Week 12 StoryLab: Ted Talks About Creative Life

Source

I enjoyed the talk and the references to links between human intelligence and creativity. I feel as though a lot of people connect human intelligence specifically to concrete and tangible ideas and inventions, while focusing less on the creative aspects of the human mind. I also appreciate the video focusing on younger minds, as I feel as though (and as research shows) younger minds are very plastic or easily change and influenced. By using younger minds, we can better appreciate the beginnings of a human mind's creativity, and how that can potentially influence over a period of time.

Story Lab: Stories and Friends

I watched the videos under the category of Stories and Friends. The videos specifically covered topics such as "the danger of a single story" and parasocial relationships.

I always knew that storytelling was especially powerful when it is done around people you know and love. Being able to tell your stories based on your experiences, or stories that were told to your younger self to other people around you is key. This way, you can add your own experiences to the story or add and accentuate certain details. Also, being able to share a connection with those around your through storytelling is especially important, as well. It is paramount that we keep a connection with those around us, and storytelling allows us to do so.

With parasocial relationships, the idea of the emotions we fell toward those who are not real, or better said, imaginary, is explored. We ponder why these relationships exist in the first place, or why there are consequences behind having such relationships in the first plays. It could create unrealistic expectations, but it can also allow for those who want to escape parts of reality for short periods of time. They can have benefits and consequences, but a highlighted benefit would be that you can further explore your inner self in an environment that you are not judged.

Link the playlist

Imaginary relationships; parasocial interactions

Week 6 StoryLab: Language

I really enjoyed these spelling and grammar videos as it gave me a lot of insight to the language I am native in, as well as how it can be compared to my second language, Urdu, which I learned from my parents growing up. The videos gave you information on how to better your language and grammar. This was done by telling you what exactly, for example, a semicolon did, how it was used, and when it can be applied. The video also gave background as to how it was developed, which allowed for more insight as to why we use certain punctuation in the first place. I enjoyed the video on how languages evolved, as well. This helped me understand more about my native language, English, and made me curious as to how my home language became a part of the mix.

The video on why grammar matters was also informative on the topic of language. I always believed grammar was important, as it is, in general, the building blocks to getting your point across in any scenario. Whether you are writing a letter to a friend, E-mailing your professor about a question you had, or meeting someone for the first time, it is almost always your method of first-impression. The video reinforced my prior thoughts on grammar and language, and helped me realize even more what a powerful tool it all is. It was also interesting learning about how many verb tenses there are in English, and it also helped me understand how complex the English language is as a whole.

Link to the story lab playlist

Spelling and Grammar