Issue 1

01
April

2013

TechTimes

Compositions Journal
by Julia Weiss,
Andrew Upton,
Benjamin Stelzer &
James Davis

this issue
Survival of The Flirtatious P.1
Miracles of Sound P.2

Having trouble
getting the girl
of your dreams?

The Magic of Music P.3

Manipulation by Melody P.4

Believe it or not
the number one most
attractive trait that girls
find in men is not there
chivalrous gestures or
devilish good looks
dont get me wrong
those are nice too,
but its the confidence
factor that becomes
that desirable icing
on the cake.
Ever wonder why girls
are glued to the bad
boys? It is because
theyve realized this,
now you do too. The
best way to get a one-up
on em is too remember
theres a difference
between being
confident and cocky.

Helpful Hint:
Employ creativity, humor
and intelligence in your next
interaction and youll be a
lady killer in no time!

Explore the modes of everyday life. . .

Compositions Engineering Words

Take a moment to appreciate
a collection of written works
engineered to entertain. This issue
contains four feature articles
composed by student authors.

Andrew Upton, second year

software engineer at Michigan
Technological University brings to
light a fantastic piece titled
Miracles of Sound.

Prompted as an assignment,
this digital magazine is a new and
innovative collection of combined
student brain power. A commitment of team effort providing
a new experience and spotlight
result for readers. Inspired
by modes of communication,
these features leave their readers
with something to talk about.

The Magic of Music is a great

read in this issue of Tech
Times. The Article was researched
and written by finance major
Benjamin Stelzer. Stelzer is a
second year headed for success
one calculation at a time.

Julia Weiss is a second year

Scientific and Technical
Communication (STC) major
who has brought this edition
of Tech Times the article
Survival of the Flirtatious. Dare
to flirt? college style.

And last, but certainly not least

James Davis exploits the manipulative side to melody. This second
year civil engineer maneuvers his
way through the mechanics of
musical rhetoric in his piece
Manipulation by Melody.

Techies
Des igned To Learn

Survival Of The Flirtatious

Flirting is a playful and

oriented, Dr. David

risky mode the entire

Henningsen researched the an exclusive relationship

world shares in common.

achievements of flirting

instead.

We all do it whether we

and proposed six motives

Weve all been the pioneer

realize it or not, but have

behind why people engage

before, exploring new

any of us stopped to take

in this mode: relational,

horizons and curious as to

part in some profound self

exploration, fun,

where we stand in the

-reflection as to why it is

instrumental, esteem and

territory of another. When

we interact this way? A

of course sex [1].

a person flirts to discover

natural state of human

Each day we see new faces, the interest levels displayed

conduct, flirting has been

form new bonds and mold

an in-born form of survival relationships. Through the

casual dating and make it

by the target he/she is

flirting with, that person is

since the Stone Age. Now,

relational motive, flirts

taking part in an

it has evolved from a

desire alteration of the

explorative motive. You

weapon of biological

closeness of their

would recognize this type

preservation

connection to a person.

of flirting in cases where

to a psychosocial

A typical layout with this

you flirt in order to see his

know-how.

sub-category is a desire to

or her reaction, and

Feeding off of Aristotle's

change a friendship into a

whether or not they flirt

argument that all

romantic relationship or

back [1] .

communication was goal

take the next step with

s
n
o

s
a
e

have

Girls

flirty

personality.
your

flirt in order to boost and

know

eyelashes to get the guy to

maintain their self-esteem.

that one person

buy your drink? Guys

This always proves to be a

seems

ever have a sore back and

good time, unless you flirt

This

hint that a massage would

with a Debbie-downer or a

to

be wonderful, and maybe

creepy creeper.

that

since

not least, the sex motive.

on him/her because most

youve had one last? Yeah

Physical attraction clearly is

of the time it is not mutual.

yeah, weve all done it; this

the fuel in this case. These

This

is the instrumental motive;

flirts desire to engage in

and

when you flirt to achieve a

sexual activity, and that is

false

goal. When you want some

their

signals they send. That is

task complete, and you use

you find someone who is

because they flirt for fun,

your sly ways to get what

clearly motivated by this

not interest (though they

you.

objective alone. In that

can be paired). These flirts

nobody, in matter a fact

case you have most

do it because they enjoy

they usually are a result of

likely found a

playful interaction; a lot of

positive interaction. Driven

player.

the time people like this are

by the esteem motive or as

known by their peers to

6r
to

who

lead

person
know

always

others
never

why

person

appears
oblivious

You

on?
seems

people

crush

permanently

innocent
about

the

its

like

ever

been

smile

to

bat

feel-good motive, people

ages

never

call

it

hurt

the

goal.

Last but

Beware

when

o
m
6

s
e
v
ti

Weapons & 7 Ways

From nature's standpoint, the goal of life is the survival of our DNA.

How do we do this? Sex. Getting sex is entirely reliant on attraction: both

attracting and being attracted. Flirting is the means by which we target a member
of the opposite sex. From here, one engages in energy-intensive plots and plans for
attracting each other to the business of sex. Thus we have flirting. To make sure our
DNA will venture into the next generation we appear to be pre-programmed with an
urge to wiggle our way onto another's mental radar screen [2].
Incorporating humor and creativity into this mode sends honest psychological
signals that you have a nervous system that is reasonably well put together. This may
signify that a sense of integrity has developed within your brain; thus a firm ability to
take on the challenges that life may throw you.
The social ability we all possess to read emotional expressions and facial gestures
of another creates a fact-checking system in flirtation. Essentially it previews the tone
of a prospective mates personal life, ultimately inspecting for absence or presence of
psychological weakness [2].
After two people establish a mutual attraction by flirting they may enter a
testing ground along with an information revealing process where they can less
wittingly learn more about each other [2].
Great flirts know how to market themselves; they just know how to present
themselves to be attractive and appealing. Flirts also have a good sense of time and
place and so they can choose when to flirt. To flirt successfully you have to make
contact and create rapport, which is the skill called get in step. Insight is the ability
to read and understand non-verbal flirting signals. Word power is all about knowing
what to say to create the right impact [3].
Now comes your responsibility as a survivor! Become a master flirt,
and enter the world you already live in with the seven weapon skills of a
great flirt. Try applying these in accordance with the motives spoken about earlier.
You now have six reasons and seven weapons
On your mark. . . Get Set. . . Flirt!

market yourself

word power

choosing when

out of sight

get in step

make em feel good.

insight

Miracles Of Sound
Group shot from Thriller

There are few music videos as iconic as

Michael Jacksons Thriller. Its very large
production budget and aim to tell a
story rather than just showing the band playing
the song made it an instant hit. Now, seeing a
simple image from that video or even the classic
dance move can trigger our brains to play the
song in our head.
Music videos are comparable to movie
adaptations of books. They allow us to gain a
visual representation of non-visual mediums.
They give us mental images that may more
closely represent what the artist originally
intended than what we couldve come up with
on our own. Because most music is so heavily
saturated with metaphor, a music video will
Gavin Dunne Nerdcore Genius

usually give insight into the meaning the songwriter was trying to convey. This isnt always
the case, because there are many videos that
simply show the band playing the song as if it
were live. However even these can manipulate
emotions through the lighting and camera work
of the video and through the body language of
the members involved.
Music videos also help to provide context to
the subject matter. If you were to listen to the
song Keep Drifting by Miracle of Sound
without the video, you would likely be unaware
it is inspired by the Uncharted series of video
games. Knowing this, and watching the video,
helps to make sense of the lyrics and help us
understand some of the clever word play used

throughout the song. It is these factors that

make music videos so interesting to watch

Film
Who would Darth Vader be without
the Imperial March? Would James Bond
be as memorable without his theme song?
What if we didnt know our Friends would
always be there for us or know the protagonist
wanted to be the very best like no one ever
was?
Instead of providing context, music in
movies and television are used for emphasis
or to make us feel a certain way about a
character or scenario. Darth Vaders stature
and full black outfit was intimidating, but
if the Imperial March was replaced with
something far less terrifying, or was omitted
completely, we wouldnt view him as the
same dark lord that we know now.
Most of his scenes would seemlacking.
Music can often be the difference
between having a dark, grim scene and a
happy, playful one. Think about the Three
Stooges for a moment. If Moe threatens
Curly with a fire axe, its funny in context,
but accompany it with a dark, villainous
sound effect and suddenly the scene takes
on an entirely different meaning.
These aural cues trigger our brain to
make connections which gives us
the needed information to perceive
the scene correctly.

The Magic Of Music

Music is Everywhere
Music gives soul to the universe,
wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life
to everything. (Plato) An amazing aspect about music is
that it is a part of all peoples lives, and is included in every
culture across the world. No matter if a person can sing well,
play an instrument, or compose music, the mode of music
has a special meaning to everyone. Music has been positively
affecting people since the beginning of time.

The Physical Effects of Music

One of the positive
effects of music occurs
physically with a person.
Music can have positive
effects on pain management.
Listening to music can
reduce the sensation of both
chronic
and postoperative
pain. A specific example is
that music therapy is
being increasingly used in
hospitals to reduce the need
for medication during child
birth. A few theories behind
how music positively affects
perceived pain in a person

include: music serving as a

distractor, music giving the
patient a sense of control,
and music causing the body
to release endorphins to
counteract the persons pain.
Another positive effect that

music yields for a person is

reducing blood pressure.
Studies have shown that by
listening to relaxing music
every morning or evening,
people with high blood
pressure can train themselves to lower their blood
pressure. A third physical
aspect music can be a
benefiter of is chronic
migraines and headaches.
Certain types of music can
help reduce the intensity,
frequency, and duration
of headaches and migraines.

Music Effecting People Mentally

Listening to music or
playing an instrument can
actually make you learn
better.
Different research
has shown that music
has the power to enhance
kinds
of
higher
brain
function that include reading
and literacy skills, spatial
temporal reasoning, and
mathematical abilities. Recent
research
has
displayed
that listening to any music
that is personally enjoyable
has positive effects on a
persons cognition. Music has

also proven to enhance

memory performance. Listening to music facilitates
the recall of information.
Research has shown that
listening to certain types
of music, especially without
lyrics, is a great tool
for recalling certain memories
or information. Information
learned while listening to
a particular song can
often be recalled by simply
replaying the song mentally.
Besides just listening to
music, musical training has

proved to have an even

greater effect on people
mentally. There is evidence
that states that kids who take
music lessons develop a
better memory compared to
children who do not. Another
positive mental effect of music
is the ability of it to improve
concentration and attention.
Easy listening music or
relaxing classics improves the
duration and intensity of
concentration in all age
groups.

Recent research has

displayed that listening to
any music that is personally
enjoyable has positive effects
on a persons cognition.

How Music Effects People Spiritually

The mode of music allows a person to grow deeper in their spiritual life. Besides the written text and
prayers people state and listen to, music is another
mode in which people can worship by. Through music
in mass and prayer, a person seems to be able to grasp
and gain a different dimension and level of prayer. Music produces waves of vibration that carry with a certain energetic essence, which is also a spiritual essence. Harmonious tones and frequencies uplift our
inner spirit and create an energy that can not be
gained by all modes. People then channel the energy
toward God, often in exchange gain an in-flow of inner
peace and joy. Music is what delivers people that
peaceful feeling and happiness in their spiritual lives.

Emotional Effects of Music

Arguably the largest way music effects people is emotionally. Depending on the style or
type of music, it can cause many different emotions. The tricky part about the emotional effects of music is that piece of music may be undeniably emotionally powerful, but at
the same time be experienced in very different ways by each person who hears it. The
emotion created by a piece of music may be affected by a persons memories, the environment it is being played in, and the personality of the specific person. The nice part
about music is that an individual can listen to or play a type of song so that it yields a
specific emotional state the person wants to be in. Music can cause happy emotions,
sad emotions, moods of being motivated, and many other feelings as well. The mode of
music is often used to enhance peoples emotions in a given situation. If someone is
having a good a day, listening to certain music can make it even better. Also, if one
needs a little pick me up, an upbeat song can be just want is needed. Music brings
people together and it adds to and helps make fun emotional experiences.

Manipulation
by Melody

Have you ever wondered why you bought a specific item? Or perhaps how you
lost track of so much time? Maybe even why you were still scared from a movie that
you saw a week ago? The answer may lie with the music you were listening too. Research has shown the advantages of music in different situations over the years, but
researchers have also begun to dig into the negative effects music can have. The music you hear when youre being put on hold during a phone call, or the background
music of a store in a mall, are all designed in an attempt to persuade you exactly how
they want.
Hold music, the annoying little jingles that you can sometimes spend hours listening too arent there by accident, but rather to help you lose track of the time and
keep you happy and on the line. Recent research has shown the specific types of music can preoccupy us enough to make us lose track of time, and companies exploit
this to their every advantage. Similar tricks are used in doctors offices, retail stores,
and grocery markets, which is why there is almost always some type of back ground
music in place. How does it work? Its actually quite simple when you think about it.
Music can distract your brain making you less likely to notice things around you in
detail. This includes the amount of time that has passed. By being distracted, you are
less likely to become angry with the wait and possibly want to leave the store or hang
up the phone. A companys goal is to keep you happy and spending money, and music is helping them accomplish this.
But music isnt only dictating our decisions at the mall, but also playing with
our emotions. Can you remember the Jaws theme song? Dun Dun, Dun Dun! (If
you cant, listen to the previous link, it will make this explanation much easier to understand.) But why is this theme song so memorable? Why does it still scare people
to this day? The theme song uses a few different techniques, which include changing
the pitch and volume of song. By doing this, it makes the listener uncomfortable and
surprised. This helps scare the viewer when they see a shark flying through the
screen. This theme song, as well as every horror film, also taps into what is called discordant sounds. These sounds are anything that sounds unpleasant to people, such
as screams. When you hear a scream, you instantly think the worst. The same science behind how a scream scares a person is the same as how music can add to the
horror. But it isnt just horror movies, what about a romance?

The same techniques apply, and movie directors know this. Lets take the
movie Titanic for example. Can you hear the sappy Celine Dion piano song
that goes along with the movie? Now imagine if that song was a heavy metal
song. It simply doesnt have the same effect. This movie is meant to draw a tear
from the viewer, and the music certainly helps achieve this. Dont believe me
about either of these? Try muting the television and watching the movie again, it
simply wont have the same effect.
So movie directors manipulate our emotions with music, while hold music
keeps us happy, on the line, and spending money. But how else can music affect us? It can also help you forget what happened the night before. Not directly
of course, but research has shown that the volume and type of music can increase peoples drinking speed when at a bar or club. That is why when you go
out to your favorite party spot; the music is almost always extremely loud. For
the bar or club, loud, fast paced music equals more sales. But bars and clubs
arent the only ones using this strategy; upscale restaurants have also been
known to play a specific list of music that is designed specifically to achieve a
feel that they are looking for. The owners of these places hope that by creating
a certain atmosphere, people will be more inclined to not only stay for an extra
drink, but also spend a little extra when choosing their drink of choice.
Most of the time we hear about the benefits that music can bring; helps us
focus, is a stress reliever, can help our workout, etc. But we rarely hear about
the negative effects, or secret effects. People have made careers out of the manipulation that music can have on us and the majority of the time, we have no
idea the effect music is having on us. So the next time you have an impulse to
buy a new pair of shoes, have no idea how where the time went that day, or
simply wake up with no recollection of what happened the night before; you
may have music to thank for it.

Further Reading
Survival of The Flirtatious:
[1] Horan, Sean M., Ph. D. "Why Do We Flirt?" Psychology Today. Sussex Directories,
Inc., 16 Aug. 2012. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.
[2] Freeman, Shannah. "How Flirting Works." HowStuffWorks. A Discovery Company,
n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.
[3] "Seven Skills of a Great Flirt." Seven Skills of a Great Flirt All for You Counseling.
All For You Counseling, 03 Sept. 2011. Web. 15 Apr. 2013.

Miracles of Sound:
Jackson, Michael. Thriller. 1983. http://goldenageofmusicvideo.com/wpcontent/uploads/2011/12/gam_thriller2_580.jpg
Dunne, Gavin. Miracle of Sound. 2011. http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/
pub/images/miracleofsound_8289.jpg
Manipulation By Melody:
The Magic of Music Citations
Storr).. "Music and the Brain." "Brain & Mind" Magazine - WWW
Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. < http://
www.cerebromente.org.br/n15/mente/musica.html>.

"Surprising Effects Of Music." eMedExpert.com - Reliable Information on Prescription Drugs.

N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb.
2013. <http://www.emedexpert.com/tips/music.shtml>.

"Does Music Affect Our Spiritual Growth?." The Ascending Path.

N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. <ascending-path.com/2012/11/13/
does-music-affect-our-spiritual-growth/>.

"How Music Can Improve Your Mood | Adventures in Positive Psychology." Psych Central Blogs. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2013.
<http://blogs.psychcentral.com/positive-psychology/2011/06/
how-music-can-improve-your-mood/>.

Jaws Theme. YouTube, 2007. Web. 1 Apr 2013. <http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvCI-gNK_y4>.

Munichor, Nira, Anat Rafaeli, and Liad Weiss. "Proximity to or

Progress toward Receiving a Telephone Service? An Experimental Investigation of Customer Reactions to Features of Telephone Auditory Messages." Israel Institute of
Technology. (2008): n. page. Web. 25 Feb. 2013.

Titanic - Rose (Soundtrack). YouTube, 2009. Web. 1 Apr 2013.

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moaIzaUfP0Y>.

Warner, Jennifer, and Louise, Chang MD. "Loud Bar Music Makes
You Drink More." WebMD. (2008): n. page. Web. 1 Apr.
2013. <http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/
news/20080718/loud-bar-music-makes-you-drink-more>.

Techies
Des igned To Learn