Month: March 2015

Hyper attention and deep attention reading.

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The amount of media that young people are exposed to as created a generation of “hyper attention.” Due to media formats such as smart phones, tablets, and even vast improvements of the technology of laptops has created a generation who multi-task with media consumptions. Whilst writing this very blog- post, my mind is jumping from troubles in my personal life, to wondering if there is brand new content on my favourite websites. When I use my laptop or phone on the internet, I usually have many tabs open, and look at them, then switch to another one when I get bored.
Throughout year 12, I attempted to learn through the “cognitive style” deep attention, however- I often struggled to learn in this frame, as it took concentration to only focus on one task. This single information stream was, at sometimes, exhausting, as I do not have the high tolerance for it (as it mentions in the N. Katherine Hayles text) for extended periods of time. Halyes states that a limitation of hyper attention is that an individual may feel impatience when completing more complex tasks such as reading a complex and classical novel, which did happened at various points in year 12. When studying for the end of year exams, I studied in a hyper attention format, to make sure I studied equal amounts across all subjects, and found this to be useful, but at times- a little bit of an overload of information. I do agree with Hayles in stating that the cognitive model of hyper attention would be considered more useful “for many situations in contemporary developed societies” (Hayles, 2007, pg.188), particularly in regards to working in the field of media.
It has been said for many years that my generation is a generation that is incapable of being bored. But I believe it is more than that- I believe that it is a fear of being bored. I do not like the feeling of it, and have even resorted to packing a book in my bag- worried that I may get bored on long train journeys, despite the fact that I am usually on my phone during the time of the journey. Feeling bored for me feels like a waste of time, and I do anything to avoid it. Unfortunately for me, I am also a classic day-dreamer. I have been since I was a child, and can’t help but day-dream when I am bored, even in the most inconvenient of times to do so.

Goals and plans and the listing of it.

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In the very first lectorial for media studies, we were given the question of what exactly our goals were throughout this course. Although it should of seemed obvious, I struggled to think of ten things that I wanted to learn, due to the fact that the statement of “everything possible” seemed frowned upon.

Overall, my goals are to get a brilliant job and be awesome at it. But in the meantime, I hope this suffices to help share what I want be an expert in after this course.

1/ Become a whiz at editing (both visual and sound.) At this stage, I don’t know much about this area (particularly editing relating to sound) but I hope to learn necessary skills.

2/ Full knowledge of how to operate a camera. I know the very basics of how to work a camera, but I have previously struggled with the technology behind it to improve a photograph (such as the contrast, lighting and shutter speed.)

3/ Learn to use programs such as photoshop and final cut pro. I have only had very basic experience with these programs, and would love to know every detail of these editing programs.

4/ To use a camera strongly. I mean this in terms of lighting equipment and improved use of angles.

5/ How to run a successful blog, particularly with writing skills (hopefully practice makes perfect, eh?) and how to gain audience on a blog.

6/ How to use sound equipment. Because, at this stage, I have no clue what this involves.

7/ Create a network at University.

8/ A better and more knowledgeable understanding of audiences (this is a big one, as it relates strongly to my journalistic goals after Uni, particularly in terms of news broadcasting.)

9/ Relating to goal #8, how to entertain an audience.

10/ For some reason, I wrote down “presentation skills”. At this stage, I don’t remember exactly what I related this to at the time, but I think it is always a good skill.

There we go. Ten goals. I have three years to learn all of this (and I certainly hope that I am successful.) After all of this, is it tacky and cliché to wish myself luck? My guess is no.

Good luck, future Aisha.

 

Workshop day 1 (reflection).

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Despite the fact that the workshop and my very first day of University was nearly two days ago, I am still trying to learn the details of blogging. I find the entire format of blogging almost intimidating, due to the sheer amount of bloggers there are. I have always had an interest in it though, and have had previous (and failed) attempts in the past, always because I didn’t know how to begin. There is also a question of how I can be just as or more interesting than the rest of the uncountable blogs there are out there, or how to learn how to use it successfully. I suppose that we all start somewhere in what we want to do, and that I have full intentions of “mastering” this whole media format. I also hope to find a synonym for the word “blog”, as I fear that I may have overused the word in this measly paragraph.