JOH 9/12

Greetings ~
This session, like the others, allowed the theorists discussed to come to life. I was characteristically twisted from the readings alone, but the explanations and examples from class gave the content new dimension. When considering the two, Habermas and Lyotard, I tend to gravitate to Lyo - probably due to contrasting off of Habermas, because looking at Lyo in isolation wasn't too exciting for me. Yet.

We discussed Lyo's (I believe) assertion that there are always teaching moments. In the presentation of global image or the puffing up of young males when confronted (hereafter, bullfrogging) we exist in a current of information, of opportunities. Interestingly, the type of stimulus providing the information and/or the delivery of said information greatly affects the perception and reception of the signifier(s). Seen much in marketing, society becomes dulled to the constant drone of advertisements and promotions. The teaching moments in relation to being marketed to could occur with greater impact upon purposeful reflection. In the moment, I just think - "Wow, that Mac can speak Japanese!" But classes like DrRogPoMo allow time for consideration; to perhaps sense where we've been violated, to isolate, and resolve. Time well spent.

So, young males bullfrogging in the cafeteria where I work, which lesson is that? For others, it's up in air, but for me, it's fun to observe the energy exchange and struggle. The external agitators and the actor's processes of de-escalation play a big role in where their moment takes them. We can see these things in the grocery store or at the beach. All teaching moments to those open to learning. For the others - drrrroooooooonnnnnneee...

A related factor to this idea of teaching moments is Lyo's reference to totalizing metanarratives. Talk about the hum of the masses! In waging war on the masses, one must remove the goggles of this or that and see the world, its signifiers and referents from an unobstructed view. Removing the goggles of this mode of Christianity, or that type of economic philosophy will allow for peripheral vision to operate. One might now see things previously out of view, once blocked by the frame of the well-worn goggles.

Messages and the accompanying moments are often drowned by the drone or blocked by the single view, limiting what Lyo asserts are our teaching moments - occurring now ... and now ... and now ... and now ... and