Growing Up Online

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/

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.

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)

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.)

Our group is going to fix the timing on some of the slides after hearing what the class had to say about our project on Tuesday. -Chrissy, Creswell, Molly, & Candice

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.

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!

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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

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!