The Internet. Until recently, I visited the web to check my email, go on Facebook, shop on Amazon, and research for papers. I always knew that the Internet offers an infinite array of services and is home to innumerable countercultures. To me, this undiscovered abyss was mystifying, and more importantly, a waste of time. That is, until I started English 138, and was required to journey through the hidden spaces of the web that I had avoided for so long. After the first week, I had resigned myself to failure. My computer froze two hours into my website creation, and I already felt behind. When I saw some of my classmates struggling by the second class, I was relieved to know that I was not alone in my technological naivete. From that point on, I decided that I could make it through, but I knew that this would be one of the most challenging classes I have taken at Santa Clara thus far.

Early on, I was most intimidated by the practical application assignments. As such I was drawn to the reading, a task that I knew I could accomplish. The reading assignments were essential to my learning in the class. They introduced me to new uses of the Internet, and the ways that it can empower individuals. Through these articles, I learned about the appeal of Second Life, fan fiction, citizen media, and flash mobbing. I found that I had a more open mind about these subcultures, and was less resistant to enter their worlds.
Upon entering Second Life, I immediately felt out of place. Everyone I encountered was actively engaged in conversation, conversation that did not include me. I was unsure of how to make my character sit, how to change her appearance, and most importantly, what I was supposed to do in a virtual world. By the end of my first session (crashing several computers along the way) I felt frustrated, shunned by the other members, and bored.

My outlook began to change when my group and I started to prepare for our Machinima project. By this point, I had learned how to change my appearance and transport to different locations. The movie gave me a purpose, which made spending time on SL more meaningful. For the film, I created characters, found locations, and shot and edited numerous scenes. Shooting was the most tedious work, but after countless hours in the Multimedia Lab, I have mastered the technique. I am proud of my work on this film, because it was a task that I never imagined I could complete. Also, I have a greater understanding of the meaning and importance of SL for different people, and its potential as a learning tool and medium for international communication.

I also learned a great deal from the class weblog, Counterpower. Oftentimes, the insights of my classmates encouraged me to look at something in a new way. I have always considered computer gaming to be an antisocial activity that wastes hours of the day. After reading the blogs of some students in the class who play games online, I have learned that this is not always the case. In many ways, gaming is a highly social activity that connects players across the world to reach a common goal. Gaming can also develop skills like problem-solving and teamwork. These thoughts led me to reassess my judgment of spaces that I have not experienced myself. Other times, I felt that bloggers were reacting too close-mindedly. While I felt frustrated by their responses, I was encouraged to examine my own narrow-minded views. Looking back, I wish that I had responded more to these types of comments. It might have stimulated further debate on these issues. Still, I tried to contribute when I could.

My final project was yet another challenge. I chose a topic that reflects my personal experience and my interest in anthropology. My website focuses on Kashmiri merchants living in India. In order to create a well-rounded site, I relied on trustworthy Internet sources for data, as well as my own journal entries from my time in India. In creating the site, I considered the features that I appreciate in a website. I worked hard to make my information easy to read, with an emphasis on simplicity of movement within the site. The website has 3,596 words of text, spread across 13 pages. My linear essay came out to 2,874 words.

I have never been a technologically savvy person. More accurately, I have never been interested in becoming one. I don’t subscribe to a blog, or visit youtube regularly, or have a blackberry. I don’t even have text messaging on my phone. Having said all this, this class has shown me the benefits of being open to new technologies and new ways of communicating.

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