Brainstorming

For the last few months I have been entertaining the idea of writing a book. It's something I've wanted to do since I was thirteen years old. However, originally I wanted to write fiction, whereas my new book idea is completely nonfiction. The idea is to compile a wealth of useful information. For instance, for the last year I have read a number of books about lie detection, which strikes me as an extremely useful skill. Paired with information about body language, the art of conversation, salesmanship, and the art of persuasion, the book's purpose would be to educate its readers in the subtle art of controlling interactions with other humans.

For my trailer I will demonstrate how the internet has changed the ways in which we obtain vital information and general knowledge. I will then show how general knowledge, such as lie detection, can provocatively change (and sometimes improve) interactions with other human beings.

*Demonstrate how skill knowledge can be obtained through the internet
*Show how a specific skill can improve interactions with human beings
*explain various lie detection techniques as an example of skill knowledge

The ecstasy of influence

This article brings up interesting points. It reminded me of ad-busting culture. The ideas surrounding ad-busting are similar: certain individuals feel that advertising, marketing, and other factors such as hollywood, have killed the human ability to produce original thoughts. Thinking has become standardized- a collection of corporate logos, phrases, cliches, and "common knowledge". Ad busters seek to make fun of the corporate world be defacing their logos, often going to extreme or illegal lengths. Some ad busters have been known to redo bilboards, morphing whatever corporate logo is present into something disturbing or comedic. For instance, a bilboard sporting the "Enjoy Coca Cola" phrase could be morphed into "Enjoy Cocaine", thus commenting on the addictive quality of caffeinated soft drinks. Even though this only vaguely relates to the above mentioned article, it manages to conjure some provocative ideas. Are we all thinking the exact same thoughts? Are our ideas really original?

To point out an interesting example, Johann Pachelbel wrote a piece of music known to most as "Pachelbel's Cannon" or "Canon in D". First published in 1919, it is often played at weddings or receptions. Strangely, the exact same chord progression used in Pachelbel's Canon has been duplicated dozens of times since, in multiple genres. "Basket Case" by Green Day, "Let it be" by The Beatles, "Crazy" by Aerosmith, "The Hook" by Blues Traveler, and many others, all use the exact same chords in the same order as Pachelbel's Canon. Comedian Rob Paravonian is perhaps most famous for his "Pachelbel rant" in which he complains about the shameless duplication of Pachelbel's chords and melody in dozens of popular rock songs. Don't get me wrong- these songs are all unique and worthy of admiration- it's simply an interesting phenomenon. Think- dozens of songwriters have written essentially the same song without realizing it- each one thought they were making something unique.

Are you a digital native?

I grew up during the dot-com boom in the early 90's. My father and brother were deeply interested in computer programming and web design. I remember playing early computer games such as Wolfenstein, Doom, and Lemmings. My brother, also a guitarist and avid composer, used a composing program called Cakewalk to make midi files.

Around the age of twelve I became very interested in writing fiction. Every time my dad would upgrade the family computer, he would give me the previous machine to use for word processing. I started with an 80808, considered a top-of-the-line computer when it was released in the 80's. It had no operating system, just a Dos prompt. Above the Dos prompt was a list of eight functions the computer could do, including a word processor, spreadsheet, and a few games. Nonetheless, I was excited to have my own word processor in my bedroom.

My ancient machine later got replaced with a PC, sporting Windows 3.1. However, one still had to access Windows through the Dos prompt.