I've started a second blog! It has been around for a few weeks and I have been tweaking and tinkering, but there are some starting posts, featuring the beginnings of my series, Brociology.
If you've heard the term 'bromance' or have watched the show How I Met Your Mother, you'll appreciate what I have and will be talking about. Check it out!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Midterm Reflection
1. Because of the ideas in this course I have started to view media in an entirely new way. That's what I've learned. I was watching Katt Williams do stand up recently and thought, 'Who writes these jokes? Is this all his material? How much improvisation is involved?' I was questioning the ownership of the material and the program itself, and that questioning showed me how I've been changing from this course.
2. As a critical reader I've realized that it is important to consider the stories that are not being told. Taking something at face value can be deceptive and influential in ways that you might not have intended.
As a writer I need to remember that I'm writing for an audience, not just for myself. I have to make the transition from private to public.
As a thinker I've began to consider why something is being shown, not just what is being shown. I'm now thinking about who owns this and what message it is really showing. I wonder what demographics a commercial is appealing to and judge if it does it well or not.
3. I would've liked Twitter to be introduced from the start. I read an article that said 79% of twitter accounts don't have more than 10 tweets, so the network seems to be largely used as a news feed from whoever you want. If the class is engaged in this the entire course they may find some of the ideas of the course reflected in the community of twitter and Web 2.0.
4. I don't know what the agenda is for the rest of the semester, but I would like to learn about historical and/or current events that are contributing to the massive changes and technological advancements of the 21st century media culture.
5. The course blog is an easier-to-use version of Angel in some ways. It is quite easy to clarify what is due when by going to the blog. It is especially effective because the posting order compliments the structure of a class.
Hilliard's book has been great so far. It is great as showing rather than just telling as well as makes several allusions that give its readers (students mostly) some more familiarity. The videos shown have been great and have served their purpose quit well every time.
As for the personal blog, this is a good way to keep the work done organized as well as introduce students to the blogosphere. It allows students to customize the feel of their assignments with the many tools available as well as gives them/us something to look back to with ease.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Last Party on Earth (With John Stamos!) - Media Meditation #3
| Jokes.com | ||||
| Nick Swardson - My Funeral | ||||
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This is one of my favorite stand up bits. Comedian Nick Swardson is a big hit on the stand up comedy scene. This is an older skit of his, posted to Comedy Central's web base in '06. It's hilarious. I wanted to see how stand-up comedy stands-up against the four media tool sets.
My triune brain was triggered mostly in the neocortex. I had to keep up with the joke and the continuous funnies. My limbic brain is calmed by his attire and the serene glow of the stage. His voice is entertaining and nonthreatening, allowing me to relax and enjoy. In a reptilian reaction, my brain would jump at the sudden burst of laughter from the audience.
The eight shifts are dominantly relevant when looking at the discursive shift. Stand up comedy is almost always subjective. The whole profession is people telling their personal take on topics to an audience. Each comedian is a prime example of a shift from objective focuses to subjective expressions.
The economic shift offers some interesting thoughts. This routine by Nick Swardson is owned by somebody. How often this is exposed on public programming is based not on how hilarious or acutally clever it is, but rather how many numbers it rakes in.
Through a technological scope, stand up comedy used to be mostly an act to be seen in person. It was televised swiftly, but now we can see it archived and archived on websites, ready to be streamed at the user's will.
The seven princples further the understanding of this stand up comedy. Individual meaning is a big player in this medium's effectiveness. If you share his take on funerals, you'll love him. If you like to party, you'll like this skit. If you remember John Stamos, you'll like the skit. He covers a wide range of areas that viewers can relate to so that there is more potential for engagement.
Emotional transfers happen often in this industry. Laughter, in this case, is derived from a good thought - something funny. The comedian can transfer his funny ideas into your mind, causing the same reaction. He also talks about dying in the beginning which is a topic that whirls up much deeper and more spiritual thinking.
Production techniques are used mainly by the comedian himself. He dresses with the audience in mind. Nick Swardson has a nice looking outfit on, but it is casual enough that he doesn't look too professional in order to reflect the environment he wants to create. Everything he says is made to build a story where the climax is a hilarious occurrence or realization.
The several persuasive techniques shed some light on the nature of this bit.
Humor is the dominant technique of persuasion. It is the focus and central point of this videos creation. Swardson is there to make people laugh.
Nostaliga is induced when he talks about John Stamos. Anybody who appreciates the kind of humor he is using will probably know John Stamos from Full House. He was in his prime awhile before Nick Swardson, so this is a throw back for appreciative audience members.
Hyperbole. One case where this is used is the scenario of paying John Stamos to come to your funeral and cry. This is a ridiculous, but not entirely unrealistic, thing to do.
Nick Swardson uses timing in his delivery of a joke to enhance the effect. He builds up the supporting information in quick succession and then, after a lull, suddenly says a big, unexpected event or realization that makes everything hilarious.
Warm fuzzies: He is a pretty nonthreatening looking guy with a nice looking outfit. His voice is kicked back and soothing in a way.
There are several elements of this performance that are often under the radar for viewers. These viewers have one thing in mind: Be entertained. By asking the questions these tool sets guide you to, you can gain some perspective on what is being made, for what reasons, and what is effective.
Feeding the Fish - Media Meditation #2
Fish is a gadget that is available for any Blogger blog. It is a little window on the side of your blog that has virtual fish swimming in virtual water. It is a fairly appealing activity to engage in every so often.How does it work, you ask? Click in the water and food will appear. The fish will eat it! That's it - easy and fun.
One might question why this is an entertaining thing to do. What better way to answer that question than to apply the four media tool sets?
My triune brain is touched in a few different ways. The limbic part of my brain enjoys the colors of the fish and the ripples in the water. My neocortex enjoys possible the obedience of the fish as well as the control over their sustenance. Also it might appreciate the fishes' forever reliable you-give-it-I'll-eat-it way of life. There aren't many surprises, so my reptilian brain is somewhat silent. If a fish takes a quick turn or something, I might be a little freaked out.
The eight shifts of our advancing world can be seen even in a simple little application like this.
The personal shift is seen in the digital act of owning fish. We're always trying to make things easier for ourselves, so this application takes away the cleaning and maintenance of a real fish and lets you just feed it and watch it obey your every whim! Now the people who can't own a natural fish can own several digital fish!
The economic shift is subtle yet real in this application. This was created by a group that had one of two desires in mind: Create a fish simulation that is appealing and easy; or make something mindless that people will use, hopefully resulting in monetary compensation. No matter how small and seemingly unattended something may seem, it still might have ties to profiting somebodies.
Seven principles of media analysis, much like the eight shifts, offer guidance and structure in thinking about being exposed to media. Ownership immediately comes to mind with this. As seen in the economic shift, somebody might actively own this, taking statistics on how many downloads it gets, how many uses it gets, and anything else that might garner a greater profit.
This application, while greatly simple, may hold varying individual meanings and value messages. Someone who did not get to have a real fish might find some joy in this simulation, gaining greater appreciation than somebody who had or has a fish to appreciate in real life. Some people might just bask in their own glory, watching the fish obey limitlessly, always eating when told to.
Careful, though. There is a certain reality being constructed by this fishy fun (pun.)(rhyme!). Owning a fish is not this easy! You have to attend it on a schedule, remaining consistent instead of having the fish work around your schedule. Also, ten fish can not fit in a window no bigger than a standard playing card. No, they will not maintain a perfectly clean tank all on their own!
Even though this gadget is simple in nature, offering only one function, it contains a few persuasive techniques that were put in place for a reason.
Warm Fuzzies. The fish swim in a docile fashion and can be colored however the user wants. The user will probably pick a color that is appealing, not frightening.
Bribery. Feeding the fish has never been easier! Click once!
Simple Solutions. See Bribery.
Symbols. This could be a protest against blind obedience! These fish just eat and eat, having no will of their own. They cannot say, "I will not eat that food." It could also be a symbol of a caring person giving sustenance to their fellow beings.
In this end, this gadget probably doesn't serve as an alternative to pets for most people. It is a fun flavor to have on a blog and some people might find a little pleasure in the absolute dominion of the fish, but it is still a small tool intended to keep people on the page so that they may catch something of interest while they feed the fish!
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