How do you assign the inanimate (or animate!) objects in your life value? Pick an object in your life that that you've assigned a specific value to. Answer the following questions about that object.
--What is your relationship with this object? Be as specific as possible. (Consider what exactly is a relationship before answering this question.)
--What are your attitudes or feelings towards this object? The objects in our life can have a positive or negative impact on our lives. How exactly?
--Is there a financial cost to owning or using this object?
--Is there a social or personal cost of having (or not having!) or interacting, with this object? Think about how this object affects you and those around you. Does the social or personal cost outweigh the financial cost?
--Can you remember your life before this object entered into your life? (This question asks you to think about how exactly your life was before this object entered into your life.)
--Can you envision your life after this object no longer serves any purpose in your life?
Today in class when we were asked to write about an object in our life that has value I chose my fathers’ record collection that was passed down to me. In my “a day in the life” paper I talked a bit about technology and how it was affecting legacy and sentiment. I often think about objects passed down to me by grandparents, and parents and wonder in the years from now what our children will be receiving from us; a Facebook link ? An ITunes account? For me there is nothing really concrete and emotionally connecting about modern technology the way a record collection is. There was something special about sitting in the record room with my father listening to the songs and hearing his stories about them. It was a shared experience that I don’t think can be replicated by sharing files. Perhaps it is my own pretensions getting in the way of experiencing all technology has to offer, but for me I need something concrete, some type of physical action to connect emotionally. I need to feel the weight of the book in my hand, or go through the process of selecting the record. For me a hand written letter will always mean more than an email. At the same time though I don’t think anyone should be denied the option to choose what is right for them, and therefore the internet should be readily available to everyone, and everyone should be able to express their viewpoints professional or not. At the same time I do feel that most people tend to gravitate to more passive forms of entertainment and creative quality is being substituted for entertainment value.
ReplyDeleteDanielle, I think that you bring up two great points. First, you're right, what will we pass down to subsequent generations? Your remark about a Facebook link is interesting because links probably won't exist ten years from now. (How often do we use Windows 98?)
ReplyDeleteSecondly, you bring up this point about wanting something concrete. Do you think we all (all of us!) want something concrete?
Great comment!
I agree with Danielle about having something concrete because I prefer an actual book over an e-book. Technology is replacing the things that matter most in life for example family and love.In today's world there is more sentimental value being placed on technology than those things that have much, much more value thank it does.
ReplyDeleteShould we comment on "Values, user-generated content and you" and answer the questions or share it on google doc or do you want us to think about these questions for class?
ReplyDeleteYes, it is true that most of us do value technology more then sentimental things, but there are objects in our lives that we hold dear that others might think as useless and holds no value in this world. Technology can be valued in a way that is sentimental. For example, my family still has the Nintendo 64 in the house, sure we may not use it anymore but we have created a lot of memories with friends that will last a life time.
ReplyDeleteI like what Danielle said, "I often think about objects passed down to me by grandparents, and parents and wonder in the years from now what our children will be receiving from us; a Facebook link ? An iTunes account?" because for the exercise I picked my phone as my object. This shows how technology has altered our minds on what we think is more valuable in our lives. Although at the end of the day I realize that the phone doesn't really have sentimental value to me, it's just a phone. I'm not going to pass it down or anything. When a new one comes out I forget about the one I have now and just buy that one and at the rate that technology is moving now a days I'm buying a new cellphone every year. Unlike something like a ring that one of your grandparents gave you, you can't just go out and buy a new one of those.
ReplyDelete