I’ve noticed mixed reactions following this trailer release

Merrin’s “Studying Me-dia: The Problem of Method in a Post-Broadcast Age” was an interesting read. I found the combination of new media concepts and dense text a challenging duo, but once I got some thorough notes and paraphrasing going, it was pretty straight forward.

The intriguing issues, such as; the dispersal, accumulation and generalisability of post-broadcast media as preposed by Merrin, inspired me to try and think of some possible solutions. However I don’t have enough knowledge to actually resolve anything yet.

I am looking forward to learning more so that for future, I can actively participate in problem-solving as I’m reading.

Dorian Concept- Ann River, Mn

I cannot believe, as an avid documentary fan, it’s taken me this long to watch Blackfish (2013). It is truly harrowing. The film focuses on the controversy of killer whales kept in captivity, not only revealing the truly horrendous conditions these creatures face, but also the consequences (they and their trainers ) endured from doing so. The omission of graphic footage makes for easier viewing, however the atrocious facts and implied cruelty is still heart-wrenching. Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite decided to make it after taking her kids to Sea World, thus leading to the films rhetorical function in its attempt to persuade its audience to boycott the theme park.

The tie with Sea World particularly effected me. I grew up with a love of the ocean and even visited the Gold Coast park with family. Ever since I remember I’ve been obsessed with the sea and the creatures within it. I always dreamed of being a dolphin trainer, especially at sea world, thinking I’d be helping the animals, completely naive to the cruelty and inhumanity involved. That can be the issue with animal industries, they are skilled with masking barbarism but further more frightful in the strength of their appeal to youth through “cute” and “happy” creatures. As I have matured, I have tried to become aware of the world (still in that process) and less ignorant of what is going on within these industries. I don’t support any form of animal entertainment and the film’s tagline, “Never capture what you can’t control” sort of illustrates this notion.

Slightly off topic; but in line with this, recently, I’ve noticed that I am possibly on the slow path to veganism. I’ve seen more and more documentaries relating to how humans unnecessarily treat animals and the earth thus it seems only a natural journey given the things I’ve seen. Among these, I highly recommend “Food Inc.” and “Cowspiracy” if you’re interested in broadening your mind as to where the food we eat actually comes from. Often we’re deceived by products labelled “farm fresh” and “organic” as it can be hard to regulate what constitutes these terms. I would love to ramble-for-hours but I believe there is truth to the saying “We are what we eat” and personally like educating myself further on the matter. I understand a lot of people want to remain blissfully ignorant, taking the view that there are so any horrors and injustices in the world that individually cannot be stopped (so why expose myself to more horror and feel even more guilt)… But every choice, however “small”, does count.

If you have not seen Blackfish, I’d love if you would even begin watching it and let me know what you think.

Media consumption is everywhere. In just the small area I sampled of Melbourne’s CBD for Media lecture 2, in and around the state library, I noticed varying forms and usages. The most common forms of media I saw were smart phones and devices, particularly Apple products such as: iPhones, iPads and iPods.

Above eye-level (up high) I could see advertisements on shops and trams, a film poster of Margo Robbie for “Focus” (although it omitted the title), children’s book festival banners and exhibition signs hanging around the outside of the library.

On the ground I saw flashing “open” signs designed to gage attention, people crouching with cameras to take photos.

At eye level I saw many, many people on their iPhones, listening to their iPods, there were branded t-shirts and also a Tibetan demonstration was happening on the steps

In the background I saw people reading books and magazines, gazing at exhibition signs and statues to read the text, I smelt and saw people eating McDonalds, I heard traditional tibetan songs (that must have been well-known as all were singing along) there were also signs hanging around the protesters necks to raise awareness and commemorate the lives of tibetans whom have self-immolated and died in protest to China.

In the foreground/ In my hand I was given a pamphlet about the tibetan protests after I spoke with one of the leaders in order to gain more insight, I saw a big chess board (to encourage social face-to-face interaction? An element of pre-modern media consumption?) and I also saw many information brochures inside the library.

As an avid reader of popular forums such as Mama Mia, but also an eager beaver when it comes to “filling out this quick survey to go into the draw to win a trip to Turkey”, I foolishly have assisted to ruin one of the LESS (not un-totally) biased blogging sites I enjoy. I completed a survey on Mama Mia one day completely overlooking the fact that I may be assisting advertisers to create promoted posts (queue horror music)

I answered questions such as “Who are you most likely to trust when it comes to people recommending products to you?…

1. Mama Mia writers
2. Advertising Campaigns on TV
3. Shop Assistants…”

I should have seen it from the get-go. Advertisers, much like other media platforms, have needed to converge and modify the way they sell products due to a shift in technology use. I’ve noticed an increase in online surveys, asking the most likely ways you’ll try a product. The issue I’ve found with this is that we, (well, maybe just I?) look to online submissions from people on blogs or forums as honest, impartial opinions. I concentrate on what other people say, collating their words against my own prior experiences and views. I do often take in information from others if I am unfamiliar on a topic or product, and those looking to sell know this.

All I want from forums is to read unbiased, personal text. Now it appears that every post I read on Mama Mia, on the rare occasions that I ever do these days; is sponsored by Target, Proactive or Lorna Jane Active wear. Seeing the tagline “This post is promoted by…” hidden away at the bottom literally obliterates any chance of me trusting the person writing. So annoying.

#FirstWorldProblem

I attended the sensory wonderland of “Maitreya Festival” over the long weekend. Highly, highly recommend. Spent 3 glorious days in the sun surrounded by a captivating concoction of music, open-air, camping, glitter and dust. For days, I walked around in mud-blocks-for-shoes but being a barefoot ‘boog-ier felt so good. Maitreya exceeded expectations. The vibrancy of the art, music and food was absolutely charming. I loved that I could look around and everyone’s clothes, or lack of, and despite the contrast, everyone seemed to feel accepted in his or her own way.

I got the vibe that the festival’s identity promotes individuality and a ‘do what you feel’ philosophy, but it still bought me back to an idea from my Popular Culture class the past week.

Sociologist Sarah Thornton’s case study, found in Interrogating Popular Culture (2015) by Stacey Takacs, deals with club cultures and discusses masses drifting from the so-called “popular” music identity in society, and how this drift can become a group identity in itself, in terms of dress sense and interests. Thornton says race and class have little impact on the shape of club communities. Different people can be welcomed as long as do many things as well as perceive themselves as apposed to the mainstream. This identification as an alternative to mainstream society is what interested me. Although Maitreya implied everyone was included, I did get to thinking about whether (for example) a festival-goer straight from Stereosonic or a Taylor Swift concert (vastly different styles of music) would feel like they belonged in that crowd also? I’d like to think so, but I’m unsure.

Anyway, fab festival xx

Can I just say, even as a bit of a leftie, Julie Bishop killed it on Q&A last night.

What an articulate, stimulating ALL-FEMALE-FOR-THE-FIRST-TIME-EVER panel that ABC featured last night’s show for International Women’s Day episode. All female, and all empowering.

… For both blog post and Media Lectures! About time hey? A week later than intended but it’s taken time to kick this butt into university gear. However, good things can take time, and now I can proudly say my brain seems all set for the year ahead.

Riveting would not be the best word used to describe the first media lecture as it was filled with the same admin stuff as all of the others. However, I found the text we read, Hyper and Deep Attention: The Generational Divide in Cognitive Modes (By N. Katherine Hayles) quite interesting. I noticed that I possessed definite “skills” in the hyper attention span; one of the ability to switch tasks rapidly (on purpose or unintentionally) and having a low tolerance for mundane tasks. Was rad to learn that I would make a great air traffic controller. As I read further though, about the contrasting deep attention span, I became aware of the fact that, ironically, for most of the lecture I had been constantly checking my phone/ laptop, blissfully disengaging myself from the deep attention span needed to take in information. It took a lot of restraint to not use my devices after that. I decided to try concentrate on learning and listening… But the more I thought about them, the more I wanted to use them.

I don’t know if it’s a personal addiction or a generational thing. But everyone around me ALSO seemed glued to his or her social media screens, whether Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. It got me thinking that seemingly it’s more obsessive for younger and younger people growing up surrounded by technology. I’ve noticed toddlers with iPads; 8 year old kids with Facebook, let alone the fact that my younger brother can be using up to 3 or 4 media screens at a time and is “most definitely using all of them”. So much more to elaborate on, but let’s leave it at…It’s crazy.

ANYWAY I digress, I don’t know how long these things are meant to be. I know media is constantly changing, and the platforms we use to learn academically (the Internet, in contrast to say, books) is also shifting, but I don’t want to let myself be distracted by the social (aka fun) aspects that come with technology… So, as a goal, I’ve decided to turn my phone off before lectures and tutes.