Soma's Inner Pages

Week 2 Assignment – Ferguson Documentary

The way we respond to news events is heavily influenced by identity. Who we are, our race, background, political beliefs, and personal experiences, shape how we interpret what we see in the media. News is not consumed in a vacuum; instead, people bring their own perspectives and emotions into every headline, video clip, and social media post. This helps explain why the same event can spark such different reactions across the country.

The Ferguson Rebellion is a clear example of how identity shaped public response. For many Black Americans, the killing of Michael Brown was not just another breaking news story; it felt personal. It reflected lived experiences with racial profiling, police violence, and a justice system that often feels unfair. Because of this connection, many people viewed the rebellion as a justified expression of anger and frustration, and as a necessary moment to demand accountability and change. Ferguson became part of a larger conversation about race, policing, and inequality in America.

On the other hand, some Americans saw the events in Ferguson through a very different lens. Those who strongly identify with law enforcement or prioritize ideas of law and order were more likely to focus on images of property damage and unrest. Media coverage that highlighted looting or chaos reinforced these views, leading some to dismiss the protests altogether rather than engage with the underlying issues being raised.

Ultimately, identity played a major role in shaping how Americans interpreted the Ferguson Rebellion. It influenced which narratives people believed, which voices they trusted, and how they judged the actions of protesters and police. This shows that our reactions to news are deeply personal, and understanding identity helps explain why national conversations around major events can feel so divided.

Week 3 Vlog – Neuromarketing

In this vlog, I talk about what I learned from Neuromarketing: How Companies Hack Your Brain and how it made me think differently about my own mind.

Week 4 – “The Browser Wars”

After watching The Browser Wars, I realized that the history of the internet isn’t just about technology, it’s about power, competition, and strategy. Before this, I mostly took web browsers for granted. I click an icon, the internet opens, and that’s it. But the documentary showed me how intense the fight was to control that simple gateway to the web.

One of the biggest takeaways for me was how quickly things can change in the tech world. Netscape started out as a revolutionary company. It basically introduced people to the modern web and became incredibly successful almost overnight. But Microsoft saw the browser as a threat to its Windows dominance and responded aggressively by bundling Internet Explorer with every copy of Windows. That move shifted the entire market. It wasn’t necessarily that Internet Explorer was better; it was just already there. This made me realize how important distribution and business strategy are, sometimes even more than innovation itself.

Another thing that stood out was how monopolies can slow progress. Once Internet Explorer dominated the market, innovation seemed to stall. It wasn’t until new competitors like Firefox and later Google Chrome entered the scene that browsers began evolving rapidly again. Competition pushed companies to improve speed, security, and overall user experience.

Overall, the Browser Wars taught me that technology is shaped just as much by business decisions and legal battles as by programming and design. The browser I use today is the result of years of rivalry, risk-taking, and reinvention. It definitely changed the way I think about something I use every single day.