Author: Alexis Renae

For my final project in my Digital Media Literacy class, I created an interactive timeline about Disney’s negative depictions of people of color (POC). My project is titled Transformation, Fascination, and Racialization: A Look at Disney’s Depictions of People of Color in Animated Films through the Years. I was inspired to choose this topic after … Continue reading Transformation, Fascination, and Racialization: A Look at Disney’s Depictions of People of Color in Animated Films through the Years

It’s hard to believe, but my Digital Media Literacy class met for the last time this week (virtually, of course due to the coronavirus). One of the few tasks left for the class is completing my final blog and vlog entry on what I’ve learned from this course.  Usually, after finishing a class, I am … Continue reading School’s Out: Major Takeaways from Digital Media Literacy Class

My required readings for this week’s Digital Media Literacy class are two chapters about the state of American education. In these chapters, the author, Joel Best, uses his self-made term, Stupidity Epidemic, to describe Americans’ worry that upcoming generations are less intelligent than previous generations. He notes that some Americans fear this rising epidemic will spell … Continue reading Unboxing U.S. Education

Who would’ve thought a global pandemic would shut down my university in the middle of the spring semester? Not I.  Thanks to the Internet, my Digital Media Literacy class is still able to take place. Ironically, our first online lecture covered the rise of the Internet in the mid-to-late 20th century. In this lecture, I … Continue reading Exploring the Internet and the Future of Technology

In a society where social media popularity is people’s lifeline in the real world, one woman’s life turns upside down when her ranking suddenly plummets in this thrilling episode of Black Mirror. Exploring the potential impacts of futuristic technology on people and society, Black Mirror is a science fiction series available on Netflix. “Nosedive,” the … Continue reading Diving into the Deep End: Review of Black Mirror’s “Nosedive”

A chorus of cheers and boos erupted from my Digital Media Literacy class while I sat agape in disbelief. What caused the outburst? The announcement of the winning team in a class debate. Reality settled in quickly. For the winners, the results meant a free pizza party and a self-proclaimed victory against white supremacy. For … Continue reading The First Amendment: Defending Freedom

Cell phones give us access to a whole new world of information–a brand new digital landscape where we can learn anything, go anywhere, and be anything we want to be. Using phones, we can chat with people thousands of miles away, see pictures of the universe or microscopic cells, and get help from artificial intelligence … Continue reading Cell Reception and Embracing Technology

Last week, my Digital Media Literacy class dove into U.S. politics–taking a closer look at how the media and other factors sway presidential elections. As part of my homework, I explored the Newseum EDCollection Decoding Elections: Process, Persuasion & Participation. I took the Political Personality quiz, read about the presidential election process, and viewed artifacts … Continue reading Ways that Persuade U.S. Elections

Garry Trudeau’s art piece, “Street Calculus,” illustrates the influence of bias on our perceptions of people we encounter. The art highlights the foolishness of relying on trivial external factors for navigating human interactions. In the picture, both men’s facial expressions reflect surprise and shock to come face-to-face with someone they consider to be threatening. My … Continue reading Identity, Bias, and Calculating Risk