The question I chose to answer was #3 – Digital media put the tools of production into the hands of the everyday computer user making it incredibly easy to produce content. These creative skills used to be something that people worked to develop. Now it appears that amateurs can produce content of a fair standard within a relatively short period of time. Where does this leave ‘professionals’ and highly-skilled artists? Choose one area of creativity and discuss some of the challenges facing practitioner’s vs. amateurs in producing digital content.
Digital media opposed to simply media is usually defined by common society as electronic media. Simply media which is produced on a digital level, such as; the computer. Today’s society has become so in synced with digital media that it has created a battlefield between amateurs and professions ranging between all fields of digital media. The following essay shall briefly discuss the challenges of both amateurs and professionals in the production of digital media focusing on the international music industry. Commonly known as ‘the language of the world’ the changes occurring within the music industry are clearly noticeable. Previously having to travel to the ends of the earth to get noticed within the music industry the digital media has introduced the amateur into a new world in which getting noticed is as simple as uploading their own music to the world wide web and hoping that their talent is noticed. So where does this revolution within the music industry leave professionals and the skilled artists who have already made it big in this industry and are trying to continue their careers, or those who are earning less and less due to the ease of downloadable music, or those who have been training for years and years for their chance to shine. The digital media revolves the music industry and its professionals are being left in its wake, as society discovers new ways to getting noticed and thus new artists.
Think back to days when the music industry was made up of a select group of talented artists discovered at a young age and made worldwide family names. Think back to the days of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake, and more closely to the ways in which they came into their careers and fame. The Mickey Mouse Club; Hollywood’s answer to discovering new stars. Yet does it seriously work, does today’s society really watch let alone actually care, is society really interested.
The answer is almost always a NO, as rating for shows such as idol decrease and the popularity of the internet increases, these statistics show that society is moving away from industry run careers and searching and finding their own person choice, listen to what they want not exactly what the industry wants. It’s this shift in society that has paved the way for new talent and thus new success stories against the music industries will. One Republic, internationally shot to fame following there hit single release Apologize, yet how they got recognised is what the music industry is struggling to deal with and the ease in which there music got international acclaim. Discovered after uploading their music onto MySpace.
When it comes to examining the negatives of this newly formed music industry it is important to look at the three main stake holders. They are the amateur, the professional within the industry and what could be the most important the consumer.
Beginning with the amateur, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of negatives towards the new music industry, it has become easier than ever to create music and thus get noticed. The hardest part remains creating good music, yet the idea of struggling to capture attention no longer existent. Simply upload your music to your awaiting location either a site, music dedicated shops such as iTunes and creative commons and your done, the small dilemma begins when you think of how simple it is to become an artist, how is true talent supposed to get noticed with so much media around and so much of it being personally uploaded by just wannabee’s. In comparison the music industry views the web as the major reason behind loss in earning and thus have always viewed it with a certain anger, although it has been seen to change tunes, realising that it was time to shift its focus, musicians have realised that their music has become more accessible than ever to anyone who wishes to listen. Realising that the point of becoming an artist is to entertain, and not just the fame and money which comes along with the success. Although there are a few artists who have different opinions, James Blunt a British singer songwriter comments “At long last the Government is looking to legislate to protect the industry,” Blunt writes. “Peter Mandelson is looking to engage the internet service providers who, in my opinion, handle stolen goods, and should take much more responsibility. How this legislation pans out, and if it goes through at all, is critical to the survival of the British music business.” (Foster, 2009).
Finally and most importantly it’s the consumers, those faithful people by which the industry would be nothing without. Undoubtedly almost everyone has downloaded a song before, whether legally or illegal, I for one have, and personally have nothing against the idea. The point behind creating music is for it to be heard, however it occurs. The most fabulous music may still be unsigned and the only way to discover that is for society to realise it exist and thus go looking for it.
The idea that there is an amateur and professional in a market of constant new comers is an argument that will stand the test of time, with such a broad argument and its unlikely to find a balance between to equally strong yet different views. At the end of the day, music is made to be heard, and so as long as music is been made there isn’t really a loser in the argument.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Week 8 TUTORIAL
Sign an e-petition
I decided to go to a website and found a petition that is directly related to something we covered this week. Petition against a censorship on Australia's internet.
Respond to a professional blogger at a major news site
Honestly speaking, i found many dedicated blogger sites where you can reply or voice your opinion, although being soo busy, or just lazy; i didnt actually voice a reasponce, it seemed almpst pointless to respond, it was more funny then anything reading peoples opinions! LOOL muchh
What is Barack Obama up to today?
According to the US President's Twitter he was, on the 23rd (two days ago) meeting with world leaders in New York at the United Nations.
Find out who your local, state and federal representatives are.
It's a lot harder than you may think to find out who the local representative is.
Local: Phil Reeves
State: Anna Bligh
Federal: Kevin Rudd
I decided to go to a website and found a petition that is directly related to something we covered this week. Petition against a censorship on Australia's internet.
Respond to a professional blogger at a major news site
Honestly speaking, i found many dedicated blogger sites where you can reply or voice your opinion, although being soo busy, or just lazy; i didnt actually voice a reasponce, it seemed almpst pointless to respond, it was more funny then anything reading peoples opinions! LOOL muchh
What is Barack Obama up to today?
According to the US President's Twitter he was, on the 23rd (two days ago) meeting with world leaders in New York at the United Nations.
Find out who your local, state and federal representatives are.
It's a lot harder than you may think to find out who the local representative is.
Local: Phil Reeves
State: Anna Bligh
Federal: Kevin Rudd
Thursday, August 27, 2009
WEEK 5 LECTURE SUMMARY
Web 2.0, hmm... simply, its technology that is so usefull and easy most users dont even recognise using it and thus being a part of it.
Its simply the transition into a new developed sytem in which user from every generation whether nerd or no nerd can have there own recognised voice which anyone can hear.
The idea in which owners of a blog may link there facebook, myspace or any social media site together, the idea in which anyone can edit pieces of information of wikipedia, the idea in which any individual can access and share all kinds of information about themselves or any other (if you have permission, trying to keep it legal) for the entire universe to view. Whether they view it is a different story! Its not really internationsla news what someone is doing every minute of the day, rather boring stuff actually, but i guess its ther site isnt it???
And thus bring us onto the next topic, when a person decides to create foresay a facebook account, who owns the right to them and to what extent. According to many terms and conditions of such social media sites, the actual author of the item has no real claim over it once it is placed of that site.
Simply put... Once you upload your pictures of your crazy night out on facebook, they no longer belong to you! and so if it feels as though it wants to use them, it may legally do that as you have agreed in their terms of use!
Happy Days
Its simply the transition into a new developed sytem in which user from every generation whether nerd or no nerd can have there own recognised voice which anyone can hear.
The idea in which owners of a blog may link there facebook, myspace or any social media site together, the idea in which anyone can edit pieces of information of wikipedia, the idea in which any individual can access and share all kinds of information about themselves or any other (if you have permission, trying to keep it legal) for the entire universe to view. Whether they view it is a different story! Its not really internationsla news what someone is doing every minute of the day, rather boring stuff actually, but i guess its ther site isnt it???
And thus bring us onto the next topic, when a person decides to create foresay a facebook account, who owns the right to them and to what extent. According to many terms and conditions of such social media sites, the actual author of the item has no real claim over it once it is placed of that site.
Simply put... Once you upload your pictures of your crazy night out on facebook, they no longer belong to you! and so if it feels as though it wants to use them, it may legally do that as you have agreed in their terms of use!
Happy Days
WEEK 3 LECTURE SUMMARY
Well, just as I am communicating to you at this moment so are many other people. Wheather in english or arabic, whether silent, spoken or visual. And this is the main point of Week 3's lecture.
The screen itself has its own language, in which the images presented to you are just as powerfull as the spoken words. Through images you are able to deciefer the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How; whilst at the same time continueing the narrative.
Pretty simple really, I think!
The screen itself has its own language, in which the images presented to you are just as powerfull as the spoken words. Through images you are able to deciefer the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How; whilst at the same time continueing the narrative.
Pretty simple really, I think!
WEEK 2 LECTURE SUMMARY
The computer has its origins in various adding machines, most notably Charles Babbage's 19th century Difference Engine which was designed to calculate and print mathematical tables. As the inventor of the Computer in such, Babbage never completed building his Difference Machine.
Computers were first commercially produced by IBM in the 1950s.
The first generation of computers were large, unwieldy and expensive machines for military, government and corporate work but it quickly became apparent that computers would get smaller, quicker and less expensive at an exponential rate.
The PC Revolution
At Xerox PARC in the early 70s, a think-tank developed concepts such as the mouse, the graphical user interface (GUI) and pull-down menus that made the personal computers of today possible and approachable by the general user.
It wasn't until 1975, however, that the first PC (personal computer) was released. It was called the 0 and in modern day slang it SUCKED, it was worthless at its peak. Although a man named Bill Gates changed that. Creating Microsoft which gave computers a language in which they could communicate. By the end of 1975 more companies had joined the PC industry.
The Introduction of Apple!
Several computer nerds got together at regular, hobbyist 'Home Brew' meetings. They exchanged ideas and displayed their latest and greatest home-made PCs. It was in this environment that Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak got hooked up together and started their own little company - Apple.
IBM and Microsoft Join Forces!
It was around this time that IBM started to notice something was going on. IBM was a large ultra-conservative. They were heavily involved in producing huge mainframes for big companies but, by 1980, they were determined to get into the PC market. The then chairman, Frank Carey, called for help and in came Bill Lowe, who promised IBM a product within one year.
To run computers, there are two types of software required: the Language and the Operating System. IBM considered two possible vendors for their software: Gary Kildall, the head of Digital Research, Inc, and Bill Gates the owner of Microsoft (the biggest software provider in the valley). IBM set up a meeting with Gates, expecting to be able to get both sets of software at the same place. Microsoft did not produce an Operating System, they directed IBM to Kildall. Kildall and his partner would not sign a non-disclosure agreement before conducting a meeting so IBM walked away - back to Microsoft.
Microsoft/Bill Gates made a decision to promise an Operating System (in for a penny in for a pound!). They found and bought an Operating System which had been developed by Tim Patterson. It was called Kudos and was based heavily on Kildall's CPM. Microsoft paid Seattle Computer Products (Patterson's employer)
Over the ensuing years, IBM gained more and more of the market share - largely through its association with the software giant Microsoft.
And that is Computers at it very interesting beginning
Computers were first commercially produced by IBM in the 1950s.
The first generation of computers were large, unwieldy and expensive machines for military, government and corporate work but it quickly became apparent that computers would get smaller, quicker and less expensive at an exponential rate.
The PC Revolution
At Xerox PARC in the early 70s, a think-tank developed concepts such as the mouse, the graphical user interface (GUI) and pull-down menus that made the personal computers of today possible and approachable by the general user.
It wasn't until 1975, however, that the first PC (personal computer) was released. It was called the 0 and in modern day slang it SUCKED, it was worthless at its peak. Although a man named Bill Gates changed that. Creating Microsoft which gave computers a language in which they could communicate. By the end of 1975 more companies had joined the PC industry.
The Introduction of Apple!
Several computer nerds got together at regular, hobbyist 'Home Brew' meetings. They exchanged ideas and displayed their latest and greatest home-made PCs. It was in this environment that Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak got hooked up together and started their own little company - Apple.
IBM and Microsoft Join Forces!
It was around this time that IBM started to notice something was going on. IBM was a large ultra-conservative. They were heavily involved in producing huge mainframes for big companies but, by 1980, they were determined to get into the PC market. The then chairman, Frank Carey, called for help and in came Bill Lowe, who promised IBM a product within one year.
To run computers, there are two types of software required: the Language and the Operating System. IBM considered two possible vendors for their software: Gary Kildall, the head of Digital Research, Inc, and Bill Gates the owner of Microsoft (the biggest software provider in the valley). IBM set up a meeting with Gates, expecting to be able to get both sets of software at the same place. Microsoft did not produce an Operating System, they directed IBM to Kildall. Kildall and his partner would not sign a non-disclosure agreement before conducting a meeting so IBM walked away - back to Microsoft.
Microsoft/Bill Gates made a decision to promise an Operating System (in for a penny in for a pound!). They found and bought an Operating System which had been developed by Tim Patterson. It was called Kudos and was based heavily on Kildall's CPM. Microsoft paid Seattle Computer Products (Patterson's employer)
Over the ensuing years, IBM gained more and more of the market share - largely through its association with the software giant Microsoft.
And that is Computers at it very interesting beginning
WEEK 5 TUTORIAL ACTIVITY :)
3D World v. MSN
The first 3D IM environment that I will check out is Habbo Hotel where you don’t have to download anything. Firstly, I had to register, which meant thinking of a username… Not being in a very imaginative this early in the morning I stuck with my blogger username!
As the lecture outlined a serious question of ownership, I decided to peak at the Terms of Service. Seeming to be all in order, i continued! Sounds exciting!!!
The first 3D IM environment that I will check out is Habbo Hotel where you don’t have to download anything. Firstly, I had to register, which meant thinking of a username… Not being in a very imaginative this early in the morning I stuck with my blogger username!
As the lecture outlined a serious question of ownership, I decided to peak at the Terms of Service. Seeming to be all in order, i continued! Sounds exciting!!!
So here she is! Isn’t she just a splendid work of 3D art, rather boring I feel. Not that i truelly care, I highly doubt ill EVER return. It was odd just very weird to me. My first impression of Habbo Hotel wasn’t positive. I thought the navigation was really hard to use.
Having no previous relations to this site, believe it or not ‘I royally sucked at controlling everything’. Not before long I found some stranger to help me out and for that stranger I do say thanks, but as helpful as you were. You were like to into it, and that rather frightened me. I wanted to destroy your lil cartoon person thing and tell you to go outside and exercise or something! But that would have been mean, and plus it’s not your fault blame technology!:P
I think the qualitative differences between MSN and a 3D environment is predominantly the people you are talking to. On MSN you have the option to only add and talk to your friends. In this 3D environment, you were subject to having a conversation with any random person. The interface and navigation on MSN is far easier to use than what I experienced on Habbo Hotel. There are far less distractions on MSN so you can focus on the conversation you are having with your friend,a dn if someone displeases you there’s always that BLOCK button!. On Habbo Hotel, there were other people interrupting your conversations.
On MSN, you can add your friends via e-mail addresses and monitor who you talk to, in comparison to 3D worlds you cant control who and what kind of conversation occurs between you and a stranger. For all you know you could be talking to an undercover cop!
Now that would have been fun.
Based on that, I officially declare by the power I have over my blog MSN the winner!
DINGGG
WEEK 4 TUTORIAL ACTIVITY :)
SCAVENGER HUNT
1. What did Alan Turing wear while riding his bicycle around Bletchley Park?
AltaVista
Alan Turing use to wear a gas mask while riding his bicycle around Bletchley Park to prevent hay-fever symptoms.
2. On what date did two computers first communicate with each other? Where were they?
AltaVista
The first computers talked to each other in 1969 through a network called ARPANET. The computers were located in California and Utah.
3. What is Bill Gates’ birthday and what age was he when he sold his first software?
Answers.com
Bill Gates was born on the 28th of October, 1955 and sold his first software in 1975. (That would make him 20 years old).
4. Where was the World Wide Web invented?
AltaVista
The World Wide Web was invented at CERN.
5. How does the power of the computer you are working on now compare with the power of a personal computer from 30 years ago?
AltaVista and Dell Website
A computer in 1979 had a 8088 8-bit processor.
A computer in 2009 has a 2.60GHz, 800FSB, 2MB processor
You decipher what that means and work out the power differences
6. What is the weight of the largest parsnip ever grown?
AltaVista
Ken Holden grew a parsnip that weighed 2.3 kilograms. Mr Holden has also previously grown a cauliflower weighing 3.2 kilograms and carrots weighing 2.7 kilograms.
7. When did Queensland become a state and why is the Tweed River in New South Wales?
AltaVista and Queensland Government Mapping and Surveying website
Queensland separated from New South Wales and thus became a state in 1859 (Queensland’s 150 years old) There were many reasons for why the boarders between states are the way they are and these reasons can be found on the Queensland Government Mapping and Surveying website.
8. What was the weather like in south-east Queensland on 17 November 1954?
AltaVista and Bureau of Meteorology
I can only presume from the information from the BOM page for the history of flooding in southeast Queensland that on the 17th of November 1954, it was raining in southeast Queensland.
9. Why is Lord Byron still remembered in Venice?
AltaVista and BBC History website
Lord Byron is remembered in Venice because he wrote some of his most famous works including ‘Don Juan’ in Venice.
10. What band did Sirhan Chapman play in and what is his real name?
AltaVista , Revolution Rock Oral History of Brisbane Music website, The Black Assassins’ 10th Birthday Bash CD Launch Party 2005 and picture search
Sirham Chapman played keyboard and did the lead vocals in The Black Assassins. He is none other than my lecturer for New Communication Technologies. Dr Stephen Stockwell.
1. What did Alan Turing wear while riding his bicycle around Bletchley Park?
AltaVista
Alan Turing use to wear a gas mask while riding his bicycle around Bletchley Park to prevent hay-fever symptoms.
2. On what date did two computers first communicate with each other? Where were they?
AltaVista
The first computers talked to each other in 1969 through a network called ARPANET. The computers were located in California and Utah.
3. What is Bill Gates’ birthday and what age was he when he sold his first software?
Answers.com
Bill Gates was born on the 28th of October, 1955 and sold his first software in 1975. (That would make him 20 years old).
4. Where was the World Wide Web invented?
AltaVista
The World Wide Web was invented at CERN.
5. How does the power of the computer you are working on now compare with the power of a personal computer from 30 years ago?
AltaVista and Dell Website
A computer in 1979 had a 8088 8-bit processor.
A computer in 2009 has a 2.60GHz, 800FSB, 2MB processor
You decipher what that means and work out the power differences
6. What is the weight of the largest parsnip ever grown?
AltaVista
Ken Holden grew a parsnip that weighed 2.3 kilograms. Mr Holden has also previously grown a cauliflower weighing 3.2 kilograms and carrots weighing 2.7 kilograms.
7. When did Queensland become a state and why is the Tweed River in New South Wales?
AltaVista and Queensland Government Mapping and Surveying website
Queensland separated from New South Wales and thus became a state in 1859 (Queensland’s 150 years old) There were many reasons for why the boarders between states are the way they are and these reasons can be found on the Queensland Government Mapping and Surveying website.
8. What was the weather like in south-east Queensland on 17 November 1954?
AltaVista and Bureau of Meteorology
I can only presume from the information from the BOM page for the history of flooding in southeast Queensland that on the 17th of November 1954, it was raining in southeast Queensland.
9. Why is Lord Byron still remembered in Venice?
AltaVista and BBC History website
Lord Byron is remembered in Venice because he wrote some of his most famous works including ‘Don Juan’ in Venice.
10. What band did Sirhan Chapman play in and what is his real name?
AltaVista , Revolution Rock Oral History of Brisbane Music website, The Black Assassins’ 10th Birthday Bash CD Launch Party 2005 and picture search
Sirham Chapman played keyboard and did the lead vocals in The Black Assassins. He is none other than my lecturer for New Communication Technologies. Dr Stephen Stockwell.
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