Category: Reflections

Reflection: On digital technology’s affect on attention span, sparked by the video ‘The Death of Critical Thinking: How Stupidity Took Over‘ by Aperture

Technology plays a major role in how we think, learn, and focus. With the creation of social platforms like TikTok and Instagram, the effect on our attention spans and critical thinking has been drastically reduced. In 2024, a study found that a person’s average attention span on a digital device is 47 seconds, a large drop from 75 seconds in 2012. I think this is a result of how platforms like these; that deliver fast, engaging content, designed to capture a user’s attention instantly, are changing the way we process information.  

Technology is fundamentally changing the way we think, not just short-term content, but in general. Our reliance on technology trains our minds to expect immediate stimulation and as a result, tasks like reading, writing, and studying, things that require sustained attention, have begun to feel more difficult to complete. This doesn’t just apply to the younger generations, but “for everyone, across all ages, depending on digital products as a crutch does affect your brain physically.”  

One of the videos examples references studies of brain imaging that focused on people who relied on GPS to navigate. Studies have found that people who are heavy users of GPS have smaller hippocampus sizes than people who do not. Contrastingly, a study that focused on the brains of taxi drivers who had to memorize complex city roads have a larger hippocampus. This happens because the hippocampus is the region of the brain responsible for spatial memory. When a person uses GPS, it essentially turns their mind on autopilot, preventing the hippocampus from strengthening.  

This has led to a correlation between stress and attention span. When you switch your attention so rapidly, you’re not processing information, reflecting, or thinking deeply. When your mind doesn’t deliberate the information it receives, over time it becomes more difficult to understand, comprehend, and retain it. When this happens to a person, their levels of stress increase, as completing tasks is more difficult and taxing on the mind.  

I think this is why the learning of digital literacy is so important. Digital literacy is not just the understanding of techology and digital products, but the understanding of how they affect us. The need for digital literacy is more prevalent than ever, with the creation of short-term digital content and reducing attention span, a person’s ability to critically think continues to decline. We need a way to navigate the digital world, so that we can maintain our complex thoughts, so that we can function with as little stress as possible, so that we can think for ourselves and not have to rely on digital technology.  

Reflecting on my own experience, I have to constantly stop myself from scrolling and swiping. It’s gotten better over the years, I’ve become more mindful of what I consume, reminding myself to put my effort and attention into my work and necessary tasks. I remember at times that just having my phone in my proximity made it nearly impossible to complete anything of value. But by understanding the effects of technology, I was able to regain my concentration.

Reflection 5: sparked from ‘You Need to Romanticize Your Process’ by Tozak Filming

The struggle of “the process” is an inevitability that comes with life. It slows you down, makes you late, and can ultimately stop you from achieving what you want. But what if it didn’thave to be this way? What if the process could be easy? What if there was no struggle? Imagine the possibility, what you could do, achieve, realize, the life you could lead.  

Learning to love the process something anyone can do. Like most things, something that takes time, and discipline to learn, it’ll be a struggle at first, but once you do, the struggle will become your fuel. Once you begin to romanticize the process of your passions, your creativity will flourish. Tozak beautifully talks about a person’s “creative spirit” like its own character that you’re capable of building a relationship with, someone that you’re eager to engage with. The creative spirit is something everyone has; it’s what drives you to pursue your passions, to explore your ideas, and it’s what lead you to absolutely loving the process.  

“Love what you, make what you love” through having fun. The key to finding your creative spirit is to enjoy the work that you do, to pursue what makes you happy, and what you like. Create from yourself, from within, don’t let expectations of what others think affect what you do, don’t bind yourself to rules. Think about what inspires you to create and create that, ask what your favorite movie is, song, sport, it can be anything so long as you genuinely appreciate what it is.   

Surround yourself with positivity, whether through good company, nature, or solitude. Your environment will affect your state, how you feel, think, create, so find somewhere, someone, or something that you feel serenity with. As you grow, things will be left behind, people, habits, not because they’re necessarily bad for you, but because your pursuit of yourself will lead down a different path. So practice your creativity frequently, show your creative spirit that you mean it, that you’re serious about what you do. Pick a time, make a routine to express your mind but even outside of that routine don’t suppress your ideas, save them, write them down, take a picture of it, so later you can create. But don’t overdo it, burn yourself out, take time to enjoy the things you like away from the things you create.  

It took me a long time to pursue the things that I liked, I was afraid, of change, the process, the struggle. I cared too much about others’ validation, thoughts, opinions, people I would likely never see again dictated what I did. I don’t even know why I changed, I can’t remember when I did, I guess one day I was sick of being someone I wasn’t proud to be. But Ichanged; I accepted and embraced the struggle of my pursuit of my interests. And it’s what lead me here, to school, writing this piece, to new beginnings. So, romanticize the process, have fun, and discover yourself.  

“The man who loves walking will walk further than the man who loves the destination”

Reflection 4: Sparked from the video ‘Stop chasing original ideas—here’s what actually makes you creative’ by Lofi Cinema

My mind has been through hell trying to come up with anything, whether it be ideas for a project or words for a reflection. It’s something everyone has to overcome at least once in their life, an inevitability that we just have to deal with. Why is that? Is it because all of the “good ideas” have already been taken? Or is it because we feel the need to create something new, never done before, unseen? This assumption is generally what leads people to a block in creative thinking, because coming up with something completely new and having it be good is incredibly difficult to achieve nowadays.  

I found this video while procrastinating the other day, and it has made me realize what actually makes work original. It gave me a perspective I feel like I already had but just didn’t prioritize. The discussion of the video is on the concept of originality and the misconception that surrounds it. Many people believe that creating something original means it has to be a new idea, never seen before. The thoughts presented in video, however, argue that many great works; whether that be in film, art or writing, are modelled upon ideas and works that already exist. To truly create a unique and original piece is to interpret through your own lens. The video describes how interpretation through personal perspectives is what drives creativity, moving away from the belief that invention is what makes something original. 

It’s explained in the video that although many ideas, themes, and stories already exist, what turns them into true art is how you interpret them, frame them, feel them, structure them. The video examples that many great pieces, mainly some great films that have been produced, are great not by design but because they are created through genuine emotions and experiences. The main example presented is on the movie Gravity, a survival thriller about a character lost in space, spinning out of control lost in space. Filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron didn’t just write about a space story; he wrote about how he felt at the time, broke and depressed. When viewed from this perspective, the story stems from a person’s lived feelings and experience; that the feeling of depression is like being alone in space, isolated, away from the world. This idea is expanded through an exercise that director Paul Schrader gives his students. “You begin with yourself; you are the raw material”. Start by writing down your biggest personal problem, just the thing you’recarrying. Then ask yourself, “what’s the metaphor for that?”, because that’s what makes powerful storytelling and creativity. It’s not the literal story that’s powerful but the feelings that are translated from underneath.  

This approach to originality redefines it into a more accessible and realistic process. As a theatre artist and actor, this way of interpretation relates a lot to the process of becoming a character. That I don’t need to play character the way someone else does, but I should become the character through my own interpretation, emotions, and experiences. That’s what makes something exceptional, the story beneath the story, that something is not unique because it’s never been done before, but because it’s done by you. 

“Maybe it’s about making something no one else could have made… because it came through you” 

Reflection 3: Sparked by the video Is AI Art Original? by CrashCourse

The development of artificial intelligence technology over the last few years has raised many questions ranging from the ethical use of AI to the privacy of users. The debate over the use of AI is still ongoing and will likely continue for several more years. One subject that AI has sparked heavy debate in is art, as AI-generated art and human-created art can be nearly indistinguishable from one another nowadays. The capability of today’s AI can produce detailed images, which can resemble styles of established human artists. At first glance, AI art can appear just as impressive as human-made pieces. However, the way in which each of the separate arts are made differs fundamentally, and this difference shapes how we understand and value each form.  

Generally, when a person creates art, it’s connected to their lived experiences. Every detail is influenced by the person’s emotions, memories, and perspectives. Even when a piece of art is abstract, or difficult to interpret, it often reflects the internal expressions or exploration of the person. Many people argue that what gives art its meaning is the intention when creating it. That a painting is not just liquid on a canvas, but it’s a display of someone’s thoughts and feelings at a particular moment in their life.  

On the other hand, AI-generated art is created through its access to pre-existing work. An AI does not feel inspiration or have emotions; it doesn’t get to experience the world the same way a person would. Instead, it has torely on the vast amounts of existing artwork and analyze their elements to make something new. Even though the product can be visually stunning, its missing the personal touch that person brings when creating art. Which raises the popular discussion: can something be considered true art if it lacks intention and emotion? 

But it would also be unfair to dismiss the value that AI can contribute to artists. AI can be used to assist artists in many ways; by helping with ideas to overcome mental blocks or to explore new techniques and styles they haven’t experienced before. When used as a tool to assist artists instead of replacing them in creative process, AI becomes a valuable and powerful collaborative tool that can help both current and aspiring artists. This collaboration between an artist’s creativity and AI’s technological capabilities can promote new forms of artistic expression and lead to new developments in both fields.  

Ultimately, the defining separation of AI-generated art and human art lies not in the final piece that is created but in the steps that lead to it. When a person creates art, it carries intention, emotion, and individuality, something an AI can’t quite replicate. When an AI creates art, it’s through patterns and access to data. But instead of viewing the two as competitors, the value in their collaboration might be a more productive exploration for art. AI should never take over the creative process of art, it’s the thing that gives true art its value. But that’s not to say that AI shouldn’t be involved at all; it can serve as a valuable assistor in an artist’s creative process and spark the creation of new arts. The real challenge lies in finding the balance between a person’s creativity and AI’s abilities that respects historical and contemporary artistic etiquette.  

Reflection 2: Sparked by the videos from week 3 featuring Jeff Hopkins

Generally, School systems are supposed to be designed to educate the youth and prepare them for adult life, yet many feel they fail to do this. Many school systems struggle because they rely on outdated structures, push standardized testing and grading over valuable learning, and do not always consider the diverse needs of students. The education system should empower individualism and strengthen society while laying the foundation for the rest of life and its challenges.  

One of the main reasons the current school systems fail is that its structure was designed during the industrial era and has not significantly progressed since. Schools generally operate using stiff schedules, a standardized curriculum, and expectations for students. This system assumes that all students learn the same way and at the same pace, which is rarely the case. Students have different interests, learning styles, and abilities, so when forced to conform to a system that does not support their learning, students inevitably fall behind or are discouraged.  

Another issue is the heavy use of standardized testing and grading. In western education systems, success is usually based on exam results and numerical grades. While some assessments can gauge progress, heavy reliance can lead to a shift in focus away from genuine, valuable learning. Students may only learn to memorize information for a short period of time just to pass a test rather than retainand really understand the content. This can lead to students passing with strong test-taking skills but not having a broader understanding of the subjects’ concepts and researching abilities that school is supposed to provide.  

Also, the curriculum and content of many schools do not feel relevant to students’ lives and future goals. Subjects are generally taught in isolation from outside, real-world applications. When students cannot see how what they are learning connects to their personal lives, interests, or career aspirations, they can lose confidence and feel disconnected from the environment. Education is most effective when students can understand and visualize how what they are learning connects to them beyond the classroom.  

Understanding the current weaknesses is an important step towards improving them. Education works best when curiosity is encouraged, unique learners are supported, and students’ personal lives are focused on, rather than exam scores or numerical grades. One of the reasons I enjoy this class is that it allows you to pursue your own interests and encourages you to be curious within a supportive network. It’s what more school systems should be structured like; to support students on a journey of their own inquiry, and to help them when needed, rather than conform them to an outdated system that does not prepare them for their future.  

Reflection 1: On the video essay “The Only War You Will Not Win” by Horses.

The Iceberg 

The human subconscious is a peculiar concept. It manages the majority of our mental activity––habits, memories, emotions, and automatic functions like walking and breathing. Operating beneath our conscious mind, itinfluences our decision-making and behaviors, shaping our reactions to the world based on stored past experiences. Psychologist Sigmund Freud famously described it as an iceberg, where the top portion is our conscious mind and the bottom is the subconscious. He suggests that unresolved conflicts between the two could lead to unhealthy mental states, like anxiety and depression. Psychiatrist Carl Jung expands upon this by suggesting that the subconscious harbors aspects that people disdain about themselves, something that is referred to as a “shadow”. 

The Shadow 

The concept of the “shadow” comes from Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist and physiotherapist known for founding analytical psychology, where he explores the integration of the conscious and subconscious mind in pursuit of “individuation” ––the development of self. He believes that everyone carries facets of themselves that they don’t want to accept––things like fear, selfishness, and anger. He thinks that rather than repressing these traits in hopes that they will go away, we should learn to recognize, understand and integrate these shadowed parts into our conscious lives.  

The Battle 

The real challenge begins with choosing to reflect upon these repressions. What makes this idea so powerful is how we think about personal growth. Many of us want to be good people––kind, thoughtful, empathetic––and we think that means ridding ourselves of the negative parts. True wholeness doesn’t come from rejecting our flaws––but understanding them and choosing how you act despite having them. Everyone has moments of embarrassment, thoughts and impulses they’d rather avoid. The “battle” isn’t about erasing these parts––rather, it’s about acknowledging them without letting them define you. 

The Choice  

This kind of reflection extends outwards as well––as everyone everywhere has to live with the consciousness of their flaws, their own “shadows”. A kindness we can grant is to be compassionate towards others’ flaws. Instead of seeing mistakes as proof that a person is bad, we could see them as part of being human––imperfect, often messy, but capable of growth. It doesn’t excuse harmful behavior, but it allows space for empathy and understanding. We all have the choice, not to cleanse our faults, but to be better, kinder, open––to other people, the world, and ourselves. Love a little more.  

Photo by me, artist unknown