Friday, March 13, 2009
woodstock
Hey I just wanted to recap on what my paper covered. I discussed people of the 1960s who were social reformist. I inculded various riots, movements, festivals, and people who made use out of radical media to create the change they wanted to see. By use of these radical media outlets word got out and changes to the world, espically in the US was made. For example, the Berkley Barb was an undergound newspaper which let the people know of the situations occuring in which the governement was oppressing the people. In addition televsion covered riots which police brutlley beat civilians. All of these media outlets, along with the pepople who made use of them changed the world.
Activism In the White House: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10194174-38.html
I remebering finding and reading this article yesterday. I was schocked to hear that Obama has hired activist Van Jones to serve as s special adviser for green jobs, enterprise, and innovation at the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). I just got my thinking that activism, especially in the United States has target are government, criticizing the way the some things are carried out the the governmnet; while the government seems to always be attacking activists. Although it is just one step, since Obama (the government) has hired Van Jones (activist) I feel like this is a small turning point showing the progression and influence that activism has reached!
One last thing, I saw this article online and had to share it with the class. Not only is John Stewart hilarious but he makes some great points, that directly relate to the flaws with in mass media, and the importance of "investigative journalism" Please check it out , I think everyone will find it interesting and assuming!
First link is article
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Television/WireStory?id=7071736&page=2
Second Link is the show, and the show you want is titled
First link is article
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Television/WireStory?id=7071736&page=2
Second Link is the show, and the show you want is titled
Intro - Brawl Street: Get Ready to Buy Low! And Sell Die
http://www.thedailyshow.com/How To Become A Professional Media Activist: http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=119
Also, I used some articles in my paper from FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy In Report). I really enjoyed there site, and especially thought it was funny and interesting that the organization actually has an entire section of there sight on educating everyone with a "FAIR'S MEDIA ACTIVIST KIT", it literally goes step by step of how to detec bias, communicate, etc. At first I thought there were using this as a joke, but after reading each topic it was loaded interesting stuff.
Hey sorry I forgot more think, here is a link to Banksy's website, that we started to look at in class. For those of you who are not familiar with him or just for a good reference check out his stuff it is really amazing!!
http://www.banksy.co.uk/
http://www.banksy.co.uk/
Hey everyone,
I hope all your papers went well. As you know I did my paper on Shepard Fairey and I just wanted to share some extra information about him. The first link I am posting is to Underwire magazine, and it gives a little background on Shepard as well as some really great images of his art work. The second link, is to an article that discusses Shepard venting about copiers of his work. Make sure you check out the comments/blogs fallowing the article. It is really intersting to read about how much conterversy surrounds Shepard and get the full specturm of opniouns form his audeince.
http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/09/poster-boy-shep.html
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/10/shepard-fairy-o.html
I hope all your papers went well. As you know I did my paper on Shepard Fairey and I just wanted to share some extra information about him. The first link I am posting is to Underwire magazine, and it gives a little background on Shepard as well as some really great images of his art work. The second link, is to an article that discusses Shepard venting about copiers of his work. Make sure you check out the comments/blogs fallowing the article. It is really intersting to read about how much conterversy surrounds Shepard and get the full specturm of opniouns form his audeince.
http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/09/poster-boy-shep.html
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/10/shepard-fairy-o.html
http://seattle.indymedia.org/en/1999/12/328.shtml
Hey everyone, now that the papers are over, I wanted to give everyone the link to one of the blog's from Seattle Indy Media, that I used in my paper. I really think that this blog segment really gives you an idea how of diverese alternative media can be. I really could never imagine a mainstream source going this far. Check it Out...
Monday, March 9, 2009
Whats A? Subvertisment
So here is my final Film Project the Subvertisment that I blogged about earlier this quarter. Please let me know what you think compliments and criticism are welcome. Please spread it around to your networks so that more people can see what this is all about.
Leprechaun in Mobile, Alabama
I came across this youtube video a few weeks ago and it just made me think how some people will watch any story. This is a funny story but says way more about Americans and what we will watch and believe. I think that is also a good example how having so many media outlets can spread a story like this and the saddest part is they did a fallow up to this story. I also wanted to say I had a great learning experience this quarter and hope to see maybe of you next quarter in classes.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Culture Jamming
Hi All!
Here are some of the links I showed in class. I'm also including a couple I didn't show which deal with Detournment and subversive cartography... contemporary movements which may have been inspired from the Situationists/Guy Debord. These are also classified as Psychogeography. Basically these movements fit into Culture Jamming because they are questioning authority, authenticity and herd mentality regarding how we respond to our surroundings. Can we rely on a map to define our experience of a place? Why not create our own maps, our own realities based on personal experiences, our imagination and a hyper attention to our surroundings?
On the "Institute for Infinitely Small Things" website (the collective which publicly performs corporate commands), check out their projects, including the "unmarked package" video. This is a performance where the artists marched around Chicago with a pile of mysterious, unmarked packages and interviewed people on their views regarding fear and security. It's an interesting project.
Institute for Infinitely Small Things - Corporate Commands
http://www.ikatun.org/institute/infinitelysmallthings/corporatecommands/about.php
The Good Consumer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_ut93YYZu8
The Bubble Project
http://thebubbleproject.com/a>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7GCsrX5K_o&feature=channel_page
Whirlmart - Buy Nothing Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JajJCcUUVgk
Subversive Cartography - Situationists - Psychogeography
http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Photos/html/en/sm-essay.html
Subversive Cartography - Urban Interventionism - tweaking how a neighborhood is portrayed on google maps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIDGyRO6w2o
Here are some of the links I showed in class. I'm also including a couple I didn't show which deal with Detournment and subversive cartography... contemporary movements which may have been inspired from the Situationists/Guy Debord. These are also classified as Psychogeography. Basically these movements fit into Culture Jamming because they are questioning authority, authenticity and herd mentality regarding how we respond to our surroundings. Can we rely on a map to define our experience of a place? Why not create our own maps, our own realities based on personal experiences, our imagination and a hyper attention to our surroundings?
On the "Institute for Infinitely Small Things" website (the collective which publicly performs corporate commands), check out their projects, including the "unmarked package" video. This is a performance where the artists marched around Chicago with a pile of mysterious, unmarked packages and interviewed people on their views regarding fear and security. It's an interesting project.
Institute for Infinitely Small Things - Corporate Commands
http://www.ikatun.org/institute/infinitelysmallthings/corporatecommands/about.php
The Good Consumer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_ut93YYZu8
The Bubble Project
http://thebubbleproject.com/a>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7GCsrX5K_o&feature=channel_page
Whirlmart - Buy Nothing Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JajJCcUUVgk
Subversive Cartography - Situationists - Psychogeography
http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Photos/html/en/sm-essay.html
Subversive Cartography - Urban Interventionism - tweaking how a neighborhood is portrayed on google maps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIDGyRO6w2o
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The Boondocks
My presentation on Jan. 20 centered on the topic Radical Media and Resistance in Everyday Life. I showed the banned episode of the Boondocks; the comic strip started in a college newspaper in the late ‘90s with a small audience and no outside distribution. It then appeared monthly in the Source magazine, a hip hop magazine. The Boondocks gained popularity and was soon made into a television show on Adult Swim, attracting a mass audience.
Counter-hegemony occurs within a system, an attempt to challenge dominant ideological frameworks. The second season of the Boondocks television show had two episodes that were banned from distribution. The two episodes were a critique on Black Entertainment Television, which throughout its existence, the comic has constantly mocked. The banned episodes created a buzz on the internet, because their existence was not yet verified until a hip hop blog created a new post streaming the show.
At this point, the Boondocks had a mass following. The show itself had begun to steer more towards comedy for comedy’s sake, rather than its original political and social satirical commentary. It returned to its early roots in episodes challenging BET and black popular culture in an easily digestible form. One episode showed a hunger strike by the 10-year-old main character, the other, a ridiculous reality show trailing a self hating black man. The shows creator claimed he wrote these shows because BET has not changed, it is still an awful representation of black culture.
Link to watch the second banned episode no
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/videos/id.665/title.boondocks-hunger-strike-banned
Culture Jamming
Cultural jamming is re-appropriating the dominant message; taking the dominant message and speaking with it. An example of this would be Jay Z’s hit of the ‘90s, “Hard Knock Life”, where he samples a song from the musical Annie. He creates a rap around the hook sample with a narrative of his rough background. He dubs it the “Ghetto Anthem”, and repositions the message of a young white girl raised in an orphanage to fit an anthem of the young black man raised in America.
video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFubqcvkSos
video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFubqcvkSos
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Another Fine Art Remix: Manet & Brack
Referring back to Kelly's presentation on Picasso's remix of Las Meninas, I thought of another relevant example.
While studying abroad in Brisbane, Australia in the fall, I took an Australian Art class where I was introduced to the work of Antipodean painter John Brack (1920-1999). He was born in Melbourne in 1920 and joined the Antipodeans group in the 1950s, protesting against abstract expressionism as a worthless form of art that did not reflect the truth of life.
His most famous work, The Bar (1955), is a remix of the famous A Bar at the Folies-Begere (1882) by Édouard Manet (1832-1883). Compare the two below:
Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Begere, 1882
Brack's The Bar, 1955
Brack used Manet's composition to comment on the six o'clock swill, which was the rush to buy drinks after work before Australian public bars closed between 5 and 6 p.m. in the 1950s. The Bar was a satirical and critical view of Australian suburban life, where the bar often served as a purely functional environment meant as an escape to the drone of 1950s suburban life.
In Manet's painting, the mirror behind the pretty barmaid reflects a lively, joyful atmosphere. She is helping a customer in the reflection, but in our head-on view, she appears idle and pensive, perhaps even bored or jaded.
In Brack's version, the barmaid -- who is angular and rather mannish -- is smiling slyly, not helping any customers. Behind her we can see, reflected in the mirror, a full bar of men methodically throwing back drinks.
The sharp contrast in atmosphere and purpose of the bar is apparent from Manet's view of the 1800s French social bar and Brack's image of the 1950s Australian escape-from-suburbia bar. Brack's use of Manet's work, set in a bustling bar, to comment on the current (for him!) condition of claustrophobic suburbia is apparent.
Just another example of fine art remix...!
While studying abroad in Brisbane, Australia in the fall, I took an Australian Art class where I was introduced to the work of Antipodean painter John Brack (1920-1999). He was born in Melbourne in 1920 and joined the Antipodeans group in the 1950s, protesting against abstract expressionism as a worthless form of art that did not reflect the truth of life.
His most famous work, The Bar (1955), is a remix of the famous A Bar at the Folies-Begere (1882) by Édouard Manet (1832-1883). Compare the two below:
Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Begere, 1882
Brack's The Bar, 1955
Brack used Manet's composition to comment on the six o'clock swill, which was the rush to buy drinks after work before Australian public bars closed between 5 and 6 p.m. in the 1950s. The Bar was a satirical and critical view of Australian suburban life, where the bar often served as a purely functional environment meant as an escape to the drone of 1950s suburban life.
In Manet's painting, the mirror behind the pretty barmaid reflects a lively, joyful atmosphere. She is helping a customer in the reflection, but in our head-on view, she appears idle and pensive, perhaps even bored or jaded.
In Brack's version, the barmaid -- who is angular and rather mannish -- is smiling slyly, not helping any customers. Behind her we can see, reflected in the mirror, a full bar of men methodically throwing back drinks.
The sharp contrast in atmosphere and purpose of the bar is apparent from Manet's view of the 1800s French social bar and Brack's image of the 1950s Australian escape-from-suburbia bar. Brack's use of Manet's work, set in a bustling bar, to comment on the current (for him!) condition of claustrophobic suburbia is apparent.
Just another example of fine art remix...!
Hacktivism
Hi all,
Here is what I'll be showing in class today. First a quick video that shows opposing views on hacktivism:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNXk6kLd8IA
Recent example of hacktivism: skittles.com
Since skittles.com has changed their site in the past days... here's a related article about what i orignally planned to talk about...
http://venturebeat.com/2009/03/01/skittles-tweet-the-rainbow-or-racial-slurs/
The gist of this is skittles.com is basing their site off social media... the background of their homepage is merely a twitter search (today it is a facebook fan page). What the execs at Mars Inc did not expect (or maybe they did), is the "hep" use of social media would result in a large amount of people spamming skittles.com, posting everything from racial slurs to toilet humor. It's pretty clear that the users of twitter and now facebook are sending a pretty clear message to the company... "you don't get it, you're trying to be cool, and therefore we're going to screw with you".
Also if you're interested in learning more about the different types of hacking, looks like there's a book out by Tim Jordan simply called Hacking. Check out this interview he recently did that gives a brief overview: http://ourmaninside.com/2009/02/27/hacking-and-hacktivism/
Here is what I'll be showing in class today. First a quick video that shows opposing views on hacktivism:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNXk6kLd8IA
Recent example of hacktivism: skittles.com
Since skittles.com has changed their site in the past days... here's a related article about what i orignally planned to talk about...
http://venturebeat.com/2009/03/01/skittles-tweet-the-rainbow-or-racial-slurs/
The gist of this is skittles.com is basing their site off social media... the background of their homepage is merely a twitter search (today it is a facebook fan page). What the execs at Mars Inc did not expect (or maybe they did), is the "hep" use of social media would result in a large amount of people spamming skittles.com, posting everything from racial slurs to toilet humor. It's pretty clear that the users of twitter and now facebook are sending a pretty clear message to the company... "you don't get it, you're trying to be cool, and therefore we're going to screw with you".
Also if you're interested in learning more about the different types of hacking, looks like there's a book out by Tim Jordan simply called Hacking. Check out this interview he recently did that gives a brief overview: http://ourmaninside.com/2009/02/27/hacking-and-hacktivism/
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Hey everyone,
I hope your weekend went well and you are ready to get back into the weekly grind. Well this is my first time blogging, ever. I came across this article in the New York Times, The Burden of Interactivity. I personally relate to this article; agreeing with the author that participating or being interactive with media can be scary and overwhelming. It is a cool comment on the process of the audience interacting with media, check it out and let me know your thoughts.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/magazine/11wwln-medium-t.html?_r=1
I hope your weekend went well and you are ready to get back into the weekly grind. Well this is my first time blogging, ever. I came across this article in the New York Times, The Burden of Interactivity. I personally relate to this article; agreeing with the author that participating or being interactive with media can be scary and overwhelming. It is a cool comment on the process of the audience interacting with media, check it out and let me know your thoughts.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/magazine/11wwln-medium-t.html?_r=1
I wanted to recap my presentation for the Intellectual Property portion, both for those not there and others who wanted to review it again. It is a confusing topic but I will make an attempt to define it as accuratly as possible. Intellectual property laws cover ideas dealing with copyrights, display of work in public, infringement, and allow different amount of protection with consideration to the date of the work. In a more specific instance, U.S commercial law which resides in matters entailing trademark law deals with words and/or designs which are used to specific a company. The federal standard for trademark is that it must characterize the company while at the same time adhering to the law. Trademarks must be acceptable for public domain, should not closely resemble a flag of a country or a person’s signature or likeness (without consent), nor can it be geographically descriptive of origin or product. If the trademark passes the stated rules above than it can be protected by the Lanham Act of 1946.
When it comes to virtual property the laws are not set in stone. Although material may develop via internet, to actually be eligible for copyright protection the material must be found in a fixed tangible medium as well as being original. A concern here is if the material is created and transmitted electronically should it be considered ‘fixed’. This also leads to the question if a document exits in physical space and is placed on the internet should it be protected for it is a second copy and not original.
All of this is confusing and I am looking foward to the furture to see what actual digital copywrite laws will or will not be put into place.
When it comes to virtual property the laws are not set in stone. Although material may develop via internet, to actually be eligible for copyright protection the material must be found in a fixed tangible medium as well as being original. A concern here is if the material is created and transmitted electronically should it be considered ‘fixed’. This also leads to the question if a document exits in physical space and is placed on the internet should it be protected for it is a second copy and not original.
All of this is confusing and I am looking foward to the furture to see what actual digital copywrite laws will or will not be put into place.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Casting Call
This is very last minute but I could really use some help! I'm looking for an ethnic male this Saturday at 1:30 for a student subvertisment, like the ones we talked about in class. I'm looking for diversity which is hard to find on the DU campus, and the shoot really would not take to long. If you know anyone or if you would like to help please let me know in class tomorrow. The actor would not have to say anything just stand in front of the camera. The commercial is about consumerism and the price we pay for conglomerate advertising, it's very similar to the Gatorade commercial but of course subverts a different message... please take a look.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Thursday!
We are having an unexpected guest speaker on Thursday. We'll spend the first half of class talking about copyright reform, as planned then he will be joining us at 3.
Our guest, Richard Tofel, is the general manager of
ProPublica, a non-profit news organization that does public
interest investigative reporting.
Please check out the Propublica site.
Be sure to read the about page.
And read this CJR story about it.
Don't forget there is not class today, Tuesday!
Our guest, Richard Tofel, is the general manager of
ProPublica, a non-profit news organization that does public
interest investigative reporting.
Please check out the Propublica site.
Be sure to read the about page.
And read this CJR story about it.
Don't forget there is not class today, Tuesday!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Picasso
One of my favorite artist was called a copier, in today's words he remixed art and made new interpretations. For the class discussion on thurs. Please look a little at Las Meninas so I can better explain the connection to our discussion and Lessig in class http://www.bcn.cat/museupicasso/en/collection/mpb70-433.html
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Hi Everyone:
Sadly the book Remix is not yet free and online so we will have to settle for reading the reviews. Read the at least the ones from Time and The Independent.
Also don't forget to explore Creative Commons .
No class Tuesday.
Work on your papers!
Have a great week.
Sadly the book Remix is not yet free and online so we will have to settle for reading the reviews. Read the at least the ones from Time and The Independent.
Also don't forget to explore Creative Commons .
No class Tuesday.
Work on your papers!
Have a great week.
Oscar Mayer
Hello All! I wanted to touch on a topic we talked about today in class and an ad that supported it. I was flipping through a People magazine and came across a page which caught my eye. This ad is for Oscar Mayer and shows half the page with a photo of a new sandwich they offer and the other half explaining its 'greatness'. Right below the picture is in big red letters; "Blogworthy." , obviously after being in this class it caught my eye and gave me a chuckle. Below the ad read "At under 350 calories, Deli Creations Flatbread Sandwiches from Oscar Mayer are worthy writing about. With everything you need packed fresh, you can create a delicious sandwhich wrapped in warm, soft flatbread in a micorowave minute. For the love of lunch. " I found this ad funny in numerous ways and just proves how corporate media is picking up indy ways. The Oscar Mayer corporation is attemtpting to pick up a certain demographic. It is providing a new, healthy alternative way of eating junk, and trying to do it with style. I figure that Oscar Mayer is reaching out to a younger generation, one with computers. I would be interested to inquire what other ads they have put out in recent times, and if they are also relevent to the web.
Alternative Media
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Copyright Laws
As I was looking throught for what i'm going to talk about when I present my topic I found this really interesting article. http://news.pacificnews.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=1c66234d638d6bf9568622541228c4d1. Its old 2002 but it posts alot of question that are still occuring today. Free Mickey, if anyone see's this bumper sticker you have got to tell me. Also chack out Lessig's other book The future of ideas: The fate of the commons in a connected world, it's older but still has alot of interesting stuff you can read alot of it if you googlebook it.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Round 1: Denver Open Media vs. YouTube, MySpace, & Facebook
Hey guys, I knwo that not everyone visited DOM last Thursday, but after the trip and over the weekend I was still thinking about the alst topic that was brought up during our visit. Clearly DOM and public access television provides a passageway for people to communicate and connect around topics and interests that do not necessarily serve commercial interests and to help provide individuals with the tools and resources they need to speak for themselves.
However, in the age of YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook, where anyone can communicate to the entire world through words, images, and even video at almost no cost, is the alternative of public access television losing its voice and audience more and more everyday? In my opinion and along with some of the other students it seemed like the answer was yes: the voice of public access was beginning to and might continue to diminish. But Tony Shawcross did put up a good fight in support of DOM and public access television, and I actually found an article supporting Tony's reasoning that I thought might be of some interest to everyone else. Enjoy!
http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2008/12/public-access-tv-fights-for-relevance-in-the-youtube-age352.html
Saturday, February 14, 2009
An Interview With Zapatistas
Kelly,
I randomly found this video... don't know if this will be useful to your research, but it may still be of interest.
Saludos, Brigid
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mexico#video-ltv-0959F07105FEC144
I randomly found this video... don't know if this will be useful to your research, but it may still be of interest.
Saludos, Brigid
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mexico#video-ltv-0959F07105FEC144
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Spoken Word Performer at DU
I know someone in class is focusing their final paper on the spoken word phenomenon and mentioned speaking with a performer named "Dee" (I think!) for their research. I just received an email and it looks like a woman by the name of Dee Galloway will be performing at the DU LGBTIQA Gala Celebration on Thursday the 19th. For more information on the event from the Center for Multicultural Excellence or to register, click here. It's free AND includes a buffet dinner, as well.
Might be a neat opportunity to check out activist art in action and see what a fellow classmate is writing about!
Might be a neat opportunity to check out activist art in action and see what a fellow classmate is writing about!
Field Trip to Deproduction Thursday
Hi Everyone. Don't forget we're visiting Deproduction on Thursday. We'll meet at the classroom and carpool over.
Before then please read
This post on why public access tv is still important
And watchthis ABC report on public access.
Also, check out the the Deproduction website.
Please show up with a few questions in mind for the Tony Shawcross and Deb Lastowka, who will be showing us around.
Thanks!
Before then please read
This post on why public access tv is still important
And watchthis ABC report on public access.
Also, check out the the Deproduction website.
Please show up with a few questions in mind for the Tony Shawcross and Deb Lastowka, who will be showing us around.
Thanks!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Prop 8
In light of todays class and ironically I just recived this e-mail that says "Thank you for adding your name to show your support for the freedom to marry and for protecting minorities from having their equality put up for a popular vote. This simple act will show the world how much support there is for the invalidation of Prop 8.
Your name will start scrolling in just a few days.
Help build more support to overturn 8:
Ask your friends and family to add their names at www.eqca.org/addyourname.Urge your legislators to become a co-author to the Senate and House resolutions to overturn Prop 8. These resolutions will soon be heard in judiciary committees and joining as a co-author shows a stronger level of support than an “aye” vote.Tell 3. Use this innovative website to engage three people you know in a dialogue about marriage."Please send this to your family and friends to set a motion into action.
Your name will start scrolling in just a few days.
Help build more support to overturn 8:
Ask your friends and family to add their names at www.eqca.org/addyourname.Urge your legislators to become a co-author to the Senate and House resolutions to overturn Prop 8. These resolutions will soon be heard in judiciary committees and joining as a co-author shows a stronger level of support than an “aye” vote.Tell 3. Use this innovative website to engage three people you know in a dialogue about marriage."Please send this to your family and friends to set a motion into action.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Additonal Reading for 2/17 class
Hi all,
Here is one more reading for class on next Tuesday, 2/17:
A Mobile Voice: The Use of Mobile Phones in Citizen Media
It's a pretty easy read for the most part, so have fun! Also, if you like the reading, take a gander around the MobileActive.org site.
Here is one more reading for class on next Tuesday, 2/17:
A Mobile Voice: The Use of Mobile Phones in Citizen Media
It's a pretty easy read for the most part, so have fun! Also, if you like the reading, take a gander around the MobileActive.org site.
Shepard Fairey in the news
Shepard Fairey was arrested this weekend in Boston on the way to his own exhibition opening. Apparently there was a warrant out for his arrest on charges of vandalism, which allegedly occurred about a month back, and for failing to appear in court back in 2000. The complete story is on this Huffinton Post article. This brings up the really touchy subject of property versus artistic expression. I'm personally a fan of the memes Fairey has created... what do you all think?
Fairey is also in the news for suing the AP, who threatened legal action against the artist for the infamous Obama "HOPE" and "PROGRESS" imagery. From what I understand, he's trying to clear himself of the complaint under fair use. Although the AP hasn't taken action yet, it sounds like they're looking for a settlement. Of course they want a piece of the pie! Check out the full articles on the Huffington Post. Do you think that the work is transformative enough to be protected under fair use?
Fairey is also in the news for suing the AP, who threatened legal action against the artist for the infamous Obama "HOPE" and "PROGRESS" imagery. From what I understand, he's trying to clear himself of the complaint under fair use. Although the AP hasn't taken action yet, it sounds like they're looking for a settlement. Of course they want a piece of the pie! Check out the full articles on the Huffington Post. Do you think that the work is transformative enough to be protected under fair use?
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Character Approved-USA Network Part 2
This second person that I found has to deal directly with something we read and talked about. Shepard Fairey uses art as his weapon to get his views across. I know we read about art as a form of activism and I believe that we talk about some examples as well. Well I thought it might be interesting to take a look at his video and look at his bio also. Hope everyone enjoys and please give me some feed back how you feel about these people and what they are doing? Also how dose everyone feel about this whole idea of USA Network finding these people to name them character of the month. The link is bellow please take a look.
Activist Media / New Media Salon
Hi everyone!
Alexandro and I are showing video and animation work downtown this Friday at a one night group show. There are six new media artists showing and some work could be considered activist media. The work Alexandro is showing deals with environmental issues and my work deals with social/cultural issues. It's at the Plus Gallery (and also projecting outside), which is located next to the Museum of Contemporary Art, which will also be having a first Friday. The intersection is 15th Street and Delgany. Starts at 6ish... probably until 10ish. Feel free to stop by if you're interested.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Character Approved-USA Network
I was watching USA Network tonight and saw a commercial for their Character Approved Honorees, a tribute to the people who are changing the face of American culture. I checked out their website, and each winner is recognized for a different section of culture-food, philanthropy, art, architecture, etc.
Here is a link to a short video of Charles Best, whose category was "Giving":
I think the Character Approved Awards show how different types of activists can be recognized by the mainstream media. None of these people were specifically looking for compensation or recognition for their work and were just expressing their passion for their causes, and yet made their voices loud enough to be heard, and brought additional exposure to their cause.
As I watched Best's video, I was compelled to go to his website, donorschoose.org, browsed through the teachers' requests for Colorado and my home state of New York, and even emailed my sister, who works for a non-profit in NYC. Best's message clearly spoke enough to me to become active myself, as I found myself wanting to help further his cause.
DU Sends Tolerance Trunk to Pope
An interesting activist activity took place on campus this morning that I thought would be appropriate to share with this class. The Holocaust Awareness Institute at DU's Center for Judaic Studies is sending a "Tolerance Trunk" to Pope Benedict XVI in hopes that he will share its contents - educational material on the Holocaust - with newly reinstated Bishop Richard Williamson, who has commented publicly that he does not believe 6 million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust.
This morning, Sarah Pessin, director of the CJS, stood outside Sturm Hall asking students, faculty, staff, and community members for signatures on the trunk itself.
Lots of media coverage! I think the Denver Post is covering this story -- if I find the link tomorrow, I'll post it...
This morning, Sarah Pessin, director of the CJS, stood outside Sturm Hall asking students, faculty, staff, and community members for signatures on the trunk itself.
Lots of media coverage! I think the Denver Post is covering this story -- if I find the link tomorrow, I'll post it...
Monday, February 2, 2009
Future happy meals?
Hi guys!
so...this is my second blog..woo hoo! I think I might be getting the hang of this whole blog writing phenomenon. so I was looking at wired.com the other day and I found a "challenge" for magazine viewers. They were to come up with a McDonald Happy Meal geared towards the future...which is kind of disgusting. Anyway the first image is the Happy Meal box which contains a health warning label of all the yummy yummy ingredients in the food. The box advertises a disposable iPod with a sneak preview of Harry Potter. As well as a McFryer and a code invitation to join Hamburglars posse. Funny!
The next image is a real kick! It is U-Flavr Coke! For all you sweet tooths you can squeeze as much of that cherry sugary flavor into your coke! It even comes with samples of flintstone ritalin for an extra boost of energy! woo hoo....how disgusting.
The third image is of the hamburger mmmm delicious right? oh yeah I would definitely want a burger called Vat-Grown Kobe Beef. The name of it just makes me want to vom ew
You can't eat McNuggets without the dipping sauces! No stress, in the fourth image it shows honey mustard, brain spike sauce, sweet'n sour, and endorphin rush sauce.
I sincerely hope this is not what the future of fast food looks like!
here is the website. Enjoy!
http://www.wired.com/culture/culturereviews/multimedia/2008/12/found?slide=1&slideView=6
so...this is my second blog..woo hoo! I think I might be getting the hang of this whole blog writing phenomenon. so I was looking at wired.com the other day and I found a "challenge" for magazine viewers. They were to come up with a McDonald Happy Meal geared towards the future...which is kind of disgusting. Anyway the first image is the Happy Meal box which contains a health warning label of all the yummy yummy ingredients in the food. The box advertises a disposable iPod with a sneak preview of Harry Potter. As well as a McFryer and a code invitation to join Hamburglars posse. Funny!
The next image is a real kick! It is U-Flavr Coke! For all you sweet tooths you can squeeze as much of that cherry sugary flavor into your coke! It even comes with samples of flintstone ritalin for an extra boost of energy! woo hoo....how disgusting.
The third image is of the hamburger mmmm delicious right? oh yeah I would definitely want a burger called Vat-Grown Kobe Beef. The name of it just makes me want to vom ew
You can't eat McNuggets without the dipping sauces! No stress, in the fourth image it shows honey mustard, brain spike sauce, sweet'n sour, and endorphin rush sauce.
I sincerely hope this is not what the future of fast food looks like!
here is the website. Enjoy!
http://www.wired.com/culture/culturereviews/multimedia/2008/12/found?slide=1&slideView=6
Friday, January 30, 2009
Argentina
Hay varios informacion sorbe Argentina y el gobierno antes de la Junta.
http://www.portalplanetasedna.com.ar/rosas.htm
La pelicula muy interesante se llama Camila, velo velo velo!
http://www.portalplanetasedna.com.ar/rosas.htm
La pelicula muy interesante se llama Camila, velo velo velo!
Some Activist Blogs
I discovered a couple interesting blogs during my research of social movements in Argentina. One is called Latin America Activism. It was started by journalist/filmmaker Marie Trigona who is based out of Buenos Aires. Her writing is informative and engaging. It's also interesting to see how she is piecing together a career as a radical activist (and translator) by contributing to many alternative blogs, papers, radios, video collectives, etc... She has an extensive list of organizations she works with. I find her writings on the Dirty War and Argentine workers occupying and recuperating abandoned enterprises particularly strong.
http://mujereslibres.blogspot.com/
Renegade Eye is a collective blog comprised of alternative, independent journalists. The contributors have a hodge-podge of expertise and interests, all coming from different regions of the world, which leads to a well rounded and refreshing coverage of global issues/events (at least in the articles I have read).
http://advant.blogspot.com/
http://mujereslibres.blogspot.com/
Renegade Eye is a collective blog comprised of alternative, independent journalists. The contributors have a hodge-podge of expertise and interests, all coming from different regions of the world, which leads to a well rounded and refreshing coverage of global issues/events (at least in the articles I have read).
http://advant.blogspot.com/
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Public Access TV—Discussion Questions
1. What makes video different than some of the other forms of alt media we’ve talked about?
2. Is it an effective tool for democratic communication?
3. What does Stein’s study conclude?
4. What do public access stations have in common? (303)
5. What are the immediate concerns or goals of all three cases?
6. How do the three stations described in the chapter foster democratic communication?
7. What does this have to do with hegemony and the public sphere?
2. Is it an effective tool for democratic communication?
3. What does Stein’s study conclude?
4. What do public access stations have in common? (303)
5. What are the immediate concerns or goals of all three cases?
6. How do the three stations described in the chapter foster democratic communication?
7. What does this have to do with hegemony and the public sphere?
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Things to Review for the the Midterm
Popular vs mass media
Textual poachers
Audience
Hegemony
Counter-hegemony
Radical media
Detournment/Culture Jamming
Public Sphere
Ideology
Mass media press
Frames/framing
Muckraking
Print
Zines
Radio
Video
Some of the cases to be familiar with:
Intellectual property
Yesmen
SDS
KPFA
FIRE
Adbusters
Witness
DOM
(these last two we'll go over in class)
Textual poachers
Audience
Hegemony
Counter-hegemony
Radical media
Detournment/Culture Jamming
Public Sphere
Ideology
Mass media press
Frames/framing
Muckraking
Zines
Radio
Video
Some of the cases to be familiar with:
Intellectual property
Yesmen
SDS
KPFA
FIRE
Adbusters
Witness
DOM
(these last two we'll go over in class)
Monday, January 26, 2009
Microsoft Songsmith Remixes
Microsoft Research Labs has come up with some interesting software called Songsmith, and if you already haven't seen the web ad, here it is:
(Notice that even though this is an official Microsoft Research Labs video, everyone in the video is using a Mac... hmmmm)
Okay, I know what you're thinking. Is this for real? Sadly, it is. A small youtube phenomenon has cropped up in the past couple weeks; remixes of well-known songs using Songsmith, with new instrumentation, reapplied to the original music video. Many of these are just plain ridiculous, almost as ridiculous as MS Songsmith itself. Here are a couple my favorites.
Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
Running with the Devil - Van Halen
UPDATE: I've found a little bit more explanation about Songsmith. Leo Laporte explained the origin of the software in his podcast, TWIT (This Week in Tech). Apparently a couple of people from MS Research Labs pitched the software to MS, but they weren't ready to consider it a product (this is an interesting division in MS I wasn't aware of). So, the developers, on their own, hired a company to make the ad and apparently they made it available for sale on the MS Research Lab site. If you want to listen to the podcast, go to http://twit.tv/179 (the discussion is about 48 minutes in).
(Notice that even though this is an official Microsoft Research Labs video, everyone in the video is using a Mac... hmmmm)
Okay, I know what you're thinking. Is this for real? Sadly, it is. A small youtube phenomenon has cropped up in the past couple weeks; remixes of well-known songs using Songsmith, with new instrumentation, reapplied to the original music video. Many of these are just plain ridiculous, almost as ridiculous as MS Songsmith itself. Here are a couple my favorites.
Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
Running with the Devil - Van Halen
UPDATE: I've found a little bit more explanation about Songsmith. Leo Laporte explained the origin of the software in his podcast, TWIT (This Week in Tech). Apparently a couple of people from MS Research Labs pitched the software to MS, but they weren't ready to consider it a product (this is an interesting division in MS I wasn't aware of). So, the developers, on their own, hired a company to make the ad and apparently they made it available for sale on the MS Research Lab site. If you want to listen to the podcast, go to http://twit.tv/179 (the discussion is about 48 minutes in).
Obama
First and foremost I wanted to say that I feel priveldged to be able to be part of this history in making. Obama is creating a powerful message weather others want to think so or not. The fact that I am alive and able to participate in this time is sensational. Although now that Obama is president talk is cheap and people want to see action. I would like to take a minute and discuss what I though the highlights of the inaguration were, as well as how this historical moment proliferates the question which is underlined in our class. I throughly enjoyed Obama's speech and thought it was different from pervious speechs performed by other presidents. He expressed that our nation is one, unity is the key. His speech was very we-centered. In addition to stating that our nation together must pull ourselves out of this slump, he also gives grants to the public. He does not make a distinction between the government and the people, he truly believes we are one, that the people run the government. That our nation depends on us, even though both our economy and hopes are down. Another point I found espically apperant was his frankness. Obama did not try and sugar coat anything, he told us the candid truth, but with confidence that life will go on.
Moreover now that the radical side has risen to the top, the question our class hopes to find an answer to will come forth. What happens when radical becomes mainstream? Now that Obama is the government, and in theory the people are the governemnt. What will the anarchist do? Since now the minorities seem to have power, more control than ever. What will happen to that counterculture? The only answer I can conclude to is that eventually it will open other people's eye to different lifestyles, and relalize that they are perfectly okay. On the otherhand, I do not believe that I will ever see a time where there is no such thing as radical, it is a cycle, at least right now. If the radical rises then that in fact will be mainstream, and vice versa. One day I hope that all people will at least look for the understanding to feel for another who may be opposite of them. This is when I think radical will be no more. When we can all live in a world filled of peace and understanding.
Moreover now that the radical side has risen to the top, the question our class hopes to find an answer to will come forth. What happens when radical becomes mainstream? Now that Obama is the government, and in theory the people are the governemnt. What will the anarchist do? Since now the minorities seem to have power, more control than ever. What will happen to that counterculture? The only answer I can conclude to is that eventually it will open other people's eye to different lifestyles, and relalize that they are perfectly okay. On the otherhand, I do not believe that I will ever see a time where there is no such thing as radical, it is a cycle, at least right now. If the radical rises then that in fact will be mainstream, and vice versa. One day I hope that all people will at least look for the understanding to feel for another who may be opposite of them. This is when I think radical will be no more. When we can all live in a world filled of peace and understanding.
Friday, January 23, 2009
reading for Tuesday
Hi All:
I emailed everyone the article. Email to let me know if you didn't get it and I'll send it again. (adrienne.russell@du.edu)
And don't forget to check out FIRE.
I emailed everyone the article. Email to let me know if you didn't get it and I'll send it again. (adrienne.russell@du.edu)
And don't forget to check out FIRE.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Detournement and culture jamming
Hi everyone!
I have never actually blogged anything...this is all new to me. so hopefully I won't make a complete fool of myself. anyway the other class when we talked about that fancy french word 'detournement' we discussed how in ch 5 pg 59 it meant "subversion and diversion" "redeploying official visual imagery to subvert the established order." In the book it described groups like surrealists and situationalists which took part in this movement of radical media. As I was going through some past papers I had read in a communications in popular culture class, we read an article on culture jamming. I am not sure if the article link is posted right....but it's called culture jam by kalle lasn.
it is basically about the situationalists and what they did. I thought detournement fit in with culture jammers because they subvert the ideology of what culture is. They rebel against the norm of society.
file://culturejamming
I have never actually blogged anything...this is all new to me. so hopefully I won't make a complete fool of myself. anyway the other class when we talked about that fancy french word 'detournement' we discussed how in ch 5 pg 59 it meant "subversion and diversion" "redeploying official visual imagery to subvert the established order." In the book it described groups like surrealists and situationalists which took part in this movement of radical media. As I was going through some past papers I had read in a communications in popular culture class, we read an article on culture jamming. I am not sure if the article link is posted right....but it's called culture jam by kalle lasn.
it is basically about the situationalists and what they did. I thought detournement fit in with culture jammers because they subvert the ideology of what culture is. They rebel against the norm of society.
file://culturejamming
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Jaydiohead
Related to the idea of remix and mash-ups, make sure and check out Jaydiohead, by Minty Fresh Beats. This is similar to the idea of the Grey Album, except with Jay-Z laid over Radiohead instead of the Beatles. The tracks are available for download on the site. Get them while you can!
The tracks are very well mixed, and tend to lean towards putting Jay-Z lyrics over Radiohead music. It isn't the first time we've seen remixes of Radiohead's music. The band put up a site that has challenged fans to use the "stems" from select songs on their latest album In Rainbows for a remix. Being a HUGE Radiohead fan myself, I think this what Minty Fresh Beats has done here has the potential to be incredibly transformative.
Radiohead has a reputation for being radical in many instances. Their album In Rainbows was released on the Internet with a "name your own price" model. Although this has already been done before by artists such as Prince, it's never been done on such a large scale (the act was seen as a big fat middle finger to the music industry). Thom Yorke, the lead singer of Radiohead, who has an anti-WTO and anti-globalization stance has been involved with a good number of activist causes. Although their lyrics tend to be cryptic at times, with albums such as Hail to the Thief, it's not too hard to understand that their lyrics tend to a somber critique of the world we live in.
I'm looking forward to taking a closer listen to the juxtaposition of the two artists and see what radical messages emerge. I'm not too familiar with Jay-Z, so if anybody has any insight into some of these remixes, I'd love to hear your take on them. Here's a quick preview of one of the tracks, "Wrong Prayer". It also looks like Minty Fresh Beats is offering up the ability for people to make their own videos to go along with the songs, and the best will replace what they have posted!
Internet as New Radical Media
Hey gals and guys!
So, the Internet is, in my opinion, the ultimate Radical Media because it is practically free, and it can reach millions in a couple of clicks.
I want to share with you these media, which I will present in class today:
AVAAZ.org
SEIU.org
RestoreTheRepublic.com
RepublicMagazine.com
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Example of Detournement in the Fine Art World
Following our discussion of detournement last class, I stumbled upon a fine art example that was actually on display at the Denver Art Museum as a part of the temporary modern art exhibition RADAR two years ago.
When considering detournement, which could be defined as reapproprating well-known media to create work with a different message, Japanese artist Yasumasa Morimura's subversion of the iconic Mona Lisa immediately came to mind.
Morimura appropriates da Vinci's famous Mona Lisa in his triology, Monna Lisa in Its Origin (1998), Monna Lisa in Pregnancy (1998), and Monna Lisa in the Third Place (1998). In the gallery world of "high art," Morimura takes an almost religious image and subverts its meaning by inserting his own image into da Vinci's painting, as in the arms of Monna Lisa in Pregnancy.
Monna Lisa in Its Origin (1998)
Monna Lisa in Pregnancy (1998)
Monna Lisa in the Third Place (1998)
Defying the Mona Lisa's demure, feminine smile, Morimura turns her into a gender-bending interpretation of reproduction. Perhaps Morimura is commenting on the fact that the original Mona Lisa might have been a gender-transformed portrait of the artist, Leonardo da Vinci. His work could also be commenting on the limits of the binary gender structure by presenting the image of a pregnant iconic female, transformed into a sort of half-male.
I also thought the subversion of environment was interesting, as in the second image, where Morimura depicts scenes from the Allied bombing of Nagasaki in the background. In the third, we see the background of another one of da Vinci's works, The Virgin of the Rocks. Does this deterioration of location, from idyllic curving paths and majestic hills to an obviously barren, human-destroyed wasteland to a sort of dark, underground cave counteract the creation of life apparent in the Mona Lisa figure herself?
Whatever his purpose, Morimura obviously partook in a form of culture jamming that plays both on the pretension of the art world and gender barriers. Although his work may not be as ubiquitious as a remixed movie trailer on YouTube, Morimura takes detournement into a plane of "higher culture,"introducing the subversion of popular (if old, and even iconic) media into modern discussion.
In this vein, another example to point out would be the different versions of the Mona Lisa found on a Spanish-language blog, Antidepresivo. Even more examples can be uploaded by users at Mega Mona Lisa. These, which seem to fall more under the category of culture jamming, comment on the ubiquity of the Mona Lisa image while simultaneously commenting on the ubiquity of such pop culture phenomenons as reality stars (Paris Hilton), music icons (Marilyn Manson), fads (Barbie), and film (Pulp Fiction), among others.
Two of Antidepresivo's versions of the Mona Lisa, as Paris Hilton and Marge Simpson
When considering detournement, which could be defined as reapproprating well-known media to create work with a different message, Japanese artist Yasumasa Morimura's subversion of the iconic Mona Lisa immediately came to mind.
Morimura appropriates da Vinci's famous Mona Lisa in his triology, Monna Lisa in Its Origin (1998), Monna Lisa in Pregnancy (1998), and Monna Lisa in the Third Place (1998). In the gallery world of "high art," Morimura takes an almost religious image and subverts its meaning by inserting his own image into da Vinci's painting, as in the arms of Monna Lisa in Pregnancy.
Monna Lisa in Its Origin (1998)
Monna Lisa in Pregnancy (1998)
Monna Lisa in the Third Place (1998)
Defying the Mona Lisa's demure, feminine smile, Morimura turns her into a gender-bending interpretation of reproduction. Perhaps Morimura is commenting on the fact that the original Mona Lisa might have been a gender-transformed portrait of the artist, Leonardo da Vinci. His work could also be commenting on the limits of the binary gender structure by presenting the image of a pregnant iconic female, transformed into a sort of half-male.
I also thought the subversion of environment was interesting, as in the second image, where Morimura depicts scenes from the Allied bombing of Nagasaki in the background. In the third, we see the background of another one of da Vinci's works, The Virgin of the Rocks. Does this deterioration of location, from idyllic curving paths and majestic hills to an obviously barren, human-destroyed wasteland to a sort of dark, underground cave counteract the creation of life apparent in the Mona Lisa figure herself?
Whatever his purpose, Morimura obviously partook in a form of culture jamming that plays both on the pretension of the art world and gender barriers. Although his work may not be as ubiquitious as a remixed movie trailer on YouTube, Morimura takes detournement into a plane of "higher culture,"introducing the subversion of popular (if old, and even iconic) media into modern discussion.
In this vein, another example to point out would be the different versions of the Mona Lisa found on a Spanish-language blog, Antidepresivo. Even more examples can be uploaded by users at Mega Mona Lisa. These, which seem to fall more under the category of culture jamming, comment on the ubiquity of the Mona Lisa image while simultaneously commenting on the ubiquity of such pop culture phenomenons as reality stars (Paris Hilton), music icons (Marilyn Manson), fads (Barbie), and film (Pulp Fiction), among others.
Two of Antidepresivo's versions of the Mona Lisa, as Paris Hilton and Marge Simpson
Friday, January 16, 2009
Readings on the Press
Sorry, everyone! This is the reading for Thursday!!!! Just read chapters Downing 10, 11, 12, 14 and we'll discuss them in class on Tuesday.
Reading for Tuesday is:
1) Downing 13;
2) Randolph T. Holhut’s A Brief History of American Alternative Journalism in the Twentieth Century ;
3) Stephen Perkins’ Approaching the '80s Zine Scene: A Background Survey & Selected Annotated Bibliography .
Downing chapter
How did radical media foment the French Revolution?
What are some of the other historical movements that depended on radical publications?
What makes comics or novels “radical”?
A Brief History....
What’s a muckracker and what conditions let to their emergence and widespread popularity?
Why did its popularity fade? And why was it revived in the 60s?
What was “New journalism” created early in the 60s?
What are some examples of print alternative journalism that exists today?
Approaching the 80s Zine Scene
What is a zine?
In what way or under what circumstances are fanzines political (this is not really in the reading, you just need to think about it). Why were people so into their punk zines?
What role did zines play in 60’s countercultural movements?
How do art publications contribute to alternative discourse?
What do zines do?
Reading for Tuesday is:
1) Downing 13;
2) Randolph T. Holhut’s A Brief History of American Alternative Journalism in the Twentieth Century ;
3) Stephen Perkins’ Approaching the '80s Zine Scene: A Background Survey & Selected Annotated Bibliography .
Downing chapter
How did radical media foment the French Revolution?
What are some of the other historical movements that depended on radical publications?
What makes comics or novels “radical”?
A Brief History....
What’s a muckracker and what conditions let to their emergence and widespread popularity?
Why did its popularity fade? And why was it revived in the 60s?
What was “New journalism” created early in the 60s?
What are some examples of print alternative journalism that exists today?
Approaching the 80s Zine Scene
What is a zine?
In what way or under what circumstances are fanzines political (this is not really in the reading, you just need to think about it). Why were people so into their punk zines?
What role did zines play in 60’s countercultural movements?
How do art publications contribute to alternative discourse?
What do zines do?
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Gitlin discussion questions
Hi everyone. I know this reading is dense. Here are some questions to guide you through. Please be prepared to discuss them on Thursday. And please don’t be frustrated. Once we get some of these complex ideas down we will be moving on to the fun part—enjoying and critiquing radical media products!
1. What does Gitlin mean by ideology and by the statement “the mass media have become core systems for the distribution of ideology.”
2. What does he mean by the statement “Just as people as workers have no voice in what they make, how they make it, or how the product is distributed or used, so do people as producers of meaning have no voice in what the media make of what they say or do, or the context within which the media frame their activities.”
3. What happens when political movements rely on mass media?
4. What is a media frame? And what were some of the frames used in coverage of SDS described in the chapter Preliminaries?
5. According to Gans, what accounts for prevailing frames?
1. What does Gitlin mean by ideology and by the statement “the mass media have become core systems for the distribution of ideology.”
2. What does he mean by the statement “Just as people as workers have no voice in what they make, how they make it, or how the product is distributed or used, so do people as producers of meaning have no voice in what the media make of what they say or do, or the context within which the media frame their activities.”
3. What happens when political movements rely on mass media?
4. What is a media frame? And what were some of the frames used in coverage of SDS described in the chapter Preliminaries?
5. According to Gans, what accounts for prevailing frames?
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Zeitgeist
There are two separate movies on this sight the one that I was referring to in class is "ZEITGEIST: THE MOVIE" here is the link http://zeitgeistmovie.com/. Really interesting I can grantee you will mostly likely not get a sound night of sleep after watching. For me whatever your opinions might be about 9/11 the fact still remains several events of that day have been kept very secretive...but why?
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Terms and Ideas
In chapter 5 I found several things very interesting about the new terms that were presented as well as terms used in the past. I was especially stumped when I cam across a couple of new terms the first in particular wad dada, I found that it explained the cultural movement a little better on Wikipedia look it up if you as well would like some more background.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DadaThe idea and concept of aura seemed particularly interesting to me and while I tried to find a closer definition as well as more examples like the one given in chap. 5 I have yet to come across any others. The idea that a form of art could respond or have dialogue with the artist himself as to where this piece of art is going and what its influence is. Honestly if a piece of any form of art were to talk back to me as the artist I would expect that drugs were involved. On the other hand I can grasp the concept of wanting to have a dialogue between the “perceiver and the object.” I always find as well as Benjamin in chap. 5 that there will always be a hierarchy between creator and created, in art or in any case. What I like about the concept is that it can be applied to the media and technology something we have humans have created and now we look to for answers in daily life. By this I mean we look to entertain ourselves, we look to for information, communication, and sometimes for direction in life as well as in guidance. In chapter 4 the reference made to media that "if they watch it then we must be giving them what they want and need." I find this to be true but only to an extent we to tell the media what we want more of, and the media continues to inject the public with what they want the public to consume, and so the cycle continues.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Discussion Questions for Thursday Jan. 8
Q1: What are some of the different views of mass and popular culture?
Q2: What are some examples of mass culture being oppositional?
Q3: What are textual poachers (and what are some contemporary examples)?
Q4. Why/how do the terms popular culture and audience contradict each other?
Q5: How do the media serve to make us accept the status quo, in fact to make us feel like the way things are natural?
Q6: What is radical media?
Q7: What is the impact of small-scale radical media?
Q8: What is Scott's view of resistance?
Q2: What are some examples of mass culture being oppositional?
Q3: What are textual poachers (and what are some contemporary examples)?
Q4. Why/how do the terms popular culture and audience contradict each other?
Q5: How do the media serve to make us accept the status quo, in fact to make us feel like the way things are natural?
Q6: What is radical media?
Q7: What is the impact of small-scale radical media?
Q8: What is Scott's view of resistance?
Syllabus
Activist Media: A historical overview
MCOM 3150
DMST 3900
T TH 2:00-3:50 pm
Mass Communications Building 119
Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate
Professor Adrienne Russell
adrienne.russell@du.edu
Office hours: Sturm Hall 216 Tues 11-12 or by appointment
Course Blog http://2009activistmedia.blogspot.com/
In studying 1960s-era Students for a Democratic Society, Todd Gitlin demonstrated how the group’s attempts to attract media attention ended with its giving over the movement message to reporters and editors. Today’s alternative cultures use internet and mobile technologies to access and circulate mainstream information, but also to rapidly exchange information that exists outside mainstream media channels. Activist movements today with access to digital tools and networks are no longer dependent on newspapers and broadcast networks to represent them, to disseminate their messages. On the contrary, these wired cultures are developing sophisticated public relations strategies. We are, however, just beginning to see how the proliferation of alternative networks of communication, and the content, practices, and identities they facilitate, interact with traditional political and business organizations, as well as with traditional media products and practices. This course focuses on media activism over the past half-century tied to various movements. We’ll examine the similarities and differences among media strategies with an emphasis on contemporary protest movements and their use of new and old media.
Books
John Downing, Radical Media: Rebellious Communication and Social Movements
Graham Meikle, Future Active: Media Activism and the Internet
Blog
You will receive an invitation via email to join our blog group. Please follow the directions in the email. This is not an extended discussion format as much as it is a graffiti wall and an ongoing exercise in collaborative linking. At least 4 times over the course of the quarter you should contribute to our blog a link and a short review (1 paragraph) of a site, article, example of activist media, art project, news story, or other resource relevant to the reading assignments. Please also post on the blog highlights and links related to your presentation (see below).
Exam
There will be a midterm essay exam.
Presentation
In order to integrate diverse material into the course, each student will be asked to present in class an example of media activism (an ad, a website, a video clip, an article, a video game, organization etc.) and present it, explaining how it exemplifies, problematizes, or in some way helps illuminate an issue or idea that we are discussing in the course. The assignment is intentionally not strictly defined. Here are a few guidelines to consider as you plan your presentation: 1) you must show something in class; 2) be prepared to talk to the class about how your media product is related to a particular topic, issue, or theory; 3) consider preparing some questions for the class to encourage involvement in the analysis of your media product; 4) be prepared to speak for at least 10 minutes and not longer than 20 minutes; 5) be absolutely sure to present on the day on which you signed up to present; 6) come talk to me or send me an email if you need help coming up with or refining an idea.
Paper Prospectus
The research prospectus should serve as a plan for your research paper. It should be 3-4 double-spaced pages and should include:
1) a clear statement of your research question;
2) a description of specifically what you are going to look at (ie, audiences/users/producers, media content, media institutions);
3) an outline of the theoretical and empirical literature that will inform your work;
4) a preliminary bibliography.
Final Paper
Choose a theory presented in class or in the readings and apply it to a historical or conteporary activist media product, practice, or phenomenon. Your paper should explore the extent to which your theory is a useful way of understanding your particular object of study.
Your paper should be between 10-15 double-spaced pages and should use either APA or MLA style of bibliographic reference. All papers must build on literature in the field and include a literature review.
Talk to me if you have a different idea about what you would like to research and how you would like to approach your material.
Evaluation
Attendance/Participation 20 percent
Presentation and Blogging 20 percent
Midterm 30 percent
Final Paper and prospectus 30 percent
MCOM 3150
DMST 3900
T TH 2:00-3:50 pm
Mass Communications Building 119
Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate
Professor Adrienne Russell
adrienne.russell@du.edu
Office hours: Sturm Hall 216 Tues 11-12 or by appointment
Course Blog http://2009activistmedia.blogspot.com/
In studying 1960s-era Students for a Democratic Society, Todd Gitlin demonstrated how the group’s attempts to attract media attention ended with its giving over the movement message to reporters and editors. Today’s alternative cultures use internet and mobile technologies to access and circulate mainstream information, but also to rapidly exchange information that exists outside mainstream media channels. Activist movements today with access to digital tools and networks are no longer dependent on newspapers and broadcast networks to represent them, to disseminate their messages. On the contrary, these wired cultures are developing sophisticated public relations strategies. We are, however, just beginning to see how the proliferation of alternative networks of communication, and the content, practices, and identities they facilitate, interact with traditional political and business organizations, as well as with traditional media products and practices. This course focuses on media activism over the past half-century tied to various movements. We’ll examine the similarities and differences among media strategies with an emphasis on contemporary protest movements and their use of new and old media.
Books
John Downing, Radical Media: Rebellious Communication and Social Movements
Graham Meikle, Future Active: Media Activism and the Internet
Blog
You will receive an invitation via email to join our blog group. Please follow the directions in the email. This is not an extended discussion format as much as it is a graffiti wall and an ongoing exercise in collaborative linking. At least 4 times over the course of the quarter you should contribute to our blog a link and a short review (1 paragraph) of a site, article, example of activist media, art project, news story, or other resource relevant to the reading assignments. Please also post on the blog highlights and links related to your presentation (see below).
Exam
There will be a midterm essay exam.
Presentation
In order to integrate diverse material into the course, each student will be asked to present in class an example of media activism (an ad, a website, a video clip, an article, a video game, organization etc.) and present it, explaining how it exemplifies, problematizes, or in some way helps illuminate an issue or idea that we are discussing in the course. The assignment is intentionally not strictly defined. Here are a few guidelines to consider as you plan your presentation: 1) you must show something in class; 2) be prepared to talk to the class about how your media product is related to a particular topic, issue, or theory; 3) consider preparing some questions for the class to encourage involvement in the analysis of your media product; 4) be prepared to speak for at least 10 minutes and not longer than 20 minutes; 5) be absolutely sure to present on the day on which you signed up to present; 6) come talk to me or send me an email if you need help coming up with or refining an idea.
Paper Prospectus
The research prospectus should serve as a plan for your research paper. It should be 3-4 double-spaced pages and should include:
1) a clear statement of your research question;
2) a description of specifically what you are going to look at (ie, audiences/users/producers, media content, media institutions);
3) an outline of the theoretical and empirical literature that will inform your work;
4) a preliminary bibliography.
Final Paper
Choose a theory presented in class or in the readings and apply it to a historical or conteporary activist media product, practice, or phenomenon. Your paper should explore the extent to which your theory is a useful way of understanding your particular object of study.
Your paper should be between 10-15 double-spaced pages and should use either APA or MLA style of bibliographic reference. All papers must build on literature in the field and include a literature review.
Talk to me if you have a different idea about what you would like to research and how you would like to approach your material.
Evaluation
Attendance/Participation 20 percent
Presentation and Blogging 20 percent
Midterm 30 percent
Final Paper and prospectus 30 percent
Schedule
T 1/6 Introductions
TH 1/8 Towards a Definition of Alternative/Radical Media: Examining the Relationships between Culture and Politics, Content and Tactics
Reading: Downing 1, 2
T 1/13 Theories and Approaches to Media and Resistance: Networks, Community and Détournement
Reading: Downing 3, 4, 5; Wikipedia entry Detournment http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detournement
TH 1/15 The Whole World is Watching: The Relationship between Mainstream and Activist Media in the 60s
Reading: Todd Giltin hand-out
T 1/20 Radical Media and Resistance in Everyday Life
Reading: Downing 10, 11, 12, 14
TH 1/22 The Press
Reading: Downing 13; Randolph T. Holhut’s A Brief History of American Alternative Journalism in the Twentieth Century http://www.brasscheck.com/seldes/history.html; Stephen Perkins’ Approaching the '80s Zine Scene: A Background Survey & Selected Annotated Bibliography http://www.zinebook.com/resource/perkins.html
T1/27 Radio: FIRE; KPFA
Reading: Downing 15, 19, 21; FIRE www.radiofeminista.net
Guest speaker Margie Thompson of FIRE
Th 1/29 Film and Video
Reading: 16, 20
PAPER PROSPECTUS DUE
T 2/3 Estlow conference http://estlow.org/
Please come at noon to the Cable Center to hear Global Voices Online co-founder Ethan Zuckerman speak, and stay at the conference as long as you can.
Th 2/5 Midterm
T 2/10 Video Activism and the Making of SoleJourney
Guest speakers Sheila Shroeder and Kate Burns
Th 2/12 Field Trip to Denver Open Media 2:30-3:30
Please watch the video “Opening Access” before the fieldtrip http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4708457008927095699
T 2/17 Introduction to Digital Era Activism: The Internet and Mobile Digital Media
Special presentation by Liz Sanchez on mobile technologies and activism
Reading: Downing 17, Meikle 1, 2, TBA
Th 2/19 Power and the Politics of Representation
Reading: Meikle 3,4
T 2/24 no class
Th 2/26 Remix and Intellectual Property Reform
Reading: Lawerence Lessig Remix, introduction, link to come
Creative Commons http://creativecommons.org/
T 3/3 Culture Jamming/Hacking
Reading: Meikle 5,6,7
Th 3/5 The Yes Men
T 3/10 Presentations
RESEARCH PAPER DUE
TH 1/8 Towards a Definition of Alternative/Radical Media: Examining the Relationships between Culture and Politics, Content and Tactics
Reading: Downing 1, 2
T 1/13 Theories and Approaches to Media and Resistance: Networks, Community and Détournement
Reading: Downing 3, 4, 5; Wikipedia entry Detournment http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detournement
TH 1/15 The Whole World is Watching: The Relationship between Mainstream and Activist Media in the 60s
Reading: Todd Giltin hand-out
T 1/20 Radical Media and Resistance in Everyday Life
Reading: Downing 10, 11, 12, 14
TH 1/22 The Press
Reading: Downing 13; Randolph T. Holhut’s A Brief History of American Alternative Journalism in the Twentieth Century http://www.brasscheck.com/seldes/history.html; Stephen Perkins’ Approaching the '80s Zine Scene: A Background Survey & Selected Annotated Bibliography http://www.zinebook.com/resource/perkins.html
T1/27 Radio: FIRE; KPFA
Reading: Downing 15, 19, 21; FIRE www.radiofeminista.net
Guest speaker Margie Thompson of FIRE
Th 1/29 Film and Video
Reading: 16, 20
PAPER PROSPECTUS DUE
T 2/3 Estlow conference http://estlow.org/
Please come at noon to the Cable Center to hear Global Voices Online co-founder Ethan Zuckerman speak, and stay at the conference as long as you can.
Th 2/5 Midterm
T 2/10 Video Activism and the Making of SoleJourney
Guest speakers Sheila Shroeder and Kate Burns
Th 2/12 Field Trip to Denver Open Media 2:30-3:30
Please watch the video “Opening Access” before the fieldtrip http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4708457008927095699
T 2/17 Introduction to Digital Era Activism: The Internet and Mobile Digital Media
Special presentation by Liz Sanchez on mobile technologies and activism
Reading: Downing 17, Meikle 1, 2, TBA
Th 2/19 Power and the Politics of Representation
Reading: Meikle 3,4
T 2/24 no class
Th 2/26 Remix and Intellectual Property Reform
Reading: Lawerence Lessig Remix, introduction, link to come
Creative Commons http://creativecommons.org/
T 3/3 Culture Jamming/Hacking
Reading: Meikle 5,6,7
Th 3/5 The Yes Men
T 3/10 Presentations
RESEARCH PAPER DUE
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