24. New Media Theory

     This article by Julia Keller talks about the influence of PowerPoints in the way we educate and think. She first addresses the positive points of the PowerPoint, such as convenience (easy to use and quick to organize), and the negative points like how it condenses material and our creativity (for the presenter and the audience). Then Keller goes on about how PowerPoint is more than just branding, or a way of presenting information. PowerPoints are "poised for world domination". PowerPoints say something about you. If you use PowerPoint people know you have a computer or some sort of technological device (you have $). Keller then compares it to cocaine, saying how once one starts using PowerPoint, it's very hard to stop using it (I agree). Then she addresses prejudice. She writes that those who question technology are labeled as "antediluvian". The rest of the essay mainly consists of opposing views about the subject. Some are against PowerPoint is said to be dangerous to our imagination and it restricts our ability to think for ourselves. Others are for it, arguing that it is not technology in itself that is bad; it is how we decide to use it that makes the difference. Businessmen and women in particular, feel like it is a good way of presenting information to their audience quickly and efficiently. According to Keller, "30 million PowerPoint presentations are made daily by business professionals around the world." In the last paragraphs, the author asks the reader what we think about the matter.
   I actually think this article is very humorous, mainly because of the topic. I was not expecting that a topic like PowerPoint would lead to an argument about serious issues in our lifestyle. I expected this article to be casual and informative, but it ended up addressing disputable claims. The tone of this selection is casual and objective. Keller is very effective in her writing style. She uses similes ("like oaks toppling unheard in the forest") to diversify and keep the reader interested. She also uses statistics and the opinions of college professors, psychologists, businessmen, teachers, and critics to support her arguments. Her thesis is also clearly stated: "PowerPoint, the public-speaking application included in the Microsoft Office software package, is one of the most pervasive and ubiquitous technological tools ever concocted." What I like the most is that Keller presents two sides of the coin, and seems to be somewhat neutral throughout the essay (neither for or against it). Keller also asks questions about what we think about PowerPoint and how we think it is changing us. All these components allow the readers to formulate their own opinions and think further about the topic. Therefore, I believe this selection is effective. 
http://bradley.bradley.edu/~ell/nmt/04/concept4b1.html