Hi Everyone,
I just finished watching The Persuaders from PBS's frontline, and while I was looking for other good Frontline reports, I saw this and thought I would post it here:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/
If you have time, watch The Persuaders too.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/persuaders/view/
Friday, February 29, 2008
Week 9 - B&G 212-271
This reading was somewhat confusing, especially when it got to the section on self. I got the overall gist of how people have six different possibilities of using media, but was almost completely lost to the segments on remediating one's body and the Cartesian Ego. On another note, the sections about convergence and ubiquitous computing made sense to me. As I read it, I thought about a newer episode of Scooby Doo in which the villian was actually the computerized house where they were located. The computer had been created to perform various tasks for the homeowner without his orders. The computer mainframe was so advanced to the point that it was autonomous. This section also made me think of the Jetsons and how everything in their house was computer-operated. Essentially, the examples given in the book helped me relate how immediacy and hypermediacy functioned within these two examples.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Mediated Spaces
Characteristics of Mediated Spaces:
-made to look realistic
-capitalizing/ imitating reality
-mediated for profit
-allows for authenticity of emotion
-engaging
-purposeful exclusion of the outside world
What are some other ways that mediated spaces might connect to digital media?
-9/11
-Political rallies
Mediated Spaces:
-Willy Wonka's Factory
-Malls
-Theme Parks
Is virtual reality a mediated space?
In Second Life you can:
-buy property
-create an avatar
-interacting with people
-spend money
-have a job interview
-run a business
-attend a concert
How would you represent these concepts of Digital Literarcy in a mediated space like a virtual museum?
Transparency- interactive table top space (piano, art space, etc.)
Remediation- have virtual experiences, pictures turn into interaction (moon walk)
Hypermediacy- have the museum set up in a way that people are reminded they are in a museum (ways to go from 'room to room')
Cyberspace- globes with light connecting parts of the world, a net that shows connections, interactive ride (you are transported with information) with you choosing the destination
Digital Narrative- a page from a book with only text telling a story, then the same story told in a few different digital formats (remediated as well)
-made to look realistic
-capitalizing/ imitating reality
-mediated for profit
-allows for authenticity of emotion
-engaging
-purposeful exclusion of the outside world
What are some other ways that mediated spaces might connect to digital media?
-9/11
-Political rallies
Mediated Spaces:
-Willy Wonka's Factory
-Malls
-Theme Parks
Is virtual reality a mediated space?
In Second Life you can:
-buy property
-create an avatar
-interacting with people
-spend money
-have a job interview
-run a business
-attend a concert
How would you represent these concepts of Digital Literarcy in a mediated space like a virtual museum?
Transparency- interactive table top space (piano, art space, etc.)
Remediation- have virtual experiences, pictures turn into interaction (moon walk)
Hypermediacy- have the museum set up in a way that people are reminded they are in a museum (ways to go from 'room to room')
Cyberspace- globes with light connecting parts of the world, a net that shows connections, interactive ride (you are transported with information) with you choosing the destination
Digital Narrative- a page from a book with only text telling a story, then the same story told in a few different digital formats (remediated as well)
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
165-194
Personally, I have always viewed movies superior to television simply because you watch it on a big screen, pay a fair amount of money to watch, and normally you're not watching reruns when you go to the theater. In chapter 11, television claims superiority over film is because it can broadcast "live." This means that information about the world we inhabit can be received immediately... "television remeditates the real." (I thought i would touch on something a little different from all the other posts, however; I do love Disney World and Turner Field a LOT. After reading the section of mediated spaces, I totally view them differently now.)
Week 8 - Post 2/Post 3
Although my ideas about what to address in my individual project are in their infancy, I am happy to have a couple at all. The potential topics are as follows:
1. Digital literacy among children.
- Expertise with computers, video games, and/or cellular phones.
2. Digital literacy and the elderly.
- Analyzing their adaptation and adoption of computers and the internet.
I do not have any ideas about the creative assignment yet.
1. Digital literacy among children.
- Expertise with computers, video games, and/or cellular phones.
2. Digital literacy and the elderly.
- Analyzing their adaptation and adoption of computers and the internet.
I do not have any ideas about the creative assignment yet.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Bolter & Grusin pgs. 132-159
Who couldn't talk about films all day? That's what I was thinking as I read Bolter & Grusin pgs. 132-159. We all have our favorite films and just as diverse as our collection of favorites so are the reasons by which we decide which films make the cut and which do not. Accordingly, the varying responses to the question, "What makes a person really want to go see a movie?" aren’t at all surprising (especially with all the technology that has allowed films to evolve since our youth. Some people in our class seek out movies that portray to them the quintessential iconic hero think Bruce Willis in "Die Hard." Then you have people, such as myself, whom decide whether or not to see a movie based on whether or not the actors and/or actresses on the silverscreen are HOT. For instance, consider any and all of the Ocean movies...let's see you have George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon--come on, who doesn't love these guys?!? Who would want to see any of them fail? Who wouldn't rob a casino or anything else they wanted you to if they asked? I mean if any of them called me I'd be searching through my closet for my catwoman costume from Halloween a couple of years back and catching the redline to the Bellagio. In short, seeing on screen hot bad guys that come out on top, to me is 120 mins of heaven :)
Bolter & Grusin 160-195
There are so many interesting discussions in Remediation. More specifically, I think Bolter’s and Grusin's description of shopping malls and amusement parks is particularly intriguing. Consider Disney World. Disney World is known for the numerous places in the theme park that are made to look like “real world places.” The funny thing is that these places are made to look realistic but the reality of the situation is that no one actually lives there. Bolter and Grusin makes the connection between Disney World, shopping malls and cyberspace: "Cyberspace is not, as some assert, a parallel universe…It is rather a nonplace, with many of the same characteristics as other highly mediated nonplaces. Cyberspace is a shopping mall in the ether" (179).
Disney dorks? *raises hand*
I try to stay out of the blog discussions pretty much, but I have to add two things:
1. As generally anti-huge-corporation as I am, I secretly love going to disneyworld.
2. One of my epiphanies as far as mediation of reality occurred when I was stuck on Space Mountain, when they had to turn the lights on to fix something, and the scaffolding was exposed. It was one of those moments when you realize that most of what you're perceiving is a function of what *isn't* seen as opposed to what is.
Carry on :-). This is a good discussion!
1. As generally anti-huge-corporation as I am, I secretly love going to disneyworld.
2. One of my epiphanies as far as mediation of reality occurred when I was stuck on Space Mountain, when they had to turn the lights on to fix something, and the scaffolding was exposed. It was one of those moments when you realize that most of what you're perceiving is a function of what *isn't* seen as opposed to what is.
Carry on :-). This is a good discussion!
Week 8 Readings
After reading everyone's post, I am glad to know that everyone else is as big of a "disney world dork" as I am. I LOVE going to disney world and getting caught up in the childlike attractions, bright colors, and the excitement that surrounds you. This weeks reading was interesting because it made me think of "places" and the meaning of places differently. After reading this, I looked at Disney World, and some other "themed" park places that I had visited and realized that they are in fact modeled to make me feel as though I am part of an adventure. When I am at the theme park, I feel as though I am in another world, just having fun enjoying the rides, and walking through the stores.
But as I though about this, I also thought about what it would be like if the park was closed. It would not be the same without the bright lights, loud sounds, vibrant characters, and crowds of people. The park is actually meant to create a world for you to get lost in, but as soon as closing time comes around, the "world" you are in ends, and you have to wait for the gates to reopen the next morning to start again. It is funny how my attention is attracted by the sights in the park and how that is what draws me in to want to buy and participate in everything.
But as I though about this, I also thought about what it would be like if the park was closed. It would not be the same without the bright lights, loud sounds, vibrant characters, and crowds of people. The park is actually meant to create a world for you to get lost in, but as soon as closing time comes around, the "world" you are in ends, and you have to wait for the gates to reopen the next morning to start again. It is funny how my attention is attracted by the sights in the park and how that is what draws me in to want to buy and participate in everything.
Bolter and Grusin 160-195
I enjoyed reading everyone’s response to this weeks reading. I also found the section on nonplaces very interesting. I have never thought to compare a shopping mall to a television until reading this chapter. We visit these places for what they contain, however; we can only experience the “reality of mediation” (178) during operation hours. No matter the age, we all have the opportunity to enjoy the same experience these nonplaces have to offer. After all, who does not have fun at Disney World?
160
The idea of place and how it plays into remediation is a concept that I hadn't really thought of. After reading this section though it makes sense. Whether it be a mall or an amusement park the place really plays into the idea of remediation. Real life towns or cities like the ones we live in are media spaces. It is fascinating to think that even Clemson is a media space, but it is true. The real question becomes to people get the same sense of place out of normal towns and citites as they do out of places like Disney World? When you think of cities like New York you can't help but wonder that it is like an amusement park to some people. SO much going on and so many different venues to visit, you definatly get a sense of place. I believe that the sense of place doesn't really depend on the place as much as it depends on the person visiting that place.
Monday, February 25, 2008
132-159
This portion on the evolution of film really interested me. I have always considered myself an avid film watcher and find it quite interesting when people can look beyond the surface of a film. I agree with Jenny and was in fact on the same wave length when I read this section. Animated films have taken leaps and bounds in the category of evolution. When you think about animated films like Fantasia and the original Mickey Mouse cartoons you have a certain picture in your mind. Then when you think of how they have evolved into Toy Story and Cars, it just blows your mind. It takes the idea of films being re mastered to a whole new level. It just really effected me that the book was talking about people looking at more than just the plots of films but deeper concepts, like evolution.
B and G pp. 165-194
The most interesting comparison I read from this reading was how shopping malls are structured like television sets. Like channel surfing, the person or observer is able to pick and chose which store he/she would like to view. People watch television to entertainment as do shoppers. As the reading suggests, television commercials are made to ask the viewer, "Will you buy?" Obviously, this idea is the same of shopping malls and the stores within.
Bolter & Grusin 132 - 159
I really thought the section on film--especially animated--was really interesting because of the evolution i witnessed in this medium throughout my childhood.
In elementary schools we had, as the book talked about, the animated films like Beauty and the Beast that imitated the Hollywood style--the film was ever flowing, no seams. However, as I grew up, the evolution of animation developed into movies like Toy Story, which become a hypermediate realistic world of its own. Suddenly the 3D world opened a whole new level of remediation for movies, especially kids movies. I feel like I have witnessed this evolution just in my short 20 years, since already the animated films I love are considered to be out of date; however, they are constantly being "remastered" to look even more realistic.
The quote that most stood out to me was:
"The latest animated films have found new ways to pursue both the desire for transparent immediacy and the fascination with media. In being able finally to compete with the "realism" of the Hollywood style, the animated film has also become increasingly aware of and confident of its own status as mediation."
In elementary schools we had, as the book talked about, the animated films like Beauty and the Beast that imitated the Hollywood style--the film was ever flowing, no seams. However, as I grew up, the evolution of animation developed into movies like Toy Story, which become a hypermediate realistic world of its own. Suddenly the 3D world opened a whole new level of remediation for movies, especially kids movies. I feel like I have witnessed this evolution just in my short 20 years, since already the animated films I love are considered to be out of date; however, they are constantly being "remastered" to look even more realistic.
The quote that most stood out to me was:
"The latest animated films have found new ways to pursue both the desire for transparent immediacy and the fascination with media. In being able finally to compete with the "realism" of the Hollywood style, the animated film has also become increasingly aware of and confident of its own status as mediation."
Bolter & Grusin (160-195)
There is a section of the reading on pg. 173 that was particularly interesting to me because I am in a seminar that is discussing the sense of place. One of the places that we have brought up in conversation is the Main Street in Disney World. In our reading it says, "The parks celebrate the town as a commercialized media space, but this does not make Disneyland or Disney World any less a reflection of American town or city life...Real cities and towns are themselves media spaces, which theme parks reproduce and refashion." Because of this, I wonder what the affect of remediation is on the sense of a place. Remediation obviously affects it because people have this idyllic sensation of Disneyland and Disney World and thus the sense of place is one of recreation because people value what was first created on the real life main street.
Bolter and Grusin, 160-195
First, I enjoyed Megan's response to this reading, about her grandma and Aerosmith. That rocks!
Second, this portion is hitting home right now because one of my high school classmates and his wife (who also attended our high school, but who's younger than us) are dealing with their 7-year-old son being diagnosed recently with a brain tumor, and they spent last week at Disney World through the services of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The sad(der) part is, the family had just visited Disney World in October, but little G. (the patient) does not remember much of his visit, so one is left wondering how the experience was remediated for him. Surely he remembers parts of it; are they the same? Is it a completely different experience? Is it more or less fun for G.? Is it dampened by the fact that it may be his last visit (he's aware of his situation).
So sad.
Second, this portion is hitting home right now because one of my high school classmates and his wife (who also attended our high school, but who's younger than us) are dealing with their 7-year-old son being diagnosed recently with a brain tumor, and they spent last week at Disney World through the services of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The sad(der) part is, the family had just visited Disney World in October, but little G. (the patient) does not remember much of his visit, so one is left wondering how the experience was remediated for him. Surely he remembers parts of it; are they the same? Is it a completely different experience? Is it more or less fun for G.? Is it dampened by the fact that it may be his last visit (he's aware of his situation).
So sad.
Bolter and Grusin 160-195
I enjoyed reading Chapter 10, especially the part about amusement parks. When I think about remediation, I never thought to include a place like Disney World, but once Bolter and Grusin explained it, it seemed to make perfect sense. I have been to Disney World three times at different points in my life. Once when I was three, a second time when I was 13, and lastly when I was 16. At all three times, the highlight of my trip was seeing Tigger. At those times I could "meet" Tigger, get his autograph, and get my picture taken with him. Also, the first and last times I have been to Disney World, my grandmother has been with me and enjoyed herself just as much as any child. Both times we have gone, she has bought me a Tigger stuffed animal and acted just like a kid; much like the Disney World commercials that are running now. The highlight of my grandmother's trip the last time was riding the Aerosmith roller coaster. She was one of very few 62-year-old women listening to Aerosmith and going upside down on a roller coaster, but she enjoyed it more and more each time. What she liked about this roller coaster was that even though we had to wait in line a long time, there are different parts in the line that tell a story and get you ready for the reason for the roller coaster. Basically, you are the limo driver and Aersomith is running late for a performance.
Also, I used to go to Paramount's Kings Dominion at least once a year until I graduated from high school. My favorite ride was The Hurler because it is a roller coaster based on the movie Wayne's World. I enjoyed this ride so much because it made me feel like I was a part of the movie. Also, the section of the park where The Hurler is located has the car that Garth drove and the donut shop where Wayne and Garth eat in the movie.
All of this is very immediate and transparent to me. I am there with the movie characters I love in their environment and it feels so real that I get lost in it.
Also, I used to go to Paramount's Kings Dominion at least once a year until I graduated from high school. My favorite ride was The Hurler because it is a roller coaster based on the movie Wayne's World. I enjoyed this ride so much because it made me feel like I was a part of the movie. Also, the section of the park where The Hurler is located has the car that Garth drove and the donut shop where Wayne and Garth eat in the movie.
All of this is very immediate and transparent to me. I am there with the movie characters I love in their environment and it feels so real that I get lost in it.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Due Date for Final Draft of Project
Hey Everyone!
Dr. Fishman asked me to post something on our class blog about the due date for the revised, final drafts of our projects. She tried to send an email/make a change on the class syllabus online but she wasn't able to.
Everyone is to turn in their "final final" draft on Thursday, February 28 during class time. The rest of the groups who haven't presented will present on Tuesday, February 26.
See you all then! :)
Jennifer
Dr. Fishman asked me to post something on our class blog about the due date for the revised, final drafts of our projects. She tried to send an email/make a change on the class syllabus online but she wasn't able to.
Everyone is to turn in their "final final" draft on Thursday, February 28 during class time. The rest of the groups who haven't presented will present on Tuesday, February 26.
See you all then! :)
Jennifer
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Avators Response
I really loved this group's music and how it related to the characters! i thought it would be cool if you had a picture of the actual person the avator represented--to show the contrast between the avator and the person they represent. I loved the way the anonymity gave them power to be whoever they wanted to be. well done!
Interesting!
I didn't have a chance to mention it in class, but I encountered a couple of interesting items recently:
Wednesday on msn.com, I saw a cool story about how films that use technology as a major plot device are unlikely to become classics, instead finding themselves woefully dated in a few years. Examples include 1957's "The Desk Set," starring Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, and the 1965 film "The Slender Thread," starring Sidney Poitier and Anne Bancroft. For good measure, the intro even suggests that last year's blockbuster "The Departed" will fall victim to the same fate, given its plot's heavy reliance on the use of cell phones. Article at http://tech.msn.com/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=6246420>1=10938; includes fun speculative tags about how those films could be remade using today's tech standards.
And this morning on NPR, I heard a story about the resurgence of vinyl records -- they're still being manufactured, and sales saw a 15% jump last year! Experts attribute their "re-popularity" to a warmer, more nuanced sound, coupled with the richer interactive experience of holding the album, turning it over mid-play and watching it spin as it plays. So, the record player may turn out to be the Cabbage Patch/Elmo/iPod must-have Christmas gift in the near future after all!
Wednesday on msn.com, I saw a cool story about how films that use technology as a major plot device are unlikely to become classics, instead finding themselves woefully dated in a few years. Examples include 1957's "The Desk Set," starring Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, and the 1965 film "The Slender Thread," starring Sidney Poitier and Anne Bancroft. For good measure, the intro even suggests that last year's blockbuster "The Departed" will fall victim to the same fate, given its plot's heavy reliance on the use of cell phones. Article at http://tech.msn.com/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=6246420>1=10938; includes fun speculative tags about how those films could be remade using today's tech standards.
And this morning on NPR, I heard a story about the resurgence of vinyl records -- they're still being manufactured, and sales saw a 15% jump last year! Experts attribute their "re-popularity" to a warmer, more nuanced sound, coupled with the richer interactive experience of holding the album, turning it over mid-play and watching it spin as it plays. So, the record player may turn out to be the Cabbage Patch/Elmo/iPod must-have Christmas gift in the near future after all!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Bolter and Grusin, 132-159
A couple of notes on this reading: I got hung up for a while looking at "Hummingbird" by Uri Dotan. The thought I ultimately came away with was, "I don't get it." Granted, I say that about a lot of art, because I'm coarse and uncultured, I guess, but at the same time I felt that if this were a "real" (3D) art installation, I could move around it and peruse it in different ways. As is, I was left thinking, "Huh?" What's the train doing there, for instance? It doesn't interact with any of the other parts. In that way, and in this case, I think the remediation of modernist European art lost something in the translation.
Regarding the chapter about film, that was a fun read. It set me to thinking, for some reason, about the music videos of Tom Petty -- "Runnin' Down a Dream" in particular, in which the video remediates a book, which turns into an animated fantasy with Petty as a starring character. The video, in all its strangeness, remediates other pop culture references, including classic cartoons, "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" and "Bedknobs & Broomsticks." I think animation represents the perfect merger of digital art and film, and it's fun to think of all the ways animation has changed since its early days -- a subject I had a chance to ponder while working on our "politics in cartoons" class project.
Regarding the chapter about film, that was a fun read. It set me to thinking, for some reason, about the music videos of Tom Petty -- "Runnin' Down a Dream" in particular, in which the video remediates a book, which turns into an animated fantasy with Petty as a starring character. The video, in all its strangeness, remediates other pop culture references, including classic cartoons, "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" and "Bedknobs & Broomsticks." I think animation represents the perfect merger of digital art and film, and it's fun to think of all the ways animation has changed since its early days -- a subject I had a chance to ponder while working on our "politics in cartoons" class project.
Week 7, Post 2 - B&G 132-159
(Originally posted 2/13/08)
I found this reading very interesting as far as how Bolter and Grusin applied immediacy, transparency, and hypermediacy to film and digital art. First, digital art. It is so funny how some people are obsessed with owning or knowing the most up-to-date technology, but some of those very people can turn on a dime and discredit digital art for being unauthentic and artless. It also amazes me how the rich, who can afford the luxuries of digital art, brag about owning older paintings.
I did get lost in the film section of the reading because of paying more attention to the number of movies I recognized or had seen. On that note, in a geeky kind of way, I enjoyed being able to put a finger on the techniques used in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?". That movie always capitavated me. As I recall, the movie and music industries of the nineties picked up on the trends of integrating animation with actors. Two great examples I can think of are the movie "Howard the Duck", and in music, Paula Abdul's "Opposites Attract". Evidently, I watch too much television
I found this reading very interesting as far as how Bolter and Grusin applied immediacy, transparency, and hypermediacy to film and digital art. First, digital art. It is so funny how some people are obsessed with owning or knowing the most up-to-date technology, but some of those very people can turn on a dime and discredit digital art for being unauthentic and artless. It also amazes me how the rich, who can afford the luxuries of digital art, brag about owning older paintings.
I did get lost in the film section of the reading because of paying more attention to the number of movies I recognized or had seen. On that note, in a geeky kind of way, I enjoyed being able to put a finger on the techniques used in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?". That movie always capitavated me. As I recall, the movie and music industries of the nineties picked up on the trends of integrating animation with actors. Two great examples I can think of are the movie "Howard the Duck", and in music, Paula Abdul's "Opposites Attract". Evidently, I watch too much television
Bolter and Grusin, chapters 7 & 8
I particularly enjoyed the sections on hollywood style and digital compositing. In a well made film, we do not think about the artist time and talent it takes to to make some of the stunts transparent. Some of the lower budget movies and television shows do not have the artistic, or financial means to achieve this. One of my children used to watch the television show the Power Rangers. The stunts were so amusing to me beacuse when the rangers would cut flips, the cables could be seen, and when they would fall during a battle scene, the big blue mats that cushioned their fall could were clearly visible.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Bolter & Grusin
So, after realizing that I seemed to have forgotten to order my Bolter and Grusin book at the beginning of the year, I placed the shipment of the book on Amazon. The book did not get here until last week, so I had an unfortunately large amount of work to catch up on. I have not done any posts on the book besides the one which defined remediation. I borrowed a book for this reason. Now, given a quiet weekend in my apartment, I’m finally prepared to post a very long book concerning nearly all pages of B&G.
B&G 53-87
Within this section, the true definition of remediation is remediated in varying ways. Just through the fact that the definition is always been reworked, redefined, and added onto illustrates the very point it’s trying to make. The purpose of remediation is to improve a medium. This passage also exhibits the sometimes reluctant public from accepting new remediated media. I take myself as a personal example. For Christmas, instead of a new apple iphone, or any other new technology, I asked for a record player so that I could listen to all of my parents’ old albums. I would much rather stick with what is reliable than risk buying the prototype of new remediated technology and regret it (or at least regret paying for it.) I’d also like to point to a broader idea of remediation. Remediation of man can be seen, as our experience within technology (often times the showing) and reading (often the telling) man grows up to be more intelligent than his cavemen predecessors.
B&G 88-131
The thing that fascinated me the most within this selection was the idea of escapism in relation to remediation. You escape and interact with people both real and unreal. For example the person you chat online with probably describes themselves differently than you would describe them. Does that make them any less real? Or what about avatars, or virtual realities? You see and experience these things but if they are not tangible, does that make them not real? While escapism might temporarily remove you from physicality, is the life and you and others lead away from the physical world any less substantial than your own “real” life. In regards to this “unreality” within digital media like photographs, it does seem to make the argument of real and unreal slightly murkier. Altered photographs seem to be acceptable as art, while unacceptable in things news stories. Where is the line, and how does one define reality within our common conception of remediation?
Bolter & Grusin (132-159)
I really enjoyed the section on film. This is probably because it is such a common part of life for me compared to computer games, digital art, etc. Especially with all of the films that have been coming out recently that are digitally manipulated. [300 anyone?] It has been interesting how lifelike Disney can make their digitally animated characters. So much so that even though you know you are watching a cartoon, you are on the edge of your seat and involved with what the characters are doing. [The Invincibles] People go to the movies so that there is the removal of everyday life and so that they can leave reality for a little while. Knowing this, it is interesting to compare how film producers embrace or shun transparency in their films.
"...Popular film now seems more willing to reveal its multiple styles" (154).
"...Popular film now seems more willing to reveal its multiple styles" (154).
Response to B & R, 88-131
This section showed how media can implement high levels of hypermdiacy that creates an immediate world. The part with the example about pong and how it made you aware of the perspective and the hypermediate surface, yet it becomes its own immediate world seems to me to be true of all the popular video games. They make you aware of the depth of its own world. I thought it was really true as to why Tolkien's world is so popular--it creates its own language and makes aware of the media, and yet it becomes so immediate that you become lost in it.
Response to group workshop
I felt as if the workshop went really really well and we got some good feedback from other groups. We also were able to give feedback to those other groups. I feel like what we saw really helped our group out as far as knowing where we needed to be compared to other groups.
Hurdles
I feel that Shaquette, Morgan, and Joni have a fantastic project. I recall each compiled a chapter of the project. You may want to check each chapter for consistency in the final editing stage.
B&G Chapters 7 and 8
In this weeks reading, I was especially attracted to the section on digital art. I am a person who loves art, so it was interesting to see how the digital aspects of it made it different. On page 135 the sentence that read, " Digital art often refashions popular illustration-- above all, science fiction and fantasy illustration from comic books and pulp fiction book covers" struck my attention. I have read several cominc books and never even though about how the art is what is telling the story, sometimes more than the dilogue. The use of digital art helps emphasize certain aspects of this art that help the story flow. I loved how the author descibed this as "visual immediacy," becasue that is exactly what digital are is! We have been talking about immediacy, and now we can see how this is done through digital art.
Suggestion for Middle Eastern Group
I was so impressed with the footage and amount of information that this group seemed to have for their project. I especially enjoyed how the blogs were being read, while the footage rolled in the background. Perhaps one thing I would suggest would be to pick out some footage that could provide an introduction to your material, so that there is a brief summary of what your project is before you break into the blogs. I am so excited to see how your final project comes out!
To the Avatar Group
Kerry and I have discussed your movie and we think that it would be a good idea for you to slow down the text so it is easier to read. We also think it might be interesting to do different effects for each avatar.
Feedback
Our group got a lot of helpful feedback from the groups that watched our rough draft commercial in class. The first group told us that maybe we needed to include an introduction to explain what the project was going to entail or tie some of the clips together. We thought this was really good advice becuase it would help to establish what is going on in our commercial, and let the viewers know that is it a parody. Another piece of advice we recieved was to perhaps add an picture of the eharmoy application into our video. This way our viewers can understand the critera of eharmony and why some of the people in our video are getting rejected. Overall, we got a lot of positive feedback on our video that will help us to make it a lot better.
To Do List:
-Edit the video
-Add some more clips
-Incorporate other groups ideas
To Do List:
-Edit the video
-Add some more clips
-Incorporate other groups ideas
Hurdles response
I think that team Morgan, Shaquette, and Joni have a great concept. Along the same lines as Megan's suggestion, I think that making the three films a cohesive unit will essentially complete it. The only additional suggestion I have is to shorten it, if at all possible. Overall, I think it is awesome. Great job!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
"Hurdles" suggestion
For Jenny, Mackenzie, Mike and Meredith ... regarding text longer than title pages, maybe you could scroll it, as with the example Dr. Fishman showed us in class earlier in the semester.
Friday, February 15, 2008
b & g (132-159)
The discussions about transparency and immediacy in Remediation’s chapter about film reminded me of a 1985 Woody Allen movie, The Purple Rose of Cairo. The film, set in 1930s Depression Era America, follows Cecilia who is suffering from the financial and emotional effects of the Great Depression. She goes to the same movie theater daily to watch a movie about the extravagant lives of the movie’s cast of characters. For Cecilia, this fantasy life becomes reality when one of the characters, Tom Baxter, played by Jeff Daniels, steps out of the movie and into the theater, singling her out because she has viewed the movie so many times. Not surprisingly, youtube has a clip of this very scene:
The Purple Rose of Cairo sort of speaks to this idea of immediacy in a very different way. It shows the way many Americans immersed themselves in film during this difficult time period in order to escape the reality of their real world situation. And later in the film, Tom Baxter returns to his movie and takes Cecilia with him such that the story of the film becomes literally transparent for her.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Project feedback/to-do
Morgan, Shaquette and I received some helpful feedback from Megan Boyce (thanks, Megan!) suggesting that, since ours is a film in three parts, essentially, we should make sure to collaborate on the final product to ensure proper continuity and flow, which we definitely plan to do.
Right now our to-do list consist of polishing up the opening title, working on transitions and creating a compelling finale.
Right now our to-do list consist of polishing up the opening title, working on transitions and creating a compelling finale.
Bolter and Grusin Chps. 7 and 8
I found both of these chapters to be a little dense and not always easy to understand. Something that I did understand was digital compositing. I guess when I watch movies I never really pay attention to the fact that some stunts require wires and other special effects to make things seem "real". I know that when I watch "how the movie was made" shows I see those things, but when I actually watch the movie, I don't think of it in that sense. I attempted to find a clip on youtube to show an example of this, but all of the digitally composited videos on youtube did not have stunts, but I will give an example of what youtube did have to offer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFTaPMAEXaA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFTaPMAEXaA
To Do list
Group Middle Eastern blogs
To do:
-add background music
-add text-Mike
-Add video clips
-Make everything mesh/flow
-work on the timing of images and blogs
(group effort)
To do:
-add background music
-add text-Mike
-Add video clips
-Make everything mesh/flow
-work on the timing of images and blogs
(group effort)
Post 2
Group Middle Eastern blogs
Post 2 another entry about what you have learned from _Remediation_ that you will use on your project.
We have learned how to make the transition from online blogs to audio files, and how images from their blogs make their words more powerful. Its really important that images and audio line up in order to make the story progression more understandable. The point of our project is to remediate these women's blogs into voices so that they may be presented to our audience in a more immediate way.
Post 2 another entry about what you have learned from _Remediation_ that you will use on your project.
We have learned how to make the transition from online blogs to audio files, and how images from their blogs make their words more powerful. Its really important that images and audio line up in order to make the story progression more understandable. The point of our project is to remediate these women's blogs into voices so that they may be presented to our audience in a more immediate way.
Facebook and personal lives
Our team will use the feeback give from the class based on the viewing of our rough draft. We will create an introduction for each section using animated stick figures, and showing screen shoots of a message on Facebook.
Our to do list:
Organize clips
Get more interviews
Edit images and sound
Get Facebook screen shots
Our to do list:
Organize clips
Get more interviews
Edit images and sound
Get Facebook screen shots
Post 3
Group Jenny Conard, Mackenzie Crowe, Mike Dehart, Meredith McGrew
Post 3 (Collaborative post) describe the most significant feedback you got during the peer workshop, and talk about any significant "hurdles" you have to overcome before the final draft is completed next week
The most significant feedback we received was the recommendation to explain the pictures and the relevance to our project (perhaps with a slide of text before the blog).
The hurdles we have to overcome is figuring out how to insert text (longer than title pages), layering sound background, and making sure there is a significant flow b/w the blogs of different women.
We pretty much have all our information, we just haven't figured out how to put all our information and research into Movie Maker. .
Post 3 (Collaborative post) describe the most significant feedback you got during the peer workshop, and talk about any significant "hurdles" you have to overcome before the final draft is completed next week
The most significant feedback we received was the recommendation to explain the pictures and the relevance to our project (perhaps with a slide of text before the blog).
The hurdles we have to overcome is figuring out how to insert text (longer than title pages), layering sound background, and making sure there is a significant flow b/w the blogs of different women.
We pretty much have all our information, we just haven't figured out how to put all our information and research into Movie Maker. .
Feedback
The most significant feedback we got was talking to other groups about how to use our clips in iMovie. All of the feedback we received was very helpful and made us feel better about our insecurities with the order and the flow. We need to convert our movie back into iMovie and add music. Kerry and I will also look at the longer quotes and figure out how to cut them and how to have them appear on the page. We also need to come up with an ending and finalize the order of our clips, pictures, and quotes. We are not really sure how to end it, any suggestions?
Avatars Anonymous Feedback
We only had one comment in response to our movie. We need to slow down the text because in someplaces it went away before people could finish reading it.
The things we need to do to finish our movie is to put in more pictures in chapters 1 & 2 (Jennifer and Sarah), put the text in over the clips (Ardi), and put in the summaries of articles about the ways these online communities affect people in real life. We also need to finish the credits portion of the movie.
Ardi, Jennifer, Sarah
The things we need to do to finish our movie is to put in more pictures in chapters 1 & 2 (Jennifer and Sarah), put the text in over the clips (Ardi), and put in the summaries of articles about the ways these online communities affect people in real life. We also need to finish the credits portion of the movie.
Ardi, Jennifer, Sarah
Significant Advice from Workshop
Group: Molly, Creswell, Chrissy, Candice
In today's class, we recieved valuable feedback from the other students regarding our project. Even though we did not have it in its exact format, we were able to give the main aspects of the project. One piece of advice that we are going to work on is making everything flow and using transitions to move from one point to another. Also, we need to cut out more of our verbal explanation and add that onto the video itself. With our interviews, we need to edit them to only include the most significant points that we want to include in our project. Hopefully, if we work with these comments, it will help make our project more accurate and impressive.
In today's class, we recieved valuable feedback from the other students regarding our project. Even though we did not have it in its exact format, we were able to give the main aspects of the project. One piece of advice that we are going to work on is making everything flow and using transitions to move from one point to another. Also, we need to cut out more of our verbal explanation and add that onto the video itself. With our interviews, we need to edit them to only include the most significant points that we want to include in our project. Hopefully, if we work with these comments, it will help make our project more accurate and impressive.
Help for questions asked during the draft workshop today
In response to questions people asked during the workshopping session today, here are some resources I found:
Help with audio files:
http://www.jakeludington.com/movie_maker/20071220_add_2_audio_tracks_to_windows_movie_maker.html
(That's specificaly about how to work with multiple audio tracks in Windows Movie Maker)
This is more about Windows movie maker (2) in general but includes help with audio:
http://www.virtualartroom.com/dv_windows_moviemaker.htm
Apple support for iMovie
http://www.apple.com/support/imovie/audio/
Help with iMovie from the University of Rhode Island
http://www.uri.edu/artsci/langlab/documentation/imovie.html
A good set of suggestions for downloading videos
http://www.jakeludington.com/ask_jake/20060520_how_to_download_movies_from_youtube.html
Those of you who have found resources and help that have been useful, please post them :-)
Help with audio files:
http://www.jakeludington.com/movie_maker/20071220_add_2_audio_tracks_to_windows_movie_maker.html
(That's specificaly about how to work with multiple audio tracks in Windows Movie Maker)
This is more about Windows movie maker (2) in general but includes help with audio:
http://www.virtualartroom.com/dv_windows_moviemaker.htm
Apple support for iMovie
http://www.apple.com/support/imovie/audio/
Help with iMovie from the University of Rhode Island
http://www.uri.edu/artsci/langlab/documentation/imovie.html
A good set of suggestions for downloading videos
http://www.jakeludington.com/ask_jake/20060520_how_to_download_movies_from_youtube.html
Those of you who have found resources and help that have been useful, please post them :-)
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Week 7 - Post 1
I found this reading very interesting as far as how Bolter and Grusin applied immediacy, transparency, and hypermediacy to film and digital art. First, digital art. It is so funny how some people are obsessed with owning or knowing the most up-to-date technology, but some of those very people can turn on a dime and discredit digital art for being unauthentic and artless. It also amazes me how the rich, who can afford the luxuries of digital art, brag about owning older paintings.
I did get lost in the film section of the reading because of paying more attention to the number of movies I recognized or had seen. On that note, in a geeky kind of way, I enjoyed being able to put a finger on the techniques used in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?". That movie always capitavated me. As I recall, the movie and music industries of the nineties picked up on the trends of integrating animation with actors. Two great examples I can think of are the movie "Howard the Duck", and in music, Paula Abdul's "Opposites Attract". Evidently, I watch too much television.
I did get lost in the film section of the reading because of paying more attention to the number of movies I recognized or had seen. On that note, in a geeky kind of way, I enjoyed being able to put a finger on the techniques used in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?". That movie always capitavated me. As I recall, the movie and music industries of the nineties picked up on the trends of integrating animation with actors. Two great examples I can think of are the movie "Howard the Duck", and in music, Paula Abdul's "Opposites Attract". Evidently, I watch too much television.
Remediation and Digital Romance
After learning more about remediation I am even more interested in my groups digital romance project. More specifically, I am interested in the exploration of dating sites, such as e-Harmony. In doing our research we've tried to keep in mind the technological advances that have made dating sites possible and also the digital literacy level needed to navigate on such websites. For this reason, we spent a great deal of our time in search of a correlation between digital literacy amongst members and amount of love interest shown to members online (based on their digital literacy level).
Remediation and Facebook
Remediation in the group project of Facebook in our personal lives is very interesting. The way in which we communicate with one another has changed dramatically over the last few years. We no longer write a letter, put a few photographs in an envelope and drop it in the mailbox. We can communicate with our friends around the world in real time, share photographs as we take them, and view current events all at the same time. It seems people prefer to send and receive messages on their Facebook account instead of a telephone call. Facebook has, and will, continue to remediate more than one mean of communicatio.
Remediation and our project
Kerry and I have changed the goal of our project slightly. Instead of focusing on how the OLPC project could go wrong, we're going to address the concerns about it and focus on the positive aspects. We have used video clips, pictures, and quotes that we found online in order to create a movie. This in itself is remediation. We have taken other people's work and made it into our own. We have learned that it is not as easy to remediate as we originally thought. We have attempted to embed video clips into powerpoint so that the movie will stand alone. Although Kerry and I feel that we are "digitally literate" in most aspects, powerpoint may be our demise.
Post 2- Week 6
I have learned quite a bit from Remediation. Specifically, our project is on Facebook. When I think about the name Facebook, although it is a website, the word "book" is used. The site is somewhat setup like a bibliography of some sort for each account/user. Maybe even like a scrapbook of interesting facts and tidbits about people's lives, except recorded in a digital collection.
Along those same lines, when I think of the structure of the internet, websites have webpages. Not so ironic, books also have pages. This example just shows again how the internet is a type of remediation of books.
Along those same lines, when I think of the structure of the internet, websites have webpages. Not so ironic, books also have pages. This example just shows again how the internet is a type of remediation of books.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
B&G 88-131 (Finally got my book!)
On page 103, the text explains a game called Ultima Online. This stood out for me because my brother used to play this game. It was the first time i'd ever seen/played an online role-playing game and I remember how amazed I was. I'd known about chat rooms, and message boards, etc. But this game created its own mini world that had its own culture associated with it. It was my first experience with immediacy through an internet program. Not only that, but the game created a culture of its own. There were whole communities of web sites dedicated to news, info, guilds, even comics about the game.
Remediation and project
Morgan, Shaquette and I have approached our project a little differently from others in that we're each responsible for a third of it, rather than collaborating on the whole. Given that, I can comment on remediation vis a vis my section specifically: I take an interaction between a real president and a cartoon family, and follow it through a subsequent interaction between a cartoon family and a cartoon president. I then follow up with comments from a real writer/producer discussing the cartoon's approach to politics.
In my case, it would seem the president is what (who) actually undergoes remediation, which has been interesting.
In my case, it would seem the president is what (who) actually undergoes remediation, which has been interesting.
Remediation and my project
In our project, we are attempting to attract the attention of our audience by giving them several different digital aspects to look at. It is so obvious in class that people are more attracted by what is on the screen in front of them, rather than what is going on in the classroom itself. We hope to take this thought, and use it to interest our audience. Instead of just standing up there with "real life" interviews, we are going to have a collage of filmed interviews that we have edited to include only the important points. Also, instead of spitting out facts, we are going to present them in a fun and attractive manner on the screen. Movie clips is another tactic we plan on using, since everyone loves a good movie.
Remediation is obvious in our project, because there are several ways in which we could present our information and findings, but people today are more interested in having it laid out for them in a simple and easy to percieve digital manner.
Remediation is obvious in our project, because there are several ways in which we could present our information and findings, but people today are more interested in having it laid out for them in a simple and easy to percieve digital manner.
Remediation (88-131)
This week's reading took remediation and applied it to areas that I am familiar with and deal with everyday. One thing discussed is the "gaming" world. Gaming has always been a popular pastime, but it seems that with the growth of technology, growth in gaming has also occurrred. Games are becoming more realistic and life like; some games even make you feel like you are right there in the screen, performing the actions yourself. Look at Wii. This new game now allows you to feel like the actual player by having you perform the motions necessary for the action, rather than just push a button.
Besides playing games, I also have an interest in photography. Digital photography has allowed pictures to be easily stores, more clear, and you can take a larger number of photos on one camera. This past Christmas, my mom finally gave up her old camera and got a new digital camera. It has been interesting to watch her try to learn the functions of the camera. To me, it seems so simple, but to my mom (who has not grown up learning about new technologies) this is a major challenge. Even though I am trying to convince her that her new digital camera is better quality and easier to use, she is convinced that her old "film" camera is best. In our reading, the author discusses what my mom belives, that old photography is more personal and meaningful. Yet, it also states the ease and convenience that digital photography proides.
Besides playing games, I also have an interest in photography. Digital photography has allowed pictures to be easily stores, more clear, and you can take a larger number of photos on one camera. This past Christmas, my mom finally gave up her old camera and got a new digital camera. It has been interesting to watch her try to learn the functions of the camera. To me, it seems so simple, but to my mom (who has not grown up learning about new technologies) this is a major challenge. Even though I am trying to convince her that her new digital camera is better quality and easier to use, she is convinced that her old "film" camera is best. In our reading, the author discusses what my mom belives, that old photography is more personal and meaningful. Yet, it also states the ease and convenience that digital photography proides.
Week 6 Readings
The part of the readings from this time that I really responded to was the first section on computer games. My aspect of the group project involves a game from a genre of computer gaming that might be considered the height of computer gaming. Millions of people play MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games). The servers of Everquest and World of Warcraft have higher populations and better virtual economies than some small countries. The game I am featuring in my portion of the group project might not be on this large of scale, but it is still an extremely popular game.
I think this post will probably be combining the homework for this week just because the reading was so related. City of Villains/Heroes is a game that remediates comic books in an intensely interactive way. The interesting thing that I discovered when I was working on our project is that the game saves all screenshots without the interface, making the pictures very transparent. The GUI definitely goes away for that aspect. Actual gameplay, however, is very hypermediated because the gui has a lot of small windows with a lot going on in them. I chose to keep the screenshots without the gui because the purpose of our movie is to portray each avatar as a "real" person. (This also deals with the photorealistic graphics kinda).
The other part of the reading that really relates to our project is the "Social Spaces" section in the computer games chapter. Jennifer is doing her portion from Second Life, which focuses on the social more so than on action or the idea of accomplishing a task. The online games also have the potential of being really social because sometimes you need to get a group to accomplish a certain task or to level up faster than you can by yourself, but you don't have to be social to play. I think Second Life is pretty much entirely social. If you don't hang out with "people" on there, it seems like it would be pretty boring.
I think this post will probably be combining the homework for this week just because the reading was so related. City of Villains/Heroes is a game that remediates comic books in an intensely interactive way. The interesting thing that I discovered when I was working on our project is that the game saves all screenshots without the interface, making the pictures very transparent. The GUI definitely goes away for that aspect. Actual gameplay, however, is very hypermediated because the gui has a lot of small windows with a lot going on in them. I chose to keep the screenshots without the gui because the purpose of our movie is to portray each avatar as a "real" person. (This also deals with the photorealistic graphics kinda).
The other part of the reading that really relates to our project is the "Social Spaces" section in the computer games chapter. Jennifer is doing her portion from Second Life, which focuses on the social more so than on action or the idea of accomplishing a task. The online games also have the potential of being really social because sometimes you need to get a group to accomplish a certain task or to level up faster than you can by yourself, but you don't have to be social to play. I think Second Life is pretty much entirely social. If you don't hang out with "people" on there, it seems like it would be pretty boring.
Reading Week 6
The part of this reading that I found most interesting would have to be the part on digital photography. I am an avid user of digital photography. I literally take my digital camera everywhere. B & G claim that with the introduction digital photography that the picture and the concept of taking pictures have lost the realness that they used to possess. I really do not agree. Digital photography takes the realness and the meaning of photos to a whole new level. They provide those taking the pictures and those looking at the pictures with many more options and alternatives than the old way of taking pictures. To say that digital photography poses a threat is an interesting stance but I believe a little harsh. Technology is always going to be catching up and passing us. Why not enjoy the benefits of the new digital photography. I believe it evolved for a reason.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Bolter & Grusin (88-131)
"Almost certainly without the conscious intent of its authors, Myst turns out to be an allegory about the remediation of the book in an age of digital graphics." (94)
Given that I have never played Myst I was a bit confused as to how it could be an allegory about the remediation of the book. Just because a man destroys books that contain his evil sons does not seem to me to be an allegory in which one is invited to think of how books are changing and evolving in this digital graphics age. If a man in a video game destroying a book is a symbol of how literature is eventually being phased out and/or lost then there are a lot of symbols that have gone way over my head in reference to remediation. This leads me to wonder if everything truly has to be remediated and if so, to what extent? Or does remediation happen because the creation of the initial idea was good and therefore there is a desire to capitalize on the previous goodness. If anyone agrees with B&G on the above quote would you mind unpacking it because as of right now I can't say I agree with them.
Given that I have never played Myst I was a bit confused as to how it could be an allegory about the remediation of the book. Just because a man destroys books that contain his evil sons does not seem to me to be an allegory in which one is invited to think of how books are changing and evolving in this digital graphics age. If a man in a video game destroying a book is a symbol of how literature is eventually being phased out and/or lost then there are a lot of symbols that have gone way over my head in reference to remediation. This leads me to wonder if everything truly has to be remediated and if so, to what extent? Or does remediation happen because the creation of the initial idea was good and therefore there is a desire to capitalize on the previous goodness. If anyone agrees with B&G on the above quote would you mind unpacking it because as of right now I can't say I agree with them.
Bolter & Grusin (88-131)
"Almost certainly without the conscious intent of its authors, Myst turns out to be an allegory about the remediation of the book in an age of digital graphics." (94)
Given that I have never played Myst I was a bit confused as to how it could be an allegory about the remediation of the book. Just because a man destroys books that contain his evil sons does not seem to me to be an allegory in which one is invited to think of how books are changing and evolving in this digital graphics age. If a man in a video game destroying a book is a symbol of how literature is eventually being phased out and/or lost then there are a lot of symbols that have gone way over my head in reference to remediation. This leads me to wonder if everything truly has to be remediated and if so, to what extent? Or does remediation happen because the creation of the initial idea was good and therefore there is a desire to capitalize on the previous goodness. If anyone agrees with B&G on the above quote would you mind unpacking it because as of right now I can't say I agree with them.
Given that I have never played Myst I was a bit confused as to how it could be an allegory about the remediation of the book. Just because a man destroys books that contain his evil sons does not seem to me to be an allegory in which one is invited to think of how books are changing and evolving in this digital graphics age. If a man in a video game destroying a book is a symbol of how literature is eventually being phased out and/or lost then there are a lot of symbols that have gone way over my head in reference to remediation. This leads me to wonder if everything truly has to be remediated and if so, to what extent? Or does remediation happen because the creation of the initial idea was good and therefore there is a desire to capitalize on the previous goodness. If anyone agrees with B&G on the above quote would you mind unpacking it because as of right now I can't say I agree with them.
Bolter and Grusin, 87-131
On page 108, B&G write of Meyer's and Mitchell's contention that "with the advent of digital technology the photograph has lost the simple relationship to the real that it previously enjoyed." Despite the fact that altered photographs have a relatively long history, as evidenced by the inclusion of the "fairies" photos in this book, few among the digitally literate today would be fooled by the less sophisticated efforts of the past. However, modern photo-enhancement technology does pose a valid threat as far as I see it -- in a field where accuracy is supposed to count for something: journalism.
Just last year, the following story came to light (http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00KmcT):
[In April 2007] Toledo Blade photographer Allen Detrich resigned after admitting he had digitally altered a news photograph of the Blufton University baseball team praying at their first practice since the bus crash in Atlanta that killed some of their team members. Now it turns out that Dietrich has been doing this for a while now.
"The changes Mr. Detrich made included erasing people, tree limbs, utility poles, electrical wires, electrical outlets, and other background elements from photographs. In other cases, he added elements such as tree branches and shrubbery," Blade editor Ron Royhab explained. "Mr. Detrich also submitted two sports photographs in which items were inserted. In one he added a hockey puck, and in the other he added a basketball, each hanging in mid-air. Neither was published."
On its website, The Blade posted three examples showing how Detrich altered photos, including the original version of the Bluffton image. Those can be found here.
"Readers have asked us why this was such a big deal. What's wrong with changing the content of a photograph that is published in a newspaper? The answer is simple: It is dishonest," Royhab wrote. "Journalism, whether by using words or pictures, must be an accurate representation of the truth."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
People may scoff at this in a world where media are considered their own kind of monster, and news and infotainment at times can't tell each other apart, but if news journalists succumb to the temptation to use their skills to digitally alter photographs rather than to tell a genuine story using representations of the realities on hand, then that particular watchdog of society will be put to sleep, as it were. They say truth is more compelling than fiction, and photojournalists should take that to heart.
Just last year, the following story came to light (http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00KmcT):
[In April 2007] Toledo Blade photographer Allen Detrich resigned after admitting he had digitally altered a news photograph of the Blufton University baseball team praying at their first practice since the bus crash in Atlanta that killed some of their team members. Now it turns out that Dietrich has been doing this for a while now.
"The changes Mr. Detrich made included erasing people, tree limbs, utility poles, electrical wires, electrical outlets, and other background elements from photographs. In other cases, he added elements such as tree branches and shrubbery," Blade editor Ron Royhab explained. "Mr. Detrich also submitted two sports photographs in which items were inserted. In one he added a hockey puck, and in the other he added a basketball, each hanging in mid-air. Neither was published."
On its website, The Blade posted three examples showing how Detrich altered photos, including the original version of the Bluffton image. Those can be found here.
"Readers have asked us why this was such a big deal. What's wrong with changing the content of a photograph that is published in a newspaper? The answer is simple: It is dishonest," Royhab wrote. "Journalism, whether by using words or pictures, must be an accurate representation of the truth."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
People may scoff at this in a world where media are considered their own kind of monster, and news and infotainment at times can't tell each other apart, but if news journalists succumb to the temptation to use their skills to digitally alter photographs rather than to tell a genuine story using representations of the realities on hand, then that particular watchdog of society will be put to sleep, as it were. They say truth is more compelling than fiction, and photojournalists should take that to heart.
Bolster & Grusin, pgs. 88-131
This reading deals particularly with computers and photography. My reflection on the reading, however, will focus specifically on computer games. The reason for this focus on computer games is because of a class I took at Clemson last fall. The class was called Visual Communication (don’t be fooled, it’s actually an English class) and the latter half of the semester dealt almost solely with computer games such as World of Warcrafts and America’s Army.
The text states that computer games today, “promise transparent immediacy through real-time interactive graphics or text” (103). It was this idea of transparent immediacy and real-time interactive capabilities that my peers and I focused our attention on during the semester. We were interested in the ability of computer games to transport you into some sort of fantasy world and the idea that once we are in these worlds we can create our own story to go with it. This is achieved through a process called flow. Flow is that force or state of mind that you're in when time seizes to exist and you just go with it. For example, when you're reading a book that you just can't put down. You end up staying up til 3 am because you can't stop turning those pages. That is a state of flow. This is something that we experience in games and in other aspects of life.
The text states that computer games today, “promise transparent immediacy through real-time interactive graphics or text” (103). It was this idea of transparent immediacy and real-time interactive capabilities that my peers and I focused our attention on during the semester. We were interested in the ability of computer games to transport you into some sort of fantasy world and the idea that once we are in these worlds we can create our own story to go with it. This is achieved through a process called flow. Flow is that force or state of mind that you're in when time seizes to exist and you just go with it. For example, when you're reading a book that you just can't put down. You end up staying up til 3 am because you can't stop turning those pages. That is a state of flow. This is something that we experience in games and in other aspects of life.
88-131
Not being a "gamer" or anything of the such, I found the first chapter of the reading selection very enlightening. The remediation of video games ranges from board games, televised sports, arcade games, and even wars. Also, I know that there are communities online, but until reading this section I had no idea what exactly those communities permitted you to do. Basically, such programs/games "divorce us from the physical world." The last two chapters in the reading state that computer graphics and digitally enhanced photos have become a norm in today's society. Unless a picture is completely distorted, most the time people assume that nothing has been tamped with in the picture. Usually, people are unable to notice anything in a picture that has been changed with the help of a computer. These computer graphics and photos drive for immediacy and eventually achieve hypermediacy.
b&g (87-131)
Bolter and Grusin suggest that digital photography disturbs our faith in the transparency of the photograph, its representation of reality: “We are disturbed because we must now acknowledge that any photograph might be digitally altered. Digital technology may succeed—where combination printing and other analog techniques have not succeeded in the past—in shaking our culture’s faith in the transparency of the photograph” (110). While I agree that we have become more aware of the possibility that images may have been digitally altered, I think we are also still quick to accept images as we see them. It is much easier to look at text with a critical eye than to look at an image with a critical eye because language filters “reality” more obviously than an image does. In other words, using words and symbols to represent reality necessarily distances us from that reality—it is clearly an interpretation of reality. And while images do the same thing, they are seemingly more transparent, less obviously a representation of reality rather than reality itself. This seems especially true for images (and video) found on the internet. Many people fail to discern reliable information—in the form of both text and images—from that which lacks credibility. Whether or not people have the ability to make this distinction, awareness that the distinction exists is an important aspect of digital literacy.
Bolter & Grusin, pages 88-131
This reading takes us to computer games and photography, and their relationship with society. The section on the computer games was the most interesting to me. As we know, many of today’s computer games “promise transparent immediacy through real-time interactive graphics or text” (103). My twelve-year-old son plays an on-line game called Room Scape. This game allows hundreds of people to exist at the same time in the same fantasy game over the Internet. These types of games provide a socially shared space, in that the gamer can add, or change to the narrative structure of the game each time he logs on. While this game is played primarily by tweens, and young teens, there are other games, such as Second Life, that have a strong adult content. These role playing games may offer transparent immediacy, but are they allowing some of the players to disconnect themselves from the physical world? Are some individuals becoming so immersed in this transparent immediacy that it is harmful both mentally and physically? Should these games be censored? It is difficult to censor these types of games because they are available through the Internet. Yes, it is the parent’s responsibility to monitor their children’s activities, but Internet access is everywhere. I suppose it is the future that will determine how (if) these types of games can, will, or need to be censored.
Bolter and Grusin 88-131
I found the section about computer games especially interesting. As far as sex and violence, I immediately thought of The Sims and Second Life. In both you can create a character, build things, get a job, and have sex. In The Sims, if you get enough "happy" points with another character by talking to them, you can eventually flirt and kiss them and after doing those things for awhile the game asks you if you want to have a baby. But before having a baby, if you have a bed or a hot tub, you can get into both naked and do "the nasty". This scenario almost seems more realistic to me then what happens in Second Life. I feel this way because in The Sims it seems like the characters are in some way "getting to know" each other before hopping into bed and having children, which is more or less the way real life works. In Second Life, there are different places where you can go and see just about anything. You can also have sex with just about anyone. Although the game is called Second Life, it does not necessarily mirror "real life". I assume some people go around having random sex, but I do not this is the way most people carry on their relationships.
Bolter & Grusin- Take 3
I found these chapters, where the authors show examples of their theories, more interesting. I think they did a good job (and thorough!) of finding information that the reader could relate to and/or easily understand. However, because this book was published in 1999, I can't help but wonder what the authors would have to say about the Nintendo Wii:
Wouldn't this be a step toward a more immediate experience?
While reading the chapter on digital photography, I am reminded of all of the bogus pictures forwarded in emails, especially the one of the tourist on top of the World Trade Center. We all have seen bogus pictures and unfortunately, they are perpetuated by the immediacy of email. In this age where photo manipulating software is readily available, most of us have learned to be more discerning about the images we see. Some people, however, believe anything that is sent to them in an email.
Bolter and Grusin go on to describe the remediation of photorealistic graphics. When reading this chapter, the example that came to my mind (incidentally- through email as well) is of the amazing chalk art:
More can be seen here.
Wouldn't this be a step toward a more immediate experience?
While reading the chapter on digital photography, I am reminded of all of the bogus pictures forwarded in emails, especially the one of the tourist on top of the World Trade Center. We all have seen bogus pictures and unfortunately, they are perpetuated by the immediacy of email. In this age where photo manipulating software is readily available, most of us have learned to be more discerning about the images we see. Some people, however, believe anything that is sent to them in an email.
Bolter and Grusin go on to describe the remediation of photorealistic graphics. When reading this chapter, the example that came to my mind (incidentally- through email as well) is of the amazing chalk art:
More can be seen here.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Post 1 B&G pp. 88-130
These chapters covered quite a bit of information. Hopefully, I will be able to do it justice during my presentation. However, out of all the reading points, I learned the most about remediation in regards to pictures and computer graphics and the arcade and video games. I never thought of video games as the remediated version of pinball machines, but it works. I guess in a way, any type of technological progress can be constituted as remediation.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Progress Report & Remediation
Overview
The subject of our collaborative project is digital romance; more specifically, digital romance on dating sites such as e-Harmony. The focus of our project will be on how accurately or inaccurately people represent themselves on dating sites such as e-Harmony and how accurately members are able to correctly categorize their prospective love interest.
We are making a mock e-Harmony commercial that satirizes everyone’s biggest fears regarding digital romances.
Progress
We have completed the research needed to produce a proposal. The proposal was submitted and approved. We were then able to move forward with our project and begin/complete the casting and the writing of the script.
Next Steps
With a February 14th deadline, the next task on our to do list is the actual filming of our story board. We decided that by acting out our story board ourselves in our film draft we can save the actors/actresses time and show them a digital representation of what we are looking for. Hopefully, this will make the filming of the actual commercial go forward without a hitch.
Brief Conclusion
This project so far has been all about planning and now we are at a point where we can FINALLY start implementing. That being said, we have a lot of work to do but we’re optimistic that we’ll get the job done.
Remediation
As I mentioned in class, our project is all about remediation (after all, most films are). More specifically, our group will be using remediation from the brainstorming process to the filming to the execution of the final product itself. We will be utilizing and playing off of numerous e-Harmony commercials, the music played in the background during these commericals, and the actual testimonies from their members' success stories.
The subject of our collaborative project is digital romance; more specifically, digital romance on dating sites such as e-Harmony. The focus of our project will be on how accurately or inaccurately people represent themselves on dating sites such as e-Harmony and how accurately members are able to correctly categorize their prospective love interest.
We are making a mock e-Harmony commercial that satirizes everyone’s biggest fears regarding digital romances.
Progress
We have completed the research needed to produce a proposal. The proposal was submitted and approved. We were then able to move forward with our project and begin/complete the casting and the writing of the script.
Next Steps
With a February 14th deadline, the next task on our to do list is the actual filming of our story board. We decided that by acting out our story board ourselves in our film draft we can save the actors/actresses time and show them a digital representation of what we are looking for. Hopefully, this will make the filming of the actual commercial go forward without a hitch.
Brief Conclusion
This project so far has been all about planning and now we are at a point where we can FINALLY start implementing. That being said, we have a lot of work to do but we’re optimistic that we’ll get the job done.
Remediation
As I mentioned in class, our project is all about remediation (after all, most films are). More specifically, our group will be using remediation from the brainstorming process to the filming to the execution of the final product itself. We will be utilizing and playing off of numerous e-Harmony commercials, the music played in the background during these commericals, and the actual testimonies from their members' success stories.
Update on Project and Remediation
Our project (Mackenzie, Mike, Meredith, and Jenny) uses several different types of media, but we present it differently than it was originally presented. For example, the focus of our film is Middle Eastern women's blogs--but the goal of our film is to give those women an actual voice. Therefore, the only audio, besides music, will be their blogs read verbatim. This is a type of remediation because we are taking something that was online text to audio on a film.
We are also using quotes by famous figures, statistics, and facts--but all as written text on the screen for our audience to observe.
We are using images and video clips of the events the women are talking about in order to give our audience images of the world these women are describing.
We are also using quotes by famous figures, statistics, and facts--but all as written text on the screen for our audience to observe.
We are using images and video clips of the events the women are talking about in order to give our audience images of the world these women are describing.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Post 2 - Remediation and project update
Our project, which will focus on the effect of Facebook on one's life, is starting to move in the right direction. While our topic is interesting, we found that it is quite difficult to pinpoint a specific topic on a phenomenon that has so many interrelated subject matters. We have chosen to split our film into four topics that pertain to Facebook: job hunt, stalkers, addicts, and politics. Making an informal script and illustration of the scenes will undoubtedly enable us to better focus on the layout and content of the film.
Our project will effectively illustrate the concept of remediation on all levels. Even the concept of Facebook itself is remediation because it has given people another means to communicate. This point is not to say that the site has made the telephone obsolete, but it has certainly altered or refashioned the way people keep in touch with one another.
Our project will effectively illustrate the concept of remediation on all levels. Even the concept of Facebook itself is remediation because it has given people another means to communicate. This point is not to say that the site has made the telephone obsolete, but it has certainly altered or refashioned the way people keep in touch with one another.
Tonality and intonation
Re: my previous reaction to Kress, I wanted to explore some of the issues further, and have discovered what "tonal" truly means. English is indeed not a tonal language (in which the tone of a word can change its meaning significantly), however, in this language, intonation is critical to meaning, and that was my mistake. I learned something important! But now I have to wonder how tonal languages avoid mass confusion in a written context. Obviously, I will never be a linguist!
Literacy ... (Kress)
I begin my reaction to Kress with a subject of primacy and recency in the actual reading: the example of "Bill and Mary married" vs. "Mary and Bill married." I consider this a poorly chosen example, because to me, the two mean exactly the same thing. I wouldn't necessarily consider that the former meant the speaker was closer to Bill, or vice versa. As with Bolter and Grusin's irritating habit of using feminine pronouns exclusively: Have they changed the gender power structure by doing so? Of course not. Have they even made a dent? Not likely. But have they served to annoy and alienate some readers by not using a mix of feminine and masculine? In my case, definitely.
But on to more important issues ... given that Kress is an experienced linguist, he has a MUCH more comprehensive view of language than I, but I hardly consider it fair to call language an abstraction; in many cases, it's the most concrete tool we have. That's why I also take issue with Kress largely excluding the English language from the ranks of the tonal. I think English is a very tonal language. This can be evidenced by the artful use of sarcasm ... and by my very use of italics in the previous "very." One message board I sometimes read will ban members for use of the word "um" as a written utterance, simply because it contributes such a snotty tone to the messages, and the moderaters want to avoid that.
One more observation: I think that scrutinizing a tool (in this case, language) to death can strip it of its expressive qualities. Kress can ruminate on and attempt to deconstruct the implications of new media until the cows come home, but how many people have read his book and understood his ideas in relation to the number of people exposed to the sentiment of basement-dwelling teenager Chris Crocker, who set up a videocamera and implored the world to "leave Britney alooooooooooone!!!!"? Sometimes pure expression is the best way to shape messages, meaning and media and to understand their impact.
But on to more important issues ... given that Kress is an experienced linguist, he has a MUCH more comprehensive view of language than I, but I hardly consider it fair to call language an abstraction; in many cases, it's the most concrete tool we have. That's why I also take issue with Kress largely excluding the English language from the ranks of the tonal. I think English is a very tonal language. This can be evidenced by the artful use of sarcasm ... and by my very use of italics in the previous "very." One message board I sometimes read will ban members for use of the word "um" as a written utterance, simply because it contributes such a snotty tone to the messages, and the moderaters want to avoid that.
One more observation: I think that scrutinizing a tool (in this case, language) to death can strip it of its expressive qualities. Kress can ruminate on and attempt to deconstruct the implications of new media until the cows come home, but how many people have read his book and understood his ideas in relation to the number of people exposed to the sentiment of basement-dwelling teenager Chris Crocker, who set up a videocamera and implored the world to "leave Britney alooooooooooone!!!!"? Sometimes pure expression is the best way to shape messages, meaning and media and to understand their impact.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
First Update on Project
Our project on the One Laptop Per Child Project has gotten underway with research on the project and the laptops themselves. Since a description of the project and the laptops will be the first scenes in our movie, this was a good place to start. I have also been thinking about music that could potentially fit in with various scenes. We have also found information on those who do not think this project is a good idea and those who stand behind it 100 percent. We are currently working on gathering media, especially since we have begun work on a storyboard, it will be a little easier to know exactly what we are looking for. Kerry has found some clips on YouTube, which will work great, but we are unsure of how to get the clips into iMovie. If anyone knows how to do this we would greatly appreciate some help!
Our next steps will include finishing the rough draft of the storyboard, gathering the rest of our media, and begin putting everything together, which we hope to have started by the beginning of next week since the rough draft of our project is due next Thursday, February 14
As far as remediation is concerned, everything we are going to use will be remediated in our movie. We plan on using pictures, video clips, text, graphics, and music to create a digital movie. We have also discussed hypermediacy and have decided that since our movie is going to go from pictures to video clips to text, our audience will be aware of the changing formats, therefore making our movie hypermidated.
Our next steps will include finishing the rough draft of the storyboard, gathering the rest of our media, and begin putting everything together, which we hope to have started by the beginning of next week since the rough draft of our project is due next Thursday, February 14
As far as remediation is concerned, everything we are going to use will be remediated in our movie. We plan on using pictures, video clips, text, graphics, and music to create a digital movie. We have also discussed hypermediacy and have decided that since our movie is going to go from pictures to video clips to text, our audience will be aware of the changing formats, therefore making our movie hypermidated.
Showing vs. Telling
SInce we are not taking a stance on whether the OLPC is good or bad, we will be showing the possibilities. By using audio and pictures we hope to demonstrate the possibilities of this project. The only telling that we will be doing is explanations of the project and the laptop itself. The videos we will incorporate will be mostly informational.
B&G Response Ch. 2-3
One line really jumped out at me while I was reading: "The assumption of reform is so strong that a new medium is now expected to justify itself by improving on a predecessor...." But it makes me wonder about what this is doing to literacy and formal writing. As a teacher, I feel like my students' abilities to write a good email have deteriorated. This semester, I finally put a section about email etiquette in my syllabus because I was tired of getting emails with no greeting, no signatures, and fragmented messages that I rarely could understand. So, as technology like email "improves" over it's predecessor, that doesn't necessarily mean it's improving the people who use it. If a student was required to sit down and write a letter on paper to her professor, they would probably take a lot more time with it and be more inclined to stick with the conventions of formal letter writing. Now, email is too conversational, and I feel that often times the email writers forget to think about who their audience is and then compose their emails accordingly.
Bolter and Grusin
This reading was a lot easier to understand than the last assigned reading. In this reading remediation was fleshed out even more as it related to Mediation. Understanding that all mediation is remediation and that no medium can function independently were important concepts.
Bolter and Grusin, 52-87
I also found the material covering "Remediation and Reform" to be revealing. The example that jumped to mind was the online newspaper.
Newspapers, facing declining circulation even before the ushering-in of the digital age, realized they'd be unable to avoid the remediation process, and started to learn about and create an online presence. Now, the grizzled newshound, perhaps a pure caricature of his stereotype, chomping on a cigar and with a press pass stuck into the band of his fedora, might well be -- and probably IS -- filing stories by e-mail, scanning PDFs and capturing audio or shooting video for a multimedia presentation of a story.
In fact, those are new aspects to a modern digital newspaper; a story might be supplemented by a hyperlink to a PDF of a police report, for example, and video is now no longer the purview of TV news, but a common component of newspapers, too. This also opens up the opportunity to sell full-on commercials to what had formerly been print-ad clients.
It is, indeed, a brand-new day in the field of journalism.
Newspapers, facing declining circulation even before the ushering-in of the digital age, realized they'd be unable to avoid the remediation process, and started to learn about and create an online presence. Now, the grizzled newshound, perhaps a pure caricature of his stereotype, chomping on a cigar and with a press pass stuck into the band of his fedora, might well be -- and probably IS -- filing stories by e-mail, scanning PDFs and capturing audio or shooting video for a multimedia presentation of a story.
In fact, those are new aspects to a modern digital newspaper; a story might be supplemented by a hyperlink to a PDF of a police report, for example, and video is now no longer the purview of TV news, but a common component of newspapers, too. This also opens up the opportunity to sell full-on commercials to what had formerly been print-ad clients.
It is, indeed, a brand-new day in the field of journalism.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Literacy (1-34)
Sorry for doing the wrong assignment previously!
I thought Kress had some very interesting things to say. Much of what he touched on was incredibly philosophical in reference to language, speech, meaning, and an assortment of other things. There is one thing that I particularly want some clarification on. The passage on the bottom of 24 to the top of 25 says "The danger of... for it to exist." This passage is utterly confusing. He explains to the reader the myriad of applications that the term literacy can mean, but says that literacy should not go into these domains. Why not? If literacy is an all-encompassing term especially socially, economically, and politically, then why ask for its exclusion from certain social aspects of life?
Another interesting question that came up while I was reading this was if the author is claiming that image and text are the best form of mediation, then why is the author strictly adherring to the book form? He goes on and on about the decline of the book as the main form of receiving information, yet procedes to use the form anyways.
Another interesting aspect of Kress's chapter was his passage about returning to visuals. On page 7, he writes "It is possible to see writing once again moving back in the direction of visuality." This reminded me of cave paintings, or pictures that people used to use centuries ago because a majority could not read. I found it very thought provoking that it seems like we are moving BACK in history in regards to mediation.
I thought Kress had some very interesting things to say. Much of what he touched on was incredibly philosophical in reference to language, speech, meaning, and an assortment of other things. There is one thing that I particularly want some clarification on. The passage on the bottom of 24 to the top of 25 says "The danger of... for it to exist." This passage is utterly confusing. He explains to the reader the myriad of applications that the term literacy can mean, but says that literacy should not go into these domains. Why not? If literacy is an all-encompassing term especially socially, economically, and politically, then why ask for its exclusion from certain social aspects of life?
Another interesting question that came up while I was reading this was if the author is claiming that image and text are the best form of mediation, then why is the author strictly adherring to the book form? He goes on and on about the decline of the book as the main form of receiving information, yet procedes to use the form anyways.
Another interesting aspect of Kress's chapter was his passage about returning to visuals. On page 7, he writes "It is possible to see writing once again moving back in the direction of visuality." This reminded me of cave paintings, or pictures that people used to use centuries ago because a majority could not read. I found it very thought provoking that it seems like we are moving BACK in history in regards to mediation.
Response 52-87
These two chapters were very confusing to me, but as I read on there were some points that stood out to me. Prior to reading this text I really could not even tell you what the words hypermediacy or immediacy meant. Botler and Grusin managed to put it into a little bit of perspective. I realize now that both are outlets of digital literacy that deal with the notion of reality. One deals with a perceived notion of reality and another deals with the concept of achieving reality. The chapter also helped me to get a better grasp on remediation. The first chapter served as more of an introduction and these following chapters made the definition a little clearer. Remediation ties in with the notion of reality through hypermediacy or immediacy. I was also drawn to the fact that it is referred to as being the inseparable link in between mediation and reality. I think after reading these chapters more ineptly a second time they will come in very useful in preparing the media outlets for our group project.
Bolter & Grusin (52-87)
"No medium, it seems, can now function independently and establish its own separate and purified space of cultural meaning." (p. 55)
This was one of the most interesting things that stuck out to me while I was reading in Remediation. It makes me think of how different forms of art bleed into each other and this is true with different kinds of media. In respect to this, media can be considered art in its own form. Another thing that stuck out to me was that each form of mediation depends on other acts of mediation. This couples with the idea that no medium can function independently from another because it needs the bolstering of another medium to support it.
This was one of the most interesting things that stuck out to me while I was reading in Remediation. It makes me think of how different forms of art bleed into each other and this is true with different kinds of media. In respect to this, media can be considered art in its own form. Another thing that stuck out to me was that each form of mediation depends on other acts of mediation. This couples with the idea that no medium can function independently from another because it needs the bolstering of another medium to support it.
Bolter and Grusin 2 & 3
At the beginning of Chapter 2, Bolter and Grusin further mention that the goal of mediation is to attempt realism be it painting to photo to digital photo to film to virtual reality. They go on to say:
It would seem, then, that all mediation is remediation.
Despite the fact that the rest of the chapter and the following chapter seem to focus on art and film, I couldn't help but tie these concepts again into books. Especially this book. Remediation: Understanding New Media is not exempt from the claim above. Essentially Remediation is remediated. From the way the text and white space are used, to the graphics and pictures, the book is an example of many iterations of changes in publishing and visual display of information. But what I found most interesting and completely unique to any other publications is the way the authors have added what amounts to 'hyperlinks' in the text. I found myself reading the text of the book like I read a website. When I got to a 'link' or a page number with a funny little play symbol, I turned to that page to see what they were referencing. I appreciate the creativity of this remediation and I like the reinforcement of the theme.
It would seem, then, that all mediation is remediation.
Despite the fact that the rest of the chapter and the following chapter seem to focus on art and film, I couldn't help but tie these concepts again into books. Especially this book. Remediation: Understanding New Media is not exempt from the claim above. Essentially Remediation is remediated. From the way the text and white space are used, to the graphics and pictures, the book is an example of many iterations of changes in publishing and visual display of information. But what I found most interesting and completely unique to any other publications is the way the authors have added what amounts to 'hyperlinks' in the text. I found myself reading the text of the book like I read a website. When I got to a 'link' or a page number with a funny little play symbol, I turned to that page to see what they were referencing. I appreciate the creativity of this remediation and I like the reinforcement of the theme.
Bolter & Grusin- response to pg. 52-87
This section really helped me to better understand the connection between immediacy and hypermediacy : both strive to either reform or create reality. While immediacy, using the example of virtual reality, makes sense, it is the concept of hypermediacy that was difficult for me to grasp at first. However, this section helped me to grasp how hypermediacy creates a "fullness" or a new reality. This leaves a never-ending possibility of adding new layers to a hypermedium.
On the other hand, immediacy is never quite perfected. I found the section about how the flaws of lack of reality in one medium is never realized until it is perfected in a new medium.
I noticed that these authors were already discussing the effect digital media and remediation will have on our political environment. Even though the book was written in 2000, they discussed the way the democratic process will be remediated because of the change in digital medium. This can be seen in the CNN youtube debates we just had a few months ago. Because of remediation, we have come up with ways for our candidates to be approached by college students, mothers, your every day citizen and that changed the nature of our election period this year.
On the other hand, immediacy is never quite perfected. I found the section about how the flaws of lack of reality in one medium is never realized until it is perfected in a new medium.
I noticed that these authors were already discussing the effect digital media and remediation will have on our political environment. Even though the book was written in 2000, they discussed the way the democratic process will be remediated because of the change in digital medium. This can be seen in the CNN youtube debates we just had a few months ago. Because of remediation, we have come up with ways for our candidates to be approached by college students, mothers, your every day citizen and that changed the nature of our election period this year.
Readings from Remediation
When I first started reading, I was really confused. However, once I was given examples, I was able to understand a little better. What was interesting to me was that in both the chapter about mediation and remediation and the chapter about mediums, it was stated that no medium can function independently. Every medium must be able to "multi-task" if you will. Computer graphics make up films now and actors want to be seen as artists. Multiple mediums are used in everyday life.
Showing and telling
Our project is one of those projects that would just be better if shown rather than told. It is important to show in this project how the digital media is there to help us better understand different aspects of our lives. Online dating is a controversial subject and in order to portray it in the most successful way, we must show it digitally.
In class, we talked about what we read in "Literacy in the New Media Age." After we defined some of the words, it was easier for me to understand the text and how we should use it while working on the project. We talked about how in our group the reading path was important because we want the audience to get the most from our project that they possible can, therefore, the reading path needs to be set up correctly. Multi-modality is going to be an important part of our project because we are going to be using several different modes to help the audience understand our project.
Showing is going to be the most effective way of getting our project point across. It is easier to show a video about this topic rather than tell what we have found. It is more interesting this way too!
In class, we talked about what we read in "Literacy in the New Media Age." After we defined some of the words, it was easier for me to understand the text and how we should use it while working on the project. We talked about how in our group the reading path was important because we want the audience to get the most from our project that they possible can, therefore, the reading path needs to be set up correctly. Multi-modality is going to be an important part of our project because we are going to be using several different modes to help the audience understand our project.
Showing is going to be the most effective way of getting our project point across. It is easier to show a video about this topic rather than tell what we have found. It is more interesting this way too!
53-87
The most interesting piece of information that I gained from reading these two chapters is that new "technologies repairs the inadequacy of the medium or media that is now supersedes."This means that everything has a predecessor and "the only thing that seems impossible is to have no relationship at all." I probably already knew this; however, while reading this chapter, this idea really hit home. Also, the economic dimension of remediation was very interesting. Essentially, people could live the rest of their lives with the computers they currently own, but because industries convince consumers that their product "improves on the experience of older ones" people trade in the old for the new. Because people want transparent immediacy and hypermediacy everything we consider normal today will be outdated in the future.
Bolter and Grusin
This reading was beneficial in helping me understand more fully some of the terminology we have discussed up to this point. Each new media has to be able to “refashion or rehabilitate” existing media (56), and “spread the content over as many markets as possible” (68). How does this happen? The media engages a social class or community that will be trendsetters in the remediation process of that particular medium. After a period of time, the concept (or item) will become more readily available in access and price for the mass markets. The trendsetter group will experience the event as hypermediated, while the remainder of society will opt for immediacy (71).
Remediation (53-87)
First off, I must say that these two chapters helped clear up my confusion of remediation and what that entails. I was intrigued to learn more of the in-depth definition of remediation. The definitions of "remediation as the mediation of mediation," "remediation as the inseparability of mediation and reality," and "remediation as reform," (p. 55) all help to greater explain this idea. It was especially helpful to hear that the goal of remediation is to "refashion or rehabilitate other media (p.56)." This allowed me to understand that remediation is focused mainly on updating/revamping what we already have as our mediums. For example, in order to keep in touch, we used to only have letters and phone calls. Now, email has been created as a form of communication, which in turn is much easier and convenient to use. Remediation has been a path of change that was bound to happen and continue to happen.
Showing vs. Telling
Our project revolves around exposing our classmates to the voices that modern Middle Eastern women have in relation to digital literacy (specifically their blogs). A lot of information will be presented through providing facts. In this way, we will be showing our audience statistics, history, and research. Also the images that we have gathered and incorporated into our film will be another way of showing the information. But, we will also be reading from specific blogs of Middle Eastern women throughout the film. This is an example of our telling the audience the information. I think this presents a well-rounded multiplicity in media. We be incorporating both the showing and telling of information to the audience in order for them to absorb the most information possible.
Remediation, Chapters 2 and 3
I found the section on "Remediation as Reform" interesting because of the definition provided. Bolter adn Grusin say they use the word remediation as "a word to express the way in which one medium is seen by our culture as reforming or improving upon another" (59). What struck me was the word "improving". For some people, remediation may not be improving something at all. For instance, the transition from VHS to DVD. When this media first was introduced, DVD players were expensive and if you were/are not careful, you can ruin a DVD, simply by not putting it away properly. I know a VHS can be damaged, but this is how some people may have thought when DVDs were introduced. These days most homes have DVD players, but waht do people do with all of their VHSs? VCRs have become pretty much obsolete, so if you have one and it breaks or malfunctions, your options are limited. Also, Blockbuster no longer rents VHSs. What if you do not have a DVD player and you want to rent a movie? Your best bet would be to go out and buy it at Walmart, which is one of the only places that still sells them. I personally have both a VCR and a DVD player, but I have had to replace two DVD players and have had my VCR since I was in middle school. So although remediation can be a good thing, sometimes, old technology was not so bad.
B & G Reading (pgs 52 - 87)
“Each new medium has to find its economic place by replacing or supplementing what is already available, and popular acceptance, and therefore economic success, can come only by convincing consumers that the new medium improves on the experience of older ones” (68).
What is Bolter and Grusin saying exactly? The best illustration that I can think of is with the new iphone. Why is it that the day the iphone was released you couldn't drive by a Cingular Wireless store without seeing a line of people waiting to get into the door with hopes of possibly being able to make the $600 purchase. The answer is simple for them. The new iphone has capabilities that far surpasses any other phone on the market to date. They want what's cutting edge. They want to lead others into new technological advances. These are the same people who got Vista for Windows as soon as it came out and could not care less about the problems with incompatibility. So, why is it that other people that are still very interested in technology are still without the iphone and without Vista? It's because of the above statement taken from the Bolter and Grusin reading. These people are waiting for these new mediums to find their economic place. The price for such purchases are too steep and there are no doubt bugs that need to be ironed out. While these are popular items the first "batch" so to speak will be used to iron out any problems with the technology and the next "batch" will have addressed the problems with the first and also be less expensive. In short, more bang for the buck. This idea of getting more for your money plays a substantial role in whether or not a consumer will make a big purchase.
What is Bolter and Grusin saying exactly? The best illustration that I can think of is with the new iphone. Why is it that the day the iphone was released you couldn't drive by a Cingular Wireless store without seeing a line of people waiting to get into the door with hopes of possibly being able to make the $600 purchase. The answer is simple for them. The new iphone has capabilities that far surpasses any other phone on the market to date. They want what's cutting edge. They want to lead others into new technological advances. These are the same people who got Vista for Windows as soon as it came out and could not care less about the problems with incompatibility. So, why is it that other people that are still very interested in technology are still without the iphone and without Vista? It's because of the above statement taken from the Bolter and Grusin reading. These people are waiting for these new mediums to find their economic place. The price for such purchases are too steep and there are no doubt bugs that need to be ironed out. While these are popular items the first "batch" so to speak will be used to iron out any problems with the technology and the next "batch" will have addressed the problems with the first and also be less expensive. In short, more bang for the buck. This idea of getting more for your money plays a substantial role in whether or not a consumer will make a big purchase.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Show vs. Telling
For my group project, my group will be collaborating political commentary and animated cartoons to show the political influences that cartoons these days have on the public. I guess the basic way to describe the difference between show and telling in accordance to our project is to examine the components of the project. The political cartoons will be the 'showing' aspect of the movie. The news commentary will be the 'telling' component of the movie. News are able to relay messages through words, hence the commentary. Cartoons such as Family Guy or Boondocks are able to relay these same messages through visuals such as animated figures. Both aspects will be a contrast/comparison of each other
Literacy in a new era
The reading from the book Literacy in New Media (1-34) really re-emphasized the importance of change and evolution. The reading talked about literacy and how it is soo important to provide this in different formats, especially in this era. I believe that is so true, not only to take advantage of the different technologies and advancements that can apply to it but to make it just that more accessible to people who perceive messages in different ways. The changing times has allowed us to do that. We are able to express ourselves and relay messages through books, songs, movies, weblogs, etc. It also talked about the importance of the actual layout of the message. This can determine how the audience perceives the message, rather it be in a certain numerical order or in a random order.
The reading gave an overview of the type of literacy we should consider when doing our projects this semester.
The reading gave an overview of the type of literacy we should consider when doing our projects this semester.
Showing vs. Telling
Telling is going to be more prominent in our project because it is going
to be a 'commercial' of people telling how people communicate, using words to paint vivid mental images that are more effective than showing actual images or objects. There will be some showing if we use pictures to demonstrate what some of the people are telling.
i.e. if someone shows a picture of the person that they met, they would be showing more than telling. Thus our project will be at least 60-40 in telling and showing.
-Vanessa Reinarz
to be a 'commercial' of people telling how people communicate, using words to paint vivid mental images that are more effective than showing actual images or objects. There will be some showing if we use pictures to demonstrate what some of the people are telling.
i.e. if someone shows a picture of the person that they met, they would be showing more than telling. Thus our project will be at least 60-40 in telling and showing.
-Vanessa Reinarz
bolter & grusin
“Each new medium has to find its economic place by replacing or supplementing what is already available, and popular acceptance, and therefore economic success, can come only by convincing consumers that the new medium improves on the experience of older ones” (68).
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Post 1 B&G pp. 53-87
After reading this selection, I am happy to announce that I feel somewhat better about what remediation, hypermediacy, and transparency mean. From what I gather, remediation can indirectly involve the difference between telling and showing. The easiest example, which is used ad nauseum, is a book which tells and a digital medium that shows. The best definition I could find of remediation and its purpose is on page 56. It states, "The goal of remediation is to refashion or rehabilitate other media... all mediations are both real and mediations of the real... (and) can also be understood as a process of reforming reality as well" (56).
Showing v. Telling
As Susan stated, our group had decided to tape Facebook members talking about their experiences with the program and the effect, if any, it has had on their lives. Now that we have decided to do a mockumentary on the topic, we will now show what impact Facebook has on their lives by recording them actually using the website, as opposed to listening to them talk about it. Although I am not necessarily a fan of cliches, there is something to be said about the old "actions speak louder than words" adage. On the other hand, however, the participants will somewhat "tell" the story simply by the actions they exhibit in the video.
Friday, February 1, 2008
showing vs. telling
Before we solidified our project idea (mockumentary showing how facebook affects users’ personal lives) we discussed doing a video in which users talk about their facebook habits by answering interview questions—essentially we would be telling rather than showing. Instead, we decided that it would be more effective to create a mockumentary that shows typical obsessive facebook habits in a comedic way.
Materials We Have
-Internet (YouTube, Journal Articles, OLPC website, iTunes, Google photo search)
-iMovie
-Photoshop
-DVD to put movie on once it is finished
-iMovie
-Photoshop
-DVD to put movie on once it is finished
Schedule updates, possible alterations
This is a duplicate of an email post I sent. If you are still not getting the emails, please let me know.
Greetings everyone,
I just wanted to let you know that I posted the discussion leaders' names on the schedule, but there are still some changes possible as far as readings toward the latter half of the semester. Since everyone has chosen to produce videos, I would like to substitute some film and video related readings. I'll check with the class Tuesday to see what you think, and keep you updated as changes occur.
Also, my new copy of _Literacy in the New Media Age_ arrived, so if anyone needs to borrow it to complete this week's reading, I'm happy to loan it out.
Have a great weekend and I'll see you on Tuesday, when our first discussion leaders will be Megan and Kerry!
--T. F.
Greetings everyone,
I just wanted to let you know that I posted the discussion leaders' names on the schedule, but there are still some changes possible as far as readings toward the latter half of the semester. Since everyone has chosen to produce videos, I would like to substitute some film and video related readings. I'll check with the class Tuesday to see what you think, and keep you updated as changes occur.
Also, my new copy of _Literacy in the New Media Age_ arrived, so if anyone needs to borrow it to complete this week's reading, I'm happy to loan it out.
Have a great weekend and I'll see you on Tuesday, when our first discussion leaders will be Megan and Kerry!
--T. F.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)