The Confident Gaze

The essay “The Confident Gaze” by Shekhar Deshpande raises some very critical points about the magazine National Geographic on both ends of the spectrum. The beginning of the essay is more pro-National Geographic, and as the essay unfolds it goes more into the anti-National Geographic. In the beginning Shekhar states, “It is a magazine of choice of teachers of history, anthropology and culture in general school. Middle class parents have regarded the investment in the subscription as necessary for the exposure that the magazine gives their children about the world.” (par 2.) Shekhar has many good things to say about the magazine that most Americans would agree with. This magazine brings good knowledge and interesting information that all of us are interested in. On the other hand its almost our only source of information about the other parts of the world. Meaning that they have quite a bit of control on what our outlook on the rest of the world is. Towards the end he states, “One of the clever ways in which National Geographic magazine constructs the image of the other, thereby providing an occasion for identity formation to its readers, is by representing a combination of the traditional and the modern or the Western.” National Geographic is many peoples only way to see the rest of the world, and they are using it to make us look glamorous and almost fear the rest of the world.

Deshpande

In Shekar Deshpande’s article “The Confident Gaze”, he speaks of National Geographic Magazine and the role they’ve played in exposing the world to western cultures. Deshpande pays particular attention to the fact that their pictures are very powerful and that we should be cautious with that power. He describes that “Middle class parents have regarded the investment in the subscription as necessary for the exposure that the magazine gives their children about the world” (par 2). Through this statement he shows us that the majority of Americans have come to trust and even rely on their pictures for information about the outside world. Making this even more clear, he goes on to say that their pictures “could appeal to the semi-literate as well as the literate by providing an entry into a field that needs to be taken with caution and respect for the ‘other’ world” (par 14). This power these pictures hold over people is something he is very clear about, and something he warns us about. Deshapnde cautions us that this influence can be misleading if not handled properly by providing us with a front cover picture National Geogrphic had on India’s 50th anniversary of independence. It held a dirty and small boy coated in red, looking at the screen in a longing and pitiful way. But despite this boys sad appearance, this occasion happens to be one that Indians hold much joy and happiness on. Deshapnde goes on to show us an extreme of a picture’s power by illustrating that they even have “the power to transform the most repulsive results of human actions around the world into images that are digestible” for average Americans (par 11). All in all, Deshpande teaches us two things: 1.) that pictures are wonderfully powerful tools, and 2.) that this power needs to be handled with caution and respect.

Deshpande Summary

Evan Coulter
The Confident Gaze
Summary

The essay, “the Confident Gaze” written by Shekhar Deshpande focues on how National Geographic takes pictures of different cultures and shows them to us in the way we like to see them and gives us the views from the American eye. In his essay he claims, “Human suffering becomes worth a good image.”(2) What he means by that is that people like to see stuff like that and they are interested in things of that context so if they can get those pictures then more people will start to read his magazine and become interested in the articles. I also think that is correct, if you give the reader what they want they will continue to read your magazine. Another claim from Deshpande. “While we admire the accomplishments of its photographers to bring us the rest of the world, we forget that the photographs and the contexts in which they are placed represent a very conscious effort by the editors to make the world a happy place and a happy place especially for the western eye. What he is saying is that even though we admire the photographers for getting us pictures from all over the world and all the different cultures, they change and edit them to make places seem happier and better than they actually are as to if you went there.

Dashpande

Tori Fleming
English 100L
Shekhar Dashpande Summary

Shekhar Dashpande’s article “the confident gaze” is about how national geographic takes pictures, but the pictures have nothing to do with the point of the story. A good example of this is when Deshpande makes the statement “while we admire the accomplishments of its photographers to bring us the rest of the world, we forget that the photographs and the contexts in which they are placed represent a very conscious effort by the editors to make the world a happy place and a happy place especially for the western eye”. He is trying to say that the pictures in national geographic with effort are made to appeal to the western eye. This strategy may work, but a lot of the photographs do not apply to what is really going on. The strategy as Dashpande describes it as is “one of the clever ways in which National Geographic magazine constructs the image of the other, thereby providing and occasion for identity formation to its readers, is by representing as combination of the traditional and the modern or the western”. National Geographic makes their pictures so that we the people in the western area can relate and it will appeal to us even though the picture has nothing to do with the main point.

Deshpande!

In the article "The Confident Gaze" written by Shekhar Deshpande analyzes promotional tactics used by National Geographic magazine, mainly focusing on their new magazine celebrating 50 years of India. Deshpande claims in his article that National Geographic "is quite sensitive to trouble spots and trouble contexts; it does not pretend to evade such situations. But while it covers or represents such issues or situations, it can sanitize and even the blood and gore of conflict"(2). In essence Deshpande is saying that National Geographic does not avoid suffering, but makes it disassociates it from its reader, keeping the reader in their comfort zone. Deshpande goes on to make a similar, bolder claim, saying “This power to transform the most repulsive results of human actions around the world into images that are digestible is what makes for the culture of National Geographic.”(2) This is an extremely bold claim, Deshpande is directly accusing National Geographic of exploiting human suffering in a way so that Westerners can “enjoy” these photos, but not feel connected with the problems being presented. Deshpande’s ends his article by questioning whether India actually has catching up to do, as the National Geographic article implied, saying “but it has a lot of catching up to do if “catching up” has to mean something”. By this, Deshpande was saying that Westerners may believe that India needs to “catch up”, but India may not want to “catch up” to Western society, they may want to live differently, in the way they always have.

Deshpande: my summary

Deshpande discusses how National Geographic teaches Americans about the world and how we are supposed to view other cultures. National Geographic takes all their photos and findings and makes it digestible for the American eye. Deshpande first talks about the 50th anniversary of India and how India has grown since there separation from the English; He describes the influence National Geographic has on society because they were there in 1947. National Geographic has structure, stability and control over what they show the world. Deshpande describes the photography of National Geographic as “technically flawless or even adventurous, and it attempts to sanitize and universalize the uncomfortable as well as different elements of other cultures.” Deshpande is trying to say that National Geographic uses their photography to show their version of that culture to make it look flawless or adventurous to appeal to the viewers need. Any viewer of National Geographic looks through these pages because they know what to expect, the unexpected. National Geographic explores the dangerous route to ensure their readers/viewers are satisfied with what they’re getting, even if the image is hard to comprehend. As Deshpande says “the photographs are rich in their content, but entirely dishonest in their relationship to the environment or the context.” Deshpande describes National Geographic’s stance with their photographs as focusing on the dominant features of the picture the viewer is looking at and neglecting the truths that aren’t shown. I see how a picture of a strange young Indian boy shown in red make-up, malnourish and depressed looking can alter the ways we, the viewer, can assume this kids life is all about poverty and staying alive to help his people but that’s where National Geographic likes to smudge the facts of the picture. Americans understanding of other cultures is foreign to many of us. National Geographic takes the role of integrating Americans into other culture so we become tolerate or accepting of their beliefs, customs, and lifestyle.

Deshpande's Summary and Claims

In Shekhar Deshpande’s article “The Confiadent Gaze,” he references his whole article around National Geographic. His article in July of 1997 was about “India: Turning Fifty.” This article was celebrating 50 years since India’s independence. Many American’s go to National Geographic to view other cultures from the comfort of their own home. As Deshpande states, “[m]iddle class parents have regarded the investment in the subscriptions as necessary for the exposure that the magazine gives their children about the world.” National Geographic shows many pictures that are very beautiful, and picturesque, but are they in context? Deshpande shows us that many of the pictures in the magazine are meant to appease the “Western Eye.” When anyone state “western eye,” they mean American’s or America in general. This feel for being “somewhere else” is the incentive to buy the magazine. But the main culprit for the picturesque-ness is the editors. They are the people who know what sells, and how to sell it. We are sucked into wanting to see the “primitive” people of the world, and separating ourselves from them.

One of Deshpande’s claim that really stuck out to me was, “[h]uman suffering becomes worth a good image.” As National Geographic comes out with beautiful pictures, we need to be conscious about what context they are taken in. I believe that National Geographic editors take a picture and twist the meaning just so they can have a good picture. To me, this is very disturbing. I do not like the fact that people will mess with a beautiful culture, and make it more universal, and to make us more comfortable while looking at it.

Another claim that Deshpande makes is that “[c]onstructions of self-identity comes through a representation/images of the other.” I believe this is very true statement for me. In images I can relate to, I can see a visual of what I might have wanted to represent, but couldn’t find a picture to do so. I also like to draw images of what I think my personality is like. It is a representation of me for others to see. To me, that is the coolest part about pictures/images.

Deshpande Summary

In the article, "The Confident Gaze" written by Shekhar Deshpande, he claims that National Geographic magazine "is quite sensitive to trouble spots and trouble contexts; it does not pretend to evade such situations. But while it covers or represents such issues or situations, it can sanitize and even the blood and gore of conflict." This very much describes how the images that you see in the magazine are posed and set up to be aesthetically pleasing to the eyes of the Western culture. Shekhar says, "It is as if the world needs to be posed in the appropriate way to the Western observer, he could not see bare essentials." Western civilization likes to think that anyone not living up to "their" standards or with the same lifestyles and technology as them, are below them and somehow their lives are not rich and fulfilling. Because of this, National Geographic magazine caters towards the needs of the Western observer and shows life in "third world" countries as poverty stricken and in need. Western observers are, in a sick way, entertained by this idea. The photographs are set up to make the people appear "lesser than" rather than their true life situations. Shekhar also states, "the photographs are rich in their content, but entirely dishonest in their relationship to the environment or the context." It sad how the truth comes out about such an amazing magazine that has won photography awards. We are introduced to National Geographic in elementary school to expose us to other countries and situations around the world. It is unfortunate that we were not told that the photos were set up therefore we grow up assuming that every country is "lower" than us and poverty stricken.

Deshpande

In Despande’s, “The confident Gaze,” he talks about how the popular magazine, “National Geographic” has been using its so called stunning photography to make poverty seem amusing to others who read the magazine.  Despande uses a National Geographic cover that has a child on it from India; he’s painted red for the Holi festival and looks solemn even though the festival they are celebrating is a happy and joyous time.  Poverty has become a good image for the use of the media because of how our senses are attracted to that almost abnormality we aren’t used to in American culture.

            Despande states, “This power to transform the most repulsive results of human actions around the world into images that are digestible is what makes for the culture of National Geographic.”  From this, Deshpande is implying that through the images we see in National Geographic, that facts of suffering and poverty becomes an interesting and almost amusing topic for its readers.  With the fact of breathtaking photography, the photography almost takes away from the underlying factors these images should really be portraying to viewers.

            Deshpande also states, “While we admire the accomplishments of its photographers to bring us the rest of the world, we forget that the photographs and the contexts in which they are placed represent a very conscious effort by the editors to make the world a happy place and a happy place especially for the western eye.”  Deshpande implies that through the use of breathtaking photography, the viewer doesn’t think of what is really going on in the images they are looking at.  The viewer might look at an image of a malnourished family in a landscape and think of how the place they live in is beautiful  and how in a way, their “struggle” and hardship is used to amuse the viewer.

National Geographic

Summary: In his article, “The Confident Gaze,” Shekhar Deshpande speaks of National Geographic magazine. Most recently National Geographic came out with a special issue, “India: Turning Fifty.” This issue was celebrating the 50^th anniversary of India’s independence. National Geographic has the third largest subscription base in the United States. Many Americans consider National Geographic a solid cultural reference, sharing coverage of various cultures from around the world. National Geographic uses photography to showcase countries, allowing the viewers to escape into another culture. Deshpande suggests, “National Geographic has made an aesthetic of its own photography. It attempts to sanitize and universalize the uncomfortable as well as different elements of other cultures.” The photographs become beautiful works of art that the viewers admire. As viewers, we forget who is capturing these photographs. The photographer’s purpose is to peak our interest, engage our curiosity. This gives the viewers incentive to purchase the magazine. The editors and photographers are well aware of what sells, and what we want to see. As viewers, we want to see the world as a “happy” place. Another words, bloody conflict, and other worldly issues is not what we desire to see, thus it will not sell. As simply observers of various cultures from our own living room, we are kept at a distance. Our minds are blocked from the reality of the culture.

Deshpande elaborates, “When we speak of an aesthetic of photography in a magazine we notice that in this magazine, the bloody conflicts from Afghanistan to East Timor become picturesque achievements that can be looked at one’s coffee table without being troubled by the conditions in which these photographs were taken.” The reality of these various cultures is glorified for our own Western civilized eyes. As Americans, we feel educated and somewhat sophisticated because we purchased National Geographic. This proves to others we care about what is going on in the world. As Americans face the facts, we will realize National Geographic is providing a glorified reality. Our minds left ignorant, we don’t know the real truth behind these photographs.

Deshpande Summary

Writer Shekhar Deshpande recently wrote an article by the name of "The Confident Gaze". This writing talks about the different magazines and how the images in those such as the National Geographics are influencing the readers and their education on the culture it is portraying. An image is shown as an example, the image is of a small boy painted the color red, he he ethnic and looks impovreshed and poor, his facial expression shows unhappiness and dispare. While this cover may sound upsetting, the photographer makes the picture so that it meets the viewers eye in satisfaction. Dishpande states "but while it covers or represents such issues or situations, it can sanitize and even beautifuy the blood and the gore of the conflic. This power to transform the most repulsive results of human actions around the world into images that are digestible is what makes for the culture of National Geographic" (Par 11). This is saying that even the most grusome and horrific pictures of them all could be portrayed on a magazine but the edditors and photographers are never showing what it truely is, they always have to set it up and get each detail perfectly shown as beautiful as they can make it; this is what makes a successful magizene. Most viewers and readers of these magizene's are not looking close to detail, they glance at an image and quickly read through the text, but is what they are looking at what is really being shown? Deshpande does not think so and nither do I. I believe that these people are being tricked into lies of a certian culture and because of it, it makes a magizene sell. Deshpande mentions "the 'innocent' attractiveness of the photography of National Geographic, its ambiguous representtation of the knower and the known as the most 'natural' and inevitable parts of our world are what have made for the success of the magazine" (Par 7). This is the part where he writes about how these images that are portraying fake culture are being sold because of their beauty and ability to capture parts of the image that would not be seen if seen in person. I think that the claim that concludes it all up is when he says "human suffering becomes worth a good image" (Par 10).

Response to Deshpande

Shekhar Deshpande wrote an article on The National Geographic magazine called “the Confident Gaze.” In this article Deshpande talks about how the magazine uses photography to help sell the magazine but also help support the articles in the magazine. Also the photography, along with the articles, misrepresents the meaning or facts of articles. In Deshpande’s article on the magazine he uses the example of other countries but more specifically he uses National Geographic’s article and photography on India and how westerners can just look at the magazine, have a few thoughts and go back to their lives. In Deshpande’s article he claims “The Poverty in India…is transformed in the pages of the magazine into an observable commodity, polished with gleaming light and perfection of the position of the objects.” The magazine sets the photograph in the stance that would best represent what they are trying to say and not taking the photograph of the culture in its natural positions. Another claim by Deshpande is “[T]he bloody conflicts…can be looked at one’s coffee table without being troubled by the conditions[.]” People can pick up the magazine and look at the pictures or read the article but they don’t fully understand because they don’t have to live in the harsh conditions the images or words are describing.

response to despande

Deshpande explains his views on National Geographic’s use of photography and the influence and impact it has on it viewers. As you may know National Geographic is mostly a photo magazine with pictures on every page and brief descriptive writings on the pages. Deshpande used the National Geographic issue “India Turning Fifty” to get his thoughts across to readers. His main message is that the magazine uses imagery from different cultures to play against the standards of the western culture. “This power to transform the most repulsive results of human actions around the world into images that are digestible is what makes for the culture of National Geographic,” says Deshpande. The photographers of National Geographic and also the editors take images of bad situations and use them to draw the “western eyes” attention, even if the situation is better than it seems. The cover of the boy painted red was actually for a celebration, but they gave an impression of violence and suffering. “While we admire the accomplishments of its photographers to bring us the rest of the world, we forget that the photographs and the contexts in which they are placed represent a very conscious effort by the editors to make the world a happy place and a happy place especially for the western eye.” Meaning that when we come across the images , we are provoked to learn more about the cause.

Summary and Claims

Shekhar Deshpande explores the idea of National Geographic’s photography and the influence it has on its readers. National Geographic magazines are commonly seen as a source of reliable information and culture from around the world. Deshpande goes into detail about the image seen on the cover of the special issue “India: Turning Fifty.” Deshpande’s main message is that the photos of different culture are played to the standards of “Western” civilization to either make images “digestible” or spark interest or curiosity in Americans.
Deshpande has many claims about the National Geographic magazine, two of which I will elaborate on. The first claim I chose is, “It is slick, it is technically flawless or even adventurous, and it attempts to sanitize and universalize the uncomfortable as well as different elements of other cultures.” Deshpande is describing the ways in which American photographers use different techniques to portray certain messages and even emotions through the images. The picture is usually edited or set up to create a sort of perfection to best fit their marketing needs. Even if the photo doesn’t give the entirely truthful message it doesn’t matter because it spurs interest in the Western mind. Photographers can even make an extremely grotesque situation presentable to the public.
Another interesting claim comes later when Deshpande is explaining how the magazine can change the way something looks. “This power to transform the most repulsive results of human actions around the world into images that are digestible is what makes for the culture of National Geographic.” In essence, National Geographic’s photographers and editors can take images from a horrible situation and down play it to make it something to look at without much emotion or thought about the circumstances of the photo. The photographs depict images with lots of content that is not relevant to the situation at hand. For example, the boy was painted red as part of a joyous celebration, but through National Geographic, the photo gave the impression of violence and suffering, which is completely untrue.

summary of The Confident Gaze

Sheckhar Deshpande, in his article “The Confident Gaze”, writes on what he calls “the cultural value of the [National geographic] magazine” (par 2), specifically in their issue about India’s 50^th anniversary of their independence. He makes many claims about National Geographic's intent of their magazines and about its audience, Western Society. Knowing that National Geographic is known more for its splendid photos, his claims are based primarily from the photographs not the actual text found in the magazines.

Deshpande explains that editors of National Geographic consciously make the effort “to make the world a happy place and a happy place especially for the western eye” (par 9). By this he means that the editors can make even the most cruel and bloody of circumstances be passive enough that the reader can be interested yet not troubled by the images. One could be proud to place it on their coffee table to express their knowledge, without the fear of offending or disgusting others.

As westerners we think of ourselves as progressive and forward thinkers and we want other countries, third-world countries, to continue to become more like us. Using this common thought, National Geographic appeals to westerners by providing a comparison that can be used to heighten westerners' egos. “The primitive, often a focus of the magazine, serves the same function by providing images of what ‘would have been’ if the west had not taken a march toward ‘civilization’” (par 15). In essence Deshpande is stating that the west uses the images/stories of others to construct self-identity. By seeing the bad situations of other countries it gives the west leeway to brag about how so-called “better we must be compared to them”.

The reason National Geographic has been around so long is they not only provide some insight about other cultures but it also knows how to use that information to boost the ego of America and other “sophisticated” western nations.

Summary of the "The Confident Gaze"

Shekhar Deshpande, Author of "The confident gaze, The National Geographic's misty lens" is focusing his article on the magazines special edition for India's 50th anniversary of independence. Deshpande claims, "It is an emblematic achievement for a magazine, which has taught American's about the rest of the world for centuries". He feels that "It is hard to underestimate the cultural value of the magazine". I would say for the reason being, the magazine is viewed highly by most Americans, due to the fact it brings them into different parts of the world from the comfort of their own living room.

On the cover this edition there is a photograph of the" face of a young boy with red holi colors, with clear, intense dark eyes gripping the lens of the camera and the beholder of the image is striking" as Deshpande describes it.He makes sure to add his description because his point of what the magazine has done with its photo's is very relevant to this article. He goes on to say that "The innocent attractiveness of the photography of National Geographic, Its ambiguous representation of the known and the known as the most natural and the inevitable parts of our world are what have made for the success of the magazine and in fact, it would not be out of place to suggest that National Geographic has made an aesthetic of its own in photography. It is slick, it is technically flawless or even adventurous, and it attempts to sanitize and universalize the uncomfortable as well as different elements of other cultures". In reading Deshpande's article my conclusion is that he feels that there is a certain "Voyeurism" to what National Geographic is doing with its magazine. That he does feel that its informational to a point but it is also taking things such as human suffering in all aspects of the term and sugar coating it for westerners to enjoy. He has stated that "The photographs are rich in their content, but entirely dishonest in their relationship to the environment or the context." He feels that "It is as if that world needs to be posed in the appropriate way to the Western observer, he could not see it in it's bare essentialities". So basically National Geographic has made it a point to explore the world for those who cant and inform Americans in a way that makes us feel so fortunate about where we live and how we live. It makes us feel like we have came such a long way with our march toward "Civilization"

The Confident Gaze

In his article "The Confident Gaze" Shekar Deshpandes main focus is on National Geographic magazine, "India: Turning fifty" edition. In his article he talks about how National Geographics photography influences it's readers and helps sell the magazine while also helps to support the articles in the magazine. Deshpande goes into detail with the front cover of the magazine, which features the face of a small boy who is painted all red. His facial expression doesn't show happiness and excitement for the celebration of 50 years for his country, but instead shows an intense look. Deshpande talks about how we make human suffering worth a good image. We take something that is not pleasent and transform it into something that is technically perfect through a photograph. We're drawn into the images of different cultures and countries, because it's something we're not used to. it's different and intriguing.
Deshpande claims, "[W]hile it covers or represents such issues or situations, it can sanitize and even beautify the blood and the gore of the conflict." We take an unfortunate situation from other countries and make it more appealing that the actual situation so that the readers are more intrigued by it. We pay for images of beauty and good pictures.
Deshpande also claims, "From the worn out bricks to the tobacco stains on the teeth, the photographs are rich in their content, but entirely dishonest in their relationship to the environment or the context." The photographs show the content well but fail to show the true realtionship to the rest of the environment. The rest of the world almost needs to be posed in the appropriate way for the western observer.

The Confident Gaze Summary

Shekhar Deshpande's article, The Confident Gaze, is about Shekhar's view's on the magazine, National Geographic 50th Anniversary Edition. "The special issue, "India: Turning Fifty," is a typical and quite a collectible achievement of the magazine. Several people have already pointed out to me that I should take a look at the "spectacular" issue of the magazine." And not for nothing, he takes the time explaining how the images reflect the hard times the country is facing. Deshpande's also goes further and talks about how we reflect to this. Saying "While we admire the accomplishments of its photographers to bring us the rest of the world, we forget that the photographs and the contexts in which they are placed represent a very conscious effort by the editors to make the world a happy place and a happy place especially for the Western eye." Meaning that when we see the images and hard times in pictures, people are provoked to learn more about the matter and more interested in helping the cause.
Another important point he makes in his article is about human suffering, stating "Human suffering becomes worth a good image." Our eyes are drawn to these images of pain and despair, because there is a story being told.

Deshpande Summary "The Confident Gaze"

It is common for a National Geographic to be one of the many magazines that everyday folk have on their coffee tables. It is a way to learn about other countries and cultures without have to ever leave the house or travel thousands of miles. Shekhar Deshpande wrote an article titles “The confident gaze” with the purpose to try and clean “National Geographic’s misty lens” (subtitle). Deshpande makes claim after claim about how the magazine twists and distorts what is actually going on in third word countries by publishing flawless pictures. Poverty in India has been one of the most popular topics and frequently the sole reference for Americans. Is it really a reliable source of information though?
Deshpande states that “the photographs are rich in their content, but entirely dishonest in their relationship to the environment of the context” (par. 13). He is saying that the photographers set up each and every photograph with perfect placement, and then the photos might still be cropped down before being in the magazine. It is because of these methods that a fake or false idea is portrayed. When I looked though a National Geographic I saw several photos that seemed “staged”. These photographs appear as though they were just a snap shot of ordinary life but after looking deeper you can see that they were set up.
It’s not that National Geographic wants to lie to us as Americans, but rather “transform the most repulsive results of human actions around the world into images that are digestible” (par 12). National Geographic wants their magazine to be something that everyone will want to look at. Some traditions in other countries are too disturbing for younger viewers so the photographers tone back the intensity. This makes sense to me but like Deshpande states, its being “dishonest”. I have never been a subscriber of National Geographic and after studying Deshpande’s article and a few magazines I doubt I ever will.

Deshpande Summary

In “The Confident Gaze” by Shekhar Dashpande he is talking about how National Geographic has the third largest magazine subscription in the U.S. which is known for its breath taking photos . However he claims that the photos have little or nothing to do with the real point, and leave out many truths. He uses the cover of National Geographic “India Turning 50” which is a picture of a boy covered in Red paint with a sad look on his face. But the title and the picture really do not match up. Dashpande says,
“There photographs are rich in content, but entirely dishonest in their relationship to the environment or the context. It is as if that the world needs to be posed in the appropriate way to the western world observer, he could not see the bare essentialities.”
The images in National Geographic are isolated and selective. All show a certain type of image that is not displaying the information that has to do with the real point. Because most of the time the point is too sad and overwhelming for many that if it was put on the cover of National Geographic no one would want to buy it. As well he explains that the cover represent a lot of conflict, it helps make a situation appealing when in reality it would not be appealing at all.
Dashpande also claims that National Geographic has a clever way of constructing images of the “other”. To provide occasion for its readers, this is achieved by a combination of countries traditions mixed with the western world’s way of living. “The idea of progress is always in terms of whether the others have taken steps to be “western”. That includes the fashionable ideas like democracy and technological progress.” Westerners want to read that other places around the world are becoming more like them, because of westerns attitude that their way of living is the best way to live. As well it gives westerners the frame of mind that they are superior to the rest of the world, and more grateful that they are not the rest of the world.

Deshpande's View on National Geographic

Shekhar Deshpande creates an article most interesting, mind boggling and crucial for mankind to think about. “The confident gaze,” named by the author to suggest ideas about what National Geographic may be sending mixed messages to the American people. He shares pictures, stories, and claims many things about hunger, suffering, and photography. His details can make you wonder, whether your on his side of the story or the other end of the spectrum.

Shekhar Deshpande claims, “they are great in providing excruciating details of misery, the unpreparedness of a youngster in the rain or the paucity of food and water on the pavement.” Deshpande suggests that the magazine of National Geographic creates as many pictures as they can of misery, sadness and poverty. The photographers would capture a picture of this boy that is suffering in the wet, cold rain rather than a bright sunny day. The photographers of National Geographic loves to capture the essence of hunger and loss.

National Geographic shows poverty because that is what India is mostly made of. There aren’t as many rich and flourishing places in India as the Western Hemisphere. America provides hotel, rich cities, and consumerism. India gives rich culture, religion, history, and hospitality. The great county of India includes one billion people in which the poverty level is high and more people are living in the size of an American bedroom as their house.

Deshpande states, “human suffering becomes worth a good image.” Shekhar Deshpande conveys to the American public that the life of human that suffers and is in great pain provides a beautiful and glorious picture in the magazine of National Geographic.

Suffering captures the curiosity, wonder, and phenomenon of the eye of the beholder. In magazine, ads and the internet whether it is the misery of a human or a dog, it still catches your attention because you see the sorrow. If you saw happiness and joy, instinctively you would skip over it because the people are having more fun or in a better situation than you are. Yet at times happy people make you just want to smile! So the big question is,” do photographers capture suffering on purpose?”

Selfe

In Cynthia L. Selfe’s essay, she, using a variety of examples, tells us how, through advertisements, America’s true gender-oriented society comes out. Selfe shows book covers with women being portrayed as homemakers, assistants, or seductresses, that she claims shows that despite Americas claim to equality, it is still a gender oriented country. Selfe tells us that though that there is hope to erase this gender-oriented society, though it will take much work to fix.


Selfe claims in her essay that “A good portion of our collective imagination is constructed by history and sediment in past experience and habit.”, meaning that we act how our parents, and grandparents, acted while we were growing up, or even by what we saw on TV as young children. I agree with this claim, I believe that if a woman came from a home where their mother was a homemaker that they would feel less obliged, than a person woman who came from a family where both parents worked, to find a career. We, as humans, do what we are familiar with, and though Selfe is partially right in her claims that we live in a gender-oriented society, I do not believe it is nearly as big of a problem as she is making it out to be.

On page 304 Selfe says “Our cultural experience, indeed, tells us something very different-that America is the land of opportunity only for some people”, boldly claiming that America is not a country of equality, that not everyone has an equal opportunity for success. I disagree with Selfe, I believe that there is equal opportunity for everyone in America, anyone can start a business, go to college, get a job, there are no restrictions. I believe that this article is entirely propaganda; Selfe tries to amplify the issue of gender roles, which is dying out on its own, without Selfe’s worthless propaganda. Gender-oriented society used to be an issue, but has now almost completely dissinagrated over in recent years.

Selfe Blog two

In the recent work of Cynthia L. Selfe, she writes an article called "Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution Images of Technology and the Nature of Change", the first main point that Selfe brings out in her writing is how fast technology has changed throughout time, some people suggest that the technology is a great tool for learning and living but they may fear it because of how fast it continues to change. Selfe writes, "like many Americans, we hope computers can help us make the world a better place in which to live...we hope computers can help make us, and the students with whom we work, more productive in the classroom and other instructional settings" (Selfe 293). Selfe believes that technology such as computers can be used in great ways; one of these ways that she brings up is how images and commercial advertisements may reflect the American cultural and tell valuable stories about social contexts (Selfe 294). Selfe goes on to give examples of many different images that share hidden messages and stories. One advertisement that is shown is described with a man with gold teeth and a bonnet made of roses with a candle on top, this is advertising software but the image is obviously different from Americans and comes across as odd, but it is possible to see what the people are saying by advertising their software and provide it to them in a language that we can all comprehend by using this technology. Selfe says that "we are the designers, the providers, the village benefactors." This quote summarizes what she is trying to say about the advertisements, which is that technology will help connect everyone by communicating. She describes this whole idea of communication through technology as a global village, where the farther the computer network expands, the more it will serve to eliminate racial and ethnic differences and bond together family and friend relationships no matter the race or location. Not only could the race be affected but also the gender since it had played such a large role at the time that Selfe wrote this article. Selfe writes, "computer-supported environments will help us create a utopic world in which gender is not a predictor of success or a constraint for interaction with the world." She writes about how woman would not always use the computer as much as men and both genders would use it for different purposes. With the change in technology, it could bring both genders to be equal along with ethnicity groups of people and all of the above.

Cynthia L. Selfe Essay Review

The most interesting thing I found in the essay by Cynthia L. Selfe is when she talks about technology and the internet affecting the way people live and what Americans think about it and how they view it. On the internet everyone can do the things they want and search for the things they want to search for. I also think that people on the internet can be whoever they want to be and they will feel like that are just as important as other people and that everyone is equal, and when it comes down to that some people don’t like the idea of everyone being equal. One quote I found and that I think several people will agree with is, “Technology is the American Tool.” I think that she stated this because before when we didn’t have printers, computers, internet, cell phones, we didn’t know how to share and receive information. Now that we have all those we can get information and share it with other people in the click of a button. When I put these two ideas together I get for the most part that technology can become a huge help to this world or it can destroy it all together and that technology being our tool and the way we are going to do it won’t change for a long time so we need to get used to it and make it work.

Selfe – Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution

There is no doubt in my mind that the great majority of Americans view technology as an asset that improves their daily lives. It is also a blatant fact that many Americans are beginning to see a shift in our culture that will most likely turn into a dramatic change. As we all know, change is something that is usually thoroughly embraced or completely rejected, and that same principle applies to the mixed feelings countless Americans have towards the change technology is introducing.

Cynthia L. Selfe (a Humanities Distinguished Professor in the English Department at Ohio State University) broached this sensitive subject in her 1999 book, “Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution” and she fairly points out and describes the “contradictory impulses” Americans have when thinking about technology (par 4). Cleverly, she does this through her dissection of common advertisements, revealing the “cultural stories” we unconsciously apply to them and how those “stories” can “reveal to us the complications of our feelings toward technology and illustrate how these feelings are played out in the shared landscape of our lived experiences” (par 11). In other words, Selfe is saying that she can display where our mixed feelings about technology (being that although Americans “strongly believe in the beneficial ways that technology promises…we fear the effects of technology” on our familiar culture (par 3).) come from and why we feel that way, from something as simple as some ads we see on a daily basis. She takes us through step by step by revealing 3 “narratives” (or as she defines them: reflections of “a portion of our collective American cultural imagination” [par 1 pg 294]) that she names “Global Village and the Electronic Colony”, “Land of Equal Opportunity and Land of Difference”, and “The Ungendered Utopia and The Same Old Gendered Stuff”.

Through these narratives Selfe means to expose several facts. One being that: Americans unconsciously reject the idea of a world where all are equal because they unknowingly view themselves on top or as the “sophisticated minds…behind the technology” (par 1, pg 299). Selfe shows us ads that are specifically saying that the world is one place and we are all a one people. But at the same time they show people who look and seem especially foreign, but more than that they seem beneath us, uncivilized, unindustrialized, ect. Selfe does a wonderful job of explaining how these ads are contradictory and how they are affecting our thought process as Americans.

Another fact she reveals is that Americans fancy themselves the “construct[ors]” of an “electronic landscape” where “equity, opportunity, and access” is “open to everybody–male and female, regardless of color, class, or connection” (par 5 and 6. page 301). So Selfe believes that many Americans like to believe that through technology we (specifically Americans) are creating a place where every human is truly equal and seen as an intellectual mind who may offer new ideas and outlooks versus some person of a specific group of people who carry certain stereotypes and generalities to have put against their ideas. Selfe also brings in the fact that we like to say we are an “ungendered” society, where men and women are looked at as equals but that we continue to show ourselves images of the “perfect family” with the stay at home mom, the working father, and the 2-3 happy children. She explains that Americans are looking beyond what we know is there (both parents must work nowadays, divorce and single parents, the optimism we once had “has given way” to the sad outlook of the 90’s, ect) to imagine we are apart of a picture-perfect nation. In a way we are making ourselves look good on the outside, but continuing what our cultural has taught us to believe as badness on the inside.

In a nut shell, Selfe is telling us that she believes the reason we love technology is because of how much it helps us in our day to day needs, and that we have had a long history of technology being nothing but an asset; but we fear the changes because we have this pretty picture in our minds, placed by our culture, that America is almost a wonderful utopia and to change it may prove disastrous.

Cynthia Selfe

In Cynthia Selfes essay "Lest we think the revolution is a revolution" she describes how Americans are using technology today. Americans do use technology far more often when compared to that of some other society's and it is starting to change us. One thing that stuck out to me was a small passage only a couple pages into the writing which she states "...The computer network that spans the globe will serve to erase meaningless geopolitical borders, eliminate racial and ethnic differences, re-establish a historical familial relationship which binds together the peoples of the world regardless of race, ethnicity, or location." While that is only a narrative that is appealing it will, unfortunately, not likely happen. Even if it does, would everyone be entitled to the same basic human rights? This "Global Village" or "Electronic Colony" would not be very fun in my mind, because anyone who is controlling the technology in that kind of world would become a dictator over filled with power. Another narrative that struck a chord with me was "The Un-gendered Utopia" and "The Same Old Gendered Stuff". In an Ungendered Utopia any constraints put on someone because of their gender would be removed, women would not be only labeled the wife, mother, seductress, or lover. Men would not only be labeled the nerd, the crazy biker, the sex maniac. Our expectations of gender roles are so ingrained into historic culture and popular culture that they are coded into human brains, says Selfe with the help of Pierre Bourdieu. I don't think any of these narratives will happen soon, but technology is pushing boundaries and creating borders at the same time all the time.

A little bit of info of Selfes essay

In this essay “Lest we think the revolution is a revolution images of technology and the nature of change” by Cynthia L. Selfe , Selfe talks about how technology is making us express our selves. In person each gender has a role to play the female is the house wife and the man is the hard labor worker who earns the money. Well on the computer that is not always the case. No one can see what another person looks like unless that person uploads a picture on to the computer so that person can be who ever they want to be and can basically say what they want to say with out people talking to them in person about it . Also this essay is talking about the American dream. How many people have the same dream and everyone knows about the American dream. Advertizmets use that American dream to their advantage and compare their product to that American dream.

In Selfes essay she states “Unfortunately, if americans have no collective imaginary context for, or historical experience of, a real global village, nor do they havce any real experience with an undifferentiated land of opportunity. Our cultural experience, indeed, tells us something very different-that America is the land of opportunity only for some people”(par.36). To support this statement by Selfe she uses the history of slavery. Also she goes on and talks about how a woman has never been president and we have boarders to our country. Only the lucky groups of people get the good things out of our country. Another claim is “This cultural memory is a potent one for Americans, and these ads resonate with the values that we remember as characterizing that golden time”(par.33). Selfe talks about how the advertisements play on the narrative and how they have the enduring power to inform technological innovations. Also there is a part where she says the cisco systems, uses a picture that could been in a dick and jane reader.

Selfe's Summery and Claims

In Cynthia Selfe’s book we read chapter 16, “Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution,” we learn about how technology is affecting our world today. In the first page of her essay, Selfe talks about how, in school, specifically in the English Department, how they “have come to terms with technological change.” Technology has not only affected our schools, but quite possibly the cultural myths Selfe explains later in the chapter. She states 3 cultural myths that are very true, at least to me. Her first is about the “Global Village.” The “Global Village” unites the world through technology. She goes on to state that this narrative is more like an “Electronic Colony,” and how those who have access to the internet will be the ones to thrive. In her second narrative she talks about is the “Land of Equal Opportunity.” The “Land of Equal Opportunity” is open to everyone, regardless of race, gender, or religion. In reality, this narrative should be called “Land of Difference,” because in the pictures Selfe shows they are all white people. It is not what the advertisements show, it is what they fail to show. In Selfe’s last narrative, we learn about the “Un-gendered Utopia.” Claims were made that computers and other computer-supported environments would help create a “utopic world in which gender is not a predictor of success or a constrain for interaction with the world.” This was just the claim though, in all reality we were focused on the “Same Old Gendered Stuff.” Where the women is supposed to stay home and be the housekeeper, and the man is the one who works.

Claim 1:

A claim I found interesting was, “A good portion of our collective imagination is constructed by history and sedimented in past experience and habit.” (307) This was a really strong claim for me. It got me thinking about everything we think as the “norm.” It is just those things that “are constructed by history.” She uses WWII as evidence. She states that “women were no longer encouraged to maintain a presence in the worlplace. At the close of WWII, they were displaced from the workplace by men returning from the European and Pacific theatres.” The only thing we had known at that point in time was that men were supposed to be the workers, so we went back to the only thing we knew. Over the past few days I have tried to find a few things that I find as the “norm,” and think of how I came to that conclusion. The one thing I found was waiting in line for your turn. I was never really told so specifically to wait in line; I just did what my parents did. So I learned from past experiences through them.

Claim 2:

Another claim that caught my eye was, “The gender roles of the fifties also translate into workplace roles for women in the nineties.” (308) In the 1950’s women were expected to stay at home and be the housekeepers, but this also is shown by Celeste Craig of Pontiac Illinois. She said she is “finally achieving her dram of “going to college by staying home”.” Thanks to the technology of computers in the internet women of the nineties could still be the housekeepers as well as going to school.

Cynthia Selfe

Cynthia L. Selfe describes in her article, “Lest we think the revolution is a revolution,” about how Americans use of technology has become a change that is constantly occurring in the world.  Selfe describes how the internet changes our perspective of cultural aspects of life possibly giving us the wrong idea on some things, and how it is influencing change in other aspects of our lives such as teaching. 

Page 303 of Selfe’s writing she states, “Indeed we tell ourselves this clearly American tale-which I’ll refer to as the Land of Equal opportunity narrative-often and in many different versions…”  Selfe then goes on to say how advertising uses the American culture to draw people in, while they use “American know-how” to make it seem appropriate for cultural reference. 

A claim that Selfe makes on page 305 is, “Americans, regardless, of race and class and other differences, our collective ability to envision such a world is not evident to these images.”  In saying this, Selfe implies that we have the ability to see past these almost, strange cultural references and realize that in a way, they are referencing something that could be taken in a way that could potentially be racist or judgmental.

Selfe makes another claim on page 304, “Our cultural experience, indeed, tells us something very different-that America is the land of opportunity only for some people.”  From this, Selfe seems to be almost saying that advertising has hidden messages that are racially judgmental and don’t respect the possible culture they are portraying.  Our experience as Americans makes us see other cultures that aren’t our own and realize how our country portrays others in different ways that might not be appropriate.

Cynthia L. Selfe's essay review

In Cynthia L. Selfe’s essay that I found the most interesting is where she talks about culture and how the internet and technology effects cultures and how us Americans feel about that. Technology has the power to create a “Melting Pot” of all races and bring them together. On the internet everyone is equal and if everyone has the same access to the internet and everyone has the same power, then us Americans I think will feel threatened by that. This part of her essay is called, “Land of Equal Opportunity and Land of Difference.” I agree that to some people this could be threatening, but I feel it’s a great thing that people all around the world can have the same say as we do, it makes us stronger as a human race in some ways, but I can see how in others it can be highly threatening to Americans who believe that we are the ultimate country and the ultimate leaders. All throughout history we Americans have been heroes of other countries by helping them when they are going through hard times. Americans think that they are looked at as superior to most of the other countries, so if the internet allows other countries to be equal with us, it will scare us.

I think that overall in her essay she is saying that technology and the internet can increase the equality all over the globe, and that technology can help all countries improve to some extent, and that we are all equal no matter race, sex, or ethnicity.

Let We Think The Revolution Summary

Let We Think The Revolution is a Revolution by Cynthia L. Selfe. While reading this article I found many things stuck out at me. She talks about technology influencing us in different ways. For example here’s a small passage she wrote “For Americas in particular to believe that technological change leas to productive social change. “ This is true, in many different ways more obvious than not. One of them was in the early 1990’s with the first game boy making its way in each of our children’s hands as the must have device. Another great quote I found in here was “Technology is the American tool”. Now how is it a tool you might ask? Computers & cell phones are a few ways we can achieve information quick and easy compared to other ways of doing it. The last quote is “We cannot even image collectively ways of relating to gender outside of the context of our familiar historical and cultural set of experiences.” What she is talking about is that it is hard for anyone to think anything is possible without having to see it or have witness it. Culturally or physicalogicaly is the only way us as human beings feel are ways that it must be real. There are exceptions however such as religion, however one could argue that’s culture.

“Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution”

In our world, technology surrounds us. It is constantly advancing, constantly changing. Educators have integrated this technological change within the learning system to adapt to this technological world. As Americans, Selfe explains, we are undecided about technology and change; we are split between two beliefs. On the one hand, we believe in the computers power and the general benefits that technology brings to further improve our lives. On the other hand, technology introduces extreme change from our familiar system. We are then resistant and are unsure of these changes. These attitudes towards technology and change influence our collective social experience and our society as a whole. Selfe explains our culture has several empowering “narratives” that we link through technological advancements. Selfe speaks of three popular narratives in particular, The “Global Village,” “The Land of Equal Opportunity,” and “The Un-gendered Utopia.” In the “Global Village” narrative we believe technology establishes a global village in which we are all connected throughout the world. This eliminates racial and ethnic differences, and establishes a new interconnected culture. Selfe finds Nicholas Negroponte who says, “a new generation is emerging from the digital landscape free from many of the old prejudices…Digital technology can be a natural force, drawing people into greater world harmony.” The global village is controlled by those who can design and use technology. We as Americans can use technology to control others who are simply recipients of our technological design. The “Land of Equal Opportunity” narrative beliefs date back to the 1950’s. An electronic landscape is established on the Internet that focuses on the re-creations of the American dream. The American dream relates to the 1950’s, where America was beginning to enter a period of accelerated technological growth and innovation. Proven through persistence and hard work, Americans were rewarded in capital gain, regardless of race or social ranking. It was a time of optimism through equal opportunity. Advertisements use this cultural memory through the electronic landscape to exemplify that Americans can have that same security and traditional values by using technology. In reality, equal opportunity is limiting based off these ideals. This belief targets a certain group of people in America, leaving out the various others groups it imagines to be describing. As we continue to perpetuate this belief, our society will continue to be stuck in our traditional ways. The “Un-gendered Utopia” essentially erases traditional gender roles. Americans tend to believe technology and change erases gender stereotypes, thus “creating a utopic world in which gender is not a predictor of success or constraint for interaction with the world,” Selfe states. Based on the roles of genders in our society in this day and age not much has changed. It is well established that the computer industry is controlled primarily by males. Selfe states, “Computers, in other words, are complexly socially determined artifacts that interact with existing social formations and tendencies-including sexism, classism, and racism-to contribute to the shaping of a gendered society. The roles of men and women have been complexly constructed throughout history. Selfe uses Pierre Bourdieu who explains this gender ideology is “doxa,” “-ideological systems of belief so consistent with popular beliefs, and therefore so invisibly potent, that they preclude the consideration of other positions altogether.” These traditional gender roles have been around for so long, they have become second nature to us. Change is almost unthinkable.In our minds, these technological advancements lead to productive social change. “Quite simply put, like many Americans, we hope computers can help us make the world a better place in which to live,” Selfe says. This reasoning increases the use of technology throughout our society, in schooling for example. Teachers hope computers can help make them more productive, along with their students. This powerful belief in technology providing productive social change is perpetuated all around us in various versions. Selfe uses Howard Rheingold as an example. In the Virtual Community, he describes “how computer networks can support more citizens in their efforts to communicate with government agencies, corporations, political groups, and information resources”. Self uses Dale Spender in Nattering on the Nets, as another example. Spender speculates “on what it takes to establish new kinds of electronic forums that will support women and other groups now often left out of-or kept out of- public discussions in other venues. These examples show a broadened social opportunity through the use of the computer. These ideals are broadcasted through images that come from commercial advertisements about technology. These ads reflect our American cultural imagination about technology. The ads share values, ideological positions, and social understandings that we can all relate to as Americans. This is what makes these images such a powerful communication device.

Selfe blog post # 2 Ian Wells

Selfe describes America’s technological fascination both as a potent fear and enlightenment for society. Teachers use computers in the classroom to help students progress further. Computer technology is now just as important as English, math and science. Selfe tells that “They are laden with cultural information, shot through with the values, ideological positions, and social understandings that comprise our shared experience.” Selfe mentions the vision that we will create a global village that will unite the people of the world and help us pursue a common agenda. With computer networks spanning geopolitical borders, racism, and ethnic differences will dissolve. “Digital technology can be a natural force, drawing people into greater harmony.” Selfe describes that Americans are so used to being on top that joining together they would have to relinquish their status in the world. America has it extremely easy since we consume about eighty percent of the resources in the world. Americans still enjoy the fact that contributing to their neighbors in helpful ways, lending them useful technology so they can catch up with the rest of the world. Selfe strongly talks about the use of advertisements and how they are persuasive and appealing. Americans use technology to become world travelers. Americans can see the world without ever leaving their living room. Safety and comfort are the main concerns of Americans and this is what separates us from other inhabitants of the global village. Americans are the providers for the global village; we are the designers and the village benefactors. As much as we’d like to think technology is not the solution for everything and well be the contributing cause of many of the problems we’re dealing with. America’s tool has been our accomplishment and is being used for our benefit; we use technology to multiply our market, our success, improve our cultural profits. Selfe tells that we try to live in the American narrative, land of equal opportunity, un-gendered utopia and the global village. Americans try to abandon old motives and move forward but the so called stereo-types about gender related issues still pop up. Men using the internet for productive meaningful goals whiling women use computer technology for their family and happiness. Each gender plays their role. For women, the seductress, the beauty, the mother-all relationship ratified by our historical experience, easily accessible to our collective imagination, and informed by traditional social values. For men, the biker, the nerd, and the sex maniacs are the traditional values we learn early on. Selfe is mainly speaking about how we can address difficult problems and cooperate together to improve our society.

1. At one level, we believe in the pairings; we believe in the computer’s power; and we believe strongly in the beneficial ways the technology promises to improve our lives. With technology the pros greatly outweigh the cons and Americans have the ability to give the world a foothold into a world vastly larger than their own. Computers are becoming a required element in order to maintain a connection to the world. Opening up to the world with technology is a success all by itself. Breaking down social, ethnic, racist barriers with one single swoop.
2. Indeed, the narratives linking technological change to social change are parts of the reason that English teachers- like many other educators- have come to embrace computer technology so enthusiastically over the past decade. As society improves, our teaching methods must be improved as well or educational growth will be hindered and our progress to a better society will be halted. Computer technology is about gaining information quickly and that’s what the students of today want.
3. As Much as Americans might like to think it; technology is not the solution for all of the world’s problems-and indeed, it might well be a contributing cause to many of them. America is not viewed as the best country and we’re practically considered a young kid with a gun; capable of anything because we have the resources to do what we want and we don’t have the national experience; we’re only two hundred years old. We’re that spoiled kid across the street the gets all those new toys that come out every week. We haven’t had the time to see what repercussions we’ve dealt out; and time is not on our side.

Cynthia L Selfe: Advertising Myths

In chapter 16 of Cynthia Selfe's book titled, "Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution" she seems to be describing a "love hate" relationship with technology. Technology usually equals change and a lot of Americans tend to be afraid of change.

Selfe says, "Like most Americans....we remain decidedly undecided about technology and change." As Americans, we hope that technology can make the world a better place. In the English profession, we hope that computers can make teachers and students more productive. We seem to put a lot on technology to make our lives easier and our world better, yet we still are reluctant to welcome this change with open arms.

On another note, Selfe says, "We believe strongly in the beneficial ways technology promises to improve our lives." I don't believe that technology has promised us anything, I do believe that the people behind these new products are promising us this so that they can further sell their product. It still all goes back to people. We have to grow and evolve in our thinking for anything to change. A computer isn't going to all of a sudden change the world.

Further into the chapter, Selfe talks a lot about the American "myths" or stories being passed on through the years about America being the "land of opportunity" and the "land of difference." She uses some advertisements for technology which use these narratives as their selling point. How can we evolve or move forward with change, when the advertisements for this new technology is outdated and still pushing stereotypes into our heads? Some of the ads use the same old story about "keeping up with the Joneses", keeps woman in there stereotypical gender roles.

I see how Selfe's position is hard to pin point regarding whether she agrees or disagrees that technology will help the world. She points out the different narratives used to sell this new technology. Narrative #1 being the "Global Village" and the "Electronic Colony." The global village is where the people of the world are connected. It binds everyone together regardless of race, ethnicity, or location. The electronic colony happens within the discursive venues available to our culture such as TV, or in the classrooms and books. It is a "myth" in where the whole world gets along and lives together as one.

Narrative #2 that Selfe points out is the "Land of Equal Opportunity" and "Land of Difference." This is where the American dream myth comes in. It is about how opportunities are open to everyone; male and female, regardless of color, class or connection. We have all heard these stories before. What is not said is this technology is not available to everyone. These narratives fail to make that point and put it out there as if everyone can use this.

Revolution in this Tech Savy world

Cynthia Selfe writes a chapter in her novel called, Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution Images of Technology and the Nature of Change. It is all about if technology is the the differences of good or bad for this new student generation. Selfe writes about what the American public’s oppinion and reality sees fit for the following subjects: Global Village, Equal Land of Opportunity and Genders have equal Opportunities.

She counters and debates the realities of both sides of the spectrum.

Selfe claims,”network that spans the globe will serve to erase meanless geopolotical borders, eliminate racial and ethnic differences, re-established a historic familial relationship which binds together the peoples of the world regardless of race, ethnicity, or location….Inhabits of this electronic global village in turn, become foreigners, exotics, savages, objects of study and sometimes, to control.(294)” She contradicts both sides by saying technology may bring people together yet this is what it is doing by Americans sitting in the comfort of their homes while making people across the globe look like savages.

Reflecting on both sides is a great thing to show both sides of the coin. It’s nice to see what the hopes and dreams of Americans are for the internet but to see the dark side or reality reflects upon what is really happening.

Cynthia Selfe states, “a white, blond woman sits in a well appointed living room that is chock full of artifacts from around the world; several big-screen viewing areas front of her feature images of exotic people and far-off locations, a large computer with a world map on the screen, and a globe complete the representation. (298)” Selfe suggests that it is the luxury of a white person to sit and be comfortable while looking at the world through a screen, when in fact that woman could go travel across the globe and see the peoples of different countries instead of making assumptions of the savages.

Knowing the unknown, and believing something that is not right in front of your face is lies. You can know the traditons and peoples but how will you really know the traditions of the peoples culture without being and participating with.

In Cynthia L. Selfe’s article, “Lest We Think The Revolution is a Revolution”, has some some good persuasive points. I found that she is stating the fact that Americans use technology for personal benefit but as some of her examples show advertising makes Americans believe they are not only for personal gain. I also noticed in Selfe’s article that technology is making us believe we are making progress in every way, when in reality we are heading in the wrong way of progress. Gender roles are still played out in technology and how men and women are suppose to use it. Men are the leaders and women the followers.
On page 306 Selfe explains, “We find ourselves as a culture, ill equipped to cope with the changes that this Un-gendered Utopia narrative necessitates. We cannot, indeed, even imagine, collectively, ways of relating to gender outside the context of our familiar historical and cultural set of experiences.” Which means that people have a set of values and history chiseled into our minds that we can’t change. Making us have the same views of gender as we did in the 50’s. She uses a beautiful woman in front of a monitor, comparing the beauty of a woman with the beauty of this monitor, they have the woman in a "seductress" role to sell the monitor. This shows the traditional "roles" of women in the media. Men are portrayed in suits and ties, this has been normal since the 50's. Men have always been the workers and outside of work they are portrayed as "bikers," "nerds" and "sex machines."
Also a claim is on page 308, and Selfe says “The results are evident in the numerous advertisement about computers the women that use a retro look to link women’s roles in the 50’s to those in the 90’s-which each gender assumes their appropriate role in connection with technology.” Meaning the 50’s in short was the generation that more than ever represented men and women’s place in the world. But try to relate the 50’s to the 90’s, Selfe explained it by saying “Men use technology to accomplish things; women benefit from technology to enhance the ease of their lives or to benefit their families.” She also brings up an explanation to support her claims that “where images of the television-era of the fifties are overlaid by those of the computer-era of the nineties.” Almost half a century has gone by from the 50’s to the 90’s and the same gender roles were still among us. Even now that we are in 2010 there are still gender roles being played.

Cynthia Selfe Summary

Cynthia Selfe in her essay "Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution" talks about the effects that technology has on the world. She talks about three narratives that Americans believe when it comes to technology. Those of which being: "The Global Villiage," "Land of Equal Opportunity," and "The Un-Gendered Utopia." Selfe compares these narratives into their true form on our sociey and calls them, "The Electronic Colony," "Land of Difference," and "The Same Old Gendered Stuff." In her essay Selfe claims that, "Computers, in other words, are complexly socially determined artifacts that interact with existing social formations and tendencies-including sexism,classism, and racism-to contribute to the shaping of a gendered utopia." (page 306) Basically by this she explains that through cultural beliefs, out technology shows the hypocracy of the whole system. People say that technology is curing all those problems in the by creating a "Global Villiage", it is quite obvious that it is the opposite of all it says it is. Selfe used advertisements to show how the changes haven't occurred, and how they don't fail to show difference races in them and the more underpriviliged people. According to Selfe if we are going to allow technology to give us an equal playing field, we need to include all the groups of people in America today and not only focus on the privilaged few.

Selfe claims, "That America is the land of opportunity only for some people" The evidence that shes used to back this claim up is the history of slavery and deaf education, womans sufferage, immigration, and labor unions. she says that all these remind us of this fact that only the more priviliged people get more opportunities than the underprivileged people.

Another claim that Selfe makes is that ,"We tell ourselves in connection with computers and change focuses on equity, opportunity, and access-all characteristics ascribed to the electronic landscape we have constructed on the internet and the computer use in general." she says that this landscape, or so we life to believe, is open to everyone no matter what the gender, race, class or connection is. Later in her essay though she proves that this land if equal opportunity is not exactly open to everyone, but more so just to the more priviliged people in the world.

Cynthia L Selfe: summary

Cynthia Selfe's essay "Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution" is about the change technology has on the world. These days all that goes on in an English classroom is Teachers talking to us about the change that is happening in the world caused by technology. Technology is taught by Teachers of all subjects to ensure that their students understand the world and can inter a profession with string values Selfe is not siding on either side she is simply stating both. Technology is having its effect on social productivity. It is said to believe that Technology is like it's own subject, like science or math. Americans don't want the change to happen slowly and by its self, what Americans want is to embrace the advantages of technology. Even though it is hard to make changes we have to work for that change.

Claim 1:
"Americans are the smart ones who use technological expertise to connect the world's people, to supply them with technology and train them to use it." I believe that Selfe is trying to say that Americans have adapted so well to the technological network, that we are part of it. Americans use technology every day if its not the television or the computer its an Ipod or cell phone, and since we use them so much we understand the meaning and whats behind the technology. It's funny to see my 13 year old sister know more about my mom's cell phone then my mom does, it just goes to show that my generation has adapted better to technology than my parents or grandparents generation.

Claim 2:
On page 303 the first full paragraph it states, "American family-- three smiling kids, two smiling, upwardly-mobile-parents posing in front of a spanking new functionally designed, split-level home, with all the optimism characteristic of the Eisenhower era." Right there shows the image of a TV family, not a "real family." The Ads show a family with no problems in the world just a happy-go-lucky family that has everything going for them. But what you don't see is what the family really is a family that has problems in some-way or another. I personally hate seeing families like that because in reality you don't ever see a family that is perfect, at least i never have. Yes, that family may not have had any types of technology in their house that may have corrupted their children, but now you look and see kids on their computers or watching TV and that's all they do. So yes TV may have an effect on Americans, but its something that really can't be changed.

Cynthia Self Blog post 2

Cynthia Self's article "lest we think revolution is a revolution" Is about the effects of technology on the world. Self makes many main points. She starts off by talking about educators and how they are undecided about technology. Self then moves on to talk about the social changes that people think the internet will bring. Self claims that the internet was thought to bring about a social reform where women and men have equal rights and will merge, the same with different ethnicities. However she points out that the internet has just reinforced our social differences and not merged them. Self also tries to show that while technology is looked at in a good light because it is helping third world countries and their struggles it is rather just displaying our technological superiority and forcing a cultural difference and stereotype. Also self notes that technology is being used more for profit rather than as a tool to help others.
One claim I found interesting from Cynthia Self's article is "This landscape, Americans like to believe is open to everybody--male and female, regardless of color, class, or connection. It is, in fact, at some level, a romantic recreation of the American story and the American landscape themselves--a narrative of opportunity in an exciting land claimed from the wilderness, founded on the values of hard work and fair play" (301). The landscape which she is referring to is the electronic or internet landscape. She uses an advertisement to demonstrate her claim, one that emphasizes on traditional American values but connects it to an operating system from Microsoft.
Another claim from Self's article is "Our cultural experience, indeed, tells us something very different--that America is the land of opportunity only for some people" (304). Self explains this by mentioning the history of slavery , deaf education, women's suffrage, immigration, and labor unions, she is refuting the idea that she earlier claimed Americans believe.

Technologic Progress and Social Progress

What I’ve gathered from Cynthia L Selfe’s essay is that she is exploring different views on the technological movement influencing modern society. She describes how educators always end up talking about change. Change caused by technology and computers. She elaborated on three main myths or narratives.
There’s the “Global Village and the Electronic Colony” which involves all people of race, sex, and social status being connected all over the world. On the surface this sounds like a good narrative, a closer look would reveal that this does not work so perfectly. We would begin to use the internet as a source to solve world problems, but end up using it as a tool to “…increase our own cultural profits at the expense of others…” (301)
Narrative #2: “Land of Equal Opportunity and Land of Difference.” Like the previous narrative this one has a concept that is beneficial to most. They use past memories of American culture to make Americans of all race, sex, and social status feel optimistic and upbeat, utilizing ads depicting images of hope. Yet, the ads sometimes lack people of a certain race, sex, or social status making the “Land of Difference.”
The final narrative, “The Un-Gendered Utopia and The Same Old Gendered Stuff” explores the idea that technology is not gender specific. Gender won’t predict success or social status. However, its American culture that has taught us that some things are specific to gender. Each gender sends a message relating to the culture we have acquired from our lives, and advertisements play off this perception.
Interesting quotes I found are “Such a realization can serve to remind teachers that technology does not necessarily bring with it social progress…” Selfe claims that even though the benefits of technology could help future generations evolve, the existing cultural standards are hard to overcome. Another quote is “These are also the reasons that the ads included in this chapter can reveal to us the complications of our feelings toward technology and illustrate how these feelings are played out in the shared landscapes of our lived experience.” Certain ads will trigger a response in Americans due to the fact that we already have set cultural beliefs. It will be difficult for technology to produce social progress because of these beliefs.

Selfe Summary

From what I understand so far of Self's essay is that she is letting her readers know from an educators point of view the feelings on technology and social change in america today. She has said that" on some level , english departments have come to terms with technological change" but she also has said "however, even though educators have made these adaptations, we remain decidedly undecided about technology and change." Selfe is basically saying that even though she can see the benefits that technology can bring to one's life, there is also that fear of the technology because of the changes it can bring to the familiarness of one's life. In this essay, as I understand, Selfe brings in 3 narratives,#1 "the global village and the electronic colony" In this narrative she is saying how americans feel like the computer will help benefit us, or help us help people around the world By creating a unified world system free from all injustices due to race,sex,financial status. Of course there is also a down side to this narrative, with a system in place like this one as selfe states "But it becomes a world in which different cultures and people exist to be discovered,explored,marveled at, in a sense, known and claimed- by those who can design and use technology" so to me that doesnt seem very wonderful for us or the other cultural people around the world. selfe goes on like this in her other 2 narratives, showing us the pro's and con's of what technology can do for us or how it can harm us. A claim that is interesting to me from selfe is "As much as americans might like to think it,technology is not the solution for all of the worlds problems-and, indeed,it might be a contributing cause to many of them"(301)She goes on to say how "technology,in these ads,is an american tool.And we use this tool for reveal all too clearly our values as homo faber-the tool maker." Selfe suggests "that americans are not using this technology to help the world without a cost,but to multiply our own markets and to increase our own cultural profits at the expense of others." Another claim from Selfe that I found interesting was her claim that "because our culture subscribes to several powerful narratives that link technological progress closely with social progress,it is easy for us-for americans,in particular-to believe that technological change leads to productive social change."(293) She supports this claim by stating that Vice President Albert Gore has noted that the global information Infrastructure (GII) would increase opportunities for intercultural,communications among the peoples of the world. Selfe herself states "more importantly,an exclusive focus on the positive changes associated with technology,often serves to distract educators from recognizing how existing social forces actually work to resist change in connection with technology;how they support the status quo when technology threatens to disrupt the world in any meaningful way;how our culture,and social formations that that make up this culture,react with a special kind of conservatism to technology,even as we laud the changes it promises to bring." Like with all positive thing in life we need to be careful of the negative things that come along with it. Technology is a tool that is capable of progressing americans in a good direction but it can also be a downfall to us as a whole if we're not careful.

Cynthia L. Selfe Second Blog

Cynthia L. Selfe has more than one point in her article of “Lest We Think The Revolution is a Revolution” For starters I found that she is voicing the fact that us as Americans only use technology for our own benefit but as some of her examples show advertising that makes American believe we are helping other countries when it is clearly not the case. The other main point I noticed in Selfe’s article is that technology is supposable making social progress when in reality we are in social trouble at the rate we are going. Gender roles are still played out in technology and how men and women are suppose to use it. Men are supposed to use it to be the leaders and women as the followers. We all link the tech narrative to the social narrative which is unrealistic. She can be very repetitive in some of her writing in this article, but I think those are the two main points she was trying to explain.
On page 306 of “Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution” Selfe explains “We find ourselves as a culture, ill equipped to cope with the changes that this Un-gendered Utopia narrative necessitates. We cannot, indeed, even imagine, collectively, ways of relating to gender outside the context of our familiar historical and cultural set of experiences.” Which mean that us as humans have a set of values and history ingrained into our brains that we as humans are not able to change the way we view what either gender should be. She uses examples of all the advertisements that show that women are supposed to be beautiful all the time, either be a sex symbol, mother, or assistant to a man. Men in advertisement seem to be the boss, the leader.
Also a claim is on page 308, and Selfe says “The results are evident in the numerous advertisement about computers the women that use a retro look to link women’s roles in the 50’s to those in the 90’s-which each gender assumes their appropriate role in connection with technology.” Meaning the 50’s in short was the generation that more than ever represented men and women’s place in the world. But try to relate the 50’s to the 90’s, Selfe explained it by saying “Men use technology to accomplish things; women benefit from technology to enhance the ease of their lives or to benefit their families.” She also brings up as explanation to support her claims that “where images of the television-era of the fifties are overlaid by those of the computer-era of the nineties.” Even though they are completely different eras the same gender roles are still being preached except in a different way.

Selfe's Essay Summary

Cynthia Selfe's 1999 Essay "Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution: Images of Technology and the Nature of Change" is directed toward her fellow English teachers addressing the subject of new technology leading to social progress. Selfe points out the inconsistancies between the romanticized myths of progress and reality. With the information presented she challenges other English teachers to be "educating students to be critically informed technology scholars rather than simply expert technology users" (322). She breaks down the commonly misinformed ideas of technology and progress into three stories (narratives), and they are as followed.

Narrative 1: The Global Village--The Electronic Colony
The first is what she calls the "Global Village". This story claims that all people of the world are connected and cooperating:

[T]he computer network that spans the globe will serve to erase meaningless geopolitical borders, eliminating racial and ethnic differences, re-establish a historical familial relationship which binds together the peoples of the world regardless of race, ethnicity, or location (294).

However, Selfe believes if you look at real world advertisements you see that this idea is not true, you actually see a colony. She presents five ads, looking at the people displayed in the posters; they are dressed in traditional garb and seem to be helpless and we as the advanced Americans need to help them. We are supposed to be connected to them through our technologies but they are a world away the strange and different people are a spectacle like tourist destinations to be ooed and awed at by us sophisticated Americans.

Narrative 2 : Land of Equal Oppertunity--Land of Difference
In this story oppertunity and accessability is open to everyone, but,

[Our] cultrtal experience, indeed, thells us something very dierent--that america is the land of oppertuity only for some people. The history of slavery in this country, the history of deaf education, women's sufferage, immigratiion, and labor unions remind us of this fact; as do our current experiences with povery, the differential school graduation rate for blacks and whites and Hispanics, [and] the fact that we have never had a woman President...oppertunity is a commodity generally limited to privileged groups within this country (304).

Narrative 3: The Un-gendered Utopia--The Same Old Gendered Stuff Selfe describes how Americans wish to have this ramantic (idealistic) ideal about the internet being cross-genderal. The idea goes that computers are new and non gender specific therefore there should be an equal opertunity for both geders to use it and be represented. However this idea is untrue, Selfe points out that computers are used by and directed twords primarily males. Also she presents that even when we try to spread out of our historical gender specific roles we can't help but fall back into them becaouse they are so deeply ingrained into thaoughs and ways we cannot escape them. She states, "we find ourselves, as a culture, ill equipped to cope with the canges that this Un-gendered Utopia narrative necessitates" (306). By this she means that thoughout our history we difine our genders not only physically but by the roles that they play in society, by changing up the historical roles we lose what it means to be male or female therefore to preserve our gender identities we uncounciously fall back into the traditional roles