Wendy Chun – Programmed Visions, (book, pp. 1-2, and optionally pp. 3-10)

– I find it sort of reassuring that even somebody who seems to be an expert in technology and how it works (or at least enough to write a book about it) finds it very difficult to understand. Software really is a hard thing to fully comprehend. The way it encapsulates, technology and allows us to output whatever we use it for will always be too complicated to see through it all. Another thing I found intriguing about this reading was how software is a metaphor and how it can be applied to anything not related to technology. I think we’ve discussed this before in a seminar class. Software can used to describe culture, ideology, economy, and many other aspects of society and how humans function. 

Matthew Fuller – How to be a Geek (book, pp. 12-14, and optionally pp. 63-71)

The vocabulary used in this reading is very impressive. The way that a geek is described is very articulate. I have never really thought of an individual categorized as  a geek to be living with these characteristics. But it really does make sense and there is a reason that they have transformed our world with dominant media conglomerates. 

Translating being a geek into survival instincts, and personality traits was very informing and I thought this was a good read.

Geert Lovink – Sad by Design (podcast w/ Douglas Rushkoff, 60m)

What was birthed in the bay area is that humans are computational and computers can do it better than humans. This was taught at Stanford. What was taught is that the answer to our problems is that algorithms program peoples behavior. Facebook, Google, Amazon, Uber are examples of companies that create machines the replace things that were previously done by humans. We’re not being beaten by machines, but by the billionaires who build them. Geert Lovink mentions that if we don’t connect with our deep wishes and our behaviors in the online world, then it will be hard to differentiate what is real. Technology is so intertwined in our world and we have to be aware of that. My names Jordan and I’m on Team Human.

BFA ideas…..

For my project I am going to make a video exposing certain non profit organizations. I will be focusing on organizations that raise funding for disease, and showing why they aren’t doing anything to find cures. There is certain meal plans, and advertising campaigns that are promoted by cancer, diabetes, and heart disease organizations that are the cause of the disease that they claim to try and cure. I think I will be doing a documentary style video. I haven’t thought too much into the whole process…but I know I will focus on the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, and the American Heart Association. I will be going over their recommended meal plans, health tips, and who there sponsors are and why they are making sure America stays unhealthy, and sick. I want to have a lot of cool infographics and tie it all into a video.