travelogue3
Closing post- My Youtube videos
After constructing two completely different videos, I have received a total of 260 views, (114 for the older video 146 for the newer one.) Â If you haven’t seen them yet, feel free to check out my youtube channel where you will find both of them.
I have learned SO much from inserting myself into the youtube community. Â Here’s a little summary of the main points:
- Making a video that the world can see does not guarantee that the world will see it
- Creating content can be difficult and daunting for first time users
- Comments and views often must be solicited in order to garner any response
Read the rest of this entry »What Fresh Hell is THIS?!?!?!
PLAGIARIZED I SAY
http://8bitcollective.com/images/GonZo/Donkey+Kong+IN+REAL+LIFE%21%21/
This guy…he basically ripped my idea and my title! This is quite an interesting little development; I think it’s a little too similar to be happenstance. I’ll post a comment and see what happens…maybe we’ll see how the Creative Commons licensed 8-bit community takes to this kind of thing…
Kiss and Make-Up?
So I waited a week to let things calm down and to give myself a chance to see whether some of the members of womansavers.com would include or ignore me if I joined them in the community chat room. I was intrigued to find that, although I may have caused some upset with my post, they didn’t hold a grudge and were quick to give me another chance and include me in their conversation, and their community. Before I describe the email and feedback I personally received, before I was ‘forgiven’, I am going to compare the variety of reactions I did get to my post, on both womansavers.com and dontdatehimgirl.com…
Read the rest of this entry »Traveler’s Log Article: “Where the Road Takes Youâ€
Surprise, Surprise
Â
My ideas on starting my traveler’s log were pretty structured, or so I thought. I started my journey packed with preconceptions, snug/smug in my own beliefs. Already surmising my findings in my head, before I had a chance to actually explore the topic(s) and themes I encountered.
Â
Disability and New Media
Â
Case in point:  my first foray into new media explored how those with disabilities were empowered by the ability to produce, distribute, and interact with not only their own community but the overall public sphere. Organizations like ConnecTV, profiled in my first post, were exemplary models of how new media is able to bring together disparate communities, united for a common cause. By providing resources and media training to the disabled, these organizations facilitate the inclusion of these seldom-heard voices/perspectives.   And when they were heard it was through stereotypical/condescending depictions. Advances in production have made it possible for content to be produced economically, and new media has enabled the global distribution of this content (YouTube), as well as fostered discussion around it.
Â
Arguably, advocates for the disabled were found in the most unlikely places. As an irreverent source of social criticism, South Park, also took on and challenged media portrayals of disabled characters (Timmy, Jimmy, et. al), and considered them just as worthy of mockery as the rest of the cast of South Park characters. In this aspect, South Park producers used new media to not only promote their own content via their own website, but also incorporated a character’s disability (wheelchair and all) into an online game. This unapologetic inclusion was surprisingly welcomed and encouraged by the disabled audience, who in turn were able to express their sentiments/opinions through new media (blogging).Â
Â
Textual Harassment and CyberBullying
Â
Unfortunately, my renewed faith in the good of human nature was tempered soon enough during my next foray into new media.   Recent headlines on the so-called “MySpace suicide†committed by Megan Meier after being textually harassed by a neighbor(s) posing as a potential boyfriend, provided a window into the dark side of new media. The perceived anonymity, made possible online, allows users to feel there are no repercussions or consequences to bad behavior. (How many of us would act up, if we knew we wouldn’t get caught).   But there are and were tragic consequences in the Meier case, and current legislation against intentional misrepresentation online is making its way through the court system nationwide. No doubt the prospect of being responsible for false comments made online will alter our online behavior.
Â
But increasingly, even the prospect of anonymity seems to be less important; taken over by the need to BE noticed for bad behavior. The recent attack of a teenage girl, lured to a friend’s house and set upon by a gang of girls was posted on YouTube, subsequently leading to the attackers’ arrest. These perpetrators seemingly wanted the infamy that came along with the conviction. To that end, producers of the “Dr. Phil†show posted bail for some of the attackers in order for them to appear on the talk show (after receiving negative media attention, the show was pulled). The instant attention and notoriety that new media makes possible through websites like YouTube, and social networking sites such as MySpace continues to affect, and in some respects encourage the worst type of behavior. Anything goes as long as it’s popular. But how far is too far…? And what role do we play in encouraging this type of behavior (media coverage, public discussion, distributing said content, etc.).
Â
My ongoing media intervention on JuicyCampus, a gossip website for the college community, is trying to find an answer, or at least further the discussion.  Prompted by NYU student  Brian Dargiewicz’s case, in which false information about him was posted on the site, I decided to post an innocuous subject and assess the response.  After having received harmless enough responses to the post (“Best TA - Worst TAâ€), I will up the ante, and post something “juicier.â€
                                                                                                                                                Â
Human Nature (platforms change, human nature doesn’t)
Â
In general, my traveler’s log experiences have made me realize that although the platform may change and evolve through innovation, human nature is fundamental and predictable not matter what the method of expression. We have an enormous capacity for good and an equal aptitude for evil. New media is just the latest platform that facilitates this expression, for better or worse.
Â
-egor
Â
Traveler’s Log 3: How Juicy Is It?
My continuing media intervention was prompted by NYU junior Brian Dargiewicz’s experience on the college gossip website JuicyCampus. On the site, false negative posts questioning Brian’s sexuality and accusing him of having STDs among other things, have led him to be concerned for his professional career after college; employers search the Internet as part of the screening/hiring process.
Â
Hence, I posted a seemingly mild comment asking who was the best TA and the worst TA. I received/am receiving equally harmless replies (so and so is “hotâ€â€¦). I will now post something “juicier†in comparison. The twist being that the person I will post about will be totally fictitious. Hopefully, I will get better responses to this “made up†person, as evidence of how we are socially programmed (collective hive).
Â
-egor
omg click this linx!
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nmrs
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nmrs
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nmrs
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nmrs
Wii (include pun here)!
The Feedback
My response for just a few days has been pretty positive by the wii community. After posting my problem video, over night I received three responses: http://www.wiimoteproject.com/wiimote-whiteboard/needs-pen-advice-for-class-demo-t717.0.html
A few people say my main problem is the switch I used. I used a different model from the one that was suggested, however it was the closest one I could find at Radioshack. Perhaps before class I will exchange it so I could possibly show everyone in class. My main problem is actually connecting my laptop to the projection… It always has problems. As for the demonstration itself, I think another issue I’m having is that I need to have the wiimote facing the screen/projection at a 45 degree angle in order for it work.
What are they?
flash mob
Recap
In my last post I spoke about Improv Everywhere and to what extent it fit this ideal of mass, anyone, anywhere participation. At the end of that post, I came to the conclusion that ultimately, these flash mob groups that make claims of mass, anybody, participation are inherently closed.
Youtube, Politics, and My New Original Video
So I grew really tired really quickly of intervening in Campaign 08 via Youtube. I think that my main issue was that I was limited to what was available. At the same time, that’s kind of what I initially wanted. I assumed it would be easier to collate images and/or videos and make a compelling youtube video that would be loved- or so I thought. I realized too quickly that this method was very difficult in three ways.
The Race to EnGender Games with New Representations
In conclusion to my travelogue and intervention, I have found that I cannot make many definitely conclusions, but I can propose more hypotheses for the future. In my intervention I interviewed two people involved in social justice games online. I asked them about the nature of who was getting involved in creating these games. While there was no concrete answer about race, it did seem like the creators come from various racial/ethnic make-ups. I wonder if this is true of other computer games that are for leisure purposes more than for teaching values. If I had to take a stab at it, I would assume this industry is driven by white (men) and people of Asian descent, that is if I’m speaking of the United States, but maybe around the world, too. In terms of gender, I have noticed a number of women involved in this area, and possibly more than men. Again, it is my understanding that this field is not generally dominated by women. To go along with that, leisure computer games are targeted towards men and boys often, so I would not assume that women were strong parts of the creation process typically.
The concern I have with these games is less about who is creating them, because I think that is diversifying and improving, but who is playing them. So far to me it seems that more of these games in their newer forms (excluding games used in schools for learning math, for example) are not out yet being played by any broad audience. They seem to be experiments or ideas without much follow-through or success. It also seemed to me that the same people who were interested in both the subject of the game or the field of social justice games are the ones actually playing the games. What does this mean? Well, maybe we’re not doing a whole lot of good by preaching to the choir.
This is where I am left. All this new technology is popping up all around us, and more and more people are jumping in to commons based peer production, right? But who are these people? Are they the same ones who already were using the internet for similar purposes before? My concern is with those who do not have the internet accessibility or the tools to use and understand these new technologies. Is the strong hierarchy actually breaking down, or is it just messing around with but ultimately reverting to the old hierarchical system? And those who are using the internet for good, are they really reaching new audiences? I’m not sure.
