Through the construction of my final paper, I have learned to thoroughly analyze the design, impact, and accessibility of the websites I navigate through on a daily basis. Before this class, I never would have given a second thought to how a website "came across" or looked to dictate whether I continued using it, as functionality was my only concern. Now, content and context both play into my day-to-day analysis of websites.
The final paper has proved more difficult than I expected, but with some hard work and research, I've been able to nearly finish it. I can't wait until it's done and turned in!!!
Monday, December 10, 2012
MDIA 4902 Blog Entry #7
My favorite module of the semester was Module #4!
I had never heard of the dot-com bubble despite growing up through it and even being an internet user during it. Not only was the information given along with the module informative and interesting, but I hope to use this valuable idea of business conservatism in the future! The discussions springing from this module on Blackboard were also my favorite; I learned from the instructor and students alike!
I had never heard of the dot-com bubble despite growing up through it and even being an internet user during it. Not only was the information given along with the module informative and interesting, but I hope to use this valuable idea of business conservatism in the future! The discussions springing from this module on Blackboard were also my favorite; I learned from the instructor and students alike!
MDIA 4902 Blog Entry #6
I have learned much from this class, especially in terms of advertising and marketing through social media. I had been exposed to these forms of business previously and frequently, but had never given them any analytical thought. Now that I have learned about the processes, goals, and shortcomings of social media marketing, I hope to fully use it to my advantage in the future.
The only drawback of this class, unfortunately, comes with the territory of being an online class; the lack of social interaction and face-to-face contact makes staying on top of assignments tedious and sometimes boring. If there would be any possibility for Skype conferences, group assignments, etc. then I think it would add some flavor to the class.
The only drawback of this class, unfortunately, comes with the territory of being an online class; the lack of social interaction and face-to-face contact makes staying on top of assignments tedious and sometimes boring. If there would be any possibility for Skype conferences, group assignments, etc. then I think it would add some flavor to the class.
Monday, November 7, 2011
One of the most exciting scenes from The Departed
I think that the theme of the movie is deception. It has multiple simultaneous and interweaving storylines, making for a very complex plot; this scene is part of the climax of the movie, unwinding a new fold with every gunshot and subsequent line of dialogue. This theme is active because there are no recurring lines of dialogue which would didactically "give it away".
The two strongest elements in this scene are rhythm and space.
The beginning and end of the scene utilize suspenseful yet fast rhythms, containing most of the action in the scene. The middle helps to build tension and calm to viewer, making for a much more exciting and unexpected climax. There is a steady rhythm between the first, second, and third gunshot. This rhythm certainly reinforces the theme of deception because just when the viewer becomes comfortable, another fold of the plot comes out and surprises them. This happens multiple times; after the first gunshot, the viewer might be on edge but they also probably don't expect another gunshot in the scene.
The spacing in this scene is important as well. Most of the camera shots are somewhat basic, with a lot of open space. This forces the viewer to focus on the actors rather than a busy background. Towards the end of the scene there is an example of deep space (when DiCaprio has been shot and the other two are in the elevator) when the officer walks into the foreground of the shot. The viewer's eyes ping-pong between the two officers in the elevator and the other one outside. This use of space also reinforces the theme of deception because the camera shots are deceivingly simple. The viewer probably doesn't expect a complex scene with such basic spacing.
I think that the theme of the movie is deception. It has multiple simultaneous and interweaving storylines, making for a very complex plot; this scene is part of the climax of the movie, unwinding a new fold with every gunshot and subsequent line of dialogue. This theme is active because there are no recurring lines of dialogue which would didactically "give it away".
The two strongest elements in this scene are rhythm and space.
The beginning and end of the scene utilize suspenseful yet fast rhythms, containing most of the action in the scene. The middle helps to build tension and calm to viewer, making for a much more exciting and unexpected climax. There is a steady rhythm between the first, second, and third gunshot. This rhythm certainly reinforces the theme of deception because just when the viewer becomes comfortable, another fold of the plot comes out and surprises them. This happens multiple times; after the first gunshot, the viewer might be on edge but they also probably don't expect another gunshot in the scene.
The spacing in this scene is important as well. Most of the camera shots are somewhat basic, with a lot of open space. This forces the viewer to focus on the actors rather than a busy background. Towards the end of the scene there is an example of deep space (when DiCaprio has been shot and the other two are in the elevator) when the officer walks into the foreground of the shot. The viewer's eyes ping-pong between the two officers in the elevator and the other one outside. This use of space also reinforces the theme of deception because the camera shots are deceivingly simple. The viewer probably doesn't expect a complex scene with such basic spacing.
Fear Factor
In David Rendall's, "The Freak Factor: Discovering Uniqueness by Flaunting Weakness" the author acknowledges and embraces our weaknesses.
He does this by using quotes, statistics, and other data on the way to telling us not to work on our weaknesses. For the most part, his suggestions seem valid; completely ignoring our weaknesses seems a bit far-fetched, but he has good intentions.
My favorite section was "Freak: The Power of Uniqueness". Rather than work to overcome our shortcomings, Rendall suggests that we embrace them; because every weakness is linked to a strength, working to rid ourselves of weakness may ultimately take away our strength. My favorite line in the whole article rounds out the discussion, "...how many people would travel halfway around
the world to see the Perfectly Vertical and Normal tower of Pisa?" As I stated before, Rendall certainly has good intentions, but I'm not entirely sold on the validity of these statements. Sure, it is inspiring to embrace weaknesses and overcome the naysayers, but I'm sure there are people out there that have failed because they didn't steer away from a weakness. The Tower of Pisa is a great example that is sure to sway some readers, but a comparison of people to buildings strikes me as kind of "out there". I'm just as tempted as the next reader to believe these uplifting examples and other sources; the author has collected a solid amount of data to support his claims, but I wonder how much evidence could be stacked against this argument. I am obviously speculating, but I think it would be foolish to jump headlong into believing Rendall's arguments.
"Flawless: There's Nothing Wrong With You" looks to link strengths with a corresponding weakness. Some of these certainly connect with one another, whereas others are a stretch in my opinion. I think that this section is almost a crutch for people to read and feel better about themselves; this isn't necessarily a bad thing, but rejecting the improvement of weaknesses (as is suggested here) just seems irresponsible. I enjoyed Rendall's section on messiness/disorganization. While I never saw my messiness as a strength, it's interesting to see quotes from Andy Rooney and Einstein swearing by it. Maybe it has contributed to my creativity without me even knowing it. The "Addiction" sub-section was also very interesting; the re-channeling of an addictive personality is something I've thought about often. One of my friends has a very addictive personality coupled with addiction to drugs; when he is able to channel his energies toward something positive, it is impressive what he's able to do. I think that Rendall and Todd Candrell would agree that this type of personality is a gift and a curse.
"Fit: Find the Right Spot" is another section where Rendall uses a good example from a left-field source. The connection between Rudolph and finding your fit is terrific, but I'm still not sold on the author's selection of material. He does use real people sometimes, as in the last paragraph, but it's times like these where I am left scratching my head. A fictional character and a building probably don't have too much to extract in the way of realistic characteristics, but I'll keep it at that. As I stated before, this example is great. It is uplifting due to Rudolph's success in spite of his critics.
As far as my own creative process, I certainly view myself in a negative light (more weaknesses than strength). It is nearly impossible for me to begin on a project; I come up with a lot of ideas, but I struggle to put them in motion. I come up with an idea for a song, video, or lyrics multiple times every day. So I guess I could say that one of my strengths is creativity, and a flaw of mine would be that I'm unmotivated. Once I do start, I tend to be a perfectionist. This usually makes for a relatively good final product at the expense of time and energy. Another weakness of mine is that I have a hard time asking for help. This leads to me focusing more on solo projects and ideas rather than ideas that require a lot of manpower. Conversely, I am very willing to help others with their projects. I wonder if everyone is somewhat self-concious of their own projects despite being willing to help others. I think this goes back to acknowledging the lizard. I am also very unorganized, leading to a lot of lost ideas, possessions, and time searching for each of those things.
Brainwashed
In Seth Godin's article, "Brainwashed: Seven Ways to Reinvent Yourself" he outlines several tools that are available to anyone seeking to reinvent themselves.
"Acknowledge the Lizard", despite its seemingly strange title, presents a very intriguing point regarding artistic fear(s). No matter what we create, we want people to embrace it and appreciate it; at the first sign of disproval, our inherent artistic insecurity begins to eat at us.
In the "Connect" section, we learn that now is the time to strike; the modern surge of social media has brought much, much higher connectivity than humans had in the past.
"Be Generous" urges us to do just that. Even by doing something out of the kindness of your own heart, you are perpetuating the "tribal economy of individuals supporting one another".
To forward these ideas and connect them to my own creative efforts, consider this blog that I've been doing all quarter. Isn't Blogger itself a perfect example of "Connect"? Prior to the Internet age, how could I so easily voice my opinions to possibly be read by complete strangers? In this sense, blogging (and several other forms of Internet communication) is the modern, souped-up version of writing on bathroom walls. It is a legitimate way to publish original ideas, hopefully reaching as many people as possible. "Connect" essentially tells us that the problem of isolation is something of the past. The only thing standing between us and a breakthrough is effort. In this Internet age, we seem to be losing some amount of deep connection with family and friends, but that is balanced by the general gain of connectivity.
I really like the idea behind "Be Generous". It seems like less and less often that I hear about someone doing something "for the love" and/or completely detached from monetary gains. Anything can become a viable source of money nowadays, whether it's from advertising, sales, or subscription. This has taken the "love" (just the organic, raw, intriguing feeling surrounding a production) out of many art pieces. I think the biggest cause of this is the change in motive for artists; rather than asking, "What is the best way for me to share this with people?" the more popular question has become, "What is the best way for me to make money from this?" A return to the "primitive" idea of sharing ideas and art for free would be a great thing, but I don't think it will ever happen.
It's time to acknowledge this lizard. In Godin's summary of the lizard brain and "the resistance", he notes that the only thing holding people back from tapping into their artistic side is this "lizard brain" which has several natural fears. I certainly agree with him on this point. I feel like I am better off artistically after reading this article; it's not like I will throw my inhibitions to the wind and churn out a catalog of artistic works, but I will be better off by recognizing that I do have a fear of failure. Ignoring this skepticism is the key to finding true talent within yourself.
So, maybe these blogs aren't the most moving work I've done. I think they have definitely guided me in the right direction to becoming a more creative person.
"Acknowledge the Lizard", despite its seemingly strange title, presents a very intriguing point regarding artistic fear(s). No matter what we create, we want people to embrace it and appreciate it; at the first sign of disproval, our inherent artistic insecurity begins to eat at us.
In the "Connect" section, we learn that now is the time to strike; the modern surge of social media has brought much, much higher connectivity than humans had in the past.
"Be Generous" urges us to do just that. Even by doing something out of the kindness of your own heart, you are perpetuating the "tribal economy of individuals supporting one another".
To forward these ideas and connect them to my own creative efforts, consider this blog that I've been doing all quarter. Isn't Blogger itself a perfect example of "Connect"? Prior to the Internet age, how could I so easily voice my opinions to possibly be read by complete strangers? In this sense, blogging (and several other forms of Internet communication) is the modern, souped-up version of writing on bathroom walls. It is a legitimate way to publish original ideas, hopefully reaching as many people as possible. "Connect" essentially tells us that the problem of isolation is something of the past. The only thing standing between us and a breakthrough is effort. In this Internet age, we seem to be losing some amount of deep connection with family and friends, but that is balanced by the general gain of connectivity.
I really like the idea behind "Be Generous". It seems like less and less often that I hear about someone doing something "for the love" and/or completely detached from monetary gains. Anything can become a viable source of money nowadays, whether it's from advertising, sales, or subscription. This has taken the "love" (just the organic, raw, intriguing feeling surrounding a production) out of many art pieces. I think the biggest cause of this is the change in motive for artists; rather than asking, "What is the best way for me to share this with people?" the more popular question has become, "What is the best way for me to make money from this?" A return to the "primitive" idea of sharing ideas and art for free would be a great thing, but I don't think it will ever happen.
It's time to acknowledge this lizard. In Godin's summary of the lizard brain and "the resistance", he notes that the only thing holding people back from tapping into their artistic side is this "lizard brain" which has several natural fears. I certainly agree with him on this point. I feel like I am better off artistically after reading this article; it's not like I will throw my inhibitions to the wind and churn out a catalog of artistic works, but I will be better off by recognizing that I do have a fear of failure. Ignoring this skepticism is the key to finding true talent within yourself.
So, maybe these blogs aren't the most moving work I've done. I think they have definitely guided me in the right direction to becoming a more creative person.
Friday, October 28, 2011
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