{"id":558,"date":"2011-07-28T11:12:10","date_gmt":"2011-07-28T15:12:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/niftyc\/?p=558"},"modified":"2011-07-29T22:56:00","modified_gmt":"2011-07-30T02:56:00","slug":"avoiding-new-media-impossible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/niftyc\/archives\/558","title":{"rendered":"Avoiding New Media: Impossible?"},"content":{"rendered":"

(or: Are Media Fast Assignments Inherently Dishonest?<\/strong><\/em>)<\/p>\n

I just received a fascinating comment in my teaching evaluations from last year. \u00a0On the back of the eval form there is a free-response section where people are invited to make constructive suggestions about the course. \u00a0The results are usually fascinating, but in a bad way<\/strong>. Or in a puzzling way.<\/p>\n

For example, one student in a previous class complained extensively about the discussion sections in a course that didn’t have any. I’ve also been propositioned in Korean.<\/strong> There are compliments, yes, and insults. \u00a0But this particular comment I received made me pause.<\/p>\n

In the course I teach at the University of Illinois titled, Communication Technology and Society<\/a>, one of my assignments is a new media fast. Basically it is 24 hours without “new” media<\/strong>, with a short reflection on it followed by an in-class discussion about what happened. This was accompanied by readings about the Amish, the Luddites, and the Appropriate Technology<\/a> movement.<\/p>\n

Media fasts have been a part of media studies courses forever<\/strong>, but I gave this assignment because I was particularly influenced by David Silver’s attempts to teach media by getting away from them<\/a>. \u00a0(I also got my definition of “new media” from\u00a0this other fast assignment<\/a>\u00a0I found online.) \u00a0I’ve attached the full text of my assignment at the end of this post.<\/p>\n

Here’s the anonymous comment I received that made me pause (slightly paraphrased):<\/p>\n

Requiring a media fast is inherently dishonest. It is impossible for anyone to be away from media for this long, or at least it is so much easier to lie than to complete the assignment that you’ve done nothing more than incite dishonesty… among 100% of the class.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

At the time, I thought some of the responses to the fast were interesting, even insightful.<\/p>\n

One student noted that they had to ask everyone the time all day because the only clock they own is a Blackberry<\/strong>. Another student wrote “I feel like I’m being punished for something.”<\/p>\n

Someone decided to define the microwave and dishwasher as “new media”<\/strong> and voluntarily fasted from using them as well.<\/p>\n

A student had previously fasted for religion and compared the two experiences of doing without: they concluded that doing without media is harder than doing without food<\/strong>. \u00a0(I’m sure a longer fast would reverse the situation though.)<\/p>\n

Now I’m going over these in my head and thinking… are all of these lies<\/em>? \u00a0How many of these responses are fabricated? It’s true, it would be much<\/strong><\/em> easier to simply make up the response than to actually complete the fast. Is this assignment worth giving?<\/p>\n

It may be that for the U.S. college student avoiding new media is functionally impossible<\/strong>… or at least unlikely to ever work as an assignment.<\/p>\n

________________________<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASSIGNMENT: New Media Fast<\/strong><\/big><\/p>\n

Part I: Select your fast time.<\/strong>\u00a0The word “fast” used in this context means “to abstain.” Choose a time frame between now and this assignment’s due date when you will be able to spend 24 consecutive hours without new media.\u00a0State the time period that you chose.<\/strong>\u00a0Be sure that the time period requires\u00a0some\u00a0<\/em>adjustment to your lifestyle, but it should not make you lose your job or harm your work in another class. For instance, you might choose one evening and the following morning so that you are not offline for an entire day. (No fair choosing 24 hours when you would\u00a0already\u00a0<\/em>not be using new media.)<\/p>\n

Part II: Fast<\/strong>. For the purpose of this assignment, new media technology is being defined as\u00a0anything that has become common among consumers since 1980<\/strong>. During your “new media fast,” do not use these technologies. Keep notes (with paper!) about the adjustments that you needed to make in order to stay honest to your fast.<\/p>\n

Part III: Reflect<\/strong>. After the end of your fast, write a blog post reflecting on this experience. Make specific reference to at least one quote or concept discussed in lecture on 3\/30 (on Technology Resistance) or in the C&T book, Ch. 5 or Ch. 6 in a way that demonstrates that you understand them. Please explain:<\/p>\n