Media in the Online Age: 2012

Thursday 14 June 2012

Friday 18 May 2012

Tuesday 27 March 2012

Friday 9 March 2012

One of the things that you could discuss in your exam is fandom. Below i've wrote a an exemplar paragraph.

Film fandom can involve participating in online discussion and posting to sites such as the Internet Movie Database (imdb.com), joining film clubs or groups, or producing one's own fan magazine or "fanzine." Being part of organized fandom—whether for a certain film or star—is, first and foremost, linked to values of participation and production. Henry Jenkin's argues that fandom exemplifies a participatory culture where film fans are interested in "further interaction with a larger social and cultural community" (Jenkins, 1992, p. 76). Film fans approach watching a film as just one stage within a wider process of consumption and production, with secondary texts such as promotional materials and reviews leading up to the moment of viewing, fanzine reviews and commentaries following the initial filmic encounter. It can be argued then, that web 2.0 allows for these processes to be realised. John Fiske outlines 3 categories of fandom: semiotic, enunciative and textual. It is enunciative and textual productivity that is enabled by the platforms of web 2.0. Enunciative productivity is fans communicating with one another about a film - web 2.0 allows this to occur through the use of online forums and fan review sites. Textual productivity exemplifies David Gauntlett's definition of web 2.0 as allowing people to be creative. Due to the proliferation of hardware and software and converging technologies fans can create media such as mash-up, tribute videos, posters and online fanzines and post them to sites such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and dedicated fansites. The Twlight Saga is a clear example of fans using the platforms of web 2.0 to their creative best (Here you would give examples of fan produced material). Moreover, the use of web 2.0 has seen a rise in comic cons whereby fans can meet up and act out scenes from films, dress up as characters etc. People from all around the world can communicate with each other and participate in such events. (Give an example of a comic con).

Fandom then, propelled by the platforms of web 2.0, can be argued to benefit and hinder the success of a film. Film producers can use the reaction to their film in order to gain an insight into it's impending success - this is a double ended approach as the negative of this is that a film doesn't do well at a box office following negative reviews. However, if those reviews are positive then it is a form of free advertising. Despite this form of viral advertising some would argue that traditional methods of advertising film are the better. Barbara Klinger argues that "Publicity texts can then focus on specific saleable items such as the star, the director, state-of-the-art special effects, or controversial issues or themes raised in the narrative. This means that any given film can be sold to different audiences by stressing different elements, whether matters of romance, special effects, or directorial "art."

Tuesday 6 March 2012

Research and Planning

Research & Planning on Prezi

Thursday 1 March 2012

Examiners PPT on the Critical Perspectives exam

G325 exam

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Monday 27 February 2012

Tips on Approaching a question

Approaching a Media in An Online Age exam question on Prezi

Thursday 23 February 2012

Future of the Media Industries

Ryan Davies introduced one of the A2 groups to a website called Kickstarter.com

http://www.kickstarter.com

Here bands / film producers etc. can pitch an idea to the virtual public and receive funding for their project.

Could this be an example that counteracts Tapscott and Williams and their notion of web 2.0 promoting a "free economy" or Charles Leadbeater who asks the question "what happens if we all freely share"? The idea that peep to peer sites that allow audience members to share their music provoking the debate that money is being robbed from then industry hence there is no money to re-invest in new artists and quality is hindered could be turned on it's head.

This new phenonomen, currently only in the US, could be the way forward. As Julian McDougall states "web 2.0 is more about the people and less about the media" - audience now have more choice over media that is commissioned - it's exactly what we want???

Will this idea grow?

Check out some film makers and music artists that have been raising funds to have their work professionally produced.

Music Example: Shadowboxers http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/797891872/the-shadowboxers-make-their-first-album?ref=category

Film Example: Home, James http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/426746540/home-james?ref=category

Huge thanks to Ryan for sharing this great example with us all.