Pattern Recognition

Cool as defined by Charles Schultz

The reading for this week is a novel by William Gibson entitled Pattern Recognition. This title reflects the central tool of media studies, or pretty much any studies, which is observing a pattern and through consideration and reflection, advancing a reading of the pattern observed. In the novel the protagonist is a "cool hunter," someone hypersensitive to emerging cultural patterns she is able to make a living by spotting the next "cool" thing.  I am interested in what you say about this novel and whether it remains sufficiently interesting or has it become too predictable and dated in its technology and social references. Remember to blog about anything you read to document your performance.

As an writing assignment I would like you to provide me a  blog about something you have observed as an emerging cultural pattern and a reading of its significance or interest to you or us.

Please remember to post your own design for a page to be added to The Medium is the Massage that would reflect contemporary media realities. If you have not read this book yet, do so, it will not take that much time and is worth the insight it provides.

In class we will consider the rules for "cool," the manner of hippness, and the nature of the "avant garde" and the culture of "fashion."

We will discuss some of the ideas of the media theorist, Stuart Hall.

Some cool hunting links:

http://www.geekologie.com/

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-03-12/bret-easton-ellis-how-charlie-sheen-is-giving-us-what-we-want/