Harper’s Object Annotation

The last time I met with my Core 2 class in the classroom, we had to present our ideas for our object annotations based on the annotations Harper’s Magazine periodically runs.  I waited anxiously for my turn to come, my legs bouncing up and down with nervous energy.  This will be the final project before we begin work on our “final” projects for the class, which means the end of the semester is quickly approaching (not such a good thing at this point when I could use a little more time to work).

As Dr. Wolff motions for me to take my turn, I hold up a picture of a digital voice recorder typically used on the paranormal investigations shows on television and explain what I hope to explore in the call-outs.  As soon as I finish, a sea of hands shoot up to add suggestions and ask questions.  After a lengthy discussion, I’ve settled on the following topics for my call-outs:

• A brief history introducing the concept of trying to capture EVP (electronic voice phenomena with a digital voice recorder, the rising popularity of ghost hunting reality shows, and the skeptics’ view of the industry’s growing popularity.
• How this theory came to be (and that is partially due to Thomas Edison, oddly enough) and the Spiritualism movement that took place from the 1840s to the 1920s.
• The growing billion-dollar ghost hunting industry which includes reality shows, books, DVDs, tours and special appearances, apparel, and equipment.
• Comparison of both the believers’ and skeptics’ argument for why EVP are and are not the dead trying to communicate with us.
• What an EVP actually sounds like and what to expect from one
• Lastly, I hope to touch on some of the reasons why people have become so fascinated with the paranormal and communicating with the dead.

Class will be meeting online in groups via Google Docs and Twitter this week, and we’ll be peer reviewing one another’s work.  It should be interesting, to say the least.  The last time we met online in the beginning of the semester, I was overwhelmed and had trouble keeping up with the conversation.  I feel better equipped for this round, but keep your fingers crossed for me anyway!