My Creative Project!

For my creative project I created another trailer about my topic. It displays the usage of social media (youtube in particular for this video) in the lives of those serving overseas. My trailer shows how they use it for both laughter and tears.

My Final Project

My Project Essay

After a very very long night at the library, here is the link!

Military Use of Social Media

my map

My Oxford Trip

Creative Project Ideas

My ideas for the creative project are still being thought through at the moment. I'm not exactly sure what I want to do yet, but I have a few ideas floating around. I think it would be cool to make a soundtrack to my project, but it might be difficult to find songs that really relate to the topic. So that's something to look a little farther into to see if it would work. I definitely think I'll do more trailers with it because I enjoyed doing the first one and this one would probably be more specific than my last. Overall there's a lot to choose from so I need to look at all and see which ones would work best with my project.

My Project---Xtranormal

My Video with XxtraNormal discussing my project.

A World Without Oil

I found this video about the cause quite inspiring and different. It definitely makes you think about what would happen if there was a sudden extinction of oil, or even about other world crisis that could happen. The site altogether was great because it was started by ordinary people all over the world. No big names where starting it or government lobbyist, just people who really care about the cause. Some people really enjoyed getting involved and it was described in the short video as being almost "a game" in some way for getting involved. The notes from people all over the world including our country were especially great to the overall cause as well.

253, The London Tube

I chose the work of "253" since I've been on the tube in London and thought it would be a better choice for me. It's an interesting way to look at the transportation system that millions of people use in London without a single thought. The work itself is very different from what I'm used to reading because it's so interactive. One can simply click on whatever section they'd like to jump to and see different things. It makes the work different for every individual that decides to read it. The Journey Planner especially is very interesting because there's so many different people on each car and you can click on each of them to learn about them. I would say overall this work is very similar to the London tube itself. At first it looks a little confusing and hard to navigate, but it's clearly marked and after a short time one can easily make the trips needed to get to the destination.

Wiki Wiki

After reading the essay about Wikipedia and all the other sites that are connected to it, I realized how vast and unique it is. There's so much more to it than an online encyclopedia, and it keeps growing. Since we've been told for years that it's not a credible source and can't use the info found on it in any academic writing, some shy away from using it. I think it should be embraced, however. Yes in the past things have been changed on the information side and have been tweeked to include wrong facts. They've done very well on being more responsible and strict regarding those who post on their site now, however. The other sites that wikipedia is grouped with should be more well-known as well since they too include very useful and easily accessed information.

Abstract and Annotated Bib.

Abstract Link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17tCzFdG3wmTjbYMEG_vLBL7c0zck-A6h2ctVI7XNQ34/edit?hl=en_US

Bib. Link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q1uizrM7mbBbOC4MYbEFXd8OMTa_35kkqiz73ioWYzk/edit?hl=en_US

:)

Lots and Lots of Videos

   After watching the videos assigned, it's become apparent what's changed and what hasn't as far as interests go on youtube. I feel like alot of current youtube stars have found their fame stemmed off of some of these earlier ones.
   I was particularly fond of the 'Noah Takes a photo of himself' video. The amount of time that he put in to make that video is unreal. It's also weird to see someone age six years in five minutes. Plus he got a little creepy looking the older he got.
   The Numa Numa culture was funny, as where some of the first vlogs. I think these all kind of show where we started in the popular trend of uploading just about anything onto youtube and it becoming famous. Sometimes the smallest things get the most hits.

google docs link

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q1uizrM7mbBbOC4MYbEFXd8OMTa_35kkqiz73ioWYzk/edit?hl=en_US

Blogging, the nihilist impulse

There's  good information in this essay about the number of blogs in todays world. It's definitely something that is rising in popularity more and more. The idea that people can be connected to everyone and have an outlet to express their voice on certain topics is something many enjoy. There seems to be a blog about just about anything now on the internet. I think blogs work inside the media world, as most people make blogs about things they're interested in or see in the world today. They act as a "feedback channel" as Lovink stated it. They are able to either praise or criticize the things in society today.

Thoughts of my project

- My project is asking how technology and social media have helped soldiers overseas stay connected to their loves ones here. I can see it on facebook, youtube, and other similar sites.
-I like my idea for 2 reasons. First, it's a great way to show how we can stay in touch with our loved ones even from worlds away. Second, it shows how far we've come in technological advances to be able to do so. I think the home videos on youtube of soldiers homecoming surprises and also of their lives while in a warzone that they upload to show their friends and family is a great example of this. There's also the fact that so many have access to computers too and can log into their facebooks or skype with people back home.
-Looking over youtube one can see numerous videos relating to this topic. It's a very popular section that many people view. There's also many aritcles, news videos, and stories about this that could be used as well.

project

My project is going to be about the usage of technology and social media in the life of soldiers today. Before, letters and the occasional telephone call was the only way to stay connected to love ones at home. Now there's numerous outlets to use from facebook, skype, and sending home videos.

My Trailer!

Finished product :)

Lessig Chp. 6-8

I really liked Lessig's section about the three successes from the internet. Amazon, Google, and Netflix are definitely the biggest names out there right now. Though Netflix is fading fast, it still made a huge impact on the internet before they decided to change their prices. He really touches on the fact that these giants have become what they are today due to the fact that they allow regular people to have an input in their companies. No matter how big they are, they are still a personal company that people love.
I also liked his section on Wikipedia. Since this site is used by basically everyone at least once a day, it's important to notice what a difference it's made on us. Though it's not a "credible" source, they are good at making everything pretty much legit and correct. It helps us have the information we need or are curious about at the quick click of a mouse.

Lessig Chps. 3-5

Lessig makes a good argument about the different ways to use "text" and "writing." He argues that just because something isn't written down, it doesn't mean that it's any less a work of writing. This is something I can agree with because in today's world, we use so many different media outlets to tell our stories. Songs, videos, and recordings are just a few he mentions in addition to the original works or writing. It is a showing of how we are evolving with technology to change the way we do things.

I'm A MovieMaker :)

       For the first big assignment in this class I get to play the big hollywood director and make a trailer for my fake movie. I'm pretty excited about it since I'm the one who shows up early to movies so I can make sure I see all the upcoming previews. I love to watch trailers, so it's going to be really fun making my own. I've played around with moviemaker before, but there's still plenty I have to learn. I'm looking forward to seeing my finished product.
       As far as ideas go I'm stuck between some themes for my trailer. I want my trailer to be flashy and catch peoples attention, so making it about something interesting is key. Some ideas floating around in my head are the 9/11 memorial that just happened, soldier homecomings, and even just making a trailer for a book that could be made into a movie. If I go with the patriotic themes, my phrases would probably be about America and other small words or catch phrases to tell about the story.  If I use the book idea it would depend on what book I chose to come up with phrases. Finding the right type of media clips is going to be key in making the trailer look appealing. Also, not focusing too much on one video clip, most trailers jump around very quickly so I think that would be important as well.

Copyright Gone Crazy (Response to Lessig)

I felt like Lessig's stories were easier to follow and read than Lethem's. He told the story like it was just a conversation, instead of a work of academic writing. I really liked the standpoints he made about some of the crazy copyrights and legal actions that have been made over time. Specifically the issue with Stephanie Lenz and her son's dancing to Prince. It was outrageous that the record company and artist would cause such a stir over something as simple as a child dancing. Shouldn't they be happy that someone was listening to the music? Why would someone's child dancing to your music be an unhappy thing? It really should be seen as good publicity. This woman was actually spreading the song to people, not to download but maybe to catch their attention as they watch the baby.
I think the whole essay brings to light how copyrighting is and will change. It has to with the growing technology and our abilities to share things so much easier with people all over the world.

Plagiarism or Just Inspired?

In Lethem's essay he claims that there is a very blurry line now days between stealing someone's work and being inspired by it. I think this is especially true with how easily someone can find things on the internet and with social media. I found it especially interesting when he mentioned tv shows like family guy and the Simpsons.

Overall I would argue that "copying" someones ideas seems to be more acceptable in a pop culture sense, as aopposed to an academic sense. Drawing ideas from someone to make a cd or movie seems much more likely and acceptable than doing the same for a published book or essay.

Response to Responses?

Well for starters, mine's the very first one so it seems to be summarized in every question on the blog post. Over all I see that many people have been using the internet for most of their lives, and for many different purposes. There's a few that seemed to be late jumping on the bandwagon, but now everyone uses it for pretty much everyday life. The iphone and other smartphones seemed pretty popular in the responses too. This is probably why the internet it so popular, because it's so easily available to us now days.

wordle for Oxfordle!

First Post :)

First post of the new blog, what to say? Surely it should be something about technology? Since that's what the class is about? Too bad I'm really not sure what to say about technology. I love it that's for sure, but who doesn't. Considering I've spent all summer listening to Old English elegies, it's a refreshing change to have something so current to work with in class. :D