Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Face Time


We discussed yesterday the evolution of the modern syllabus... In the same sense we could look at this Dentyne Ad through a Foucaultian lens. Do you think that the expression of love or companionship has also evolved over time as a function of technology and that changing conventions have given way to new ways to deviate from the norm?

6 comments:

  1. I might just be old fashioned, but I think that relationships are one of the only things that have not evolved much due to technology. Obviously we are a far way away from the arranged marriages etc... of midevil England but the idealized version of the American relation remains the same. You see someone you are attracted to, you make a funny/awkward/funny and awkward/suave comment to strike up a conversation, and then you get a way to get back in touch with them to continue the budding relationship. This method of communication has evolved from letter to phone to email (not a supporter of the email part) but the basic idea stays the same. Even in homosexual relationships like we talked about in class, and somebody correct me if I'm wrong, they see someone they are attracted to, they make a funny/awkward/funny and awkward/suave comment and etc....

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  2. Two quick points:

    #1: I think we might need to be a little more precise is talking about resistance as opposed to deviation, if we're sticking close to Foucault.

    #2: Arguably, technology has done something to contemporary relationships, hasn't it? I mean, what does it even mean for us to be talking to each other up here?

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  3. I believe that technology has effected relationships in how people can hide certain aspects of themselves; it's a lot easier to hide that extra ten pounds or annoying foot-tapping habit online than in direct conversation. Therefore people seeking relationships can engage in Focoult's resistance to judgement in some ways. Ultimately, who he or she has to eventually come to the surface, and the other party has to either accept him or her for who he or she is or not....what a concept....

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  4. I think that technology has influenced the modern relationship greatly. In the ad we see the mention of "instant messaging," which has changed the world in allowing men and women to interact behind closed doors. The internet has opened up an entirely new idea of "dating" to those who are maybe a little more antisocial or unable to find a life partner. Not to mention homosexual relationships are only becoming more and more streamline thanks to modern technology, television, internet, etc. I believe that technology has changed and shaped our culture into something completely different from the past, allowing for society to change in both good and bad ways.

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  5. My first two thoughts after reading this post:
    Oh my God, Missed Connections.
    Oh my God, Casual Encounters.

    Dan Savage sometimes talks about how gay men in major metropolises (read: NYC) were the first people to use the internet for classified ads, mostly soliciting NSA sex. Since then, straight people have been advertising their genitalia every place that has Craigslist. Dan is very adamant that we credit the gays with this important social development, so I'm just spreading the gospel.

    Does anyone know statistics about people who seek and find romance online? How long does the average Match.com marriage last?

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  6. Anyway, the internet is a convenient tool if you want to find a person or a community who is interested in your fantasy/kink/other activity, just because you're drawing from a much, much bigger pool of people than you are in, say, a bar-- AND you can be upfront about it. If you want somebody to make animatronic dinosaur noises (http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/van/876586707.html) or frolic in your totally dope blanket fort (http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/chi/291079504.html) you can probably find it online.

    So technology (Craigslist, but also porn, writing, sex toys, and way more than I can think of right now) gives people more opportunities to express themselves sexually, and more opportunities to "deviate from the norm," like Alice said. But true love, in my opinion, emerges independent of these factors, though technology may provide people with opportunities to meet and, uh, activities to do together.

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