Topic 8- Technology and Media [2]

Is there a possibility to reshape the (new) culture today via new technology, How?

Yes, possibilities are endless for this, as cultures have been ever evolving side-by-side with technology at the time since the old ages, and it won't be different now and in future. Consider the fact that in this age, people are starting to multitask and want things instantly. Technology is accomodating this need all the time. New graphic card models, bigger memory drives or faster processors are being built and created everyday. However, in the long term, human's yearning for more face to face communication and slower paced lifestyle will return. Fatigue might develop from juggling too many work at the same time and having to push self to work faster and faster.

Besides, entertainment can now be obtained one click away. It's never been easier compared to now where compact and light music players can be carried around. Not to mention, the ever-increasing memory space for more and more songs allows you to transfer all your favourite songs to listen to. Besides, energy capacity is higher, allowing you to listen to music throughout the day and even overnight. From walkmans, it evolves to CDplayers as tape casettes is replaced by Compact Discs, mp3 player, ipods, and so on.

"Human culture and technology are continually co-evolving in a dynamic relationship. All technologies develop in a particular cultural context as the result of changing needs or constraints. But once developed, a technology changes the culture that gave it birth. When a technology spreads to another culture, the cultural context affects the speed or way in which the technology is adopted and how it is used. The diffusion of technologies to other cultures changes those other cultures as well. The changes in culture that one technology creates may then influence the development of another or different technology.”

http://fubini.swarthmore.edu/~ENVS2/S2003/Amanda/Paper2technologyculture.htm

The future is hard to predict as they're many factors that depends on each other.
In conclusion, technology that is created based on culture, will form another culture.

Topic 8- Technology and Media [1]

It’s typical for a new technology to be adapted within a culture and used to support existing patterns of behavior. With your own relevant examples, answer these questions.

What kind of culture influences through technology can you see from today’s world?

Plastic surgery can be tracked along the history all the way back in 2'000 B.C. It was mainly focused on reconstructing and repairing the body.

According to Wikipedia
Reconstructive Plastic Surgery is performed to correct functional impairments caused by:

-burns
-traumatic injuries, such as facial bone fractures
-congenital abnormalities, such as cleft lip, or cleft palate
-developmental abnormalities
-infection or disease
-removal of cancers or tumours, such as a mastectomy for a breast cancer, a head and neck cancer and an abdominal invasion by a colon cancer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_surgery

Physical appearance is highly influential and regardless of other positive qualities, looks give first impression. Beauty is highly sought after as people [with sight] prefers things with aesthatic qualities; not just in a person's looks, but also in art, architecture, and so on. With good looks, it is a plus, even in career.
Self-consciousness and yearning to change one's appearance at will creates a particular demand for such services.

With new tools and methods being developed, technology for plastic surgery is applied in cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic surgery is enhancement or maintenance of physical aesthetism. Since the 20th century, cosmetic surgery mushroomed throughout the U.S.A.. Throughout the world, people who can afford the service will turn to cosmetic surgery as easy way out.People in this fast-paced age want things as soon as possible or instantly. Even heavy weight sufferers opt for liposuction instead of adapting a heathier lifestyle to lose weight fast.

The number of cosmetic surgeries performed in the United States has increased over 50 percent since the start of the century. Nearly 12 million cosmetic surgeries were performed in 2007, with the five most common being breast augmentation, liposuction, nasal surgery, eyelid surgery and abdominoplasty.The increased use of cosmetic surgery crosses racial and ethnic lines in the U.S., with increases seen among African-Americans and Hispanic Americans as well as Caucasian Americans. In Europe, the second largest market for cosmetic procedures, cosmetic surgery is a $2.2 billion business.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_surgery#Cosmetic_surgery

With more and more people undergoing cosmetic surgery, there'll be people with similar desired features, causing lack of uniqueness amongst individuals. If this goes on, inner beauty will shine after all; as looks does matter, but differences between individuals will rely on one's personality and capability.

Week 11 Reflection.

Been a very stressful week. The week started with Media Culture lecture.
Ms Helena was having sorethroat during the lecture. Pity her especially when the kids at the back are inconsiderately noisy. Hope she is well now. Anyways, this lecture relates us to the age we're born in, the information age. So we're supposedly have mild ADD symptom or something that we can't focus on something that's non-moving. Okay i have to oppose that part cos many of us still love to read books. and we CAN pay attention to lectures. [especially us girls at the front row. ignore the ones at the back... they're just.... no comment] Anyways, the video shown to us was jawdropping!!! XDDDD Most of us were envious at the free iphone for every student of the campus and everything is so convenient. T_T... sigh... no such luck for us.

The part about chinese invented gunpowder for uses in firecrackers / flamed arrows and such; and the westerns sees it as potential to create deadlier weapons. I understand this cultural need shift.. erm.. was it paradigm? I forgot the term. Things happen for a reason, and it leads to another thing. ok.. I don't make any sense. All in all, it was an interesting lecture.

Topic 7- Media Imperialism

The fact that Third World countries is constantly fed by Western news is destructive to the local industry and manipulating people's thoughts is unavoidable. This reliance on imported tv programmes from larger, more influential countries, especially U.S., will shape a country's culture over time. Moreover, U.S. is the largest exporter of television programmes. As a result, other countries' media content is largely influenced. Fabricated news and content affects viewers' knowledge about what is truly happening in the world, mostly for the main force's interests. This is also known as "cultural synchronization" which leads to "cultural compromise"

A man, who can see the effect of media beyond his time, accurately put this by :

Societies are shaped more by the nature of the media by which men communicate
than by the content of the communication

(Marshall McLuhan)

Television, for better or worse, has made the world smaller for the Inuit people and for all Canadians. It is our TV viewing that shapes our understanding of the world and ourselves. However, it is saturated with U.S. influence and media imperialism. How much television has affected our culture and sovereignty is yet to be seen. Only time will tell.

http://records.viu.ca/~soules/mtheory/vol2/woods3.htm

Topic 7- Media Imperialism

The video "The Power of Nightmares (Part 3 - Shadow in the Cave)" by Adam Curtis shows an example of media imperialism. This BBC documentary invoke fear in the people after 9/11 event by making false statements and accounts of empty harmless caves in arab to be arabian's underground fortress, innocent teenager's recording in Disneyland as a video to find spots for bomb-planting, and etc. The influential force fabricated the news to achieve certain motives for their own advantage, instead of giving truth to the fearful public. This video raised questions about who is the real terrorist after the 9/11 incident. Main forces control over media causes people to be fed with fake information. The worst thing is, people tend to rely on the news at crucial times like that, as they were more cautious. The public have fear inside them all the time, even when walking along the street, fearing their own safety and also of their loved ones. Media imperialism is all about how people's thoughts and culture is dominated by influential people as they control output of media.


These are a few posts about the truth behind the Iraqi war

President George W. Bush and seven of his administration's top officials, including Vice President Dick Cheney, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, made at least 935 false statements in the two years following September 11, 2001, about the national security threat posed by Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Nearly five years after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, an exhaustive examination of the record shows that the statements were part of an orchestrated campaign that effectively galvanized public opinion and, in the process, led the nation to war under decidedly false pretenses.

It is now beyond dispute that Iraq did not possess any weapons of mass destruction or have meaningful ties to Al Qaeda. This was the conclusion of numerous bipartisan government investigations, including those by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (2004 and 2006), the 9/11 Commission, and the multinational Iraq Survey Group, whose "Duelfer Report" established that Saddam Hussein had terminated Iraq's nuclear program in 1991 and made little effort to restart it.

President Bush, for example, made 232 false statements about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and another 28 false statements about Iraq's links to Al Qaeda. Secretary of State Powell had the second-highest total in the two-year period, with 244 false statements about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and 10 about Iraq's links to Al Qaeda. Rumsfeld and Fleischer each made 109 false statements, followed by Wolfowitz (with 85), Rice (with 56), Cheney (with 48), and McClellan (with 14).

http://projects.publicintegrity.org/WarCard/

The president said that while the administration never "said that the 9/11 attacks were orchestrated" with Iraqi help, "we did say there were numerous contacts between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda."

"The reason I keep insisting that there was a relationship between Iraq and Saddam and al Qaeda [is] because there was a relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda," Bush said.

In the lead-up to the Iraq war, Bush made stronger statements alleging cooperation between Iraq and al Qaeda.

In a October 2002 speech he said, "Iraq has trained al Qaeda members in bomb-making and poisons and deadly gases."

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/06/18/russia.warning/index.html

Topic 7- Media Imperialism

Topic 7:
The documentary entitled "The Power of Nightmares (Part 3 - Shadow in the Cave)" by Adam Curtis was shown in class on Monday. How do you relate the information given to you in the documentary to the theory of Media Imperialism that we talked about in lecture?


The Power of Nightmares - The Shadows in the Cave 3 of 6



http://www.wanttoknow.info/powerofnightmares

Week 10 Reflection

Was too preoccupied the night before with DF for Tuesday's 2nd assessment. So.. I overslept. -bows- Accidental.

The video "The Power of Nightmares" part 3 - The Shadows in the Cave was really interesting, and I can relate it to the influence of media world when it is monopolised or controlled. Large / powerful organizations can control the content of media, causing biased news and commercials. This is a common thing happening in the world now. I'll definitely watch the rest of the 6 parts of the power of nightmares after this.

Topic 6- McLuhan's "Tetrad of Media" on Instant Messenging

I have chosen to explain the effects of instant messaging on society using the “Tetrad of Media” theory by McLuhan.

Instant messaging are an extension of the human mouth because they are a tool of conversation. Its method of communication is through text.

The 4 laws of the of the Tetrad, phrased into questions, are:

What is enhanced?

Instant messaging (IM) enhances communication without any charge. It is convenient for fast-paced society as we can still chat with friends eventhough we are busy. We can catch up with multiple people at a time. IM also promotes socializing with clients or potential partners amongst workers while accomplishing task at hand. IM appears to satisfy our needs to connect with our loved ones.

What is made obsolete?
However, IM affects communication in real life, as quick and prompt texting still allows time to think of a response or editing it before hitting "SEND". With IM easily accessible, people seldom receive/make a call anymore unless the person is "offline". Personally, I've sent instant messages to my roomate, especially when we're both listening to music through headphones. This clearly shows how IM reduces "face-to-face oral communication". And no, that doesn't include having personal photo as IM avatar. IM distorts reality as a person might not have the same personality in real life compared to online persona. Not only that, written letters sent though the postal service is made obsolete in this information age.


What is retrieved that had been made obsolete earlier?
The new opportunities created by growth of IM is how people yearn for physical contact and oral communication with loved ones. As people get tired and confused with IM which the text language is increasing in abbreviations, people prefer a proper conversation. In a way, all the emotes of "hugs" or "mwah" does not satisfy human's longing for physical show of affection.

What is reversed when pushed to extremes?
The over-extension of IM will lead to increase in real life catching up or oral commucation.




References:
http://www.indranet.org/
http://www.masternewmedia.org
http://socialmediatrader.com

Week 9 Reflection

Today Mr Radzi Bedu gave us more details about the Assignment2- to write an abstract of maximum 800 words on Role of Media in Socializing; Discuss the human needs that the Media help satisdy in terms of News and Entertainment, which i had already finished. This time, he said that we have to use theories from week 1 - 12 lecture. That made me worry because I did not check whether the theory i used was in lecture. Fortunately, Mr. Radzi approved it but I still need to include list of references and resubmit. The lecture was interesting, but some parts he was too fast and his words are slurred and quick. I was intrigued by "The Media is the Massage".
I really thought it was a typo, till I read "mess age, message, mass age and massage". Really interesting. That a mistake by typewriter can turn into conveying his message perfectly. "Massage as man pummeled /molded? by media"

Topic 6- Media Effects Using McLuhan's "Tetrad of Media"

Using McLuhan's "Tetrad of Media" (see diagram below), choose a medium or media application or tool (e.g. newspaper, books, radio, tv, film, internet, computer games, handphone, instant messaging, blogging, online advertising, youtube, facebook etc.) and explain its media effects? Please refer to Week 9's lecture notes plus your own research to discuss this topic.


Media effects can be explored using these four McLuhan's original tetrad questions:

1) What does it extend?

2) What does it make obsolete?

3) What new opportunities does it create?

4) When it overextends, what does it reverse to?

I've attached the video below about how media is an extension of ourselves by McLuhan.

Obscenity, pornography and indecency [2]

The terms Obscenity, pornography and indecency are closely related, but they are different in ways such as:

Obscenity doesn't limit to matured content. Any act, verbally or non-verbally, that is offensive in nature in terms of religion, belief, and morals. Lewd comments or sexually suggestive acts are obscene as they are lustful. Not only that, torturing of innocent beings or acts of monstrosity that are disgustingly inhuman are offensive acts.

http://blog.hakmao.com

Obscene Interiors

South African artists Brandt Botes, aka Von Brandis

Indecency is viewed through the society, religion, or family's generally accepted standards of proper manners. The society's standard of moral acts and proper manners in old times are stricter than now. Any act that crosses the line of societal moral values will be deemed indecent. As an example, even now, Islam prohibits their female Muslim followers from joining beauty pageants as it'll mean exposing "aurat" [wrist, hair, ankles, chest area, waist navel, shape of body], especially in the swimming suit stage.

Pornography means creative works, such as painting, carving, filming, animation, drawing, etc; that contains sexual

[warning: matured content]
For example, the creative works below are pornographic material as they have sexual content or made to arouse lust.

The Cully Flaug'd

What Drudgery’s here, what Bridewell-like Correction!
To bring an Old Man, to an Insurrection.
Firk[1] on Fair Lady [,] Flaug the Fumblers Thighs [,]
Without such Conjuring th’ Devil will not rise

The work is obscene, as the work depicts matured content with views of bared private parts. The caption of the work states flogging as a sexual act that arouses men.

Lascivie

Engraving made by Agostino Carracci, Italy, 1585-1600.

credits to www.flicker.com

Obscenity, pornography and indecency [1]

Obscenity, pornography and indecency: What are the differences between these terms?

Obscenity is when a verbal or non-verbal act is offensive to others, while indecency is less so, but is still improper. Pornography is materials or works containing sexualcontents.

Obscenity

• the trait of behaving in an obscene manner
• an offensive or indecent word or phrase
  wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

• Obscenity (in Latin obscenus, meaning "foul, repulsive, detestable")
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obscenity

• Something that is obscene; An act of obscene behaviour; Specifically, an offensive word; a profanity; a dirty word
  en.wiktionary.org/wiki/obscenity

• obscene - designed to incite to indecency or lust; "the dance often becomes flagrantly obscene"-Margaret Mead
• obscene - abhorrent: offensive to the mind; "an abhorrent deed"; "the obscene massacre at Wounded Knee"; "morally repugnant customs"; "repulsive behavior"; "the most repulsive character in recent novels"
• obscene - lewd: suggestive of or tending to moral looseness; "lewd whisperings of a dirty old man"; "an indecent gesture"; "obscene telephone calls"; "salacious limericks"
  wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

• obscene - Offensive to the current standards of decency or morality; Lewd or lustful; Disgusting or repulsive; Beyond all reason; Liable to deprave or corrupt
  en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Obscene

Pornography

• creative activity (writing or pictures or films etc.) of no literary or artistic value other than to stimulate sexual desire
  wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

• Pornography or porn is the explicit depiction of sexual subject matter with the sole intention of sexually exciting the viewer. It is to a certain extent similar to erotica, which is the use of sexually arousing imagery.
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pornography

• pornographic - designed to arouse lust; "pornographic films and magazines"; "adult movies"
  wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

• pornographer - someone who presents shows or sells writing or pictures that are sexually explicit in violation of the community mores
  wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

• Writing intended to provoke feelings of lust in the reader. Such works are often condemned by critics and teachers, but those which can be shown to have literary value are viewed less harshly. ...
  www.gale.cengage.com/free_resources/glossary/glossary_p.htm

• Sexually explicit pictures, writing, or other material whose primary purpose is to cause sexual arousal.
  www.choicesaz.org/resources/glossary/

• With the exclusion of the tasteful use of nudity in artwork, images depicting pornographic acts including intercourse, masturbation, abuse or bestiality, and/or links to pornographic or offensive websites will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
  myfolio.com/terms.php

• The explicit description or exhibition of obscene literature, art or photography, generally intended to stimulate erotic rather than aesthetic or emotional feelings.
  www.qgcio.qld.gov.au/qgcio/resources/glossary/Pages/glossaryp.aspx

Indecency

• the quality of being indecent
• an indecent or improper act
  wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

• lack of decency; the property or degree of being indecent; something showing lack of decency; something such as a word that is indecent
  en.wiktionary.org/wiki/indecency

• indecent - not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society; "was buried with indecent haste"; "indecorous behavior ...
• indecent - offensive to good taste especially in sexual matters; "an earthy but not indecent story"; "an indecent gesture"
• indecent - offending against sexual mores in conduct or appearance; "a bathing suit considered indecent by local standards"
  wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

• indecent - offensive to good taste; not in keeping with conventional moral values; improper, immodest or unseemly
  en.wiktionary.org/wiki/indecent

Week 8 Reflection

I'm seriously displeased by today's class.
Not only did Mr. Radzi came in late 25 minutes, after giving the 2nd assignment, he dismissed it without taking attendance. Like I said before, it's unfair to those who came to class as they're students who skip..
As for now, we now got another workload on us by next week.
[which is also the week of DF 2nd assessment]
This week we have english and maths test. . . .

Week 7 Reflection

So far,I have been able to easily relate to all that I have learned in Media Culture class because I have experience it up close in real life. In every parts of the world, even here in Malaysia, people are using & referring to stereotypes constantly &, as such,they are also constantly influenced by it. Cultural stereotypes such as racism, gender & religion are all around us, & I see it constantly appearing on the media, such as newspapers, magazines, & global news channels on television. Therefore, I am thoroughly convinced that it's a universal fact, that cultural stereotypes is all around us, & there is no way of escaping it, since it is a prominent factor in this modern age of civilisation.

Media Literacy 2

Why is it important for you as FCM students to have it?

As an FCM student, I think that media literacy is important as I learn to become a wiser consumer and producer of information. When I consume media, I am capable of analyzing and interpreting media messages for authenticity, originality and bias. I am also aware of the fabrication that the media is capable of. Thus, not everything I learn is accepted easily. By being media illiterate, I am able to reflect media contents with careful rationalisation. This is important as I know how to look at an issue from different perspectives in order to know the facts from rumours and myths. Media literacy, in other words, is the critical understanding of media that is obtained by accessing, comparing, analysing, interpreting, evaluating, communicating information.

By having these awareness, I understand communication better and thus, I am able to produce better and clearer media messages. By producing own media products, it gives us an insight into the realities in media and compare it with the real world. When we successfully communicate our message to the audience, they would be better informed. This decreases the doubts and myths that circulates from poorly informed audience. In this society where representations and stereotypes are considered common, everyone and anyone should learn to see the truth behind popular informations which are mostly inaccurate. As a result, wise media comsumption can be learnt.

Media Literacy 1

What is media literacy?

"Media literacy is an informed, critical understanding of the mass media. It involves examining the techniques, technologies and institutions involved in media production; being able to critically analyze media messages; and recognizing the role audiences play in making meaning from those messages."

Source: Rick Shepherd, "Why Teach Media Literacy," Teach Magazine, Quadrant Educational Media Services, Toronto, ON, Canada, Oct/Nov 1993.

http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/teachers/media_literacy/what_is_media_literacy.cfm


"...media literacy is about more than just consuming information. A media literate individual is able to produce, create and successfully communicate information in all its forms..."

Media Literacy is the ability to acccess, analyze,evaluate and communicate information in a variety of format including print and nonprint.

http://www.ced.appstate.edu/departments/ci/programs/edmedia/medialit/article.html


There are several ways to approach media literacy,

Aesthetics and Appreciation
The study of the language, grammar, vocabulary of film, television and other media.

Production
"...hands-on application of and utilization of production values and techniques. This might include photography, cinematography and video production."

Citizenship
"...responsible citizenship involves... informed decision-making.Media literacy promotes the critical thinking skills necessary to understand the complex issues".

Protection
"To Develop Resistance to Media's Influences"

http://www.ced.appstate.edu/departments/ci/programs/edmedia/medialit/article3.html

Media Literacy

Week 7 's topic :
What is and why is it important for you as FCM students to have it?

Week 6 Reflection

It's Nabi Muhammad's birthday, so no class for this week's lecture~
But so far,Media Culture class has been very informative and increase my basic knowledge bout what's going on in the media world. Though it's a bit too fast paced, I can manage to keep up with the lecturers. Some attached articles and videos are very interesting, especially leaflefever's social media video. These make me enjoy doing the assignment. But compare it with articles with .. dozens of pages.. and only need to summarize 100 words from loads of facts.. Well.. I believe you understand. Anyways, classes had been fun and interesting.

Media Stereotype [2]

Stereotypes On Girls and Women In Media

Since ages ago, female stereotypes are widely exploited by media for entertainment, news, commercials and etc. Most commercials use beautiful female stars or models to promote their product. This seems to be targetting not only men, but also people of all ages and types.
For example; women who watches cosmetic commercials featuring beautiful faces will be attracted to purchase the product, believing that it will help them to look just as beautiful. Whereas, men's attention will be attracted to the beautiful promoters. [Men are scientifically proven to get attracted to visual stimulation easily]. Children too, seem to be fond of and prefer to watch beautiful female promoters. Overall, people are definitely more attracted to physical appearance, and the media exploits that aspect of viewers. Another reason for using stars and models to promote is the fact that fans will want to follow in their idols' footsteps and to be closer to their idols, even by just purchasing the products. The advertising company chooses the idols based on their target consumers. They will use hip and popular stars for younger market. Meanwhile, the company will use adult stars who still look youthful and has matured beauty for older market.


http://www.celebritycm.com/



Not only that, media also shape cultural ideas of beauty amongst female viewers. Once, the idea is that being blonde is most beautiful. This causes unfair judgement of beauty especially to exotic looking girls of different ethnic backgrounds. Now, the idea of beauty is to be skinny. Being thin is no longer enough, and this drives girls to be aneroxic or bulimic to feel beautiful. Fortunately, the runways are all slowly taking measures in limiting models to a particular minimum BMI index. As complaints were raised about too skinny models giving bad example to young girls.


www.peoplejam.com


get back to this later

Media Stereotype [1]

This is a very informative article on Media Stereotypes:-

http://web.media.mit.edu/~ayah/MediaTheories/

From your personal experience, what other media stereotype you have seen either on TV or in the movies?


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stereotypes On Men And Views of Masculinity In Media

Since my father's time, he watches shows with superhero-figure main characters. This creates a stereotype that all guys must be strong and good at fights. Guys are also expected to be able to save damsels in distress and win girls' hearts with strength. The main character always avoid being soft and emotional, on the other hand, he must be aggressive and win against his opponents via violence. By being powerful, the character will achieve respect from other male and female attention. Boys who imitate their favourite characters at the time keep engaging in fights that makes them think that violence is acceptable.


http://www.supermantv.net/

Not only that, media often potray male characters who are silent but strong. These characters are often in charge of the group of protagonists as they are decisive and responsible. They are silent as they do not show their real emotions and keep a calm and serene outlook. Somehow, this type of male stereotype attracts female adoration as well. Viewers will falsely assume that men should always be dominant in social relationships and must refrain from being sensitive or emotional as it is a sign of weakness.

Media Stereotyping- Definition

Give a very short basic explanation of what media stereotype is?

Media stereotype is very common in advertising and broadcasting industries. It will give the audiences a common view or understanding of a person relating to their gender, race, or occupation which will cause social prejudice, discrimination and inequality within a society.

Week 5 Reflection

The only thing I have to comment for this week's class is how the class's attendance is only given AFTER the class ends. Mr. Radzi saying that we could sign next week makes it unfair especially to those who attended the class. Since many classmates skipped just to prepare for DF assessment on the next day [which is postphoned to following week - just made my day] so most of them might take advantage of the fact that they can sign for the previous week as well in week 6.
The attendance for week 4's tutorial work on summary Mr. Radzi didn't collect during class. Instead, he lets us to submit next week. This really irked me, since I've done the summary, and a lot of people also didn't do it.... So unfair since I also needed all the time to prepare for other class's deadlines etc.


Anyways, the class was interesting. Since I'm interested in how War of the Worlds radio broadcast give such an impact during that time. Especially since they only have radio as one of their rare source of info.

Not Everything On The Internet Is REAL

Do you often take what is on the Internet as truth without thinking much about it?


I don't believe just any information on internet, because anyone can create a website and post their point of views of the matter without exposing their true identity.
Usually, people turn to Wikipedia.com for information instantly without researching further. The problem with wikipedia is, many people edit the informations on the page, causing variations. This is doubtful as a reliable source because personal views might affect the content.
To make sure your information is true, compare the content of researches from other sources. Especially websites that show the name of authors, this allows you to check whether they know that area well. I never trust one particular source but try to search other articles and research papers on the subject to verify facts.
As I do more researches on the subject, I will find that all of them have the same basic facts while the extra informations are often exaggerated or far-fetched. This is how I determine the facts from tons of search results.

Not Everything on Internet Is True-Effective Search

Do you often take what is on the Internet as truth without thinking much about it?

Seriously. No, I don't. I've been using the internet for a few years, so that's probably why. Since I learnt from mistakes in past and be wiser in getting information.

The problem is, people who are new to internet might type out something in the search engine and believe everything that they read from the search results. Veteran internet users who are more skilled at using the search engines will get more accurate information from reliable sources. For example, using the quotation marks for a phrase is more effective, instead of typing words separately [as it will give you results of each word, causing a confusingly high number of results]. Not only that, if you'd like to search for hairstyle in a bun, which will also yield results of the same meaning of the word such as bread products, veterans will type

bun "long hairstyle" updo -bread -yeast

this will help you get results of bun that is related to "long hairstyle" and updo minutes searches that has bread, or yeast in them.

By using more keywords and eliminating unnecessary results, you will get more accurate information that you need, and reduce the number of fake information gained.

2nd Blog Topic

Comic strip entitled

"Rumors, lies and innuendo spread far, wide, and fast on the Internet."

taken from "Introduction to Mass Communication: Media Literacy and Culture" by Stanley Baran, pg 324. (You can post this up in your blog)

This is the 2nd blog assignment, where I will post my own thoughts on this matter later:-

Do you often take what is on the Internet as truth without thinking much about it? If yes, why? If no, why? Discuss this in your own words.

Week 4 Reflection

First of all, I'll start with how this week's topic is like a stranger to us, as we never gone through Classical Sociological Theory and Media before.

Usually, when we make acquaintances, we will start slow and using lots of visual questions to know more. But for this class, a LOT of information in form of words and MOSTLY long sentences... have to be digested by the class. Not that I'm against reading, I love to read. But I hope the slides will include more graphical things, such as diagram or flow chart and pictures to help understanding.

One more thing is, I hope Mr. Radzi won't be too fast with his teaching and relate to the slides more as we needed to read + listen to his explanation. Honestly, that adds a little more to the confusion.

From this week's "Media & Society- Classical sociological Theory & Media", I have learnt about media as a tool that connects people, media models and theories of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber in classical sociology.

Social Media [3]

Another of my favourite social media is video sharing sites, most wellknown is Youtube.com.

In Youtube, you can post videos you made/ edited/ compilation of current issues, movies, music, sports, interest, tips, fashion, beauty, art, craft, tutorials and many more.
For free, anyone can host their own video in Youtube.

When members upload consistent genre of videos, they will gain followers who can suscribe to their channel. Suscribers can choose to be notified of new uploads or not. The more suscribers you gain, the more popular you get in the youtube community for the particular genre/ area of interest.

The rating system is useful for people who browse videos to decide whether it is worth the time to watch or move on to another video from the search results.
Below that, there is the comments section. Some uploaders disable the "add comment" option, but most of them allow comments. Viewers can post comments to share opinions after watching the video and discuss with other viewers. Not only that, comments let others know whether the video is good or bad, depending on the comments. Uploaders can get feedbacks from viewers, which may help in providing ideas to make a better version.

At the right side of the video, there is a section where many uploaders post the summary, copyrights, etc to let others know briefly what the video is about. Below that, there is the tags where you labels your videos with keywords so that it will appear in other's search engine. Then, you get the url and embed box. This helps viewers to instantly share the video with friends by sending link or posting the embedded code in blogsm social networking sites, personal websites and others. For example, in my Social Media post, I posted the embed code to share a Youtube video.

If you have a youtube account, you can add favourites and this can be seen in your channel. This allows people to share favourite videos with friends and families, thus spreading news and also the popularity of the video. You can get to particular uploaders that you like easily through the suscribes window.

Video sharing lets people to meet others with same interest. I benefit from video sharing sites a lot, especially for art and craft tutorials. I get to meet others who are interested in same kind of craft, art, music, martial arts techniques, particular fashion styles, animations, and other areas of interests and learn more from them. I usually search for tutorials and tips as I love learning new skills. Thus sclipo.com is my favourite video sharing site. I like to watch unique advertisements that have interesting and different ideas from mainstream ones. To me, they are creative, and the people who planned them do think outside the box.


This is a brief review on video sharing sites as a social media and how it affect my life and lives around me.

Social Media [2]

Another form of social media that is affecting my life and lives around me is the art sharing site DeviantArt

click here to experience deviantart

I myself joined the deviantart community since 2007, and still active until now. Deviantart in a nutshell is a place where artists, photographers, crafters, writers, animators, and other creative individuals share their work online.

It is a place where you can get constructive critisisms for your work from other members. This way, you can find out your weaknesses and strengths and improve from the comments. There are many tutorials and resources that is shared in deviantart. A specific category is dedicated to this in the browsing options. New skills can be learnt and own style can be developed as you explore deviantart.

Art theft can be prevented through the option "enable creative commons license" where no one is allowed to use your works for commercial purposes without your permission.

Do not shun away if you think you are not creative because you can also join the community just to appreciate the works by others. The option "Add a collection" /"Add as favourite" and "Watch this deviant" will allow you to collect your favourite deviations or deviants and share the collection with friends.



Deviantart also allows you to sell your artwork through prints. Various merchandise can be chosen for your work such as calender, mug, mousepad, canvas print, framed print, etc. You will gain a percentage of profit from the sales. You only have to check the option "Make it available for print" and deviantart do all the sales and production tasks.

There is also a forum inside deviantart, where you can find job enlistments and commission offers, and many other topics. Topics that are not related to art such as lifestyle, life problems etc are available for you to share personal issues.
There is also a chat section where you can join chatrooms under topics of discussion that you're interested in and have instant messenging to share your views in the site itself.

Besides, deviantart also have News section where people post news article on art community and other issues. This way, we can get to know the current hype and happenings, to see themed art features, etc

Social Media [1]

In a way, what I'm doing now is also a form of social media.
Blogging.

Before blogs are available, everyone get the news and informations from newspapers and other one-way medias. With the creation of blogs,everyone can now share their opinion on current issues or interests and be their own publisher.

Various blog hosting sites such as Blogger, LiveJournal and WordPress allow people to publish their blogs for free. This leads to the advent of mass sharing of diaries, interests, opinions, reviews, stories and others online.

For example, Blogger allows readers to post comments in a persons's blog. This will make it two-way communication between the blogger and the reader. This helps people to exchange their personal thoughts on the matter and thus, bloggers can include mass opinions in their posts and their own addition to them. Improvements and changes can be done in a blog post through the edit option.

Bloggers who are consistent with a blog will get followers who share the same ideations. For example, a blogger who discusses bout fashion and beauty consistently throughout all their blog posts will target particular type of readers. Same goes for bloggers who shares culinary art views, tips in cooking/baking and personal recipes, will attract another kind of followers.

Blogger allows people to share daily news and multimedia in their blog through customization options. As an example, in my previous post, I included the multimedia application of Youtube vid about Social Media that readers can watch in my blog.

Not only that, blogger can also post links to other bloggers who shares similar views by blogrolling. This is a common thing that bloggers does to spread popularity of their own blogs by in-and-out linking.


This is a brief personal account of how social media is affecting my life and lives around me.

Social Media

This is a short video on social media by leelefever.
It's an interesting video that uses simple yet effective way of explaining briefly what is social media.

I will write about how this new phenomenon is affecting my life and the lives around me in my following posts.