Final Reflections: Alec Hammond

My self-directed learning
By choosing what and where to research, I gained a far more wholistic perspective of history. I was able to focus more on cause-effect relationships. Initially, like many of my peers, I was more interested in filling the requirements of my assignment than taking advantage of this unfamiliar freedom. I began by examining woodcuts and paintings at the MOA, reading primary sources, and looking at old maps.

As we shared our findings in our cohorts, however, I realized that the things that interested me were often the things that interested my peers on a more personal level. Tommy, for example, often talked about the power of nations during the Renaissance and Enlightenment, and would compare that power with the power corporations hold today. I decided to better use my time by exploring things that would resonate with me personally.

I revisited the MOA, spending time viewing one of my favorite artists: Norman Rockwell. Except this time, I paid closer attention to how he portrayed major global events. I got lucky and was able to follow some curators who were giving "private" tours to museum donors. I began watching documentaries on the space race, globalization, and today's digital era, all from different countries. It was interesting to see common themes emerge in different forms.

As I began making my learning more personal, I felt more invested and started connecting events from earlier periods to today. Essentially, it was this new lens through which I viewed history that helped sparked my interest in the relationship between tolerance and radicalism.

My evolving project
I found that by developing my topic in a group environment and socially proofing it along the way, I could refine it more easily. Driven by both my personal research and personal experiences, I wanted to know whether tolerance could actually promote radicalism. Ironically, the very issue I was exploring initially inhibited me from sharing my views through social media.

Thankfully, my group members were supportive, and Michael encouraged me to share my ideas. I received "social proof" from friends and family members who both agreed and disagreed with my claim. Through this exercise, I came to understand the power of a personal angle.

Integrating my topic into our "hub" project wasn't difficult at all. Chloe, Michael, and I were able to connect our ideas fairly quickly. Establishing a format, however, proved to be the most difficult issue. We tried a variety of visual techniques using animations and GIF's. There were no predetermined criteria, so we found ourselves experimenting after every iteration. Several other group videos were more personal and seemed to hold more weight.We too decided to feature a more personal look and filmed each of us in our final project.

Communication and history
Society describes the interactions and relationships between people. History is simply a record of these interactions from a given point of view. As such, the way society interacts and is recorded depends entirely upon the forms of communication available.

With new communication mediums come developments in both society and its history. Before the Gutenberg press, for example, society was dependent upon the few who could read. Precious information like trade routes, ancient Greek history, and even the Bible, was usually shared orally by this elite minority. After the press was developed, however, information began spreading at an unprecedented rate. Even more surprising, literacy improved. Society literally began to adapt to this new communication platform.

By studying the effects of the Gutenberg press on Renaissance society, I now understand that our own society has the potential of undergoing a "Gutenberg Revolution". The internet has made possible several new communication platforms, like social media, that essentially eliminate the feedback gap between individuals.

This new environment is redefining our social structure as we speak. We no longer have to rely on the "clerics" of the Dark Ages (professionals and specialists) to receive information. Crowdsourced projects backed by amateurs are putting valuable information into everyone's hands for free.

Giving everyone voice, however, also changes the way history is and was recorded. Now anyone can redefine exactly what happened at Jesus's birth with the click of a button. Current events are covered by so many sources and angles, its hard to get the "real" story. In short, both history and society will forever evolve as new forms of communication develop.

Our Digital Society Needs One Thing

We live in a society dominated and powered by digital communication. Indeed, we are part of a Digital Society, one composed of powerful voices, each proselyting diametric views. There are many ignored voices that deserve and need to be heard.

These voices can only be heard if change happens. Our Digital Society has the potential to spur change or inhibit change, based on the way each of us decides to act. We need to be aware of the way we use digital media so that we can understand where we might better society through our use of technology.

Here are three ignored voices that you need to hear: 

1. Change in the integration of technology in the learning process;
2. Change in the toleration of radicalism online; and 
3. Change in the media's perception of women.

Tolerating Today's Tolerance

While tolerance serves to combat radicalism, tolerance can fuel radical ideas as well. Today's social climate indicates that we must rethink the way we utilize social media, in order to preserve a truly tolerant environment.

Tolerating Today's Tolerance (V2)

While tolerance serves to combat radicalism, tolerance can also fuel radicalism. Today's social climate indicates that we must rethink the way we utilize social media.

Changing to Fit Our Digital Society

The Digital Society in which we live in has the potential to spur change or inhibit change. Change can happen, but currently, it is not. 

Michael feels passionately that we need to use technology to change the way women are viewed globally.

Chloe is advocating for older generations to educate themselves in order to teach their students and children to maturely use the technology available to them.

Alec believes there is a fine line between tolerance and radicalism that we must reach in order to effectively inspire change.

How do you feel about the rate of change in our Digital Society today?

On the Other Side

Hanging chads: a personification of the many
challenges America's democracy faces.

I'm a democrat, registered in the state of California. My wife, however, is a registered republican here in Utah. I felt bold and attended our corresponding republican caucus with my wife. This was my first caucus, and as such, I was surprised by several observations:

Digital Society E/Affects: Womanhood, Education, and Tolerance

Our digital society is made up of many parts, similar to a pie. Technology doesn’t just include social networking and funny YouTube videos, that is just the cherry on top. The real meat of it includes politics, education, co-collaboration, and overall social progress. We have chosen three parts of this pie that we feel passionate about and want to share with you in our short group video.

Tolerating Tolerance: A Video Claim

I've embedded below my video claim regarding the link I'm exploring between tolerance and radicalism:

I initially planned on sharing it via Facebook, but I ran into a rather interesting dilemma: my claim can seem rather prejudiced if not fully developed or explained. Ironically, the very idea that overly tolerant social media platforms fuel radicalism prevents itself from being circulated on these channels.

I may seem like I'm overreacting, but I can honestly see several "friends" lashing out against my claim. I realized that I was so concerned about political correctness and didn't want to appear as a bigot, that I wasn't willing to post my idea online.

Hopefully I'm not the only one that sees the irony here.

Anyways, I shared my claim with old roommates, my family, and coworkers. That way, nothing could be taken out of context. I'm still waiting on replies, and will update my post with feedback.

Tolerating Tolerance

I am experimenting with certain online animation apps to express my growing understanding between tolerance and radicalism. I've iterated several times already, relying mainly on text-based formats.

My new video format, while more interactive, is also incomplete. It requires a lot more time to compile. I'm hoping that future iterations will develop both my story and the actual video.

Future Goals:

• Incorporate more of the digital literacy aspect
• Experiment with voiceover and audio tracks
• Experiment with new forms of animation (colors, characters, objects, etc)

Project Log: Alec Hammond

My name is Alec Hammond. I'll be using this log to record my progress on both the group project and my individual project.

Tolerating the Wrong Kind of Tolerance

Communication constraints have always limited the potential of civilization. We generally view new forms of communication as an opportunity for society to evolve and improve. Today's social media platforms, however, are increasingly minimizing the feedback loop between people, cultures, and even ideas. "Radical" ideologies today seem to grab traction more than ever before, relying on the fact that universal tolerance is not just expected, but required.

After several years of internal debate, I finally formalize my struggle in the form of one question: while tolerance prevents prejudice and hate, does it also promote radicalism and, consequently, prejudice?

Tolerating Today's Communication Standard

I've explored the (possible) connection between radicalism and today's higher standard for tolerance. Today's ubiquitous communication mediums warn of prejudice and hate like never before. Facebook, blogs, online forums, podcasts, and other social media sites provide a personal and persuasive platform that previous generations never enjoyed.

These new tools provide an equally opportune environment for radicals who want to defend their beliefs, however drastic they may be. With the condition that tolerance is observed, society tends to turn a blind eye toward the radical.

While these communication platforms dramatically increase general awareness, they blur the already fuzzy line between tolerance and appeasement. Society is increasingly "tolerant" of behaviors and ideologies that were previously deemed immoral or even illegal. The fear of bigotry and prejudice inhibits courage to stand up for what's right.

Does Tolerance Promote Radicalism?

"My name is Alec Hammond, and I'm concerned about the abuse of tolerance through technology and digital communication. Perhaps you should be concerned too."