So we are at the end of semester again...
I really enjoyed this course, though it was thoroughly annoying that I was unable to buy the course reader in the bookshop. However the tutorials made up for that as I found the content we discussed very relevant to real life, so it was great to be able to discuss the content in relation to our lives and the situations we had encountered in regards to online behaviour and technology.
I was thinking about the cyborg question, and I guess in some ways, without technology I would find it extremely difficult to socialise. Maybe back when I was a child, I was comfortable just rocking up at a friend's house to see if they were home, but as an adult I would prefer to call before I do out of politeness. Without socialising, life would be very boring. I find Facebook a good way to catch up with old friends who you wouldn't normally talk to, so in that way I agree that it facilitates rather than hindering social interactions in real life. In that, I find myself a social cyborg, with technology an extension of my social communication self. That said, I could live without technology, so the logic that a cyborg would not live without its technological part would mean that I am not a cyborg.
I enjoyed the blog, but found the Webliography difficult, as I had never written anything like it in the past. It was useful to see exactly how many of the internet's websites are not credited to any author, or to any references, and how many sources I may have used in past assignments that could have been written by any average Joe.
In regards to feedback on the lectures, I found the lectures that Tarsh did where the notes on the slides were a summary of what she was discussing much easier to follow than lectures by Alison where I had to just listen to the content.
This is a very interesting unit, if you enjoyed some of the parts about the body, I would encourage you to do the unit The Body In Art. Some of the lectures surround feminist art, Stelarc, and Orlan, discussing extensions of the body through technology and the body as obselete and essential.
Cheers for an amazing tutorial semester guys. Really enjoyed our discussions and hope you all do well in your research essays! :)
Monday, October 25, 2010
Week 10 News Story Reflection
Apologies for the lateness of this news-story reflection. Week 10 !
SEPTEMBER 8TH 2009
ONLINE NEWS STORY
Reference Details:
Facebook rescue highlights 'ongoing struggle'
By News Online's Clayton Bloom
Relevance:
This news story is relevant because it highlights an alarming switch of first response in emergency situations to communication on Facebook, rather than to 000 Emergency Response. This article indicates how it is potentially dangerous, delaying help from emergency services. The news story highlights an ongoing struggle of public education campaigns to deal with social networking sites and their increased role in our lives, especially in educating people about who to call in emergency situations.
What
The news story is a follow up to a previous article called “Trapped girls call for help on Facebook”, by the same news company, reiterating the need for Public Education Campaigns to target the use of Facebook, and Emergency Services, after two girls posted on Facebook that they were trapped down a drain, instead of calling 000 for Emergency Services.
Issues
The main issue raised was that there is an increasing transference of everyday activity onto online social networks, but now it seems to have transgressed into people alerting Facebook before they alert emergency services. This could have dire consequences as delay of Emergency Service response can impact largely on the success of the rescue mission.
Use in forming argument:
The article could be used in forming arguments surrounding the use of online social networking sites, and its increasing impact on real life situations. The argument could be formed that with the increased use of social networking sites, there is an increased risk that Emergency services could be delayed so much that someone does not receive help in time. This is a risk that we cannot take, so it must be ensured that everyone is educated about how to call and when to call emergency services, and when Facebook is just not appropriate.
Critical Evaluation:
Upon critical evaluation, this article seems a reliable source of information as to the current state of Facebook interaction amongst youths. While this would not be every young person's reaction to an emergency situation, any situation where this happens is too many.
Character
The character of this article is reliable. It has noted sources, and refers to a reported event, with scholarly interpretations of the implications of that event. The writing style is scholarly, referencing real issues with Communication and Media to highlight social problems that social networking can entail.
Currency
This article is only a year old, published in ABC News Online on the 8th of September 2009.
Intention
This article is credible, ABC News is one of the most established journalism networks in Australia. They are usually less commercially intended in their publishing. The author wrote this article with the intention of highlighting an alarming trend in today's society, especially in youth population. His sources include a Professor from Queensland's University of Technology, as well as a member of the Metropolitan fire service. His intention in using these sources are to highlight the connection between Communication and Media and real life situations that social networking can have huge influence on. The audience this article was intended for is most likely parents, as well as teenagers who might have a Facebook themselves. It is not only intended to inform community of the need for increased public education, but to act as a public education statement in itself, reminding Facebook users to keep it in its place, and use Emergency Services appropriately.
Authority
The author is reliable, as he is published in ABC News Online, a well established news station in Australia. Clayton Bloom has been working at ABC News for 6 years. His sources are well identified, with one of them being scholarly, and his article refers to a report on the incident that was published a day before.
Kate Lowe
SEPTEMBER 8TH 2009
ONLINE NEWS STORY
Reference Details:
Facebook rescue highlights 'ongoing struggle'
By News Online's Clayton Bloom
Relevance:
This news story is relevant because it highlights an alarming switch of first response in emergency situations to communication on Facebook, rather than to 000 Emergency Response. This article indicates how it is potentially dangerous, delaying help from emergency services. The news story highlights an ongoing struggle of public education campaigns to deal with social networking sites and their increased role in our lives, especially in educating people about who to call in emergency situations.
What
The news story is a follow up to a previous article called “Trapped girls call for help on Facebook”, by the same news company, reiterating the need for Public Education Campaigns to target the use of Facebook, and Emergency Services, after two girls posted on Facebook that they were trapped down a drain, instead of calling 000 for Emergency Services.
Issues
The main issue raised was that there is an increasing transference of everyday activity onto online social networks, but now it seems to have transgressed into people alerting Facebook before they alert emergency services. This could have dire consequences as delay of Emergency Service response can impact largely on the success of the rescue mission.
Use in forming argument:
The article could be used in forming arguments surrounding the use of online social networking sites, and its increasing impact on real life situations. The argument could be formed that with the increased use of social networking sites, there is an increased risk that Emergency services could be delayed so much that someone does not receive help in time. This is a risk that we cannot take, so it must be ensured that everyone is educated about how to call and when to call emergency services, and when Facebook is just not appropriate.
Critical Evaluation:
Upon critical evaluation, this article seems a reliable source of information as to the current state of Facebook interaction amongst youths. While this would not be every young person's reaction to an emergency situation, any situation where this happens is too many.
Character
The character of this article is reliable. It has noted sources, and refers to a reported event, with scholarly interpretations of the implications of that event. The writing style is scholarly, referencing real issues with Communication and Media to highlight social problems that social networking can entail.
Currency
This article is only a year old, published in ABC News Online on the 8th of September 2009.
Intention
This article is credible, ABC News is one of the most established journalism networks in Australia. They are usually less commercially intended in their publishing. The author wrote this article with the intention of highlighting an alarming trend in today's society, especially in youth population. His sources include a Professor from Queensland's University of Technology, as well as a member of the Metropolitan fire service. His intention in using these sources are to highlight the connection between Communication and Media and real life situations that social networking can have huge influence on. The audience this article was intended for is most likely parents, as well as teenagers who might have a Facebook themselves. It is not only intended to inform community of the need for increased public education, but to act as a public education statement in itself, reminding Facebook users to keep it in its place, and use Emergency Services appropriately.
Authority
The author is reliable, as he is published in ABC News Online, a well established news station in Australia. Clayton Bloom has been working at ABC News for 6 years. His sources are well identified, with one of them being scholarly, and his article refers to a report on the incident that was published a day before.
Kate Lowe
Saturday, October 23, 2010
hey guys, well i guess this is the end. .
I really likened to the idea of using blogs as a part of this unit. I think it's very relative to the unit, and allowed people to share interesting sites and information. However, I do think that the blog turned out to be more a place for submitting assignments, instead of what it was intended for. And as it has already been mentioned in previous reflections . . Im part to blame. It's hard juggling uni, work and assignments. Time got the better of me when it came to my contribution with the blogs, and regrettably I didnt participate with the blogs as much as I would of liked - besides being compelled to submit the recommended work. I think the blog would have worked better if we didnt have to submit the reflection on the news story, but instead were perhaps asked to share our ideas on cyborgs or things we found interesting that related to the unit (and i know we were encouraged to do so, but I also think that it needs to be taken into consideration the time factor, especially when it came to doing some of the assignments). So if I had to make a statement on whether or not the blog worked for me, I'd say it didnt really have a huge influence due to my lack of involvement, time factor, and that it felt more like a place to submit assignments, rather than a blog.
In regards to whether I consider myself a cyborg or not in terms of Haraway's definition - I'd say no. Although I use a mobile and the internet, I wouldnt consider it crucial to my existence or living. Take it away from me and I'd still survive. I dont classify these as a part of my construction of my identity either - and I dont have any reliance on technology for health reasons, which I suppose for me, makes me a non-cyborg. However, that is not to say that I dont believe that they exist.
What I liked most about the unit, was the ideas behind the unit, the tut discussions and presentations. People brought interesting views to the class and it allowed for me to widen my perspective within the units ideas and notions. Though - it would have been nice to have some lecture slides, as this keeps me engaged more and less distracted - though that may just be me haha.
Thanks to all, n hope the essays go well :)
And now for my last trick...
Sup.
Well then, wasn't this fun?
I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the blog. It was an interesting twist to normal assessments and really enriched the course for me. I don't usually like to write things down (tangible and recorded evidence of my stupidity etc.) but i really enjoyed sharing random sites and reading others' posts. I was a little disappointed with the lack of engagement with the blog. I was hoping for something a little more in way of comments ard free posts unrelated to assignments. I feel like most of this blog is formed on the necessity to post for assignments, not want to post for fun. However I did appreciate the summaries...
A cyborg?? Mmmm no. Not really. Though my little shameless nerd heart skips a beat at the prospects. The idea of 'cyborg' still holds a feeling of a being so intertwined with technology that it overshadows their title of 'human', corporeally that it (mentally is a whole other kettle of fish). However I did take interest in the idea of glasses, medicine etc contributing to cyborg humans. Like everyone else I will tip my hat to my obsession with facebook the internet phones tv etc and how I am probably more 'cyborg' than those that have come before me but being true to my star trek heart I can't yet consider myself apart of the collective...
I have to say I liked the tutorials the best. We managed to talk about topics relevant to myself so it was really interesting, and it was just darn good fun. The other students in my tutorial were engaging, intelligent but not intimidatingly so, open-minded, just the right amount of talkative, well-informed, HILARIOUS and just down right nice charming people. Tarsh included. She was a fantastic tutor. It was great hearing everyone's diverse opinions and thoughts on each topic. All of this contributed to my new love of Tuesday mornings. You fabulous people you. :D
Dislikes would be the webliography confusion and the late distribution of essay topics and such.
Em.
Blog Reflection
I liked the idea of a blog as a teaching tool, it was part of what made me choose this unit. However, I have to say I was a little underwhelmed at the actual execution of it. I loved reading people's posts, I followed the links (and have bookmarked a couple for further interest!), but I guess I'm used to a blog with comments being a lively, engaged, evolving forum of personalities. I would have loved to see more interactions via comments, and I would have loved to see more random, just-because posts. I guess I am to blame for this as much as anyone, because I sat back and kind of waited for it to be this way so I could join in; in practice if everyone does this it doesn't happen, duh. I also had some technical issues where the page wasn't loading properly for me, the posts weren't previewing the way I expected, or my writing wasn't showing up (Probably a PEBKAC). It's hard to establish technology as a mainstream teaching medium where it has the potential to be unreliable. In summary, I still love the idea, I think that like any new form of teaching or communication tool it takes some getting used to before comfortable familiarity with the medium is achieved.
Am I a cyborg? Well, I have grown up immersed in science fiction, and surrounded myself with people who revel in "speculative fabulations". In short, I'm pretty nerdy and this nerdiness has formulated an understanding of cyborgs that is kind of at odds with Haraway's postulations. I don't see cyberspace having freed us from our bodies or significantly rewritten social rules. I see the digital technology we have now as the result of a series of logical, believable, microevolutionary steps, beginning when some ancient ancestor first used a tool and then told another person about it. These things have shaped human beings along the way, but no one of them has made us a new species by itself. Did we become cyborgs when the telescope was invented, or did we earthbound beings merely use all our understanding built up to that moment to interpret the fact that there was more out there? Society adapted in some ways because of that, and some old assumptions had to change, but much more stayed the same. Digital stuff is just another instance like that. In my humble opinion ;)
I'm tempted to define the cyborg as those people (animals?) who are fused in a more permanent way with artificial enhancement, not just because they use the internet or a mobile phone. In this way I probably am a cyborg because I am asthmatic and rely on a culmination of medical research to keep me alive, but I feel a tad ripped off because I don't have metal bits or lasers. I guess that's what you get for being drawn into romantic notions rather than mundane facts. In conclusion, any definition is problematic, and reading all the material in this unit is enough to make me question what I thought I knew and desire to read more before definitively applying it to myself.
Am I a cyborg? Well, I have grown up immersed in science fiction, and surrounded myself with people who revel in "speculative fabulations". In short, I'm pretty nerdy and this nerdiness has formulated an understanding of cyborgs that is kind of at odds with Haraway's postulations. I don't see cyberspace having freed us from our bodies or significantly rewritten social rules. I see the digital technology we have now as the result of a series of logical, believable, microevolutionary steps, beginning when some ancient ancestor first used a tool and then told another person about it. These things have shaped human beings along the way, but no one of them has made us a new species by itself. Did we become cyborgs when the telescope was invented, or did we earthbound beings merely use all our understanding built up to that moment to interpret the fact that there was more out there? Society adapted in some ways because of that, and some old assumptions had to change, but much more stayed the same. Digital stuff is just another instance like that. In my humble opinion ;)
I'm tempted to define the cyborg as those people (animals?) who are fused in a more permanent way with artificial enhancement, not just because they use the internet or a mobile phone. In this way I probably am a cyborg because I am asthmatic and rely on a culmination of medical research to keep me alive, but I feel a tad ripped off because I don't have metal bits or lasers. I guess that's what you get for being drawn into romantic notions rather than mundane facts. In conclusion, any definition is problematic, and reading all the material in this unit is enough to make me question what I thought I knew and desire to read more before definitively applying it to myself.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Hey guys
I have found the blogging experience this semester super fun! I was pretty sceptical at the start of the semester as I am extremely technically inept. But I thought it was a really great means of expressing our ideas to an extent that is not always possible during tutorials. I also really liked having the opportunity to contemplate other people’s tutorial presentations as I think it provided for more insightful discussion within the tutorial group.
I liked that this unit was very different from all my other units, the issues discussed this semester related to everyday situations which made participating in this unit actually useful. I feel that studying women studies and the representations of gender empowers women, in a way that provokes a critique of societal structure and the way gender is constructed within it.
As to whether I believe myself to be a cyborg? I do not. I am not denying that cyborg, a hybrid of human and machine, is not an interesting concept. However I do not consider myself to be in any way part machine. Whilst I don’t deny that a significant part of our lives revolves around online interaction, I feel that this does not give rise to the idea that therefore the computer is an almost virtual limb. I believe that human and machines are separate, and although Donna Harraway’s “cyborg” is interesting notion, I think it is one that is purely that, a notion, not a reality.
I have found the blogging experience this semester super fun! I was pretty sceptical at the start of the semester as I am extremely technically inept. But I thought it was a really great means of expressing our ideas to an extent that is not always possible during tutorials. I also really liked having the opportunity to contemplate other people’s tutorial presentations as I think it provided for more insightful discussion within the tutorial group.
I liked that this unit was very different from all my other units, the issues discussed this semester related to everyday situations which made participating in this unit actually useful. I feel that studying women studies and the representations of gender empowers women, in a way that provokes a critique of societal structure and the way gender is constructed within it.
As to whether I believe myself to be a cyborg? I do not. I am not denying that cyborg, a hybrid of human and machine, is not an interesting concept. However I do not consider myself to be in any way part machine. Whilst I don’t deny that a significant part of our lives revolves around online interaction, I feel that this does not give rise to the idea that therefore the computer is an almost virtual limb. I believe that human and machines are separate, and although Donna Harraway’s “cyborg” is interesting notion, I think it is one that is purely that, a notion, not a reality.
Hey guys
I have found the blogging experience this semester super fun! I was pretty sceptical at the start of the semester as I am extremely technically inept. But I thought it was a really great means of expressing our ideas to an extent that is not always possible during tutorials. I also really liked having the opportunity to contemplate other people’s tutorial presentations as I think it provided for more insightful discussion within the tutorial group.
I liked that this unit was very different from all my other units, the issues discussed this semester related to everyday situations which made participating in this unit actually useful. I feel that studying women studies and the representations of gender empowers women, in a way that provokes a critique of societal structure and the way gender is constructed within it.
As to whether I believe myself to be a cyborg? I do not. I am not denying that cyborg, a hybrid of human and machine, is not an interesting concept. However I do not consider myself to be in any way part machine. Whilst I don’t deny that a significant part of our lives revolves around online interaction, I feel that this does not give rise to the idea that therefore the computer is an almost virtual limb. I believe that human and machines are separate, and although Donna Harraway’s “cyborg” is interesting notion, I think it is one that is purely that, a notion, not a reality.
I have found the blogging experience this semester super fun! I was pretty sceptical at the start of the semester as I am extremely technically inept. But I thought it was a really great means of expressing our ideas to an extent that is not always possible during tutorials. I also really liked having the opportunity to contemplate other people’s tutorial presentations as I think it provided for more insightful discussion within the tutorial group.
I liked that this unit was very different from all my other units, the issues discussed this semester related to everyday situations which made participating in this unit actually useful. I feel that studying women studies and the representations of gender empowers women, in a way that provokes a critique of societal structure and the way gender is constructed within it.
As to whether I believe myself to be a cyborg? I do not. I am not denying that cyborg, a hybrid of human and machine, is not an interesting concept. However I do not consider myself to be in any way part machine. Whilst I don’t deny that a significant part of our lives revolves around online interaction, I feel that this does not give rise to the idea that therefore the computer is an almost virtual limb. I believe that human and machines are separate, and although Donna Harraway’s “cyborg” is interesting notion, I think it is one that is purely that, a notion, not a reality.
Hey guys
I have found the blogging experience this semester super fun! I was pretty sceptical at the start of the semester as I am extremely technically inept. But I thought it was a really great means of expressing our ideas to an extent that is not always possible during tutorials. I also really liked having the opportunity to contemplate other people’s tutorial presentations as I think it provided for more insightful discussion within the tutorial group.
I liked that this unit was very different from all my other units, the issues discussed this semester related to everyday situations which made participating in this unit actually useful. I feel that studying women studies and the representations of gender empowers women, in a way that provokes a critique of societal structure and the way gender is constructed within it.
As to whether I believe myself to be a cyborg? I do not. I am not denying that cyborg, a hybrid of human and machine, is not an interesting concept. However I do not consider myself to be in any way part machine. Whilst I don’t deny that a significant part of our lives revolves around online interaction, I feel that this does not give rise to the idea that therefore the computer is an almost virtual limb. I believe that human and machines are separate, and although Donna Harraway’s “cyborg” is interesting notion, I think it is one that is purely that, a notion, not a reality.
I have found the blogging experience this semester super fun! I was pretty sceptical at the start of the semester as I am extremely technically inept. But I thought it was a really great means of expressing our ideas to an extent that is not always possible during tutorials. I also really liked having the opportunity to contemplate other people’s tutorial presentations as I think it provided for more insightful discussion within the tutorial group.
I liked that this unit was very different from all my other units, the issues discussed this semester related to everyday situations which made participating in this unit actually useful. I feel that studying women studies and the representations of gender empowers women, in a way that provokes a critique of societal structure and the way gender is constructed within it.
As to whether I believe myself to be a cyborg? I do not. I am not denying that cyborg, a hybrid of human and machine, is not an interesting concept. However I do not consider myself to be in any way part machine. Whilst I don’t deny that a significant part of our lives revolves around online interaction, I feel that this does not give rise to the idea that therefore the computer is an almost virtual limb. I believe that human and machines are separate, and although Donna Harraway’s “cyborg” is interesting notion, I think it is one that is purely that, a notion, not a reality.
Hey guys
I have found the blogging experience this semester super fun! I was pretty sceptical at the start of the semester as I am extremely technically inept. But I thought it was a really great means of expressing our ideas to an extent that is not always possible during tutorials. I also really liked having the opportunity to contemplate other people’s tutorial presentations as I think it provided for more insightful discussion within the tutorial group.
I liked that this unit was very different from all my other units, the issues discussed this semester related to everyday situations which made participating in this unit actually useful. I feel that studying women studies and the representations of gender empowers women, in a way that provokes a critique of societal structure and the way gender is constructed within it.
As to whether I believe myself to be a cyborg? I do not. I am not denying that cyborg, a hybrid of human and machine, is not an interesting concept. However I do not consider myself to be in any way part machine. Whilst I don’t deny that a significant part of our lives revolves around online interaction, I feel that this does not give rise to the idea that therefore the computer is an almost virtual limb. I believe that human and machines are separate, and although Donna Harraway’s “cyborg” is interesting notion, I think it is one that is purely that, a notion, not a reality.
I have found the blogging experience this semester super fun! I was pretty sceptical at the start of the semester as I am extremely technically inept. But I thought it was a really great means of expressing our ideas to an extent that is not always possible during tutorials. I also really liked having the opportunity to contemplate other people’s tutorial presentations as I think it provided for more insightful discussion within the tutorial group.
I liked that this unit was very different from all my other units, the issues discussed this semester related to everyday situations which made participating in this unit actually useful. I feel that studying women studies and the representations of gender empowers women, in a way that provokes a critique of societal structure and the way gender is constructed within it.
As to whether I believe myself to be a cyborg? I do not. I am not denying that cyborg, a hybrid of human and machine, is not an interesting concept. However I do not consider myself to be in any way part machine. Whilst I don’t deny that a significant part of our lives revolves around online interaction, I feel that this does not give rise to the idea that therefore the computer is an almost virtual limb. I believe that human and machines are separate, and although Donna Harraway’s “cyborg” is interesting notion, I think it is one that is purely that, a notion, not a reality.
Ta da! Blog Reflection!
Heya!
So, the final post. Dun dun duuun!
I have rather enjoyed the blog experience. It's made this unit interesting, interactive and different. Of course, there are some problems such as I had no idea what to put on the blog and found that people were not terribly interactive but I can understand that it was rather daunting and a little awkward even.
Now the fun question, am I a cyborg?
My body is not. I am totally biodegradable and have not been made part of the Borg collective. However, through technology people have created a space that is totally virtual. I don’t just mean the Internet, I also mean through telephones and television. And I cannot deny that I am, like everyone else, part of this space or at least part of me is. We are all part of a system, and can be thought of as part of a cyborg.
This unit has presented interesting ideas about the world we live in currently. My aim problem with it was the timing of the handouts. I think the research essay questions and what was expected of us out if the blog and webliography could have been given much earlier and would have made for a better unit.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Blog Evaluation
Heyyy
I chose this unit because I had done womens studies before and thought it would be another enjoyable unit to take. At first the idea of the blog seemed very daunting as I had never read or took part in any sort of blogging before. I looked at all the blog requirements and assignments and considered not staying in the unit as it was different from the typical english unit where you have to write 2 essays. Once I got the hang of it, I actually grew to like the idea of a blog, and am interested in starting my own one now, maybe in fashion? haha
I found the blog really interesting and useful for this unit and think it could be useful for any unit really. Posting tutorial presentations were useful because not only did it force me not to start it the night before but also it was a way for everyone in the tute to engage with the topics and have discussion. It was great how things discussed in the lectures and tutes could be posted up for everyone to see. I had done an annotated bibliography before so I liked having the chance to do the webliography as it was good practice for researching scholarly material online rather than books. I think that this unit has been beneficial and improved my research skills, technical skills and also knowledge of the internet. The topics were not only interesting and informative but they were very relatable to everyones lives ie(social networking/ethics). The readings and discussions were also really interesting.
In reference to the "Do I regard myself as a cyborg?" I don't think I do. I spend a lot of time on the internet and on sites like facebook, but the term cyborg holds connotations of a hybrid of human and machine, and I don't think of myself like that. In one of the earlier tutes we were talking about technologies like glasses and contact lenses . I don't think these artificial technologies make one a cyborg either, so in response to this question I do not regard myself as being a 'cyborg'.
I really enjoyed this unit :)
Thanks everyone!!
I chose this unit because I had done womens studies before and thought it would be another enjoyable unit to take. At first the idea of the blog seemed very daunting as I had never read or took part in any sort of blogging before. I looked at all the blog requirements and assignments and considered not staying in the unit as it was different from the typical english unit where you have to write 2 essays. Once I got the hang of it, I actually grew to like the idea of a blog, and am interested in starting my own one now, maybe in fashion? haha
I found the blog really interesting and useful for this unit and think it could be useful for any unit really. Posting tutorial presentations were useful because not only did it force me not to start it the night before but also it was a way for everyone in the tute to engage with the topics and have discussion. It was great how things discussed in the lectures and tutes could be posted up for everyone to see. I had done an annotated bibliography before so I liked having the chance to do the webliography as it was good practice for researching scholarly material online rather than books. I think that this unit has been beneficial and improved my research skills, technical skills and also knowledge of the internet. The topics were not only interesting and informative but they were very relatable to everyones lives ie(social networking/ethics). The readings and discussions were also really interesting.
In reference to the "Do I regard myself as a cyborg?" I don't think I do. I spend a lot of time on the internet and on sites like facebook, but the term cyborg holds connotations of a hybrid of human and machine, and I don't think of myself like that. In one of the earlier tutes we were talking about technologies like glasses and contact lenses . I don't think these artificial technologies make one a cyborg either, so in response to this question I do not regard myself as being a 'cyborg'.
I really enjoyed this unit :)
Thanks everyone!!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Tute Presentation
Sorry for the late posting :(
Speculative Fabulations for Technoculture's Generations: Taking Care of Unexpected Country By Donna Haraway
Patricia Piccinini is an Australian artist concerned with exploring the world that exists between technology and nature, creating works that are hard to define as either “living or non-living, organic or technological, promising or threatening”. Donna Haraway’s essay uses Piccinini’s art and Deborah Bird Rose’s reports of Australian Aboriginal “country” and the custodial role humans play in it, to ask about the responsibilities and accountabilities we have when creating the land she calls “technoculture”.
Haraway draws on particular pieces of Piccinini’s to illustrate her point- Still Life with Stem Cells, Young Family and a pair of Nature's Little Helpers: Bodyguard (for the Helmeted Honeyeater) and Surrogate (for the Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat).
Haraway reminds us of the species introduced into Australia by settlers, such as the cane toad and the dingo, and the “unexpected country” that arose from these introductions. Piccinini’s Nature’s Little Helper series are speculative introduced creatures designed to help care for species at risk, often at risk because of introduced species. The possibility of unexpected consequences arising from these creatures too is apparent.
Haraway suggests the best way to understand the technocultural landscape is in a non-linear time model consistent with Aboriginal practices and ideas, rather than the colonial idea of a past running directly, linearly, into a future. This “flourishing present” allows people to practice “ongoing and effective care that stays alert to many sorts of history.”
I have formulated a lot of questions about this, but divided them into 2 broad discussions, with the aim of stimulating talk rather than directly answering the questions I have posited.
1st discussion
Haraway’s and Piccinini’s ideas of caring for these results of technology are seductive, but are they realistic? Is it possible to look in this non-linear fashion, or to regard the byproducts of science as our charges, our responsibilities? Can you think of some current examples of “unexpected country” in regards to technological advances affecting people? Given our track record with current, existing byproducts, what is the likelihood we will recognise these outcomes as our responsibility?
Examples: The discarded embryos in IVF, the 26 “failed” embryos and 2 dead infant lambs that preceded Dolly the sheep, Thalidomide, corn fields being used for ethanol fuel instead of food.
2nd discussion
“Looking after imperfect, messy, really existing, mortal beings is much more demanding-not to mention playful, intellectually interesting, and emotionally satisfying-than living the futuristic nightmare of techno-immortality.”
When we have thought of cyborgs or technology thus far it has been more about a fusion of digital or metal with flesh, or sometimes replacing flesh. What are Piccinini and Haraway’s take on this? Does this reconcile with Haraway’s Manifesto?
Post script
It is interesting to note that images of The Young Family circulated via email after it’s first exhibition, often with the sensationalist title “Human-dog hybrid!” (or human-pig) and dire warnings of how scientists are operating without ethics, playing “God”. The scene of this evil laboratory is often placed in non-Western “other” places, like Africa, China, Israel. Websites posting this picture are accompanied by reader comments such as “gross”, “disgusting”, “sick”, “unsettling”, “disturbing”, “ugly” and “sad”. Why such emotional responses? Why did the circulation for what appears to be shock value, without the message Piccinini intended, go viral? What does this visceral response say about the way we view, or will view, imperfect results of technology? How does this relate to the way we view imperfect results of nature? Do humans really prefer the “messy” job of caring?
Reflection
In response to the first question, I both liked and disliked certain aspects of the blog, which I would guess is probably similar to how most others felt. I thought it was a really good idea in theory and was complementary to the course material. I also liked the fact that the blog provided another way for me to express my ideas; I am not completely comfortable with talking in tutorials, and sometimes I need time to mull over a topic and my ideas about it before I can formulate a response to it. I'm of two minds about the fact that we were asked to submit our assignments on to the blog - I think it clogged it up and made it harder to read. Also I guess I'm a little shy about my work and I'm not sure that I liked putting it out there for everyone to see, although probably no one actually read it and since I knew I had to post it in public I probably put more effort into it, haha. As for learning purposes, I think the blog wasn't as good as tutorial discussions for actually learning about the course material, but I did find that I gained a bit of insight into the ways in which blogs work, which I suppose is relevant. I also liked the introductory posts where we shared a website we liked, because it was fun looking at what everyone posted - there was something different from everyone and I love finding out about cool new things like that.
Hmm.. Whether I consider myself a cyborg. Well I guess my understanding of what a cyborg was from courses I've previously taken was not a literal combination of body and machine, flesh and metal, but a more abstract idea that includes having a kind of oppositional consciousness that Haraway talks about and also taking part in a convergence or 'monstrosity' of different views, opinions, voices, etc. So in that case I would consider myself a cyborg, because in that sense I think anyone can be one really, if they want to. Even though I use a phone and have a computer and a Facebook and whatnot, I don't necessarily view those things as extensions or parts of myself - I could live without them. But I guess if simply using technology is considered being a cyborg, then I would say I definitely am - who isn't these days?
In general, I found the unit and the material we covered to be really interesting. It's so much easier to learn when you're actually interested in what someone's telling you. I also thought the work we did in the workshops was relevant to the lectures and demonstrated what we'd just learned in an interesting way. The reasons why I took it were because my home university doesn't offer anything of the sort, and I thought it would be interesting and different than the women's studies I've done at home, and in those respects I definitely wasn't disappointed.
See ya! :) - Emily
Hmm.. Whether I consider myself a cyborg. Well I guess my understanding of what a cyborg was from courses I've previously taken was not a literal combination of body and machine, flesh and metal, but a more abstract idea that includes having a kind of oppositional consciousness that Haraway talks about and also taking part in a convergence or 'monstrosity' of different views, opinions, voices, etc. So in that case I would consider myself a cyborg, because in that sense I think anyone can be one really, if they want to. Even though I use a phone and have a computer and a Facebook and whatnot, I don't necessarily view those things as extensions or parts of myself - I could live without them. But I guess if simply using technology is considered being a cyborg, then I would say I definitely am - who isn't these days?
In general, I found the unit and the material we covered to be really interesting. It's so much easier to learn when you're actually interested in what someone's telling you. I also thought the work we did in the workshops was relevant to the lectures and demonstrated what we'd just learned in an interesting way. The reasons why I took it were because my home university doesn't offer anything of the sort, and I thought it would be interesting and different than the women's studies I've done at home, and in those respects I definitely wasn't disappointed.
See ya! :) - Emily
Blah Blah Blogs.
As a blog for learning purposes, I suppose under this classification, the blog worked perfectly. However personally I am a bit deterred when it comes to having to update a blog as a part of a unit. I thought it worked well as an outlet for some students in this class, but I think that for me it was all a bit too formal. When I think of blogs, I don't think of "annotated webliographies" and essay style writing such as we have used in this blog.
All of my blog posts were written in a very structured, formal matter.
I think that if there is a way to make it less formal and perhaps more engaging then students might genuinely enjoy reading the blog. At the moment it seems very rigid.
Negatives aside, this blog was an easy outlet for assignment submission, (love online submission!) and it helped me better understand that there are many uses for online blogs.
I have definitly enjoyed playing with hyperlinks and font and all those fun things.
And since using this blog I have discovered a world of cooking blogs (woah!) which I now regularly check for tasty treats.
I'm getting off track now...
As for whether I see myself as a cyborg...
I agree with the following definition of a cyborg.The term cyborg is used to designate an organism which is a mixture of organic and synthetic parts so designed to enhance its abilities via technology.
Subsequently I do not feel at all linked to being a cyborg, as no part of me is synthetic. Technicalities out of the way, it has been interesting to compare myself to being a Cyborg as I understand how the ridiculous nature of technology in our culture is beginning to transform us this way. I fear for those whose lives have now become one with technology. It is those in danger of retreating into their own world of fantasy instead of engaging in the real world of relationships and concrete objects.
This unit has had a large impact on the way I position myself and technology. Every weeks tutorial has made me think more about our increasingly 'digital' world, and how I am largely a bi-product of it. It is sad how much time I spend online when I am bored, how some days I log into Facebook multiple times. But dwelling on these things wont do anything - understanding why our lives are this way has helped me find new ways of looking at technology.
No longer is it a threat to my personal security - it is instead a way for me to buy, sell and stay in contact with family overseas.
I think it is easy to get caught up in the doom and gloom surrounding the growth of the internet - but it is important to look at the positives before you find the negatives.
Peace! Emily x
All of my blog posts were written in a very structured, formal matter.
I think that if there is a way to make it less formal and perhaps more engaging then students might genuinely enjoy reading the blog. At the moment it seems very rigid.
Negatives aside, this blog was an easy outlet for assignment submission, (love online submission!) and it helped me better understand that there are many uses for online blogs.
I have definitly enjoyed playing with hyperlinks and font and all those fun things.
And since using this blog I have discovered a world of cooking blogs (woah!) which I now regularly check for tasty treats.
I'm getting off track now...
As for whether I see myself as a cyborg...
I agree with the following definition of a cyborg.The term cyborg is used to designate an organism which is a mixture of organic and synthetic parts so designed to enhance its abilities via technology.
Subsequently I do not feel at all linked to being a cyborg, as no part of me is synthetic. Technicalities out of the way, it has been interesting to compare myself to being a Cyborg as I understand how the ridiculous nature of technology in our culture is beginning to transform us this way. I fear for those whose lives have now become one with technology. It is those in danger of retreating into their own world of fantasy instead of engaging in the real world of relationships and concrete objects.
This unit has had a large impact on the way I position myself and technology. Every weeks tutorial has made me think more about our increasingly 'digital' world, and how I am largely a bi-product of it. It is sad how much time I spend online when I am bored, how some days I log into Facebook multiple times. But dwelling on these things wont do anything - understanding why our lives are this way has helped me find new ways of looking at technology.
No longer is it a threat to my personal security - it is instead a way for me to buy, sell and stay in contact with family overseas.
I think it is easy to get caught up in the doom and gloom surrounding the growth of the internet - but it is important to look at the positives before you find the negatives.
Peace! Emily x
blog evaluation
using this blog for learning purposes was a new experience for me, and one that i am quite neutral about.. It provides a different way to move through the unit yet i didn't see too much benefit to it.
almost everything on here we discussed in lectures and tutorials, except for points of interest that people found throughout the week. i guess it was just like using webct, just in a different environment. so i think it probably works for some, and not for others, but for me it was just a different way to keep updated on goings ons in the unit.
whether i regard myself as a cyborg or not, interesting question... when i think of cyborg i imagine a half being, half robot, like on the front of the unit outline but when i really think about, i guess we all kind of are cyborgs. in a technological sense, there is no way we could survive without it. if my phone dies/leave it home, i feel lost for the whole day- i feel out of the loop and like im missing a part of me (which really sounds quite sad). same with the internet, if my internet is down for the day, i find myself constantly checking its status to see whether its up or not! so in that sense, yes i think we are all cyborgs.
i found this unit to be pretty interesting, it raised some points that really made me think hard and consider different view points. i enjoyed the discussions we had in tutorials, i found everyone really engaged with them and all viewpoints were welcome.
now, to get back to this essay... ciao :-)
almost everything on here we discussed in lectures and tutorials, except for points of interest that people found throughout the week. i guess it was just like using webct, just in a different environment. so i think it probably works for some, and not for others, but for me it was just a different way to keep updated on goings ons in the unit.
whether i regard myself as a cyborg or not, interesting question... when i think of cyborg i imagine a half being, half robot, like on the front of the unit outline but when i really think about, i guess we all kind of are cyborgs. in a technological sense, there is no way we could survive without it. if my phone dies/leave it home, i feel lost for the whole day- i feel out of the loop and like im missing a part of me (which really sounds quite sad). same with the internet, if my internet is down for the day, i find myself constantly checking its status to see whether its up or not! so in that sense, yes i think we are all cyborgs.
i found this unit to be pretty interesting, it raised some points that really made me think hard and consider different view points. i enjoyed the discussions we had in tutorials, i found everyone really engaged with them and all viewpoints were welcome.
now, to get back to this essay... ciao :-)
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
So This Is It.
Being brutally honest, I have some trouble with the idea of blogs for learning purposes. I found that this blog worked exceptionally well. Everyone has contributed, and most beyond the required blog posts. Posts would be interesting to have a look at, and many raised interesting ideas or directed the reader to articles or web pages of interest. However, while it was an enjoyable experience, I struggle to see the learning purpose embodied within the blog. Besides providing an alternative environment to submit a copy of a tutorial presentation or an annotated bibliography/webliography, it did not seem to offer any substantial learning purpose. Some of the tasks, such as writing a reflection on newstory or blog came across more as busy work rather than a learning exercise.
I appreciate that the skills that are involved with reflecting on newstories, blogs, academic writing are very important to academic life. However, a blog is, to my mind, a more casual and relaxed atmosphere in engaging with ideas or thoughts. The way one writes a piece of academic writing (ie an essay) is substantially different to the way they might approach a blog post. I found that it was when people engaged with the blog with an interesting site they found or a thought they had that the blogging experience was most rich. Trawling through endless webliographies and newstory reflections detracted from the overall blogging experience. While the blog was an interesting and unique aspect of this unit, I did find there was, at times, a lack of learning purpose to the blog. It appears to be caught between, on the one hand, being a forum for ideas and interesting websites, and on the other being a way of submitting academic work. Blogs are an informal way of communicating, and it was when they were used as an extension of the tutorial space that the blog was most effective.
While we live in a technologically rich and dependant society, I still struggle to see myself as a cyborg. I, as much as anyone (if not more), engage with technology frequently. I am heavily reliant on my laptop, I always have my mobile phone with me and so forth. Technology is definitely part of my daily lives. However, I still (like to) think that I hold primacy. Neither my body nor existence is dependant or predicated upon technology. I do not have an cyborg arm that is controllable by someone (or something) else like Stelarc. I am capable of closing my laptop or turning my phone off without life stopping. I find that the concept of the cyborg is more of a theoretical or academic construct. Haraway’s Manifesto is just that, a manifesto. It does not offer any solutions or outcomes. Discussion of the cyborg is fascinating and thought provoking. However, it really inhabits a purely theoretical or academic realm for me.
I found this unit overall to be a really interesting and enjoyable unit. The lecture/workshop set up worked really well. Instead of being bombarded with content for 2 hours a week, having an hour to discuss and look over the finer areas of the course content made for a more engaging experience. The tutorials similarly worked really well. The tutorial presentations that facilitated discussion meant that there was always something to be said and there was never any silence that can be typical of other tutorials. Occasionally there tended to be a bit of overlap between the lectures – things like the visible human project and Stelarc kept popping up all the time and that was sometimes a bit repetitive. However, overall it was an interesting and thought provoking unit.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Week 12 Presentation
Flesh & Metal: reconfiguring the mindbody in virtual environments
- Focus on the idea of relation and posit (to assume the existence of) as the dynamic flux from which the body and embodiment emerge
- Relation:
• embodied experience arises from the constant engagement of our embodied interactions with the environment – change in environment = change in embodiment
• Technologically and information rich environment brings shifts in habits, postures, enactments – changes within our dynamic lifeworld
- Kinds of changes:
• Habits: proprioception-internal sense that gives us the feeling that we occupy our bodies, rather than possessing them
• i.e. computer game players: body boundaries intermingled with technological affordances- joystick is an unconscious extension of the hand
• Cognition: smart environments-cognition should not be seen as taking place in the brain alone.
• Extended mind-a characteristic of humans is to enroll objects into their cognitive systems
• We are cyborgs- human technology symbiots. Mind and selves are spread across biological brain and non biological circuitry
- Relation as enactment
• “the embodied mind” – Varela, Thompson and Rosch
• Living beings and their environments stand in relation to each other through mutual specifications
• Enaction: dynamic interplay between self and world
• Discussion of Virtual Reality environment: “Traces” -Simon Penny
Avatar interface- escape our bodies and move into transcendent spaces where we can avoid the ravages of time
• Connections to intelligent machines that enact the human-machine boundary as mutual emergence
- Relation as perception
• “the brightness confound” – Massumi
• Perception is ‘a singular confound of what are described empirically as separate dimensions of vision” - they are absolute
• Someone experiencing a hallucination would be unable to distinguish it from reality
• Discussion of Virtual Reality environment: “Einsteins Brain” project, Alan Dunning–the brain as a physical object considered in isolation from the world cannot account for the richness of human experience
- Relation as enculturation
• Discussion of Virtual Reality environment: “nØtime” – Victoria Vesna
• Insists on the distributed cognitive collaborations that construct it, especially the global community (internet)
• Simultaneously insists on importance of local interactions and proximity
• Idea: create avatars that could take over portions of our lives while we’re busy doing other things
• Enacts the human body as an emergent phenomenon coming into existence through multiple agencies: desires, social interactions
- Relation as the Posthuman
• VR artworks: realise the importance of emergent rationality in mind and body-transforming into the mindbody which is embedded in our relations with the techno world
• We do not exist in order to relate, rather, we relate in order that we may exist as fully realised human beings
- Focus on the idea of relation and posit (to assume the existence of) as the dynamic flux from which the body and embodiment emerge
- Relation:
• embodied experience arises from the constant engagement of our embodied interactions with the environment – change in environment = change in embodiment
• Technologically and information rich environment brings shifts in habits, postures, enactments – changes within our dynamic lifeworld
- Kinds of changes:
• Habits: proprioception-internal sense that gives us the feeling that we occupy our bodies, rather than possessing them
• i.e. computer game players: body boundaries intermingled with technological affordances- joystick is an unconscious extension of the hand
• Cognition: smart environments-cognition should not be seen as taking place in the brain alone.
• Extended mind-a characteristic of humans is to enroll objects into their cognitive systems
• We are cyborgs- human technology symbiots. Mind and selves are spread across biological brain and non biological circuitry
- Relation as enactment
• “the embodied mind” – Varela, Thompson and Rosch
• Living beings and their environments stand in relation to each other through mutual specifications
• Enaction: dynamic interplay between self and world
• Discussion of Virtual Reality environment: “Traces” -Simon Penny
Avatar interface- escape our bodies and move into transcendent spaces where we can avoid the ravages of time
• Connections to intelligent machines that enact the human-machine boundary as mutual emergence
- Relation as perception
• “the brightness confound” – Massumi
• Perception is ‘a singular confound of what are described empirically as separate dimensions of vision” - they are absolute
• Someone experiencing a hallucination would be unable to distinguish it from reality
• Discussion of Virtual Reality environment: “Einsteins Brain” project, Alan Dunning–the brain as a physical object considered in isolation from the world cannot account for the richness of human experience
- Relation as enculturation
• Discussion of Virtual Reality environment: “nØtime” – Victoria Vesna
• Insists on the distributed cognitive collaborations that construct it, especially the global community (internet)
• Simultaneously insists on importance of local interactions and proximity
• Idea: create avatars that could take over portions of our lives while we’re busy doing other things
• Enacts the human body as an emergent phenomenon coming into existence through multiple agencies: desires, social interactions
- Relation as the Posthuman
• VR artworks: realise the importance of emergent rationality in mind and body-transforming into the mindbody which is embedded in our relations with the techno world
• We do not exist in order to relate, rather, we relate in order that we may exist as fully realised human beings
Blog Evaluation Wk12
Hey guys,
Here is my week 12 post - the evaluation of the use of blogs for learning purposes.
First and foremost, I personally like the whole use of these blogs for learning purposes. The main reason for this is that it allows for class discussion outside of class time. During the tute’s each week, we have a short amount of time and it’s hard to cover everything in 45mins. These blogs allow us to share our thoughts as soon as we think of them, without having to wait until next week and forgetting them or thinking “damn I should have said that last week”. The blogs also encourage participation from everyone. For some people who are quiet and have a more reserved personality in class, the blogs act as a forum for them to express their opinions and speak up. The anonymity (well to an extent) of the blogs makes people feel more comfortable when expressing their ideas and thoughts. With everyone contributing to the blog, it becomes more interactive and interesting than class time, where the same people usually speak up. So all in all, I think the blogs are a great form of both learning and expression and I personally got a lot out of them because of this.
Secondly, in regards to whether I consider myself as a cyborg or, the answer is no. A cyborg is a being with both biological and artificial parts, and I do not possess the latter of these qualities. I don’t consider the computer/internet/blog to be a part of me, rather a tool that I use to explore, express and learn. I am an avid facebook user, but don’t consider facebook a part of me, I can go days at a time without logging in. So, yeah, I consider myself a user not a cyborg.
And lastly, the thing I liked most about the unit in general was, surprise surprise, the interactive nature of the online blogs. They added another element to the unit, making it available 24/7 rather than once or twice a week. In a way it become more exciting and involving. Seeing everyone come out of his or her shells throughout the blogs was also interesting.
So, the general gist of my evaluation is blogs are good. I can’t say that the use of them in this unit has inspired me to start my own blog, or even continue with blogging, but I did enjoy the process and though the unit, in general, was great.
It was great being part of your blogging community lol
Here is my week 12 post - the evaluation of the use of blogs for learning purposes.
First and foremost, I personally like the whole use of these blogs for learning purposes. The main reason for this is that it allows for class discussion outside of class time. During the tute’s each week, we have a short amount of time and it’s hard to cover everything in 45mins. These blogs allow us to share our thoughts as soon as we think of them, without having to wait until next week and forgetting them or thinking “damn I should have said that last week”. The blogs also encourage participation from everyone. For some people who are quiet and have a more reserved personality in class, the blogs act as a forum for them to express their opinions and speak up. The anonymity (well to an extent) of the blogs makes people feel more comfortable when expressing their ideas and thoughts. With everyone contributing to the blog, it becomes more interactive and interesting than class time, where the same people usually speak up. So all in all, I think the blogs are a great form of both learning and expression and I personally got a lot out of them because of this.
Secondly, in regards to whether I consider myself as a cyborg or, the answer is no. A cyborg is a being with both biological and artificial parts, and I do not possess the latter of these qualities. I don’t consider the computer/internet/blog to be a part of me, rather a tool that I use to explore, express and learn. I am an avid facebook user, but don’t consider facebook a part of me, I can go days at a time without logging in. So, yeah, I consider myself a user not a cyborg.
And lastly, the thing I liked most about the unit in general was, surprise surprise, the interactive nature of the online blogs. They added another element to the unit, making it available 24/7 rather than once or twice a week. In a way it become more exciting and involving. Seeing everyone come out of his or her shells throughout the blogs was also interesting.
So, the general gist of my evaluation is blogs are good. I can’t say that the use of them in this unit has inspired me to start my own blog, or even continue with blogging, but I did enjoy the process and though the unit, in general, was great.
It was great being part of your blogging community lol
Damien's E-learning and Digital Cultures Blog
Damien's E-learning and Digital Cultures Blog: "‘…the boundary between science fiction and social reality is an optical illusion’"
Great video of a N. Katherine Hayles lecture...
Great video of a N. Katherine Hayles lecture...
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Week 11 Tute Presentation: " ... Flexible Female Labour ..."
Hi everyone,
For this week’s tutorial I will be presenting Melissa Gregg’s article, “The Normalisation of Flexible Female Labour In The Information Economy”. In this discourse, Gregg discusses on the concept of flexible work commitments for women thus giving rise to the assumptions and stereotypes surrounding the ‘flexible’ working women.
In most of her discussions, Gregg has synthesized her theories based on her findings from advertisements associated with the Information Technology (eg. Microsoft Office programmes and telephone service providers). I find this aspect particularly appealing as it helps to illustrate her ideas clearly.
For this presentation, I would like to focus on these arguments: a) Flexibility as a double-edged sword, and the effects it has on family life, and b) the class factor of the female workforce.
As mentioned in her article, Gregg seems to suggest that there is a double standard in terms of the expectations of the flexibly working middle class women. The ‘freedom’ in the mobility of working anywhere, anytime is a double-edged sword as the increased convenience and contactability would imply a greater amount of work. Since the work-life distinction is blurred by the interception of public sphere into the private, do you think that there will be an even greater compromise of the family dynamics and quality of family life? For instance, a woman can be successfully working from home but at the expense of say, her family’s dinner – a KFC takeout for example because she doesn’t have enough time (due to the blurred distinction) to prepare a healthy meal for her children and husband.
In addition, Gregg’s viewpoint is that ‘middle-class women’s “choice” to work … is a choice reliant upon the very different form of flexible labour performed by women in other parts of the globe’ (p. 287), because things like household chores and caring duties are ‘increasingly being shuffled down the class hierarchy’ (p. 287). Do you think it is just that ‘flexible’ labour is a privilege enjoyed by those in the middle class, the ones who ‘can afford not to work full-time’ (p. 291), and at the expense of working women from less developed countries offering ‘manual’ labour? An example of this would be hiring a domestic worker (often from countries such as Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines etc.) because the working mother has decided to focus more on her career thereby indicating that the work-life balance is not an ideal concept.
Another burgeoning question that came to mind as I was reading the article, who are the people behind the advertisements mentioned in Gregg’s article? The bunch of “creative” people – are they women? Are they mothers? If there really are mothers and women amongst them, do they adhere to the work-life concept since they belong to the creative industry? How are they coping with that lifestyle? Just a random thought!
Thank you all! xx
ps. If you are interested at all, Melissa Gregg has a blog! And from the clever title (Uncreative workplaces: home cooked theory) I'd say, it makes for an interesting read.
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