An interactive Documentary is the potential documentary experience when performed by the user. Users should engage with online and collaborative media! Through this tool (a set of affordance) of ‘interactivity’, we can create each shot has meaning and is edited together to create coherence for viewers. Software performances are used to build interactive sites and applications. They increase efficiencies and productivity, while also providing new forms of play and creativity.Although Software is a creative artefact, it demonstrates the importance of co-creation through interactive documentary form.

Nakita xx

This weeks networked media reading covers the ideas behind design conceptions in relation to the minds psychology.

Natural signs can create natural designs through VISIBILITY, AFFORDANCE, CONCEPTUAL MODELS, MAPPING and FEEDBACK.

An appearance of a device provides critical clues in order for the user to decode the products function. With a presence of Feedback technicians are able to improve designs in order to fulfil the users wishes in how to use the product effectively. Affordances are the properties they can form interaction  between technology and the user.

Nakita xx

In this week’s networked media readings I realised how important videos are on the internet. They account for 70% of all internet traffic. Viewers lapp up over over 800,000 minutes of video that flow over the internet per second each day.

A list of how to achieve the best videos on different Social Media platforms

FACEBOOK

• sharing videos natively
• focus on the first few settings
• use subtitles (silent video on newsfeed)
• Shorter videos
• Be Unique
• Answer questions
• Emotional Content is highly engaging
• Interesting status
• Add a CTA (CALL TO ACTION)

INSTAGRAM

• Share ‘behind the scenes’ content
• Humanise your brand (make it personal)
• Showcase the product experience

SNAPCHAT

• Use FOMO (THE FEAR OF MISSING OUT)
• Inspire action
• Be brief
• Go Vertical
• Real Time (raw content)

TWITTER

• Feature people
• Showcase product
• Tell a story
• Add Drama
• Partner with influencers
• Keep mobile in mind
• Add a CTA (CALL TO ACTION)

VINE

• Use stop motion
• Explain how to do something
• Be Creative
• Entertain

YOUTUBE

• Make them irresistibly shareable
• Teach viewers
• Opt for longer videos
• Add a CTA (CALL TO ACTION)

Youtube and other videos online require participation.

Nakita xx

‘Media is more often than not consumed for the sake of consuming, than it is produced’

 

Media is regarded as a communication tool with potential to produce new material to progress society (Gauntlet, 2015). However Media is more often than not consumed for the sake of consuming, than it is produced. The term ‘Mass Media’ associates computers, internet, mobile phones and newspaper. All of which are the available media platforms provided in society today. Interaction online has changed sufficiently over the years from Web 1.0 being a one way void of communication to Web 2.0 featuring Social media, enabling a two- way communication for users. Similarly to the lack of Web 1.0, Broadcast media isn’t regarded as the commonly used consumption of media anymore, as Social Media has now become the new mainstream. It is this new media that heavily consumes the population as it’s a source that caters to every individual online. However when first established it functioned as a platform to author material to benefit society (Murphie and Potts, 2003) but through the addition of social media, many users neglect it’s original purpose. Users are found to consume this media as it’s an accessible and immediate platform with diversified information for the sake of consuming.

 

Thorstein Veblen’s Technological Determinism theory suggests that technology is the agent of Social change (Murphie and Potts, 2003). Furthermore explored through my own practice of this theory through documentation of media consumption; authoring blog posts, snapchat streaks, snapchat story, snapchat messaging, private messaging and UBER ordering (Podreka,2017).However my authoring of media list wasn’t very long and didn’t contribute much towards society in order to evoke a ‘cultural shock’. My media usage however reflected Virilio’s theory on the Technologies of Speed depicting a world taken over machines as we begin to disappear (Murphie and Potts, 2003). Evident in the list of Social Media I had consumed within a week; youtube videos, university readings, listening to songs on Soundcloud, scrolling through Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest newsfeed etc. (Podreka, 2017). Through my experimentation of Media, I deciphered that my use of media wasn’t following the original purpose of media to produce influential material, I consumed this new, online media to keep up to date with my external environment (friends, family, the rest of the world) or to escape boredom through entertainment. Therefore I only consumed these platforms for the sake of consuming.

 

Consumption of Media occurred more frequently than my own authoring, curating, distributing/ contributing of media. I was consuming media every day, for long periods of time and through a lot of different platforms eg. Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram etc. This took up majority of my day. When I walked the streets I was always listening to music off Soundcloud, I couldn’t walk without some form of media embracing me. I woke up every morning needing to fulfill my daily chore of sending streaks on my Snapchat. Eager to keep this streak alive for the sake of fulfilling this unnecessary goal. The stress and fear of losing a streak was not needed. Therefore everything I do revolves around media, in ways that don’t benefit me or anyone in any retrospect but I only consume this media for the sake of belonging in society, to feel no judgement and conform to society. I didn’t encounter many issues as I’m pretty well accustomed with the forms of media I use. The only issue I did face was an internal issue as I disliked how often I used media and the reasoning behind my media use. However I did like how vast ‘media’ is and how it caters for every individual. Limitations do occur however to online publishing as it can accumulate many forms of judgement, false accusations or fear within the author. In Contrast there are strengths being it is a place where opinions can be voiced within a community and it’s a system based off communication. Through my own documentation my voice online was established through blogging and I communicated through many platforms, however felt that I was judged and this created fear. However the main revelation I had was that my voice online wasn’t drastic I didn’t go out of my way to author media material. I was consuming media for the sake of consuming, to fit in and evoke belonging.
Media is constantly consumed rather than produced, through a fear of being judged and to evoke a sense of belonging. However a more in depth research about how media affects others and how it can cultivate society, including examples of people similar to me that have done so, this could of made the essay more developed and stronger.Through my media consumption, I was able to maximise the utility of these platforms eg. Using Instagram to like photos, comment on photos and tag my followers in photos. However I didn’t realise how encompassing my media use was. It consumed me to the point where going on social media felt like a daily chore I had to attend to in order to fit into societies routine and through this action I wouldn’t be in fear of being judged. Therefore I was my media was all consuming, I consume for the sake of consume because that was the mainstream. I wasn’t authoring any media material to benefit others. I was just trying to fit the norm of ‘media’ use to obey an unspoken societal guideline.

References

Gauntlet, D., 2015. The Creativity turn in Media and Communication Studies. Making Media Studies, pp.7-12.

Loh, T., 2017. Social Networks, Web 1.0 and 2.0. [online] coursera. Available at: <https://www.coursera.org/learn/social-media-pr/lecture/NN9rH/social-networks-web-1-0-and-2-0> [Accessed 31 Mar. 2017].

Murphie, A. and Potts, J., 2003. Theoretical Frameworks. Culture and Technology, pp.11-38.

Podreka, N., 2017. Media Consumption Day 1. [Blog] Nakita Podreka. Available at: <http://www.mediafactory.org.au/nakita-podreka/2017/03/21/media-consumption-day-1/> [Accessed 31 Mar. 2017].

Podreka, N., 2017. Media Consumption Day 2. [Blog] Nakita Podreka. Available at: <http://www.mediafactory.org.au/nakita-podreka/2017/03/22/media-consumption-day-2/> [Accessed 31 Mar. 2017].

Podreka, N., 2017. Media Consumption Day 3. [Blog] Nakita Podreka. Available at: <http://www.mediafactory.org.au/nakita-podreka/2017/03/23/media-consumption-day-3/> [Accessed 31 Mar. 2017].

Podreka, N., 2017. Media Consumption Day 4. [Blog] Nakita Podreka. Available at: <http://www.mediafactory.org.au/nakita-podreka/2017/03/24/media-consumption-day-4/> [Accessed 31 Mar. 2017].

Podreka, N., 2017. Media Consumption Day 5. [Blog] Nakita Podreka. Available at: <http://www.mediafactory.org.au/nakita-podreka/2017/03/25/media-consumption-day-5/> [Accessed 31 Mar. 2017].

Podreka, N., 2017. Media Consumption Day 6. [Blog] Nakita Podreka. Available at: <http://www.mediafactory.org.au/nakita-podreka/2017/03/26/media-consumption-day-6/> [Accessed 31 Mar. 2017].

Podreka, N., 2017. Media Consumption Day 7. [Blog] Nakita Podreka. Available at: <http://www.mediafactory.org.au/nakita-podreka/2017/03/27/media-consumption-day-7/> [Accessed 31 Mar. 2017].

What is missing in the journey you took with the documentation process?

What I thought was missing was probably media attached to my blog posts specifically about what I had watched, what I had listened to etc. Also I probably should of gone into more detail about public VS private media and how this conception affects my approaches on media.

What do you need to develop?

I need to develop my understanding of my media consumption and referring it to different readings. Therefore investigate which readings can further provide evidence to my key essay statement. Also develop and explore in more depth the difference between authoring, consuming, curating, contributing/ distributing and how this affects my media usage.

Is your writing critical enough?

I think my analysis of my media consumption is written critically however I need to explore and refer it to other peoples opinions on media through readings or other peoples blogs and also go into more detail about certain areas I didn’t explain or explore than much on in the blog post.

What ideas, propositions or arguments are starting to appear in your evaluation?

The main ideas I can see in my analysis is that media is often consumed than it is curated, authored or contributed/distributed. It is often consumed not as a need but as a want to escape boredom or to follow the social norm. That media often is thought of as ‘change’ and ‘new media’ but is often used to benefit oneself than to benefit others. Also that authoring your own media content isn’t a common trend and is often neglected by individuals as a fear or have to.

What could your essay focus on in your evaluation?

My essay could focus on ‘Media is more often than not consumed for the sake of consuming than it is produced’.

Nakita xx

Through my media consumption weekly blog posts and previous readings throughout this course. I’ve come to many different conclusions about how I use media and now I’m going to question these conclusions through exploration.

1. Media is consumed for the sake of consuming.

I’ve learnt through my documentation of media consumption that I generally used media as a form of consume just because it was there to consume. For example every morning I would scroll through my Facebook and Instagram newsfeed like it was the newspaper. Viewing these posts like a daily chore, a need to consume it to see what was happening, to keep up to date with others or because I was generally bored and it gave me something to do. I’d go on Soundcloud and listen to music whenever I was out walking in public so that way I wouldn’t look socially awkward around others in public, like I looked like I was busy and had something to do. So I used it as a way to evoke this image and once again I was bored just walking and needed something in the background as a form of entertainment.

2. Media is more often consumed than it is produced.

Linking back to what I was saying previously. I was often describing all the media I had consumed for the day. When I got to the end of my blog post as I listed if I had either authored, curated, contributed/ distributed or consumed, I found that my list for consumed media was a lot longer than authoring. Most of the time the only thing I authored in a day was blog posts for university work which is more of a have to produce rather than going out of my way to produce new media and contribute to the rest of society.

3. Does Media still follow technological determinism

This also relates back to what I have been speaking about in the last two conclusions. However touches on the reading ‘Theoretical Frameworks’ and more in depth on the topic ‘Technological determinism’. I wonder if this idea of media used to progress society can be seen as accurate. As from what I’ve learned I didn’t contribute much into society through my use of media however I just used it because it was there. I can see how some media can produce a ‘cultural shock’ and contains a lot of ‘potential’ and ‘possibilities’. However I don’t believe this can be related to every individual and sometimes media is just consumed rather than producing huge milestones for society.

So those are the conclusions I’ve made from my media consumption.

Nakita xx

Throughout my weekly analysis of my media consumption. I went about it by initially listing the all the media I had used throughout the day. Explaining which types of platforms I went on, why I went on these platforms and how I got onto these platforms. This way the viewer of my blog could have a clear understanding of the my media consumption journey and see what type of user I am before I went into more specific detail about exactly how I use media, the ideas of public vs private media and did I author, curate etc. So after my speil I described why I used media such as to communicate with others, to escape boredom through entertainment, to do university work, to find things etc. Giving the reading a deeper visual into my media usage and gives them an opportunity to relate or to learn. I then discuss all the different mediums I consume such as Soundcloud, Instagram, Snapchat etc. So not only does the reader read about all the different types I’ve used throughout the day but now sees a clear list, which gives an easier visual for them to judge how much I consume through all the different platforms. I then list for the day what I consumed, authored, curated or distributed/contributed through media. Going into more depth for the reader to see how I would group my media usage as well as providing my opinion on whether each consumption was public or private. I believe it’s important to address whether the media you use is public or private, to demonstrate the clear difference to the reader and to make them realise that the approach to these consumptions is different depending on which category they fall under (private or public). Therefore through my research I was able to clearly list my media usage in a way the reader could identify the why, what and how aspect of the project. It also made it clearer to me about how I go about my day and the necessity of this usage or am I consuming it for the sake of consuming?

Nakita xx