Knowledge

Knowledge-- is it just a matter of age or can it be all around us, everyday, everywhere? If you think that it has to deal with both then you are correct in a way. Yes, we can sit here and argue that 'older is wiser', because that in fact is true. It is true because the older you get the more you have seen and have come to be accustom to. However we can also say that there are children and young adults with a lot more knowledge about subjects that their parents or grandparents might not even know. Let's take the example of the new technologies of the 21st century. My father made a comment a few nights back that they're so many commercials on television for new technology he was amazed. Mind you my father will be turning seventy-two in November, so I obviously have the greater knowledge of new technology over him. Not trying to put my father down but he can't work an iPod much less a laptop, but at least I taught him how to use the brand new cell phones that are out. This is however a common occurrence because a lot of our parents, even grandparents had to learn how to use a computer or what to stay up to date with all of our "hip" new toys. So knowledge can be new when it comes to a new occurrence in media, technology, or even history, but we always revert back to prior knowledge because usual the above mediums also had a product out before the newest. As for knowledge relating into the class, it all has to do on what everyone in the class has learned in their educational experiences before signing up to be here. I know we have a lot of people in the class who know a lot more about rhetoric then others due to having a class on rhetoric. Others may have briefly heard the word mentioned in a speech class or someplace else. However at the end of the day we all gain new knowledge from others who know more about the subject and can explain it in a way we all understand.

Onto reflection and how I feel it fits into composing. I think that every composer of any genre of work should look back and reflect on what they have done. Even if that piece of w
ork is yet to be completed, reflection offers the option of being able to think of new concepts and build on what is already done. Even if the genre that a composer is working on has been complete, in reflection can generate the questions of what can be improved upon later or next time how can I really captivate my audience? Why oh why is it important? Well imagine if no one ever reflected on any genre of work, was just lazy with it, and let it slide. The outcome would probably be that no new works of any genre would be generated. We would have books that were dull to read and probably made no sense what-so-ever.

In one of my blogs I mentioned that composing has changed in the 21st century by saying that "with the advancement that we have today the “reading circles” that were used back in the 19th century are still used but on a much grander scale. In this now moment we can get together in groups to share our ideas just not inside the classroom" (Quartets blog). I went on to mention the use of blogging, like we are in this class as our "reading circle". My theory is that it all reverts back to knowledge too, because with the use of blogging, we all get to share our ideas of the subject we are learning about, then gain new knowledge from others. I feel though that even reexamining composing still goes along with most of my prior ideas that it has expanded with the new technologies of the 21st century. That a composer of any genre has to reflect on their work in order to make it better or exciting for future works. Most of all I think that you have to have fun in composing! The saying that "if you love your job, you'll never work a day in your life", I feel applies to composing. If you don't have fun in composing, then it just feels like work and that is never a good thing. That is what I have learned in this class, that assignments that would be dull can be made fun. Not saying that we shouldn't be serious about this work, but we are told to have fun on it and not stress out. I feel it really makes for a more enjoyable time working on the projects and without all the stress, it makes for better composing.