themes:

-attention to detail to describe setting > try to give overall picture- poor work environment

-templates- streamline/impersonalize work

-[in]convenience- customers call to get people to do work for things they don’t have time for

tracking:

-working conditions disturbing

-power dynamic that exists even when impersonal- feel that doing this yourself is below you/not in your level of ability

readings:

-attention economy

-role of technology

-monotony of workplace

Part 1

Research Question: How does having a specific audience influence what and how you write?

I am curious to know how having a set audience (current members and alumni of Pi Beta Phi) influences the content and means of writing, and how content is chosen and maintains originality. I am also interested to know how much creative liberty these writers have, since much of the content is dependent on topics that already exist, rather than subjects they would seek out.

This course has made me think of writing as a commodity within an information/attention economy by a specific group who then fuels this by fixating on certain pieces of writing. I wonder how having a certain audience plays into the attention economy, since not everyone has access to this information.

I have reached out to people who write for The Arrow and will interview people who are willing to answer my questions. I would love to talk to people from older and younger generations and who have worked there for varying amounts of times so that I can acquire multiple perspectives and obtain a well-rounded view of the company, its practices, and its place in the economy.  I will also read past issues of the magazine as an observation so that I can get a feel for the writing and subjects independent from the authors and people involved in production.

Part 2

• How did you become employed at The Arrow?
• How has being a member of Pi Beta Phi given you writing opportunities?
• What does a typical day look like for you?
• How much of your writing is influenced by the writing of VP Communications (current members/students)?
• How do you maintain originality in your writing?
• How is your writing influenced by the scope of people it will reach?
  • How does the specificity of the brand and audience challenge/limit/enhance?

Recruitment Script:

Thank you so much for agreeing to speak with me. I am conducting a project for an English seminar about writing and money and the role of writing in/relation to the economy. Before we begin I wanted to make sure that you are comfortable discussing this topic and participating in my research, and also to see if it is alright with you that I record this interview.

Additional interview question for TV writer:

How has the industry changed since you have been a part of it and how has that influenced your writing? Different demands for type of writing? Has what audience wants/supports shifted and how does that make your job more difficult?

It seems that every aspect of life today has some relation to social media, an element of society that has become unavoidable. Nakamura argues that interference by women of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community in racist and sexist discourse is unpaid reproductive labor and that the act of educating white members of society is “difficult, valuable and underappreciated.” Not only is this moderation met with claims of censorship and sexism, but trolls, harassment, and threats may result, despite the good intentions and positive, or at the very least, educational, messages that these groups and individuals look to send. “Rewards,” too, exist, in the form of likes, follows, and recognition or praise from a larger group, yet many people are unwilling to accept this commentary or listen to its content.

Nakamura calls into question the foundation of a new culture and element of society; this is a new platform and conversation, relatively speaking, and thus the grounds on which to operate may still waver and be unclear to an individual. This brings up the idea of online etiquette- some users revel in their hidden identities and ability to hide behind a computer screen and thus say/post things that they wouldn’t dare do in person. It is admirable that the women Nakamura speaks of do not hesitate to speak up and speak out against this behavior, especially considering the number of people who use social media. If views of hate are circulated and shared at an overwhelming rate, these ideas will radiate into other elements of society and possibly mold the views of younger generations. These women are taking it upon themselves to educate the greater public and call out unacceptable behavior online, which also indicates that said words or actions are also not acceptable in other settings or in person. Whether for positive or negative purposes, social media has great power of mobilization, and it is our responsibility as a society to recognize both the risk and reward (both subjective) that exists within that idea.  

General Questions:

-How does your audience influence what/how you write?

-Do you feel as though writing is valued within society? Do you feel as though your writing is a form of currency &/or contributes to society?

-How has technology changed the way you work and what or how you produce (your writing)?

-What skills are most valued in your profession? Are flexibility and adaptability emphasized in your work environment?

-How much liberty do you have in determining your subject and the style in which you write? Have you been able to maintain your preferred/unique style of writing and voice or has writing as an occupation shifted these things?

Research Question:

How does having a set audience and subject matter dictate and influence the diversity in writing and what is written at The Arrow? How does this unity of audience (and possibly among writers) contribute to the overall product?

Methods:

-Interviews- gain personal experiences through interviews and understand “behind the scenes”/inner workings. Limitation- what the person is willing to offer or knows/has experienced them self.

-Textual analysis- relate interviews and processes/experiences discussed to the final product by looking at what is written. Limitation- need interview to support to get a true, well-rounded picture

I associate Brandt’s description of “mediation” as a writer being the sort of in-between step concerning information and an audience (or just the general public). Writers are communicators and filters in a way, as they seek out or are given information, and then choose the pieces important enough to share, manufacturing the best way in which to do that.

Mediation can be a challenge because determining what is important is subjective- you as a writer need to be engrossed in the topic yet you also need to keep in mind the interests of your readers and how this information will be best received. Writers are a sort of middle-man in releasing information, which can lead them to be targeted for the information itself. This brings to mind the saying “don’t kill the messenger,” as writers are just doing their jobs and trying to communicate new information in a way that will catch the attention of the public.

Brandt argues that vast importance exists in writing in the knowledge economy, as it is a means of communicating but can also be a product itself. Regulation exists because of the power of writing and literacy hold in certain settings, and as the knowledge economy expands, so does this oversight. In today’s world, adaptability is crucial, considering the constant retraining in jobs and ever changing environment as a result of new technologies. 

Something from Brandt’s article that stuck with me is the idea that individuals today possess more knowledge in the past, which seems like a good thing but increases the stakes for writers and also leads individuals to believe they are all-knowing, thus decreasing their trust in and value towards figures of authority/professionals. This to me brings up certain movements/ideologies, including anti-vaxxers, flat-earthers, and climate change non-believers. These groups manipulate information, believe “fake news” or blow one instance/story out of proportion, such as the (incorrect) idea that vaccinations cause autism. Because of the climate of today’s society, the ability to circulate information quickly online, and the permanence of that information, writers today have an increased level of responsibility to report and write factually and with possible repercussions in mind. While writers should not be held back by the possibility of ignorance or presence of trolls, it is important for them to consider the means in which they present their information and all of the abilities that accompany it. This discourse makes me wonder if writers are more concerned with criticism and responses, or possible backlash, when things are so immediate in this online world- does it influence their writing or are they simply concerned with communicating their message? Is “cancel culture” perceived as a threat? Is it intimidating that one article or extreme view can be circulated throughout the whole nation and effectively tarnish the writer’s name or even end their career?

Though this is not Brandt’s main focus in her article, that one line in the reading was incredibly interesting to me. With it comes the added pressure of an individual’s writing reflecting upon the company/brand, or the weight that a document holds, especially in legal or legislative contexts. The entirety of this article made me consider writing in a more broad capacity and denoted that with increased importance comes added pressure and higher stakes.

I am examining secrets as a form of currency and the intertwined nature of money of power, both of which enable the entertainment value exists within wealth. Gossip Girl is centered around both of these issues, and the existence of the show itself is commentary on the marketability and drama of wealth disparities.

The problem that this analysis addresses (it cannot solve due to the magnitude of the issue) is wealth inequality and with it the power structures that exist with money, as well as the disparities between social classes.

Tolentino uses rhetoric to urge people to examine the #MeToo movement from a different perspective, highlighting that this movement and the women fueling it– those speaking out and speaking up– has led to men desperately acting to hold on to power and maintain hierarchies. This is an atypical conversation path to take when discussing #MeToo, yet the points Tolentino makes are incredibly valid and ring true, especially with the evidence she supplies.

I interpret her purpose is to illuminate unintended consequences of social movements but also the defamation of character directed towards women who choose to speak out. Tolentino has noticed exigency that has emerged from a movement with upward momentum, in that when women look to reclaim what is theirs, they are perceived as a threat and targeted, in order to neutralize said threat. Tolentino’s statement is a bold one yet to me it perfectly encapsulates and explains the response to fearless women and the societal imbalance that persists.

Example passive aggressive note:

TO: messy eaters

As much as I LOVE cleaning up other people’s messes, and I do love it, because who doesn’t enjoy doing EXTRA work at their place of employment, it would be just great if certain individuals would stop leaving their trash and dishes around.

Please and thank you

Sincerely, Annoyed Coworker

Passive aggressive notes tend to call out a person or specific behavior in a way that enables some distance and indirect confrontation. In my above example I have used the workplace as the environment, since many squabbles occur regularly, and have included sarcasm and an underlying tone of annoyance that can be detected from written, rather than spoken word.

I would imagine this sort of note to be taped somewhere in an office break room or on the refrigerator so to address the behavior in the place where it occurs. In writing passive aggressive notes, it is important to consider everyone who will be reading it and not to go to far- if you wouldn’t want your boss to know that you’re the one who wrote it, then maybe you went a little too far. Passive aggressive notes should be used to address small events or instances, rather than overly problematic actions or comments, where a serious conversation would be a better response to improper behavior and to work towards a solution.