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Looking back

I was nervous going in the beginning of the semester, because I haven't taken an English course since last year, and because writing is a weak point of mine. I've enjoyed this course, though, especially the class discussions. I don't always feel confident enough in my own opinions to speak, but the online part of the course helps with that, since I can try phrasing an idea a few times before actually putting it out there for the world to see. Even though I don't usually understand the readings, with the discussions and postings, I feel like I can fill in the gaps enough to see the big picture.

As a class, we also seem to do best at discussions. Ideas are proposed, altered, mixed, blended. They adapt and evolve and grow into bigger and more intricate things, and it's beautiful to watch. I'd like it if we could have more online discussions over the forum, the ones where we all comment on a post instead of just posting our individual responses, like this one; since we have to scroll to the bottom to comment, we also have to read other peoples posts and ideas, which encourages replies.

Now

I've learned a lot about information, something I've never really thought about before. And it's important! Information seems like the thread that stitches gender, science, and technology together; without information, none of these ideas could be communicated or adapted, or blended. They couldn't grow.

Looking forward

We've talked about information and its translations, but what about its power? Information can be used to improve life, or abused to ruin it.

I'd like to suggest watching Paprika, a 2006 Japanese animated film, directed by Satoshi Kon. In this world, the subconscious is explored through Dream Therapy, specifically using a device that allows its user to watch other's dreams. Paprika focuses on information through the use of technology; while Dream Therapy benefits individuals who use it properly, it can blend dreams and reality, causing the entire city to dream while awake, with catastrophic results.

Paprika shows the effects of raw information, and how it can be bent to suit different purposes, since both the protagonist and antagonist change themselves and the way they are viewed to their advantage.  It also shows how your information can affect other people, since the population of the city has to deal with the altered reality as the main characters do battle.