TWEET GOES BIG!!

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/technologynews/view/1012972/1/.html

In the article, it writes about that the major search engines namely Microsoft and Google are incorporating twitter into their search system.

I feel that this is one step taken forward in the advancement of New Communication Technology (NCT). This is because Twitter (one form of NCT) is a free social networking site in which one can update their current status through short messages, also known as a tweet. This shows that the new communication sites are becoming increasingly significant among the people up till the point when even search engines are realizing the potentially large amount of information that these sites possess. From the article, we also know that the next target of these giant search engines is another popular networking site, Facebook. Thus, from the incorporating of the status updates onto the search system, we know how NCT has evolved from the various common networking sites into a vastly large avenue for information.

Lastly, since this is the last part of the last post, I just want to give my opinion on which media theory is relevant to us while doing this blog. I feel that it is the limited effects theory as we as audience, are able to resist media messages by turning off the television or not buying the newspaper. However, we still consume media products according to our own needs and due to circumstances such as the COMPULSORY blog post, in which we have to find media products to analyze with the various communication techniques that we have learnt. =D

black AND white

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/World/Story/STIStory_443387.html

In this article, a mixed couple, Beth Humphrey, who is white, and Terence Mckay, who is black, could not marry each other after a Louisiana justice of the peace, Keith Bardwell, refused to issue a marriage license. The reason he gave for not marrying the couple was that he was worried for the future of their children should they get married.

I feel that this is a form of attitudinal barrier to intercultural communication.

This is because of the prejudice Bardwell, who is white, has towards the black community. The black community in America has long been stigmatized as the trouble makers of the society especially due to the high crime rates in areas which the black communities congregate. This has led to Americans stereotyping the blacks being more violent and less educated. Several decades or in fact, the whole American history of having a white president has also led to a belief of ethnocentrism that the whites are more superior as compared to the blacks.

However, we know that the current American president, Mr Barack Obama, is a black and him being able to win the elections based on votes from the citizens, shows the acceptance of a black leader among the dominantly white community. Also, on the top of the list of Forbes 2008 richest celebrity couples are the black couple Beyonce and Jay-Z, who collectively earn US$162 million. In fact, coming in second on the list was also another black couple Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, who collectively earn US$85million. The presence of prominent black figures in the American society shows that they are becoming less of a negative externality.

Therefore, I feel that Bardwell should see past outer differences and accept that blacks are also able to support themselves in the current society.

decision-making time!

This week was all about the GROUP!

What better media text to represent this statement better than the reality show, SURVIVOR! (In particular, the latest season SURVIVOR: SAMOA)

Well, unless you have been living high up in the mountains and deep in the sea, you would know that Survivor is a reality game show where 16-20 strangers are divided into 2 groups (a.k.a tribes) and have to live together on different parts of a remote island for different durations ranging from 1day to 39days. In between are reward and immunity challenges, which can help in improving the living conditions of their campsite and also, determine the number of members remaining on the tribe. This is because the losing tribe in the immunity challenge has to vote off one member from their tribe. The sole survivor standing will receive one million dollars!

This season, however, had a twist.

In the first episode, as seen from the video, instead of the different tribes heading towards their campsites, the tribe members, having just met each other for less than a few hours with little social interaction, have to elect a leader. This leader will make important decisions in which they feel is best for the tribe. Thus, the groups have to vote, solely based on first impressions and perception. This shows that the group is needed to make complex decisions. However in this case, the decision was made based on the majority of the votes and not through discussion and thus, the leader that they elect, may be ideal in terms of looks but not actions, which can be risky.

At last! There leaders were elected, Russell for the Galu tribe (purple) and Nick for the Foa Foa tribe (yellow).

But wait, there’s more.

They now have to make individual decision to select people from their tribe, for the first challenge, who fits with the various attributes that the host listed such as, “Who do you think is the best swimmer” and “Who do you think is the smartest”. Places for strength and stamina were given to the physically stronger and younger males while agility and knowledge were given to smaller females. However, this is solely based on perception, or even stereotype, in which we group attributes of certain people with certain roles.

Therefore, I view the challenge as a way of seeing whether the judgment made by the leaders were right. It is through the actions, for example, the seemingly strong man being able to move a heavy object, or the ‘agile’ woman able to scale a narrow platform with ease, which ascertains the that first impressions may be right.

I feel that though initial impression is important in deciding different roles in a new group, one has to prove his or herself through actions and fulfilling the requirement of that role.

And personally, I support the GALU TRIBE!!! LONG LIVE GALU!!

it takes two to clap

Like any other dating couple, Peter Khiew and Sally Khoo finally tied the knot on 3rd October 2009, after six years of dating. But, “Who are they?” you might ask. Well, they are unlike the glamour couple Christopher Lee and Fann Wong, but your usual everyday couple who decided to get married (which is also Stage 5 –the bonding stage- of Knapp’s model of relational development) and live the rest of their lives together.

Think it is that easy getting your life partner? Think again.

This article, taken from The Sunday Times dated 4th October 2009, was more than just about two people marrying. It touches on the point of competency between the two parties in a relationship and also, that even with two willing parties in a relationship, both parties may be on different stages according to Knapp Model of relational development despite knowing each other for quite some time.

Firstly, the financial and the social status competency of the two parties greatly differed when they first met at a karaoke session organized for singles in 2003. Peter was a Karung Guni (Rag-and-bone) man then, earning approximately $1,500 whereas Sally was a childcare centre principal whose pay was doubled of his. While many women would wince at the thought of having a partner whose pay was lesser, Sally did not mind. Furthermore, the job of a Karung Guni man, I am sure, is not a job most woman want their partner to have. This showed that there are exceptions in which people do form relationship with others who are less competent than they are. Despite both parties readily accepting each other, there was external pressure from Sally’s family as they felt that he was out to cheat her due to their different financial income. However, after meetings with both families, this uncertainty gradually disappeared.

After two years of dating, Peter was ready to settle down but Sally was not. This showed that Peter was already at the 5th stage –the bonding stage of Knapp’s model of relational development, ready for marriage, whereas Sally was still at the 4th stage –the integrating stage, only ready to admit to others that they are a couple. This shows that despite being a dating couple for two years, their attitude towards marriage does not coincide, which may sometimes, hurt a relationship.

Despite the rejection from Sally, Peter persevered for another four years and in the end, won her over with his acts of kindness. Since then, he has also found a full-time job as a purchaser for a local environmental management company.

After reading this article, I feel that seeing beyond looks and wealth is sometimes more important than focusing on these aspects when looking for a life-time partner. This is because many other aspects like the character can really decide if the person is the right one for you! And of course, a willing party to make the relationship a functional one. =D

Finally, I just want to wish this couple best wishes for the future, and hopefully continue to practise management skills in their relationship. (Or SUFFER THE FATE OF DISENGAGEMENT >.<)