Ahhhhh getting the elevator to class I now realise will not always be a comfortable and enjoyable ride, especially when you’re running a tiny bit late-ish -like the 15 people or so, who are also running a tiny bit late-ish. Sardines, the elevator game, only slighting more enjoyable than actual sardines. I hope this will be my last elevator-related introduction to a lectorial blog post because what else could possibly happen with the elevators of building 80.

Firstly, what is media?
“The media are not so much ‘things’ as places which most of us inhabit, which weave in and out of our lives. Their constant messages and pleasures seem to flow around and through us, and they immerse most of our waking lives”
                                          – BRANSTON AND STAFFORD (2010)

Discussing what exactly media is at the beginning of the session was simple and intriguing, but the most interesting was the excerpt above. I find this a really good way of describing what media is to us, us in a constantly moving and developing world.

Wait, sorry Branston and Stafford. John Cage has upstaged you in fascination. After hearing of the composer’s 4’33’’  and experiencing a thirty second sample of it, the art of noticing is a wild ride. In just thirty seconds, the supposed silent performance turned into a not-so-silent performance, that forced oneself to tune into the surrounding environment; the buzz of the air-conditioner, murmurs of voices from beyond the room, the odd cough and sniffle, etc. This now leads on to the media audit, going to a given location and noticing all of the media around our environment, to which we usually just walk past and don’t take much notice of.

I headed to the front of the State Library, where many a people sit and relax on the grass and who are also surrounded by arrays of media. During my time walking and sitting around the State Library’s exterior, I noticed that mediated information is quite literally everywhere, from the screened advertisements to the printed ones, the traffic and tram controlling signs and the pedestrians directions on the ground. Also, in a usual walk or lounging around a public area, I tend to usually pay somewhat attention to what is at eye-level, in the foreground or on the actual ground. But in this media audit I was directed to look up high, something I don’t tend to do very often, however in this case there wan’t too much to see up high, but when in another public arena I will think to look and notice what is above me.

ON THE GROUND:
– The Tibetan Community of Victoria: protesting persecutions and cultural genocide in Tibet via a sit-in and signs (“Stop Persecutions in Tibet”, “Stop Cultural Genocide in Tibet” and “Dialogue Not Guns”), songs (including Tibet’s anthem) and members of the community teaching others of the events happening at current in Tibet.

– Signs for pedestrians/tram travellers: ‘Free Tram Zone’ and ‘Stand behind this line’

– People reading books

MID-GROUND:
– On the trams: ‘#1 South Melb’, advertisement of Cirque Du Soleil’s opening in Melbourne, advertisement for radio station NOVA.

– Tram information boards: maps, timetables, etc.

– RMIT sign: ‘Be True to You’

– Signs: Children’s Book Festival, ’30’ (speed limit)

FOREGROUND:
– “Recycle” and “How Feminism Can Win” on recycle/rubbish bins

UP HIGH:
– Screen advertisement: ‘Focus’ (movie advertisement) on building opposite the library.

Print advertisement: Ticketek and Melbourne Fashion Week

Security cameras

IN MY HAND:
– iPhone: used to check the time x4, using social media, taking photos and videos and checking what time my next train came.