History of Communication

In the first chapter of the book Your Edentity, Stephanie Vie explains the effect of technology on communication, culture, and how profitable communication in society is. Towards the beginning of the book, Vie explains how much communication through technology effects peoples values and personalities by exposing them to new information quickly. "...media effects can also be far more significant, such as changing a person's cultural attitudes and behavior. This later more complex effect causes many people to be disturbed by the mass media and their influences on our culture. Concern about excessive sex and violence in the media and their influences on our culture" (Vie 13). People stay connected online to the point where in person connection has decreased exponentially over the past 15 years. Vie towards the middle of this chapter conveys that the way we communicate through technology is a powerhouse for profits. "The mass media are the channels used in mass communication. In addition to providing information and entertainment, U.S. mass media are in the business of making money, earning more than $150 billion by the end of the 20th century" (Vie 18). It makes sense that communication through technology is a multi-billion dollar power structure because it's a human trait to want to be connected. Neil deGrasse Tyson conveys this point further through the use of science. "I look up–many people feel small because their small and the universe is big, but I feel big because my atoms came from those stars...is a level of connectivity. That's really what you want in life, you wanna feel connected, you wanna feel relevant, you wanna feel like you're a participant in the goings on of activities and events around you. That's precisely what we are, just by being alive" (Tyson).  The internet that is used by billions of users everyday, is an easy way to stay connected with everything in the world including billions besides you using it.                                                        

Smoke Signals Analysis

In the movie Smoke Signals directed by Chris Eyre, Eyre explains how Post Traumatic Stress has affected the character Victor Joseph, how our father's pasts effect our futures, and how racism has affected individuals from the various Native Nations. Victor's father Arnold fought in a war and also killed Thomas's parents which caused him to drink and ultimately affect Victor's well being. Eyre conveys a conversation between Thomas and Victor, "Your father saved my life' 'Thomas you don't even know my father. Did you know that my father was the one that set your parent's house on fire? Did you know that my father beat my mother? Did you know that my father beat me too?' 'All I know is that when your father left your mother lost you too.' 'Thomas I wish that fire had killed you.' 'Victor LOOK OUT!"' (Smoke Signals). Arnold has had a tough past and because of this his Post Traumatic Stress has affected everyone he loves, especially Victor. Arnold tries to heal by leaving his family and finding Suzy Song, who became Arnold's Ts'eh and allowed him to heal like Tayo in Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko. Can Victor ever forgive Arnold for beating his mother and him or his actions that led up to the beatings. Eyre conveys, "How do we forgive our fathers? Maybe in a dream. Do we forgive our fathers for leaving us too often, or forever, when we were little? Maybe for scaring us with unexpected rage, or making us nervous because there never seemed to be any rage there at all? Do we forgive our fathers for marrying, or not marrying, our mothers? Or divorcing, or not divorcing, our mothers? And shall we forgive them for their excesses of warmth or coldness? Shall we forgive them for pushing, or leaning? For shutting doors or speaking through walls? For never speaking, or never being silent? Do we forgive our fathers in our age, or in theirs? Or in their deaths, saying it to them or not saying it. If we forgive our fathers, what is left?" (Smoke Signals). Victor's father's past dramatically affects Victor's future. If Victor's father never fought in a war than Arnold wouldn't have Post Traumatic Stress, which in turn would mean he wouldn't beat his wife or his son. If Victor forgave Arnold for being the man he has become and suppressed those memories of him, then Victor couldn't understand why Arnold has changed from his traumatic experiences. In this film, we also see how individuals from the various Native Nations are treated by the white people. Eyre conveys, "This man apparently wants to press charges against you. He said and I quote 'you assaulted him and pushed him to the ground.' 'That's bullshit.' 'Mr. Joseph there's no need for that type of language. Mr. Johnson's wife Holly says he's, and I quote, 'a complete asshole"' (Smoke Signals). This shows that the cops needed to have the proof from his white wife that the white husband was an asshole because there was no way this cop was going to believe two Native American men.