TRANSFORMATIONS
The Austro-Hungarian economic anthropologist and social philosopher Karl Paul Polanyi wrote his book The Great Transformation, about the consequences of industrialization, several decades before the widespread use of digital computers, genetic engineering, and high-level automation. Some important transformations in the way we live, work, and play are the legacy of momentous decisions and and herculean efforts. Others involve incremental decisions and adjustments. The act of transforming may bring a marked conversion in the appearance or character of things, or the changes observed may be subtle. Change has implications for people, ecosystems, industry, and society. Regardless, the choices we make now will shape the critical decades ahead.
Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Artificial Intelligence will Change Our Lives
Jefferson Tjaden
Even with everything we currently know about Astronomy and Space, we have barely scratched the surface. There is much more in Space that remains to be fully understood, such as Dark Matter or the Universe Expansion rate (Hubble Constant). We have not yet sent a human to another planet, let alone beyond the Solar System. All of this could change rapidly if we were to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Astronomy.
AI has already proven to be such a massive game-changer, such as ChatGPT or AI voice recreation. Given that AI is already making massive progress this year, and the fields of AI and space are in their infancy compared to how long humans have been around for, the possibilities for combining the two are infinite. AI will exponentially increase the speed at which astronomical data can be sorted, interpreted, and compared. If we could perfect an AI to react instantaneously and without error as a pilot, spaceflight could become a reality within our lifetime.
A few questions arise from the idea of combining AI with Astronomy. The biggest one includes our ability to trust AI, which in relation to Astronomy is a safe bet. Another question is if AI can match human performance in Astronomy, which it easily can, even with more complex tasks as well as simple ones. The final question is can AI also sort and interpret data instantaneously and without error. The answer is yes, with error rates being around 3%.
There are several reasons why AI should be fully incorporated in Astronomy. AI would aid in the processing of the massive backlog of data, potentially discovering new planets and perhaps life. Space travel would also benefit as AI could react perfectly and instantly, eliminating almost any risk of human space travel. Every year, the amount of astronomical data doubles, and there is already a significant backlog, preventing astronomers from being able to potentially make groundbreaking discoveries. Using AI would allow for billions if not trillions of data processing each second, significantly reducing the backlog as well as allowing astronomers to focus on other areas that might be more important.
AI has already been partially implemented into Astronomy, and it has quickly proved its usefulness and that it would have a big impact. A great example is in the area of searching for exoplanets, and especially the signs of an exoplanet existing. AI has been incorporated into a machine learning algorithm that is not only already able to outpace humans in searching for exoplanets, but also has taught astronomers better insights to help improve their technique of discovering exoplanets.
In summary, there is a great potential for AI to have success if combined with Astronomy. AI is safe, trustworthy, accurate, and incredibly fast with data calculations or sorting. AI being implemented into Astronomy would also open up new opportunities in the areas of space travel and space exploration. Because AI would be able to react instantly and correctly, human error would no longer be a factor in space travel, making the possibility for regular space travel high within our lifetime. Space exploration would also see a huge boost if AI was allowed to fully help with it as there is so much data collected that is collecting digital dust, as well as many new satellites being launched each year. Finally, the small amount of AI that has already been implemented has shown promising results and a lasting impact. The data sorting and analysis would be millions of times faster, increasing the chance of new planets, stars, galaxies, or even alien life being discovered.
Modern Korean Studies
Eva Suskind
Starting in the 1990s and early 2000s, Korea saw unexpected success through Korean Dramas in China. Since then, parallel to rapid economic growth and development, Korea has continued to export media abroad. Specifically, Korean Pop music, Dramas and web-comics continue to dominate Korea’s media presence abroad. In addition, Korean consumer goods like skincare, food, and technology are also more prominent abroad. Though these commodities take up different areas of the market, when marketed as explicitly Korean, they combine to unintentionally create a unified brand of Korea itself.
The idea of soft power includes the use of economic and cultural influence to gain political leverage. Soft power is generally defined by creating a preference for a country not through obvious coercion. Even if Korean influences abroad take the shape of K- pop fandom or K-drama enthusiasts, it still grants Korea political power. If many foreigners are generally invested in Korean affairs, it gives the Korean government more prominence and legitimizes them as an international presence. Seemingly juvenile interactions with Korean exports gives Korea tangible political power. For example, K-pop idols like æspa and BTS have both given speeches on behalf of Korea at the United Nations and BTS have spoken at the White House. Though they did not speak on particularly polarizing topics, pop culture figures as political ambassadors is an intentional and unique strategy. Though it appears as an unimpressive tactic, Korea has placed itself in a position where these strategies can be effective. Analyzing what forces are guiding the Korean wave from a diplomatic standpoint can help untangle the complicated motivations that perpetuate this phenomena.
This level of Korean domestic media being consumed internationally is a relatively new trend; the effects of which have yet to be analyzed. Complexities arise when media originally created for Korean audiences are consumed by non-Koreans whose only interaction with Koreais through these pieces of media. The assumed legitimacy that can come from the label “Made in Korea” or “K-” can be used to justify unfounded beliefs. Does pop-culture lead to a nuanced understanding of Korean culture or does it serve to create a laminated idea of Korea to be bought and sold? Media has always played an important role in cultural understanding as it can either enforce existing ideas or challenge them. However with the Korean wave the definition of culture is now more than ever in the hands of music producers, movie directors, and product designers. The audience for Korean media also encompasses non-Koreans. It has yet to be determined if these interactions dilute and overwhelm genuine understanding or create a greater enriching community. Consumption of Korean content and commodities can also be considered more passive since they occupy entertainment and retail sectors.
Critical investigation of these effects is especially important during a time when both Asian Hate and Korean representation are on the rise. These two phenomena have yet to be negotiated or understood as connected. How Korean influence abroad is functioning simultaneously as cultural education and commodities should be examined in order to get ahead on emerging forms of prejudice, stereotypes, and Neo-Orientalism.
The Disappearance of Hard Conversations
Lily Perry
Disagreement is a universal experience. Most of us have also experienced finding common ground. In today’s society, disagreement has become associated with anger, hatred, and polarization, particularly when looking at politics and social movements. People’s ideas and belief have become set in stone, in part because of narratives promoted by the media which further polarize us. In an individualized society, we feel that we need to be right.
Just as a child looks to their parents, mimicking their behavior, we actually do the same process when we look to leaders and people we may idolize. We copy the way they act, communicate, and disagree. When we see world leaders not communicating respectfully with one another, we mirror those behaviors in our own conversations.
Media has furthered promoted these poor behaviors. For example, during the 2020 election process, how many times did you see the clip of Joe Biden saying to Trump, “Would you just shut up man?” Or the clips of Trump calling Biden “sleepy Joe” and referring to Kamala Harris “nasty Kamala,” ''nasty woman,” or that “phony woman?” And how many times did you hear or see anything based on true policy? If you follow any of the mainstream news outlets, or are an avid TikTok or Instagram user, you are more likely to have remembered the ridiculousness of the debates and election process, rather than anything productive about these conversations. The calculations of media perpetuate poor behaviors.
When was the last time you were able to have a political conversation with someone on the opposite side of the spectrum? Or when was the last time you were able to have a debate with another person without feeling like you weren’t actually listened to? According to a Pew Research Study, only 17% of us are comfortable talking about politics with someone we barely know.
When we avoid conversations, we get nowhere as a civil society. The United States Congress hasn’t been agreeable or respectful for years. Two of the longest government shutdowns occurred during the Trump Administration and, as a consequence, nonessential workers found themselves unpaid. In classrooms throughout the United States, the topic of politics is shut down. Administrators explain that these situations have become too “heated.” In the process, we’ve allowed students to have ideas go unchallenged. By avoiding conversations, students get no experience with the art of conversation, and this damages their problem-solving skills.
Some of the most productive events in history happened as the result of different points of view coming together to find a solution. The Black Lives Matter movement, for example, had a positive effect on legislation. After the death of George Floyd, Americans had many conversations and disagreements. White people felt uncomfortable. Black voices talked about being silenced. And the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act was finally passed, making lynching illegal in all 50 states. When conversations happen, and when people are open to hearing other perspectives, we make a better society for everyone.
What can we do to start having hard conversations?
I have found that active listening—showing body engagement, listening to what others are saying—acknowledging emotions, asking open ended questions, being respectful, separating the person from the problem, keeping emotions out of it, seeking common ground, and summarizing and acknowledging takeaways—are truly how to have these productive conversations.
Give conversation a chance. You may be surprised where it leads.
Listening to Indigenous Voices
Corinne Martin
At the center of many indigenous worldviews is the idea that everything is connected. All people, animals, plants, and events on this earth are all part of this larger circle of connection in which everything impacts everything. This year, devastating and seemingly unique events have occurred: a pandemic, wildfires, racial injustices. Amidst the chaos it can be hard to find a thread of any meaning or connection between all these events, but as someone seeking to study Native American stories, I can’t help but notice that overlooked indigenous stories lie at the heart of many of these hardships.
Indigenous narratives are making clear the biggest problems this country faces, and also providing hope for how we can move past these problems. The stories are here, and I hope to show the value listening to them has for creating a better future.
The wildfires that have ravaged the West Coast for the past view weeks have had a devastating impact on the communities that live both in and around the wildfires. These fires were primarily caused by an accumulation of brush within western forests, causing it to spread with speed and tenacity in California, Washington, and Oregon.
What many people don’t know is that many tribes in these areas had followed indigenous traditions in creating small fires to burn the undergrowth of these areas and prevent the buildup of brush that caused massive wildfires. These practices were eventually banned; however many officials are now reflecting on the value of these traditions and how they could have prevented the devastating wildfires of the summer of 2020.
People are waking up to the important knowledge that indigenous people have about our natural environment and how to best live within it. Climate change seems to only be getting worse. California recorded this summer the hottest temperatures ever recorded on earth. This means the value of indigenous environmental knowledge has only increased. We can avoid natural disasters in the future, and also provide ways to change our lifestyles if we truly want to save our environment. Paying attention to Native voices is important.
Racial injustices in our country towards BIPOC (Black & Indigenous People of Color) have been shown with the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Sherry Fisher-Tilberoo. It has been made clear that racism is still prevalent in our country, and from all races and backgrounds people have come together to protest against continued inequality. Native people have been a large part of these protests, as they continue to face prejudice in this country. From this came a victory for Native people all across the country as the former football team The Washington Redskins have finally changed their name to The Washington Football Team, dropping the racial slur that has impacted many Natives for years. Though it should have been changed a long time ago, dropping the name is a win for Native people. Their determination and victory against a man who claimed he would never change the name shows the power Native voices have to work together towards change in this country.
Finally, it is impossible to ignore the large impact the pandemic has had on Native communities across the country. Native reservations have some of the worst rates of COVID in the entire country, along with the fewest resources. This pandemic highlights longstanding issues of Native reservations. The pandemic also highlights issues faced by so many impoverished communities in this country. Native stories shine light on this country’s inequality, and just how deep it goes.
There are examples of hope. In 1847 when the Irish people were enduring their own hardships from the potato famine, and similarly lacked the help they needed from their government, Native American tribes in the United States came together to give money to the Irish people. This year, more than 170 years later, the Irish people raised more than $1.8 million dollars to donate to Native peoples, repaying them for the relief they’d given them. Here is a prime example of everything being connected, and circling back past to present. We must hope that more people follow this example in helping each other across party lines and country borders.
By listening to Native voices we can all better understand the issues we face today. There is also inspiration here for the kind of world we want to live in. It is important to listen to indigenous stories that are often overlooked. Indigenous stories provide introspection in a very dark year. They also communicate messages of enduring hope for the future. All things are connected. Everything eventually comes full circle.
Technology in Museums
Grace Gordon
In my opinion, today is a very exciting time to be a public historian. As technology increasingly improves in today's modern world, many museums have chosen to embrace this technological shift and increasingly incorporate technology into their exhibits. It is important for our museums to reflect the current available technologies so as to keep museums impactful for the modern day museum-goer. Technologies such as augmented and virtual reality open the door for museums to be more interactive for museum attendees which often makes the museum experience much more memorable and special.
However, embracing modern day technologies so as to keep exhibits more interesting and unique has not been a universally accepted sentiment within the museum world. While all serious historical museums today are in agreeance that their primary task is to educate museum-goers about the past, there is still debate on how much attention the entertainment aspect of a museum should be given. Museum traditionalists argue that the only purpose of a museum is to be a space that serves to educate those who enter it. Others argue that museums should go beyond being essentially "a book on the wall" and incorporate interactive and engaging exhibits within their museums so as to get more people interested and wanting to attend an exhibit.
As the majority of public historians largely see museums as ever-changing beings that should reflect current social trends and interests, it is only natural that technology should be incorporated into museums today. In the last decade museums that have incorporated digital technologies and have become increasingly digitally based have seen a new high surge in attendance numbers. The implementation of current exciting technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality into museums institutions serve to make history feel more present and easier to connect with on a human level. Immersive virtual reality experiences at museums make it very easy to cater to the creative and emotional side of humanity that museums of the past have often ignored. A museum exhibit that caters to the emotional side of humans is important as emotions should not be something that museums just cast to the side as not essential. If you emotionally connect with an aspect of history through a museum, then that experience will likely be extremely memorable and make you think about the exhibit long after you experienced it.
Utilizing state of the art technologies to make the physical museums more exciting and engaging is not the only type of digitization museums have been focusing on. Museums have also been creating interactive and educational websites that are free of charge and accessible to all. Many museums have begun the process of archiving their artifacts onto online databases that allow for anyone to browse and learn about the museum's collections. Creating digital platforms for the contents of a museum means that the knowledge that can be gained from visiting a certain museum is now more accessible than ever to larger populations of people. And, unlike reading a book about the past, Museum websites are hyper textual platforms. The website-viewer has all the power to control what they learn and focus on. It is a non-linear experience that allows you to fall down whatever rabbit hole seems most interesting to you and spend as much or a little time as you want on reading and learning about a specific exhibit.
I see the path museums are currently headed down with increasing immersive digital exhibits as a necessary and powerful movement that I am excited to explore and be a part of.
Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Artificial Intelligence Will Change Our Lives
Sarah Brantley
The digital age has transformed how we live, work, and communicate. With emerging technology such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence, our society is set to undergo even more significant changes.
Augmented reality (AR) is the technology that enables digital information to be overlaid in the physical world, thus enhancing our perception and understanding of reality. Augmented reality has already been incorporated into several industries, including gaming, retail, and education. Facebook’s Metaverse, visual AI for clothing e-commerce, and intelligent tutoring of students are all examples of augmented reality. In the future, AR is expected to revolutionize how we interact with our environment. Imagine walking down the street and instantly receiving information about the buildings, stores, or restaurants you pass by, all through an AR-enabled device. This technology has the potential to enhance our safety, improve our navigation skills, and help us to make informed decisions.
Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that enables users to immerse themselves in a computer-generated environment. VR has been primarily used in gaming and entertainment, but now it is also being used in the healthcare system, architecture, and education. For example, VR is being used to train surgeons, simulate architectural designs, and create immersive learning experiences. In the future, virtual reality has the potential to transform the way we learn, work, and communicate. VR technology can also allow us to experience historical events, travel to distant places, and explore different cultures, all without having to leave our homes.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a broad term that encompasses technologies such as machine learning, natural language processing, and robotics. AI has already made significant strides in several industries such as healthcare and finance. AI algorithms can detect fraud or diagnose medical conditions. Self-driving cars already use artificial intelligence to navigate their surroundings.
In the future, AI has the potential to change the way we live and work, and the way we interact with machines. AI-enabled devices can learn from our behavior and preferences, anticipate our needs, and can assist us in our daily lives. However, there are also many concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs and human decision-making. As AI continues to develop and evolve, it is essential to ensure that it serves the interests of human society and does not exacerbate existing inequalities.
The digital age, augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence are poised to transform our society in significant ways. These technologies have the potential to enhance our lives, improve our systems, and revolutionize the way we interact with the world around us. However, there are also challenges and concerns associated with these technologies, and it’s essential to navigate their development with caution and foresight. As we move forward into this new technological era, we must strive for this technology to be more equitable and usher in a more sustainable future.
Fashion Rethought, Reinvented, and Reset
Anna Lee
We've long heard "The Devil Wears Prada," but in 2020 the devil wears sweatpants. Anna Wintour, the iconic inspiration for blockbuster character Miranda Priestly and chief editor of Vogue, posted an image of her on April 13, 2020, sporting track pants and a jumper. This post shocked many of Wintour's loyal following, as less than a year earlier, in July 2019, Wintour claimed that she would never wear sweatpants. Wintour posted this momentous image with the caption, "We need to talk frankly and openly about what fashion is going through, but just as importantly, we need to start imagining what comes next." The post speaks volumes. A person we least expected to step forward and confront the fashion industry has done just that. Wintour has since said that for "an industry that is meant to be about change, sometimes we take a long time to do just that because it's so big and there are so many moving parts. But now we were really forced into a moment when we had to reset and rethink." As we rethink the industry, however, we are not just rethinking apparel, but the whole global fashion system from public displays to the work behind the scenes.
The entire fashion industry can be rethought, reinvented, and reset. Fashion usually moves faster than any other industry, literally producing a city that never sleeps. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a healthy lull and time for reflection. Unfortunately, many houses have suffered major losses from the pandemic with the seventy-nine percent dive in clothing sales that happened in April. Big-name designers such as Marc Jacobs have significantly dialed back on brick and mortar stores, and to everyone's disbelief, Barney's New York, one of the iconic three B's and compliment to Bergdorf Goodman and Bloomingdale's, has officially shut its doors on Madison Avenue. Despite misfortune among classic big-name brands, what we have here is an opportunity to bring in fresh designers with innovative ideas that do not need multimillion-dollar shows and one hundred exclusive designs. Let’s give the indies a chance to break into the industry. The fast-paced environment threw young designers into a game they were not ready to play, and caused them to compromise their identities to generate quick profits. Now, these fresh minds have the chance to tailor fashion to a new world in which we live.
The COVID-19 pandemic has provided the opportunity to completely transform the fashion industry and rebuild it from the ground up. We can put the focus back on the connection between the producer and consumer as opposed to the producer and the middle man, which will allow for transformative change in all corners of the global fashion system. Instead of focusing on glitz and glam, we have the opportunity to bring fashion back to its roots and inspire new green shoots and offer hope for future growth.
Technology, Transhumanism, and What the Future May Hold
Anthony Lawson
Only the present exists. Or at least that used to be the case. Before communication, before complex thought, and before the calendar, human beings were, like all beings, sensory creatures living from one moment to the next. But then came technologies—two of the most fundamental being language and fire—and soon our species would never be the same.
Over thousands of years, the human brain has evolved and re-evolved. As our fundamental, internal toolkit of language has expanded, so have we. External societal infrastructure has grown alongside new sciences, new ways of thought, and new methods of communication to create the astounding and unfathomably complex world that we know today. Not only are we able to reflect and learn from our past, but we also look forward and imagine our future. We have the power to conceptualize beyond the present, and we must not take that ability for granted.
In 2019, Elon Musk was quoted as saying: “To some degree, [you] are already a cyborg—you think of all the digital tools that you have—your phone, your computer … [t]he applications that you have. The fact that you can ask a question and instantly get an answer from Google and other things …” This point was an interesting one, and it evokes a much larger idea: the concept of transhumanism.
Transhumanism, in name, sounds dystopian. And to some extent it is. It is the imagining of the future of humanity—of a change that is plausible and a state that is desirable. It illustrates a future in which humanity has synthesized beneficial, external tools with our own organic bodies and minds. And yes, by definition that does sound uncomfortable (and quite honestly idealist). Cyborgs? Synthesis? To many people this concept seems far-fetched.
But what about medicine? From sleeping pills to ADHD medication to antidepressants—all of medicine consists, in a sense, of biotechnologies. These are technologies that we willingly adapt to our brains.
Or consider literature. For centuries, human beings have looked not inwards, but outwards for knowledge. Shed the dystopian label, and all media consumption is a form of reprogramming. These things are done willingly, autonomously, and with the intent of personal growth.
That is transhumanism.
Transhumanism is a philosophy of progress. It represents a hope that our modern miseries may someday be conquered. It signifies a hope for a world where illness, trauma, and inequality may be problems of the past. It is the faith that science and communication may continue to expand as they have for centuries past. Transhumanism is a humanism.
But this “humanism” remains inhibited. There are a great many challenges in the world today that demand our attention. Idealist philosophies mean absolutely nothing without societal progress to match. Change needs to be made, but where does change begin?
The human experience will never change. The emotions we feel, the bonds we make, and the experiences we share are what collectively ground us and unify us. The internal processes of growth and learning that humans endure over lifetimes form our collective human experience. We can only change what is external. Our access to housing, healthcare, employment, and education is where change truly begins.
And that is why I study media. The power and reach of modern media is exhilarating and almost unfathomable. It is a transhumanist “looking glass” with revolutionary communicational—and in turn educational—implications. As we continue to integrate new media, new medicines, and new technologies into our lives, it is our duty to ensure a level playing field for all. To be media literate and media conscious is to be an agent of positive change.
The future is rapidly approaching, so why not shape it for the better?
Academic Wizardry: The Magic of Transfiguration
Grace Warren
In J. K. Rowling’s delightfully spectacular world of Harry Potter, the characters enjoy the magic of becoming someone or something else entirely. Universities in the muggle world are giving students similar experiences by opening the door to interdisciplinary studies.
Society is demanding that individuals in both workplaces and social settings be adaptable at an almost unfathomable level. COVID-19 forced us to isolate and allowed alienation to accelerate. We had nowhere to go and nothing to do, and so we started having hard conversations. In the past twelve months there has been mass reflection and reform surrounding so many things: racism, sexism, homophobia, wage gap, and polarization in America. Students who are graduating and entering the workforce are diving headfirst into disheveled departments that are being reconstructed to honor more progressive agendas. Were the thousands of dollars that these fresh graduates invested in higher education enough? The world outside of college life has been transformed, but have we?
We aren’t taking Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, or Care of Magical Creatures here at the university. Many of us, however, will go our entire college career without taking a step outside of their required curriculum. The farthest we’ll stray from our major’s checklist will be the one general education requirement we heard was an easy "A." We are being trained to have one focus, one skill, one future in mind. What happens when that path is altered by our rapidly evolving workplace? What happens when employers need to see more than the degree on a framed piece of paper on the wall?
The Independent Scholars program opens pathways to new possibilities for those who dare step outside the grips of traditional major requirements. It seems crazy to allow a young adult to combine their passions and formulate an academic study worthy of roughly $54,000. But the results are more magical than J. K. Rowling’s Potter. Cross-sectional inquiry gives way to personal freedoms and self-guided personal and academic transformation. The freedom to do what you love, and to love what you do, is revitalizing. From a regular course load to a course load I hand selected to reflect my personal interests and passions was like taking my first deep breath of academic freedom. I am excited to go to class, I want to engage with the material.
From the time (most of us) enter the public school system to the day we’re spit out clutching a diploma, we shuffle through an academic assembly line. We are told what to learn, where to learn it, how to study it, and when we can eventually forget it. Partaking in an interdisciplinary program at the collegiate level has transformed my opinion of what learning means. Learning isn’t something that I have to do to obtain a piece of paper to get a job to pay the bills. I have transformed learning into an intellectual investigation that is developing me as both an individual and a scholar, which is what I’ve come to discover that knowledge means to me. There is a great sense of purpose in my academic pursuits. I am curious to see how it will continue to change. Though I may not be headed off to Hogwarts, my learning experience is still feeling pretty magical.