The Birth of a Remix
25 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: consumerism, mashup, remix, video
My video remix deals with issues caused by consumerism. I used a combination of still images, sound clips, and videos to show how consumerism has changed American and affected families.
I implemented the still images chronologically. I tried to show a “then and now” effect. I used older looking, black and white images representing togetherness that took place before consumer culture became mainstream. The image that goes from the old to new is a black and white TV. The TV could have been the beginning of the end for “good old fashioned family values.” This image then changes into a thrift store selling cheap old time furniture. I used a transition between these images because a transition took place in American culture.
From here the images are self explanatory, each representing causes and effects of consumerism. My favorite image is probably the one of the little boy trying to get his dad’s attention, but the dad is too busy on his laptop. This image shows the decline of family togetherness. I think the final image is powerful because it shows that (some) children have changed, now relying on TV and junk food instead of playing outside and eating healthy. The Ken Burns on this image was meant to show that children are the same, but their surroundings have changed. At the end, this image fades to black as the comedian says, “all the stuff all the time, that you can’t get away from.” I think this creates a lasting image for viewers because it leaves the future of children from a consumerist culture up in the air.
I used a piano instrumental version of a Counting Crows song, Colorblind as the background music. It is playing quietly throughout the whole video so that the other sound clips can be heard without distraction. This song is generally sad and fits the nostalgic feel of my video. I used sound clips from Jack Cafferty commenting on family values in the political sphere. I thought the brief snippets of his voice sounded grim and fit the mood of the piece. Near the end I used a sound clip from a comedian ranting about consumerism. I thought it would be fitting to add this bit of black comedy into the video.
One video clip was an old time home movie of a father playing with his children. This shows the ideal 1950′s American family. The other video clip I used shows Times Square at night. The video pans the area, showing the excess of people and stores. I chose this clip to show that people really admire Times Square (enough to be excited enough to videotape it) and put it on a pedestal.
Tradition vs. Technology
14 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: Creative Commons, Lessig, mashup, remix
Lessig claims that using various bits of information from already published texts to write a research paper is no different than using music/video/image samples to make a creative work. I agree with this idea, but many (usually the original artist or creator) do not.
I think the intent of mashups and remixes are not fully understood by some people. The creators of remixes are not trying to “steal” someone’s work and call it their own. They are trying to create something fresh and new that can be enjoyed by people who liked the original work and also appeal to a different audience.
When people write research papers, they give credit to original authors by using citations. Citations seem to automatically make it okay to use another person’s work. Is this only true for research papers? Why can’t remix artists use citations and not be criticized for stealing someone else’s work?
I think the answer has to do with new technologies. The internet allows people to share a lot more than just text, from images to sound files and everything in between. People are not ready to give up what they have worked so hard to create. Videos, and even digital images, are a relatively new concept in the grand scheme of things. People want to be able to have the right to say, “this is mine.”
While I can see the reasoning behind thinking this way, I have another opinion. What happens to an old song that no one listens to, or a trendy music video that is extremely popular for three weeks and is then forgotten about? These things seem to fall of the face of the earth. With the use of remixes and mashups, old media can be brought back to life and seen in a different light.
Creative Commons is a site that allows users to find and share media that is licensed for different uses.
Who Does Twitter Make Us Become?
05 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: Facebook, Identity, Jennifer Sandlin, Richard Freishtat, social networking, Twitter
Twitter allows users to share various types of information rapidly, from what they are having for lunch to information about the newest flu vaccine. The above image shows a tweet from CNN about the Egypt elections and a tweet from Tony Hawk updating his followers on his planned activities for the day. While these two tweets share totally different information, there are people highly interested in reading each one. Tony Hawk has a little over 2 million followers, while CNN breaking news has almost 4 million.
Why are so many people using this social networking site? The news stories posted by CNN can be easily seen on TV, along with information about certain celebrities. The answer has to do with the accessibility of Twitter and the openness it allows users to feel.
Twitter is much less personal than other sites, such as Facebook, because it doesn’t ask users for information that will be displayed for other users to see (favorites music, hobbies, etc). Twitter simply gives users a space where they can share quick, concise bits of information. This can actually allow users to open up more and share their true opinions.
Scholars Richard Freishtat and Jennifer Sandlin point out that sites like Facebook have certain rules that unknowingly shape the identities of users. Facebook states that users aren’t allowed to create more than one account, impersonate people, or create false representation of themselves.
From the tweet shown above, it is easy to see that users have more freedom on Twitter. There are less limitations for account creation and creativity. I think Freishtat and Sandlin would be more open to Twitter’s interface because instead of being inhibited, users are encouraged to be themselves (or whoever they want to be). Twitter allows users to share opinions more freely because of a less confrontational audience. Users log on to Twitter knowing that others will be speaking their minds, so they seem less likely to judge.
Faceless Facebook
01 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: Facebook, Jennifer Sandlin, Richard Freishtat, social networking
With the dawn of the social networking era, Facebook has taken the digital world by storm. It knows all of our information, from our cell phone numbers to where we went last Saturday. What is this blue and white god beckoning us to spend pointless hours in front of our computer screens? Why are we so willing to tell it everything it wants to know?
Scholars Richard Freishtat and Jennifer Sandlin argue that Facebook “uses a rhetoric of control to attract, maintain, and discipline users, and to help shape a public environment that appears to foster, but in fact is hostile to deliberative possibilities” (515-514).
Facebook’s attempts to gain users’ trust by falsely promising them control over their own information have been quite successful, since everyone who’s anyone has a profile. This surprises me (a little) because users can’t even personalize their profiles. Everyone has to use the same generic Facebook layout, fitting themselves into the blue and white mold. Users can control what they “like,” as far as music, TV, movies, books, etc, but this information is in turn used to bombard home pages with ads. I guess this is Facebook’s version of personalization. It is odd that people are so open with their information on the site. It is different than physically telling someone a phone number, users simply type their number and then others can see it. It seems less personal, so this makes people feel safer.
Facebook gives its users a place to share information and make connections. After taking a closer look at the Freishtat and Sandlin article, I conclude that Facebook is essentially a cyber landlord. It gives users a place to live, but not for free. Users are expected to moderate the site by reporting inappropriate content, harassment, or fake profiles. Is this really a win-win situation? You tell me, Facebook users.
Writeboard vs. Google Docs
25 Jan 2011 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: Bryan Alexander, Google Docs, Web 2.0, Writeboard
Writeboard is a free site that allows users to work collaboratively on a document and share it on a web. A password is created for each document, and whoever has access to the password also has access to the document. Writeboard alerts users when a change has been made to the document, and changes are highlighted in green so they are easy to recognize. Users don’t have to go through the hassle of creating an account, they simply have to create the document. The site boasts many different uses for its interface; from writing songs to drafting a new Constitution.
Google Docs is similar to Writeboard in that it allows users to work together on a project without being in the same place at the same time. It is free, but does require an account for use. This doesn’t seem to be much of an issue since Google is extremely mainstream these days. Unlike Writeboard, Google Docs allows users to work on much more than text-based documents. Some examples include presentations, spreadsheets, and drawings. Google Docs also allows users to easily access their documents on the go by using their cell phones. Users are also able to import files, protect spreadsheets, and translate languages.
Both sites are free to use and do not have many hoops for users to jump through. Their interfaces are user-friendly, and both feature instructional videos. If a user is looking to simply edit a text document collaboratively and track changes, Writeboard would certainly be sufficient. Google Docs has more options for what a user can create, so this might be a better choice for a business owner or team of employees. All documents, spreadsheets, and presentations could be easily saved and accessed by everyone who has the account information. Both sites have many positive aspects, and their degrees of usefulness really depend on how they will be implemented.
Hello world!
24 Jan 2011 1 Comment
Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!
