Reply to comment

             I have really enjoyed the class discussions and smaller group interactions thus far in the semester. As a psychology major, I am used to lectures and little discussion so I find the change in structure extremely refreshing. I also find it easier for me to organize my thoughts when I can bounce them off of two or three other people. I think I need to work on bringing my ideas into the overall class discussion, particularly in drawing from the assigned readings. I also would like to explore more options for my web projects that would allow me to challenge myself; I want to see how I can use the medium to have something to do with my argument as well.

            For us as a group, I would say our strongest skill as a class is talking. Just as I find the class discussions beneficial to me, I believe they are helpful for the overall class as well. I think that it is great that we have an open environment in which every student (hopefully) feels comfortable speaking and sharing their ideas. I think we could work on continuing the conversations outside of the classroom, especially online. Though I think the online forum is great and I enjoy seeing what my fellow peers have to say, there is little engagement happening. I myself don’t partake in commenting as much as I should and would like to try it out more. 

            Overall, I have found the class to be eye opening and thought provoking. I was particularly drawn to the cyborg section of the class, and think I will continue to explore Cyboricity even after the semester is over. I have found our discussions on gender to be intriguing, though lesser in number (maybe they’re relatively equal, but I feel like we discuss technology more..?). I would like to see our class continue to push the texts and bring gender into the discussions.

            Lastly, books or films…Well, I guess I’m more of a film-buff than a book gal (yeah, I know, I’m in an English class..but I couldn’t think of any books ok!?) and I do know a lot of tech-filled movies out there so here are some suggestions:

--Jean Luc-Godard’s French science fiction film, Alphaville (1965), uses real locations and no special effects to present a dystopic image of the future and its technocratic dictatorship. (lots to pull out about technology and gender)

--Another dystopic film that I am obviously a fan of is Blade Runner. Also a lot of gender roles and the future of technology that could be discussed.

--Along those same lines is Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1927) in which a Utopic city, divided between the wealthy and the working class, has an underground world of workers, who run the machinery that keeps the above ground world functioning.

--Then there are those films that portray the technological advancement in our lives as normative: more along the fantasy lines of The Matrix or modern day online romance in You’ve Got Mail.  

---Last but not least, any of the James Bonds movies… I’d recommend those from the 1990’s post-internet culture such as Goldeneye, or Die Another Day.