So as most know, this is a photo referencing Call of Duty. If you don't know what it is, it's a video game (which I admit to playing, even though I do not consider myself a "gamer") that involves running around, blowing shit up and defeating terrorists and other forms of global terror. The main part of the game is the multiplayer section that involves never ending shooting of other players. There are objectives within the game in order to help the longevity and diversity of the game. I chose this photo because I'm interested in it and it is pretty cultural relevant. Reading into it, the first thing I notice is the large silhouette of an armed man. If I had to assume what this insinuates, it would be that war is culturally relevant. Well, this game probably appeals to people in the US (among others) because we have been at war. A lot of people are very sick at being at war for reasons no one "really" knows and others buy into patriotism and a sense of defeating anything that is anti-America. Regardless of political stance or any other factors, the game can touch many people by relating the very broad issue of war. It touches people in one way or another and if you ask me, that's a very smart marketing technique.
The next thing I notice is the mass destruction in the background of the picture. Again, this deals strictly with war and possibly the infatuation with blowing shit up. Violence has been a pretty prevalent theme in video games, movies and films over the last several years. This seems to point to the fact that we are a violent generation.

I hope these are valid assumptions and this is the direction you hope I would move toward.

Paper Topics

So I am going to write about one idea for my paper rather than two however I'll elaborate more than 3-5 sentences. I plan on writing my ethnography on Starbucks. It has always fascinated me with the way they really lure people in. Starbucks is great at creating a place and potentiating rituals and interesting behaviors. Every store appeals to a different demographic, neighborhood and culture. This appeals to me because I am an avid coffee drinker and I am very interested in examining Starbucks and the cultural significance associated with it. I hope this sounds like a valid subject!

Assignment 1

My name is David Benson. I'm 23 years old and a sophomore studying Audio Arts and Acoustics. I grew up in San Antonio Texas and moved to Wisconsin when I was 16 to live with my biological father. I graduated high school and worked for 4 years before deciding to go to College. I'm engaged to a wonderful girl named Bia (also attending Columbia) and we plan on getting married after school. I live in the Ravenswood neighborhood with Bia, Doug the Pug and my cat chief. When I'm not getting my ass kicked at school full time, I work full time and also work at a recording studio for an internship. When I graduate I hope to work as a live sound engineer or for a sound company doing installation. If I don't get a job in my field right away, I plan on getting my Masters degree.
If I were to choose anything beside audio as a career, it would be Mechanical engineering, Geology or Botany. I like to fix things and know what makes them work. My interests are music, science, plants, call of duty and anything sound or audio related. I chose to attend Columbia because of the audio program and the professors involved in it.
I hope to learn how to express myself through writing more from this class. For the most part, I feel most comfortable expressing myself through writing. I enjoy learning a lot and hope to get the most I possibly can out of my education.