I keep a relatively light work bag. I only need to go into the office three times a week. On the days that I go into the office, I bring a laptop, notebook, key pass, water bottle, coffee tumbler, wallet, keys, hand cream, hand sanitizer, Lactaid pills, and Peppermint Halo essential oil. I also carry a smartphone with me, which is not depicted. On the days I have plans after work, I might bring a change of clothes.
How might these items be considered “texts,” and what do they say about you, the places you inhabit, the cultures with which you engage, and/or the activities you take up?
After listening to Jonathan Berkkowitz’s segment on the CBC show, North by Northwest, I thought about how the word “text” can be defined differently than the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). OED’s definition entries on “text” all relate to using words to convey a message or meaning (Oxford University Press, n.d.). In today’s age, messages and information are shared through pictures or short videos. Just think about Instagram, Instagram Reels, or Youtube Shorts. The photos of the contents of my work bag can now be considered “text.”
The picture of the contents in my work bag can be considered a “text” because it helps vaguely depict the type of person I am. Together these items formulate an image of who I am.
I am a light packer and only bring the items I need in the office and potentially an impromptu dinner after work. You might notice that I carry a water bottle and a coffee tumbler. Hot coffee in the morning is a necessity, and I cannot live without it. I am also making a small effort to help the environment by bringing reusable bottles to and from work.
With the technology that we have today, you might think that a notebook is obsolete. I grew up with technology but didn’t develop a habit of keeping digital notes. I still find the satisfaction of writing in a notebook, with different colour pens, and putting a checkmark beside the completed items.
In recent years, I’ve become Lactose Intolerant, and I have to carry Lactase everywhere I go.
Thinking about the title of the course, what are the “text technologies” in your bag, if any? What do these items say about how you engage with language and communication?
My work includes producing, translating, implementing, and describing apprenticeship standards through words and some visual diagrams. These documents are published in the public domain and through email communications.
The main modes of communication I use are emails, Teams messages, text messages, and phone calls. I use emails and Teams messages strictly for work communication. Depending on the urgency of the issues, I will report to phone calls.
What do the items in your bag say about the literacies you have?
When looking at the contents of my work bag from the lens of an outsider, I think someone would say I am technologically literate because my entire work life is done through a laptop. Because of the type of work that I do, I am proficient with Office 365 Suite.
How does the narrative of the (private) contents of your bag compare with the narrative produced by the image you have of yourself or the image you outwardly project?
The narrative of the picture of my bag’s contents shows a fraction of who I am. You might think I am a frequent PC user, but I only use Apple products outside work. This picture does not allow you to see the types of sports I play or my exercises. This narrative does not let you see my level of education and educational background that I have. The contents of my bag do not tell you anything about my soft and interpersonal skills, personality, and interests. The contents of my bag do not tell you anything other than what I need to go to work, and my job is solely dependent on a laptop.
What would this same bag have looked like, say, 15 or 25 years ago?
25 years ago, my elementary school bag included a snack, lunch, water bottle, a library book, and a pencil case. 15 years ago, my bag included everything I mentioned above but with a few more textbooks and binders. I also did not start drinking coffee until my first professional job, so I did not pack a coffee tumbler until recently. Lactaid pills did not use to be a necessity in my bag either. This was a condition that I discovered I had within the last five years.
How do you imagine an archeologist aiming to understand this temporal period might view the contents of your bag many years in the future?
I’m not sure how much an archeologist can understand this period in time with the minimal contents I have in my bag. Perhaps with the advancement of technology, we will no longer need cars to get to work, pass cards to enter the building, or evolution with the body where lactose intolerance is non-existent. One of the comments they might make is that I am in the middle of two worlds, where work is dependent on the functions and applications in a laptop, and I still prefer using a physical notebook to keep track of my tasks. The notebook can already be fully replaced with technology, but my mindset and habits have not shifted to depending on technology.
Reference:
Oxford University Press. (n.d.). Text. In Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved January 17, 2022, from https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/food?q=food
