Week 6- consumption and production

The main topics discussed in this week lectures was consumption and production which I must admit sounded pretty boring when I first read the title, however its actually pretty interesting and relevant...

Technology has allowed consumers to have a part in the creation. For example; producing your own facebook identity (big screen) or designing your own layout of your ipod (small screen).

It was also brought up in the lectures about news creating a field for content to be produced. I’d never really noticed it before but on a second look a lot of the news channels have no problems using civilian/amateur video footage and photos. Quality is desirable but not imperative. What is important is that they at least have some footage to provide to the public. In fact a teacher from a photojournalism subject I took told us that if professional equipment is unavailable then to use a phone or compact camera. Apparently it’s satisfactory to have a low quality image/video, as it’s better than nothing.

That’s probably why we are seeing so many home videos on the news these days- if a home recording shows incidents more dramatically then the professional cameramen its sure to be used as well. For example, a hurricane filmed by a family in the middle of it as apposed to a camera man recording it from the outside. In that instance the home footage would be valuable to the media.

This brings a whole new element to the news (in a sense its collaborative with the public) and to the idea of consumers creating. None of this would be possible without the new technologies that are widely available to us today.

Week 6- video activity

Week 5- lecture Summary

What I gathered from this weeks lecture is the understanding between media and technology and how they have worked together change the world we live in. The lecture discussed the evolution of social media and how it allows us to have a whole new world on the internet.

Concepts that were discussed include ‘Individual identity’- according to the lecture it allows individuals to experiment with different forms of themselves on a virtual level. The internet allows them to have various identities. Programs like second life take this idea to the extreme as you can totally create a new virtual life for yourself. I find it great that people can have fun with sort of stuff but at the same times it’s a little creepy that people get so involved in a ‘life’ that is fake/virtual. ‘Virtual community’ on the other hand involves people discussing interests on the web. Through this social connections are made.

 

One of the other areas of the lecture I found interest was the question raised toward the end, Are we consumers or creators?  

When you think about it utilities like Blogger, Facebook and My space cannot exist without us (the consumers), however we could not create these profiles for ourselves without the (creators). We as individuals didn’t create Facebook or Blogger, but we are too some extent also creators. The content we put on the internet and how we choose to display it is our creation. Although we are limited by terms and conditions and certain specification its still our creation. For example we don’t choose how our Facebook profile appears, we choose what appears on it. I suppose in a sense Facebook/ Blogger ect is like a collaborative project/art work. There is an idea or creation but the need for others to bring that creation to life.

Week 5- Facebook- The Utility That Connects People

Facebook is excellent to use to connect with current friends or make new ones, however what exactly are the stipulations involved when you create a facebook account? More importantly what are you actually agreeing too when you click the “accept” on the term and conditions page that you no one ever reads?

This topic was investigated during the week 5 tute and was I found very interesting especially as a photography student. According to facebook, “You own all of the content and information you post on Facebook”. However facebook sais you agree to the following: “For content covered by intellectual property rights, like photos and videos ("IP content"), you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use any IP content that you post on or in connection with Facebook ("IP License").

From what I can gather, this means any photos or videos you choose to post on facebook are not copyrighted and can be used facebook or anyone else who can get their hand on them.

The only way to avoid this contract is too end your account, however if images of yours are still on others accounts, they are still up for grabs. Privacy settings can be altered to help prevent this from occurring. The lesson learned here is if you have any images which you are planning to sell, don’t want others to see or use, do not post them on facebook.

You tube video on the Media Revolution- some pretty crazy predictions!

Week 4- lecutre

The idea that was brought up toward the end of today’s lecture about using web applications such as you tube as marketing tools interested me

Sites which everyones familiar with; you tube, my space, facebook ect are readily being used as marketing and advertising tools. For example many people create facebook accounts for their business. The example used in the lecture was film makers and actors uploading their video on you tube are advertising their skills for anyone in the world to see.  Many actors in these short, home made films are now working actors and have small internet film projects to partly thank for their success. 

I find it pretty great that anyone of any age, race and background can promote / advertise themselves of the net. Other forms of communication such as tv, radio marketing cost a fortune and have all sort of stipulations. Self promoting on the internet is free or very cheap. Definitely something i will keep in mind for the future, especially if i work a freelancer.