Week Three - January 18/20

Perhaps I am confused on the format of this blog. I do not see a specific prompt for this week.

So I will go off the essential question: “How does the context in which media is created and viewed shape the meanings that are made when engaging with that media?”

This is really hard for me because the word ‘context’ is not clearly defined. I have to assume the theme to this question is ‘how does meaning create new meaning’.

I am asked to focus on the details of ordinary life, and what its everyday textures really mean. This is rudely thrust upon me in the mere request to read ‘Chapter One’ of the text. This textbook does not clearly define its chapters. I had to toggle back and forth from my assumed reading and the index to finally realize exactly how this book is organized. It was an interesting way of forcing me to pay more attention, but it was also extremely frustrating.

I feel that there are many ways to look at objects and dissect their elements. As individuals we find different ways of obtaining an understanding. Many other students in the class will find different ways of discovering a solution to this week’s reading and blog post. When I read the introduction to the chapter I thought of the different ways in which we can become writers. Consider a mountain terrain. A writer will learn the environment in words; a painter will learn the environments in flow and colors, and a jogger will learn the environment in ever changing movement.

These three roles can be rotated, but it takes time to discover and understand. When author Henry Petroski focuses on the importance of a pencil (pg. 39) we lose the importance of Henry David who was first introduced in the story. In Mother MoTab we lose the story of her struggle with technology for her victory in getting into the Mormon Tabernacle Choir based on established talent. In a similar manner a jogger must forget about the details of one leaf to take in a greater physical journey within the mountain terrain.

Art, like a mountain terrain can have many different meanings to different writers, who specialize in different mediums. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for these different writers/artists to commune? This is such a forum.

-Nephi Hepworth