Overall, I am really pleased and have very much enjoyed completely Media 1. Initially, I was skeptical of what the course would entail as I had had no prior experiences with media and its mediums, or for that matter any previous teachings of the subject. However, the course’s diversity provided a positive learning experience as each task taught me something different about the media industry, expanding my overall knowledge and confidence. When I reflect specifically on what I have learnt, I instantly think of the workshops practicality and its introduction of Premiere Pro and recording instruments such as the H2N Zoom and Sony MC50. On deeper reflection however, I think the most beneficial learning experience derived from the Media Factory blog. When first introduced to the idea of blogging I felt uncomfortable as I was unfamiliar to the process, being more accustomed to traditionalised academic approaches focusing on formal essays. As I had never been or associated myself as a ‘blogger’, previously shying away from the medium due to its mass following and hype, I wouldn’t have been able to preconceive the positive influence or passion it now holds over me. In my first ‘attempt’ and submission of a post , To Blog or Not to Blog… – http://www.mediafactory.org.au/jocelyn-utting/2016/03/07/to-blog-or-not-to-blog/ – I communicate a degree of resistance, paraphrasing Cal Newport’s discussion of the Passion Trap to amateur bloggers’ over-indulge and under qualified ‘assumption to be read’ (Adrian, 2006). However, as time progressed and the nature and structure of my blog started to form a personality reflective of my own, my began to invested more time in it as its ‘always present’ platform appealed to my previously unknown passion for writing. As I became more and more comfortable with the blog’s personalised tone and informal nature, I began expanding on thoughts and opinions (whether be politics, film, art, or Media readings), that previously would have been forgotten. Through the categorisation of entries I saw a pattern of reoccurring themes, demonstrating self-reflectively aspects of media that I found particularly interesting (my ‘Arts N Fart’s’ subcategory holds the most content).
As I began to become familiarised with the blog’s casual and self expressive writing format, it furthered my comprehension and literal sophistication. In ‘A Theory of Visual Form and how it Communicates’ – http://www.mediafactory.org.au/jocelyn-utting/2016/03/08/an-introduction-to-the-theory-of-visual-form-and-how-it-communicates-2/, I discuss Scott McCloud’s Blood in the Gutter comic, which introduced me to the idea of closure which quickly became adopted into my general cognitive perspective. Moving from a previous transmission model understanding of communication of orator and receiver, the readings started to communicate the complexity and interrelating ideas surrounding Media and it’s practises. Therefore, as the semester progressed so did my understanding and view of media, with significant help from Alan McKee’s breaking down of textual analysis, Mr McGee, Alan Mckee and their textual analysis tree– http://www.mediafactory.org.au/jocelyn-utting/2016/04/07/a-beginners-guide-to-textual-analysis/ in conjunction with José van Dijck & Thomas Poell, Making Public Television – http://www.mediafactory.org.au/jocelyn-utting/2016/05/04/making-public-television-jose-van-dijck-thomas-poell/ – discussion about the broadcast to post-broadcast era. Demonstrated through the post Is Mankind – http://www.mediafactory.org.au/jocelyn-utting/wp-admin/post.php?post=281&action=edit – my new textual analysis approach along with historical knowledge about the second age of modernity giving catalyst to neo-liberal ideas, allowed me to further understand Air BnB’s media argument and larger scaled agenda. Thus, the blog became paramount as it provided provided me with a safe and always available platform to practice communicating thought provoking ideas, away from formal marks and public scrutiny.
Project Briefs 2, 3, and 4 have also been a fantastic learning experience within the semester, as the progression of each brief’s expectance of sophistication provided a comfortable learning progression that never felt too over whelming. Although the practicals were initially hard and difficult due to my lack of experience on both the recording instruments and the editing software, the ‘at-home’ style portraits allowed me to dedicate my own time to understanding the programs. By allowing us to create a portrait of both ourself and another person, individually, it assisted in experimenting with techniques and tools that we perhaps could not have done if we were doing group work. Thus, by directing, creating and producing these short films it provided a sense of authenticity to my creativity and creative process. By creating my ownVimeo account and uploaded original film, I experienced a sense of legitimacy catalyst to personal satisfaction and cinematic completion. As i learnt more and more about editing and filming I became more aware of cinematic techniques exposed to us contextually, heightening confidence when it came to reviewing films (a passion I have had for years).
Overall, I have learnt that a creative process shouldn’t be categorised or thought about as a singular practise of knowledge. Instead, I approach my creative process through the acceptance of experimentation and ‘trying new things’. This interpretation is due to the semesters diversity, which as proven to me that even though you might be hesitant towards a media practise initially, you could end up really enjoying it, celebrating creativity through a previously unknown medium.
Miles, Adrian. “Blogs in Media Education: A Beginning.” Australian Screen Ed.41 (2006): 66-9