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Digital Story Map: The Embassy.
cherry valley forever
Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her

Janaina Medeiros
noise dept.

Product Placement

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Andulka
Peter Solarz

pixel skylines
Aqua Utopia|海の底で記憶を紡ぐ
Xuebing Du
d e v o n
KIROKAZE
Cosimo Galluzzi
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
ojovivo
Mike Driver

#extradirty
art blog(derogatory)

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@socialinteractivemedia17
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Digital Story Map: The Embassy.
Online Activism: Ban on Plastic Bags
{Week 12, Online Activism: Provide an example of an online activist campaign (e.g. a link to a news story, website, online petition, Facebook group, or something similar) and briefly explain the goals of the online action. Do you think your selected action has the potential to result in real-world change or is it merely an example of “slacktivism”? Why?}
One quite topical example of online activism at present is the wanted ban on plastic bags across New Zealand. We’re more conscious than ever about the waste we are producing and the way which we are living and treating our physical world. This is affecting our animal species and marine life, i mean we have all seen the heartbreaking images and videos of these effects.
[Truly heartbreaking video of a plastic straw being pulled out from a turtles nose.]
One way in which we are wanting to tackle this problem is through the reduction of plastic bags and hopefully total ban of plastic products. In New Zealand alone we use 1.6 Billion plastic bags each year, that’s nearly 1 for every single day of the year per person (1.6B/4.7M=340 bags), that’s ridiculous. This article explains the action 5 students from a Wellington school took in order to really shine a light on the stance they and 17,877 New Zealanders who signed their petition took on the matter.
However, this petition may get people thinking and get things started at the grassroots level but at the core action starts with you. Signing a petition is one thing but are you really taking action? Most often those signing the petition will see this as them doing their bit, but in reality the only way to truly make a change is if everyone who signed that petition really put into practice what they are trying to preach, by actually eliminating the plastic bags in their own household and life.
The Embassy Theatre: Wellington
{Week 11, Representing Space and Place: Locate the space/place you will build a story about for your digital storytelling assignment. Explain the various ways this space is represented in existing digital media/platforms. Who is the “author” of this space? In other words, what opportunities does the technology user have to contribute to the definition of this space/place?}
I have chosen to explore the history of the Embassy Theatre located on the corner of Kent Terrace and Majoribanks Street. The Embassy Theatre is a landmark building first built in 1926 then fully refurbished in 2003 as preparations for the World Premier of the famed The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
To the everyday user, The Embassy is generally seen as just another film theatre where they can watch newly released films as is the social norm nowadays. Although this is true, the theatre is known for so much more. One thing that attracts its visitors is the sheer beauty of the interior and grandeur of it’s architectural design. Such as the main entrance in which was “noted for its tiled walls; a feature that continued up the two marble lined staircases.”
[Image of the exterior of The Embassy Theatre: image sourced from https://www.wellingtonnz.com/discover/sights-activities/embassy-theatre/.]
[Interior of the “The Grand” theatre in the The Embassy: image sourced from google images.]
[Interior of the entrance, staircase up to the second floor: image sourced from google images.]
The Embassy Theatre has also grown into something of a cultural icon since being the venue of now several movie premieres such the likes of Peter Jackson’s King Kong and The Lovely Bones, as well as Wellingtons Film Festival. One standout event in 2012 was the world premier of The Hobbit – An Unexpected Journey which gave further recognition to the international profile and local prestige of the building.
[A YouTube video covering the Premiere of The Hobbit – An Unexpected Journey shows the scale of the event which was held at The Embassy Theatre in Wellington in 2012.]
The way we capture this space on social media and the experience we have there contributes to the definition of this place. How the events are carried out and coverage of these events in news media also plays a huge role!
Social Media: More destructive than constructive.
The technological era is upon us, with the old traditional ways of the world dying out making way for the ever-growing technologies that surround us. As these various technological devices become increasingly more prominent tools in our daily lives we are gaining consciousness towards the lasting effects they have on our minds. With the rise of social technology and “networked database platforms that combine public with personal communication” (Meikle 6) there is more and more reason to become worried and question the amount of exposure we and younger children are having to destructive content which is constantly projected on the internet. These “different technologies possess different affordances“ (Hutchby 447) which influence and establish behavioural standards of acceptability (Xenitidou and Edmonds 1). YouTube for example is a readily accessible social media platform in which content is becoming increasingly destructive to our generation and the lense through which we view this world. Creating new social norms through the platforms affordances that are greatly affecting what we as individuals and a society perceive as appropriate and acceptable ways of interacting with one another.
Since YouTube’s birth in 2005 it has grown rapidly “as a way to post and share video material” (Soukup 1) which we know all too well today with “1.5 billion logged-in users visiting the site every month” (Matney). Over this period of growth has been an establishment of social norms, both on the platform itself as well as in our daily lives through the influence of the content being shared. Social norms are the behavioural standards of acceptability, where one is consciously or not influenced by those around them whether physically or virtually in this case (Xenitidou and Edmonds 1). Social norms on YouTube are established through the inference of material being shared on the platform both “directly” through YouTubers opinions and videos as well as through the comments being produced by other users (Spartz, Su, Griffin, Brossard and Dunwoody 6). For example, some norms of YouTube are when we are searching for videos to watch there is a tendency to click on the result which has the most views because if other people have watched the video that must mean it's “good” (6). Another is sharing our approval or disapproval of the video by either liking or disliking it depending on how you felt about it. Yet, what is increasingly concerning is the rise in negative social norms that are continuing to be established in particular that has given rise to cyber-bullying. Such social norms are afforded through YouTube's more anonymous network (Halpern and Gibbs 1) where it is increasingly difficult to be accounted for one's actions and know one's identity in comparison to platforms like facebook or instagram where the account is generally set up using one’s real details as opposed to a screen name or brand. These keyboard warriors, a term given to those who make abusive and argumentative posts on the internet, think that because they have been afforded a comments section in which they can communicate and express their opinions. Rather than use this to give constructive feedback they instead feel it gives them right to attack other users who perhaps they don’t agree with and/or attack the content and producer themselves. Leaving trails of hate comments which are uncalled for. The social norms established on YouTube are not all bad but because of the platforms more anonymous nature it has led to increasingly destructive norms that are not what YouTube's affordances were developed for. As a result it is sad to see that cyberbullying has become a more prominent social norm.
As YouTube’s affordances have grown over time we have seen how we have become more connected than ever. However, we are not maximizing on this as a way communicate common understanding, to create and recreate culture based on love and unity. Instead we are seeing how with the growth of YouTube as a way to make money, this has driven its content distributors to produce content which lacks substance. Where the main aim is to remain relevant through the production of fast paced, topical content in order to build the view count and amount of activity so to gain the most capital. YouTube affords its users with a channel by their own screen name where they can upload video content expressing their views (Soukup 18). They are then able to interact with other users through liking or disliking videos and subscribing to their channel. There is also the ability “with a free account, one can create personalized playlists, subscribe to favorite videographer submissions, share videos on Facebook, embed them in blogs and other applications, and write comments about the videos” (Ariew 2057). With all things, YouTube’s affordances were limited but as the platform grew these affordances expanded to things like the ability to connect with the world, where one video starts in the bedroom of a young New Zealand teen, like Shannon Harris better known through her brand name ‘Shaaanxo’, to being viewed by her 3 million subscribers around the world only a few years later. Another affordance of YouTube is the ability to build relationships. Relationships between YouTuber and Subscriber, YouTuber and YouTuber, and between YouTuber and Industry. Building relationships between YouTuber and Industry can also afford the ability to bring about brand awareness. Although, the most important of these relationships would have to be that between the YouTuber and their Subscribers for without this relationship there are no views, likes, comments. No activity, no success. YouTube also affords the ability to lead a generation however I am seeing that as we become more exposed to destructive YouTube content we as viewers are being steered in the wrong direction becoming desensitized, viewing these trends and actions as acceptable and perhaps even ‘normal’ in today's society.
We are blind followers when it comes to being presented with content and information in general (Vugt). So because of this inability to really analyze and process the content, we use these not always positive examples as influences in the way we interact with one another. Such examples are the changing trends on YouTube one particularly prominent at present is "diss tracks" in which one YouTuber basically raps rubbish about another whether genuine or not in order to get views. Each of these videos gaining upwards of 10 million views. What is this content teaching it’s mainly teenage demographic? That it is okay to talk down on other people, that we should focus on their flaws rather than their strengths. These viewers then endorse the video and these actions by liking, commenting and sharing with their friends. This portrays an image that to judge and put down friends or even strangers is acceptable behaviour. Which it is not. Another instance is the amount of profanity used in some of these videos, David Dobrick’s 4 minute 21 second long videos are an example of fast paced content in which there is a lot of commentary and jokes surrounding drugs, the sexualisation of men and in particular women and inappropriate sketches.
[A couple thumbnails and taglines of videos on Davids channel which highlight these jokes and inappropriate behaviour in his content]
In most cases it is played off as “harmless” fun, but these videos are gaining around an average of 4 million views each. The videos are showing his mostly younger viewers that their actions and how they are interacting between one another is okay even if they are just “doing it for the views”. Lastly, since YouTube relies on user generated content where anyone with an email (all that one needs to create an account) can upload content, this makes way for videos which have no place being on YouTube. Videos which are filmed and uploaded mostly without consent that are embarrassing or degrading to those in them. They are then riddled with unnecessary rude and hateful comments. These are just few examples of the destructive content that is becoming increasingly more prominent on YouTube and as we view these videos we are both consciously and not influenced by the material this is affecting our view of social norms which are afforded through YouTube's social media platform.
As we move forward in a world never more defined by technology than now, we must be more conscious of the content we share and the scope at which it is received. YouTube has the ability to connect the world and spread awareness through uplifting and constructive content. However the user led platform has become increasingly destructive because of the content driven by a desire to make capital, which in turn influences the social norms established both on the site through it’s many affordances that connects the world together as well as how one interacts in their physical lives. We as content consumers must open our eyes and really analyse the content we are viewing, learn to form our own opinions rather than without question accept the information that is feed to us. Those who are content distributors must make more effort to produce content which is less destructive and more constructive, after all technology is shaping our generation and the norms that continue to be established.
Works Cited: Ariew, Susan. "YouTube Culture and the Academic Library: A Guide to Open Access Videos" Choice 45.12. 2057-2063, 2008. Retrieved from https://issuu.com/antoniocajas/docs/youtube_culture_and_the_academic_libraries .
Halpern, Daniel and Gibbs, Jennifer. Social media as a catalyst for online deliberation? Exploring the affordances of Facebook and YouTube for political expression. Computers in Human Behavior. 29. 1159–1168. 10.1016/j.chb.2012.10.008 , 2013.
Hutchby, Ian. Technologies, Texts and Affordances . Sociology Vol 35, Issue 2, pp. 441 - 456, BSA Publication Ltd, 2001. Retrieved from http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/S0038038501000219
James T. Spartz, Leona Yi-Fan Su, Robert Griffin, Dominique Brossard & Sharon Dunwoody. YouTube, Social Norms and Perceived Salience of Climate Change in the American Mind, Environmental Communication, 11:1, 1-16, 2017. DOI:10.1080/17524032.2015.1047887.
Matney, Lucas. "YouTube has 1.5 billion logged-in monthly users watching a ton of mobile video." TechCrunch, June 22, 2017, https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/22/youtube-has-1-5-billion-logged-in-monthly-users-watching-a-ton-of-mobile-video/.
Meikle, Graham. Social Media: Communication, Sharing and Visibility. Chapter 1, "What are Social Media?" (p. 1-23) London: Taylor & Francis, 2016.
Soukup, P. A., S.J. Looking at, with, and through YouTube(TM).Communication Research Trends, 33(3), 3-34, 2014. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/1566387376?accountid=14782
Vugt, van Mark. "Natural Born Followers" Psychology Today, April 15, 2012, https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/naturally-selected/201204/natural-born-followers.
Xenitidou, Maria, and Edmonds Bruce. The Conundrum of Social Norms. In: Xenitidou, Maria, and Edmonds, Bruce. (eds) The Complexity of Social Norms. Computational Social Sciences. Springer, Cham, 2014. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-05308-0_1
Facebook Privacy or lack thereof.
{Week 9, Why Privacy Matters: Outline how you think your Facebook privacy settings are set and describe why you have chosen these settings. Then log out and try to view your profile. Were you correct about how you had set your settings? What was different (if anything) and how does this influence how you will use Facebook in the future?}
When it comes to Facebook i think of my profile as a seemly private space for only close family and friends to view, and when it comes to posting content i am conscious of the nature of the content i share and who can see it. So when viewing my profile using one of Facebook’s newer features “View as page visitor” i was shocked to see the amount of content (mostly images) as well as my current location that were visible to the public eye.
[Screenshot of my original Privacy Settings and Tools]
Having never reviewed my Facebook settings before, i was interested to see what privacy settings there were and how mine were set. Looking through these I found myself surprised to see that my Privacy Settings and Tools were set mostly to ‘everyone’ or ‘public’, making my Facebook more public than i originally thought. This was quite concerning for me as you hear stories of stalking and cat-fishing so to know a lot of my information is readily available to strangers causes unease.
[Screenshot of my original Timeline and Tagging Settings]
Next i reviewed my Timeline and Tagging Settings which i was more at ease with as these settings reflected the restrictions i wanted on my profile, having most, set for friends as opposed to everyone.
[Screenshot of my original Public Post Filters and Tools]
Lastly i reviewed my Public Post Filters and Tools which i found were more targeted towards public profiles such the like of meme pages and micro-celebrities etc. However, i found that anyone could view or comment on any of my profile pictures and/or cover photos since mine were made public.
Having reviewed my Facebook settings i have become more aware of how our social media sites have become increasingly more public and failure to check these privacy settings we as users could be sharing excess amount of private information than we had intended. I have now changed my settings so that all are either set to friends or friends of friends.
Micro-celebrity: Shaaanxo
{Week 7, Self-Branding and Micro-celebrities: Identify a micro-celebrity and discuss how this person used social media to achieve this status. Mobilise at least one key concept from the week in your discussion.}
Shannon Harris or more widely known as Shaaanxo is a micro-celebrity from New Zealand who first gained ‘fame’ from her YouTube channel ‘Shaaanxo’ in which she posts beauty videos in particular make-up related. Posting her first video in 2009 she found that she “started out with little skill and almost no viewership” but as her skills improved and she posted more, her channel began to take off. Today Shaaanxo has just over 3 million YouTube subscribers called the #shanclan, with her most popular video gaining 7.7 million views.
Shannon has found this success through her own self-branding using the domain name ‘Shaaanxo’ in which she creates a large media presence where those who have the same passion for all things fashion and beauty can interact and keep up with her across her multiple social media platforms: Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and her Blog using that domain.
With the success of her YouTube channel brought about the opportunity for Shannon to launch her own brand ‘xoBeauty’ in February 2013, just 4 years after starting her YouTube channel. Her brand ranges from makeup to brushes, lashes, and accessories. She has also partnered with makeup brands such as Clinique and Smashbox Cosmetics.
Although maintaining her brand image, Shannon remains authentic through the use of her second YouTube channel ‘Shaaanxo Vlogs’ and Instagram ‘moreshanxo’ with a more informal tone where the #shanclan can keep get insight into Shannon’s daily life and see more personal behind the scenes action.
Target Marketing, how accurate is it really?
{Week 6, Social Media Marketing: Survey your social media profiles and identify an instance of target marketing. Discuss how accurate it is to your interests. Why do you think this particular ad appears where it does?}
I took to my Facebook account scrolling down my timeline analyzing the advertisements that would pop up, targeted towards me. What were they? Were they accurate? Did i want to investigate more?
Scrolling down my news feed reading, taking note of the ads that popped up, i seemed to find that majority of the ‘suggested’ ads although targeted to females, they did not peak my interest. I found that the algorithms Facebook uses tends to cater to niche audiences, so it is either a hit or a miss, targeting towards what is considered as “trendy”. These sponsored ads that i was presented with did not make me want to investigate more, but i was aware of some of the products/services they offered due to relevance in society at present.
[For example; the ads above came up on my timeline and although they did not peak my interest i noticed them as the trends of now. I see ads for HiSmile on Instagram and YouTube as posted by influencers and celebrities such as Kylie Jenner who endorse the product.]
However, one ad i think was strategically placed to appear on my Facebook is the Spotify ads which promises 50% off premium for students, i think that this is smart target marketing since Facebook is the best place to reach millennials and students who particularly like music and who equally like a good deal. This is an instance of Facebook's algorithms being effective in that it is able to pick up my information; my age, education and interest in music to produce an ad that directly targets me.
Meme: Confused Nick Young
{Week 3, History of Social Media: Browse through the Meme Database on knowyourmeme.com and pick a meme (either one you found there or one you were previously familiar with) and write a quick analysis of what the meme involves and the message it communications}
NBA Player Nick Young became the face of many variations of memes after appearing in a web series “Thru the lense” in July, 2014. While Young’s mum talks about him when he was younger she says he was “a clown” in which Young reacts with a pure look of confusion. The confused look on Young's face was then screen captured and after the picture circulated the internet, the production of memes started. Made up of jokes that did not make sense nor add up, the screen capture of Young’s face was inserted below to display the confusion over the matter.
The first example was a remix of the original meme tweeted via Twitter in 2015 by now suspended account @WorldStarFunny, where the original photo is Young photoshopped wearing a sombrero with the caption “Que” meaning “What” in English. Pairing the image with the joke of not being able to sneak out of the house, however Mexican drug lord El Chapo having escaped Maximum security prison twice.
The ultimate pairing, where the photo and look on Young's face expresses exactly what we are feeling and thinking inside. Confusion. How is that possible? A convicted criminal can escape a maximum security prison with armed guards and fences yet we are unable to sneak out of our own house without our parents knowing?! It gets you thinking about the the term maximum security, why is it so easy for these criminals to escape and how that shouldn’t be able to happen!
After the attention of the meme grew, variations of the meme started to surface, using the same picture however changing the context in which it is read alike how the reaction of Young to his mother has now been changed. Below are a few examples.
{images sourced from http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/confused-nick-young/photos}
Sending letters Vs. Instant messaging via Facebook's messenger.
{Week 2, History of Technology:select a pre-web technology and compare it to one of your favourite websites, apps, or games (e.g. record player vs. Spotify). }
Before the big wide web came about the main mode of communication was through letter writing, picking up a pen or even a quill and taking the time out of your day to write a letter to those you love. A delightful yet time consuming process. However fast forward to today, letter writing is a thing of foreign understanding. The ‘in’ thing: Facebook's messenger. Just a few taps on a screen or keyboard and you are away. No need to wait weeks for a reply, with messenger you gain your reply within minutes or even seconds. Connecting with friends and family halfway around the world has never been so instantaneous. No more planned drafts, stamps, trips to the post box, and waiting around for a reply. No more “snail mail”.
It’s not just the time factor that has changed either, it’s the way we communicate and the language we use, or even lack thereof. We’ve traded in perfect thought out English (or other native language) for one word, one letter replies. Or more recently emoticons, stickers & gifs. No need to articulate your response when you can send a visual representation.
Moreover, it doesn’t stop there since being released in 2011 Facebook’s messenger released updates introducing free voice and video calling. So really the possibilities are endless with messenger and its expanding features. Perhaps one of the only downfalls to today’s mode of communication through messenger is the somewhat lack of passion and sentiment. For to sit down and write a letter one puts true thought in all that they are wanting to share, whereas due to the immediacy of communication nowadays we can forget how important it is to truly connect with one another, than purely to participate in gossip and petty conversation.