Today we talked about different ways to study thing, exploring different aspects of a subject from various angles. The main was “Embodiment,” examining how our bodies and feelings are intertwined. Then, there’s “Phenomenology,” which helps us see things in a fair way and get what emotions mean.
We also delved into the works of Merleau-Ponty, who challenges the idea that our minds and bodies are completely separate. The discussion extended to gender studies, where Judith Butler questions why we label certain behaviours as “normal” based on gender.
The idea of the “mediated self” caught my attention, exploring how social media influences our self-perception. It’s fascinating how the concept of the mediated self has practical implications in our daily lives. I’ve observed a similar phenomenon, especially among children who engage with avatars and characters in games. The connection they establish with these virtual representations seems to go beyond just entertainment.
I’ve noticed that some young children develop a strong attachment to their characters. It’s intriguing how they perceive these avatars as extensions of themselves. For instance, if someone criticizes their character’s appearance on a social network, it affects them as if it were a personal attack. This blurring of lines between the virtual and real worlds can be confusing for both adults and children.
In such situations, it appears that the emotional impact of virtual interactions is very much real to them. The question of whether these experiences should be considered a part of human reality is quite thought-provoking. Exploring the psychological and sociological aspects of this phenomenon could make for a compelling essay. I’m still figuring out my approach to this topic, but it definitely piques my interest
Towards the end, we got some practical tips for research and assignments, which I found really helpful. It’s like a roadmap for breaking down questions and figuring out which theories to explore. This will definitely come in handy for my assignments