Psychogeography Project

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A Psychogeography project allows us to look at cities in new ways and invited us to take part in communication, geographical and cultural expansion. 

   This art form came about at the time of Situationists, the convergance of political and artistic movements. Situationists did not agree with the notion of a ``controlled'' urban environment and therefore began to explore connections between location and mind, given the term Psychogeography. Surrealists later subverted the reality of this work and made it an art form.

  This allows us as, a growing mass audience to participate in media culture and consumption in a more geographically artistic sense.  With the technological expansion of Web 2.0 we are able to create our own maps of our communities, cities and journies. 

   This is precisely what I have done to explore the ways of the Situationists movement of Psychogeography.
Before commencing with my final idea I researched other forms of Psychogeography. I liked the work of Riverains, who exhibited art exhibitions of Shakespearean locations and Jack the Ripper. I thought this was a really clever way to connect historical locations with modern art. I also really liked the work of Daniel Belasco in Berlin in 2003-2009. His work involved himself more than the actual map, focusing on memories and associations, which I found inspiring. 
  My first idea for my project was to take a series of photos in the Leicester Lanes, every half hour for eight to ten hours to record the changes in light, weather and record the movement of people. However, when I went to do this, the weather did not seem to change as much as I had hoped since it was constantly cloudy and I think since it was winter, not enough people were moving through the Lanes as there would be during the summer. 
 Instead I decided to take a journey through Leicester and photograph the road I travelled on. I attached a photo to each street on Google Maps to create a visual journey of my way from Walnut Street to Victoria Park. I started out with wanting to make an hours journey and wanted to take exactly fifteen photos of each street I was on. I made sure I did this exactly and my final destination was Victoria Park. 
  This map shows my journey yet also expresses the planning I did previously, showing the convergance of mind and geography. 

Resources and readings for this topic: 
http://empedia.info/maps 
Debord, Guy, 1958, {website} http://bopsecrets.org/SI/2.derive.htm
Most of the information I used in this post was from lecture/workshop notes in class.

Save a Starving Student Campaign

Aims and Rationale
       Our brief was to make either a three to five minute campaign video or a series of shorter videos as part of a campaign project. After brainstorming our ideas our, group decided to make a parody of a charity campaign. We have chosen to do our parody on poverty campaigns but focus on the poverty of students. We are aiming to make people aware of how poor students are, with an emotional response. We want to create a series of shots following a particular student dealing with their poverty. We are going to show a pupil looking through their cupboards for food however the cupboards are empty. Following this, we want to show begging for food, stealing from another person’s cupboard, and searching around their room for money. We want to include phone numbers to ring, and websites to visit where the target audience is free to donate money and sponsor a student to help them through their university life.
    We want to target our campaign video to middle, upper class people who will be able to afford to sponsor a student. We also want to include parents and university graduates who will be able to empathise for the people subjected.

Influences and Resources: 
Koster, A, 2009, {website} http://web2expo.blip.tv/file/1948713/
http://battlefront.co.uk/ 

Social Capital and Me

``The collective value of the people you know and the bonds you have''       

Social Capital is the wealth gained from our social interacts and connections. By accessing our close, intimate relationships as well as those further afield, our connections will continue to grow, spreading information. Social networking sites such as Facebook help to maintain these connections with hundreds of people globally. Facebook not only maintains and gives people the satisfaction of being involved, therefore emotional well-being. This builds and creates better communities and builds social capital. {Ellison, Steinfield, 2007}

Within this social capital we retain strong and weak ties. A weak tie are the more diverse social networks, we may not be directly related or associated to them. Strong ties on the contrary is the complete opposite in which these networks are closer and much more intimate. We will converse with these networks on a much more regular basis. Putnam explores this theory in much more detail in his book, ``Bowling Alone''. {2000}

There are other definitions and words to describe the connections. Bonding refers to those people you know personally whereas bridging are slight associations through others. Bridging even if through slight associations gives the audiences a more broad range of diversity and a better sense of well-being. 

                                                          
                                                                 

Social Capital and Me

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This powerpoint shows my social capital within Facebook. I have many initmate, strong ties within my friends network. Those would include my family, my boyfriend and my closest friends at home and at University. However, I did not realise how many weak ties I have as well. Having looked through my Facebook friends I can see that I am friends with my boyfriend's friends, his classmates and his extended family. I am also friends with people who I knew when I lived in Canada, these people I may not have talked to for ten years. I may not speak to these people on a regular basis however I am still connected to them through others. Similarly, while having made friends at University, their friends have added me on Facebook. These people I have never met, however still have connections. As you can see social captial as explained by Putnam, gives me connections to people all  over the world, broadening my communication with people of different races, gender and age groups. This will help to broaden my knowledge of far apart cultures and bring them closer together along with bringing my intimate connections even closer still.


Resources:

Ellison, N.B, Steinfield, C., Lampe, C. {2007} `The benefits of Facebook ``friends''. Social Capital and college students' use of online social network sites', Journal of Computer Mediated Communcation, 12{4}, article 1.
Http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol12/issue4/ellison.html


Putname, R. {2000} ``Bowling Alone'', New York, Simon and Schuster 

Copyright Debate: Alternatives

Copyright and Piracy

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Copyright Debate: Alternatives

Following on from the research and reading I did on Copyright laws shown in my powerpoint presentation, we as a class took place in a copyright debate, arguing whether copyright laws are outdated or still need to be enforced. 

I believe that copyright laws are needed in the sense of giving credibility and ownership of certain pieces of work, especially with written literature and the direct copying of work from commerically produced art forms that are used as another way of  gaining money. All form of work should be accredited to the original artis,t however, I think that alot of the laws based around copyright are far outdated for today's media culture. For instance, it is considered going against copyright if you print a photo off the internet and use it as a poster in your bedroom. Even singing Happy Birthday is not abiding against copyright laws, which seems a little extreme to me! 

While exploring arugements for our side of the debate, it became clear that there are many other answers and organisations giving alternatives to copyright laws which I think could aid in the controversy over illegal downloading.

   I understand how illegal downloading has seemed to have a highly negative effect on the entertainment business. Looking at various Youtube videos featuring actor Jack Black and singer Kid Rock, both state that illegal downloading is jepordising the music and film business. However, the point made in Kid Rock's video that downloading and remixing is stealing and not sharing I think is not completely inaccurate. He makes the point that copying music or film online is the same as going into a store and stealing a Ipod or a handbag. I believe this to be completely over exaggerated. By looking at what Doctorow says in his article ``Why I Copyfight'' the use of downloading and sharing online illegally builds on cultural communications and therefore cultural expansion. {2008}  The use of sharing via the internet benefits people worldwide and beings cultures closer together, whereas the stealing of an Ipod or a handbag as suggested in the video only benefits the person stealing and no one else therefore this is a poor example of a comparison to illegal sharing.

   The internet has become so powerful with millions of downloaders contributing to the growth in society and culture why should we stop this? There should be a more positive outlook on this growing culture and this could be done if copyright laws were less strict. The given Youtube Videos also argue that DVD sales and cinema sales are  being damaged but recent studies show the complete contrary therefore again making this arguement weak. 

 There are many organisations and alternative schemse being put forward to allow positive remixing of published material. Firstly there is Copyleft. A play on words for Copyright, this licensing system does not replace Copyright regulations but helps to simplify sharing through emlimating the middle man. The author, musician or artist has the opportunity to give every person who recieves a copy of their work the option to adapt their work whilst remaining in the licensing laws on computer softeware, documents and artwork. This system works on making a peice of work for free and all modifications of the work free too. {http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/ , GNU, 2009}

  Online projects such as OPSOUND allows musicians and artists to download their work through the Copyleft licensing for listeners to share and remix on a personal basis all free of charge. {opsound, 2009}

Similarly websites such as MORGUE FILES and OPENCLIPART LIBRARIES are non commerical projects allowing free use of graphics and photos uploaded to the websites and allowing people to use free of charge. MORGUE FILES actually states that as long as you do not take credit for the photography used the files can be used for commercial purposes as well.{MorgueFiles, 2009/2010} Projects such as these allow people to participate in new media and excuses the harsh laws of copyright regulations, helping media culture to expand. 

Resources: 

www.opsound.org

www.morguefile.com

http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpcADFZD-eg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkWKvMCZqa
Doctorow, C. {2008} Why I Copyfight, {WWW}, Available from: 
Http://www.locusmag.com/features/2008/11/cory-doctorow-why-i-copyfight.html
Legal Threats against Pirate Bay {WWW}: 
Http://thepiratebay.org/legal

Convergence and Remediation

    Immediacy is the notion that we are surrounded by a certain environment. We are in the presence of what is being represented. In terms of new media forms, this would mean ignoring the media given so us as the audience and/or consumer feel as if we are involved in the action itself. Media types host various tools to try and convey this. Films take part in immediacy by using fast paced action sequences with jump cuts and point of view shots. This allows tension to bring audiences to the edge of their seat, being apart of what is in the picture. Point of view shots puts us in the space of the character, allowing empathy for the character to be stronger, and therefore feeling more connected. The Blair Witch Project is a perfect example for using immediacy. The use of hand held cameras gives the ``real'' effect and we therefore are more likely to forget about the media intercepting us and the action. Video games use point of view shots so you are playing as the character and iPhone applications like Google Maps allows the viewer to feel like they are in the selected location. In some circumstances users can create their own maps from journies taken. I have done this on another blog entry for a psychgeographical project. I uploaded photos of a journey I took around Leicester which allows anyone accessing my blog to experience my journey as well through the maps and photos.{Bolter, Grusin, 2000, Mills Lecture}

Hyperimmediacy, on the contrary  is the style of representation in which we are continually reminded of the media/medium. Thus then reminds us what we are seeing and/or participating with is fake. For example, on many video games life lines and level ratings remind the players they are not fully entwinned with the action. This has gone even further now to most news broadcasts. Looking at BBC News for example, the use of computer generated titles and effects reminds us that we are watching an adapted version of the stories being broadcasted. On many American news broadcasts in particular, sporting scores and upcoming television programmes run horizontally along the bottom of the page. This creates further distance being the action and the viewer, making the audience a passive one and therefore being a prime example of hyperimmediacy.{Bolter, Grusin, 2000. Mills Lecture}

Double Logic is the feeling of immediacy through hyperimmediacy. Films give us the realistic, ``being there feeling'' by using hyperimmediacy effects like music and special effects. This allows the audience to feel the action yet we are reminded that it is all fake as well. Therefore, breaking the forth wall of seperation.

 Remediation takes something from one form of media and refashions it. For example, a basic webpage will consist of text however it then uses other media forms such as graphics and photography to enhance the original piece.


Resources Used/Read:
Bolter, J.D. and Grusin, R. {2000} Remediation: Understanding New Media, Massasschesetts, MIT Press {Introduction and Chapter 14}
Lecture Notes from Week 3 with Simon Mills.

The Public Sphere and the Daily Me

In a democracy, fair and equal rights government, we need a space to allow discussion for the public to access different views, opinions and exchange information. This space is called the Public Sphere.

Since the decrease of autocratic ruling {A single person in charge e.g. The Monarch}, the rise of individuality and rights of speech have spread, leading to the construction of democracy. Democracy possesses the need for people to be educated and informed for them to therefore make an reliable decisions as part of the Public Sphere.

In modern days the media, such as the newspaper and radio industries and news broadcasts, has become the center of the Public Sphere. For this to work, the media must abide by five functions as follows:

                    

1. The Media needs to inform the public in an unbiased manner

2. The public needs to be educated in a fair manner.

3. The Media must act as a platform for political discourse, where people can discuss and debate political issues.This can be seen on television programmes such as Question Time.

4. Give an equal amount of publicity to political parties and organisations. This means making these groups visible but not supporting them. This also refers to exploiting them if need be in the interest of the public. For example: UK MP Expenses scandal and the USA Nixon Watergate controversy.

5. Acting in advocacy for political stance and view points. This media will serve as a channel.

For the previous five functions to occur, impartial reporting is needed, however this does not always happen. The BBC has been previously critisized, as well as Rupert Murdoch's newspaper The Sun openly acknowledging strong right wing views. Because of this reporting, some people say the public are not able to make reliable decisions and opinions as we do not know what is actually happening.

Journalists exposing governmental controversies has led to the fall of TV journalists, leading to my next question, should we rely on the internet moreso than television and what does the internet contribute towards the public sphere? {Curtis, 2007}

Internet applications such as Facebook and Twitter are used as platforms for gaining news by many members of the public, meaning millions can reach global news. Even though this seems like the ultimate way to access international broadcasts, anyone can put information on the internet so we cannot ensure that this information is reliable either. Applications such as Wikileaks could potentially lead to the end of privacy, where in numerous cases governmental or organisational conversations have been revealed. {Greenwald, 2010}

Finally, should TV news and the interner be relied on as much as they are and should the media be more strictly regulated and filtered to ensure the information presented is accurate? I think so.

Resources Used:

Curtis, Adam. 2010. {WWW} From:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9FaIyc4vpU

McNair, B. {1995} `Chapter 2: Politics, Democracy and the Media' in An Introduction to Political Communication, London, Routledge.  {Most of the information above was taken from this and the source below}

Greenwald, G {2010} The Wikileaks Afganistan Leak {WWW} From:
Http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/07/25/wikileaks/index.html
                    

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing

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 Throughout this presentation we explored various aspects of cloud computing ourselves. We discovered Google Docs which provided a much easier way of  doing a group presentation. Since there were four of us in the group, Google Docs allowed us all to access the presentation online at the same time and let us see what the others were writing. The ability to access our presentation on any computer meant we did not have to worry about saving our data to memory sticks and transporting from home to class to library. It saved time and space. We then could bring up our presentation in class to present it once finished. Since then I have used Google Docs for all my essays and presentations needed for my modules. I will never go back to just Word alone!

Resources I used: In this presentation I was responsible for presenting information on Google docs and Social Networking. These are the sites I used: 30/10/10

Pecha Kucha Presentation:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9NZOt6BkhUg

Cloud Computing:
1.{2009} Cloud Computing in Technology Review {WWW} from:
http://technologyreview.coverleaf.com/technologyreview/20090708/?pg=54&pm=2
2. O`Reilly, T. Web 2.0 and Cloud Computing {WWW} from:
Http://radar.oreilly.com/2008/10/web-20-and-cloud-computing.html
3. Chitu, A {2006}``How does Google work?'' From:  Http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2006/09/how-much-data-does-google-store.html
4. Google, 2010
Http://www.google.com/google-d-s/tour3.html
5. McGee, M. {2009} ``Google Dashboard Offers New Privacy Controls'' From:
Http://searchengineland.com/google-.dashboard-offers-new-privacy-controls-29223
6. CommonCraft {2009} From:
Http://www.commoncraft.com/cloud-computing-video
7. Strickland, J. {no given date} From:
Http://www.computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/social-networking/facebook.html
8. Make Use Of: From {WWW}
Http://www.makeuseof.com/facebook-work-nuts-bolts-technology-explained/