http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEeqHj3Nj2c (accessed 6/3/2008).
This video shows a collection of movie clips from an activity that is called parkour, or freerunning. From my experience in watching youtube videos, this activity involves the individual surmounting urban obstacles in what seems to be a quest to do whatever someone wants in terms of one interacting with his or her environment.
The video: posted by youtube.com user Sauloca
The song: "Paper Wings" by Rise Against on Siren Song of Counter Culture (2004) album (http://www.amazon.com/Siren-Song-Counter-Culture-Against/dp/B0002KQOGW/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1212552148&sr=8-1, accessed 6/4/2008).
Lyrics: http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Paper-Wings-lyrics-Rise-Against/F6558E047E24A03048256EF0000C3641 (accessed 6/4/2008).
Video: combination of both musical media and video media. In youtube, the users post media that they have compiled or composed. The users may create a reflection of their own perspective in the work. Parkour= exciting. Therefore, not just amazing video but also exciting rock music combined with basically a "highlight tape" for parkour, showing the best doing incredible stunts instead of showing poor practice runs. The youtube user's opinion towards his or her won interests affects what kind of things end up getting posted. If one likes parkour and enjoys its excitement, then one would probably want others to feel the same way about the same topic. In this way, we are not forming impressions of media that we see; instead, we are reflecting the opinions that the media has crafted to make tolerable for other people.
This is an example of Henry Jenkin's "convergence culture" from page 2 of his work, Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide (http://www.amazon.com/Convergence-Culture-Where-Media-Collide/dp/0814742955/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212553007&sr=8-1 accessed 6/4/2008) because individuals have more power to spread their opinions than ever. At 12:17 am Wednesday morning, the video had 7,259,945 people who have viewed the video. This is a massie amount of people who have been exposed to one individual's notions on parkour, as reflected in his or her work.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Course Review
Overall, I think that this class is an excellent class, and I would wholeheartedly support its continuation to the next academic year. It has taught to examine and to question, which are essential skills that students use throughout life to stay informed and freethinking.
I feel the course may improve in certain areas. Regarding the class's text selection, I was not a fan at all of the Susan Faludi text. I feel that, while her argument is valid, it is repeated without enough variation on her original argument as to warrant an extension; the inclusion of her ideas to the course would be best served with a brief handout with some excerpts, which would save the course several classes so more material could be covered.
I feel that writing in a blog was an excellent way of becoming part of a new, individualistic form of media, which we should do as students of media. I also think that the number of blogs per week is ideal in order to keep expressing the flow of one's ideas.
I enjoyed the contrast between Henry Jenkins and Noam Chomsky. I would absolutely include these two texts within the course syllabus, as they represent two different and rather prevalent opinions toward the media today.
The class discussion was especially rewarding, as everyone was able to provide different perspectives on the readings or contemporary issues. This was my favorite part of the class especially because I was able to voice my opinion on a much wider variety of issues much more rapidly than I was able to on my blog. Again, I would like to thank all of the students and my teacher for making this class what I perceive to be a complete success.
I feel the course may improve in certain areas. Regarding the class's text selection, I was not a fan at all of the Susan Faludi text. I feel that, while her argument is valid, it is repeated without enough variation on her original argument as to warrant an extension; the inclusion of her ideas to the course would be best served with a brief handout with some excerpts, which would save the course several classes so more material could be covered.
I feel that writing in a blog was an excellent way of becoming part of a new, individualistic form of media, which we should do as students of media. I also think that the number of blogs per week is ideal in order to keep expressing the flow of one's ideas.
I enjoyed the contrast between Henry Jenkins and Noam Chomsky. I would absolutely include these two texts within the course syllabus, as they represent two different and rather prevalent opinions toward the media today.
The class discussion was especially rewarding, as everyone was able to provide different perspectives on the readings or contemporary issues. This was my favorite part of the class especially because I was able to voice my opinion on a much wider variety of issues much more rapidly than I was able to on my blog. Again, I would like to thank all of the students and my teacher for making this class what I perceive to be a complete success.
From Beginning.....to End
I feel that as school winds down for the summer, I am in an excellent position to reflect on who I am and where I have come from, in the short term and the long. This may not be the most academic blog post, but I feel that this is an example of the outlet of self-expression that blogging provides to the individual.
At the beginning of this year, there was an person who was so consumed in my new environment. This young man was the top of the food chain in terms of age within his school, and this person now had a new role within his school. However, this person was very different than the person who is sitting in front of his computer screen today and typing. This youth thought he was mature, though he could handle the wide world, and was ignorant of the fact that he was ignorant. Much has happened to this person since he came to his school in the fall; he has made many decisions and has been exposed to many things. The culmination of all of these influences has shaped this person into what he strives to be today: an individual. That person was me.
Now at the end of the year, I am able to look back on the person I was at the beginning of the year and am able to see the progression into the person I am now. I am far more informed, I am more experience at, well, life, and I am more qualified to examine the status quo. This media studies class has greatly contributed to the lattermost clause. Who controls ideas? Who controls feelings? These are questions I have been asking while I have gone through this class. In the end, I feel that I have gained some observational nuggets of insight and of perspective. I have listened to opposing opinions, and I have voiced some as my own. My teacher often says that she wants us to develop skills that we will need at the next level of education. For me, the primary skill that I have gained is the ability to question and consider difficult topics as well as develop opinions of my own. I have been incredibly fortunate to be able to do this, and I would like to thank my teacher and my classmates for being an active catalyst in this exploration.
Thank You For Reading
At the beginning of this year, there was an person who was so consumed in my new environment. This young man was the top of the food chain in terms of age within his school, and this person now had a new role within his school. However, this person was very different than the person who is sitting in front of his computer screen today and typing. This youth thought he was mature, though he could handle the wide world, and was ignorant of the fact that he was ignorant. Much has happened to this person since he came to his school in the fall; he has made many decisions and has been exposed to many things. The culmination of all of these influences has shaped this person into what he strives to be today: an individual. That person was me.
Now at the end of the year, I am able to look back on the person I was at the beginning of the year and am able to see the progression into the person I am now. I am far more informed, I am more experience at, well, life, and I am more qualified to examine the status quo. This media studies class has greatly contributed to the lattermost clause. Who controls ideas? Who controls feelings? These are questions I have been asking while I have gone through this class. In the end, I feel that I have gained some observational nuggets of insight and of perspective. I have listened to opposing opinions, and I have voiced some as my own. My teacher often says that she wants us to develop skills that we will need at the next level of education. For me, the primary skill that I have gained is the ability to question and consider difficult topics as well as develop opinions of my own. I have been incredibly fortunate to be able to do this, and I would like to thank my teacher and my classmates for being an active catalyst in this exploration.
Thank You For Reading
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Can you Digg It?
I have just recently joined a system called Digg. Digg.com is a site where Internet media consumers may suggest certain web pages throughout the internet for consumption by other websurfers. People basically bookmark stories, pictures, anything on the internet so that others may share in what people find interesting or funny. These stories are put on Digg.com's web page (http://www.digg.com/) along with a number of people who suggested to specific website.
One of the reasons I find this website fascinating is because it is an example of collective intelligence as well as the collaboration of individuals as put forward by Henry Jenkins in Convergence Culture (description of book may be found here: http://www.amazon.com/Convergence-Culture-Where-Media-Collide/dp/0814742815). I feel it is an example of Jenkin's idea of collective intelligence not because of the information within each web page that is suggested to digg.com, but because the website that was recommended is presumably only a small part of the media consumer/digg.com member's repertoire. This is the collective intelligence of information sources, not only the information within them. This is where the individual collaboration comes in. The site is presumably based with the fundamental assertion that people will suggest stories that people will want to read. This builds a reading base which gives digg.com not only legitimacy but also some weight as to which topics get read. However, this is a self-propagating cycle in that the more digg.com members who read the suggested stories, and, in turn, put their mark of approval on them as well, make even more readers come to the story. I know that I personally gravitate more towards the stories that have a large number of people who approve of the webpage. This is interesting because this makes digg.com a perfect example of how the media is changing, with the power coming into the hands of the individuals.
One of the reasons I find this website fascinating is because it is an example of collective intelligence as well as the collaboration of individuals as put forward by Henry Jenkins in Convergence Culture (description of book may be found here: http://www.amazon.com/Convergence-Culture-Where-Media-Collide/dp/0814742815). I feel it is an example of Jenkin's idea of collective intelligence not because of the information within each web page that is suggested to digg.com, but because the website that was recommended is presumably only a small part of the media consumer/digg.com member's repertoire. This is the collective intelligence of information sources, not only the information within them. This is where the individual collaboration comes in. The site is presumably based with the fundamental assertion that people will suggest stories that people will want to read. This builds a reading base which gives digg.com not only legitimacy but also some weight as to which topics get read. However, this is a self-propagating cycle in that the more digg.com members who read the suggested stories, and, in turn, put their mark of approval on them as well, make even more readers come to the story. I know that I personally gravitate more towards the stories that have a large number of people who approve of the webpage. This is interesting because this makes digg.com a perfect example of how the media is changing, with the power coming into the hands of the individuals.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
The Journalistic Deographic
We all depend on the media to be the source of all of our information in this age of quick occurrences and rapidly shifting landscapes. This dependency is exacerbated especially when one considers that this year is an election year. Demographics are being examined, and whether we like it or not, media political biases are coming out.
However, I want to ask, of which individuals is the media comprised? Is there any common uniting factor among members of the media that also is a common uniting political factor? In essence, I am simply trying to examine a possible political bias towards Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in the democratic primary. Hillary Clinton was the front runner in the beginning of the Democratic primary. However, she has lost all of her steam to a media darling such as Obama. In one glance at the magazine section in CVS, one of the first things I see is Obama on the cover of Esquire magazine (June 2008 edition). This is one instance where all I look, I see Obama's visage. Furthermore, Hillary Clinton's campaign has completely imploded at this point, especially with major hits such as Edwards endorsing Obama. It is important to recognize that these blunders are fully maximized in the eyes of the press. Hillary crushed Obama in Kentucky, but this was not the major news of the evening.
It is ridiculous to say that the media has not had a massive influence on the Democratic primary. It has. I believe Hillary Clinton has made mistakes throughout her campaign, but I feel that it is the media coverage that truly drove the stake through her heart. It is a necessary evil of politics; people need to see the candidates in their true element, for which the media is essential. However, the media has control of what kinds of elements the candidates are seen through. This has had an alarming affect on the democratic race altogether.
However, I want to ask, of which individuals is the media comprised? Is there any common uniting factor among members of the media that also is a common uniting political factor? In essence, I am simply trying to examine a possible political bias towards Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in the democratic primary. Hillary Clinton was the front runner in the beginning of the Democratic primary. However, she has lost all of her steam to a media darling such as Obama. In one glance at the magazine section in CVS, one of the first things I see is Obama on the cover of Esquire magazine (June 2008 edition). This is one instance where all I look, I see Obama's visage. Furthermore, Hillary Clinton's campaign has completely imploded at this point, especially with major hits such as Edwards endorsing Obama. It is important to recognize that these blunders are fully maximized in the eyes of the press. Hillary crushed Obama in Kentucky, but this was not the major news of the evening.
It is ridiculous to say that the media has not had a massive influence on the Democratic primary. It has. I believe Hillary Clinton has made mistakes throughout her campaign, but I feel that it is the media coverage that truly drove the stake through her heart. It is a necessary evil of politics; people need to see the candidates in their true element, for which the media is essential. However, the media has control of what kinds of elements the candidates are seen through. This has had an alarming affect on the democratic race altogether.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Affective Economics and Star Wars
When I was younger, I feel in love with a specific cinematic adventure: Star Wars (1977, written and directed by George Lucas: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/). Everything about the movie series was special to me; the characters, adventures, and storyline all reached out to me and piqued my interest like nothing in my life had done before. The thing that really hooked me into Star Wars was the universe that George Lucas had created.
See, I did not just enjoy the movies. I bought the action figures, the trading cards, and the books. All of these items took peripheral things within the movies and created substory upon substory within the Star Wars Universe. Within the cantina scene in "A New Hope," (1977, the first movie in the original Star Wars trilogy: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/) there are just random extra creatures in the background while Han Solo and Obi Wan Kenobi are talking. At one point, I owned a book that talked about the side stories of the characters who are in the scenes. This change of media out of the direct control of George Lucas had helped the Star Wars universe expand exponentially. The story was no longer about the Rebel Alliance versus the Empire, but about the regular creatures that live within the larger story.
For a young kid who was already blown away by the imaginative scope of the Star Wars franchise, these alternative storylines provided more sophisticated stories and details took me hook, line, and sinker. I could recite literally everything anywhere near related to Star Wars ( a skill that I still possess, to a degree). It was not until now that I really realized how powerful the fan culture was toward Star Wars. I have seen footage on the news or random TV programming about massive Star Wars conventions, where people would take on a completely new persona, an avatar in the form of a character from the Star Wars world. These people had massive amounts of power when it comes to directing the future of the Star Wars franchise. Also, the authors who wrote the books that continued to define Mr. Lucas' world completely changed the fan bases' perspective of Star Wars (for example on this, please see http://www.amazon.com/Sacrifice-Star-Wars-Legacy-Force/dp/0345477413/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212063346&sr=1-11). It was a universe to explore, and the fans began to further define this world. The fan passion is what truly made the Star Wars craze just that: a craze. The fans who exhibit this passion are a small group, but their love for Star Wars is unbridled; their existance also allows for a fan community that welcomes new converts. In my opinion, this supportive and creative fan base is what truly made Star Wars so popular.
See, I did not just enjoy the movies. I bought the action figures, the trading cards, and the books. All of these items took peripheral things within the movies and created substory upon substory within the Star Wars Universe. Within the cantina scene in "A New Hope," (1977, the first movie in the original Star Wars trilogy: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/) there are just random extra creatures in the background while Han Solo and Obi Wan Kenobi are talking. At one point, I owned a book that talked about the side stories of the characters who are in the scenes. This change of media out of the direct control of George Lucas had helped the Star Wars universe expand exponentially. The story was no longer about the Rebel Alliance versus the Empire, but about the regular creatures that live within the larger story.
For a young kid who was already blown away by the imaginative scope of the Star Wars franchise, these alternative storylines provided more sophisticated stories and details took me hook, line, and sinker. I could recite literally everything anywhere near related to Star Wars ( a skill that I still possess, to a degree). It was not until now that I really realized how powerful the fan culture was toward Star Wars. I have seen footage on the news or random TV programming about massive Star Wars conventions, where people would take on a completely new persona, an avatar in the form of a character from the Star Wars world. These people had massive amounts of power when it comes to directing the future of the Star Wars franchise. Also, the authors who wrote the books that continued to define Mr. Lucas' world completely changed the fan bases' perspective of Star Wars (for example on this, please see http://www.amazon.com/Sacrifice-Star-Wars-Legacy-Force/dp/0345477413/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212063346&sr=1-11). It was a universe to explore, and the fans began to further define this world. The fan passion is what truly made the Star Wars craze just that: a craze. The fans who exhibit this passion are a small group, but their love for Star Wars is unbridled; their existance also allows for a fan community that welcomes new converts. In my opinion, this supportive and creative fan base is what truly made Star Wars so popular.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Freewrite
I decided that it would be a good time to do another freewrite so that I may see what is on my mind lately.
I am listening to the new Coldplay song: "Viva La Vida" (http://www.amazon.com/Viva-Vida-Coldplay/dp/B000RPTQ1C), Dang it, this is a real good song. Coldplay gets a sissy rep from a lot of guys, but, in my opinion, this group of young men possess a level of talent that is of the highest echelon. I hope that the rest of their album, "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends" is as good as their initial single.
Ebaumsworld.com is hilarious (www.ebaumsworld.com). I would describe this site as an irreverent youtube. Like youtube, users upload pieces of media to the site so the rest of the Internet community may view those hilarious moments caught on film or tape. It is grade-A quality webjunk that I often find myself gravitated to if I am bored.
The idea of graduation has completely permeated my brain. I am pretty much counting down the days, except I don't want to have a definite number in my head because that will make the waiting that much more difficult. I have been at this school for three years, and I don't know how anyone could keep their sanity by doing four. I am ready to go and enjoy the independence that comes with not having to sign in or ask an adult permission to get into a car. I am also excited to have a job and make money. It's been a while since I've had a good, money-paying job; I have been doing government internships these past two summers. They have been invaluable sources of experience (and admittedly something cool to put on the resume), but I've been irritated that I have not been able to build up a tiny bit of personal wealth. I will probably end up working two jobs this summer, like my sister did the summer before. That's all good. I just want to work, workout, read, and sleep.
On the media front again, for a math assignment I need to see the movie "Stand and Deliver" (1988, directed by Ramón Menéndez: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094027/) However, when I went to the library to get the movie so I could watch it in the comfort of my room, I was floored to hear that its was on a VHS. VHS!! That stuff is ancient! I remember watching the Disney movies of my youth on VHS, but that was a whole different era. Alas, I must return to the technological primordial muck in order to complete this assignment. I wouldn't be as irritated if it weren't for that fact that it is incredibly difficult to find a VHS (I certainly do not have one in my dorm). Whatever. I guess I will hunt one down or go to the school's media center.
Well, I think that is enough verbal vomit for now.
Thank You for Reading
I am listening to the new Coldplay song: "Viva La Vida" (http://www.amazon.com/Viva-Vida-Coldplay/dp/B000RPTQ1C), Dang it, this is a real good song. Coldplay gets a sissy rep from a lot of guys, but, in my opinion, this group of young men possess a level of talent that is of the highest echelon. I hope that the rest of their album, "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends" is as good as their initial single.
Ebaumsworld.com is hilarious (www.ebaumsworld.com). I would describe this site as an irreverent youtube. Like youtube, users upload pieces of media to the site so the rest of the Internet community may view those hilarious moments caught on film or tape. It is grade-A quality webjunk that I often find myself gravitated to if I am bored.
The idea of graduation has completely permeated my brain. I am pretty much counting down the days, except I don't want to have a definite number in my head because that will make the waiting that much more difficult. I have been at this school for three years, and I don't know how anyone could keep their sanity by doing four. I am ready to go and enjoy the independence that comes with not having to sign in or ask an adult permission to get into a car. I am also excited to have a job and make money. It's been a while since I've had a good, money-paying job; I have been doing government internships these past two summers. They have been invaluable sources of experience (and admittedly something cool to put on the resume), but I've been irritated that I have not been able to build up a tiny bit of personal wealth. I will probably end up working two jobs this summer, like my sister did the summer before. That's all good. I just want to work, workout, read, and sleep.
On the media front again, for a math assignment I need to see the movie "Stand and Deliver" (1988, directed by Ramón Menéndez: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094027/) However, when I went to the library to get the movie so I could watch it in the comfort of my room, I was floored to hear that its was on a VHS. VHS!! That stuff is ancient! I remember watching the Disney movies of my youth on VHS, but that was a whole different era. Alas, I must return to the technological primordial muck in order to complete this assignment. I wouldn't be as irritated if it weren't for that fact that it is incredibly difficult to find a VHS (I certainly do not have one in my dorm). Whatever. I guess I will hunt one down or go to the school's media center.
Well, I think that is enough verbal vomit for now.
Thank You for Reading
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