…to read or not to read…
It is 1 PM and I have officially finished half of the readings (in VRDW). I wanted to post something relevant (other than the earlier random information that I find when I should be reading) just in case I do not get a chance to do so before class tonight, but I promise I will finish the rest before class tonight :>2
Most interesting issue in Rogoff’s article- the information he presented about which “privileged” class should be allowed to access certain information or not. I never thought about visual media being able o be withheld from certain people, but I guess that if someone wants to withhold information from someone badly enough, then they will be able to do so.
In some strange way this makes me think of the issues of how literacy was used as a way to suppress certain people of certain classes throughout history. In the same way, certain classes (those who cannot afford he internet, for instance) will, by default, be left out of visual media representations, unless they are receiving them elsewhere (like at school).
I think that is what Rogoff is talking about…
Greg said,
April 29, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Good points concerning Rogoff…interesting that the elite always seem to have access whereas the proletariat rarely do.
Katie said,
May 2, 2008 at 2:31 pm
While I agree that there is an assumption that “the elite” (composed of much more than just the White male, I hope to emphasize) appear to have more access to materials and this enables them to oppress consciously or sub-consciously, I also have to say that since there is much more visibility of this “fact,” there are now more options available to the “have nots.” If the non-elite want to progress, they have a harder battle to fight perhaps, but they still have to get into that battle and fight a good fight.
For some reason, there is always someone who has something easier than someone else. Always. But, it seems, the person that moves beyond that ends up stronger and more appreciative of what they have acquired. They have “whining rights” sure, but whining is not productive. Today, the “non-elite” do have options (the library, for instance, even if they have to get there by bus, even if they have to beg to get the money to ride the bus to get there… I know that sounds harsh, but reality is harsh. And it’s not fair. Never has been, never will be.
Visual media and more importantly, tech literacy, certainly does seem to offer more of a “class” separation. I’m part of the have-nots in this case. I do not know how to operate many visual software programs, I don’t know html like the back of my hand, I’m illiterate with newer versions of Word for goodness sakes, so I have to ask myself… what am I going to do about it? If I sit on my ass, which is what I’ve been doing, then it’s my own fault. I certainly cannot afford Photoshop for my own personal computer (and yes, at least I have my own personal 8 year old computer), but there is always a work around. Who do I know that has it? Have I looked into this?
Essentially, it always comes back to the self and what the self is doing to better the self, even in the face of opposition/oppression.