Unit 1 Reflection

 

Reflection:

After completing my curated source collection, I feel that the quality of my three chosen sources is fairly strong. The uniqueness of the genres I selected is what makes my collection stand out. While each individual source may have flaws or gaps in certain areas, collectively, they create a well-rounded balance that ties back to our class inquiry. By incorporating a TED Talk, a biopic film, and a study on technology, my sources present information in distinct ways, making them both unique and informative.

For example, in The Social Network, a character states, “The Internet's not written in pencil, Mark, it's written in ink.” This quote perfectly encapsulates the permanence of online interactions and connects seamlessly to my fourth source, the pencil shop article. The internet is, in fact, "written in ink"—anything posted can almost always be tracked down, even if deleted. A person’s social media presence and digital footprint can have significant consequences, whether positive or negative, affecting their personal, professional, or social life. What was once just a platform for connecting with friends and family, as Facebook originally intended, has evolved into something far more powerful.

Reflecting on this source, I highly recommend using films as research materials. As an inherently artistic medium, films are rich with opportunities for analysis. Their use of complex themes, subtle commentary on modern culture, purposeful cinematography, and layered storytelling makes them one of my favorite sources to analyze. While we haven’t yet fully delved into the Unit 2 or 3 portfolio assignments, I could absolutely see myself revisiting The Social Network for a deeper source analysis. The film not only highlights the negative effects of social media on the general population but also explores the profound impact on the individuals creating these platforms. The ability to connect over one billion people was once unimaginable, yet it is now a reality. I look forward to analyzing this film further—not because of a lack of initial analysis, but because of the vast number of features left to unpack.

Moving on to my third source, the TED Talk, I found this to be my weakest selection, despite its valuable discussion on how tech algorithms shape speech patterns and influence dialect evolution. In the video, Aleksic states, “The very structure of social media is changing where words come from, how words get popular, and how quickly those words spread.” This quote strongly connects to our inquiry and highlights the influence of technology on daily life—even down to the way we speak. While this source effectively conveys that message, it lacks rhetorical devices and analytical depth, making it difficult to dissect beyond the surface-level information. A strong source should allow for continuous analysis and discovery, and in that regard, this TED Talk falls short.

Similarly, my first source, the New York Times study on loneliness and technology, provided impactful data, such as the finding that “An academic review of multiple studies concluded that adults who binged programs tended to experience depression, anxiety, and, to some extent, loneliness.” While the study offered valuable insights, it lacked the textual depth needed for extensive analysis. Both the TED Talk and the article contained a wealth of educational content, but in terms of analyzing sources through an interpretive lens, I find that film and other interpretive mediums provide more engaging opportunities for reflection and discussion.

Throughout this project, I challenged myself to seek out sources that were both reputable and engaging. This approach led me to include a film as a research source, a choice that significantly enriched my analysis. The use of diverse genres in a portfolio such as this not only makes my analysis unique but also enhances the depth of insight I can provide. By selecting a mix of academic and artistic sources, I was able to branch out not just in the types of materials I analyzed, but also in how I approached them. Ultimately, I believe I succeeded in creating a well-rounded and thought-provoking source collection.