WEEK 5 LECTURE:
Consumption: (Consumers)
Big Screens
• Cinema (PASSIVE, COMMUNAL)
• TV (PASSIVE, COMMUNAL)
• Computer (ACTIVE)
• Internet (ACTIVE)
Production:
Small Screens (Convergence)
• Mobile Phones (ACTIVE, PERSONAL)
• Apple i-pod (ACTIVE, PERSONAL)
People are not just consumers anymore, thanks to convergence, computers, and internet for example, people are now becoming producers as well.
Due to the internet and smart mobile phones with video capabilities there has been a rise in citizen journalism. (However this can create problems as people are not always honest when reporting the facts)
CNN iReport – Citizen journalist’s upload their stories to this website and CNN vetted any that they confirmed as true.
Fan edit – People download and re-edit their favourite films, sometimes into a different type of genre.
This weeks Tutespark:
What is considered to be the first Culture Jam?
One can attempt to trace the roots of culture jamming in medieval carnival, which Mikhail Bakhtin interpreted as a subversion of the social hierarchy (in Rabelais and his World). Mark Dery's New York Times article on culture jamming, "The Merry Pranksters And the Art of the Hoax"[14] was the first mention, in the mainstream media, of the phenomenon. More recent precursors might include: the media-savvy agit-prop of the anti-Nazi photomonteur John Heartfield, the sociopolitical street theater and staged media events of '60s radicals such as Abbie Hoffman, the German concept of Spaßguerilla, and in the Situationist International (SI) of the 1960s. The SI first compared its own activities to radio jamming in 1968, when it proposed the use of guerrilla communication within mass media to sow confusion within the dominant culture.
Find the most influential Jam?
One particularly influential group that was active in Europe called themselves the Situationists and was led by Guy Debord. Their main argument was based on the idea that in the past humans dealt with life and the consumer market directly. They argued that this spontaneous way of life was slowly deteriorating as a direct result of the new "modern" way of life. Situationalists saw everything from television to radio as a threat[3].
What was the most damaging Jam?
The most famous recent example being an intrusion by an adult pornographic channel that was briefly shown to viewers who were watching the Super Bowl.
OR
The 1986 Captain Midnight incident occurred after the US TV channel HBO began to charge viewers $12.95 per month to access its programming. There were numerous reasons why this was seen by many as a bad deal, and many campaigners called for tighter regulation of the cable and satellite TV industry in order to stop anti-competitive pricing. On April 27th, a satellite engineer named John R. MacDougall working in Florida interrupted HBO's broadcast of 'The Falcon and the Snowman' with a four-and-a-half minute broadcast of a text message that read 'Good evening HBO from Captain Midnight. $12.95 a month? No way! Showtime / Movie Channel Beware!'.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Week 4 - Tute Task
This week for the Tute-task we must answer the following questions:
1.Where and when did usable online video start? (provide some refs. and an example if possible)
A: Youtube's official birthday is Feb 14th 2005, however the first video uploaded on it was on April 23rd 2005 and was shot by Yakov Lapitsky, it was titled 'Me at the Zoo' and featured one of YouTube’s founders, Jawed Karim, at the San Diego Zoo.
Here is the link to view the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNQXAC9IVRw
Here is another link to some information on online videos history:
http://dembot.com/post/310798115/a-decade-in-history-of-online-video
2.In the lecture we heard about technological innovations that were used by the studios to lure audiences. (mostly to combat the popularity of TV) What recent innovations are being used to lure us in the movies?
A: There are tons of different ways movie marketing experts are using to lure us to the movies, however one of the most recent ways is via the internet.
When the first movie trailer is released an official website promoting the movie usually follows it which allows visitors multiple ways of viewing the trailer, as well as behind the scenes interviews, mini-documentaries, read plot synopses, download cell-phone ring tones and desktop wallpapers, play games, chat in forums and even pre-order tickets. However this is just the start of their internet marketing strategy. For more information visit the following link:
http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/movie-marketing2.htm
What are they luring us from?
A: Perhaps the recent release of 3D TV is the latest problem movie marketers face in luring us away from our TV screens e.g. - http://www.dlp.com/hdtv/dlp-features/3d-hdtv.aspx.
Another common problem is also the threat of illegally downloaded pirated movies from the internet. More than a third of Australians admit they either illegally download movies off the internet or have thought about doing so. http://www.news.com.au/technology/third-of-australians-admits-they-download-movies-illegally/story-e6frfro0-1225786870239.
However despite all these potential blockbuster killers, movie sales are still strong.
This may be because at the end of the day going to the movies still has not entirely been replaced by TV. There is nothing that can compare to the sound, size, and atmosphere of the big screen, not to mention that the newest releases are displayed in better quality than any pirated movie downloaded from the net.
3. Are short films still being made?
A: Of course short films are still being made. The evidence is all over the internet.
HERE IS AN FUNNY EXAMPLE OF A SHORT FILM:
Who pays for them to be made?
A: You have to have a rich client who pays you to make a short film... To be part of that world, you need to have a track record of making great short films.
Why do they do it?
A: Getting down to earth, those who make short films do it:
--For love, not money.
--As a contemporary form of dynamic self-expression; in the old days you were stuck with writing short stories and articles, and submitting photographs for publication. (However, even though "short" it takes a group of dedicated individuals, a team, to make a memorable short film; exceptions to this are rare.)
--To get experience in all aspects of film-making to prepare them for making long films or for getting paid jobs in the industry.
--To submit to film fests and contests, to win modest monetery awards and get buzzed by cool non-monetery awards (e.g., Audience Best Award), and maybe to be discovered.
--To spend all the money they made when engaged in doing other creative and non-creative commercial video work, e.g., events, infomercials, local commercials (all satisfying in their own way; and paying well if you are organized and business savvy and charge what you are worth...)
Here is the link http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/short-films
4.The term viral is thrown about adhoc but what does it mean in film/movie arena? Give some examples.
A viral video is one that becomes popular by being shared online, generally through video websites and email. They usually contain humour and special visual effects. The difference between a typical viral video and a viral video in the film/movie arena is that a general viral video is usually an unknown person doing something really silly and posting it on Youtube, compared to a directed and produced short film that has gone viral.
Here is a mix of typical 2008 viral videos edited together to create a single video:
Here is an example of a viral video made for the film/movie arena:
5. Online video distribution isn't limited to the short film format. We are now starting to see television styled shows made solely for internet release (webisodes). Find an example of this style of content and discuss how viewing television content in this way can positively and negatively affect the viewer's experience.
A webisode is a short episode which airs initially as Internet television, either download or stream as opposed to first airing on broadcast or cable television. The format can be used as a preview, a promotion, as part of a collection of shorts, or a commercial. A webisode can be part of an already established drama or series or it may consist of entirely original material. Depending on its purpose, the webisode may or may not be considered a part of an established program's continuity.
When using the internet to watch a movie or webisode our attention span is shorter than if we were watching TV. This is because we have more control of what we want to watch. Whereas if we are watching TV at home and there is nothing interesting on any channel, we still find ourselves watching one of the channels. This may be due to the tendency to relax when sitting in front of the TV.
Here is a link to watch webisodes of 'Heroes', which is also a popular TV show.
http://www.nbc.com/heroes/Webisodes/
1.Where and when did usable online video start? (provide some refs. and an example if possible)
A: Youtube's official birthday is Feb 14th 2005, however the first video uploaded on it was on April 23rd 2005 and was shot by Yakov Lapitsky, it was titled 'Me at the Zoo' and featured one of YouTube’s founders, Jawed Karim, at the San Diego Zoo.
Here is the link to view the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNQXAC9IVRw
Here is another link to some information on online videos history:
http://dembot.com/post/310798115/a-decade-in-history-of-online-video
2.In the lecture we heard about technological innovations that were used by the studios to lure audiences. (mostly to combat the popularity of TV) What recent innovations are being used to lure us in the movies?
A: There are tons of different ways movie marketing experts are using to lure us to the movies, however one of the most recent ways is via the internet.
When the first movie trailer is released an official website promoting the movie usually follows it which allows visitors multiple ways of viewing the trailer, as well as behind the scenes interviews, mini-documentaries, read plot synopses, download cell-phone ring tones and desktop wallpapers, play games, chat in forums and even pre-order tickets. However this is just the start of their internet marketing strategy. For more information visit the following link:
http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/movie-marketing2.htm
What are they luring us from?
A: Perhaps the recent release of 3D TV is the latest problem movie marketers face in luring us away from our TV screens e.g. - http://www.dlp.com/hdtv/dlp-features/3d-hdtv.aspx.
Another common problem is also the threat of illegally downloaded pirated movies from the internet. More than a third of Australians admit they either illegally download movies off the internet or have thought about doing so. http://www.news.com.au/technology/third-of-australians-admits-they-download-movies-illegally/story-e6frfro0-1225786870239.
However despite all these potential blockbuster killers, movie sales are still strong.
This may be because at the end of the day going to the movies still has not entirely been replaced by TV. There is nothing that can compare to the sound, size, and atmosphere of the big screen, not to mention that the newest releases are displayed in better quality than any pirated movie downloaded from the net.
3. Are short films still being made?
A: Of course short films are still being made. The evidence is all over the internet.
HERE IS AN FUNNY EXAMPLE OF A SHORT FILM:
Who pays for them to be made?
A: You have to have a rich client who pays you to make a short film... To be part of that world, you need to have a track record of making great short films.
Why do they do it?
A: Getting down to earth, those who make short films do it:
--For love, not money.
--As a contemporary form of dynamic self-expression; in the old days you were stuck with writing short stories and articles, and submitting photographs for publication. (However, even though "short" it takes a group of dedicated individuals, a team, to make a memorable short film; exceptions to this are rare.)
--To get experience in all aspects of film-making to prepare them for making long films or for getting paid jobs in the industry.
--To submit to film fests and contests, to win modest monetery awards and get buzzed by cool non-monetery awards (e.g., Audience Best Award), and maybe to be discovered.
--To spend all the money they made when engaged in doing other creative and non-creative commercial video work, e.g., events, infomercials, local commercials (all satisfying in their own way; and paying well if you are organized and business savvy and charge what you are worth...)
Here is the link http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/short-films
4.The term viral is thrown about adhoc but what does it mean in film/movie arena? Give some examples.
A viral video is one that becomes popular by being shared online, generally through video websites and email. They usually contain humour and special visual effects. The difference between a typical viral video and a viral video in the film/movie arena is that a general viral video is usually an unknown person doing something really silly and posting it on Youtube, compared to a directed and produced short film that has gone viral.
Here is a mix of typical 2008 viral videos edited together to create a single video:
Here is an example of a viral video made for the film/movie arena:
5. Online video distribution isn't limited to the short film format. We are now starting to see television styled shows made solely for internet release (webisodes). Find an example of this style of content and discuss how viewing television content in this way can positively and negatively affect the viewer's experience.
A webisode is a short episode which airs initially as Internet television, either download or stream as opposed to first airing on broadcast or cable television. The format can be used as a preview, a promotion, as part of a collection of shorts, or a commercial. A webisode can be part of an already established drama or series or it may consist of entirely original material. Depending on its purpose, the webisode may or may not be considered a part of an established program's continuity.
When using the internet to watch a movie or webisode our attention span is shorter than if we were watching TV. This is because we have more control of what we want to watch. Whereas if we are watching TV at home and there is nothing interesting on any channel, we still find ourselves watching one of the channels. This may be due to the tendency to relax when sitting in front of the TV.
Here is a link to watch webisodes of 'Heroes', which is also a popular TV show.
http://www.nbc.com/heroes/Webisodes/
Week 4 - Response to Lecture
This weeks lecture focused solely on the history of film. Our lecturer designed a cool 3D time line which he used to take us on a journey in time from the birth of the first cinema in Paris on December the 28th 1895, right through to the introduction of the first movie made completely for VHS in 1985. Although this was not the complete history of the movie we were forced to stop at 1985 due to running out of time.
Some of the other historically important film landmarks that were also discussed were:
- 1903 The First Narrative Film by Edwin S. Porter.
- 1906 The first full length feature film - ‘The Story of the Kelly Gang’ by Charles Tait.
- 1913 The birth of the studio system.
- 1921 The introduction of experimental sound to film.
- 1923 ‘The Ten Commandments’- Most expensive film made in Technicolor.
- 1927 Birth of the Talkies (the end of the silent era). First motion picture with dialogue.
- 1929 First 100% natural color, talking, singing, dancing picture.
- 1929 The first academy awards were announced (Oscars).
- June 6th 1933, The first drive in movie theater was built at Camden New Jersey.
- 1937 First full length feature film
- 1939 The first rival to film – television – was formally introduced at the New York World’s fair in Queens.
- 1939 The greatest year in film history.
- 1952 3D TV was invented. The first feature length 3D film was ‘Bwana Devil’
- 1953 The B Movie
- 1955 Movies on TV became a reality.
- 1956 Video killed the Radio Star (The first VCR).
- 1963 The first multiplex cinema was opened.
- 1963 The first consumer version of the VCR was released.
- 1966 Star Trek was born.
- 1967 Sony introduced the first black and white portable video camera.
- 1968 First independent mainstream film to be distributed to American audiences.
- 1969 The Video cassette recorder was introduced.
- 1970 The first IMAX cinema was built (birth of the really big screen).
- 1971 The first Blockbuster film - ‘Billy Jack’
- 1978 The Video Laser Disk was invented (They were as big as Records).
- 1981 MTV was created.
- 1985 First film to be made straight to video.
This is obviously not the end of film history however we were unable to continue due to running out of time in the lecture.
TUTESPARK:
We want you to find some short films (3 please) that were made for internet distibution/viewing.
They can be from any genre, any style, but please can they have some sort of story. Not just a quirky funny instance that became viral...
Yes a actual attempt at short film.
They can be from any website, not just youtube.
You should comment on what you think makes them good or what made them good at the time.
Why they became, or will become, popular.
Please embed them into your blog. If that is not possible then a link will do.
Some of the other historically important film landmarks that were also discussed were:
- 1903 The First Narrative Film by Edwin S. Porter.
- 1906 The first full length feature film - ‘The Story of the Kelly Gang’ by Charles Tait.
- 1913 The birth of the studio system.
- 1921 The introduction of experimental sound to film.
- 1923 ‘The Ten Commandments’- Most expensive film made in Technicolor.
- 1927 Birth of the Talkies (the end of the silent era). First motion picture with dialogue.
- 1929 First 100% natural color, talking, singing, dancing picture.
- 1929 The first academy awards were announced (Oscars).
- June 6th 1933, The first drive in movie theater was built at Camden New Jersey.
- 1937 First full length feature film
- 1939 The first rival to film – television – was formally introduced at the New York World’s fair in Queens.
- 1939 The greatest year in film history.
- 1952 3D TV was invented. The first feature length 3D film was ‘Bwana Devil’
- 1953 The B Movie
- 1955 Movies on TV became a reality.
- 1956 Video killed the Radio Star (The first VCR).
- 1963 The first multiplex cinema was opened.
- 1963 The first consumer version of the VCR was released.
- 1966 Star Trek was born.
- 1967 Sony introduced the first black and white portable video camera.
- 1968 First independent mainstream film to be distributed to American audiences.
- 1969 The Video cassette recorder was introduced.
- 1970 The first IMAX cinema was built (birth of the really big screen).
- 1971 The first Blockbuster film - ‘Billy Jack’
- 1978 The Video Laser Disk was invented (They were as big as Records).
- 1981 MTV was created.
- 1985 First film to be made straight to video.
This is obviously not the end of film history however we were unable to continue due to running out of time in the lecture.
TUTESPARK:
We want you to find some short films (3 please) that were made for internet distibution/viewing.
They can be from any genre, any style, but please can they have some sort of story. Not just a quirky funny instance that became viral...
Yes a actual attempt at short film.
They can be from any website, not just youtube.
You should comment on what you think makes them good or what made them good at the time.
Why they became, or will become, popular.
Please embed them into your blog. If that is not possible then a link will do.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Week 3 - Response to Lecture
This week our lecture was based on a short history of computers and the internet.
We learned that there is not one sole individual responsible for creating the computer, however one of the first people responsible was Charles Babbage. Here is a excerpt from the lectures notes:
"The computer has its origins in various adding machines, most notably Charles Babbage's 19th century Difference Engine which was designed to calculate and print mathematical tables. Babbage was aided in his wonderings about the Analytical Engine by an aristocratic woman with a creative approach to mathematics, Ada Byron, Lady Lovelace."
Turing studied quantum mechanics, probability, logic at Cambridge University and wrote a crucial paper clarifying the computability of numbers and the possibility of a machine to compute them, On Computable Numbers. During the Second Word War, Turing worked at Bletchley Park, where with teams of mathematicians and cryptographers to devise the first working computer,The Bombe which they used to break secret German 'Enigma' codes. After the War, Turing investigated programming, neural nets, and the prospects for artificial intelligence.
We also leaned that computers were first commercially produced by IBM in the 1950's. The first generation of computers were large, unwieldy and expensive machines for military, government and corporate work but it quickly became apparent that computers would get smaller, quicker and less expensive at an exponential rate.
Consequently we then went on to discuss Apple, Microsoft, and Xerox PARC. All played key roles in the creation of the computer.
TUTESPARK:
The Tutespark for week 3 is to find at least 3 (three) examples of digital devices that are not electronic.
Preferably they should be communication technologies.
To help with your search you should define:- digital, analogue, communication and electronic
Please supply references.
Include some pictures.
TUTESPARK:
The Tutespark for week 3 is to find at least 3 (three) examples of digital devices that are not electronic.
Preferably they should be communication technologies.
To help with your search you should define:- digital, analogue, communication and electronic
Please supply references.
Include some pictures.
Week 3 - Tute Task
So this week for the Tutespark task we have a number of questions that we must answer without using Google or Wikipedia to help us answer them, they are:
- The machine is 95 meters high and 215 meters long (almost 2.5 football fields in length)
- Weight is 45,500 tons (that's equivalent to a bumper to bumper line of jeeps 80 miles long)
- It took 5 years to design and manufacture at a cost of $100 million
- Maximum digging speed is 10 meters per minute
- Can move more than 76,000 cubic meters of coal, rock, and earth per day
The details can be viewed on the following website:
2. What is the best way (quickest, most reliable) to contact Ozzy Osborne?
3. When and what was the first example of global digital communication?
4. What is the cheapest form of travel from the Gold Coast to Melbourne?
5. Who is Hatsune Miku? What company does she belong to? What is her birthday?
6. Find a live webcam in Antarctica. Find a place to stay in Antarctica.
Places to stay: There virtually are none unless you want to stay at a research station in which case there are a few, but I found one station that seems to accommodate guests and is rated at five stars. Its called the Polish Antarctic Station Arctowski and it is located on King George Island.
King George Island is the largest of the South Shetland Islands. Russia, China, Korea, Poland, Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina have all built research stations here. You may have an opportunity to visit one of these stations, where researchers welcome you with descriptions of their projects and a firsthand look at life in the Antarctic.
There are numerous international research stations on this island including the Polish Arctowski Station and the Brazilian Ferraz Station Admiralty Bay. On the western side there are Russian, Chilean, Chinese, Korean, and Uruguayan stations. A visit to one or more stations is often possible with an opportunity to meet the researchers.
7. What song was top of the Australian pop charts this week in 1980?
A: Lipps Inc "Funkytown" was the number one song in the Australian Kent Music Report on the 11th of August 1980. Here is the Link:
8. How would you define the term 'nano technology'? In your own words, what does it really mean?
9. What type of camera is used to make ‘Google Street View’?
The type of camera used is a Dodeca 2360 Camera System and was created and designed by a company called 'Immersive Media'.
Here is a link for more details and pictures of the camera:
10. Translate these questions into Klingon.
Q1: nuq 'oH [the] [weight] vo' [the] [world’s] [biggest] [machine] chay' 'ar ta'ta' 'oH [cost] Daq chen
Q2: nuq 'oH [the] [best] [way] [quickest] HochHom [reliable] Daq [contact] [Ozzy] [Osborne]
Q3: ghorgh 'ej nuq ghaHta' [the] wa'DIch [example] vo' [global] [digital] [communication]
Q4: nuq 'oH [the] [cheapest] [form] vo' [travel] vo' [the] SuD baS [Coast] Daq [Melbourne]
Q5: 'Iv 'oH [Hatsune] [Miku] nuq [company] ta'taH ghaH [belong] Daq nuq 'oH Daj qoS
Q6: tu' [a] yIn [webcam] Daq [Antarctica] tu' [a] Daq Daq [stay] Daq [Antarctica]
Q7: nuq bom ghaHta' [top] vo' [the] [Australian] [pop] [charts] vam [week] Daq
Q8:chay' [would] SoH [define] [the] [term] ['nano] [technology'] Daq lIj ghaj mu'mey nuq ta'taH 'oH [really] [mean]
Q9: nuq [type] vo' [camera] 'oH [used] Daq chenmoH [‘Google] [Street] [View’]
Q10: [Translate] Dochvammey [questions] Daq tlhIngan
Here's the link to the Klingon Translator:
P.S All these answers were found on Bing and not Google or Wikipedia.
Week 2 - Response to Lecture
This weeks lecture was based on the following topic: Cine-Speak Learning the Language of the Cinema
Firstly we learned about the different shot sizes used for film:
Shot Sizes
VLS/WS: Very LS/Wide Shot
LS: Long Shot
MLS: Medium LS
MS: Mid Shot
MCU: Medium CU
CU: Close Up
BCU: Big CU
ECU: Extreme CU
We then learned how each different shot size relates to a specific point the producers want the audience to grasp when watching the film:
Who?
The Close Up answers the question of ‘who’, by showing our character in detail.
What?
The Mid Shot answers the ‘what’ question by showing your subject performing an action
Where?
The Long Shot is our answer to the ‘where’ question, at the beginning of a scene it is also known as the Establishing Shot.
When?
Both the Wide Shot and the Close Up can help us answer the ‘when’ question. Time can be a difficult thing to capture on the screen.
Why?
The Big Close Up can help answer the ‘why’ question, usually by revealing more about a character & their actions.
How?
A single Medium Close Up or a series of Close Ups can explain an event and answer the ‘how’ question.
We then learned about head room, good talking room, the rule of thirds, and the 180 degree rule.
In very simple terms the camera must be positioned in the correct spot depending on the position of the actor and what he/she is doing.
For example, good talking room means that the actor be positioned on the right hand side of the screen when facing to the right or vise versa, This enables the actor good talking space on the camera.
Good head room simply means the actors head is not cut out of the shot, and is represented properly in the frame.
The rule of thirds means braking up the film screen into thirds to allow for central placement of the actors face.
180° rule is a basic guideline in film making that states that two characters (or other elements) in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line. The new shot, from the opposite side, is known as a reverse angle.
Consequently all this information we learned in the lecture was for our tutespark task for the week which required us to create a video using our mobile phone cameras.
The final result of this video can be seen in the following blog.
Firstly we learned about the different shot sizes used for film:
Shot Sizes
VLS/WS: Very LS/Wide Shot
LS: Long Shot
MLS: Medium LS
MS: Mid Shot
MCU: Medium CU
CU: Close Up
BCU: Big CU
ECU: Extreme CU
We then learned how each different shot size relates to a specific point the producers want the audience to grasp when watching the film:
Who?
The Close Up answers the question of ‘who’, by showing our character in detail.
What?
The Mid Shot answers the ‘what’ question by showing your subject performing an action
Where?
The Long Shot is our answer to the ‘where’ question, at the beginning of a scene it is also known as the Establishing Shot.
When?
Both the Wide Shot and the Close Up can help us answer the ‘when’ question. Time can be a difficult thing to capture on the screen.
Why?
The Big Close Up can help answer the ‘why’ question, usually by revealing more about a character & their actions.
How?
A single Medium Close Up or a series of Close Ups can explain an event and answer the ‘how’ question.
We then learned about head room, good talking room, the rule of thirds, and the 180 degree rule.
In very simple terms the camera must be positioned in the correct spot depending on the position of the actor and what he/she is doing.
For example, good talking room means that the actor be positioned on the right hand side of the screen when facing to the right or vise versa, This enables the actor good talking space on the camera.
Good head room simply means the actors head is not cut out of the shot, and is represented properly in the frame.
The rule of thirds means braking up the film screen into thirds to allow for central placement of the actors face.
180° rule is a basic guideline in film making that states that two characters (or other elements) in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line. The new shot, from the opposite side, is known as a reverse angle.
Consequently all this information we learned in the lecture was for our tutespark task for the week which required us to create a video using our mobile phone cameras.
The final result of this video can be seen in the following blog.
Week 2 - Tute Task
For this weeks Tute Task we had to make a video using our mobile phone camera and then post it on You-tube. We were split into groups and assigned topics. Our topic was Trapped, here is the final result in all its glory:
Week 1 - Response to Lecture
Semester 2 2010, New Communications and Technologies Lecture:
So for our first lecture we got to meet our two new lecturers who seem like cool guys who know heaps about new communication technologies. While attempting to make jokes they also told us what we would be learning about this semester.
We were asked to define communication and technology in our own words before then attempting to classify the differences between analog and digital technologies.
We learned that Analog technology functions by representing various forces (through dials) and the relatively imprecise modulation of those forces.
While digital technology relies on storing bits of binary information (whether the current of electricity or light in on or off) and allows for the precise modification of forces.
Consequently we then went on to discuss the more recent convergence of certain technologies and what the future may hold for further convergence of these and new technologies. It was also hinted that convergence may be a topic that will be discussed and studied in more depth later in the semester.
We then had to think of some examples of old communication technologies such as:
• Oral (Storytelling)
• Graphic (Cave Drawings)
• Written (Letters, Articles, Books)
• Radio
• Television
Examples of new communication technologies:
• Mobile Phones (SMS/MMS)
• Computers The Internet E-Mail
• Message Boards & Discussion Lists
• IM (MSN Messenger etc)
• Blogging
• YouTube, Flickr Twitter
• Social Networking (Facebook, MySpace etc)
The tutespark for week 1 was then given to us:
How do we distinguish between old and new communication technologies?
The old media communication technologies are traditional means of communication and expression that have existed since before the advent of the new medium of the Internet. Industries that are generally considered part of the old media are broadcast and cable television, radio, movie and music studios, newspapers, magazines, booksand most print publications.
Under what circumstances will new communication technologies become old communication technologies?
Many of the old media industries mentioned earlier are now less profitable than they used to be and this is has been attributed to the growth of the new media.
So for our first lecture we got to meet our two new lecturers who seem like cool guys who know heaps about new communication technologies. While attempting to make jokes they also told us what we would be learning about this semester.
We were asked to define communication and technology in our own words before then attempting to classify the differences between analog and digital technologies.
We learned that Analog technology functions by representing various forces (through dials) and the relatively imprecise modulation of those forces.
While digital technology relies on storing bits of binary information (whether the current of electricity or light in on or off) and allows for the precise modification of forces.
Consequently we then went on to discuss the more recent convergence of certain technologies and what the future may hold for further convergence of these and new technologies. It was also hinted that convergence may be a topic that will be discussed and studied in more depth later in the semester.
We then had to think of some examples of old communication technologies such as:
• Oral (Storytelling)
• Graphic (Cave Drawings)
• Written (Letters, Articles, Books)
• Radio
• Television
Examples of new communication technologies:
• Mobile Phones (SMS/MMS)
• Computers The Internet E-Mail
• Message Boards & Discussion Lists
• IM (MSN Messenger etc)
• Blogging
• YouTube, Flickr Twitter
• Social Networking (Facebook, MySpace etc)
The tutespark for week 1 was then given to us:
How do we distinguish between old and new communication technologies?
What is Old Media Communication Technology?
The old media communication technologies are traditional means of communication and expression that have existed since before the advent of the new medium of the Internet. Industries that are generally considered part of the old media are broadcast and cable television, radio, movie and music studios, newspapers, magazines, booksand most print publications.
What is New Media Communication Technology?
Although there are several ways that New Media may be described, The New Media Reader edited by Wardrip-Fruin and Montfort defines New Media by using eight simple and concise propositions:[4]- New Media versus Cyberculture - Cyberculture is the study of various social phenomena that are associated with the Internet and network communications (blogs, online multi-player gaming), whereas New Media is concerned more with cultural objects and paradigms (digital to analog television, iPhones).
- New Media as Computer Technology Used as a Distribution Platform - New Media are the cultural objects which use digital computer technology for distribution and exhibition. e.g. (at least for now) Internet, Web sites, computer multimedia, Blu-ray disks etc. The problem with this is that the definition must be revised every few years. The term "new media" will not be "new" anymore, as most forms of culture will be distributed through computers.
- New Media as Digital Data Controlled by Software - The language of New Media is based on the assumption that, in fact, all cultural objects that rely on digital representation and computer-based delivery do share a number of common qualities. New media is reduced to digital data that can be manipulated by software as any other data. Now media operations can create several versions of the same object. An example is an image stored as matrix data which can be manipulated and altered according to the additional algorithms implemented, such as color inversion, gray-scaling, sharpening, rasterizing, etc.
- New Media as the Mix Between Existing Cultural Conventions and the Conventions of Software - "New Media today can be understood as the mix between older cultural conventions for data representation, access, and manipulation and newer conventions of data representation, access, and manipulation. The "old" data are representations of visual reality and human experience, and the "new" data is numerical data. The computer is kept out of the key "creative" decisions, and is delegated to the position of a technician." e.g. In film, software is used in some areas of production, in others are created using computer animation.
- New Media as the Aesthetics that Accompanies the Early Stage of Every New Modern Media and Communication Technology - "While ideological tropes indeed seem to be reappearing rather regularly, many aesthetic strategies may reappear two or three times...In order for this approach to be truly useful it would be insufficient to simple name the strategies and tropes and to record the moments of their appearance; instead, we would have to develop a much more comprehensive analysis which would correlate the history of technology with social, political, and economical histories or the modern period."
- New Media as Faster Execution of Algorithms Previously Executed Manually or through Other Technologies - Computers are a huge speed-up of what were previously manual techniques. e.g. calculators. "Dramatically speeding up the execution makes possible previously non-existent representational technique." This also makes possible of many new forms of media art such as interactive multimedia and computer games. "On one level, a modern digital computer is just a faster calculator, we should not ignore it's other identity: that of a cybernetic control device."
- New Media as the Encoding of Modernist Avant-Garde; New Media as Metamedia - Manovich declares that the 1920s are more relevant to New Media than any other time period. Meta-media coincides with postmodernism in that they both rework old work rather than create new work. New media avant-garde "is about new ways of accessing and manipulating information" (e.g. hypermedia, databases, search engines, etc.). Meta-media is an example of how quantity can change into quality as in new media technology and manipulation techniques can "recode modernist aesthetics into a very different postmodern aesthetics."
- New Media as Parallel Articulation of Similar Ideas in Post-WWII Art and Modern Computing - Post WWII Art or "combinatorics" involves creating images by systematically changing a single parameter. This leads to the creation or remarkably similar images and spatial structures. "This illustrates that algorithms, this essential part of new media, do not depend on technology, but can be executed by humans."
Under what circumstances will new communication technologies become old communication technologies?
Many of the old media industries mentioned earlier are now less profitable than they used to be and this is has been attributed to the growth of the new media.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Week 1 Tute Task - My First Ever Blog!
Okay so this is my first ever blog and to be honest its not something that I was excited about doing hence the reason why I put it off for two weeks before finally overcoming my indignation at having to share my thoughts and feelings with a bloody computer.
I guess I should stop rambling and introduce myself, My name is Reuben, I'm a 22 year old male studying a Bachelor of Journalism at Griffith University on the Gold Coast, which consequently is one of the reasons why I've been forced (ha ha) to start up my own blog as per the request of my new communications and technologies tutor.
About me: I love sport, its my passion, and my dream is to hopefully one day write for a sports magazine. I am also a strong believer in 'being the best you can be' which is a motto I also try to apply to my personal life. I think sport brings out the best (and sometimes the worst) in people, which is why its such an addictive activity to participate in as well as watch, photograph, and write about.
My two favorite sports of all time are dirt bike riding and surfing, however I love all types of sport and usually the only thing that stops me participating in them all is time and money and sometimes both. I also love working out at the gym, hanging with mates and family, partying/clubbing, and would also love to travel the world some day.
Hopefully by successfully finishing my Journalism Degree it will help me to land a great job as a sports journalist and achieve some of my life goals. Bring on Semester two 2010!
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