Toward a New Future of Whatever - Michael Wesch

At the beginning of the video, Wesch says Neil Postman stated that we are “Amusing Ourselves to Death.” I believe this is a cathartic and interesting statement in Michael Wesch’s video. It seems we are asking the same questions in society today as in 1984; what should be done about the conflict in the Middle East, how do we solve inflation, deal with the CIA, NATO, etc.? It is sad to say that our cultural and political priorities have changed very little. On a personal level, I strongly feel these issues are vitally important to self growth and analysis, though I do not have a solution. I thought it was fascinating the way Wesch laid out the analogies of the term “Whatever” through the decades since the 1950s. The meaning has changed so much over the years to include a good deal of apathy within our youth. And our culture, such as MTV, The Simpsons and American Idol, has played a large part in this new attitude of cockiness and narcissism among our youth. But in reality it’s not narcissism, these kids are actually searching for identity and recognition. As educators, we must figure out how to help these students find their identity and self recognition so that they are able to become productive students, and later responsible adults.

These valuable insights from Michael Wesch delve inside the attitudes of our youth will allow future teachers to know exactly what they are up against and how to deal with these issues in the classroom. Wesch points out that we all use different mediums available to us, such as YouTube, Webcam, Twitter, and Facebook to shape our self awareness. We must overcome being nervous of talking into a camera, and this includes myself! In college, this EDM 310 class has helped me become more comfortable with myself on camera, with my peers, and in giving a presentation about myself. One great thing about YouTube is that it helps a person show aspects about themselves that they would not normally reveal in a conversation. It is an awesome technological tool with various purposes. The YouTube video of One Man, walking around with the sign, just wanting a hug from someone, anyone, brought tears to my eyes. It leads others to hold up a sign, “Free Hugs” and moves from one person to the next, globally, of people just hugging a random stranger. The world could use more of this type of behavior. It was so compelling to see the students with simple handwritten messages on the palm of their hands, like “United as one”, “Love one another”, “Hold me” and “We are all connected.” By creating this call to action video, these young people are courageously reaching out to millions of other people, and starting a movement, with just a few words. I’m not sure how we can use this to address the narcissistic disengagement. But he is right when talking about the debates of presidential candidates. Why don’t we give them each an hour to speak like the debate between Lincoln and Douglas? Wesch sums up his lecture brilliantly saying let’s change the attitude of the 1990s, “Whatever, I don’t care what you think” and look to the future and ask “I care. Let’s do whatever it takes – by whatever means necessary.”

If more educators would make this their mantra, I believe there would be more success in the classroom with students.