The article/blog selections for the 9/17 post demonstrate the potential usage -- good and not so good -- for blogging in the political realm. They also demonstrate the incursion of advertising and its minion, public relations, into the field (genre?). Of course, it would seem naive not to believe that in a capitalist country advertising and PR would somehow not invade this fertile ground. The Walmart use of bloggers that Barbaro appears to be appalled about is simply a variation on an old PR practice and seems, well, inevitable. After all, Walmart knows a good, cheap deal when it sees one.
After viewing the political blogs, I would have to say that, regardless of the quality or content of the blog, we are going to seek out the political philosophy that coincides with that which is already ingrained in us, rather than approach a topic with our minds as a blank slate. Thus, the potential of blogs for political purposes would now appear to be reinforcement of existing thinking ("preaching to the choir") rather than creating converts to another way of thinking.
Some random thoughts about the political blogs we saw... McCain's blog was all about himself, compared to Obama's "here is what Obama people are doing" approach. As much as I love him, Tom Udall could use some help on his blog and on his photo in particular (he looks like he just ate a Bertie Botts booger jelly bean). I really liked David Maas' Swing State of Mind blog as a dynamic filter-type blog (I hope this designation is correct...).
Educational Gaming
15 years ago
4 comments:
Judy-
You make a great point about the actual potential for debate as a change-agent in these spaces. I don't know about you, but when I read a blog that I disagree with it is much easier for me to dismiss it as wrong or irrelevant than it is in the mainstream media. Why is that, I wonder. Do people really go to blogs that they expect to learn new things from, things that contradict the ways they already feel/believe, or are we all just looking for like-minded folks to be with?
Maybe it isn't a bad thing that we are drawn to those who think like us. I guess TV ads don't often change my mind either. Things like politics just may be too ingrained to be open to much change.
Sorry for all the questions, but you gave me lots to think about.
Your cynicism about Walmart (and likely lots of other corporate entities) using blogs is well founded. It seems that this is one part of Barton's (and Habermas') point(s) about "true" rational critical debate being compromised when commercialism starts to intrude on a discourse.
I also agree with you (to a point) about blogs really being able to change people's perspective. I don't often read blogs that I know I will disagree with because it just makes me mad. However, when the perspective is less skewed, I am apt to consider various positions, even if I have one in mind when I begin. So, while most blogs are likely preaching to the choir, I can also imagine that if written from a less biased perspective and published in a more open context, blogs do have the potential to inform and persuade those who might disagree at first blush.
Oh, capitalism...you almost make it too easy for us to talk smack about you. What a jerk.
Judy, I think you have a great point about the inevitability of corporate interference on blogs. I wish they'd leave us wee little bloggers alone, but like you said, it's an old practice. I think we face the same problems in every new communication medium, don't we?
I noticed that McCain's blog was all just quotations of stuff he's said in the last few days. Not sure that's a very effective blog. At least Obama's actually talked about something. Incidentally, that's a pretty damn good reflection of the candidates themselves...but I won't beat that dead horse.
I like your point about approaching a topic with our minds as a blank sheet. Unfortunately, many people do so; they are in the middle of big and critical events that may change their lives, but they do not know and understand what is going on. I think political blogging plays an important role in making people aware of their surroungings.
I am glad that you can have access to my blog now.
See you in class
Post a Comment