Blog 8: Personal Opinions (Social Media and Technology)

Hi everyone!

Facebook, Twitter, Tik-tok, Instagram are some of the social networks that predominate today in modern times.

However, what appears to be the new form of interaction between people is also a very dangerous double-edged sword that can hardly be controlled.

Fake news, political campaigns and positioning of social actors, we have been able to see during the electoral cycle that Chile has lived in these last two years.

But ... what is dangerous about all this?

The power that social media can have  is very high due to the impossibility of legal regulation by the States, in other words, they distort reality (and create others), influence the personal opinions of citizens and set the social agenda.

As a curious fact: the possibility of a Twitter Trending Topic appearing in a in a ''traditional'' communication medium is 40%, no matter if it's true or false. Also, according to studies, only 1 in 3 people know how to differentiate between true and fake news.

In my personal opinion, I think that they are worrying data and that we must do something to solve it. Even if, social networks have contributed to access to information, the truth is that we are facing a discreet danger that can harm not only at general levels, but also at personal levels (exemplified in cyberbullying, for example).

Finally, I think it is also important to call for reflection: How many of our opinions are based on real judgment? How much power does social media have in our lives?

As a great friend would say: to think ladies and gentlemen

Blog 7: Favorite movie/ anime

Hi everyone!

I'm not a person who watches many movies, series or anime, but my favorite movie is "Good Bye, Lenin!"

Movie Poster

Good Bye, Lenin! is a german movie made in 2003 and the director of the movie is Wolfang Becker.

The story begins in East Germany, before the fall of the Berlin wall. 

The plot is bassed in Christiane, fan of socialist ideas and is member of Socialist Unity Party of Germany, who goes into a coma when his son Alexander Kerner is seen in anti-government protest. When she woke up, Germany was reunited and the socialist government fell.

From that point, the movie unfolds in how Alexander hides the fall of the wall so that his mother doesn't fall into a coma again by the emocional impact which can produce this historic event.

To do this, Alexander sets up a small socialist reality inside the apartment where they live, creating lies and convincing people to act as if nothing had happened.
I like this movie because it's interesting to see the tricks of Alexander to keep his mother happy. In addition, the fall of the wall is represented from a perspective of the East side of Germany, the cultural consequences of the division and the social differences between the two Germanies.

Another interesting point is the satire and criticism of the capitalist system, which is represented in how invasive the system can be in our personal circles and how it is impossible not to be part of it.

One of the most iconic scenes is when Alexander fakes an alliance between socialist Germany and the Coca-Cola company arguing that it was a strategic anti-imperialist alliance

Blog 6: Post Graduate Studies

Hi everyone!

Currently I haven't thought if I should study any posgraduate or other career, but if I had the opportunity to study another specialty it would definitely be something related to art, specifically photography or music.

Let's start from the beginning: my relationship with music has a family origin. My grandfather played Elvis songs in his youth with his guitar, my father played the guitar in church and my uncle played in ''peñas'' until before the coup in 1973. Logically the first instrument I learned to play was the guitar, after that I learned music theory and I composed some songs (especially cuecas 😁)

However, music requires a lot of free time to enjoy and dedicate to it, so it is an impossible dream.

Regarding photography, I started as a photographer in the 2017 elections. Most of the things I know about photography was self-taught practicing a lot (the focus was the most difficult to apply in practice). Also, I learned to edit photos with digital programs, make light corrections among other things.

I think photography is great because it is not only an action, but it is also about preparing the precise moment to capture a moment

The problem with photography currently is: 

1. The prices of cameras and implements have risen because of the pandemic 

2. There is not a large offer in educational institutions that teach a career of this style (let's leave out journalism)

Some photos that I have taken :D