Why I think I should blog:
Blogging provides a casual medium to express ideas. Ironically, this question reminds me of one of the first blogs I wrote, To Blog or Not To Blog, in the Media 1 course which was prompted by Adrian’s article Blog’s in Media Education (http://www.mediafactory.org.au/jocelyn-utting/2016/03/07/to-blog-or-not-to-blog/). In this article Adrian discusses the rhetoric of blogging, discussing an author’s assumption of being read changing the nature in which they write. Although my own media blog platform is a extremely causal, with my lack of fans patting my ego firmly as oppose to stroking it, I can’t help but associate myself and thus my blog with the intention of being read by an audience, which means ultimately means I am writing with my ego.
Although this blog is extremely casual and is used more as a notes and ideas platform that helps me expand ideas and development my writing, the awareness that comes with the blog’s platform and (in my case limited) audience still prevails. This however necessarily isn’t a bad thing. Throughout the blogging process of last year and this, the ever-looming possibility of being read has actually made me become more crafty in my writing and opinions. Thus, strengthening my ability not only to write, but feel comfortable in what I say.
Ultimately, blogging is used in this course to allow us the comfort of media training wheels before we attempt to ride mountain bikes across the slopes of media’s social functioning profession. My initial hesitance surrounding blogging which was consequent due to my fear of being ‘egocentric’ has subsided and instead now I feel grateful for the opportunity to have had a medium where I feel, to some extent, ‘heard’.
How casual can it be? (Fifteen ‘Dollars’)
Extremely casual, you just have to remember that this platform is a reputational network. Ultimately, this means you can do what ever you like in your blog as long as it does not break the law. This includes copyright, slander against individuals and illicit activity.
How are we suppose to notice? (Fifteen ‘Dollars’)
We need to start looking for the density of relationships within a specific location e.g. organisms that live on human. You just need to start noticing the relations that surround us that we have become ‘blind’ too due to their prevalence.
Why five posts a week? (Six ‘Dollars’)
We need to achieve the endorphin rush that comes from repetition or ‘training’. This turns the process of thought into a habit, meaning that the ‘ecology of noticing’ would stop being a concept and start being a reality.
What is expected in the blogs (some ideas / starters)? (Twenty ‘Dollars’)
Anything and everything. Stuff about the course (obviously), but also extra things you notice!
Also, read other people’s blogs! Make your own ecosystem and think about what each other says! You can also pick a singular sentence from the reading and write three sentences about it. Scale does not matter. A blog post however should be self-sufficient. 1 blog per idea. This makes it easier for people to connect.
Should we use our blogs as note taking for class? (Eight ‘Dollars’)
If it works for you yes, but there is no exact template to follow.
Can we have blog time in class after different discussions? (Twelve ‘Dollars’)
Yes, but you must use the time wisely and not just to check social media.
Can we have a criteria template to guide us?
Sure, but Adrian will forget. Lol.