Since we watched a documentary that featured Girl Talk, i knew about their free show for awhile, it's a lot of fun, i've seen them before. I'm going and thought i'd inform the rest of you if you're interested... here's a link that provides directions, date and time:
http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/h2oshows/
It starts at 2pm at McCarren park sunday aug 23rd, there's also dodge ball, basketball and of course music! and besides that one sunday they are holding free shows every sunday through the 30th of august. take advantage .. its FREE fun! =)
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
VIRTUAL REALITY ....does it really impact one's reality?
ROOTS CAMP
I must say that this is the first time i have ever seen or heard about Second Life and i'm not shocked that there is now such a site that one can go on and be in a virtual reality aka "Second Life." I find this virtual reality to resemble a video game like atmostphere with each island resembling some what of a different bored. I know in wii for example you can create a character that looks like you and thats what it reminds me of.
Getting back to second life, the Roots camp is a good idea only for the idea that it is almost impossible for these people to meet up once a week in reality like they do in second life. This can be effective in reality if these users that are in these activist groups use what they learn from chatting in second life together in their actual reality. So in essence, yes this is a good idea to help throw around ideas from one to another and bring awareness to other people but overall the only way to have an impact on people is to protest in your REAL life.
The downfall of this is that some people may subject themselves to sitting in front of the computer to think that they are actually making a difference by protesting and supporting activists groups. But in reality it all boils down to the mere fact that if you are not doing all of these things in person it may not make any difference. I mean, who knows what the future brings, maybe this second life or virtual reality will have an impact because of groups like the Roots camp meeting online and stirring up ideas together once a week will increase effectiveness in our reality.
I must say that this is the first time i have ever seen or heard about Second Life and i'm not shocked that there is now such a site that one can go on and be in a virtual reality aka "Second Life." I find this virtual reality to resemble a video game like atmostphere with each island resembling some what of a different bored. I know in wii for example you can create a character that looks like you and thats what it reminds me of.
Getting back to second life, the Roots camp is a good idea only for the idea that it is almost impossible for these people to meet up once a week in reality like they do in second life. This can be effective in reality if these users that are in these activist groups use what they learn from chatting in second life together in their actual reality. So in essence, yes this is a good idea to help throw around ideas from one to another and bring awareness to other people but overall the only way to have an impact on people is to protest in your REAL life.
The downfall of this is that some people may subject themselves to sitting in front of the computer to think that they are actually making a difference by protesting and supporting activists groups. But in reality it all boils down to the mere fact that if you are not doing all of these things in person it may not make any difference. I mean, who knows what the future brings, maybe this second life or virtual reality will have an impact because of groups like the Roots camp meeting online and stirring up ideas together once a week will increase effectiveness in our reality.
Final Exam Part II
FINAL EXAM
Part II
Choose ONE of the following three media. Circle your choice:
Print/Written Word+Images
Radio/Sound
Television/Moving Image
For the medium you chose, answer only THREE of the following six questions.
Be sure to read the questions carefully and answer fully. Write in complete sentences with proper grammar and spelling. Do not include additional information beyond succinct and complete answers to the three questions you choose. I am looking for clarity, critical thinking and your ability to synthesize information from our course. As a guideline, two short paragraphs should be adequate to answer each question.
Circle the three questions you will answer, and write your answers on a separate sheet of paper. Please write clearly. Do not forget to write your name and number the questions you are answering. You may use your own notes during this part of the exam, but may not have out the textbook or other readings.
1) Describe one example of a technological development in this medium that affected its distribution. How did this development define or change how people access this medium?
2) Describe one major anxiety that arose with the growth of this medium. Describe one new anxiety that has arisen with the distribution of this medium on the Internet.
3) Choose an industry that produces mass media in this medium (for example, you might choose the newspaper industry if you are writing about print). Describe one example of how media consolidation has affected this industry. Describe one example of how distribution of this medium on the Internet has affected this industry.
4) Describe one way that mass media producers in this medium delivered information before the Internet. Describe one way that mass media producers deliver information using the Internet today. How do you think that this newer method of distribution has altered the way people consume information?
5) Describe one way that everyday citizens (who are not necessarily employed by media companies or endowed with big financial backing) were able to participate in this medium before the Internet. Describe one example of how everyday citizens can use the Internet to participate in this medium today. Do you think that an everyday citizen’s voice has more or less influence today? Why?
6) Briefly describe one example of this medium that we listened to, looked at or watched in class. What about this example did you find interesting and why? What does it demonstrate about the relationship between media and culture or society?
Part II
Choose ONE of the following three media. Circle your choice:
Print/Written Word+Images
Radio/Sound
Television/Moving Image
For the medium you chose, answer only THREE of the following six questions.
Be sure to read the questions carefully and answer fully. Write in complete sentences with proper grammar and spelling. Do not include additional information beyond succinct and complete answers to the three questions you choose. I am looking for clarity, critical thinking and your ability to synthesize information from our course. As a guideline, two short paragraphs should be adequate to answer each question.
Circle the three questions you will answer, and write your answers on a separate sheet of paper. Please write clearly. Do not forget to write your name and number the questions you are answering. You may use your own notes during this part of the exam, but may not have out the textbook or other readings.
1) Describe one example of a technological development in this medium that affected its distribution. How did this development define or change how people access this medium?
2) Describe one major anxiety that arose with the growth of this medium. Describe one new anxiety that has arisen with the distribution of this medium on the Internet.
3) Choose an industry that produces mass media in this medium (for example, you might choose the newspaper industry if you are writing about print). Describe one example of how media consolidation has affected this industry. Describe one example of how distribution of this medium on the Internet has affected this industry.
4) Describe one way that mass media producers in this medium delivered information before the Internet. Describe one way that mass media producers deliver information using the Internet today. How do you think that this newer method of distribution has altered the way people consume information?
5) Describe one way that everyday citizens (who are not necessarily employed by media companies or endowed with big financial backing) were able to participate in this medium before the Internet. Describe one example of how everyday citizens can use the Internet to participate in this medium today. Do you think that an everyday citizen’s voice has more or less influence today? Why?
6) Briefly describe one example of this medium that we listened to, looked at or watched in class. What about this example did you find interesting and why? What does it demonstrate about the relationship between media and culture or society?
what works?
While taking a second look at Second Life i notice a few thing i didnt before. The virtual world of Second Life seems very much as a video game though it states its not. However, it reminds me of a game when you beat it and theres nothing left to do but travel around. even though, there is over 6 million residents in Second life which still makes it a pretty big place, the size of a "city". Second Life is defently a place where to be creative and interact with other people but is it a good place to protest? I decided to take another look at camp Dafur, I thought this political activism was the most effective. The whole place is a duplicate of a refugee camp which hepos to stand out the cause more. I liked this activist site because as the narrirtor stated its a window to a subject few people know about like myself. Seeing all these pictures of what is going on in these camps and how people are suffering really makes you thik twice and want to take a further deepth into the issue. However personaly i would go to a wesite to find more about this issue in Darfur. Though Second life openned me up to it through camp Darfur, it seems like to much work to try to find more about the cause. I would have to open up an account, create an advitar, and then learn how to use it. At this point i could have been at several websites and learned more about the crises in Dafur. I do like the concept though it allows people to help in there own cretive way. I think it can help because many people are connceted to the virtual world some live in it so much they dont get a chance interact with the outside world, like to turn on the tv and watch the news. So a program like this would help to expose people to political activism. Now the question is would it help towards making a difference? It would all depend on people getting together and wanting to take the fight from the virtual world to the real world. Im sure with the big community that second Life has it does. Now im not big on activism so i cant say of one that is effective or be able to compare the effectiveness between one in the virtual world or in the real world. I can account for a protest i have notice and that is at Hunter college dealing with the school taking away the day care program. now I can't say how the protest is going but I do know while signing a form for the cause i did see lots and lots of signature, which shows that their point is reaching across to plently of people.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Final Exam note
Students,
As stated in class today, Advertising will NOT be covered on your final exam. I will not include terms or concepts from the advertising chapter or the video Killing Us Softly 3, as we did not get to adequately cover those in class.
Tomorrow's topic, copyright, will be covered. The Lessig reading for tomorrow and the class notes are already online for you to study. In addition to discussion, we will be watching part of a documentary tomorrow in class that should help us process some of his ideas.
I will pass out the short answer portion of the test tomorrow in class so that we all receive it at the same time. If you are not in class tomorrow for any reason, you should email me so I can get you the short answer portion as soon as possible. For this portion of the test, you will be allowed to prepare, bring and use your own notes. You will not be allowed to have out any readings, including the textbook.
As you will not be able to have any notes out during Part I, we will take a break between the two parts.
Best,
Sarah Wright
As stated in class today, Advertising will NOT be covered on your final exam. I will not include terms or concepts from the advertising chapter or the video Killing Us Softly 3, as we did not get to adequately cover those in class.
Tomorrow's topic, copyright, will be covered. The Lessig reading for tomorrow and the class notes are already online for you to study. In addition to discussion, we will be watching part of a documentary tomorrow in class that should help us process some of his ideas.
I will pass out the short answer portion of the test tomorrow in class so that we all receive it at the same time. If you are not in class tomorrow for any reason, you should email me so I can get you the short answer portion as soon as possible. For this portion of the test, you will be allowed to prepare, bring and use your own notes. You will not be allowed to have out any readings, including the textbook.
As you will not be able to have any notes out during Part I, we will take a break between the two parts.
Best,
Sarah Wright
Virtual Activism
What is “A Better World In Second life”? A brief explanation of “A second life” would be, it is a digital world completely built and owned by its residents. Running on a distributed grid of over 1000 machines, Second Life allows residents to collaboratively create everything from their own bodies, structures, and vehicles to social groups, games, and experiences. It is a machinima documentary about how real-world activists are using Second Life as a platform for social and political activism.
The genocide in Darfur is the destruction of an entire race in Africa for no tangible reason, very much like the holocaust. What interests me about this specific activist project is that they have discussion groups regarding this horrible situation and Second Life members join this group via the program daily in a place called Better World Island. I believe that this digital world can and will affect the non – virtual world because the Internet is one of the major tools of communicating with other people, and advertising. Using this digital world, people from all over the country, even the globe, can correspond with each-other regarding this particular project or many others and act upon their beliefs and allow the world to hear their opinion.
Another activist project which i am familiar with is AIPEC. AIPEC is an organization that that lobbies for American/Israel relationships. In my opinion, protesting or spreading the word on college campus' is one of the best ways to get a message across and inform the public accordingly. Targeting the college age is the most effective because they are the most susceptible to different view points and objectives…they’re still trying to figure things out and their minds are sponges when it comes down to psychographics.
Abraham Dwek
Monday, August 10, 2009
email from Prof. Wright 8/10
Dear Students,
For Tomorrow
I forgot to remind you all to bring an ad that features a woman to class tomorrow/Tuesday. We will be using them for an in-class exercise. These may be any print ad; you can use ads magazines or from the internet if you print them. If you can, bring more than one.
Also do not forget to comment on one of your classmates posts. I will read and grade your posts tomorrow afternoon.
This week's schedule:
I apologize for my lateness today. Thank you very much for waiting. Of course, no one will be marked late or absent for today's class. We did get through a large part of the CONVERGENCE material and will finish up tomorrow before we do Advertising. Wednesday will cover Lessig reading and copyright, including the documentary on Girltalk & Remix Culture.
Notes on the final:
I will send out the study guide for the final tonight and will also post the Internet 3/Convergence class notes (for today and tomorrow) on Black Board in case you wish to use them to study. The second half of Chapter 10 on the Internet will be covered on your final (p. 337-355). We covered the first half of that chapter on Quiz #2.
In terms of readings/preparing for the exam, prioritize Boyd, Jenkins and Lessig over Advertising. As stated earlier, we are cutting out the PR Chapter because of time constraints.
Best,
Sarah Wright
For Tomorrow
I forgot to remind you all to bring an ad that features a woman to class tomorrow/Tuesday. We will be using them for an in-class exercise. These may be any print ad; you can use ads magazines or from the internet if you print them. If you can, bring more than one.
Also do not forget to comment on one of your classmates posts. I will read and grade your posts tomorrow afternoon.
This week's schedule:
I apologize for my lateness today. Thank you very much for waiting. Of course, no one will be marked late or absent for today's class. We did get through a large part of the CONVERGENCE material and will finish up tomorrow before we do Advertising. Wednesday will cover Lessig reading and copyright, including the documentary on Girltalk & Remix Culture.
Notes on the final:
I will send out the study guide for the final tonight and will also post the Internet 3/Convergence class notes (for today and tomorrow) on Black Board in case you wish to use them to study. The second half of Chapter 10 on the Internet will be covered on your final (p. 337-355). We covered the first half of that chapter on Quiz #2.
In terms of readings/preparing for the exam, prioritize Boyd, Jenkins and Lessig over Advertising. As stated earlier, we are cutting out the PR Chapter because of time constraints.
Best,
Sarah Wright
Notes about TV & Minorities Responses
Hi, Students:
We're probably not going to get to talk about your TV and minorities posts, but there were great discussions on the blog and I added comments to several of them.
I wanted to point out two major themes that came up:
1) the question of humor
--for example in shows like THE FAMILY GUY and even live action shows that are using stereotypes for humor
--How do we understand those shows? Are they the same phenomenon as minstrelsy (racism as entertainment)? Is something different about the cultural climate today?
2) questions of segregation / assimilation / tokenism / characters representing their minority group
--for example Charlie, Ross's black girlfriend, on the all-white show FRIENDS
--What does it mean for a show like FRIENDS to introduce a character like Charlie without addressing the social segregation represented on the show? Is it Utopian (creating images of a perfect world in the hopes of manifesting it)? Or does it harmfully mask the very social divides the show embodies?
-- It is very hard to read Chalie without asking how "black" or "white" is she (which necessarily relies on stereotypes). Why is that? What about the way this character is handled essentializes her identity?
As you continue as media consumers, producers and/or scholars, keep these questions in mind and continue looking for evolving examples of how minorities and stereotypes are represented in media. Is it the same old stereotypes in new costumes or are there new paradigms?
We're probably not going to get to talk about your TV and minorities posts, but there were great discussions on the blog and I added comments to several of them.
I wanted to point out two major themes that came up:
1) the question of humor
--for example in shows like THE FAMILY GUY and even live action shows that are using stereotypes for humor
--How do we understand those shows? Are they the same phenomenon as minstrelsy (racism as entertainment)? Is something different about the cultural climate today?
2) questions of segregation / assimilation / tokenism / characters representing their minority group
--for example Charlie, Ross's black girlfriend, on the all-white show FRIENDS
--What does it mean for a show like FRIENDS to introduce a character like Charlie without addressing the social segregation represented on the show? Is it Utopian (creating images of a perfect world in the hopes of manifesting it)? Or does it harmfully mask the very social divides the show embodies?
-- It is very hard to read Chalie without asking how "black" or "white" is she (which necessarily relies on stereotypes). Why is that? What about the way this character is handled essentializes her identity?
As you continue as media consumers, producers and/or scholars, keep these questions in mind and continue looking for evolving examples of how minorities and stereotypes are represented in media. Is it the same old stereotypes in new costumes or are there new paradigms?
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