Can Blogs Revolutionize Progressive Politics?

Questions for “Can Blogs Revolutionize Progressive Politics?”

1.     Why do the Democratic leaders embrace blogging as a potential political communication considering the traditional media landscape in politics?

Democratic leaders embrace blogging because, despite traditional media usually found in politics, blogging provides a platform for so many people on the Internet to see. Blogging, especially for those with a large audience or following, provides a spring board for ideas and discussion of any particular issue, and in politics, this is exactly what one wants. A discussion of political issues or candidates is vital to political communication.

2.     Blogging encourages a participatory culture. In what way does the participatory culture in blogging expand digital media convergence?

The participatory culture in blogging expands digital media convergence because it allows people to collaborate and converge their ideas regarding posts and topics, from all over the world. It's a basis for people to communicate with one another and respond and create ideas. 

3.     In the article, the author says: “The ability of the Internet to erase geographical distances can become a structural weakness in elections where district lines and eligibility are key.” How can blogging counter this weakness in the process of turning the netroots to grassroots?

Blogging can counter this weakness by aiming for their local audience in a more direct way. Perhaps they can share their links on local websites and campaign cites, or advertise their blog directly to those they want to see it. 

4.     The author spends the second half of the article discussing the lack of diversity in current blogosphere dominated by elite bloggers. Please use the concept of digital convergence to explain how blogs can become the real bearer of freedom, democracy, egalitarianism, and participation in the new media communication?

Blogs  can become the real bearer of freedom, democracy, etc. in the new media communication because, with the nature of the Internet, anyone can have their own blog and write about whatever they want. They can post content, respond and subscribe to other blogs, and gain a following. Digital convergence allows this to occur. 

Virtual Revolution

 Questions for the documentary “Virtual Revolution” part 1, 2, and 3.

1.     The web is celebrated as the revolutionary technology that is great leveling of humanity creating equal opportunity, equal access, and equal potential. However, there are only a quarter of people on the earth who can use it. How do you explain the controversial argument here?

With the Internet, there is a certain amount of financial privilege needed in order to access it. It is not government regulated in most, if not all places, therefore you need to be able to pay to access it. There are places that have free access, but these places are not readily available all over the world, creating a limiting environment.

2.     How is Wikipedia the best example to implement the leveling ideas of the Web rooted in the cultural revolution of 1960s, namely the Libertarianism in the counter culture? How does it explain some of the digital convergences?

Wikipedia allows for access to information about several different areas and topics, with the added element of being able to be edited and changed by regular users. Libertarianism and counter culture of the '60s influences included the leveling ideas related to the Web because, despite Wikipedia's ability to be changed, experts in their field will correct any mistakes eventually, and level out the information.

3.     How does the Web make it possible for different kinds of digital convergence?

The Web makes it possible for different kinds of digital convergence because, in itself, it is called the World Wide Web, where people from all over can post ideas and spread their work. This allows billions of others to see original work and ideas, and collaborate and create and convergence. 

4.     How can the Internet become a challenge for traditional authority? Use the political landscape changes in some counties to illustrate your answer.

5.     Do you believe that getting information free can set us free eventually? Why or Why not? Do you see any concerns of the complete freedom or self-expression without limit on the Internet? Why or why not?

Free Internet, while it sounds like a perfect idea, may have some complications. If it became regulated, there could be some restrictions made and control over the content, which would hinder expression and overall, convergence.

6.     In traditional media communication, it has the “vertical” authority. In the Web communication, it becomes “horizontal?” How do you explain the change? How does this create the possibility for digital media convergence?

7.     Why is that the Web is free critical for the success of the Web itself? How does that clash with the corporate business ideology? How does that pose challenges for copyright issues at the same time? What will happen if the Web is not free?

Since the Internet is not free, businesses currently have control, and make money from it. IF the Web was free solely for the success of the Web itself, even though more people will be able to access it, the business aspect of the Web would no longer be needed. 

Historical Development

Questions for the article “Historical Development”

1.     Why is broadband service the key for the success of online communication? What are the social effects of broadband service? How does the broadband service make digital convergence possible?

Broadband service is the key for the success of online communication because it allows for a wider access to information that otherwise would be unavailable. Part of the innovation behind online communication is the fact that it is accessible to anyone with a broadband Internet connection. The social effects of broadband are that it creates a space for people to share content and interact with one another, in ways that were not possible before. This interaction allows for media convergence, as various forms of media can come together and adapt to the broadband Internet format.

2.     Why does the use of World Wide Web open the door of the Internet communication to a much wider audience? In what way does the Web with graphical web browsers move the online communication to “acoustic world” discussed in the pervious class?

                 The World Wide Web opens the door of the Internet communication to a much wider audience because, with the use of broadband, the Internet and content posted on it can be available to anyone, at any corner of the globe, as long as they have access to an Internet connection. The Web moves the online communication to the "acoustic world" because it provides a global communication system with total immersion and reliance on the senses.

3.     How might telecommunication change if the government supported the development of broadband Internet for everyone?

Telecommunications may begin to be subjected to even more government regulations and rules if they developed broadband Internet for everyone. Similar to the FCC's control over national airwaves in broadcasting, government Internet may be censored in some ways.

4.     News organizations were changed by the telegraph, and a whole new business of news, that of the wire services, was created because of the telegraph. Discuss other industries that could benefit from rapid dissemination of information and how and why they would benefit from it.

Another industry that could benefit from rapid dissemination of information would be Television, specifically advertising. If companies who wish to promote a certain number of their products rapidly distributed their information via various media outlets, they could certainly benefit from that.

5.     Choose one of the common methods of online communication and think of how it could be improved in terms of facilitating communication between people, ensuring quality communication, and enabling the greatest number of users to distribute information.



In terms of facilitating communication between people, the online method of communication can be improved perhaps in terms of availability. For example, it is impossible to access the Internet without wifi when using a laptop or regular desktop computer, yet cellphones can use data that gives access to the Internet without wifi. Perhaps online communication could be vastly improved if some sort of online communication could be accessed without having to be connected to a network or server.

Digital McLuhan

Questions for the article “Digital McLuhan”

1.     What are the differences between the pre-literate acoustic world and the alphabetical visual world? How does the media of television become a part of the acoustic world?

According to the article, those who lived in the acoustic world, before the invention of the alphabet and written language, experienced life completely differently, and largely based on what they could here (hence, acoustic). They were completely consumed by the oral stories they told, the myths passed down, and the everyday events that they experienced. In the alphabetical world, a frame of reference for life experience and sharing those experiences are written down and shared. Life is no longer an immersion of the visual, and for those that can read written language, one’s reliance on the senses is no longer as crucial. The media of television is a part of the acoustic world because, according to the article, the same media and images can be seen on television nationwide, especially considering the modern convenience of cable.

2.    Why does the alphabet have the segregating tendencies? How exactly does the printing press reverse the segregating tendencies?

From the very beginnings of written language, the alphabet was only beneficial to those that were literate. Written words also were only available to one person at a time, as reproducing copies of a particular work took years, segregating the literate, wealthy people who were able to obtain written language, from those who were illiterate and too poor to afford the written works. The printing press reverses this segregation by making written alphabetic works widely available in mass quantities. The printing press made reading more accessible to the everyday person and less exclusive.

3.    How does the alphabetic communication in online communication make cyberspace acoustic? How is the online acoustic world different from the television, radio, or print acoustic world?

Cyberspace and the online world combine different aspects of both the alphabetic and acoustic worlds. The alphabetic aspect of user-generated content is extremely prevalent. Any person with an Internet connection can type and post whatever he or she wants, for millions of people worldwide to see and read. With this large amount of control in the hands of the user, the alphabet is a necessary component. In terms of the acoustic world, the Internet demands the user’s undivided attention. The media displayed on the monitor consumes the user, and, of course, the experience involves the visual and auditory sense. The online world differs from other acoustic worlds in this way. The user does not necessary immerse him or herself into the radio or television, as they can be considered casual tasks that do not demand such commitment to their media as cyberspace does.

 4. Not only do we invent media and media technologies but also we select their uses in different contexts. What are the two selection criteria? According to the selection criteria, please discuss what will happen to our online communication in 20 years.

            The two selection criteria that were stated in the article are, “we want the media to extend our communications beyond the biological boundaries of naked seeing and hearing” (52), meaning that, as a society, we want our messages to travel as far as possible, and for us to be able to receive media from any given place at any given time. The second criteria is, “we want media to recapture elements of that biological communication which early artificial extensions may have lost” (52). This explains that our manner of communication still has to contain some of the same elements that it did at its origin. As a society, we would like to expand our means of communication, but at the same time, remain accessible and familiar in our methods. Online communication in twenty years will contain new devices in which society can access information and messages, as technology is constantly evolving. However, the manner in which we communicate will ultimately rely on visual and auditory senses. Our ability to read and see and listen and respond will never go away.