Blog Post #1 Topic Interests
One topic of interest I would like to explore is the prevalence of misinformation. What elements need to be in place in order for the rhetoric of misinformation to be effective? Our society has set up technology to operate in echo chambers, which become breading grounds for fake news, AI-generated content used for deception, and conspiracy theories that validate misinformation rather than contradict it. What are things that can be done to rectify this?
Another topic that could be possible is the digitalization of traditional craft communities. How are these communities maintained even when people don't meet in person? How is modern crafting different from traditional crafting? What is the importance of maintaining these communities?
Hi Aleesha, stopping misinformation is difficult because it can lead to further surveillance/control. I think recently some social media platforms have added community notes, which can act as a way to prevent or inhibit misinformation, but these features can only do so much. I think researching how framing works in the context of technical communication could be interesting for you. The way people frame messages through language can ultimately create misinformation even if there was no attempt to do so. I wonder how much influence crafting communities have on a crafter's creativity. I wonder if these digital communities can create a creative echo chamber through certain trends or ideas.
ReplyDeleteHi Aleesha, I love your second topic idea. If you want to merge the two topics, I have seen so much discourse surrounding the website Hobbii using AI to create knitting and crochet patterns, take product photos, etc. I think it's also interesting that many of these hobbies were passed down through generations, and now we can learn anything we want on YouTube. I wonder if this changes how we view these crafts and if it keeps them "alive" longer. Both topics are great, and I'm interested to see which you go with.
ReplyDeleteHi Aleesha,
ReplyDeleteI also like your second topic more -- it is a bit more focused than the first one and has great potential for a more situated and/or context-based proposal. Madisyn's thought of a Hobbii piqued my interest. Let me know if you need to schedule a quick Zoom chat -- am here. :)
Dr. B