Memo30+--+Describing+People

Thomas Solley STSH 4980-01 Senior Thesis Costelloe-Kuehn 10/13/2014 10/15/2014

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__ Memo 30 -- Describing People __ " This memo should include a 200-400-word description of a person that you have or may encounter, during your research, leveraging the description for analytic insight. In other words: make the description speak to a social theoretical question or point. You can fabricate the person described if you haven’t yet had relevant field encounters. For an example, see my “Environmental Right-To-Know and the Transmutations of Law.” "

If I were to describe the "stereotype" of a smartphone "addict," however, what would this show me -- in terms of asusmptions? What assumptions am I making about this type of person -- and what does that show about the themes in this society?

Well... from the Facebook video, "Can we auto-correct humanity?" , by a musician known as "Prince Ea," it would seem to be that this... person... who captures the "depreciation" in society... has certain features; - does not spend time outside playing with other people, spends time inside playing video games with friends - does not watch classical films or read classical literature (maybe a personal one) - chooses not to read books, watches tv or movies instead - sends friend an email or a text on their birthday, instead of a call or droppng-by in-person - doesn't write letters - ..... [REDACTED] This person spends more than four hours a day on Facebook, Myspace, Youtube, .... Posts "themist" comments on Social Networking... Has a "gadget" phone... [difficult to describe this person -- seems more to be in terms of "actions" or values?]. This person is an early-adopter... With a short attention-span, always answering their phone -- or even talking to other people on their phone at the same time as in-person, who looks down at their screen during meals... This person constantly uploads "selfies" or "snaps" of themselves or others... Uses "text-slang" in conversations (over the phone, texts, emails, IM, or in-person)... This person, this social-dependent person, is a "social butterfly" (probably female, by stereotype -- see the new AMC tv-series "Selfie"), who checks their phone for notifications after every class, during meals, has their phone by them when they are supposed to be doing work.... This person chats on Skype rather than calling over the phone....

That's about all I've got. I'm not immune to these either -- I'm guilty of a few myself. --> Not very specific, need something.. Better. This one was really rushed. Could have used some perspectives from an immersion analysis. - Edits from in-class today;

__ Notes. __ Not so certain of a "person," does he/she/it have to be indicative of their social-group?

There are a lot of "profiles" I could describe here... - Jock - Gamer-guy - Gamer-girl - hardcore gamer ...... There's a profile defined by "media views" (stereotype, film) that encompasses almost every semi-proper Noun that describes a "person." (Adjective).

Depending on the location and the lens, various amalgamations of these tropes show up within people. For this assignment... I could go with a stereotype (such as "female social butterfly"), but my odds of finding a person in real-life who fits those traits is slim. By restrcting my description to a "type," do I not lose valuable data?