IWA 15: How reading and writing have changed with digital media

There are several ways that Jones and Hafner mention that reading and writing activities have changed due to digital media. The first is the ability to navigate through a reading through links. While books are meant to be read from cover to cover in order, website articles can be navigated through by jumping from place to place, going step to step, or even linking to a completely different article that is associated with theirs. A good example of all these types of links is Wikipedia. Wikipedia uses a hierarchial link structure in MOST of their articles at the beginning. By clicking on one of these a user can go to the section they want to read, just like a table of contents. Although Wikipedia does not exhibit linear structure, they do use internal linking. Anything that has an article on Wikipedia is usually accessible through associated articles. For example, in the Kris Jenner article I edited in the last project, you can easily access any of her childrens’ articles, her ex-husbands articles, and even people who are not related to her. Jones and Hafner argue that this type of linking makes it harder to read a lengthy article online because users get distracted and click on other links and navigate away from the page.

Another way reading and writing has changed due to digital media is the multitasking factor. In Chapter 6, Jones and Hafner explain that many people today use “partial attention” to complete tasks. I agree with this statement. As I read through the chapters and as I am writing this blog post, I have 3 tabs open on my internet app, my phone beside me, and other homework assignments laying out. Today’s generation has to be the best multitaskers around because it’s what we have always known. This element of FOMO (fear of missing out) makes it harder to focus on one piece. If I had closed my internet tabs and put my phone away, I would have read through the chapters much more quickly. But because I could receive an important email or text at any minute, I paid “partial attention” to all of these things at once. I wrote a report not too long ago about how the internet has changed how we think and read, and I found that many people do not read lengthy books or articles anymore because they can find any information they want and need much more quickly by surfing the internet.

I could go on forever about how reading and writing have changed due to digital media, but the two main aspects I saw were the ability to navigate through a text and also the idea of multitasking. It is purely opinion based on if these are positive or negative changing, but one thing is for sure that the way we read and write is not the same as it was even 20 years ago.

Project 3 Reflection

In project 3, the two articles I edited were Kris Jenner and the Versace company. I made more changes to the Versace article because it was less developed. In the Versace article, I added more details about the history of the brand. I also added a section on Collaborations and a Partnerships section. I also added more information about the Versace hotels: the Palazzo Versace.

In the Kris Jenner article, I added a section about the show Keeping Up with the Kardashians and also a section on the O.J. Simpson trial and how she was affiliated with it. I also added some details to the career section.

I found this project interesting because I am contributing to an article that the whole world can see and use for research. At the same time, that aspect made it more intimidating because I was afraid of any negative feedback I might get. I feel that I have improved both of these articles and offered more information on both of these subjects. I also feel that I have contributed to fixing the gender gap on Wikipedia because both of these articles are generally of more interest to women. Kris Jenner is a woman in pop culture, and Versace is a fashion designer.

Overall, my experience with this project was positive. I have not yet received any negative feedback, and so far all of my edits are still there. One thing I struggled with was trying to make sure the information I added would not offend anyone. I strayed away from writing anything about Kris’s ex-husband Bruce, who is now Caitlyn, solely for the fact that anything written about her was controversial in Kris’s talk page. I also was intimidated because I was thinking, what if Kris reads this article? Would she be proud of this article or offended? That’s why I mostly used information from her autobiography. I also had some trouble finding reliable resources on Kris. Her family is so prevalent in the media these days that most information I found on her was “gossip” magazines or articles that would not be reliable. I feel confident that the information I included in both of these articles was accurate and that I have improved these articles.

Below are the links to the articles I edited:

Versace

Kris Jenner

Annotated Bibliography

Brand History. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2016, from http://www.versace.com/en/history

In 1972, Gianni Versace designed his first collections for Callaghan, Genny, and Complice. In 1978, Versace’s company launched under the name “Gianni Versace Donna,” with the help of Santo Versace. In 1985, the first exhibition in the UK was held at the Victoria and Albert Museum. In 1991, Versace gave way to the “Supermodel Phenomenon” because he sent all the top models down the runway for his autumn and winter collection. In 1992, Versace designed the stage costumes and album cover costumes for Elton John. In 1995, the first “Versace Versus” show was held in New York. Donatella Versace created the “Young Versace” line in 1993 and “Versus” line. After Gianni’s death, Donatella is named the creative director of Versace in 1997. In 2000, the Palazzo Versace 6 Star Resort opened on Australia’s Gold Coast. In 2006, the Versace company collaborated with Lamborghini to design the interior of the car. In 2007, Versace also collaborated to design the interior of private helicopters.

NOTES: This information is directly from the designer’s website, and is a timeline of events in the company’s history. This information would mostly go in the founding of the company, some would go in a possible new section called “spinoff brands” or “collections” or something like that. I would like to add more information about the collaboration with the Lamborghini and helicopter companies.

 

Kris Jenner. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2016, from http://www.biography.com/people/kris-jenner-21187199#related-video-gallery

After her marriage to Bruce Jenner, Kris became his manager. She is also the manager of all of her children. In 2007, Kris met Ryan Seacrest to see about making a reality TV show about her family. The show first aired on E! and is called “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” Kris wrote an autobiography about herself called Kris Jenner… and All Things Kardashian.

NOTES: Some of this would go in personal life, and others would go in the “Career” section. I would like to find the date of publishing for her autobiography.

 

Kris Jenner. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2016, from http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1728539/bio

Kris Jenner has four grandchildren: Mason Dash Disick, Penelope Scotland Disick, North West, and Saint West. She has an older sister, Karen, who was born in 1952. Kris graduated high school in 1973.

NOTES: I would add all of this information to either the “Early Life” section or the “Personal Life” section. I would like to add the dates when all of her grandchildren were born.

 

Smeyers, M. (2013, November 9). Murciélago LP640 Roadster Versace. Retrieved March 28, 2016, from http://www.lambocars.com/murcielago/murcielago_lp640_roadster_versace.html

This article goes into more detail on the Versace Lamborghini. “Only 20 of these ‘fashion’ Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 Versace would be built … in fact 10 units of each shade would be made available to the public, complete with Versace keychain and luggage to match.” “This new Murciélago LP640 Roadster Versace is built to order only, finished in a pastel white shade with the classic Versace Greek fret on the door… A series of Versace/Lamborghini accessories was released at the same time, among them a trolley bag, suit carrier, sports bag, as well as a briefcase, suitcase, gloves, driving shoes, belt, wallet, key ring, beauty case, hat and a pair of jeans … all showing a palladium-engraved tag displaying both the Versace and Lamborghini logos … called the ‘LP640 Collection’.”

NOTES: I will not use all of this information provided. I would just like to add a little bit more about the car, and how rare it is as well as the other accessories that were released around the same time.

 

Versace. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2016, from http://www.made-in-italy.com/italian-fashion/designers-and-brands/versace

In 1978, the first women’s collection was shown at the Palazzo de Permanente in Milan, Italy. Also in 1978, Versace opened their first shop for their men’s collection. Versace’s logo is Medusa, a figure in Greek Mythology. The signature look of the Versace women’s gowns are tight fitting, low cut, and with high slits in the skirt. The TV show, Miami Vice, featured Versace Jackets. The Versace Company has always been very particular in their public appearance. They use top-notch photographers and models. They also use the same models featured in their ads on the runway. Versace is named the “Rock and Roll designer” because they have designed outfits for many rock and roll icons, including Michael Jackson, Elton John, and Bruce Springsteen. Versace also designed clothes for the Princess of Wales and Princess Caroline of Monaco. In 1982, Versace expanded into jewelry, accessories, home furnishings, and china. They released a lower priced line called “Istante.” The launch of the “Versus” line was helped by Christopher Kane. In 2008, the first “Versace Home” collection was released. The Palazzo Versace in Dubai Creek off the Persian Gulf is currently under construction.

NOTES: Most of this information will go under the history of the brand or under the Palazzo Versace section.

Wikipedia Gender Gap Project Proposal

One article I would be interested in editing is the article on Kris Jenner. I was surprised to find her name under the C-class articles in the Women’s Wikiproject. I was even more surprised when I clicked on her article and found a very short article for someone who is so popular in today’s pop culture. I have read an autobiography on Kris Jenner and would add more about her early life and how she has managed all six of her children’s careers. I would also add more about the show that made her and her family famous, “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.”I also think the article would be more successful if it contained a few more pictures. I’m interested in editing this article because I watch the show often and am really surprised at the lack of information provided on her, especially considering she is part of one of the most famous families in today’s media. I was also surprised to find that her ex-husband, now Caitlyn Jenner, has a pretty developed article compared to hers.

Another article I would be interested in editing on Wikipedia is the article for the fashion company, Versace. There is really not much about the subject. I would add more information about the beginnings of the company and how it rose to become one of the most popular brands in the fashion industry. I would also write about how the business has continued after the death of its founder, Gianni Versace.

A third article I would be interested in contributing to is the article on Bella Thorne, a young actress. I would be interested in editing this article because I remember watching Bella’s first major TV show called “Shake It Up”on Disney Channel. Since then she’s risen to fame and appeared in other shows and movies. One obvious gap in this article is the “Early Life” segment. There is barely any information present about Bella’s upbringing. I would contribute to this segment as well as the “Personal Life” segment if I can find any information on it.

 

IWA #14

Leigh Gruwell explains in her article that the epistemology of Wikipedia is largely related to the gender gap that is present on Wikipedia. She describes that women are more “passive consumers” on Wikipedia rather than producers. The “detached” and “encyclopedic” language that is required in the articles also does not allow for feminist ways of writing. Gruwell argues that “Wikipedia would let users write about feminism, but not from the embodied position of a feminist.” This, obviously, dictates the type of articles that are allowed to be published on Wikipedia. The articles that feminists write, or that are from feminist points of view, are often deemed unacceptable by Wikipedia and therefore are not published. This could be a reason for the gender gap.

Gruwell also describes how Wikipedia favors collaborative writing over a single author publishing an article. She then goes on to argue that “women” should not be lumped under the same category, because women are individuals and lumping them together under a single category has the ability to disempower them and eliminate their diversity. Since Wikipedia favors this collaborative writing, it becomes very easy to lump together different individuals and, thus, eliminating the individuality of the article. Wikipedia does not allow for much individuality, but I think this is what discourages many women from being active contributors on Wikipedia.

Gruwell explains that another possible reason for the small percentage of women editors could be the complicated editing interface. I have personally struggled with this interface already, and can see how it could be discouraging and easy to give up on. One of the women that Gruwell interviewed for this article argued that, even though she was an IT person and could understand the interface, the IT field is largely composed of men who would grasp the complicated interface much easier than many women would. Gruwell also argues that time is a huge determining factor for the women editors of encyclopedia. Many women simply do not have the free time to contribute to Wikipedia, nor are they that interested in contributing to the articles on Wikipedia.

There are many factors that Gruwell states contribute to the epistemology on Wikipedia, that then contribute to the gender gap. Gruwell seems to think that this is the natural progression of Wikipedia, and the only thing that can be done to fix it is for Wikipedia to come up with ways to attract more women editors who would not only contribute, but work to make Wikipedia a more equal resource.

IWA #13: Critical Literacy

Critical literacy is looking at forms of media and figuring out how they operate and work, and being conscious of what they allow and do not allow you to do. Jones and Hafner describe it as “trying as much as possible to learn how things work, whether we are talking about the way language works to influence our opinions and view of the world or the way software works to influence our behavior and our relationships with other people” (p.111). Critical literacy is an important skill to have in today’s world. People today tend to only look at what new technology allows us to do and ignoring what it doesn’t allow us to do. Jones and Hafner write “Taking a critical stance towards media means being just as conscious of what they do not allow us to do as what they do allow us to do” (p.99).

Jones and Hafner also talk about how media has control over us. It does this in four ways:

• Affordances and constraints: What it allows us to do and what it does not allow us to do
• Use of particular tools: How a tool is used and how they have been used in the past.
• Who has access to these medias
• How difficult or easy the media is to use.

They then go on to say that we have some control over the media as well. We do this through critical literacy. We can choose which media we want to use, and we can adapt them to fit what we want them for. We can also change and modify media as well as mixing tools together so we benefit from them.

Critical literacy is a growing concern in today’s technological world. It involves analyzing forms of technology and looking at what it allows us to do as well as what we cannot do with it.

IWA #12: Wikipedia’s Gender Gap

I found the articles by Cohen and Wadewitz very interesting. I tended to agree with Wadewitz a little more because I am not so sure that recruiting more women would fix the gender gap on Wikipedia. Wadewitz says that more of a solution would be to recruit more feminists who are more willing to assert themselves, and I agree with this statement. I think most women, myself included, would just go with the flow of things on Wikipedia and not even be aware of this said gender gap. Now that I have read these articles, however, I will be more conscious of it. Cohen’s article differs because he seems to think that recruiting more women is the simplest answer. I personally think that women are not as interested in contributing to Wikipedia and so that is the reason for this gender gap. In disagreement with Wadewitz’ article, I believe that women do NOT have more time to contribute to Wikipedia. Many women work full time jobs, and if they don’t, they are preoccupied with children and/or house responsibilities. There are probably only a small percentage of women who would use their limited free time to willingly contribute to Wikipedia.

The two articles are in agreement that there is, in fact, a gender gap present on Wikipedia. Cohen’s article even presented some surprising statistics about the men to women ratio of Wikipedians. The two articles also seem to be in agreement on the fact that in general, women do not assert themselves as much as men do. This is why Wadewitz says that more feminists should be recruited, not just women, because feminists are more willing to confront others and let their opinions be heard. I tend to believe that women are by nature more submissive than men, so it is natural that Wikipedia is dominated by men. I don’t think this is a negative thing, but it means that Wikipedia could favor the articles that men are interested in. I also think that men are generally more interested in technology than women, so they are more willing to sit down and figure out how to edit and post to Wikipedia than women are.

IWA #11: Collaborative Writing

There are several problems that can occur in a collaborative writing project. The first is the collaborators can disagree on how the others work. I know from experience that I would much rather work on projects by myself and not have to rely on others. I can only imagine building a website with someone else or writing a lengthy article! Disagreeing partners can cause dispute and the piece will never be written. Another problem that can occur is that one person will do more work than the other, or one person will not work fast enough. Then the piece isn’t a collaboration anymore, but one person doing all the work and another getting partial credit for it. Communication can also be an issue. Even if a conscious effort is made to have good communication, someone is bound to slip up somewhere. Whether someone is accidentally left in the dark or there is some miscommunication, both can cause problems, especially when collaborating on something.

Another type of collaboration is peer production. Peer production is collaborative writing among a much larger, diverse group of individuals from across the world. Jones and Hafner discuss how the main issue in peer production is motivation. Motivation is an issue because money is not usually involved. Peer production is usually motivated by fun, and different people have different time schedules, and different motivations for fun. Another barrier that I can imagine is the language barrier. If a large group of diverse individuals produce something together, there is bound to be language differences and probably not a universal language that everyone knows. However, with technology today, there may be an automatic translator. I know Facebook now uses one.

As with anything, working with someone else on a project can have its negative implications. Technology today makes it easy to collaborate with people you may have never met before. It is up to users to put their differences aside for the good of the project.

IWA #10: Wikipedia

Wikipedia can be helpful while conducting research, even though many people advise against using it. When I do research on something I have no previous knowledge of, I often check Wikipedia first just to get a general idea. I use Wikipedia as an outline for my research. I do not use the information from Wikipedia in my actual assignment, but I use it to get a general idea of what to research. For instance, if I am writing a paper about a famous person, I would look at the Wikipedia article about them to find out what they are famous for, where they grew up, what era they belong to, and information like that. Then I would go on to research specific information from more reliable sites or books.

Purdy knows that most people use Wikipedia for their research even though they are told not to. He gives suggestions for how to use Wikipedia to support research. He explains that while Wikipedia may be reviewed for reliability, it is changing all the time so it is not a good idea to paraphrase or quote anything from Wikipedia. He makes a valid point that if multiple people cited the same article, they could be from different versions of the page and it would be confusing.

Another way Purdy suggests using Wikipedia is revising articles. Why not use the research you have conducted for a cause more than the assignment for your class? Purdy suggests that revisers should not get discouraged when their revisions are deleted or changed, but to take the feedback they are given into consideration and improve.

Although Wikipedia is often a forbidden source in research assignments, there are several useful ways it can be utilized and even improve the research conducted.

IWA #9: Information Overload

As Jones and Hafner mentioned in Chapter 2 of Understanding Digital Literacies, there is a difference between information, data, and knowledge. Data is small bits of information that can be picked up through observation or hearing something. That data can then be pieced together to form information. Jones and Hafner state that “Data are facts… which exist in the external world. These ‘facts’ only become information when we create some kind of relationship with them” (p. 20). Knowledge, then, is information that we interpret and embed into our minds and use it to our advantage. Knowledge can be used in problem solving or analyzing things.

Many people today complain about “information overload,” which is “a condition characterized by increased levels of stress, confusion, and difficulty in making decisions resulting from having ‘too much information'” (Jones & Hafner, p.20). However, as Jones and Hafner explained, the problem does not come from having too much information but rather organizing and interpreting that information. People are not sure what data and information is worth turning into knowledge, so they get overwhelmed, therefore causing “information overload.” When talking about organizational systems, we have not yet found a system that works the way our mind works. Our mind works by associating pieces of data with each other. Many new technologies have still not moved past the ‘filing cabinet’ way of organizing things, making it harder to us to wrap our head around.

It is easy in today’s world to get caught up in this so-called “information overload.” As a college student, it can be especially tough when conducting research online, or even when you’re just scrolling through your daily social media feed. When researching, if you Google something, a million things associated will pop up and it is easy to go off topic. Smarter search engines such as Bing have been created to help with weeding out the sites that are not what you’re looking for. Technology is gradually taking steps to dealing with information overload.