Second Life Machinima

Machinima is a new medium in between film making and gaming. It is more cost effective than film making for film makers and students, but can be difficult to do. Anyone can use this new form of electronic art to create media, which is a great positive aspect, but with more amateurs using it, the quality of content goes down greatly. One example of machinima is the virtual world of Second Life where individuals go and create an avatar, or alter ego of sorts and meet and chat with other "second lifers." Until recently I had no idea such a world existed and that so many people are involved in it. I have to say, I find it somewhat disturbing. I agree completely that it creates alienation and a dis-association with real life and more important things going on in the world. Get out, make friends, real- life ones! I know this sounds harsh and I do understand how maybe it is easier for someone who finds it difficult to make friends for whatever reason, to make them anonymously, but i don't think it's very healthy. It's all pretty bizarre to me.

final project proposal

Group members:
me, Brianna and Si One
Proposal:
We are going to research the evolution of fashion and it's ever growing presence in the media. We are seperating this into three categories amongst ourselves 1.) the history of fashion 2.)the connection between fashion and film and t.v. 3.)the connection between fashion and music and celebrities.
Format: We will be using a MAC DVD program to present our project

comment 5-matthew's deconstruction of Amer. Apparel ad

Matthew says about the provocative American Apparel ad that there is no unhealthy aspect, that sex is healthy. While i agree with the latter, i disagree that this ad isn't unhealthy in any way. First of all anyone who knows Amer. App. knows that this theme of explicit sexuality has always been a staple of theirs just as much as that "oh so soft" basic tee, whether it be in there ads or catalogs. This was once ok when they were less well known and had primarily an adult customer, but know everyone knows and wears them, including young kids and i think their ads sends an unhealthy message of explicit sexuality that is not appropriate for the masses. My fourteen year old niece and her friends have a obsession with Amer. App. they have to have it according to them everyone does, which bothers me to think that when they see these images (half naked young women and men, posing in provocative ways) that it's the norm or that it's okay for them, it's all too creepy, much like the CEO of the company whom i've personally met, creepo!

comment 4- response to Brianna's comment

I definitely get what you're saying about art schools in particular being in the know and having access to new ways of doing things in this electronic culture. I was amazed when i first came to Otis(six years ago) that they were yet to be online! You could only get basic information about the school, but that was it and absolutely no student access or resources. They've luckily come a long way since then, but it was so surprising to me that this great and important art school that i was so excited to attend, would be so far behind, especially when it's students were so far ahead.

The blogging experience

This has been my first and last blogging experience. Up until this class I wasn't exactly sure what a blog was! I guess the idea is to have a place where you can let your thoughts run wild. In the blogoshere you are saying that you exist and you have something to say. It's somewhat like a journal, but instead of being tucked away in a drawer it's out there for all the world to read and even more interesting, to comment on. I can see how it can strike a healthy debate, but can also imagine it to be used to comment in a nasty and hurtful way by an anonymous viewer. I personally don't have too much interest in blogging because i'd rather have a conversation with a real life person in front of me. I also don't have time to sit in front of the computer for hours, i barely have time to respond to an email, let alone somone's blog.
I can see the interest, though. I think it is sort of great to be able to read someone's thoughts on a particular subject from one end of the world to the other and see how they differ. I can see how it can bring people togther in an organized way. A group can have a discussion and not have anyone talking over one another and although i'm sure it can get heated and argumentative, it could never be too threatening, especially in a physical way because it's just in writning and of course always anonymous.

Comment 3- Mike's take on McLuhan's thoughts

i though it was very interesting how you expanded on Mcluhan's idea of media, including clothing being an extension of ourselves and your examples of how it has changed us over time were right on. Now clothing is commonly worn to show individuality, which Mcluhan reminds us was not part of tribal man's community. People dress to express themselves and often to feel good about themselves; therefore the clothing becomes an extension of their mind and self perception.I also would have a hard time abandoning the t.v. because of the impact it could potentially have on me, but i do feel that as being part of this digital age and growing up with different forms of media constantly flashing in front of us, we have developed a type a screening defense that disregards any any unwanted information, sort of like an internal spam. We take in what interests us and ignore much of the rest

Comment 2- Aya's thoughts on Millenials

My parents are excatly the same way, that’s so funny! My mom doesn’t know how to put numbers in her phone or even how to check her voicemail! She can basically answer and hang up (sorry mom My dad mainly uses the internet to play poker and whenever my mom wants something looked up online she asks someone else to do it. It took years and a lot a coaxing for my parents to make the change from dial up to DSL and i don’t even want to mention wireless to them!There are many “boomers” who are just as in tune, if not more, to this new digital age, but many simply have no interest in it until it’s neccesary (for a job etc.) Even myself as a somewhat young person, feel pretty disengaged from the electronic environment. I got the basics down, but there’s just so much out there, so many gadgets, so many websites, it’s tough to keep up with it all, it’s easier to ignore it and get by without it, most of the time anyway.