One thing I think has changed or expanded for me since taking this course is the telling of fictional stories. I think I see more stories now or look for more stories. When looking for a story before, I'd crack open a book or select a story on my e-reader. Then, of course, there was video games, television, and movies. The two things that really stick out in my mind is Twitter Fiction, and the Inanimate Alice project.
Monday, 11 April 2016
Sunday, 10 April 2016
Module 11: Some takeaways, suggestions and Jack Kerouac
The presence, production
and power of “narratives” as the main discursive mode used online has been
explored in different modules of our seminar. We covered topics such as who
controls and develops these narratives and how their impact on individuals and
society as a whole is measured. The short answer to the question of who is in
control is “everyone”. The selfie assignment, in my opinion, was the best
example of that.
Peter Morin’s open letter
on the use of the word “curator” hit close to home, since I was already aware
of the issue professionally and the underlying frustration he was raising, but I
had never come across anyone who attempted to openly describe it in words
online.
An anecdote: I borrowed
Sven Birkerts’ The Gutenberg Elegies: The
Fate of Reading in an Electronic Age at the library to avoid photocopying
the assigned chapters, and ended up almost finishing it in one sitting! I
enjoyed the unpretentious way in which Birkerts described how books shape our
lives in the most intimate way and how the first encounters with certain
authors and their ideas have the potential not only to radically shift our
outlook on the world and on our relationships but significantly influence our
trajectories. I particularly enjoyed the Chapter where he describes his
discovery of Jack Kerouac. I tweeted a quote: @JessL
#NMN #kerouac #books “My contact with On the Road shook me awake. The title
alone got me excited.” – S. Birkerts
I think that this seminar
would benefit from addressing a number of questions related to online access and
the larger issues linked to the concept of the Digital Divide. If everyone is
expected to engage critically with the various narratives online that define who
we are as individuals and communities, which ultimately have real world impact;
i.e., If they gunned me down, which pictures would they use? Then how does someone
who does not have online access or lack computer literacy do this? Readings on topics related to access could
be added to the current reading list, and some of the MACT faculty could provide
guidance on topics such as online connectivity in Canada’s First Nation’s
reserves (Dr. McMahon) or IT stewardship programs in the Third World (Dr. Gow).
This being said Kerouac once said “Don't
use the phone. People are never ready to answer it. Use poetry.” I think the
same goes for the Internet.
Final Reflection, or, Musings on Sensemaking and the New Media
As I look back over the scope of the course, I recall beginning the process feeling that we would cover an enormous amount of territory -- and we did!There are two types of writing guilt:— Shit Academics Say (@AcademicsSay) April 7, 2016
1. "I should be writing"
2. "I should have written this sooner"
Friday, 8 April 2016
The End
image by Speg of the Pigs, used under Creative Commons license
So what did I learn?
Reflecting on NMN: Module 11
While I try to be introspective, reflecting on this class is difficult: it all happened so quickly!
Due to our projects on the topic, I have a larger appreciation of the selfie and its importance in identity formation. Instead of instantly decrying selfies as narcissism, I can now appreciate them as passing representations of selfhood. While I don't totally agree, I do see merit in Brian Droitcour's argument: "the real narcissists are the ones who never take selfies. They imagine their self as autonomous, hermetic—too precious to be shared" (2013).
I'm reassured that communication on micro-blogs can hold intrinsic social value. As people become increasing separated by technology, geography etc. some parts of our lizard brain still crave human connection. In the study Major Memory for Microblogs, the researchers found that "Facebook posts naturally producing deep social encoding" (Mickes, L. et al, 2013, p. 488). While Facebook and its competitors can't replace in-person social interaction, social media sites can be an adequate --albeit awkward-- substitute.
Also, from this study, it was gleaned that Facebook users were more likely to retain information that was "written casually by lay people, without professional [sic], or perhaps any, editing" (Mickes, L. et al, 2013, p. 488). Going forward, I think I can employ this knowledge in my journalism practice.
On a personal note, this Twitter conversation with Dr. Laccetti was significant for me. As it relates to our reading from Nathan Jurgenson (2012), I have reconciled myself with the idea of an "authentic" online persona, that rejects "the cultural norm that expects perfection, normalization, and unchanging behavior".
I have immensely enjoyed the creative nature of this course. Making podcasts, videos and multi-modal blogs have been such a treat. As an open studies student there was a learning curve. Thanks for your patience, fellow students and Dr. Laccetti.
Slainte!
References
Christensen, H.S. (2011). Political Activities on the Internet: Slacktivism or Political Participation by Other Means?. First Monday, http://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3336/2767, doi:10.5210/fm.v16i2.3336.
Droitcour, B. (26 April, 2013). Selfies and Selfiehood [blog]. Retrieved February 24, 2016, from https://culturetwo.wordpress.com/2013/04/26/selfies-and-selfiehood/.
Jurgenson, N. (26 November, 2012). “Glad I Didn’t Have Facebook in Highschool,” Cyborgology, http://thesocietypages.org/cyborgology/2012/11/26/glad-i-didnt-have-facebook-in-high-school.
Mickes, L., Darby, R., Hwe, V., Bajic, D., Warker, J., Harris, C., & Christenfeld, N. (2013). Major memory for microblogs. Memory & Cognition, 41(4), 481-489. doi:10.3758/s13421-012-0281-6.
Thomas, E. F., McGarty, C., Lala, G., Stuart, A., Hall, L. J., & Goddard, A. (2015). Whatever happened to Kony2012? Understanding a global Internet phenomenon as an emergent social identity. European Journal Of Social Psychology, 45(3), 356-367 12p. DOI:10.1002/ejsp.2094.
Due to our projects on the topic, I have a larger appreciation of the selfie and its importance in identity formation. Instead of instantly decrying selfies as narcissism, I can now appreciate them as passing representations of selfhood. While I don't totally agree, I do see merit in Brian Droitcour's argument: "the real narcissists are the ones who never take selfies. They imagine their self as autonomous, hermetic—too precious to be shared" (2013).
I'm reassured that communication on micro-blogs can hold intrinsic social value. As people become increasing separated by technology, geography etc. some parts of our lizard brain still crave human connection. In the study Major Memory for Microblogs, the researchers found that "Facebook posts naturally producing deep social encoding" (Mickes, L. et al, 2013, p. 488). While Facebook and its competitors can't replace in-person social interaction, social media sites can be an adequate --albeit awkward-- substitute.
Also, from this study, it was gleaned that Facebook users were more likely to retain information that was "written casually by lay people, without professional [sic], or perhaps any, editing" (Mickes, L. et al, 2013, p. 488). Going forward, I think I can employ this knowledge in my journalism practice.
On a personal note, this Twitter conversation with Dr. Laccetti was significant for me. As it relates to our reading from Nathan Jurgenson (2012), I have reconciled myself with the idea of an "authentic" online persona, that rejects "the cultural norm that expects perfection, normalization, and unchanging behavior".
Actually, I'm a little embarrassed of my Pinterest acct. I don't think it portrays the identity that I aspire to have. cc @JessL #NMN— Gwyneth Dunsford (@gwynduns) February 11, 2016
@JessL Struggle with the intellectual/feminine dichotomy.— Gwyneth Dunsford (@gwynduns) February 11, 2016
I'm still staunch in my dislike for online petitions. However, it's indisputable that online activism can create some positive outcomes. Many of our NMN readings support this assertion, but Henrik Serup Christensen perhaps puts it most concisely: "the Internet has a positive impact on off-line mobilization... it is a worst harmless fun and can at best help invigorate citizens" (2011).@JessL Ties to Jurgenson quote about "perfection, normalization and unchanging behaviour". https://t.co/RDcEGrYYyT— Gwyneth Dunsford (@gwynduns) February 11, 2016
I have immensely enjoyed the creative nature of this course. Making podcasts, videos and multi-modal blogs have been such a treat. As an open studies student there was a learning curve. Thanks for your patience, fellow students and Dr. Laccetti.
Slainte!
References
Christensen, H.S. (2011). Political Activities on the Internet: Slacktivism or Political Participation by Other Means?. First Monday, http://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3336/2767, doi:10.5210/fm.v16i2.3336.
Droitcour, B. (26 April, 2013). Selfies and Selfiehood [blog]. Retrieved February 24, 2016, from https://culturetwo.wordpress.com/2013/04/26/selfies-and-selfiehood/.
Jurgenson, N. (26 November, 2012). “Glad I Didn’t Have Facebook in Highschool,” Cyborgology, http://thesocietypages.org/cyborgology/2012/11/26/glad-i-didnt-have-facebook-in-high-school.
Mickes, L., Darby, R., Hwe, V., Bajic, D., Warker, J., Harris, C., & Christenfeld, N. (2013). Major memory for microblogs. Memory & Cognition, 41(4), 481-489. doi:10.3758/s13421-012-0281-6.
Thomas, E. F., McGarty, C., Lala, G., Stuart, A., Hall, L. J., & Goddard, A. (2015). Whatever happened to Kony2012? Understanding a global Internet phenomenon as an emergent social identity. European Journal Of Social Psychology, 45(3), 356-367 12p. DOI:10.1002/ejsp.2094.
An initial taxonomy for my Kickstarter experience
I did some Kickstarter surfing, which I typically have not done even though I have supported several Kickstarters, Indiegogos, and Kiva campaigns before. But the concept of looking for projects to support or browse for interest were never part of my naturally-occurring Kickstarter encounters.
I tried to select three that I think were representative of the broader patterns I was seeing in my searches, but also informed by my memories of prior exposure. The three projects are a performance art piece, a watchmaker, and a Lao coffee import.
Wednesday, 6 April 2016
Module 10: Alberta Kickstarter
Kickstarted Projects in Alberta
While sorting through the Kickstarter projects in Alberta, I chose to look at the Top 3 most funded campagins. All three of these campagins were located in Calgary, with two of them already being closed and successfully funded, moving toward production/delivary. Two of the projects were games, and one was a Microhabitat. The one campaign still open has already raised above and beyond their goal, and still has 21 days to go to receive funding.
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