Similar to Dylan’s initial thought, when I first entered the class “doing theory” brought to mind brilliant scientists such as Charles Darwin or Isaac Newton running intricate experiments for years on end until they finally reached a conclusion, explanation, or group of principles to contribute to their field of study. However, this only reveals the tip of the iceberg when speaking of theory. Following the readings, theory seems to be less straightforward and more of an abstracted process that lulls us into the act of thinking. Ironically, trying to put a finger on the act of theory demands deep thinking within itself.

As Hiedegger explains, “Everything thought-provoking gives us to think.” I believe that what is thought provoking comes first comes from personal interest, or something that inspires or draws our attention, and is crafted by our relationships, personal experiences, or cultural surroundings. Whether we realize it or not, the media also plays a major in what we find thought provoking and interesting. Television, books, the internet, movies, music, magazines, and advertisements and an abundance of other mediate forms shape what we find appealing enough to dive into a realm of thought. The very act of analyzing and studying multifaceted forms of media, including the technological shift towards electronic media demands hefty theoretical processes, which I soon realized when stepping into this classroom.

Hiedegger also mentions that “We are capable of doing only what we are inclined to do. And again, we truly incline only toward something that in turn inclines toward us, toward our essential being.” This goes to say that the act of theory demands desire which originates from our internal nature and character, very traits which we have inherited from our parents, and ties back to my notion that the thought provoking can spring from personal relationships with those such our immediate family. On a closing note, theory is more than arriving at a conclusion to contribute to scientific or philosophical fields, it is a process of thinking which we utilize to fulfill personal interest or to quench what we find thought provoking through our nature and experiences, and in this class the very forms of digital media serve as the drink.