so I began my sociology research at a hypothesis and batteries people could
hypothesis and batteries people could
hypothesis and batteries people could look at the same exact thing and see
look at the same exact thing and see
look at the same exact thing and see something completely different that
something completely different that
something completely different that seems a little counterintuitive but let
seems a little counterintuitive but let
seems a little counterintuitive but let me explain
me explain
me explain oh this is a photo of Kendrick Lamar
oh this is a photo of Kendrick Lamar
oh this is a photo of Kendrick Lamar acclaimed and Grammy winning hip-hop
acclaimed and Grammy winning hip-hop
acclaimed and Grammy winning hip-hop artist on the cover of Rolling Stone
artist on the cover of Rolling Stone
artist on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine this is also a photo of
magazine this is also a photo of
magazine this is also a photo of Kendrick Lamar on the cover of GQ
Kendrick Lamar on the cover of GQ
Kendrick Lamar on the cover of GQ magazine and as you can tell these two
magazine and as you can tell these two
magazine and as you can tell these two depictions of the same human being the
depictions of the same human being the
depictions of the same human being the same pop-culture figure are quite
same pop-culture figure are quite
same pop-culture figure are quite different under my experiment I asked
different under my experiment I asked
different under my experiment I asked participants to look at each photo to
participants to look at each photo to
participants to look at each photo to describe what they saw and more
describe what they saw and more
describe what they saw and more importantly tell me how they felt
importantly tell me how they felt
importantly tell me how they felt whether or not they liked the photo and
whether or not they liked the photo and
whether or not they liked the photo and why oh why not
so when I show this photo I had one
so when I show this photo I had one participant look at it and said that’s a
participant look at it and said that’s a
participant look at it and said that’s a dope photo of Kendrick I like it because
dope photo of Kendrick I like it because
dope photo of Kendrick I like it because it’s hip-hop
it’s hip-hop
it’s hip-hop right there he looks hardcore he looks
right there he looks hardcore he looks
right there he looks hardcore he looks like he’s been through a lot I think the
like he’s been through a lot I think the
like he’s been through a lot I think the photo is pretty representative of
photo is pretty representative of
photo is pretty representative of Kendrick
Kendrick
Kendrick he talks a lot about pain and his Saul’s
he talks a lot about pain and his Saul’s
he talks a lot about pain and his Saul’s struggles and hardships from where he is
struggles and hardships from where he is
struggles and hardships from where he is people dealing with addiction and just
people dealing with addiction and just
people dealing with addiction and just in general rough lifestyle in Compton I
in general rough lifestyle in Compton I
in general rough lifestyle in Compton I had a second participant look at the
had a second participant look at the
had a second participant look at the same exact photo and say I know can’t
same exact photo and say I know can’t
same exact photo and say I know can’t drink of it because I listen to some of
drink of it because I listen to some of
drink of it because I listen to some of his music but beyond but don’t know
his music but beyond but don’t know
his music but beyond but don’t know really much beyond that
really much beyond that
really much beyond that his clothes I think make him look like a
his clothes I think make him look like a
his clothes I think make him look like a gang member
gang member
gang member gang members might wear clothes like
gang members might wear clothes like
gang members might wear clothes like that he looks confident but he’s not
that he looks confident but he’s not
that he looks confident but he’s not smiling his hand is in his pocket which
smiling his hand is in his pocket which
smiling his hand is in his pocket which is kind of threatening we see the same
is kind of threatening we see the same
is kind of threatening we see the same divergence of perception with this
divergence of perception with this
divergence of perception with this second photo the same first participant
second photo the same first participant
second photo the same first participant said in this photo it looks like he’s
said in this photo it looks like he’s
said in this photo it looks like he’s saying I’m just getting out there I got
saying I’m just getting out there I got
saying I’m just getting out there I got to look clean for the people and I got
to look clean for the people and I got
to look clean for the people and I got to put a good impression for the people
to put a good impression for the people
to put a good impression for the people I’m going to hold a mic in my hand to
I’m going to hold a mic in my hand to
I’m going to hold a mic in my hand to let people know that I’m a musical
let people know that I’m a musical
let people know that I’m a musical artist you got the skinny tie on with a
artist you got the skinny tie on with a
artist you got the skinny tie on with a cheesy smile and a nice baby
cheesy smile and a nice baby
cheesy smile and a nice baby but the Kendrick now is not trying to
but the Kendrick now is not trying to
but the Kendrick now is not trying to show
show
show put on a show Friday he’s real so this
put on a show Friday he’s real so this
put on a show Friday he’s real so this looks a little cheesy to me in that
looks a little cheesy to me in that
looks a little cheesy to me in that sense I had the second participant look
sense I had the second participant look
sense I had the second participant look at the same photo and say I like this
at the same photo and say I like this
at the same photo and say I like this photo of Kendrick more than the other
photo of Kendrick more than the other
photo of Kendrick more than the other one I just think he looks a little more
one I just think he looks a little more
one I just think he looks a little more friendly and welcoming I guess the suit
friendly and welcoming I guess the suit
friendly and welcoming I guess the suit makes him look very sharp like just
makes him look very sharp like just
makes him look very sharp like just about to present at the Oscars he looks
about to present at the Oscars he looks
about to present at the Oscars he looks happy I would want to talk to him what
happy I would want to talk to him what
happy I would want to talk to him what was really interesting to me is that we
was really interesting to me is that we
was really interesting to me is that we have two participants looking at two
have two participants looking at two
have two participants looking at two very different representations of the
very different representations of the
very different representations of the same figure and even though they saw the
same figure and even though they saw the
same figure and even though they saw the same things they felt something very
same things they felt something very
same things they felt something very different
different
different they use their prior context their prior
they use their prior context their prior
they use their prior context their prior life experiences to inform and
life experiences to inform and
life experiences to inform and rationalize the judgments that they made
rationalize the judgments that they made
rationalize the judgments that they made they could be looking at the same thing
they could be looking at the same thing
they could be looking at the same thing but seeing something completely
but seeing something completely
but seeing something completely different and this trend continued
different and this trend continued
different and this trend continued throughout my experience these are true
throughout my experience these are true
throughout my experience these are true depictions of LeBron James arguably one
depictions of LeBron James arguably one
depictions of LeBron James arguably one of the most well known athletes of our
of the most well known athletes of our
of the most well known athletes of our generation when I show participants
generation when I show participants
generation when I show participants these photos they describe him in the GQ
these photos they describe him in the GQ
these photos they describe him in the GQ cover as friendly professional and
cover as friendly professional and
cover as friendly professional and welcoming they looked at the Vogue cover
welcoming they looked at the Vogue cover
welcoming they looked at the Vogue cover and described it as angry aggressive and
and described it as angry aggressive and
and described it as angry aggressive and intense
now here’s it here’s an interesting
now here’s it here’s an interesting phenomenon because now we have everyone
phenomenon because now we have everyone
phenomenon because now we have everyone all the participants who knew LeBron
all the participants who knew LeBron
all the participants who knew LeBron James who had some prior knowledge of
James who had some prior knowledge of
James who had some prior knowledge of them look at these two representations
them look at these two representations
them look at these two representations and feel something completely different
and feel something completely different
and feel something completely different based on how he looked in his photo so
based on how he looked in his photo so
based on how he looked in his photo so as I was trying to discover the
as I was trying to discover the
as I was trying to discover the relationship between media and people I
relationship between media and people I
relationship between media and people I found that this relationship was more
found that this relationship was more
found that this relationship was more complex than I thought as I showed
complex than I thought as I showed
complex than I thought as I showed participants each image a pattern began
participants each image a pattern began
participants each image a pattern began to emerge while people describe the
to emerge while people describe the
to emerge while people describe the contents of each photo with clarity and
contents of each photo with clarity and
contents of each photo with clarity and consistently they would say LeBron is
consistently they would say LeBron is
consistently they would say LeBron is wearing a suit he’s smiling he has a
wearing a suit he’s smiling he has a
wearing a suit he’s smiling he has a flaming basketball in his hand the way
flaming basketball in his hand the way
flaming basketball in his hand the way they felt about it the conclusions they
they felt about it the conclusions they
they felt about it the conclusions they drew were quite different and based upon
drew were quite different and based upon
drew were quite different and based upon their personal experiences now what is
their personal experiences now what is
their personal experiences now what is the same of us what does it mean that
the same of us what does it mean that
the same of us what does it mean that two students from the same University
two students from the same University
two students from the same University could look at the same exact image and
could look at the same exact image and
could look at the same exact image and see and more importantly feel something
see and more importantly feel something
see and more importantly feel something so different
so different
so different what is the impact of this phenomenon on
what is the impact of this phenomenon on
what is the impact of this phenomenon on our everyday lives you see I think we
our everyday lives you see I think we
our everyday lives you see I think we take for granted our own worldview our
take for granted our own worldview our
take for granted our own worldview our own perspectives because they’re formed
own perspectives because they’re formed
own perspectives because they’re formed by our own life experiences the things
by our own life experiences the things
by our own life experiences the things that happen around us all the time but
that happen around us all the time but
that happen around us all the time but we often don’t consider the complex
we often don’t consider the complex
we often don’t consider the complex relationship that each one of us have
relationship that each one of us have
relationship that each one of us have with media and how that shapes our
with media and how that shapes our
with media and how that shapes our perception of reality as individuals
perception of reality as individuals
perception of reality as individuals we’ve always craved the ability to
we’ve always craved the ability to
we’ve always craved the ability to contextualize our human experience with
contextualize our human experience with
contextualize our human experience with those around us we want the ability to
those around us we want the ability to
those around us we want the ability to say we want to look at someone and say I
say we want to look at someone and say I
say we want to look at someone and say I see what you’re doing what you’re
see what you’re doing what you’re
see what you’re doing what you’re thinking what you’re saying when you’re
thinking what you’re saying when you’re
thinking what you’re saying when you’re feeling so that I know how to think how
feeling so that I know how to think how
feeling so that I know how to think how to act and how to feel not necessarily
to act and how to feel not necessarily
to act and how to feel not necessarily to mimic those around us but simply to
to mimic those around us but simply to
to mimic those around us but simply to contextualize who we are our unique
contextualize who we are our unique
contextualize who we are our unique human experience in the spectrum of
human experience in the spectrum of
human experience in the spectrum of possibility and the funny thing is that
possibility and the funny thing is that
possibility and the funny thing is that media has provided us with that ability
media has provided us with that ability
media has provided us with that ability that ability to say I know how to act in
that ability to say I know how to act in
that ability to say I know how to act in a situation I watch a sick and now I
a situation I watch a sick and now I
a situation I watch a sick and now I know how to act on a date i watch the
know how to act on a date i watch the
know how to act on a date i watch the red carpet and now I know how to act how
red carpet and now I know how to act how
red carpet and now I know how to act how to interview if I ever reach that status
but because of how old we are where we
but because of how old we are where we come from our race ethnicity class
come from our race ethnicity class
come from our race ethnicity class gender and things that we don’t
gender and things that we don’t
gender and things that we don’t necessarily have control over because of
necessarily have control over because of
necessarily have control over because of these factors we’re exposed to different
these factors we’re exposed to different
these factors we’re exposed to different types of media and not only are we
types of media and not only are we
types of media and not only are we exposed to different types of media we
exposed to different types of media we
exposed to different types of media we process this media point differently and
process this media point differently and
process this media point differently and as a result we all have unique
as a result we all have unique
as a result we all have unique relationships with media and because of
relationships with media and because of
relationships with media and because of this our perceptions of the world
this our perceptions of the world
this our perceptions of the world diverges from one another we can be
diverges from one another we can be
diverges from one another we can be looking at the same facts the same
looking at the same facts the same
looking at the same facts the same images reading the same facebook
images reading the same facebook
images reading the same facebook statuses and see them feel something
statuses and see them feel something
statuses and see them feel something completely different and our social
completely different and our social
completely different and our social context begin to diverge so in 2016
context begin to diverge so in 2016
context begin to diverge so in 2016 a time when most of us are attached to
a time when most of us are attached to
a time when most of us are attached to our devices looking at our screens Media
our devices looking at our screens Media
our devices looking at our screens Media has become this pervasive and constant
has become this pervasive and constant
has become this pervasive and constant filter for how we see society how we see
filter for how we see society how we see
filter for how we see society how we see reality and as we Traverse our different
reality and as we Traverse our different
reality and as we Traverse our different lives important to recognize that we
lives important to recognize that we
lives important to recognize that we each have unique filters we inhabit
each have unique filters we inhabit
each have unique filters we inhabit unique digital worlds even though we sit
unique digital worlds even though we sit
unique digital worlds even though we sit together here as part of one Lehigh
together here as part of one Lehigh
together here as part of one Lehigh community we actually are part of very
community we actually are part of very
community we actually are part of very distant worlds our unique filters as
distant worlds our unique filters as
distant worlds our unique filters as they manifest on our Facebook news feeds
they manifest on our Facebook news feeds
they manifest on our Facebook news feeds who we follow on Instagram what news
who we follow on Instagram what news
who we follow on Instagram what news platforms we care about as a result of
platforms we care about as a result of
platforms we care about as a result of this we inhabit very distinct digital
this we inhabit very distinct digital
this we inhabit very distinct digital worlds fit to our exact personalities
worlds fit to our exact personalities
worlds fit to our exact personalities feeding into our very specific emotional
feeding into our very specific emotional
feeding into our very specific emotional needs and I think this is quite
needs and I think this is quite
needs and I think this is quite problematic yeah when it comes to
problematic yeah when it comes to
problematic yeah when it comes to trivial things like what memes we enjoy
trivial things like what memes we enjoy
trivial things like what memes we enjoy what public figures we like to follow
what public figures we like to follow
what public figures we like to follow what Instagram pages we enjoy our
what Instagram pages we enjoy our
what Instagram pages we enjoy our diversion filters have relatively little
diversion filters have relatively little
diversion filters have relatively little impact they’re harmless it doesn’t
impact they’re harmless it doesn’t
impact they’re harmless it doesn’t matter that I like to follow one dog
matter that I like to follow one dog
matter that I like to follow one dog Instagram page and you like to follow
Instagram page and you like to follow
Instagram page and you like to follow cats that doesn’t matter but when it
cats that doesn’t matter but when it
cats that doesn’t matter but when it comes to more serious issues and content
comes to more serious issues and content
comes to more serious issues and content that requires thoughtfulness discussion
that requires thoughtfulness discussion
that requires thoughtfulness discussion clarity empathy most importantly love a
clarity empathy most importantly love a
clarity empathy most importantly love a divergent filters Bayless we self
divergent filters Bayless we self
divergent filters Bayless we self indulge in these echo chambers and
indulge in these echo chambers and
indulge in these echo chambers and clickbait news articles that only affirm
clickbait news articles that only affirm
clickbait news articles that only affirm our deepest emotional drives and
our deepest emotional drives and
our deepest emotional drives and insecurities the internet social media
insecurities the internet social media
insecurities the internet social media news these are institutions that the
news these are institutions that the
news these are institutions that the highest level ideally should be bringing
highest level ideally should be bringing
highest level ideally should be bringing us together and they should free us from
us together and they should free us from
us together and they should free us from the limitations of our media physical
the limitations of our media physical
the limitations of our media physical realities but instead you see that
realities but instead you see that
realities but instead you see that they’re pulling us apart
I do think it’s interesting Albert that
I do think it’s interesting Albert that people are beginning to place blame as
people are beginning to place blame as
people are beginning to place blame as society begins to realize how much
society begins to realize how much
society begins to realize how much they’ve been played
they say the media is dividing us based
they say the media is dividing us based on things like waste class politics
on things like waste class politics
on things like waste class politics recently people have been condemning
recently people have been condemning
recently people have been condemning Facebook for not doing a better job and
Facebook for not doing a better job and
Facebook for not doing a better job and calling them misinformation that spread
calling them misinformation that spread
calling them misinformation that spread like wildfire over the past election
like wildfire over the past election
like wildfire over the past election season and ideally yes we should fold
season and ideally yes we should fold
season and ideally yes we should fold these platforms these companies to a
these platforms these companies to a
these platforms these companies to a higher standard so that they can provide
higher standard so that they can provide
higher standard so that they can provide a service that ultimately leads to
a service that ultimately leads to
a service that ultimately leads to social good put the divertor the
social good put the divertor the
social good put the divertor the responsibility that we have and the
responsibility that we have and the
responsibility that we have and the guilt and blame that we have onto these
guilt and blame that we have onto these
guilt and blame that we have onto these companies I would feel that that sense
companies I would feel that that sense
companies I would feel that that sense of it is a bit misplaced because in the
of it is a bit misplaced because in the
of it is a bit misplaced because in the economic social and political atmosphere
economic social and political atmosphere
economic social and political atmosphere that we live in now I don’t see a future
that we live in now I don’t see a future
that we live in now I don’t see a future where the role of media will
where the role of media will
where the role of media will automatically change because in the
automatically change because in the
automatically change because in the system that are so entrenched in our
system that are so entrenched in our
system that are so entrenched in our society media has become a zero-sum game
society media has become a zero-sum game
society media has become a zero-sum game to grasp moments of our attention a
to grasp moments of our attention a
to grasp moments of our attention a phenomenon that has less dollars to say
phenomenon that has less dollars to say
phenomenon that has less dollars to say that we’re living in an attention
that we’re living in an attention
that we’re living in an attention economy media is no longer service of
economy media is no longer service of
economy media is no longer service of entertainment media element service of
entertainment media element service of
entertainment media element service of information but not entertainment and
information but not entertainment and
information but not entertainment and emotion all Ed’s videos and even these
emotion all Ed’s videos and even these
emotion all Ed’s videos and even these magazine covers that I showed you before
magazine covers that I showed you before
magazine covers that I showed you before are all designed to evoke specific
are all designed to evoke specific
are all designed to evoke specific emotions sparked discussion out of age
emotions sparked discussion out of age
emotions sparked discussion out of age to cost shares a purchase ultimately for
to cost shares a purchase ultimately for
to cost shares a purchase ultimately for profit driven incentives as a result
profit driven incentives as a result
profit driven incentives as a result when you think about the dynamics that
when you think about the dynamics that
when you think about the dynamics that we’ve been talking about and bring them
we’ve been talking about and bring them
we’ve been talking about and bring them in the context of today’s aim which is
in the context of today’s aim which is
in the context of today’s aim which is ignorance we have to see media as a
ignorance we have to see media as a
ignorance we have to see media as a two-edged sword because on one hand
two-edged sword because on one hand
two-edged sword because on one hand media has allowed us to transcend our
media has allowed us to transcend our
media has allowed us to transcend our media physical realities it’s allowed us
media physical realities it’s allowed us
media physical realities it’s allowed us to gain exposure to things that we
to gain exposure to things that we
to gain exposure to things that we wouldn’t have media is the reason why
wouldn’t have media is the reason why
wouldn’t have media is the reason why people like me you live
people like me you live
people like me you live in Pennsylvania get to know what is
in Pennsylvania get to know what is
in Pennsylvania get to know what is happening in North Dakota and
happening in North Dakota and
happening in North Dakota and potentially get engaged in that process
potentially get engaged in that process
potentially get engaged in that process I think that’s an extremely powerful and
I think that’s an extremely powerful and
I think that’s an extremely powerful and good thing but on the other hand media
good thing but on the other hand media
good thing but on the other hand media and more specifically our digital
and more specifically our digital
and more specifically our digital filters have limited our worldview
filters have limited our worldview
filters have limited our worldview feeding us things that we like to see
feeding us things that we like to see
feeding us things that we like to see that we already know and these dynamics
that we already know and these dynamics
that we already know and these dynamics aren’t constant tension with one another
aren’t constant tension with one another
aren’t constant tension with one another and the frustrating thing is the media
and the frustrating thing is the media
and the frustrating thing is the media companies and platforms that we rely on
companies and platforms that we rely on
companies and platforms that we rely on they’re not obligated to resolve this
they’re not obligated to resolve this
they’re not obligated to resolve this tension in fact they’re more aligned to
tension in fact they’re more aligned to
tension in fact they’re more aligned to exploitive these media companies offer
exploitive these media companies offer
exploitive these media companies offer us suggestions curating content for us
us suggestions curating content for us
us suggestions curating content for us that we know you will enjoy they shield
that we know you will enjoy they shield
that we know you will enjoy they shield us from looking at things that might
us from looking at things that might
us from looking at things that might make us use their platform less they
make us use their platform less they
make us use their platform less they feed into our passions our insecurities
feed into our passions our insecurities
feed into our passions our insecurities our ego and every facet of our
our ego and every facet of our
our ego and every facet of our complicated identities just to make sure
complicated identities just to make sure
complicated identities just to make sure that we continue to use their platform
that we continue to use their platform
that we continue to use their platform to continue to use their content in
to continue to use their content in
to continue to use their content in order for us to feel comfortable self
order for us to feel comfortable self
order for us to feel comfortable self righteous and satisfied so if I’m saying
righteous and satisfied so if I’m saying
righteous and satisfied so if I’m saying that the blame and responsibility does
that the blame and responsibility does
that the blame and responsibility does not fall solely on these companies the
not fall solely on these companies the
not fall solely on these companies the question then becomes how do we accept
question then becomes how do we accept
question then becomes how do we accept and respect the beauty of our divergence
and respect the beauty of our divergence
and respect the beauty of our divergence digital worlds how to reconcile with the
digital worlds how to reconcile with the
digital worlds how to reconcile with the fact that me and you we actually like
fact that me and you we actually like
fact that me and you we actually like different things and we are going to see
different things and we are going to see
different things and we are going to see things differently how to respect that
things differently how to respect that
things differently how to respect that fact and yet work together
fact and yet work together
fact and yet work together simultaneously bring them together to
simultaneously bring them together to
simultaneously bring them together to build unity how do we learn about the
build unity how do we learn about the
build unity how do we learn about the other the unknown in a way that isn’t
other the unknown in a way that isn’t
other the unknown in a way that isn’t meaningful authentic and long-lasting
meaningful authentic and long-lasting
meaningful authentic and long-lasting because the media has always provided a
because the media has always provided a
because the media has always provided a crutch for us so that we don’t have to
crutch for us so that we don’t have to
crutch for us so that we don’t have to do the work so that we don’t have to go
do the work so that we don’t have to go
do the work so that we don’t have to go in there and engage in the unknown
in there and engage in the unknown
in there and engage in the unknown without bias or fear it inhibits our
without bias or fear it inhibits our
without bias or fear it inhibits our self-awareness and motivates the
self-awareness and motivates the
self-awareness and motivates the projector insecurities our ego our
projector insecurities our ego our
projector insecurities our ego our mentality outwards instead of in words
mentality outwards instead of in words
mentality outwards instead of in words in order to build unity and this
in order to build unity and this
in order to build unity and this era of divergence caused by our digital
era of divergence caused by our digital
era of divergence caused by our digital worlds we need to curb our dependence on
worlds we need to curb our dependence on
worlds we need to curb our dependence on filtered experiences and instead truly
filtered experiences and instead truly
filtered experiences and instead truly engage and immerse ourselves in direct
engage and immerse ourselves in direct
engage and immerse ourselves in direct ones so I’ll leave you with a quote
ones so I’ll leave you with a quote
ones so I’ll leave you with a quote stripped of your ordinary surroundings
stripped of your ordinary surroundings
stripped of your ordinary surroundings your friends your daily routines your
your friends your daily routines your
your friends your daily routines your refrigerator full of food your closet
refrigerator full of food your closet
refrigerator full of food your closet full of your clothes with all this taken
full of your clothes with all this taken
full of your clothes with all this taken away you’re forced into through into
away you’re forced into through into
away you’re forced into through into direct experience I eventually realized
direct experience I eventually realized
direct experience I eventually realized that direct experience is the most
that direct experience is the most
that direct experience is the most valuable experience that I can have
valuable experience that I can have
valuable experience that I can have thank
”
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