6.7: Electronic Strategies

Email and Messaging

Email or instant messaging can be used as part of this planning and reflecting. I have even used my Facebook wall in this way. The exchange that follows was prompted by a document I wrote while just playing around with ideas. I wrote my 1400 word essay because I thought my sister and sister-in-law would find it amusing, and I am aware that
other people in my field have presented conference papers that link science fiction or fantasy programs to theoretical concepts. You might try to pair one of your own favorite programs to theories from psychology, sociology, or from your major area of study for one of your papers, if your instructor allows you to develop your own topics for class papers.

Susan Antlitz

Wrote 1400+ words on the spiritual aspects of technology
in Torchwood and Doctor Who yesterday
evening. Starting a new status here for comments
from the readers. I must say that I really enjoyed exploring
the theme of the interplay between technology
and humanity.

Laurel Antltiz at 11:09am April 21

I read the whole paper and it is very inspirational

Susan Antlitz at 12:26pm April 21

Tell me more about how it inspired you. I want to
develop it some more and maybe turn it into something.

Laurel Antltiz at 1:00pm April 21

Let’s see what inspired me. I need to think about this
some then I will give you an answer

Laurel Antltiz at 3:15pm April 21

I have thought and thought about this. I like the way
that you described each show and the technology that
goes into what each character portrays. I am also inspired
by the fact that you outline certain show in
detail and especially the characters role in each show

Debbie Antlitz at 5:30pm April 21

My feeling on RTDs stuff is he is never talking so
much about what the technology makes us do or not.
And in many instances it is not the *technilogy* but
the concept behind the technology which is just a
carrier (a magic potion would fit the same bill if he
were writing Harry Potter). For example, Cybermen
are not about ear buds, but about emotionless conformity.

The bliss patch that killed the senate in [the episode
Gridlock] was not about drug abuse, but about
mood-motivation detached from a community sense.
The general gist of RTD is that humans are/should
be responsible for their own actions—never say the
technology, or the Devil, or the Doctor made you do
it . . .

Susan Antlitz at 5:34pm April 21

well, what you said is pretty much what I was saying.
The technology brings the human tendencies to the
surface and amplifies them.

Susan Antlitz at 5:35pm April 21

it doesn’t cause them, but rather creates the occasion.

Debbie Antlitz at 5:44pm April 21

Yeah, but the technology is also a distraction. It’s like
writing a thesis on “uses of muscle mass in Spirit Stallion
of the Cimeron”

Laurel Antltiz at 5:45pm April 21

True the technology does bring the human tendencies
to the surface but it also shows how each character
is portrayed in their role

Susan Antlitz at 6:04pm April 21

But I think I am most interested, as I said earlier,
in how shows, as a technology in themselves, present
ways of thinking and imagining the human. I’d
probably be most interested in the cohesion and disintegration
of group identity and identification.

Laurel Antltiz at 6:05pm April 21

write about group identity and identification of technology
in shows.

Susan Antlitz at 9:18am April 22

The group dynamics are interesting.

Debbie Antlitz at 6:33pm April 24

Like at the end of Journey’s End you have a very happy
and dynamic family group bringing the Earth Home.
Then they peel off one by one leaving him alone,
like the whole group was “about” him but not about
“him” Except for the one with Wilfred at the end. At
the end, community comes down to the resonance of
the person.

I began with the idea about the way the technology relates to humanity, but by the end of the Facebook thread, I realized what I was really interested in was the social dynamics among the characters. Exchanges like this can happen through message boards, Instant Messenger, text messages, email, Twitter, or other social networking tools.

When I was a graduate student, I used to use instant messaging to talk with one of my friends from my undergraduate years after she had moved away to Tennessee. I would message her about my work, and we would chat about it online. In addition to the feedback, it really helped me to put my plans into words. Usually, by the time I had finished explaining to her what I was writing, I had a much clearer idea about it. I find I can get a lot more done than I think I can by taking a little time to explain to myself or someone else, in writing, where I am at with my work. Usually, in the process of explaining it, the next idea or next step will occur to me, and then I can move forward with the writing.

Another strategy I use is to send my notes to myself on email. I will write just a short paragraph or so of the ideas I have so far, and hit send. Then, later when I’ve had more time to think about my project, I’ll reply to my message with additional notes and ideas, and I’ll do that several times over the course of a few days. The paper begins to emerge from my collection of notes and reflections. It’s kind of like a journal, only it’s on email.

Using PowerPoint as an Invention Space

Presentation software such as PowerPoint can also be used as a space for invention. If you find you have a vague idea of what to write about, or if you have many ideas but aren’t sure how to bring them together into enough focus for a rough draft, creating a slide show presentation of your ideas may help.

• Put each main idea as a heading on a slide
• List your thoughts about each point, using more than one slide per point when needed.
• Add images, audio, or video when these capture an idea you haven’t yet put into words but want to eventually address in your rough draft.
• Add Web links to your slides if there is online content you think you may want to eventually cite within your document. Since school libraries often provide students with free access to full-text databases for professional journals and other periodicals, you are likely to find that a good many of your sources can be linked to. This way, you will be able to find them quickly when you need to.
• If you aren’t sure what order to put the points in, or which points should be main or sub-points, that’s okay for now. PowerPoint makes it easy to reorder slides and move the content around later.
• While not directly related to the content of your writing, choosing a slide design template or color scheme can make your presentation-draft look more visually appealing and help to reinforce a certain tone or mood while you are generating your ideas and sense of direction.
• Making your ideas literally look good on the screen may help to boost confidence for anxious writers or provide a welcome change from the typical black text on a white screen.
• While the traditional background and text color will be required in the final draft that you turn in to your instructor (unless your assignment guidelines specify otherwise), your behind-scenes invention work can be much more flexible.

PowerPoint or other software designed for presentation has potential as an invention tool because it helps us to work with the overall points or ideas in a text rather than becoming focused on the minute details. If you haven’t used PowerPoint before, or if you are unfamiliar with some of its features, there are several free tutorial videos available on YouTube.