Internet Censorship

Source: http://www.conservativeactionalerts.com

For my WP#3 I decided to cover the topic of internet censorship. The internet is something we all encounter on a daily basis; in fact, this class would probably not be possible in it's current condition without the internet. As a potential outlet for us to express ourselves, whether anonymously on a website or publicly on a social media site, it is not unlike newspapers or "real world" avenues. Due to that, should the world wide web be regulated?  Is it the government's place to monitor and supervise a place where people can literally say anything with little to no consequences.

The picture above describes the situation perfectly. In the picture we see many cords, notably Ethernet cords which allow a computer or device to connect to the internet, with a padlock around them. The image itself presents a strong message: the internet is not "truly" free. The viewer can initially assume the lock does not belong to whoever the cords belong to. While the lock doesn't necessarily do anything in the practical sense of the picture, the message it conveys argues that the internet is "locked up".

One of the most striking aspects of the picture is the color contrast used in it. The lock, background, and (I'm assuming) modem are all white or silver. The amount of white in the picture is overwhelming. The blue cables stand out very well against the white, possibly attracting the viewers attention. The red connector on the furthermost cable also stands out. Perhaps it is meant to signify the connecting point between the computer and the internet, or rather the author and the internet? In that case, then the white can also double as a whiteboard or paper for the author to write their feelings, beliefs, or stances.

Visual rhetoric is very important in today's society. We are attracted to it subtly and many of us do not even realize it. Are there any other aspects in this picture that you can point out?

Does America Have a True "Culture"

America has long been known as a melting pot of cultures. You can find almost any culture in the world located between Maine and California. Over time we have absorbed cultures and adapted them, but have we ever created such a culture that is truly our own? America was found by people from Europe, whether through exploration or through escape from religious persecution, and with them came their beliefs, their actions, their everyday behavior. They did not start from scratch or decide to abolish their held culture in favor of something new.

Most people would agree that if America has a culture, then it is capitalism. We owe our religious aspect to Europe, our social aspect to as well belongs to Europe, but our economic stance is purely America's. Fast food, grocery store, malls, and any other type of business in America has some sort of capitalism embedded in it.

As a little side note, I find it very interesting to hear people from other countries tell about what they think America is like. I've seen maps drawn by people from Asia where Texas, in particular, takes up the vast majority of the country, engulfing many of the great plains states. Others believe that Americans have guns strapped to them at any instance of the day, along with a big bag of Mickey D's.

But really, besides those, does America have a specific culture? Most of the states in particular have self addressed stereotypes to go along with their individual cultures (New Yorker's can't drive, it's always raining in Seattle, everyone in Alabama lives in a trailer home, Florida is full of old people, etc.). However, unlike many other countries in the world, we lack a central omnipresent culture. Do you agree? Is their a culture for America?