It usually takes me several days to think of a topic and another two for me to write an entry in my blog so it’s a miracle I mustered enough courage to break my 20-year streak of writer’s block to post here, as late as it is. Please forgive the tardiness; I tend to think very slowly.
In all honestly, Adam Curtis’ The Trap was not exactly my first choice in terms of “things to watch this weekend.” However, as I am without a TV for the time being, watching the VMAs was out of the question. It wasn’t something I was normally used to watching, but I kept an open mind and was surprised to find that sadly, many of the topics proved to be quite relatable to today’s society. I was particularly intrigued by the notion of game theory, which, thanks to Wikipedia, I have come to a better understanding of. “Game theory attempts to mathematically capture behavior in strategic situations, in which an individual’s success in making choices depends on the choices of others.” After some thought, I came to the conclusion that we all use game theory in our lives, even if it’s unconsciously. We are constantly trying to make ourselves look better to impress employers, professors, the opposite/same sex – virtually everyone around us. The choices we make are based on what we observe.
Jennifer Aniston wore a sexy, black button-down, so I must immediately run out to the store and purchase one just like it! We see it happen every day. Celebrities wear clothes, get their pictures taken, they appear on the internet/magazines, and the next day, everyone is wearing the exact look. Aniston, highly regarded as one of the better-dressed stars in Hollywood, chooses to wear this black shirt, which affects the choices of thousands of girls across the United States. Though applied in a very simple manner, this is a common usage of game theory. Hear that, teenage girls? You guys are using a branch of applied mathematics commonly used in many social sciences (namely economics)! Although I can proudly say that my parents were an exception, many crazy Asian mothers will send their children to various enrichment schools. Their decisions are usually based on which one the smartest kid in the class (who is also Asian) goes to. Asian parents are also fond of the game theory.
A bittersweet moment during the many minutes spent in front of my computer screen watching the documentary was when it flashed, “human beings will always betray you.” Sweet because I enjoyed the straightforwardness and found it funny and bitter because it is a sad reality. Not only have I been the victim many times over, but I have also admittedly played the part of the betrayer, as well. Sure, the secretaries banded together but that’s just one example. Reality is, people are selfish and will do almost anything for their own benefit. Blood may be thicker than water, but money rules all. Brothers fighting over daddy’s fortune, we see it all the time.
Christopher Nolan did a fantastic job with directing the “ship sequence” in Dark Knight, talked about in Shira’s post. He portrays a hope he sees in humanity in a way that wasn’t cheesy. The film was amazing, 2 eprops for nolan. But in all honesty, if that were a real situation, I’m pretty sure one of the ships would have been blown to bits within 30 seconds of the Joker’s announcement.
Think of it this way – even if you worked really hard and got an awesome job, you beat someone out for it. let’s pretend this someone was banking on your new job to pay for his/her rent, but since you got it over the poor fool who should have worked a little harder, he/she must now move into his/her grandmother’s basement in Hoboken for 6 months, job hunting and working at the neighborhood Dunkin Donuts. Essentially, you have unknowingly fucked this person. Adam Curtis accurately titled his film “The Trap,” because most people fall into the vicious cycle of fucking each other, otherwise known as life.
All in all, the film series got me thinking, which is, to say, a very good thing. I promise I’m not usually this cynical or pessimistic. I actually have a lot of faith in humanity. I really do believe that love can solve everything (no sarcasm, seriously). It’s almost 4 in the morning and class is in less than 12 hours, but I think I put a lot of good thought into this entry; (I think/hope) there’s some good substance to it. Hope you enjoyed it.
How did Adam Curtis’ “The Trap” relate to our New Media discourse? Well, maybe you all noticed the power struggle that occurred at the beginning of the class period last week. If not, I will remind you. Mushon was experiencing some technical difficulties and asked the class if anyone was willing to sacrifice their computer so that the course presentation could go on. As I remember, the students with computers on their desks were myself, Jayme, and Maggie. We all shot each other glances as to who would give up their computer, and after a long period of awkward silence, Maggie gave in to the pressure and volunteered her MacBook Pro. She almost made it out of the classroom scott-free, but towards the end of the period her computer gave her away: a 
