Hannah Williams

Week 2: Performing me

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An Office Space that can be a Virtual Space?

Change can be good and change can be bad - but as Winston Churchill once said, “There is nothing wrong with change, if it’s in the right direction."

 Today's new media industry is changing in the right direction as it has revolutionised businesses, production, and working life. Gill (2007) states that,  "people in new media move rapidly between different kinds of employment – sometimes freelancing, sometimes working for a company, and at other times setting up their own business”. consequently, Camille (2011) stated in her blog that, “compared to industrialised labour where work was conducted in a factory along a production line, new media technologies has allowed labour to be performed anywhere in the world” (Leong in Camille, 2011).  Thus, there is no denying that new media has had a changing effect on the workplace; where the work place now offers the platform for flexibility, accessibility and versatility.  

Week seven's lecture discussed the positive attributes of new media and how new media provides its users with the ability to multi-task and connect with other people. Consequently, last weeks reading, “Informality is the new black,” highlighted six broad features of new media work. “These related to the opportunities it offered for autonomy and entrepreneurship, the playful and pleasurable nature of the work, the chances it offered to innovate, its potential as a medium for communication, its opportunities for community and political activism, and the ‘coolness’ of the industry” (Gill, 2007).

However, in Laura's blog, Laura states that there is one negative attribute of working in new media ...

Laura argues that the amount of flexibility new media provides its users with can have a negative effect as the workplace becomes virtual - not physical. "This implies workers rely less on their physical office, and more on the flexibility new media allows them" (Laura, 2011). 

Indeed,  this flexibility should be treated carefully. As Laura suggests, "too much, and the workplace invades your personal life. Too little, and the positives of new media aren’t utilised."

Reference:

Gill, R. (2007). Technobohemians of the new Cybertariat? New Media work in Amsterdam a decade after the web. Retrieved from http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher

Keating, C. (20011, April 17). The Virtual Office. [Web Blog]. Retrieved from http://camillekeating.tumblr.com/

Noonan, L. (2011, April 17). The flexibility of working with new media. [Web Blog Post]. Retrieved from http://laurasthoughtsonnewmedia.wordpress.com/

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Cyberchondria? Cyberquackery? What’s your symptom?

The emergence of health websites have lead to people being able to actively access health information online to ‘self-diagnose themselves’ – but they shouldn’t.  Individuals who have severe symptoms should see a real doctor - not ‘google doctor’.

Misdiagnosing yourself, over prescribing yourself, or buying medication online can lead to a serious health problem – a problem that could develop into a much more serious health issue than the symptom(s) that individuals believe they have. As Camille (2011) sates in her blog,“at the click of a mouse your symptoms of a headache or dizziness can lead you to a self-diagnosis of a stroke or a brain tumour”. This new media technology is encouraging“recipients of online health information [prone to having] outbreaks of ‘cyberchondria’ (or, worse still, potential victims of ‘cyberquackery’)” (Lewis, 2006).

To seek further information about online health information, I decided to go onto the website “Realage.com” which was referred to in Lewis' report - “Seeking health information on the internet: lifestyle choice or bad attack of cyberchondria?”. Although I am a happy and healthy 23-year old female (with no particular symptom of being unhealthy or sick) I did however, want to determine my “real age”.

After signing up to “realage.com,” I began the "real age" questionnaire. Through the process of answering copious amounts of questions (that delved into every aspect of life to obtain an answer), I began to reflect upon my age...  

Along my journey of reaching 23, I have endured a little too much sun, copious amounts alcohol, junk food and a few too many late nights… what if my real age is 30? Or 40? How much damage I have done to my “real age”?

What does this mean? What have I done? What can be done? Should I be worried? 

   Although I understand (to some degree) the reasons why individuals use online health websites, I do however agree with Kristy (2011), who states in her blog, “the internet is home to numerous “unofficial websites” that contain copious amounts of misleading and incorrect information (Mullner, quoted in Lewis 2006, 527).” 

  People go online and diagnose themselves through the facets of many health websites – but they shouldn’t.....I for one, refuse to obtain the symptoms of a “cyberchondriact” (which is why I never obtained my "real age" results!)

Reference:

Lewis, T. (2006) Seeking health information on the internet: lifestyle choice or bad attack of cyberchondria? Media, Culture and Society, 28(4), 521-539

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Lies, deceit & the Internet

Although “the internet [ranks] among humanities greatest technological and social achievements” (Lewondowsky, 2011), it is important to note that,  “…the Internet has also given rise to a dark side; namely [ethical and immoral issues]” (Lewondowsky, 2011).

In last weeks reading, Hamelink's piece focused on a general chapter that discusses what the increasing use of the Internet asks of us. His conclusions were derived from a specific view-point which led me to some confusion...

Hamelink's reading confronted me with the notion that, “lies and deceit are important tools in our social and personal communications" (Hamelink, 2006).  Is it true? Have I created a life that is made up of lies and deceit for the sake of social and personal communication?

No. I haven’t….I believe the Internet has.

According to (Hamelink, 2006), “the internet itself is part and parcel of a common and popular pattern of lies and deceit about the benefits of advanced information and communication technologies”. 

  The concept of the Internet has become a powerful tool, seeping into the realms of everyday lives, business, politics and social and personal communication.

  “It is obvious that on the Net all those moral issues that confront us in daily reality are again on the agenda. All the immoralities of physical life occur in virtual reality: censorship, lust for power, treason, stalking, lying, gossiping, peeping, stealing, cheating, seducing, breaking promises, insulting, and being unfaithful, unreliable, uncivilized, or abusive” (Hamelink, 2006). 

The Internet indeed poses ethical issues and moral problems. "The speed of digital communication does not create new forms of immorality, but makes it possible to commit immoral acts so fast that one hardly notices" (Hamelink, 2006). As Ally Atkins argues, “the anonymity of the internet has made it far easier for pedophiles and sexual predators, as well as identity thieves and other criminals”. Therefore, “the chance[s] of getting caught on the grounds of immoral behaviour has diminished considerably” (Hamelink, 2006). Moreover, "

  Why is it that, the Internet (and its dark side) has become such a powerful, yet immoral and problematic tool? 

The answer might lie in Leela's statement : "It is not this new technology that is a problem; it is how “we” are using it."

Reference: 

Hamelink, C. (2006). The Ethics of the Internet: Can we cope with Lies and Deceit on the Net? In Ideologies of the Internet, K. Sarikakis and D. Thussu. New Jersey: Hampton Press.

Lewondowsky, S. (2011). ABC. Bitten by a sock puppet, but the climate is still changing.  http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/45638.html (Accessed, March 24 2011). 

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Week 3: New Media Amusement Arcade: Music, Games & Films

“It is not just about the music industry. Television is feeling it. Radio is feeling it. Magazines are feeling it. Newspapers are feeling it. Movies are feeling it. Books are feeling it. Even websites and Blogs that act like mass media are feeling it too. What are they feeling? 

The end (as they have known it to be)” (Joel, 2008).

  The impending end of mass media?

  There is no denying that the social intake of Media is changing; creating a self-sufficient world. However, I am yet to decide for myself as to whether I believe there will actually be an end to Mass Media…

  In today’s society, people grow with, and become accustomed to the technology that surrounds them. Today, it seems that instead of sharing media together, we are individually enjoying and viewing media. Is this new behaviour reflected by the obvious opportunities and possibilities that are evident in today’s technology? Are we as individuals changing the Media industry too?   

I have never really considered the notion of how the social intake of the Media is changing - nor have I considered this notion to be the concept behind the “impending end of Mass Media”.  However, the ideas presented in last weeks reading, based on the changing nature of the film industry, with a specific focus on Bollywood have given me a lot more to consider.

The concepts behind the end of Mass Media correlate to the idea behind Bollywood’s new online distribution strategy. This new strategy is a model that hasn’t worked for Hollywood, but for India, it is the future (Singh, 2008). According to Kaushish (in Singh, 2008) (who believes technology has the potential to change the industry itself), - "digital distribution will lower barriers to entry for independent filmmakers."

In one respect, Bollywood’s new strategy is an example of a positive change. With Industry insiders estimating as much as 33% of Indian film companies' revenues being lost to piracy each year, with many of the counterfeits going to foreign markets – it is no wonder two major Bollywood studios aim to change this by making films directly available, via download, to the vast overseas market that contributes a fifth of the industry's revenues (Singh, 2008).

However, with “less than 1% of Indians hav[ing] access to the high-speed Internet connections that make downloads practical” (Singh, 2008), I believe “…theatres will remain movies' primary outlet for a while yet” (Singh, 2008).

  Reference:

 Image accessed: http://www.site-optimiser.com.au/page/3/

Joel, M. (2008). Mass media – mass destruction in Six Pixels of Separation - the blog. http://www.twistimage.com/blog/archives/mass-media---mass-destruction/ (accessed March 21, 2011).

  Singh, M. (2008). Bollywood’s Viral Video in Time International (Canada Edition), Vol. 171, Issue 14.  http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1713342,00.html (accessed via blackboard.qut.edu.au March 19, 2010)  

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Social networking sites are indeed BOOMING!

“Today, we are seeing the advent of social networks formed in cyberspace” (Donath & boyd 2004).

For centuries, artists would document individuals’ existence and status through painting a portrait. These portraits would often offer an illustration that suggested hints about the daily life of the individual – their profession, attitude or social standing (Rosen, 2007). “Today, our self-portraits are democratic and digital; they are crafted from pixels rather than paints. On social networking websites like MySpace and Facebook, our modern self-portraits feature background music, carefully manipulated photographs, stream-of-consciousness musings, and lists of our hobbies and friends” (Rosen, 2007). These “digital self portraits” displayed through social networking sites have become the platform for individuals’ identities (Donath & boyd 2004).

  “A persons identity on a social networking site is a deliberately constructed performance” (Pearson, 2009). 

Today, social networking sites have become an integral component in many individuals’ life, and we are seeing its impact culturally. Social and public displays of connection play in integral role in how an individual engages with other people and society. These individuals have come to rely on social connections in order to engage – their conversations have become the content of a social networking site (Pearson, 2009). People are accustomed to thinking of the on-line world as a social space – a space that lets you connect with other people, and is a space regarded as having many important functions. According to (Donath & boyd 2004), “the types of social networks that develop in different communities have a profound effect on the way people work, the opportunities they have, and the structure of their daily life. 

Without the social networking sites, it makes you wonder how people could ever survive without it. After all, “networks [have become] the extension of our social world” (Donath & boyd 2004).

 Jonath, J. and boyd, d. (2004). Public displays of connection.   BT Technology Journal , volume 22 (4): 71-82. (Accessed March 11, 2010 via blackboard.qut.edu.au) 

 Pearson. E. (2009). All the World Wide Web's a stage: the Performance of Identity in Online Social Networks. www.blackboard.qut.edu.au, (accessed 13 March, 2011).

 Rosen. C. (2007). The New Atlantis: Virtual Friendship and the new Narcissism. http://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/virtual-friendship-and-the-new-narcissism (accessed 13 March, 2010). 

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