What I've hopefully learned

Among the other concentrations in Mass Communications, public relations is easily the one that requires the least amount of computer savvy. However, in an increasingly digital world, I know that at least some experience will be expected of my from my future employers, and so I'm glad that as of now I would be able to say that I have some (even if it is base) experience with more software than internet explorer or solitaire.

More practically, as a media user, I'm not sure how much my experience in this class will affect me. I don't intend to do much more than I do now online, but that's only because my interests are, for the most part, outside of the field of electronics. That's not to say that sometime in the future I might find something that excites my interest, which is very possible considering all the crazy stuff coming out (I really need to check out those Amazon kindles).

Overall it was a good experience, as I may have to create an online resume in the future or something like that, I'll be able to draw upon the information I've taken away from this class. But perhaps the most critical, important, and key piece of information I've taken away from it all is that when in trouble or doubt, whenever the computer refuses to do what you tell it: call Dr. Cooke or Brian.

My First Video (well...for my website)

The video I'm making for my website (well, really it's already been made, so I suppose I should be talking in the past tense) is going to be in the same vein as the rest of my website: tongue-in-cheek, irreverent humor. The format for the video is supposed to mirror a basic two person interview. This is mainly because I hate having to do group projects, and documentaries and interviews are really the only two formats that you can do by yourself (especially if the interview is with an imaginary/dead person).

I interviewed a picture of David Hume that is supposed to represent my idea of David Hume, poorly voiced over by me. You know, that old thing. I picked Hume because he genuinely is my favorite philosopher, and he fits in well with the nerdiness of the site, because nobody will really know him other than the nerds. The content of the interview is drivel. It may be one of the least informative videos out there, even among humor videos. So the purpose of the video would be an attempt at humor; the vision...the vision was nearly nonexistant.

Current tv

I browsed current tv with the intention of finding something with substance. I thought maybe I would check out the political section, maybe some topical news pods. You know, something informative, and well presented. You know, something that deserves to be watched. But then I saw it: Texting Your Way to Love. At initially seeing the title, I was disgusted. And how could you not be at seeing the words "text" and "love" put together? I don't even like seeing them seperately. So I read the blurb at the bottom of the screen, and behold, it was good. It wasn't praising texting, but rather mocking it through satire, which I don't think can be done enough. And so while the pod I found might not be informative, important, or appropriate...it's pretty hilarious.

Also, the pod is the creation of SuperNews, or something like that, and it seems like he/she/they create new videos pretty regularly. And if they stick with the satirical comedy, I say keep them coming. Then again, I may never watch another one again, because I may forget about it by tonight.

Electronic Frontier Foundation

To at least an extent, the Electronic Frontier Foundation is correct; traditional copyright laws are outdated. That being said, I don't believe I agree with anything else that is said by John Parry Barlow, at least based upon this article. Whether my disagreement is logical or idealistic, I'm not sure. I don't believe artists should just throw in the towel and start putting up all of their work on the internet as he suggests. And while David Nimmer's solution doesn't seem too much better, it at least seems to still offer an opportunity for writers/musicians to make a living off of their art. 

There seems to be a lack of optimism towards the future of book chains and artists, but I don't know if that's valid or not. I think we're still far off from everyone walking around with amazon kindles, or the like.

"Big World: Clear Channel"

Section 4-4 in the textbook is about the monopolization of music by clear channel communications. The section says that clear channel reaches 70% of America, and holds a tight grip on what artist gets played, and how often they're played. It goes on to say that this has begun to effect not only mainstream artists, but also local bands and bars that hosts performances. 

The "podcasting phenomenon" allows local artists and DJs a piece of the media on which they can still put out their own music without feeling as though they've sold out, or that they aren't in control of their own careers. Music from independent artists can now reach a nationwide audience, without the expense of following clear channel's rules.  And just as a testament to this phenomenon, there are now independent record labels and artists everywhere.

Podcasts

For my website I'm going to create an educational podcast. The reoccurring theme will be literature, so I'll have plenty of material to work with. Since the site is dedicated to becoming a book snob it will have humor in it, but not to the point of becoming slap-stick, or anything like that.  The following ideas could constitute five separate podcasts:

1) An introduction to "Becoming a Book Snob" with a shortlist of novels that any self-respecting aficionado of literature should be familiar with.

2) A guide to literary allusions commonly found in pop culture: because everyone should be able to tritely regurgitate Greek mythology in making metaphors so as to appear clever, despite how lacking or inappropriate that metaphor may be.

3) An episode dedicated to surveying important literary movements, in case you ever need to know the difference between the romantics and the transcendentalists.

4) A guide to the greatest writers from countries that aren't America. Just try telling someone that the best writer ever was Mark Twain. Now tell them that it was Proust, Chekhov, or Voltaire. See the difference in reaction? The former makes you a light reader, the latter choices make you a smug intellectual.

5) An in depth look at the characters from greatest novel ever written: Les Misérables. Without containing spoilers, of course.

Strength and Weakness of the Web

I believe that most of the greatest strengths and the greatest weaknesses of the web both stem from the same causes; these causes being ease of use, dehumanization, privacy, and likely others that I cannot currently think of. The internet's strengths are obviously that it's open to everyone, and gives everyone equal say, but at the expense of the human element.

To illustrate this, just think of how much easier it is to express your opinions to someone via e-mail compared to in person. You're allowed more time to think and put your thoughts into organization, but isn't it often the case that you find yourself saying things you would never say in person. This is where dehumanization's involved. Without the person your speaking to being present, you are less inclined to consider their feelings and response.

The chapter on remediation in the textbook makes me a bit more optimistic. If it's true (which I think the author's correct) that new media is always established upon and with other media, you have to sort of re-examine the art of the different types of media that have led to the present. Using the above example again, perhaps the art of e-mail, on a long enough time scale, will cause the art of letter writing to be studied and developed again, a skill I think has been long lost. And of course the internet is much more than e-mail, but the same idea can be applied to most or all of its features.

To try and summarize, I think the internet will fit in wonderfully with other media if people have a sort of renassaince in the field of communication (as Bolter and Grusin assert), and re-learn what it means to speak effectively and creatively. And just to put it out there, I think this would happen a lot more quickly if everyone stopped using emoticons, yes?