Holoda’s Weblog

Reading Rogoff’s discussion of visual culture as an entirely new way of examining visual “things” is actually alot like Roland Barthes “From Work to Text,” an article that privileges the written text as always changing, “dilatory,” and having the capability to “explode.” Just as the text is an “irreducible plural” for Barthes, Rogoff presents visual rhetoric as an opportunity to “unframe” boundaries of discourse in which we have viewed “situated knowledge’s” (384).  His quote from Spivak reinforces the idea that unlimited possibilities for questioning and examination that the potentials of visual culture provide, allow for the constant re-settling of “situated knowledge’s” and “continuous (re)production of meanings” (385).  Visual art, media, etc., are areas, (much like Barthes notion of “text”), that cross-cut disciplines and contain multiple, potential interpretations simultaneously.  Just thought this was interesting because Barthes is generally privileging the written text while Rogoff, visual medias. 

I just finished the Selfe article in WNM, “Students Who Teach Us.” I thought it was interesting how she points out that,  here is this young man who is successful in web design and new media, yet cannot survive at his university because he somewhat lacks the ”ability to write and organize formal essays [and has]problems with development and logical argumentation” (49).  I had mixed feelings about this. I understand her points that that mixed media plays an increasingly significant role in communication, and that education and playing a productive role in the community , university, etc. does not rely merely on the written language, but on visual representation.  But as I was reading I kept thinking about what we do in “English Studies” and how alot of our discourse relies on “development” of ideas and the ability to argue, present, contrast certain issues “logically.”  I wonder if David’s placement in the English program was the best for him, or if there were any programs that would have been more conducive to his skills, like web/graphic design, etc.  It seems like sometimes it is a matter of direction, and in large institutions, it’s not like they cater to the individuals need. On the other hand, I’m trying to see how English studies can encourage one to develop the skills of “logical argumentation” through visual design, without the use of the essay or any “formal” text.” 

I don’t know about anyone else,  but I had a difficult time paying attention to the Podcasts on Blackboard. From the moment I pressed play I felt like I had a.d.d, my mind started to wander and I couldn’t really function on what was being said. But as I thought about it, in the midst of the cast, I am a pretty visual learner and without a physical text in front of me i generally have a hard time retaining information. Maybe this fits in with the discussion of new media’s and hybrids of the visual/verbal, etc that tend to appeal to different learners…or maybe I am just trying to think of what to say to fill this blog up 

Just wanted to comment on the Wysocki text, namely the activities listed around page 20-40. In particular, I thought the “writing in crayons” assignment was interesting, especially when she suggests to question the class to see if anyone thought about their topic in a different way or began to “drop” ideas because it was just too annyoying or difficult to write them. it got me thinking about the way texts have been created over time, especially in ancient Greece. I’m not sure exactly how they composed their work or the range of materials they worked with,  but it is interesting to think about what sorts of works never made it to text because of the seemingly insignificant fact that it was too irritating to literally write them. When I went to Greece last summer, there were many writings carved into the walls of the sites. They looked so tiny and intricate, but a real pain to physically convey them.   

Hi,

My name is Audrey H.  The purpose of this blog is to satisfy the requirement set forth by Dr. Rhodes for Eng 658.  I consider myself adequately literate in terms of computer technology such as using programs like Microsoft Word and excel. I occasionally text to friends and family and know my way around the internet. As far as visual/web design, I don’t know all that much.

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