WP2 :: Statement of Purpose

The use of the internet has become second nature to the majority of the population of the United States. The nature of this type of technology makes it necessary for internet users to constantly keep track of the newest innovations and changes made. In this the causal relationship between technology and culture is apparent; technology influences what is socially acceptable way to communicate. For example, writing letters and making personal visits was acceptable a century ago. Over a score ago, making phone calls was added to this list. Within the last few decades, however, the rules of acceptable communication have changed as email, text messaging, and now blogging, podcasting, Skype-ing, Facebooking, and twittering are all ways to potentially reach other. In this Savage Chickens comic, author Doug Savage is able to turn the lens on one of the newest changes--microblogging. Twitter is one such microblogging application that provides users with a seemingly simple way to communicate with others. By creating this brief comedic exchange, readers are forced to question whether the use of this type of technology to communicate is absurd or reasonable.

Because of these rate of changes made in regards to technology (and especially internet-based technologies), many users may feel isolated or lost. Indeed, it is difficult to keep track of the many internet memes, applications, updates, and fads the seem to come and go on an almost daily basis. Many readers of this comic strip will either align with one of two positions. Some will feel that the chicken that is stopping to "tweet" about the fire is foolish. They may or may not be familiar with the Twitter, or may not understand the uses of this service. They even may be hip to the use of Twitter and similar microblogging services, but be unsympathetic to why or how they are used. Other readers might still find the situation depicted in the comic humorous, but understand upon further analysis that sending digital updates to those who care to know isn't such an absurdity.

In reading this comic, it is helpful to have some conventions of reading in Western cultures, and some specific to reading and decoding comics. Since there is only one panel, it is not necessary to understand how panels interact with each other. It is necessary to know that the text found in the speech balloons above each characters head represents the dialogue from their conversation. It is also important to understand that even though the characters in this comic strip are chickens, the anthropomorphic qualities they are given allows them to act and behave as humans would. It is helpful to read from left to right, as is acceptable when reading the English language; observing the flames and the panicked chicken on the left sets the stage for the statement from the chicken at the computer on the right. It is also necessary to understand, generally, what a "tweet" is.

In the United States, most people are able to use technology to communicate with loved ones. Cell phones and internet-accessible computers have allowed the barriers that previously hindered communication--like time and distance--to be broken. Technology and culture influence each other, so it is only natural that humans have adapted technology to satisfy basic survival needs.