Sadly I missed Mondays class because I was sick but today I was able to make it thankfully!

The reading for today, “As we may think” bored me when I had read it prior to class, I kind of struggled my way through the piece but when I finally made it through I do understand the point of the reading as whole. The way this piece was written was particularly intriguing because it introduced ideas well known to us, like how different portions of science have evolved in the past like with photography the author speaks about how that form of science essentially will never not be changing and adapting which is so cool to think about because years ago people probably would not even believe the type of cameras we have now. The rest of the article kind of just went over my head unfortunately.

But,I thought todays class was particularly interesting because of the time era we spoke on. In the beginning of class we spoke about WWII which I’ve always had a curiosity about weirdly enough. I’ve always loved hearing stories about it so for Professor O’Malley to be so well versed in that portion was very intriguing for me.

Next we spoke about telephones and things regarding the sound and the issues that they faced trying to get the sound to amplify but not sound distorted. I don’t know if its just my straight ignorance on this topic or what but honestly I generally never had thought about the things people had to create and change in order to simply hear someone.

Really don’t have any critiques for this week since it was so straight forward this week, I just wish sometimes I had just a little bit more knowledge of each topic enough so I felt confident enough to partake in the conversation. Maybe over time, who knows.

Okay, this week.. interesting. I feel like I’m forever going to use that term to describe the class and all we learn.

The book, The Shallows, I didn’t take much too. I felt as if Carr was actually just talking at me rather then getting me interested. I mean obviously people felt differently considering the award on the front of the novel but I don’t know it just was not my cup of tea. I understand where the author is coming from but being from my generation – all we hear is how terrible we are, now I have read it also. I do not agree with his ideas either really, he says once that multiple platforms take away from the learning experience but for me at least that is not the case, I think the fact that these different platforms are available in order for us to use all of them to the best of our ability which is important for learning in my life and I am very thankful that I have those capabilities. So overall I disagree with Carr, I think the internet and digital media is beneficial in the right use.

But something I couldn’t keep my eyes off of was the power point type thing, the “annihilation of time” the photos, the information, I was so intrigued on every single slide, it was literally so cool!

Idealism vs realism, was a tough concept. I have always been super realistic about things despite my religion. I don’t trust blindly within my faith I always think of the other side of it, which is weird for this topic considering idk what side I fit on throughout this conversation. I know the professor can’t tell us what we are but I wanted to know by the end of the conversation what I identified with. It was super cool to hear everyone speak on their beliefs in a setting where no one argued back, minus the professor.

Overall, I think I’m getting more and more comfortable in the class, almost to a point where I may share in a future class. I like the professor but the only critique I have is I feel like anything I share he’s going to shoot down, not sure just makes me stressed to speak.

We didn’t have class this week!! Which was super nice honestly..

About to start this book!

Thanks Professor O’Malley.

First blog post, this should be fun!

Oh my goodness, when I sat down and he started talking I genuinely thought that I was in the wrong class, wow. I don’t know what I expected to learn I just didn’t expect to be talking about sounds within music. Its weird, I’ve honestly just never thought about any of the things that he’s talking about in this way. I legitimately sang my entire life, lived around music, and not once in all those years have I ever spoken about music in this manner. I honestly almost ran out of the room, the professor is so intelligent and well versed I did not have the confidence to speak once

We had to read the idea on the loudness war, and how music today does not get louder its essentially the same throughout the entire thing and honestly I had no idea.. when he started to play examples I just began to notice it and then when I went home I started playing songs and realizing that nearly every song is exactly the same, and then when you compare it to people like Aretha Franklin you truly realize how insignificant dynamically music has become in this day and age.

As per the second reading, has pop music lost its fun? As someone coming from this generation, this music is all we know essentially. The question would get a more meaningful answer from our parents or even older siblings. But even from my standpoint I can definitely know for sure that pop music is really just different versions of the same songs, sampled from one another, talking about the same things. I listen to pop because its catchy but honestly I would not be sad if this genre faded out in the future unless people start creating songs worth listening to again.