Reflective post (from Sandy)

The use of weblogs in this course is helpful and practical in understanding the ideas of the digital media and the online communication. In the process of using the weblogs, the ideas about the digital media taught in the course have indeed realized, such as cyborg, online communities and disembodiment in the virtual world. For examples, through such kind computer mediated communication, it does not only provide a platform for expressing the views but also for forming a network between classmates with interaction in some extents. Also, the idea of disembodiment has shown as the identity seems unsure in this space that we can understand each other only by the text, even we know each other in the real life. In which, it is quite strange feeling that, when reading other’s post, you recognize the author should be someone you know but doubt of he/she may be someone else at the same time. Indeed, the use of weblogs has give the space for us to bring out our own ideas and have a look to other’s views, and at the same time, it has realized what we have learned in the course and thus help the understanding some of rather abstract concepts.

Beside, with the great engagement with technologies in daily life, I believe that I am a cyborg in certain extents. As the technology has become a part of our life, I think that the interaction between human and technology is normal, or say, natural for most people. It is hard to separate technology from the life nowadays, no matter of living, study, entertainment and communication. In which, the boundary between human and technology is blurred gradually. However, with the increasing dependence on the technology, it is a feeling sometimes that the technology has indeed “evaded” our life as the engagement with technology is inevitable whatever you did. In which, It may be a kind of fear towards the great entanglement with technology.

I think this course is interesting. It has provided me with different perspectives of the digital media and cyberculture which I have engaged with for a long time. For instance, the idea of gender and race elements embedded in the context of video games is quite new to me as I have been unaware of it until having this course. From which, it let me to rethink about the relationship with the technology when I really enjoy the convenience brought by the rapid developing technology.