Thursday, April 23, 2009

Blog # 13 , 04/26/09

Blog# 13, 04/26/09

This week's class discussion on my final paper I have concluded that cell phones are hurting our kids in various different ways, they can be very dangerous on the road while driving or kids can be so engrossed while they are talking on the phone they can easily forget to look around for the traffic and even the child can be in danger of being mugged or someone can steal their cell phone. Kids might be wasting their precious time and their parent’s money while chatting, blogging, playing Internet games, listening to music, cyber bullying, or text messaging on the cell phone. That proves “Cell phones are hurting our kids”and the digital media convergence is very useful at times but it can be harmful especially for children.
On the basis of review of other's studies and articles I have couple of questions:
1). How cell phone's communication making the children lose their their vocabulary, reading and writing skills?
2). Does the iPods and iPhones have adverse affects on children or are they learning new technology to compose different types of music?

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Blog # 12 Readings for 4/28/09

The Aesthetics of Failure: "Post-Digital" Tendencies in Contemporary Computer Music - Kim Cascone

Loving the Ghost in the Machine - Janne Vanhanen

Cascone's article talks mainly about how the Internet helped to bring a new movement, both academically and commercially, in digital music. Cascone further includes how this new movement is affecting the content and form of electronic music. The Negroponte Epigraph inspired her to say that "the revolutionary period of the digital information age has surely passed" (Cascone Pg.8).

The second article, by Janne Vanhanen, illuminates the development of music as its dependency upon digital technology has increased. She defines the "glitch" and asserts that "creative activity...has to approach the outside of thought...one has to court the chaos and worship the glitch" (Vanhanen Pg.3). Vanhanen seems to dislike the development of the music industry, for as music has become more digitized, its quality has decreased. This shift in the perception of music has done away with the expression of music. The specific devices that process provide an accuracy to music that desensitizes any inner meaning that was meant to be there.

Key Points in the Readings:
1.) Post digital aesthetics is developed from all the experiences of computer glitches, applications, , and errors, as mentioned in the first article concerning the "failure" of digital technology (Cascone Pg.2).

2.) Computers have become the main tool for the distribution and exposure of music to the world. This has made the new genre of music universal and has contributed the shift in the perception of music.

3.) The digitized industry of music has devalued the meaning behind artists' works. The availability of new sounds through the computer has deprived music of its depth, and, according to the article, "the changes in music are quantitative instead of qualitative" (Vanhanen Pg.8).

The most challenging concept for me was understanding that ideas can be made available to the world at the speed of light. For someone who has grown up in a time when changes in technology have been normal, it is difficult to see how advanced we have become in a short period of time. This theme of ideas moving at the speed of light is particularly scary because of the globalization that is following.

Discussion Questions

1.) Do you think that Vanhanen's assertion can be countered by saying that music is only changing and not decreasing in value?

2.) Since technology is known to continuously update itself, is Cascone wrong in saying that the "the revolutionary period of the digital information age has surely passed?" (Cascone Pg.8).

This weeks' readings has contributed to my paper because the same problem with cell phones and kids is happening with music and kids. They immerse themselves with their iPods and iPhones and lose touch with the real world. They also become very biased in their idea of music and therefore have no concept of the origins or the values that music is supposed to have.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Blog # 11, Readings for 4/21/09

"Quentin Tarantino's Star Wars? Grassroots Creativity Meets the Media Industry,"
This chapter is about the Star Wars movies which is a great example of media convergence beacause it caught on as a media frenzy which many companies took advantage of to make money.
The integration of Star Wars in our everyday lives has caused us to think of the series not as movies, but as part of our culture.
Three Key Points/Ideas:
1)Companies taking advantage of the hype
2)Dedication of the fans
3)Integration of Star Wars in mainstream culture

In convergence culture, both producers and consumers participate in various different ways. Consumers or the fans get so involved that sometimes they start their own production especially with the help of the internet without realizing the legalities of the situations. Producers worried that consumers were taking over and there was a legal battle whether to penalize the fans who illegally made their own productions or whether they should consider the fans as collaboraters to promote the original production.
Fans get inspired by their favorite show, song, or culture and the deep involvement gives them the ownership towards it. Amateurs take advantage of new technologies to re-emerge the grassroot creations. With the help of the internet, it gets shared by others for fun, to learn, and to bring improved and better material.
Star Wars parodies showed the evolution of amateur film making in both numbers and quality. "The idea that amateur film makers could develop such a global following runs counter to the historical marginilization of grassroots media production," (Jenkins 145).
Star Wars got the popularity of the media for several different reasons. Fan clubs of Star Wars emerged with a multitiude of films and clips affiliated with Star Wars for entertainment, but unfortunately, the amateurs did not receive any profit.
Star Wars is a great example of media convergence working through several different films, clips, plays, videogames, novels, comic books, toys, action figures, costumes, video tapes, and audio tapes. Amateurs are being benefitted by the internet through generating new information to attract the media which in turn brings new talents and innovative developments.
These developments increased so much that as Will Brooker said "Since the internet is growing so fast, we are in the process of developing guidelines for how we can enhance the ability of Star Wars fans to communicate with each other without infringing on Star Wars copyrights and trademarks," (P.155-156). Through Lucasfilms, the fans were given "www.starwars.com" in which the rules and regulations were enforced. However, both the producers and consumers were not sure on which rules should govern them and there was much conflict between the two.
The most challenging concept that I faced was the conflicts between the producers and consumers which I thought was unnecessary. As mentioned by Jenkins "In the end, the media producers need fans just as much as fans need them," (P.173).
Questions:
1)Why was Star Wars chosen as the catalyst for this media frenzy?
2)How did the internet play a role in increasing the hype of Star Wars?
The availability of such Star Wars creations is a problem for children with cell phones. It distracts them from school, homework, and even with spending time with the family. This "gateway drug" effect will cause these children to be so involved in their cell phones, they will be borderline obsessed.

Monday, April 6, 2009

blog # 10, Readings of 4/14/09

Situationism and Media.

Debord, “An Introduction to a Critique of Urban Geography” (1955)
Debord and Wolman, “A User’s guide to Detournement” (1956)
Debord, “The Theory of the Derive” (1958)

The above three articles from this week's readings gave an overview of discovery of new ways,creation of new things, the curiosity to find better ways to do things and the excitement for innovations.
The necessities of life are forcing to discover superior and newer productions,which is converging to new life styles of life.
The main point is whether we like it or not we have to go beyond the previous inspirations to deal with the new changes and innovations.

Key Points:

1. As stated in the article "Psychogeography sets for itself the study of the precise laws and specific effects of the geographical environment, whether consciously organized or not, on the emotions and behavior of individuals." The environment is rapidly changing for instance the invention of automobiles,it is a necessity, convenience and prestige,there is a surplus of cars because everyone's wants to own one, but at the same time people are encouraged to use the public transportation.
The invention of psychogeographical maps is very interesting people blind foldedly follow the maps.

2.Key definitions in the article of Minor détournement,"the détournement of an element which has no importance in itself and which thus draws all its meaning from the new context in which it has been placed". And "the Deceptive détournement, also termed premonitory-proposition détournement, is in contrast the détournement of an intrinsically significant element, which derives a different scope from the new context". Détournement bring changes in common people to become literate to invent and explore new views and advancement in technologies.
There is big impact of détournement shown in films,records,architectural designs, titles,music, gestures and words.

3.The theory of dérive,as descibed in the article,"a technique of rapid passage through varied ambiences. Dérives involve playful-constructive behavior and awareness of psychogeographical effects".
Maps and guides are developed to follow the dierections and penetrate the surrounding views,mind gets easily disoriented if they are riding in a taxi.
The dérive can almost be a therapeutic technique.

The most difficult and challenging part from this week's reading are use of the laws on the détournement. As stated "It is the most distant detourned element which contributes most sharply to the overall impression, and not the elements that directly determine the nature of this impression."

Q.1. What do they mean by cartography in this statement: "Along with various more difficult means of intervention, a renovated cartography seems appropriate for immediate utilization."

Q.2. Why are the last hours of the night are generally unsuitable for dérives as noted in the article.

This week's readings will help in my final paper writing from this statement" The French word détournement means deflection, diversion, rerouting, distortion, misuse, misappropriation, hijacking, or otherwise turning something aside from its normal course or purpose. It has sometimes been translated as “diversion,”.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Blog # 9, 04/07/09 Readings

Article#1: Why the Digital Computer is Dead by Chris Chesher.
The article is showing why the term "digital computer" is outdated because the technology is bringing new electronic gadgets which are widespread everywhere.
The technology is advancing in a very high pace,writer is introducing the concept of invocation media, which could be the combination of history and new technology.
There might be a connection between religion,magical powers and new technology.
The three key points are:
1.Invocation Media
2.Analog Computers
3.Digital Computers

They are defining and comparing the digital and analog computers.As mentioned in the article analog computer used the continuous variations for calculations where as digital computers used the discrete values, which is noticeable in writing.
Digital computers have more advantages to work with stored programs and data,more powerful with large addressable memories and offered language-like command sets as compared to narrower applications use in analog computers.
Nowadays the term "digital"is used for any high tech or computerized media technology,like digital images, digital camera, digital television,digital sound system,etc.
Computer started as an electronic device used for doing time consuming mathematical calculations and statistics, but technology advanced the computer usage for typing a paper, making graphics in power points,millions of Web-sites can provide the world wide information in seconds.
As stated in the article "The theory of invocational media is an attempt to construct a non-representational concept for new media." Author is calling the light and switch as an invocation device. As per article "McLuhan[23] argues that the content of the electric light is what it illuminates: night baseball or brain surgery. Without electric light, these activities could not take place." The other interesting part mentioned is the act of switching could be symbolic as in Christmas tree lighting or any other festive lights, it can be done by someone special or by executioner for someone on electric chair, as mentioned in the article "the moment of switching is an event in itself. The invocatory act has a certain power."

Article #2: "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction by Walter Benjamin' (1936)

According to the article the piece of art is reproducible, but the mechanical reproduction has its own new quality of art.
Similarly in literature,mechanical reproductions in writing can come out differently in printings.
Some pieces of art are unique and authentic,which cannot be reproduced but certain things can be mechanically reproduced in quantities or in bulk but the quality is not guaranteed to be the same.
Art is very subjective it depends how you perceive it.Sometimes there is no originality left in reproduction.

The Three Key Points:

1.The Principle of Work of Art
2.Aura of the Work of Art
3.Comparison of Painting vs photography and Film vs Theater

Articles explains how the woodcut graphic art reproduced mechanically for the first time,engraving and etching were added to woodcut, then started the lithography which got surpassed by photography.All this convergent is taking place because of the new innovations.
The concept of aura refers to historical objects as well as the natural aspects.For the film as mentioned in the article "Consequently, the aura that envelopes the actor vanishes, and with it the aura of the figure he portrays."
Original paintings are the one and only ,they are mechanically reproduced into photography, but they are questioning if photography is an art in itself. As stated in the article "Abel Gance, compares the film hieroglyphs;Or in the words of Severin-Mars; "What art has been granted a dream more poetical and more real at the same time!Approached in this fashion the film might represent an incomparable means of expression".

My most difficult and challenging part was to understand about aura and the Epilogue at the end of the article # 2.

Q.1.How does the mechanical reproduction of art changes the reaction of the masses toward art?

Q.2. Will the art of mechanical reproduction attain a better quality in near future?


This week's reading on high tech or computerized media technology,like digital images, digital camera, digital television,digital sound system,etc.will help me in my final paper writing.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Week 8 Readings Blog # 8

Article #1:
Larry Lessig: How creativity is being strangled by the law:

Larry Lessig is arguing about the copyright issues of the new technology and he is doing comparison of the past culture to the new technology. At the end he came to a conclusion of finding legalized private solution, some sort of balance between the new technology and the culture.
The most significant key points are the broadcasters competition, what Internet is doing, opportunity to revive read and write culture, digital technology used for the revival of vocals.
One key point is user generator content that is spreading in business.
The other key point is celebrating amateur culture,remixes of the old and new songs
The challenging part is the tools of creativity,the tools of speech for our kids, how the kids think and understand the digital technology and change things without the user's consent or permission.
As Larry Lessig talks abuot the important point of growing extremism,which is not considered the right thing. On one side there is new technology, like u-tube and on the other hand is the ignorance and rejection of the copyright's laws. Kids culture and the new technology have to find a neutral balanced solution.

Article#2:
The Changing Face of Workplace Learning.
by Anders Gronstedt:

The article is about learning responsibilities for employees through Podcasting, which is an iPod driven phenomenon. As mentioned in the article " Learners can listen to or watch a podcast from their computers, Black Berrys, smart phones or any other media playing device."
Main point is podcasting is an excellent new convergent technology for training on the go when ever you have a few minutes to utilize constructively, for example while you are walking, driving, or eating.
Key point as mentioned in the article "Almost half of our audience is outside of the United States." The other point is cell phones are extremely popular in Asia and Europe and so is the video iPods and video-enabled cell phones used as"vodcasting".
Another key point as mentioned by the author " most sucessful podcasts are hosted on the blog" that converges into two way communication medium.
The challenge is the workers are spending their own personal time to learn which is taking away someone's private leisure time.
These two articles have reflected some points about the cell phones and the kids that might help me in my final paper.

Questions:

1. What are the limitations of copyrights for the new technology?

2. Is the creation of new technology and fear of breaking the copyright laws discouraging the youth to bring innovative ideas?

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

final paper contd. 2 articles 3/22/09

Article on Adolescent Use of Mobile Phones for Calling and for Sending Text Messages After Lights Out:
By Jan Van Bulck.
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?artid=1978406&blobtype=pdf
This article is about the study done on young adolescents for a year to conclude how mobile phones used at night time when lights are out for making phone calls and for sending or receiving text messages and if this is causing greater level of tiredness in kids.
The key point is the use of cell phones has become such an essential part among kids to use as a modern means of interpersonal and mass communication. Young children are missing the required amount of sleep at night time, while talking and sending or receiving the text messages on cell phone. As stated in the article " Children's bedrooms are connected to global networks through internet access and mobile phones".Kids are being constantly disturbed by so called by the writer "bombing" where different numbers of rings convey different messages, it is becoming a pass time or we can say the waste of time for the kids and on top of that the kids are exposed to biological effects of emissions.As stated in the article "The electromagnetic fields produced by mobile phones, for instance, may have an effect on the sleep electroencephalogram,and evening exposure to mobile phone emissions may affect melatonin production."
In conclusion cell phone use in adolescents is getting very common, the media convergence of cell phones into radio, television, video games, photography and MP3 technologies may increase the use of cell phones at night time, which can relate to greater level of tiredness in adolescents.The article is stating that "The American Academy of Pediatrics has suggested that children's bedrooms ought to be “electronic media-free” rooms."

Article # 2:
Kids and Cell Phones: A Crosswalk Hazard?
From Common Sense Media.http://www.commonsensemedia.org/node/624990
Article is emphasizing on parents to teach their kids not to talk on cell phones while they are on the road. It is more likely the kids can run into traffic accidents while talking or text messaging on the cell phone.
For my thesis statement, cell phones can be very dangerous on the road, kids can be so engrossed while they are talking on the phone they forget to look around for the traffic or even the child can be in danger of being mugged or someone can steal their cell phone.