Tag Archives: Networked media

Into the 7th

Posted on by under Networked Media

Seven Samurai for Seven Weeks. Photo: ORAZ Studio

So as we enter the seventh week of semester, the symposium enters its 4th incarnation. It was an interesting hour of discussions and debates, one that yielded enough to satisfy the avid networked media fan. It’s very interesting to see the ideas of three minds collide, and certainly makes for a much more invigorated sense of learning. I think I found one aspect of the symposium more interesting then any other, coincidentally it was one that was touched for the longest. That is the issue of authorial control.

Coming from a background of learning about communication and audience theories, I have always found the control (or lack of) of the author to be a complex and intriguing debate. It is clear that people from different backgrounds and with alternative ideologies have substantially different views. The key is to find the common ground. I think that’s what’s so important about the symposiums for networked media. In the end thanks to some thorough rebuttals and discussion from our celebrity panel, it was clear that there is an authorial intent in the work, but you can’t expect to have control over the audience. Something I agree with. Timeless debates have raged over this issue, and it is quite contentious. But it is true that you will never be able to control what your audience read from your message (Goodbye hypodermic needle).

With that being said, Brian and Elliot both raised valid points in that there are conventions and expectations that history and society prove can to some point be relied on. That is being said, I think, that there is a certain extent to which you can safely suggest your message will be received, the way you intended, based on certain principles that are pre-learned and developed.

It would be rash to suggest that the message intended by a filmmaker is not to some greater extent received by the audience (if he sends it and codes it properly). But it is also definitely valid that the work does not grant you access to the mind of the creator. Not their person anyway.

It is valid to point out that a work of an artist will carry their values and beliefs to an extent. Everyone has their own personal beliefs, bias and so forth that they take into the creative process, and in some way this will always end up impacting the work that is created. But as Adrian pointed out, context gets left behind. As society changes, so to do the contexts in which we consume texts. That’s what the author can’t control. I guess that’s why it’s hard for a lot of people to watch an old black and white monster film, and feel any sense of thrill, excitement, shock, or horror. They’ve seen it already. We’re a different society. I’ve tried watching the old Universal Monster films with friends (Some of my favourite all time films) and they usually end up laughing. Most people don’t take the time to consider things from a different context to the one that they understand, breathe and live in.

 

Hypertext, Books and Death

Posted on by under Life, Networked Media

Every fire needs a little kindling. Photo: Alienratt

Today’s symposium yielded a number of very relevant and intriguing discussion points. Elliot, Brian and Adrian provided some concrete knowledge from different perspectives regarding the nature of hypertext in itself. Brian’s point on hypertext not being a new “idea” but simply making used of pre-existing technologies, I felt, was an essential component of putting hypertext into context alongside the relevant theory we have explored in this subject and others. It is also important to note that hypertext interacts with different media mediums differently, and different forms work more effectively with different modes and mediums than others. I found Adrian’s link to Wolfgang Ernst’s idea of hypertext being more relative to music than print media to be an interesting perspective that helped to understand the very essence of hypertext and it’s relation to other media formats.

Jasmine reinforced for me the ideas that I expressed in my blog assessment essay – that blogging can be relevant if no-one reads it, given that the space is used appropriately for reflection and critical analysis and noting of one’s own practices and behaviours. It is also a great way to practice writing, and more specifically as Adrian noted, as a way of practicing writing to a speculative audience. When you start to write something good, the audience will come, as long as you put it out there and perform the appropriate transactions – links.

Onto one of my favourite moments for the lecture, being the morbid and often frightening discussion of death. More specifically, the death of books. Adrian raised good points, in that books are now only important because of their relationship with literature, and that in one sense, books are dead (look at how many textbooks, manuals, cookbooks, etc that are online, or e-books instead of physical books). In this sense, the equation and balance between convenience and experience have to be measured. For something like a manual or a textbook, or an academic essay the ease of access and convenience comes first. Even perhaps, for literature and fiction convenience may come first. But for those with interests closely tying into the experience that a book provides, the book is still very relevant. Personally, I like nothing more than to relax and read a good book, made of fine quality paper, with a nice leather binding and crisp pages. The experience is too rewarding for me to give that up. There’s also the collectors factor. I have books that I have collected not only because of the stories within, but because of the very object themselves too, being desirable.

On one final note I want to take a second to think about the health behind books and e-books. I for one, know that I sleep better after having read a book on paper, rather than screen. There’s plenty of evidence out there to suggest that screens do not allow your eyes to relax before sleep, which can significantly affect the effectiveness of your rejuvenation during sleep. Not only this, but as someone with poor sight, sometimes I struggle to focus on a screen. Paper holds the perfect contrast between black and white, but it is softer. It’s easier for my eyes to focus on, therefor the content of the read becomes more digestible.

With that, I can say that I’m a firm believer in books. But it’s also nice to be able to have a convenient portable version of a book. Maybe the book industry could take a page from the music industry and provide free e-book downloads with physical purchases. That’s something I would find very useful and could be a major factor in determining whether I buy a book or not. Is it economically viable for publishers? That’s not for me to know. Time to do some research.

 

Blogging about Blogs

Posted on by under Networked Media

The network in full swing. Photo: Adrian Miles

Re: Blog Assessment Task

Throughout Networked Media I have utilised the blog to develop my skills in writing and actively participating in the network, that is networked media. Not only this, but it has been a platform for personal development and self-discovery. The experience has been an ultimately positive one, with only a few downsides. It is obvious that it is an appropriate style of learning for me.

My blog has been primarily used to reflect upon components of my study such as lectures (or “unlectures”), readings and tutorial activities and exercises. Although after developing confidence in writing and publishing online, it has taken on a broader and diverse range of personal interests and beliefs. This blogging has helped me to develop better habits in reflecting and noting my own behaviours and practices. It’s helped me to better notice the way I learn and process information. John Mason quotes Bateson in Researching Your Own Practice: The Discipline of Noticing, “the essence of noticing is being awake to situations, being mindful rather than mindless”, this mindfulness of how the world around me is developing, changing, progressing and behaving coupled with a greater self awareness of my own behaviour has developed important skills and habits that I feel have contributed to increasing my successfulness in the key areas of my life; personal relationships, study and overall happiness. Apart from these overarching life skills and personal developments, I feel as though my technical ability and skill in writing and networking is vastly improved, as well as my confidence. I have strived to write at least once a day in my blog, and generally post at least twice a day. By applying myself to these activities regularly and consistently I feel more confident in my ability to express myself and also in my literacy capabilities. Perhaps these are the rewards of endeavouring and diving into a process.

On the other hand, there have been a number of negatives – nothing major – that I have encountered by participating in the network. The main problem is the feeling of being disconnected despite being an active participant in the network. Although the problem may rest with my ability in itself, I feel as though I am not as closely connected to my peers within the network, as I would like to be. The reasons – a lot of others aren’t participating, which makes it hard to develop interactions. Although I shouldn’t rely on others to fuel my own link to the network, as this course is sort of thrusting the student into “the deep end” – so to speak- it is encouraging to have the support of your peers around you. There does not seem to be too much interaction between students, without the middleman developing a link (Networked media blog). That relates closely to the other issue I encountered initially, which was a lack of confidence. Not being confident by nature, I struggled to swim when I was thrown into the blog. Thanks to the ideas being shared by Adrian and the other tutors in the unlectures and tutorials, I have been able to develop my confidence and adapt my habits so that I can embrace challenges and change. Chris Argyris identifies Mode I behaviour as having an emphasis on control and defensiveness. I guess you can’t shoot the messenger; perhaps the negatives are developed on the back of my own inability to approach and manage challenges.

Perhaps what the blog has been most effective in is surprising me in regards to my own abilities. It’s taught me to understand what I’m good at and identify my passions. This, I feel, is a benefit of applying yourself in the best way possible to the task. By continuing my engagement with my writing skills and the network, I have caught glimpses into what interests me and how I express it. The recurring motifs, themes and ideas that I present in my blog posts have helped me to articulate my interests. I have a greater understanding of my passion. The way the blog impacted my confidence levels has caught me off guard more than anything in particular. Being someone who often lacks confidence, my ability to connected with strangers and express myself and my writing through blogging has surpassed my own expectations. It’s a medium that has helped me feel comfortable about my own writing, my own personality and the positive aspects of my character. As I have already discussed, it has benefitted me immensely in developing strong, positive habits as well as more adaptable behaviours and reflective practices. This is part of the reason why I intend to carry on making regular entries into my blog for the remained of semester and the future ahead.

I plan to keep my entries regular, hopefully on a daily basis. The reason for this is keeping myself engaged in the network, actively practicing my writing and skills as well as reinforcing positive habits and behaviours. I have found the blog to impact positively on my studies, and I think it will be a great way to manage my passion and interest in the future. As the traffic on my blog slowly picks up, I have found the next challenge in reaching a wider audience outside of my immediate social group, family and classmates. To achieve this, I will need to present content that is relevant and useful to people, as well as learn how to deliver it most effectively to these people. This is a challenge that I intend to take up over the next year and indefinitely into the future. Finally, one of the draw cards in maintaining a blog is the online presence it has not only helped me to create, but also taught me to maintain. In a future that revolves around technology this is ever-increasingly important as employers, colleagues and people around the world look to learn more about you through your “online footprint”.  As Adrian states in Blogs in Media Education. “How you are recognised within the context of [the network] can be controlled by you through your blog.” My presence in both the online world, as well as my success in my own endeavours in life can both be managed and supported through the regular upkeep of this blog, and that is exactly what I intend to do.

 

Sources:

Smith, M. K. (2001) ‘Chris Argyris: theories of action, double-loop learning and organizational learning’, the encyclopedia of informal education,www.infed.org/thinkers/argyris.htm

Miles, Adrian. “Blogs in Media Education: A Beginning.” Australian Screen Ed 41 (2006): 66–9. Print. vogmae.net.au/vlog/research/network-literacies/blogs-in-media-education/

Mason, John. Researching Your Own Practice: The Discipline of Noticing. London: Routledge, 2002. http://vogmae.dropmark.com/133224/2127749

 

The Changing World and Crowdfunding

Posted on by under Life, Networked Media

Someone’s got a passion for fashion. Photo: Rick Chung

Here’s another smart idea that’s made it to the world level. Meet Byco, the new network of sorts for fashion design. An interesting and completely relevant subject that has certainly become more prevalent in the past year or two. It’s also playing a big role in what we’ve already discussed as a changing industry and world. So what does Byco do? Well, if you were too lazy to click the link and find that out for yourself, it pretty much facilitates the process of the fashion industry post design. Aspiring designers are faced with a lot of challenges once they have a design. A lot of the time, they don’t know what to do with it, because their education teaches them a specific set of skills. Byco steps in to take care of the production of the garment, funding and marketing. Letting designers sit back and roll in the profit. There’s still a profit, but you’re only going to get 20-30%, which is fair value considering that you don’t have to pay for any of the materials or production process.

When you submit your design, you can choose to fund the initial sample, or crowd-fund it. If you do it yourself, the 30% profit is yours. If you crowd-fund it, then 10% of the profit goes to the investors. Regardless, this is the kind of thing that people are doing with the internet and communications. The changing technology and industries of the world have evolved into systems like this, where people with skills contribute what they can do to a project. Everybody works together to achieve the goal, this sort of organisation facilitates this process and makes it incredibly easy and organised.

It’s not without its pitfalls. Of course in some cases, you’d be better off to do it yourself. If you’ve got the skills, know-how and adaptability you’d be better off eliminating the middle man. In the end, it’s the one with the most innovation that takes home the largest portion of bacon. We know this, because Byco’s creator is going to end up with the millions. But it certainly does help facilitate the production process for new designers entering the business. It’s a starting point, a springboard and a platform of sorts.

Truly an interesting idea, one that has been explored by a number of different industries. Crowdfunding has been big in the film industry lately. It’s a good way to find people who want to help make your ideas happen. It lets you find people who like your work. Applications like Byco, however, are less common. It will be interesting to see the future of this kind of networking and how it shapes up.

Networked Media Marketplace

Posted on by under Networked Media

The Networked Media Marketplace is almost as impressive. Photo: Jpellgen

Incase you didn’t see, the Networked Media Marketplace is now live. The staff and students involved in this suggestion/idea have outdone themselves. I think this is a fantastic way to get people interacting with the course and their peers, even if it’s not direct engagement. Hell, someone’s questions might even be answered. Someone needs help – they don’t want to ask in person (that’s scary) – but it’s still to scary to ask a stranger on their blog. Introducing the middle-man. The marketplace should remove those barriers, as it creates a central hub for help and assistance, without creating unnecessarily frightening personal contact.

But it stops people connecting, isn’t that bad? Well, it stops direct connection. Now there’s a location where people can go to meet their saviour, people have help to sell, they sell it. If you’re looking for help, you buy it. Once you buy it, you go to the person’s blog and check it out, then you read their other posts, perhaps they’ll contain useful content? You might get even more knowledge then you came looking for. The beauty of the network. The cost? Help doesn’t cost a thing. Except for the small cost of clicking a link, and connecting to someone else’s content on the internet.

That’s hardly even a cost, is it? Really, you don’t even lose anything. There’s nothing to lose at all.

Exploring

Posted on by under Culture, Life, Networked Media, Theories and Philosophy

Pumping blood. Photo: David O

Thanks to Elliot for his fantastic idea of organising the student blogs into tutorials on his blog. As a result of this I have been able to do some exploring of the blogs belonging to my fellow classmates. Something that caught my eye was Prani’s post about rape culture and how society handles the issue. What she discusses is the way in which we as a society teach women that they are at fault, that it is their responsibility to protect themselves from rape. This is a perfect example of single-loop behaviour in action. Rather than trace the issue back to its foundation, we choose to notice the fault and create reactive measures, instead of attempting to resolve the roots of the problem. As a society in contemporary times we have a tendency not to speculate the future, or think about longevity. Our whole culture is based around our knowledge that we can build things and create ideas that are disposable or reactive, rather than behaving in a proactive manner and thinking about how things can be used into the future.

It’s hard not for us to act this way, we’re surrounded by disposable plastic containers and packaging. We’re accustomed to buying products that have a one year life (the life of a standard warranty most of the time, it’s not a coincidence that they break just after the warranty expires). We’ve been brought up to believe that their are unlimited resources, or more importantly that we can continue to harvest and consume, because there will always be another resource to take it’s place (Well, our generation at least). It’s no surprise that we’re depleting our valuable minerals, such as petroleum. I myself have tried to step out of the overconsumption chain, and have begun making choices that are based on the future. (Like buying this fantastic leather briefcase. Made of natural materials and has a 100 year warranty. That’s not something you see every day.) Buying for the future is not all of it though, even more important is thinking for the future.

Back to the main point – this example of rape culture – ties in exactly to  what we’ve been exploring in Networked Media. There is an ideology in society that women are not safe on their own – especially at night. There is a narrow-minded point of view towards the idea of rape, that it is somehow the fault of women. When we criticise women for walking home alone, or dressing in sexually alluring clothing, we don’t stop and think about trying to resolve the issue completely, or improve society’s attitude towards women. We simply put in reactive measures (ie, those “How not to get raped” classes Prani mentioned). Issues like this bring to perfect light the fact that society as a whole needs to change its behaviour, and begin to function in a manner that is more embracing of the future, and double-loop learning practices. As Adrian has said, we are a single-loop learning society. Speculation, adaptability and proactivity are words that spring to mind once again. They’re the sorts of thought processes and actions we need as a society in order to advance and prosper.

That was long and rambling. Some interesting issues were discussed. Some I’ll elaborate on further in future blog posts – I’m big on the idea and study of overconsumption and that sort of stuff – others, perhaps might be explored and discussed by my peers in the future. We’ll wait and see.

Three Weeks of Building

Posted on by under Networked Media, The Unlectures, Theories

The night sky is a great platform for speculation and imagination. Photo: SpeakerX

The unlecture is now sitting comfortably in its third week of running, perhaps not comfortably, but I’m hoping its going to settle. This week, I was a little disappointed, as I was impressed with the direction the sessions were heading in. The redeeming factor was the discussions and elaborations during the second half of the unlecture.

I don’t blame the unlecture for this stumbling block (although I’m not sure it was a stumbling block, more of a learning curve), I don’t blame the pessimists and haters either, it’s just unfortunate that some people are defensive towards change and won’t begin to explore and accept new horizons and possibilities.

To think that such a valuable time for learning and personal growth was spent addressing a question such as “Why should I attend this irrelevant spiel” is saddening to say the least. I was a little bit disappointed at the fact that Adrian’s response had to happen, I feel somewhat responsible, being part of the student body, but I think it was something necessary. Hopefully now after this happening people will loosen up a little and let Adrian and his methods swim around in their brains for a little while.

That’s the first really negative thing I’ve had to say about the course. That’s promising. But it wasn’t really a negative, maybe a blessing in disguise. With that in mind the discussion, by Elliot in particular, was a great platform for reinforcing what we talked about in our tutorial. That the aim of the course is not to teach a specific skill-set, but rather teach you how to learn and adapt to the new skill-sets required to exist not only in our contemporary world, but into the future and beyond.

Furthermore, the discussion from Elliot, Jasmine and Adrian about Design fiction and its relevance in our world was positive in helping reaffirm the idea of planning for the speculative future. The example of mobile phones really but into perspective just how widespread the effects and possibilities of technology can be as well as touching on exactly how different the advancements in technology could possibly be if the speculation happens during design, rather than after it.

Obviously this speculation is something that occurs, particularly with new technologies such as the mobile phone, smart phone, etc, but it is often not as liberal and free as the fictional world. This presents shortcomings and delays possibilities from becoming realities, as these new uses and methods relating to the technology are reactive, rather then proactive.

Right. That was a rather large one. I feel sound in my understanding of the concepts explored so far. Let’s wait and speculate as to what the future of Networked Media will hold for us all.

Trying New Things

Posted on by under Networked Media

Look, the future is friendly. Photo: Honda News

While I am certainly not the first to jump right into new things and I know that not all methods work for everyone, the systems in place for RMIT’s networked media course are definitely worth giving a shot. From what I work out the only catch is the premise that you only get out what you put in.

Understandably a lot of people are quite apprehensive and sceptical about the concepts being introduced, because it’s not something a lot of people are used to being part of. I think the key is replacing scepticism with speculatism(?).

Who knows, maybe Adrian really is crazy and we’ll all learn nothing. I doubt it though. So far, this course has already encouraged me to push my boundaries and try new things, it’s given me a new lease of education and what you can get out of it. And it’s only week 2. Let’s hope the rewards only get richer.

Double-Loop Learning and Relationships

Posted on by under Theories

I guess it’s sort of a link.. Photo: Pernilla Rydmark

Chris Argyris’ theories on Single-Loop and Double-Loop learning and his Model I and Model II are consistent with a number of ideas and thoughts which I have been exploring as of late. While these theories are conceptually designed to suit organisations, they are also entirely relevant to human relationships. Getting stuck in the habit of single-loop learning and using theories-in-use aligned with Model I has had a significant impact on the way in which I can creatively and emotionally grow and develop as a person, as I am sure it has for many people.

What caught me the most was the consequences noted for a Model I theory-in-use:

  • Defensive relationships
  • Low Freedom of Choice

After reading this, I felt a strong association between this theory and my own life and personality. The values that govern this model (win, do not lose and suppress negative feelings) are clear  indicators of an unhealthy method of solving problems and working through conflict and ones that I can relate to very much.

By actively attempting to take an approach to problem solving more consistent with the values from Model II, I hope to improve my creative and professional capabilities as well as my personal and emotional success in life.

The (un)Lecture?

Posted on by under The Unlectures

Building 80. Somewhat related. Photo: Pat M

What a strange concept and idea. A Lecture, that’s not a lecture. Why don’t we just stay home? Well, Adrian is a very convincing man, he’s got me. I’m very convinced. I am someone who has done well in the current education format in Australia, but I am also someone who hasn’t performed to their potential. Adrian has opened more doors for me that have been previously only left a-jar by distant dreams of changing education paradigms and education reforms.

I am glad that there are more people than I thought actively involved in advocating and pushing for alternative styles of learning. Employers wants employees who are fast thinking and creative, who can solve problems with ease and possess a range of skills. The problem is the current education system is not exactly accepting of this kind of person. Public education systems suppress creative and try and teach you what is right and what is wrong. They put the student at the bidding of their master (the lecturer, teacher or whatever trained educational drill-sergeant it happens to be) and create a power imbalance that is counteractive to creativity and motivation for the students.

I didn’t have a question to write down at today’s unlecture. Why didn’t I? Perhaps I was scared of what to say, perhaps I didn’t know what the question was meant to be about. The point is that I didn’t ask one, and what Adrian said is right. You should be able to come up with a simple (or complex) question to ask at the unlecture. There’s no way to learn if you are afraid of being wrong or if you are afraid to ask questions. I like the idea of the unlecture and look forward to more speculative discussions and question answering.

Disclaimer | Background image: Emma Gawen
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