Author Archives: Dennis Carrillo

Blog Post #8

According to Du Bois, one of the significances of the “Sorrow Songs” to African American history is that they represent their grief and how they were treated under slavery. On page 5, Du Bois states, “They are the music of an unhappy people, of the children of disappointment; they tell of death and suffering and unvoiced longing toward a truer world, of misty wanderings and hidden ways.” These sorrow songs allowed them to express how much they suffered and showed how they managed to stay strong and hopeful during a time where they were being abused. Du Bois also explains how these songs have been forgotten over time, but they should serve as a reminder of how African Americans coped with their mistreatment. The song that is most significant to me is My Lord What a Mornin’ sung by Harry Belafonte. The depressing melody and the lyrics perfectly express the pain the slaves went through and how they hoped that God would intervene.

Blog Post #7

In the Power episode of Ways of Hearing, Damon states that “the marginal-the rejected-the repressed-is whatever the powerful have decided is of no use at the moment.” He also asks “But might it not be a key to alternate approaches-to art, to society-to power itself?” What Damon is trying to say is that most modern entertainment industries have abandoned the old methods of distributing and listening to music. They moved to the internet and no longer rely on record stores and vinyls. Even some music genres are not as popular as they used to be. These days, companies have a lot of influence on us now that they have algorithms that keep track of what we listen to. This allows them to make recommendations in order to grab our attention. Damon describes how entering a record store felt like entering a different world because of the atmosphere they would create. The main difference here is that record stores don’t take your personal information in hopes of retaining your attention to them.

Blog Post #6

In the Love episode of Ways of Hearing, Damon argues that digital sound “impedes our perception of those sonic qualities that help us experience intimacy.” He states that with analog phones, “we could feel one other’s presence”. However, digital audio is compressed in order to have phones send smaller data packages. I agree with the fact that digital audio has interfered with background, however you can still experience intimacy when communicating with someone. Despite the lower quality, you can still tell and experience how someone feels based on their voice.
One interesting thing I found in the New York Times article “How A.S.M.R. Became a Sensation” is how these digital sounds can affect how a person feels. It helps people experience noise that usually goes unnoticed during daily life. The article even explains how these kinds of videos tend to satisfy people. Craig Richards states that “It could heighten a sexual moment, in a way the same way that massage oil can heighten a sexual moment.” A.S.M.R may not be for everyone, but it can please people with different preferences.

Blog Post #5

The podcast “Ways of Hearing” describes the way in which sound affects our life. About 5 minutes into the podcast, Jeremiah Moss states that “When I see people walking around with their screens, I see people who don’t want to be here. They are opting out of the street life of the city” They explain how people tend to create their own “private bubbles” by using headphones. These people are creating their own little world in order to ignore things around them. To me, this idea is relatable and logical because of my own use of headphones. Whenever I go out in public, I always bring my headphones with me. This helps me stay comfortable in public and also makes trips more exciting to me. Like most other people, I tend to ignore my surroundings and people in public. Sound makes it easier to do so. Krukowski’s idea explains that earbuds are a great way to drown out public noises. This idea relates to a lot of people as well, especially in the city. Manhattan can be home to a bunch of loud noises. Oftentimes you will see people with earbuds or noise cancelling headphones to help drown them out and create their private bubble.

Blog Post #3

According to Berger in “Ways of Seeing”, publicity influences its consumers by providing them the illusion of appearing richer. The consumer is given the feeling of being cooler and having glamour. By buying the product, they can have a sense of superiority over others. Berger argues that the oil painting displayed the owner enjoying life with what he already had while the publicity pictures “appeal to a way of life that we aspire to or think we aspire to.” These differences are important because the oil picture represents how people should be happy with what they have and who they are. The publicity pictures show a fantasy world, one with the desires of a consumer. One of the dreams Berger describes is referred to as “The dream of later tonight.” The imagery used in this dream can be used to manipulate customers using an atmosphere that they desire. Everyone is happy and after all is over, they too will remain satisfied.

Blog Post #2

In John Berger’s 1972 BBC video “Ways of Seeing,” Burger argues that women represented in Renaissance Paintings were made to satisfy and please men. 13 minutes into the video, Berger states, “They are there to feed an appetite, not to have any of their own.” I believe that this quote somewhat applies to modern women. When they post a photo to social media, they can customize it to fit their personality, or what they want other people to think. If they are looking for attention or already have an audience, they still might have to satisfy them. In the media, women can still be influenced by the male gaze. Most brands are aware of this as they may often use beautiful women in their advertisements to appeal to their audience.

Blog Post #1

1. According to Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein, writers should use the model of “entering the conversation” in their writing because it allows writers to format their views on a topic more clearly. By avoiding necessary questions and listening to the opposition, you can improve upon your writing skills and think more critically. This type of model allows you to participate in debates and present your argument more efficiently.

2. I agree with both videos because analyzing artwork allows you to improve your vision and your ability to interpret situations. When you closely analyze a piece of artwork, your perspective of it can change based on all the small details you pick up. This can improve your critical thinking and understanding of situations. Most of the skills you learn and improve upon from this can be used in the real world as well.