1. Summarise the main points in the readings noting your agreement and disagreement with the ideas and opinions of the author/speaker.
This reading mainly talks about how a blockbuster is made. The process it goes through to be a potential blockbuster and the way the movie powerhouses use various techniques to grab the attention of the public and then how they keep it within public interest.
I agree with the authors views on the strategies used to entice the public to be interested in a potential blockbuster - It’s all about marketing and having the right advertising avenues, along with the right actors and releasing at the right time.
2. Identify the individuals, organisations and technologies involved in the production, delivery and consumption of the text you chose last week. You may use any source to identify this information, but you must reference your sources.
The first key players who are involved with my chosen text of last week are the following:
* Producer - Ryan Murphy
* Co-creators: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan.
* Executive producers Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Dante Di Loreto.
* Co-executive producer: Ian Brennan serves as.
* The FOX network as this is where the show is aired!!
* The actors
* Advertising/Media Outlets
References:
http://www.fox.com/glee/about/
3. Incorporate any of your reflections, ideas, opinions about issues addressed in lectures, readings and/or tutorial activities.
* Reflection time………Let me talk about the thing that has really made me have a negative opinion, and that is Vidding! Having never heard of it before until this unit, I was interested to see what it actually was. Personally, I couldn’t think of anything more boring than vidding. Taking an existing video clip and combining it with a music clip is not how I would want to spend my time. I find it hard to classify it as “artwork” as it is just taking existing material and merging them together. Each to their own I say, and if that’s what you are into, then that’s great but I have other things I would rather do.
* Another lingering thought……I am still not sure what I will be doing for my remediation assignment! (Wouldn’t it be amusing if I actually ended up “vidding” that assignment!)
4. Identify a text that you consider to be particularly interactive. Note the features that make the text interactive.
Well a networking social site such as facebook is extremely interactive. Not only can you instant chat, leave messages, post photos, but you can play many interactive games where friends can also assist you. It’s an online social playground!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Module 1.2 Discussions
Identify one of your favourite media texts:
One of my favourite media texts at the moment is the TV show “Glee”. I love the music numbers within it, but surprisingly enough it covers current social issues such as: teen pregnancy, homosexuality, special needs students, popularity/unpopularity, rivalry and relationships.
Discuss the participants involved in production and delivery of the role:
The participants involved in the production and delivery of the role are:
The actors
Advertising
Producers
TV Network
Do consumers participate in the production and consumption of the text?
Most definitely, without the consumers there would be no ratings – no ratings would mean “DOOM and failure” in TV Land!
Is the text likely to exclude or offend particular groups of people?
Most likely! Some comments by various characters appear to be so politically incorrect that no doubt some viewers would be offended. Others would find them humerous! Personally, these days I feel some people have nothing better to do than find anything and everything offensive!
Identify and discuss community fears and concerns about new media use:
Community fear is a growing concern amongst certain people with regards to new media use. This I believe is more due to the fear of the unknown! When someone doesn’t understand something, and they are presented with worse case scenarios, they of course will be fearful. For example when a crime takes place through a website outlet, eg the “craigslist killer” which has been a huge case over in the states - a man would advertise to meet people on craigslist, and then turn around and kill them. Of course things like that give the Internet a very bad name. Another current case was about a young girl who befriended someone on facebook, another sad and violent ending! These crimes definitely scare people. Social networking sites come across as scary and dangerous. Also, the ease of access to someone’s personal details and the way predators can find victims is definitely a concern for people. Another fear is online banking – people are convinced that it doesn’t matter how secure a site is – their details will be hacked.
In taking note of such things, it is also important to keep in mind that such crimes have always existed they are not new but with the huge amount of media outlets available today, we are most definitely exposed to things in a far quicker and more explicit way – hence I believe the reason for people to be more fearful of new media use.
Consider violent and sexually explicit content on the web and in games:
There is definitely more exposure to such things for people on the Internet. People can search and find pretty much anything they are looking for regardless of how violent and degrading it is. This is certainly a downside to the Internet!
Discuss net filters and government regulations as well as resistance to regulation:
I do think people need to be properly educated in the use of their own filters eg, parents setting filters for their children etc, but as for the government setting filters and regulations for Internet use, I don’t think that is reasonable. I accept such things on sites with access to criminal activities, but that’s as far as I would go with that!
One of my favourite media texts at the moment is the TV show “Glee”. I love the music numbers within it, but surprisingly enough it covers current social issues such as: teen pregnancy, homosexuality, special needs students, popularity/unpopularity, rivalry and relationships.
Discuss the participants involved in production and delivery of the role:
The participants involved in the production and delivery of the role are:
The actors
Advertising
Producers
TV Network
Do consumers participate in the production and consumption of the text?
Most definitely, without the consumers there would be no ratings – no ratings would mean “DOOM and failure” in TV Land!
Is the text likely to exclude or offend particular groups of people?
Most likely! Some comments by various characters appear to be so politically incorrect that no doubt some viewers would be offended. Others would find them humerous! Personally, these days I feel some people have nothing better to do than find anything and everything offensive!
Identify and discuss community fears and concerns about new media use:
Community fear is a growing concern amongst certain people with regards to new media use. This I believe is more due to the fear of the unknown! When someone doesn’t understand something, and they are presented with worse case scenarios, they of course will be fearful. For example when a crime takes place through a website outlet, eg the “craigslist killer” which has been a huge case over in the states - a man would advertise to meet people on craigslist, and then turn around and kill them. Of course things like that give the Internet a very bad name. Another current case was about a young girl who befriended someone on facebook, another sad and violent ending! These crimes definitely scare people. Social networking sites come across as scary and dangerous. Also, the ease of access to someone’s personal details and the way predators can find victims is definitely a concern for people. Another fear is online banking – people are convinced that it doesn’t matter how secure a site is – their details will be hacked.
In taking note of such things, it is also important to keep in mind that such crimes have always existed they are not new but with the huge amount of media outlets available today, we are most definitely exposed to things in a far quicker and more explicit way – hence I believe the reason for people to be more fearful of new media use.
Consider violent and sexually explicit content on the web and in games:
There is definitely more exposure to such things for people on the Internet. People can search and find pretty much anything they are looking for regardless of how violent and degrading it is. This is certainly a downside to the Internet!
Discuss net filters and government regulations as well as resistance to regulation:
I do think people need to be properly educated in the use of their own filters eg, parents setting filters for their children etc, but as for the government setting filters and regulations for Internet use, I don’t think that is reasonable. I accept such things on sites with access to criminal activities, but that’s as far as I would go with that!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Module 1.2 Reading - Four Puzzles From Cyberspace, Lessig. L, 2006
Throughout this reading, Lessing points out the differences between "cyberspace", "the Internet" and "reality" and how different rules may apply. Using four "themes" such as: Regulability, Regulations By Code, Latent Ambiguity, Competing Sovereigns and examples he makes comparisons.
Borders: (example of Regulation By Code)
Basically this section talks about the "borders" within cyberspace. What is right and what is wrong. Using an online game scenario for an example, he discusses how there is so much freedom within cyberspace and allowances within these games, but due to different individuals interpretations of what is right and what is wrong, problems can arise. Some of these situations are so far fetched if you were to place them in reality, but to these online gamers, these are highly important situations. Borders are like the boundaries within the games as well as boundaries in reality. In reality, we have laws which make it punishable if you overstep these boundaries, in cyberspace these boundaries can be an area of "grey". Things are resolved differently in cyberspace and on the Internet, than in real life. A piece of code can change the outcome in 'cyberspace', it is not that simple in real life - but then the argument of who regulates this code will arise!!
Governors: (example of regulability)
Governors are those in charge of situations, they are the law! The example used here is a state called "Boral" where gambling is illegal. But with the introduction of the Internet, gambling was able to be taken up within this state as the servers that the gambling sites were on (originally in Boral), were moved to offshore locations. This then hampered the regulability. Borals law did not allow gambling, but gambling was still present but now what could be done if the server is not
actually in Boral. Governing regulations become harder to do with the Internet.
Jake's Communities: (example of Competing Sovereigns)
Jake had two lives. His normal everyday hardworking, quiet life and then a sordid seedy life as a writer online. His writings were far different from his life in reality. He wrote of brutal violence against women and had many followers of his words. When a young girl stumbled across a story and it was linked to his Michigan Alum, trouble broke out for Jake. The police were called in, he was examined by doctors - I mean how could he be one person in real life and have such a distorted alter ego in cyberspace?? - and ultimately, he was charged!
Here we have two areas and basically two persona's relating to the one person. How can it be proven that the violent one wouldn't seep into the one living in reality. This is where competing sovereigns come in to play.
Worms that sniff: (example of Latent Ambiguity)
This tells a story of worms - those extra little bits of code that can seep unnoticeable throughout ones computer system. Worms can be used to collect data or can be harmful, depends what commands have been written into it. Examples are used as to whether the government for example can use worms to obtain information that could be beneficial in protecting the country, what gives the government the right to place a worm on someones computer without a search warrant first - in reality a search warrant would be needed before any type of invasive action can take place. The government could counter argue, but it is for the good of the people and they may not even be aware they have a worm on their system. But what rights of the people are being stepped on here? Who is right and wrong in these situations - latent ambiguity!
Borders: (example of Regulation By Code)
Basically this section talks about the "borders" within cyberspace. What is right and what is wrong. Using an online game scenario for an example, he discusses how there is so much freedom within cyberspace and allowances within these games, but due to different individuals interpretations of what is right and what is wrong, problems can arise. Some of these situations are so far fetched if you were to place them in reality, but to these online gamers, these are highly important situations. Borders are like the boundaries within the games as well as boundaries in reality. In reality, we have laws which make it punishable if you overstep these boundaries, in cyberspace these boundaries can be an area of "grey". Things are resolved differently in cyberspace and on the Internet, than in real life. A piece of code can change the outcome in 'cyberspace', it is not that simple in real life - but then the argument of who regulates this code will arise!!
Governors: (example of regulability)
Governors are those in charge of situations, they are the law! The example used here is a state called "Boral" where gambling is illegal. But with the introduction of the Internet, gambling was able to be taken up within this state as the servers that the gambling sites were on (originally in Boral), were moved to offshore locations. This then hampered the regulability. Borals law did not allow gambling, but gambling was still present but now what could be done if the server is not
actually in Boral. Governing regulations become harder to do with the Internet.
Jake's Communities: (example of Competing Sovereigns)
Jake had two lives. His normal everyday hardworking, quiet life and then a sordid seedy life as a writer online. His writings were far different from his life in reality. He wrote of brutal violence against women and had many followers of his words. When a young girl stumbled across a story and it was linked to his Michigan Alum, trouble broke out for Jake. The police were called in, he was examined by doctors - I mean how could he be one person in real life and have such a distorted alter ego in cyberspace?? - and ultimately, he was charged!
Here we have two areas and basically two persona's relating to the one person. How can it be proven that the violent one wouldn't seep into the one living in reality. This is where competing sovereigns come in to play.
Worms that sniff: (example of Latent Ambiguity)
This tells a story of worms - those extra little bits of code that can seep unnoticeable throughout ones computer system. Worms can be used to collect data or can be harmful, depends what commands have been written into it. Examples are used as to whether the government for example can use worms to obtain information that could be beneficial in protecting the country, what gives the government the right to place a worm on someones computer without a search warrant first - in reality a search warrant would be needed before any type of invasive action can take place. The government could counter argue, but it is for the good of the people and they may not even be aware they have a worm on their system. But what rights of the people are being stepped on here? Who is right and wrong in these situations - latent ambiguity!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Module 1.1 Reading:
Reading 1.1 Critical Information Studies For a Participatory Culture (Part Two), Henry Jenkins
To start with I just like to get a couple of other definitions, it just makes it all much more clearer to me!!
A simpler definition of:
“Participatory Culture” Through software and advocacy, Participatory Culture Foundation works to build a fairer, more open, and more democratic media space”. (http://www.participatoryculture.org/
From Wikipedia “Participatory culture is a neologism in reference of, but opposite to a Consumer culture — in other words a culture in which private persons (the public) do not act as consumers only, but also as contributors or producers (prosumers). The term is most often applied to the production or creation of some type of published media. Recent advances in technologies (mostly personal computers and the Internet) have enabled private persons to create and publish such media, usually through the Internet. This new culture as it relates to the internet has been described as Web 2.0.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Participatory_culture)
1."The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself":
Without the proper education, certain groups will still unable to be a successful part of online communities. This is needed if online communities are going to be able to run smoothly and effectively with various groups within society.
2. From Digital Divide to Participation Gap:
I believe it is the lower income areas that are suffering from access to networked computers. Speaking from current experience, in the area we live in – which would be classed as just normal middle class suburbia, there is a huge effort for all of the kids in the community to have access to wired computers. Within the school district there are computer labs in the schools with computer studies in the curriculum starting in Kindergarten classes. The local libraries also have internet cafe style rooms – fully open to the public.
3. Remaking Schools:
Although schools and libraries are the main places that offer a chance for young people to get online, there are restrictions put in place to stop them connecting to online social networking groups. It is suggested that preparing the kids for the real world and putting limitations on their access is putting restrictions on just how much kids can learn and experience online.
In my opinion, I can understand the benefits of allowing kids to access different social networking sites, but I don’t think it is mandatory at a young age that kids need to learn about faceboook etc. I mean most companies have policies in place about their employees and their use of social networking in the workplace. I think if this appears to be a beneficial requirement for children to learn, then maybe the individual schools can setup an internal social networking site where kids can communicate with their friends in a safe environment, but still get an understanding of social networking via the internet.
4. Rethinking Collective Intelligence:
To me, he is basically outlining the different models of how communities are formed and work together – either using Pierre Levy’s notion of “collective intelligence” and James Surowiecki’s “Wisdom of Crowds”.
5. Promoting Diversity:
As in real life, it is suggested that the minority groups are basically being undermined by more dominant groups. In real life, people can pick and choose who they wish to befriend, and this can happen in the virtual world as people with same interests will start congregating together. In my opinion and unfortunately for many, this will be an ongoing thing. Diversity will always exist and no amount of education will change that. This is not a new thing just because it is being highlighted within online communities.
6. Reasserting Fair Use:
The use of copyright material is getting hard to keep track off throughout the internet. With different parties involved such as a company displaying the material and the company that owns the material, there can be many issues for the contributors. With corporations putting increasing pressure on sites to send out “take down” notices to their contributors, in turn the contributors are finding it increasingly difficult to argue their rights.
7. Critiquing Free Labor:
“Free labor” model – “we produce all the content, they make all the money.” Basically it is the work of others who produce all content/information etc and the Commercial platforms are the ones who are making all of the money without having to do much work.
8. Designing Civic Media:
There is the concern that professional journalists are basically being faded out and being replaced with the emergence of volunteer citizen journalists. But the concern lies with how accurate can these volunteers portray their society. There is still the need for professional news coverage to give a foundation for citizen journalists to build upon.
9. Thinking Globally:
Because the internet can reach much further than other media coverage, people can be exposed to more than one point of view that is being presented to them from local media outlets – giving them a new outlook on current or past events.
10. Restructuring Activism:
I think he is basically trying to say that with new organisations emerging, there will be different types of activist groups coming forth and trying to make a stance.
To start with I just like to get a couple of other definitions, it just makes it all much more clearer to me!!
A simpler definition of:
“Participatory Culture” Through software and advocacy, Participatory Culture Foundation works to build a fairer, more open, and more democratic media space”. (http://www.participatoryculture.org/
From Wikipedia “Participatory culture is a neologism in reference of, but opposite to a Consumer culture — in other words a culture in which private persons (the public) do not act as consumers only, but also as contributors or producers (prosumers). The term is most often applied to the production or creation of some type of published media. Recent advances in technologies (mostly personal computers and the Internet) have enabled private persons to create and publish such media, usually through the Internet. This new culture as it relates to the internet has been described as Web 2.0.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Participatory_culture)
1."The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself":
Without the proper education, certain groups will still unable to be a successful part of online communities. This is needed if online communities are going to be able to run smoothly and effectively with various groups within society.
2. From Digital Divide to Participation Gap:
I believe it is the lower income areas that are suffering from access to networked computers. Speaking from current experience, in the area we live in – which would be classed as just normal middle class suburbia, there is a huge effort for all of the kids in the community to have access to wired computers. Within the school district there are computer labs in the schools with computer studies in the curriculum starting in Kindergarten classes. The local libraries also have internet cafe style rooms – fully open to the public.
3. Remaking Schools:
Although schools and libraries are the main places that offer a chance for young people to get online, there are restrictions put in place to stop them connecting to online social networking groups. It is suggested that preparing the kids for the real world and putting limitations on their access is putting restrictions on just how much kids can learn and experience online.
In my opinion, I can understand the benefits of allowing kids to access different social networking sites, but I don’t think it is mandatory at a young age that kids need to learn about faceboook etc. I mean most companies have policies in place about their employees and their use of social networking in the workplace. I think if this appears to be a beneficial requirement for children to learn, then maybe the individual schools can setup an internal social networking site where kids can communicate with their friends in a safe environment, but still get an understanding of social networking via the internet.
4. Rethinking Collective Intelligence:
To me, he is basically outlining the different models of how communities are formed and work together – either using Pierre Levy’s notion of “collective intelligence” and James Surowiecki’s “Wisdom of Crowds”.
5. Promoting Diversity:
As in real life, it is suggested that the minority groups are basically being undermined by more dominant groups. In real life, people can pick and choose who they wish to befriend, and this can happen in the virtual world as people with same interests will start congregating together. In my opinion and unfortunately for many, this will be an ongoing thing. Diversity will always exist and no amount of education will change that. This is not a new thing just because it is being highlighted within online communities.
6. Reasserting Fair Use:
The use of copyright material is getting hard to keep track off throughout the internet. With different parties involved such as a company displaying the material and the company that owns the material, there can be many issues for the contributors. With corporations putting increasing pressure on sites to send out “take down” notices to their contributors, in turn the contributors are finding it increasingly difficult to argue their rights.
7. Critiquing Free Labor:
“Free labor” model – “we produce all the content, they make all the money.” Basically it is the work of others who produce all content/information etc and the Commercial platforms are the ones who are making all of the money without having to do much work.
8. Designing Civic Media:
There is the concern that professional journalists are basically being faded out and being replaced with the emergence of volunteer citizen journalists. But the concern lies with how accurate can these volunteers portray their society. There is still the need for professional news coverage to give a foundation for citizen journalists to build upon.
9. Thinking Globally:
Because the internet can reach much further than other media coverage, people can be exposed to more than one point of view that is being presented to them from local media outlets – giving them a new outlook on current or past events.
10. Restructuring Activism:
I think he is basically trying to say that with new organisations emerging, there will be different types of activist groups coming forth and trying to make a stance.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Med104 Engaging Media - Online Portfolio
This is my online Portfolio for Med104 Engaging Media.
Here is my response to "Identify personal media use and preferences":
My use of media is...
News: I read a local American paper daily, along with Sydney Morning Herald, and HeraldSun and The Age, I also check out whats going on over in England
Social Media: I use Facebook as I find it really easy to keep in touch with local and overseas friends. I also use Messenger and Skype. Have never given Twitter a go.
Online Banking/Online Shopping: I do all of my banking online (just the occasional cheque deposit through the drive thru bank tellers they have over here in US). Love online shopping - LOVE Amazon!!
Music: Listen to 80's music in the car - yes stuck in a time warp, can't help it :-)
Books/reading: I love books, but find I run out of time to sit down with one. I skim through Magazines.
Television: We have cable with every possible channel available, funny thing is, I tend to watch reruns of old sitcoms etc when I have the chance.
Phone/Mobile phone: I am addicted to my blackberry - I use it for everything. Internet, email, messenger, blackberry chat, facebook and really whatever else I can - comes in handy whilst waiting at the dentist office ;-) Our home phone is actually through a service called Vonage. It connects through the internet and we pay a set amount per month like $40ish dollars and we can make as many calls as we want, interstate no extra and all free calls to Australia - I can talk for hours and it wont cost us a cent extra!
Research/study: I do everything online - I have taken the kids to the local library, just so they can borrow books etc, but as for me, I never checkout any study materials from there.
Special mention: I would be completely and utterly lost if I didn't have access to the internet! I am truly addicted :-)
Here is my response to "Identify personal media use and preferences":
My use of media is...
News: I read a local American paper daily, along with Sydney Morning Herald, and HeraldSun and The Age, I also check out whats going on over in England
Social Media: I use Facebook as I find it really easy to keep in touch with local and overseas friends. I also use Messenger and Skype. Have never given Twitter a go.
Online Banking/Online Shopping: I do all of my banking online (just the occasional cheque deposit through the drive thru bank tellers they have over here in US). Love online shopping - LOVE Amazon!!
Music: Listen to 80's music in the car - yes stuck in a time warp, can't help it :-)
Books/reading: I love books, but find I run out of time to sit down with one. I skim through Magazines.
Television: We have cable with every possible channel available, funny thing is, I tend to watch reruns of old sitcoms etc when I have the chance.
Phone/Mobile phone: I am addicted to my blackberry - I use it for everything. Internet, email, messenger, blackberry chat, facebook and really whatever else I can - comes in handy whilst waiting at the dentist office ;-) Our home phone is actually through a service called Vonage. It connects through the internet and we pay a set amount per month like $40ish dollars and we can make as many calls as we want, interstate no extra and all free calls to Australia - I can talk for hours and it wont cost us a cent extra!
Research/study: I do everything online - I have taken the kids to the local library, just so they can borrow books etc, but as for me, I never checkout any study materials from there.
Special mention: I would be completely and utterly lost if I didn't have access to the internet! I am truly addicted :-)
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