People Tweet Reaction

If I was to sum up Organizations Don't Tweet, People Do by Euan Semple in a statement, it would be: social media adds value. And it was a complete surprise to me, someone who only uses social media for personal use (to keep up with friends)

Social media adds value to conversation and knowledge sharing. Euan explains that people learn through collaboration and sharing what they know with others. This is the value that blogs and twitter add. If you blog or tweet or post your knowledge, you are adding value to and affirming it, not giving it away. This was one of the surprises to me. You always think of your knowledge as precious and the only thing that can differentiate yourself from others professionally and personally. Euan, however, argues that by sharing this information, you are showing others your expertise and calling for others to tell you more.

Social media also adds value to conversation when the blogger or poster or tweeter is good at it. By posting things people care about, asking good questions, and talking in their own voice, conversation and collaboration can happen. This is the part of social media that I have the hardest with. How do I know what people care about? What knowledge do I have to share with people? How do I find my own voice? I'm working on tweeting more, but as Euan points out, the internet is the place where success seems more obvious. Today, a friend told me she enjoyed something I tweeted, but she didn't respond to it online. When no one responds, am I still reaching people? Is someone seeing it without responding still success? Or, do I need to be more engaging? Euan responds that blogging and tweeting is about self-reflection and gathering thoughts first, and then sharing with followers second. But how do I decide what to write about? I spend time reflecting to myself, do I need to tell (potentially) the world? Will I really observe more, as Euan says?

I guess these questions are the reason why I'm taking this class.

Social media also adds value to relationships. Through the sharing of thoughts and knowledge, Euan claims that people can become closer friends over the internet than in real life. You can connect with people who you would never have met, and might have more in common with. By focusing on the quality of people who follow you or are friend with you, you can share with and talk to people who will engage with you and inspire you. I agree that the relationships being formed over the web should be given a new name. The space and context allows you to share some thoughts that you might not share with the people you call friends in real life. People who follow you might share their insight, or even funds to help you continue sharing. Euan says friends and followers are not the right terms for this commitment and connection. This is true, except in the instance where he described how he and his followers were all blogging about negative things at the same time, and successful companies project a positive message of themselves. The internet erases body language clues, but their is still tone in peoples' writings. The people reading this information pick up on this tone and either react oppositely or follow it and agree.

Another Copy Cat

This is another blog where I review other people's blogs and steal their ideas.

Everyone seems to have followed the same progression in their twitter-verse. They start a twitter to keep in touch with friend and families and possibly that kid in school you love to judge. Then they moved on to celebrities and news sources. Or, if you're like Lindsay and I, Uberffacts. I love checking my twitter really quickly when I'm with friends and telling them the random facts that pop up on my feed.

Once again, Emma's expertise shined. She included screenshots of her twitter to go along with her post. I just put pictures of cute animals. But, who doesn't love cute animals? Maybe I could do both?

What's more impressive to me, though, is that she has found her voice. When she writes, he posts are consistent and sound like they are coming from a specific person. I feel as if I haven't quite found that voice yet. And, as I'm trying to be more concise, I feel as if I'm having an even harder time.

The other blogs also reminded me to start putting my twitter in to lists. I tried last week and got bored halfway through

Maybe I should finish the job.

Also, I'd like to add my twitter feed to my blog. (Maybe if I write it down, I'll actually do it).

The Voice of Vaughn's post really resonated with me this week as well, in terms of his complaints about following news sources. He complained of the apparent "waste of tweet" that many news sources seem to have, as their use of the instantaneous and constant platform of twitter seems to be a bit too constant. I believe that it is important to keep reminding your follower that you're there, but as many of the other students point out, your follower often stops reading if you badger them.

118 and Counting

I started my twitter because my friend made me. She was and still is one of those twitter users who's figured it out and tweets often. She wanted me to get a twitter just so she "could tweet at me". She also created twitters for two of our other friends. Neither of them use it. I decided to try.

I got my twitter around the same time that I joined a sorority. I started out only following people in my sorority so that I could get to know them through their tweets and interact with them. I also followed my other friends here at Lehigh. My friends from back home don't have a twitter, they find that tumblr and Facebook are enough social media for them. 

Then, through recommendations for people to follow on twitter, I followed various Lehigh parody accounts and a couple of "Total sorority move"accounts. I also followed some celebrities. Ellen Degeneres was the first I followed. I also follow her on Stamped. I also followed Wanda Sykes and Taylor Swift. Ellen is the only one who tweets often.

Now, thanks to this class, I follow Lehigh Valley with Love and some news sources. I'm working on the rest of the lists recommended for the class.

I still mostly only follow my friends, and most of my tweets are still just interactions between the girl who made me make my twitter and I.

Inspiration from Others

I lied... This was a bit more than I expected.

When looking at the other blogs, I was constantly reminded of the difference in expertise that each of us have. This also happens to be my favorite thing about this assignment and the class in general. Some of the blogs (I would say I definitely fall under this category) were obviously started by beginners. I though I had mine completely customized because I selected my favorite from a list of default backgrounds and chose a font. This is just another lesson in the role social media can play in sharing information and inspiration. I now know what the possibilities are and I plan to copy some of my favorites.

There were people who added pictures and links to their posts. There were people who were using a personal blog, so they had all the categories of their posts in a list on the side. There were people who had links to all the other blogs on the side (definitely doing this... My RSS feed is confusing). There were people who had their twitter either linked on the page, or had their actual feed on the side. Some people, like Emma (see? I'm already learning) had it all.

I was also struck by how much shorter a lot the people's blog posts were than mine. And it wasn't because they had less to say. Perhaps I should work on being more concise, as this is a blog post and not an essay.

I've still got a lot to learn.

In terms of the other students opinions' on twitter and facebook, everyone seemed to have opinions, regardless of their level of experience. Twitter is a place for connecting with people on a more even playing field. People can interact with celebrities in a way they couldn't in the real world or on Facebook, which is something I didn't even think of. Facebook is more personal. Almost everyone worried about privacy on Facebook because of the personal nature of their posts. However, these same people loved the public aspect of Twitter.

I don't know what to post a picture of, but I'd like to post one to make this post more aesthetically pleasing, so here's a picture of something I like (customization and personalization):

Also, I'd like to highlight something I read in Stephanie's blog that I think is a great summarization of the ultimate potential for social media:

"More times than not, we, as consumers, see information as simply there for the taking. If we can shy away from the ‘what can you do for me’ and lean more toward ‘what can we accomplish together’ – from a producer AND consumer perspective – we can get one step closer to knowing it all."

Well said.

Facebook vs. Twitter

My experiences with Facebook and Twitter are extremely different. Facebook defines an "active" user as someone who signs on at least once a month, so I would probably call my self a super duper really active user. I am constantly checking my Facebook. I look at my news feed constantly and often have it in another tab while I'm doing other things so that I can see the (1) when I get a new notification on the tab. Twitter, on the other hand, I check maybe once a day. I forget sometimes and still haven't figured out how to do basic things. That being said, I do see the importance and merit of both.

Twitter is more immediate and constant. Like with Ted, you are able to post things often in order to create buzz. People aren't checking twitter all the time (well, let's face it, some people are), so Twitter allows you to consistently post things so that you are always present on their feed. Constantly reminding people of your presence will create more of a buzz as well.

Because of the list-like quality of twitter, it is also important as a business to be on twitter constantly so that you don't miss any consumer engagement opportunities. All of the companies on the article about thriving company twitters are so successful because they respond to their consumer and use twitter for customer service.

Also, the constant and immediate aspects of twitter are the reason why I wasn't surprised by the data about news organizations. People get news directly from news organization twitters because the information is timely and easy to access.

Facebook is more of a culmination of all the information you need. I can go to a page and see a store's hours, information, photos, posts, and everything else all in one place. On twitter, it's just a list of tweets. Facebook also has longer posts, so more information can be shared.

I think my main reason for not using Twitter much is because I don't have much updating to do. If I want my friends to know something about my life, I'll tell them. I also very rarely post status updates on Facebook because of this.

In terms of the articles, I have some thoughts about the ones talking about the "cons" of Facebook. They seem kind of nit-picky. Facebook is a social website intended for charing information. Everyone knows this when they sign up. If you use a "social reader", obviously this is going to be shared and social. If you can't be bothered to check a box that won't post it on your homepage, then you should at least not read anything you'd be embarrassed about. Also, the fact that one of the main reasons that Man Bartlett deleted his facebook was because he hated that his default email got changed without notice. Who cares? I don't get emails from Facebook because I'd rather just get my notifications from Facebook. Any one who needs my email has it, and if they don't they could contact me on Facebook to get it. Also, a topless woman is a topless woman. I understand that she was doing it for an important cause, but if Facebook bends the rules, then they will lose all authority in moderating actually inappropriate content. Facebook should learn how to be more interactive with their users in terms of warning them before taking action, but I think Bartlett's anger was a bit misguided.

Reaction to 'Every Social Media Manager Should Be Under 25'

 When I first read the article, I had a lot of thoughts and opinions. Most of them were covered in the response articles, but I'll repeat some. To put it plainly, this girl was mistaken. She generalizes too much about the two age groups (above 25 and under 25) to even have a basis for her argument.

She believes that everyone under 25 would be a good social media member because she assumes every one has grown up using it. Not true. I didn't get a twitter until last year. I just found out how to view when some one tweets at you last week, which was super embarrassing because I've missed a lot of tweets, including one which informed me I won a sweepstakes I'd entered. If I was running a twitter for a business more than I week ago, I might've missed important feedback. Granted, I would've found how out to look for it sooner if I was running as something as sensitive as a business twitter, but you get the point. A friend of mine didn't get a Facebook until the end of his Senior year of high school. I hardly call that growing up with social media. If anything, the older generation knows more about running a Facebook professionally because that's what they've always been using it for. They were part of the professional world when Facebook started, so they've been using it for that while we were just using it for tagging pictures and updating people about our lives. Cathryn Sloane argues that our social use makes us more knowledgable about social media, how does social translate to professional? We are constantly told to be aware of the difference between professionally and socially emailing, talking in an interview, and connecting with customers in business school, the same distinction is important to be made for social media. Social media is a marketing tool that's just as important to be experienced in as print, radio, television, etc. Practicing with someone there to correct your mistakes is the only way to learn to properly use this tool.

This being said, I don't agree with all the responses so aggressively attacking her. They immediately jump to defending their generation, claiming that experience is always better and 23-25 year-olds don't know how to run a business without messing it up. I don't think this is always true either. The managing director of the theatre I interned for over the summer was 26. She was one of the most competent, organized, and effective business owners I've ever had the pleasure of working for/knowing. She didn't need ten years of experience. She learned how to do her job better than her predecessors quickly and seamlessly. She wasn't in charge of the social media, but based on her press releases and other professional communications, she probably would've done an equally great job.

My major thought about this article, then, is that is perfectly demonstrates the power and necessity of social media. Cathryn's article is an example of the type of response that a social media post written by an author under 25 years old could cause. Many of the responses also point out her lack of professionalism  for not apologizing or responding. Whether or not this is due to her age and/or lack of experience isn't for me to say, but it is possible. If she were in charge of a business' social media accounts and refused to respond or post a retraction, she could destroy the business. The article displays social media's ability to inspire and provoke conversation. The article and the subsequent backlash reminds us that everything is sharable and so it is important to be careful what you share as a business.

Thoughts for 8/29 Class: Zoellner Facebook

ZOELLNER FACEBOOK TAKEOVER (I should pick a less hostile word.)
I think you were asked to run the Facebook right before the Katherine McPhee Gala. I say this because there is a change in terms of frequency of posts and content. Before, there would be one or two posts about the shows, with a quote from a review, or a link to a page. It was all very Lehigh-specific, meaning all the information was about the show at Lehigh, not the show. With the Katharine McPhee show, there's some info about her show at Zoellner, but there's also some really fun links related to her that are shared within a few days of each other. There's pictures of her from Smash, and an interview with her talking about how much she loves her job. The audience is getting a feel for who they're seeing and the type of tone her show will probably set. There's already been a bunch of fun stuff, like hairstyles and music for Rock of Ages, and the show hasn't even opened.

FACEBOOK LIKES
When I was an active administrator of the Spring on 4th page, getting likes was one of the hardest things. I needed people to see what I was posting, but how could I get that number to increase? The only ideas I have involve networking. I think the people in the class should ask their friends to like the page because some people go to shows there and "check-in", without also liking it. If they liked one show, they should find out about more, right? Also, connecting with other performing organizations on campus, like the choruses and groups who perform on the Zoellner stage. They all have their own following, but they're the type of people who'd like Zoellner too. Also, Zoellner's biggest audience demographic is non-Lehigh students. Connecting with local businesses and other performance arts venues will connect Zoellner with potential audience members from that community as well.

The Rise of the Creative Class Pt. 4 Reaction

This was the final part of Richard Florida’s Rise of the Creative Class, so I was left with thoughts about the part in particular and the book as a whole. This part was about how cities form and what attracts the more creative people to them. Through all his lists and statistics, Florida explained that towns with a creative environment attract more creative people. He describes that the towns need 3 things to attract and keep creative class people: technology, tolerance, and talent. As I’ve said in previous reactions to the previous parts, I really look forward to a move for all towns and cities to have these three things. And I know that Richard Florida is right about these things becoming a priority because I’ve seen it happen in my own city. In his list of different indexes, Florida cites Atlanta as one of the lesser-ranked cities, but I think that it has all three.

With my neighborhood specifically, I have seen it grow into the type of artistic community that will attract and retain creative minded people. Originally, it was a scary neighborhood to live in, with a high crime rate and not very nice neighbors. In the city of Atlanta where there was already technology, the neighborhood needed some more of the other two Ts to become was it is today. At some point, people of all types began moving in. This increase in tolerance led to an increase in creative people moving the neighborhood. They were the talent. These talented, tolerant people turned the community into the type of community the creative class wants. They started their own business in the center of the community. Instead of giant concert venues and movie screens, which Florida says is something people are beginning to turn away from, family-owned restaurants with a stage for local musicians to play on formed. The safer streets where people could leave their individual houses and run in to people that they know became the “quasi-anonymous” community that the new class of people looks for.

While Florida talks of this rise of a new class, he belittles the purpose of the other classes. Towards the end of this part, he even says that having a working or service class is a waste. He says that creativity shouldn’t be honored in one person served by a bunch of other people who don’t get to be creative. I disagree with this. Everyone needs help. If everyone is coming up with new ideas, how can we feel anything but overwhelmed? Products become popular and useful because they are special. Yes, one creative person comes up with this idea. But those serving them creatively come up with ways to help this idea become a reality. What more, those serving the creative people are learning. The fashion mogul’s assistant is learning about the world and business of fashion as he/she gets coffee and answers phone calls. The assistant stays at their job until they learn enough, gets a better job that is more demanding of their creativity, and someone replaces them.

In terms of the book as a whole, I found it to be a bit long. He uses four parts to basically say the same things, only varying in some further explanation or citing another source. There is a new class that is forming, a class of people who prefer being creative in life and their work to being practical and bored. They want to work and live with creative people and live and work in places that foster their creativity. This is the whole point of Florida’s book, summarized in a few sentences. 

Student Art Event

The line in front of the ticket booth wraps around the building. The building has posters up, advertising the event the students are all purchasing tickets for. The students all talk in excited, hushed tones. The players, meanwhile, warm up in preparation for the big game ahead of them. They are just as excited to show the students how their hard work has paid off as the students are to see it. The students all file in to the stadium, waving signs and pom poms to show their support for their fellow students and school. The seats are almost all filled. People with painted stomachs scream cheers for Lehigh and shout insults about Lafayette. Such was the atmosphere of the basketball game last weekend that Lehigh played against Lafayette. The game begins and the athletes play their best. The audience watches in anticipation, celebrating when the players score and groaning when the players miss. At the end, Lehigh wins, which ends in celebration amongst all the students, athletes, and adults.

This is not the scene at any of the theatre or other performance related events that I’ve been to, including the play I went to last semester and the Leela dance performance that I went to on Sunday, February 26. Both of these events involved student participation and were as full of as many triumphs as any sports game could be.

And yet, the scene at the dance performance wasn’t nearly the same as that of the basketball game. There was no line at the ticket booth because the event was free. There are no posters anywhere. In fact, there was no advertisement at all. There were no announcements in the daily emails, no posting on any calendar, and no flyers. I only knew about it because a few of my friends are members of the dance team.  I walk in to Lamberton, where the performance was supposed to be and wonder if I’m in the right place. There is a small cluster of people, most of which are the dancers, standing awkwardly in the back of the room. There is a table filled with Indian cuisine located to the right where a few other students are standing. This wasn’t just a random dance performance, it was supposed to be a showcase of Indian culture. And yet, most of the people there appear to be Indian themselves. As college students, we claim that our ultimate goal is to explore and learn about other people and cultures. Then how come more people attend American sports games than attend a showcase of a foreign culture?

And it’s not because the dancing was bad. The dance combined modern and old music with the traditional dances to appeal to a wide variety of audience while still maintaining the integrity of the dancing style. The dancers are all smiling students, obviously doing something they enjoy, as it is an extracurricular activity. The few audiences members there laugh when parts of the dance are meant to be funny, cheer when the dancers perform difficult moves, and cringe when one of the dancers’ long pants slide over her feet and she almost falls. The audience involvement isn’t as vocal, but it’s just as real as any sports team.

This dance event was only a brief preview of greater things to come. At the end of the performance, the dances come up to the audience and encourage them to attend Dance Fest, a dance showcase where all the dance groups will perform, including Leela. This show with no marketing is expected to market for a larger dance show that charges for tickets? I’m excited to see more at Dance Fest, but I’m a little worried about how the turn out will be. A few posters in Rauch (that I saw yesterday) and a preview with only 10 audience members don’t bode well for the future event.

The Rise of the Creative Class Pt. 3 Reaction

In Part 3 of The Rise of the Creative Class, Richard Florida described how the rise of a preference for more creative and engaging careers has led to an equal rise in a preference for more creative and engaging hobbies.

One of the things that really bothered me about this part was Florida’s critique of the different subcultures that have come out of the rising desire for a more creative lifestyle. His comments about members of the “clubbing” lifestyle were particularly harsh and unfounded. He critiques the “clubbers’” clothing, music, and lifestyle. He says that the music that they listen to isn’t creative because it’s all engineered to market to that specific audience in order to attain maximum profit. Because of this, he claims that the music played at the clubs isn’t true creative expression. He seems to say that because the music is made a certain way because it’s what people like, it isn’t real “art”. This claim really annoyed me. Yes, sometimes artists are forced by record companies to make music they don’t like in order to gain popularity. But what about the artists that have enough support to do what they want, but still choose to make pop music? If it’s why they like, then who’s to say it isn’t their way of expressing themselves?  People make club music because it will sell, yes. But the people who make club music know what it sounds like because they also go to the club. They write what they know. Florida also mentions that the clubbers attempts to be different and hip make them the exact opposite. By striving for nonconformity, they become the same. How does he know what their motives are? As with most subcultures that pride themselves on not conforming, they’re attempting to be different from society and the life their parents led, not from each other.

I’m randomly reminded of the fact that this book wasn’t written recently, which I find interesting. This is especially true when he make generalizations about the “younger people”.  I read his statements and wonder: “Younger people? Isn’t that me? This doesn’t sound like my generation at all”. But then I realize that when this book was written ten years ago, the younger people were who the older people are now.

This is true with Florida’s observations about the rise of technology. He talks about the novelty and sometimes fear with which people see new developments in technology, especially computers. Those days are mostly gone. The “younger people” no longer view new technology as something awe inspiring or exciting; they expect it. Florida talks about how the new technologies gave rise to the “geek” being seen as the hero. However, that trend must have only been very subtle. I have never heard of the “acclaimed” book that he cites as evidence of this new hero, and most tv shows and movies still star an action hero. Even the TV show Chuck eventually gave their geeky main character Kung Fu moves in order to survive. The Matrix, another piece of evidence used by Florida does shows the amazing possibilities of technology .The main character, however, is a man who knows how to look cool and fight, but knows nothing about the system. He is “the chosen one” while the “geeks” who built it remain unknown.

The Rise of the Creative Class Pt. 2 Reaction

Part 2 of Richard Florida’s Rise of the Creative Class is a more detailed account of the current working environment expected and demanded by the members of the “Creative Class”. It is a description of the work place trends that I have to look forward to when I enter the workforce. The trends are finding their way in to all professions, as the ways of doing things pragmatically like in the past is being replaced by doing things in a way that allow for interpretation and creativity. Unlike the factory workers, seen as a nobody who is just a part of the production machine, there as been a new emphasis put on the importance of the unique ideas that come from each individual.

This emphasis on creative thinking is leading to a change in people’s career preferences. In the past, people would pick jobs that paid the most, even if they didn’t like them. They would work at the same place, doing the same thing for their entire lives, even though they were miserable. Nowadays, people will pick the job they like, regardless of salary. Incentive is their ability to think creatively and be themselves. Also, people are no longer sticking to just one job. Florida calls it the “horizontal career ladder”. People are moving from project to project, working on what catches their interest until they get bored. I really like this trend. Gone are the days of stressing out because I can’t figure out what I want to be when I grow up. This change in professional thinking asks: “Who says I can’t be everything?” My interests change often, my job should be able to reflect these interests, as I’ll work harder for something I like. I look forward to a “real world” where I can pursue my passions.

Something I also look forward to about the working world that Florida describes is the change in the workplaces themselves. I’ve always feared that arts management wouldn’t work out and I would have to enter another type of business where I would be confined to a cubicle with no human interaction and strict working hours. I’m a very social person and I thrive off of discussing ideas with others. According to Florida, most businesses have found this to be true for most people. Instead of isolation, businesses are beginning to reformat to a more open environment, with a common area for discussion and interaction. Instead of cubicles, office workers can enjoy space and an arrangement designed to promote creative thinking.

Following the trend of promoting creativity and individuality, Florida also describes the anticipated change in work uniform. I’ve recently had trouble finding business formal and casual outfits for class presentations, meeting, and interviews that I like. Blazers, pencil skirts, and trousers just aren’t me. Florida says that many feel this way. The boring business clothes often limit creative thinkers’ ideas and creativity. Because of this, businesses are beginning to allow more casual work attire. While I acknowledge the professional appearance of a suit, I look forward to being able to present my ideas and plans while wearing something that reflects the person who came up with them.

First Friday

This was my second time going to First Friday and I wasn’t disappointed. This time I took two of my hall mates who never venture down to Southside and who’ve never been to First Friday. They really enjoyed the chance to get away from the campus and see some what the local shops had to offer. I was able to show them some of my favorite places and prove that Southside can be a fun and safe place, despite its reputation. They’ve only been to some of the restaurants either when driven by their parents, or if I insist we walk there. They were surprised and pleased to find other fun places to go. We went to Eskandalo!, which is where I get my hair cut.  We ogled the cute clothes in Apotheca. I showed them the delicious chocolates in Tallarico’s and recommended the cayenne chocolates. We went to a store with ski gear, where my friend looked at the coats and goggles, planning future purchases for her skiwear collection. We went to Home and Planet and dreamed of furnishing a future house with trendy pieces made by artists. I forgot to show them the bathroom though, but it’ll just give me a reason to bring them back.

One of my favorite things about First Friday is the live bands. All the bands play different genres, so going to the stores and seeing each band is like getting to see each aspect of the personality of the Southside. The band in Cleo’s was really cool because they were playing Beatles songs using instruments that the Beatles didn’t use. It was fun to hear something familiar in a totally different way. The first time I went, there was a random jazz band on the street. That’s so cool! It really adds to the whole atmosphere of the festival because people can hear it wherever they are and follow the sound to the festival and to the shops.

In Apotheca, there were cute clothes, nice people, and, best of all, cupcakes! The cupcakes were from Sugarbabe, which if I remember correctly used to be located in Home and Planet. They were the most delicious cupcakes I’ve ever had. They seem really familiar. I think I saw them compete on Cupcake Wars or something. If they didn’t win, they should have. By getting to try those cupcakes, one of the friends who went and I have made plans to go to the store and get some more of those fantastic cupcakes.

I like that the festival’s only intent is to get people in to the neighborhood and experience the art, culture, and what the stores have to offer. There are no plans to make a profit (other than the stores’), only plans to show everyone what the Southside has to offer. The people who started and who keep First Friday going love their town, and its evident in the effort and planning they put in to it. The love is contagious and creates an atmosphere of creativity and community. 

Marc Bamuthi Joseph

Whenever I picture performance art, for some reason I always think I won’t like it. I picture some weird person wearing a trash bag, rolling around in paint or something. However, every time I’ve gone, I’ve been pleasantly surprised. I end up feeling more knowledgeable, and in some ways, empowered. Marc Bamuthi Joseph was no exception.

One of the things I love about poetry is the way it can be used to express truth. It can be used to express truths that have a political and controversial undertone. Marc’s truths fall in this category. If someone were to just say a hard truth outright, it might not be welcomed are listened to. Oftentimes, people don’t give other opinions a chance, especially when those opinions are said bluntly. But with the addition of movement and poetic language, the truth is oftentimes better received. The audience is engaged and enraptured in a web of rhymes and meter and dance. The truth is hidden within this web and even if they don’t agree, they at least hear it.

One of the things I love about is the fact that it provides and avenue for self-expression. Earlier, I spoke of Marc using poetry to present truth. I don’t mean absolute truth. Marc’s performance provides and outlet to present his truth.

One of the most amazing things about live theatre is the energy that reverberates through the theater. When seeing it live, you feel the time, energy, and emotion that went in to the artist/actor’s performance. You even feel it in the silences. Even if the audience doesn’t agree with the message of the performance, they connect with the performer’s passion. Because of this, Marc was able to present his performance in a way that reached every single audience member, even those who didn’t agree. Those who agreed and connected both with the passion and message were very vocal about their agreement. Those who didn’t agree were not vocal about this disagreement. Marc’s performance was powerful enough to at least earn their respect and attention, if not also their agreement.

I also appreciated that Marc’s pieces varied in content. The whole story wasn’t just the lasting effect of slavery and racism in America. He talked about race, the economy, becoming a father, and discovering his desire to be a professional performer. He talked about life and loss and love. He talked about his personal prejudices and the prejudices put on him. He presented the audience with an array of subjects to connect with.

There is also a complex system of association that happens moreso with poetry than normal speech. In Marc’s piece about the woman spitting out the watermelon seeds and talking about her dead son, he builds this elaborate connection between the watermelon seeds and the disadvantage African American children face when growing up in bad neighborhoods. When he then says “strange fruit”, we don’t just see the watermelon seeds. We see the allusion he was making to lynching. We see injustice, unfair judgment, and lives ending too soon. We follow the connection between hatred, greed, and other negative emotions to see the current societal opinion of America, especially amongst the African American population.

The Rise of the Creative Class Pt. 1 Reaction

Richard Florida’s Rise of the Creative Class begins with describing two fictitious time travelers: one who travels from the 1900s to the 1950s and another who travels from the 1950s to the 2000s. The first man will experience a severe change in terms technology. He will have to deal with cars, phones, and televisions. The second time-traveler though will have to deal with social change.

This social change is what Florida’s book is about: the rise of a new class. This class is the Creative Class, a class who defines wealth by amount of innovative ideas rather than amount of money.

With the description of the changes over the last 50 years, I can’t help but wonder what life will be like in 50 years, if things keep heading in the same direction.

My first question is how will relationships change? Florida records the sentiment felt by many people today: that with the progression of technology, personal relationships have become impossible to maintain at a face-to-face level. With facebook, texting, and the Internet, people don’t actually have to hold conversations in real time or in person. While many view this as a bad thing, Florida is sure to point out the benefits of such a society. He explains that many geniuses did not have intimate relationships with any one. By connecting with others less, people have more time to focus on coming up with new ideas and theories. However, he is sure to point out that not having any relationships at all is not the way to go. People are more productive when working with others. So, I think Florida is presenting the possibility for a future where people use the speed of technology to share ideas and creativity, but don’t bother to form any strong ties to the other people.

Florida also explains the transitions of practical jobs to more creative jobs, which I find to be very interesting. Originally, occupations like doctors and mechanics were trained professions where people would follow the regimented rules of their jobs. Today, doctors come up with creative ways to treat and diagnose their patients and engineers design how the parts can be rearranged. Even computer programmers are considered creative. I think this points to more occupations transitioning to being considered creative in the future. Even those in the service and working class will begin to find ways to innovate and change their jobs. Eventually, there might not be a homo economicus, only homo creativus.

The third trend that Florida outlines for the future is the emphasis on acceptance. 50 years ago, women and African Americans had limited to no job possibilities. Today, they hold executive positions, including the President of the United States. This points to a future where the differences between people won’t even be noticed. Accomplishments will be accomplishments, regardless of race, gender, or sexuality. There won’t be murmurs of a “glass ceiling” for women. Obama will be seen as the first of many non-white presidents. People won’t need to ask if a company supports gay rights to see how open-minded it is, it will be the assumed normal. The creative class will rise and make the world a more expressive and accepting place.

Arts in Bethlehem

http://blog.lehighvalleylive.com/valleybonvivant/2011/04/rethink_design_exhbit_to_debut_at_the_banana_factorys_crayola_gallery.html

http://bethlehem.patch.com/articles/the-sweet-life-on-the-south-side

http://articles.mcall.com/2012-01-07/news/mc-steelstacks-first-year-20120107_1_daily-cinema-musikfest-cafe-artsquest-president-jeffrey-parks