Daniel Biskup

INTD 105

djb29@geneseo.edu

11/9/16

How does noise pollution such as sound generated by machinery and human technology psychologically affect the mental health of those exposed to higher concentrations?

When considering noise pollution created by human presence and industrial technology, how are humans more exposed to noise pollution affected compared to those less exposed?

Daniel Biskup                                                                      Approx. 200 words

INTD 105

Djb29@geneseo.edu

11/2/16

The paper I read focuses on the effect of singing on different disorders that cause speech-motor abnormalities. Overall the study suggests the continuous voicing of singing helps patients to apply it to speaking more easily. Neurologically the study also shows that singing engages both the left and right hemispheres of the brain while speaking seems to favor the right. Singing also engages muscle memory and may help those affected to apply that muscle memory to their singing. In cases of stuttering, fluency increases with the continuous action of singing as opposed to speaking. Brain imaging shows more activity during singing than speaking based therapy. In those who suffer from aphasia, or loss of motor function or comprehension of speaking due to stroke, brain repair and development was improved in the left hemisphere for those who were treated with singing compared to those treated with speaking. Parkinson’s patients often suffer from short, disconnected speech patterns. Those treated with singing could lengthen their speech and add a better rhythm. In autism, while there is limited studies on the effects, evidence on the effects of singing on the brain suggests that it can also aide in speech patterns for sufferers.

Daniel Biskup                                                                       Approx. 190 words

INTD 105

Djb29@geneseo.edu

10/31/16

Tingley’s piece focuses on the efforts of Davyd Betchkal to preserve the natural soundscape of wilderness in a world of increasing noise pollution from human beings. Betchkal has created areas to record natural sound in Denali National Park, to keep records of soundscapes that in the coming future may be lost forever as noise pollution increases.

Past research has shown that sound has an important role in the interactions between species in natural landscapes, such as mating and warning calls, or sounds created by natural events that signal the surrounding animal life.

Having lived near New York City for most of my life, this piece reminds me of all the noise pollution in my area. At night in my home town, I usually hear airplanes, trains, and cars from the lines and highways that run through my town. After coming to Geneseo one of the first differences I noticed was how much easier it was to hear crickets both at night and during the day. This one noise helps me to understand the spectrum of natural sound that Betchkal is trying to preserve.

Daniel Biskup                                                    Approx. words

INTD 105

Djb29@geneseo.edu

10/26/16

Glausiusz’s piece describes how Gaza’s sewage treatment crisis is suffering directly from their conflict with Israel. In recent years, Gaza has faced a problem in both their sewage treatment and water treatment creating issues in both agriculture and public health. Due to their lack of resources Gaza has been unable to treat their sewage and has been forced to dump it directly into the sea. Unfortunately, this contaminated sea water has also managed to enter Gaza’s aquifer, which is their main source of drinking water. Thus, the drinking water has become salinated and contaminated, causing disease in many of Gaza’s residence, as well as salinated sewage, which cannot be treated to create fertilizer. Gaza can solve this issue if only Israel trusted enough to allow the resources that Gaza needs across the border. However, these resources can also be used for warfare, which is why Israel refuses to. This piece reminds me of the water crisis as it relates to the entire world an how much of it could be solved if resources and research were able to easily move, instead of being stopped by conflict and competition.

Daniel Biskup                                      Approx. 160 words

INTD 105

Djb29@geneseo.edu

10/24/16

Tempest’s piece is an explanation of how her family, and those around her were wronged by the United States government and how they received no compensation or were even recognized for it. From the start of the Cold War the focus of the government was the protection of the American people from the threat of nuclear war. In the early 1950’s through to the early 1960’s, areas of Utah and Nevada desert lands were used for testing. While the government claimed that no one lived near these areas, Tempest’s family and others were living there at the time. In the generations that followed, developing breast cancer became a near certainty for those in Tempest’s family. The US government however refused to recognize they were at fault and took no action towards her family. Her family’s pain reminds me of many wrongdoings of the government towards marginalized groups and how many times nothing is done because they are seen as insignificant.

Daniel Biskup

INTD 105

Djb29@geneso.edu

10/17/16

Synesthesia is a neurological condition in which senses are blended. Varients include associating sounds or images with colors, smells or tastes. For example, a majority of those with synesthesia associate written language with images, each letter and word having its own color. Synesthetes view and learn in different ways than most from this sensory overlap.

A recent study has suggested that like in many written languages, signed language can also trigger sensory overlap in synesthetes. 50 volunteers with synesthesia in this study known to associate letters and colors, viewed letters signed to them by video. Those in the study that knew sign language did indeed associate colors with signed letters, while those that did not know showed no association.

The results of this have shown how development of this condition occurs in individuals. Essentially the results show that synesthesia can adapt based on the information that people have learned. Some of the volunteers learned signed language later in life, showing that it can be developed at any point in a person’s life. This study can lead to evidence of how human cognition operates in the brain and how we learn by association.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2095783-first-evidence-that-synaesthesia-gives-colour-to-sign-language/

Daniel Biskup

INTD 105

Djb29@geneseo.edu

9/21/16

My object, the greenhouse behind ISC, inspires deep thought between the relationship between man and nature. The fusing of the mechanical and the natural in one object makes me think of why such a place exists. The greenhouse shows that mankind feels a need to take care of nature. However, why do they need to take care of it? Mankind simultaneously threatens nature as it tries to nurture it. A paradox forms showing that our intervention will only cause damage that we will try to solve by further intervening.

Based on his opinions shown in “The Trouble with Wilderness”, William Cronon would most likely agree that this paradox is a problematic result of the relationship between mankind and nature. In his essay, he forms this ironic relationship between mankind and nature, arguing it is formed by the idea of wilderness. Mankind finds itself needing to venture out into wilderness, yet it defines wilderness as something completely isolated from mankind. He detests the implicit logical extremes placed in this separation between mankind and nature such as “if nature dies because we enter it, then the only way to save nature is to kill ourselves.”

Both Cronon and I come to similar conclusions that the only way for both humanity and nature to survive in this world is to tear down this separation and realize that nature and mankind are intertwined and not separate at all. Instead of trying to separate the two, such as in the wilderness mindset he deconstructs in his piece, society should try and understand how to coexist with nature. With this view the greenhouse instead shows itself as a step towards this coexistence, rather than an attempt by mankind to preserve what it decided must stay separate.

Daniel Biskup                                                                        Approx. 180 words

INTD 105

djb29@geneseo.edu

Latour’s argument begins by presenting an article on the depleting ozone layer in Antarctica, in order to give a lens in which to look through. He then goes on to explain the distinct areas that are affected, both science and politics. This mixing of the two within one issue makes it nearly impossible to view it from one stance because it takes away from the other, and yet it is also impossible to look through both simultaneously.

This scope gives way to Latour’s main argument in which he ponders on humanity’s own idea of modernity and where present day stands. Are we in the present day premodern, truly modern, or postmodern. The argument is based around two dichotomies, one separating human culture and nature, the second separating the first and hybridization of the two. In order to anthropologically analyze our current state both hybridization and separation must happen simultaneously and yet once this happens we stop being wholly modern. His point is paradoxical in that both must happen otherwise neither could take place, leaving it ambiguous on our state as human beings.

Daniel Biskup                                                                              Approx. 165 words

INTD 105

djb29@geneseo.edu

Cronon’s main argument is that the concept of wilderness is a social construct invented by man. He starts by establishing what wilderness is, describing it as isolated nature untouched by man, that serves as a way to save mankind from its over, industrialized self. He then goes on to explain how this construct came about, first demonstrating biblical descriptions of a barren land void of human contact that is associated with original sin and temptation. He moves on to romantic descriptions of nature coinciding with the supernatural and even the divine, leading to the current view of beauty and adventure of the frontier that has inspired park services and conservation efforts.

My object, the greenhouse behind ISC, led me to believe man and nature to be separate, which was why I agreed with Cronon’s argument, because he states that the ideal wilderness is paradoxical because if a piece of nature were untouched by mankind, its influence on that nature would destroy the concept as soon as it entered. Man and nature are separate, but according to Cronon they always tow a fine line of coexistence.