Midterm blog (Experiences reflection)
In the eyes of many, our smartphones frustrate connection to physical presence. This assignment is meant to challenge that perception–and encourage reconnection to the vibrant, youthful city UT calls home. The purpose of this activity, which you will complete over the course of the semester, is to engage Austin & campus culture in a variety of places and in a variety of ways. It involves two steps:
Sometime before the post is due, complete three – four activities from this list of digital adventures. In the post, describe the three activities you completed and embed photos, tweets, etc., that document your participation. Leave a “digital trail” while you complete these activities by taking pictures, tweeting, posting pictures and updates to social networking sites like Twitter and Instagram, etc. (If you’re a fan of SnapChat, by all means include some screenshots of your Snaps!). At the end of the post, explain how your perception of digital culture has evolved over the course of the semester and specifically the role that these three events played in that evolution. (Personal request: unless you’re opting for the brunch option, only one photo of food, and don’t include the phrase, “a picture is worth a thousand words. WE KNOW).
Note: You are welcome to write about the individual experiences in your other writing for the class. Just please don’t repeat exactly the same information in this blog post.
Second, reflect on what these experiences have taught you about how technology can relate to your connection to your local community. Some questions to get you going (you can answer some or none!) Did you have any hiccups? Did you ever find yourself in a situation where you needed your phone (either for information / map, etc)? How did you feel your phone enabled these experiences? Were there any moments in which you felt as if your phone isolated you from others? Or connected?
- Catch a lecture, movie, or other campus event, and give us your review. Give us a heads up before you are going, Tell us why you wanted to go after, and explain your reasoning for attending this event. Did it live up to your expectations? Why or why not?
- See / review a live music show. After all, Austin is the Live Music Capitol of the World! You can catch smaller shows less expensively at such venues as The Continental Club, the Broken Spoke, the Cactus Café, Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon, the Nutty Brown Café, etc. There are also free or inexpensive shows around the time of major music festivals like ACL and South By Southwest. Check out the venues’ websites or The Austin Chronicle‘s Music Calendar for upcoming shows.
- Go two-stepping at a dance hall. Check out this list of places to go dancing in the Austin area. If you’re interested in traveling outside the city, within a short distance you will find several classic dance halls, including the ones in Gruene, La Grange, and Luckenbach. If you aren’t sure about dancing, many of these clubs offer two-step lessons on certain nights.
- Catch brunch at a historic site. On Sundays, some of Austin’s favorite dance halls and concert venues open their doors for brunch. Three popular spots are Threadgill’s, Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon (where you can play “chicken shit bingo”), and the Nutty Brown Café.
- Go on a treasure hunt! If you’ve never tried it before, geocaching is a fun (and free) way to explore your city.
- Take us on a photo tour of a cultural spot in Austin. Some options for this include: Texas Music Museum. The museum is located at 1009 East 11th Street and is open M-F 9am-4pm. Admission is free. You might also consider several on campus museums (Blanton & LBJ Library) and research archives (Harry Ransom Center / Blanton / Briscoe) which are not only free for you, but you can look at cool things!
- Check out one of Austin’s festivals: The big ones are SXSW (March) and ACL (October), but check out all the others.
- Recommend an Austin spot of your own to be added to this list. Why is it special? Include pictures and a description.
- Choose your own adventure! There are lots of ways to explore Austin and UT, and along the way, realize how your digital companion can connect you to your physical environs. Shoot me an email if you have ideas in addition to the ones that I have already listed here. We will try to work it out.