henrik Anderson chooses to lead a lifestyle without a cell phone or car. I have become more aware of food packing industries, vegetarianism, veganism, eating local etc. So with the increase in consumer culture, I think there has also been a recent increase in the awareness of how this culture can negatively affect our lives and what we can do to improve.

Lasn, Kalle. Culture Jam: The Uncooling of America. New York: Eagle Brook, 1999

Weekly response 6

ADP III Discussion 005

 

When Lasn uses the word “unhealthy” to describe tendencies of “American” culture I think he means exactly that. One definition for the word unhealthy states, “(of a person’s attitude or behavior) not sensible or well balanced; abnormal and harmful: an unhealthy obsession with fast cars. I do think Lasn means that we are obsessed with material things to the point where the objects are almost controlling how we live as Americans. The main obsession that I believe Americans have is with technology. So many people are constantly using computers, TV’s, I-pods, buying new cars & the latest gadgets. It is scary because we don’t need all of these things in order to live happy successful lives.  We have lost touch with the environment and the natural world.  Many people were oblivious to the environmental problems until it was publicly addressed and action was then taken. From the discussion last week and in this text I was drawn to the issue of not having as much face time with other people, even within specific families. It is important for individuals to have live conversations and be connected without having to use a form of technology to do so. I feel like that is a bigger issue now than it was 10 years ago, but since then has progressively gotten worse. People are now watching television while eating dinner rather than discussing how their days were with a family member or a friend. Statistically that has caused people to eat more, and essentially gain weight which leads to a more unhealthy lifestyle.

 

Work Cited

 

Lasn, Kalle. Culture Jam: The Uncooling of America. New York: Eagle Brook, 1999. Print

 

http://www.merriam-webster.com/unhealthy

 

Weekly Response #6

Yu-Jen(Chris),Tsai
ADP3
Discussion 005

Weekly Response #6

In the autumn chapter in Culture Jam, Kalle Lasn discussed mostly about the prevailing capitalism created by the society and how it has been affecting us globally. The author talked about how our global situation either environmental or economical and even psychological is going downstream. He believes that out of all communication mediums, media plays a huge part of the consumerism. While Mr. Lasn is describing his experience of proposing his television commercial idea, the “Mystical Forests” commercial, which reveals the truth the advertising company tried covering up with their commercial called “Forest Forever” on what was really happening to the forest in Britain. However, the corporation wasn’t even close to accepting the proposal; “In today’s media environment, advertisers rule––the sponsor is king (Lanse 35)” Lasn stated in the last passage in the Media Virus chapter. Even though some part of what Kalle tried to explain to me seem reasonable and makes me aware of our behavior as consumers. However, I don’t think that it is completely up to the sponsors’ choice to decide whether an ad should go on air or not, especially information that concerns the safety of our planet earth like the “forest issue”; message like it shall never be overlooked since it has always been our responsibility to look after our eco system. Humans have been severely consuming resources provided from our land ever since the industrial revolution. Humans have the right and obligation to fully understand and grasp issues occurring in the eco world.
Another point the author brought up that I would like to touch on would be the “product placement” situation that has gotten a lot worse compared to ten years ago, when the author wrote this book. This shows that some problems never got solved despite the fact that people knew it all along. It’s just like watching television or eating junk food, people know that they’re bad for their health, but they still keep on doing it anyhow. For instance, I once bought a pair of New Balance sneakers at a high price simply because the main character in one of my favorite movies wore the sneaker throughout the entire movie. So what does this mean? “What this means is that we’re now ripe for manipulation. We can be buzzed by logos without noticing.” (Lasn 38) the author stated; this reminded me of professor Trumpey’s very first lecture while he showed us the Mercedes logo and a picture of poison ivy for us to identify; from that particular test, we can see how drastically the media has manipulated the minds in our generation. It is crucial for us to focus on the environmental facets by discovering them by ourselves instead of incessantly retrieving messages sent by the media without even filtering them.


Work Cited

Lasn, Kalle. Culture Jam. New York, Page.35 third paragraph & Page.38


Trumpey, Joseph. Art Design Perspective 3: Technology and the Environment. Stamps Auditorium, Ann Arbor, MI. First Lecture.

Weekly Response 6

Levester Williams

ADP III

Reed-Esslinger-Payet, GSI

Lasn Takes on Consumerism…

Lasn critiques capitalist consumerism and analyzes its effect to instill a vivid image of its degradation on our culture. He states that a cult of consumerism has been integrated into our lives. The transition of Americans from citizens to consumers is relevant since we either blindly follow the rules set by the media or acquiesce but maintain our role as blind consumers (Lasn 63). Moreover, we are “governed [by] a corporate state” (Lasn 69), which “embraces the value of More” (Lasn 11). We, as cult members, are being programmed to fulfill the roles that corporations demand us to be. For example, I possess more than ten pairs of sneakers. Even though I still wear my worn-out shoes, I purchase new shoes since it has been embedded in my mind that more can never be enough. I momentarily feel content after the purchase, yet it always fades away into a dull void that is resolved by buying more sneakers. This plea for more derives from the cult “promising a kind of boundless contentment”(Lasn 54). However, this idealism of plenitude is detrimental to our growth as a nation since our ecosystem and our personal lives are impinged by it. Ecological economists claim that the world cannot expand more without having an ecological apocalypse (Lasn 86). For example, the world cannot sustain when First World countries and some developing countries are operating at a First World level, creating a plethora of ecological problems as seen in China (Diamond 376). Within ten years, this obsession with consumer capitalism seems not to have receded, yet people are becoming more concerned about their consumption—not only due to the current recession, but to conserve our environment and save energy.

Lasn generalizes our relationship with our possessions by assuming all people have a relationship with their products that identify us. For cars example, he explicates our relationship with cars as a complimentary asset to ourselves: “…they reinvent us” (Lasn 81). Yet, not all people buy cars to complement their self-image. Some may buy cars only to have transportation. These people may only look at the quality of the car, price of the car, warranty, and gas mileage as a referral to buy it. The type of car brought is to accommodate their roles in society, and the corporation may be minute factor in its purchase. For example, I may only buy a Macbook Pro due to its capabilities to create high quality designs and not due to its ability to reinvent my self-image. However, within these ten years, products are being created to match the diverse personalities of people by becoming equipped with more functions or having a variety of custom-made elements. For examples, Ipods are introducing numerous applications to satiate the personality of people.

Works Cited

Diamond, Jared M. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. New York: Viking, 2005. Print.

Lasn, Kalle. Culture Jam: The Uncooling of America. New York: Eagle Brook, 1999. Print.