Media Assignment 2012
Thursday, 26 April 2012
Monday, 26 March 2012
Web 2.0 and YOU!
1. How will emerging technology (ie: blogs, videos, e-readers, e-books) affect literacy?I believe that emerging technology will help improve literacy skills in people. These new kinds of technology will help increase the rate that information is shared. People will be able to learn things much quickly than before these technologies were available. Blogs and videos allow people to easily communicate ideas to one another. E-readers and e-books allow people to conveniently read books without the weight and bulk of a physical book. It also allows people to carry more books around with them wherever they go. This means more people will be able to read whenever and wherever they want, therefore increasing literacy skills.
2. How is Web 2.0 challenging us to "rethink ourselves" (ie: friendships, work, education, community, family, etc...)?
Web 2.0 is challenging us to rethink ourselves because of all the new ways of sharing information. We need to rethink our relationships and friendships with people because of potential privacy issues. Since technology allows information to spread quickly, this could be an issue with privacy because personal pictures, videos, and ideas might be involuntarily shared with other people. We also need to rethink our education because it is very easy to gain access to information with this new technology. We will need to rethink class curriculum and how teachers teach students, incorporating this new technology.
2. How is Web 2.0 challenging us to "rethink ourselves" (ie: friendships, work, education, community, family, etc...)?
Web 2.0 is challenging us to rethink ourselves because of all the new ways of sharing information. We need to rethink our relationships and friendships with people because of potential privacy issues. Since technology allows information to spread quickly, this could be an issue with privacy because personal pictures, videos, and ideas might be involuntarily shared with other people. We also need to rethink our education because it is very easy to gain access to information with this new technology. We will need to rethink class curriculum and how teachers teach students, incorporating this new technology.
Sunday, 18 March 2012
A Look @ Music Videos
The music video that I chose to analyse was "The Scientist" by Coldplay. My initial reaction to the video was awe. I was trying to figure out how they managed to make him appear to be going backwards, but still be able to look like he was singing along to the music. I also liked how nothing really made sense until the very end, so it really made me pay attention to the video. At the end, it kind of showed how everything that led up to it was somehow connected to that event.
I think that the meaning behind the music video also relates to the song meaning. The song is about a person who made a mistake in a relationship and now he wants to go back to the start and change things. He wishes he could explain why he did what he did with "numbers and figures", but he can't because they don't "speak as loud as his heart". I think that this relates to the music video because the music video shows a couple who got into a car accident and the girl ends up dying and the guy just wants to be able to go back in time to change things so they would both be alive. The main theme of the video and the song is that sometimes we want to change what we did, but we can't.
Something that could have influenced the musicians or the director to do this video could be that someone may have experienced a car accident recently, which is why the climax of the video revolves around a car accident. It could be promoting the use of seatbelts, since the character who died was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. I was thinking that it was a bit random how they chose to do a car crash, since the song doesn't have anything to do with car accidents, which is why I think that the main idea inspiration of the video might have something to do with a recent car crash.
I like that the video shows the lead singer walking in reverse because it sort of symbolizes the theme of the song, wanting to go back in time. I also think that the fact that the footage is slowed down helps exaggerate the slower tempo of the song, which makes it seem calmer, softer, and more emotional. The fading transitions also add to the softer effect in the music video.
I think the music video helped me understand the lyrics of the song more, because the lyrics were a bit more poetic and not as straightforward as most songs. I also think that the song compliments the slow and sad tones of the song with an equally...upsetting...music video.
Beauty - Is it Really in the Eye of the Beholder?
1. Why do you think people are portrayed this way in the media?
I think that people are portrayed this way in the media because companies want to sell more products. By showing these images of people with flawless faces and gorgeous bodies, they are making the viewer feel inferior about themselves. These images make the viewer feel as though they need to do something more to themselves to look more beautiful. So they go out and buy products such as makeup and dieting solutions to look more like the people portrayed in the magazines. The more inferior they feel, the more products they buy to make themselves feel better about how they look. This translates to more money for the companies.
2. How are you affected by the images you see?
I don't think that images in the media affect my self esteem directly. I know that people don't really look like that, so I don't find myself wanting to look like them. However, these images do affect me indirectly through my interactions with other people. Some people I know do get influenced by these images in the media and it ends up affecting me. For example, my friend could be feeling the need to change her/himself because of the images they see in the media. This could end up affecting me because the interactions we have might not be the same anymore. Another way that it could affect me is that other people might have higher expectations about how I look, because they have higher standards on appearances.
3. What can be done to reduce the amount of young men and women that are negatively affected by these images?
To reduce the amount of young men and women that are negatively affected by the media, we need to inform them that people don't really look like that. I think we can use the media to send these messages, since the media was what sent the negative messages in the first place. I remember when I was younger, I used to watch a television series called That's So Raven. There was this one episode where Raven was not allowed to model her own creation because she wasn't skinny enough. In the end, Raven gives a speech to the director saying that "People come in all shapes and sizes, and they're all beautiful". I think that people would not be as negatively affected by images in the media if there were more programmes in the media that taught lessons like this.
4. What would your reaction be to a magazine cover where the subject isn’t all glammed up? Is this a possible route that society should take? Why or why not?
I think that it would be interesting to see the story behind why the subject on the cover isn't glammed up. Most magazines show overly-photoshopped people on the cover to catch the attention of the reader. However, a magazine cover with someone who is not "glammed up" would still be able to catch someone's attention because there aren't a lot of magazines with normal people on the cover. Since most covers show images of people who are caked in makeup, our brain would somehow learn to tune out those images since they all look the same. But a cover with an average person on the cover would be something different from all the others.
I think that theoretically, this would be a good route for society to go, but I don't think that it'll happen anytime soon, especially with the new technology coming out that allows people to edit photos of themselves in their own home without having to pay a lot of money.
I think that people are portrayed this way in the media because companies want to sell more products. By showing these images of people with flawless faces and gorgeous bodies, they are making the viewer feel inferior about themselves. These images make the viewer feel as though they need to do something more to themselves to look more beautiful. So they go out and buy products such as makeup and dieting solutions to look more like the people portrayed in the magazines. The more inferior they feel, the more products they buy to make themselves feel better about how they look. This translates to more money for the companies.
2. How are you affected by the images you see?
I don't think that images in the media affect my self esteem directly. I know that people don't really look like that, so I don't find myself wanting to look like them. However, these images do affect me indirectly through my interactions with other people. Some people I know do get influenced by these images in the media and it ends up affecting me. For example, my friend could be feeling the need to change her/himself because of the images they see in the media. This could end up affecting me because the interactions we have might not be the same anymore. Another way that it could affect me is that other people might have higher expectations about how I look, because they have higher standards on appearances.
3. What can be done to reduce the amount of young men and women that are negatively affected by these images?
To reduce the amount of young men and women that are negatively affected by the media, we need to inform them that people don't really look like that. I think we can use the media to send these messages, since the media was what sent the negative messages in the first place. I remember when I was younger, I used to watch a television series called That's So Raven. There was this one episode where Raven was not allowed to model her own creation because she wasn't skinny enough. In the end, Raven gives a speech to the director saying that "People come in all shapes and sizes, and they're all beautiful". I think that people would not be as negatively affected by images in the media if there were more programmes in the media that taught lessons like this.
4. What would your reaction be to a magazine cover where the subject isn’t all glammed up? Is this a possible route that society should take? Why or why not?
I think that it would be interesting to see the story behind why the subject on the cover isn't glammed up. Most magazines show overly-photoshopped people on the cover to catch the attention of the reader. However, a magazine cover with someone who is not "glammed up" would still be able to catch someone's attention because there aren't a lot of magazines with normal people on the cover. Since most covers show images of people who are caked in makeup, our brain would somehow learn to tune out those images since they all look the same. But a cover with an average person on the cover would be something different from all the others.
I think that theoretically, this would be a good route for society to go, but I don't think that it'll happen anytime soon, especially with the new technology coming out that allows people to edit photos of themselves in their own home without having to pay a lot of money.
To Share or not To Share ... That is the Million Dollar Question....
1. What is your personal opinion towards file sharing? Is it right or wrong? Please explain.
Personally, I do not believe that the general idea of file sharing is wrong. When most people think of file sharing, they think of illegally downloading movies and computer programs. This isn't always the case. File sharing is simply the act of sharing information that is stored digitally. This can be something as simple as sharing a picture on Facebook or emailing your essay to your teacher. Almost everyone on the internet has taken part in file sharing, but since it occurs so often, they don't regard it as so. File sharing is only wrong when it hurts someone else greatly, whether it be financially or emotionally.
2. If you produced your own piece of art/song/movie, would you hold the same opinion?
I think that if I produced my own piece of art/song/movie, I would still hold the same opinion. I would be fine with file sharing as long as I am not losing money from it. File sharing is a completely normal act on the internet and can not be stopped. For example, even if I were an artist/musician/film-maker, I would most likely still have an online presence. This would mean I would have a Facebook or use Email to share pictures and files. To say that file sharing is wrong in general would be hypocritical, since I also take part in file sharing through these websites.
3. Do you feel it is morally acceptable to download copyrighted material if it is only intended for personal use?
I feel that sometimes it is morally acceptable to download copyrighted material if it is only intended for personal use. In the past, I have downloaded movies and music that was copyrighted for my own uses because I don't really believe that companies are losing money because of it. To lose money would require you to own the money in the first place. What's really happening is that the companies are losing the potential money that they COULD have had if I were to buy their material. If I was never planning on buying the material in the first place, then they aren't really losing any money, real or potential.
Most people would argue that downloading copyrighted material is just like stealing digital information. I don't agree with this view because I don't think that I'm stealing anything. To steal would mean I am taking something that belongs to them, leaving them with nothing. However, by downloading copyright material, I am only copying something that belongs to them, still leaving them with the original product.
Personally, I do not believe that the general idea of file sharing is wrong. When most people think of file sharing, they think of illegally downloading movies and computer programs. This isn't always the case. File sharing is simply the act of sharing information that is stored digitally. This can be something as simple as sharing a picture on Facebook or emailing your essay to your teacher. Almost everyone on the internet has taken part in file sharing, but since it occurs so often, they don't regard it as so. File sharing is only wrong when it hurts someone else greatly, whether it be financially or emotionally.
2. If you produced your own piece of art/song/movie, would you hold the same opinion?
I think that if I produced my own piece of art/song/movie, I would still hold the same opinion. I would be fine with file sharing as long as I am not losing money from it. File sharing is a completely normal act on the internet and can not be stopped. For example, even if I were an artist/musician/film-maker, I would most likely still have an online presence. This would mean I would have a Facebook or use Email to share pictures and files. To say that file sharing is wrong in general would be hypocritical, since I also take part in file sharing through these websites.
3. Do you feel it is morally acceptable to download copyrighted material if it is only intended for personal use?
I feel that sometimes it is morally acceptable to download copyrighted material if it is only intended for personal use. In the past, I have downloaded movies and music that was copyrighted for my own uses because I don't really believe that companies are losing money because of it. To lose money would require you to own the money in the first place. What's really happening is that the companies are losing the potential money that they COULD have had if I were to buy their material. If I was never planning on buying the material in the first place, then they aren't really losing any money, real or potential.
Most people would argue that downloading copyrighted material is just like stealing digital information. I don't agree with this view because I don't think that I'm stealing anything. To steal would mean I am taking something that belongs to them, leaving them with nothing. However, by downloading copyright material, I am only copying something that belongs to them, still leaving them with the original product.
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
CareerMash: Web Developers & Programmers
As I was searching through the website and reading the definitions of the different types of jobs, I found that I was more suited towards the Builder profile. Builders take the ideas of an innovator and convert it into reality. Of all the Builder jobs, I became interested in the job of a Web Developer. Web Developers use coding, such as HTML and CSS, to bring website concepts to life.
Some requirements needed for this job include knowing different web languages such as HTML and CSS, knowing the different network and file transfer protocols, and are skilled in graphic design and and interfaces. There are different combinations that can lead to a job in web design. Some of these combinations listed on the career mash website include:
Some requirements needed for this job include knowing different web languages such as HTML and CSS, knowing the different network and file transfer protocols, and are skilled in graphic design and and interfaces. There are different combinations that can lead to a job in web design. Some of these combinations listed on the career mash website include:
Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, graphic design, multimedia integration or equivalent training in programming.Chris Barless works as a web developer at Pilot. He programs the codes that allow computers to do "nifty things". He dropped out of university to teach himself programming and pursue his passion. Chris works on artist portfolio websites, databases, websites and apps. His motto is "If you can dream it, you can do it."
Or
College diploma in computer science, multimedia integration, or a related discipline.
Or
Equivalent experience.
Wednesday, 28 September 2011
Texting in Social Situations
Social Situation [soh-shuh-l sich-oo-ey-shuh-n]
Knowing what type of speech is appropriate in different social situations and having the vocabulary we need to speak confidently where ever we are can make us more self assured and comfortable speakers.
When people text during social situations, then I find that it's not social at all, therefore it can not be labelled as a social situation. Most of the time, people pull out their phones during awkward social situations because it's...well, awkward. I think that when people pull out their phones and start texting during awkward silences, it makes everything even more awkward and silent since they won't be contributing to the conversation anymore.
However, I know people can multitask, so I personally don't find it rude when people text while I'm talking. Even though they're not looking, I know that a part of them is still listening to me. On the other hand, this is not always the case with some people. Sometimes, they only focus on their texting and don't pay attention to what I'm talking about. So I shall revise my original statement and say that
In regards to texting in general, there is such a thing as texting improperly. As a bonus, I have come up with five rules for proper texting etiquette:
- D0N'T TYP3 L1K3 TH15. If you couldn't read what that said, then I rest my case. This kind of typing is really annoying, hard to read, and it's so...90s. On top of that, it takes you a lot longer to type since most keyboards will require you to press a "shift" key before you input the numbers. Honestly, no one benefits from this type of typing (Ha, see what I did there?).
- DON'T TYPE IN ALL CAPITALS. Did you just read that as a shout? No? Well, that's how I read capitalized sentences. Even if the person doesn't even mean it to sound like shouting, that's how I read it and how I will always read it. Also it's hard to read on small screens because a single word takes up the entire screen and you have to continually scroll down.
- There's a difference between Your and You're. Didn't know that? Well, now you know. 'Your' is used in the case of possession. Such as "Your blog is so cool, Izza" or "I like your blog". 'You're' is a contraction of 'You' and 'Are'. Such as "You're an awesome blogger, Izza". D'aww, thanks you guys.
BONUS: there's a difference between Their, They're, and There. I'll not go into that one much, but you can all just Google it.
- Dont. Send. After. Every. Word. There should be a filter that inhibits people to send more than 5 texts every minute. I actually do know people who send me a message after every word. Sometimes they send me texts that only contain an emoticon. I find it incredibly annoying, even with my threaded SMS! Imagine how much more annoying it is for people who have to open up each message individually...
- If you don't plan to reply, don't text first. This should be simple, but it's amazing how many people forget to text back. I mean, the person you just texted took time out of their probably very busy schedules to reply to the text you randomly sent them. The least you could do is reply to them. Even if it's just a "thanks".
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