1. In chapter 14 of DuBois’s “The Soul of Black Folk”, he speaks of the “ sorrow songs’ that were previously sung by slaves. These songs were an expression of the agony they had to endure by their slave masters. Although these songs that they sang were mournful they had a positive effect on the African Americans that were slaves. These songs were also used to uplift one another through the dark times of slavery and create the strength to move on. The reason why the ”Sorrows Songs” are so significant to African American culture is that it is a piece of art that symbolizes what black people went through and a vital part of how they got through it. The songs also represent how strong African Americans were even when they were constantly abused.

2. The song that I found most compelling was “Roll Jordan Roll”.This song doesn’t say too much lyrically but it displays a melancholily but hopeful sound. It shows the spiritual strength that slaves used to stay strong in the horrible conditions they were in. I also discovered that the song was a secrete message to escape from their captures. The intelligence the slaves had, to use music as a way to possibly remove themselves from the plantations is amazing. They were not given education but yet they tried to find ways to end their suffering.

Damon asks” But might it [the marginal-the rejected-the repressed] not be a key to alternate approaches to art, to society-to power itself?’ Krukowski is trying to convey that maybe the overlooked and undervalued are vital to the discovery of different types of art. For years humans constantly push aside certain things due to the technological advancement of others. But what if people gave more attention to the traditional way of doing things? Maybe it can be an outlet for those trying to discover something that is in the minority rather than the majority. 

Music has the ability to demonstrate the deviations of the disparaged and the powerful. Krukowski conveys that big corporations such as Apple Music and Spotify heavily dictate what is played. This is due to the computer algorithms these companies input to manipulate what you hear. It is a prime example of the powerful using its resources to dominate and control what is used in society. Krukowski suggested that we can avoid these controlling algorithms by walking into a bookstore. But sadly in this day and age where big corporations have the technology to list millions of shelves of musicians in an instant, traditional bookstores cant compete. This displays how music can point out the differences between the powerful (big corporations) and the marginalized (book stores).

Through time technology has changed exponentially with visually and auditory changes. The way movies are shown and the way music sounds heavily in contrast to how they did before. While most of society has come to accept and enjoy these new advancements of sound in our new world,  Kruskowksi has found some cons with the way sound is presented today. The ideas that Kruskowksi discusses in the episode talking about how the technological advancements of sound have replaced the intimate familiarities of different sounds for performance value. Damon does an excellent job emphasizing the reciprocity of digital and traditional sounds. This can be heard in episode 2 of The Ways of Hearing podcast. Damon states “But does all of that voice make it through that transmission not just the part with the words but the part that came before that. The part that expresses more than we can say because if it doesn’t are we really saying all that we mean”.Damon suggests that the way digital sound is produced today snatches the meaning of how we say things. It’s as if talking through a  modern sound system lacks the emotion of what we’re trying to say. Nowadays technological innovation ranks higher than anything else.

2. Jennifer Allen speaks about a good feeling that comes about at certain times. At first, she didn’t know what to call it but in time she made a name for it. Allen called it A.S.M.R, Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. This sensation gained lots of popularity over time and many people have made Youtube videos on it. I find it interesting how a certain sound can make a human physically feel a certain way. It’s fascinating how in this era we have discovered a way to give people a euphoric feeling just by making certain noises. The capability of easing people’s stress levels will be very helpful in society.

As humans, we tend to isolate ourselves from each other. It is something we occasionally do, even if some of us have outgoing personalities. There is much reason why we may do this whether it’s to avoid attention or to stay out of the trouble, we tend to keep to ourselves. This attitude can be prominently be seen in New York City. In New York, we have public transportation called the MTA. On the MTA you can get to almost anywhere in the city. You will see many things on the MTA such as dancers, singers,  and homeless individuals. But one thing you will always see is the isolation people have from the rest of the city. Krukowski’s ideas about the use of earbuds are spot-on. David states that “In Tokyo, people pretend to go to sleep to avoid eye contact but here with all these headphones it’s like we’re avoiding ear contact.” This goes to show how people dont want to communicate with each other. It as if we’re all in our own little private space that we do not want to leave. You will most likely see 90% percent of the people on the bus or train with headphones on. It is highly unlikely that you will see people conversing with each other unless it’s a group of friends. Krukwoki’s idea does line up with my own experiences because I do these things as well. I put on my headphones to get away from the world and to stay out of trouble. Whether I’m watching a movie or listening to music I feel like I’m in my own comfy bubble.

I concur with Berger’s theory about how the use of certain photographs was meant to appeal to white viewers because it helps demonstrate how white people have tried to maintain the power and supremacy they have had over black individuals throughout history.

1.The images influence consumers by showing the illusion that by buying this object will change your life from what it is. This also applies to the relationships you have with people. The idea is that if this possession is obtained will make you seem different from others as well. The reason that this is significant is because of the direct correlation to how important it is for people to have glamour. John Berger states that those who do not have glamour become nonexistent. Advertisers understand the need people in society have to be seen or acknowledged.

2.The reason that oil painting and advertising images are different because one has a financial agenda while the other has an egotistical one. The paintings show what the person has already. The paintings were basically a mirror or reminder of they’re wealth. However, the images show that if you have “this” you will be worth more. The image preys on the fear that people have of them not being enticing. It implies that the consumer is worthy or good enough if they have the product advertised. Ultimately the difference between the oil painting and the image reveals that the production of advertisements is for economic gain.

3.One of the dreams John Berger discusses is the “Dream of Later Tonight”.The consumer is suggested that he or she will be the life of the party if they buy the possession. The use of imagery that the advertisers use is the people surrounding the buyer of the said product seem happy. An example that John shows is an advertisement for cigarettes. The man holding the product illustrates the joy everyone has with him for obtaining it. The image appeals to the dream of making everyone happy and being the center of attention. Even though we as people know this dream is ultimately unattainable.

Do representations of women today objectify them in the same or similar ways as what Berger argues about women depicted in Renaissance paintings?

It isn’t a mystery that women across the world constantly get objectified. In the video ‘Ways of seeing’ John Berger goes back nearly a century to discuss how women were previously objectified. John states that women were viewed as exhibits to be looked at, in nude European paintings. Though in European society it was not viewed as objectifying, it was seen as art. The objectification of women in modern times shows similarities to how women were objectified in the paintings. An example of this can be seen at a well-known restaurant called hooters, where the female’s servers are in skimpy clothing. The women are meant to be displayed for viewing pleasure just like the paintings John talks about.

Do women have control over their images in the media or are they still determined by the male gaze?

Most can agree that throughout history the media has played a big part in how women present themselves. John states that in the paintings women had to look a certain way for them to be valued or considered beautiful. Although the issue of women having to appeal to the media image still exists, it is becoming less important. Fortunately, it is becoming widely popular for women to love their bodies the way they are. Women of all shapes and sizes are starting to have dominion over there appearance.

Does sexuality play the same role in images of women today as what Berger describes? 

As a kid, I never understood why if I was watching a certain show or commercial the women shown were oversexualized. John talks about how women were sexually displayed for male pleasure. In the painting, he points out the suggestive looks the women give the viewer and the seductive positioning of their bodies. John explains that these paintings were specifically designed to attract the likes of men. The sexuality of women in this era is used to do the same thing. But instead of paintings, they’re used in movies, music videos, and even video games. The entertainment industry is aware of how the male audience is attracted to women’s sexuality.