Black Mirror is a British Television Series that can now be found on Netflix in the United States. The 3-episode series follows 3 very different storylines all focused on the addiction of technology and where that will eventually lead society.
Whether it be everyone looking at screens indoors rather than noticing what is going on in the streets around them, people being controlled by screens around them, or people not being able to escape the images of memories displayed on screens around them the series brings to light our obsession with the technology around us and the overall notion of privacy in this digital age.
This relates to a project I have recently begun in my Business Communications course here at Saint Michael's. The project is relating to the communication styles of Generations X, Y, and Z. Generation Z being the up-and coming generation (born in the late 1990s-today). This generation is known for being deeply engrossed in their screens.
It is scary to think that the storylines in each of these episodes are not too far off from what could happen within perhaps 50-100 years. Will Generation Z be able to step away from the Black Mirrors to prevent this from occurring?
Friday, April 15, 2016
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Geek Heresy: Intro & Chapter 1
"Talent is universal, Opportunity is not"
The author brings up an important discussion about how technology creates a digital divide. If we all had access to the same technology, would we have the same opportunity?
The author noted a campaign in 2013 that took place within the Los Angeles Unified School District to provide iPads to all students. This occurred one year after I graduated from high school, and while I was leaving the K-12 system my own school district was instituting this same type of campaign similar with the "one laptop per child" campaign and each student in grades 6-8 were given a laptop to use for the remainder of their time in the district.
Flash forward 3 years I am now a senior in college, this campaign has clearly expanded as one of my roommates is student teaching at an elementary school within the school district I attended for K-12. Each student in her 3rd grade class has a Chromebook to participate in lessons on. The math program has been completely redesigned as to how math is learned and taught. There is no doubt that technology is incorporated into every lesson these students have and will have in the future.
This personally makes me sad. We hear all about how the younger generations are growing up behind screens as opposed to when I was growing up and spent my days outside until the sun started to set. I personally feel that the way I learned in school caused me to think critically and allowed me to develop a strong sense of problem solving on my own. This has allowed me the ability to create my own opportunities. Often today it is too easy to turn to a computer for all the answers.
While at least we live in a western country that we have access to be able to look things up that we don't know about and are able to learn and develop knowledge on particular subjects, the downside is that we have adapted to having less problem solving skills and a smaller work ethic. And I believe that work ethic plays a huge role in creating opportunity.
The author brings up an important discussion about how technology creates a digital divide. If we all had access to the same technology, would we have the same opportunity?
The author noted a campaign in 2013 that took place within the Los Angeles Unified School District to provide iPads to all students. This occurred one year after I graduated from high school, and while I was leaving the K-12 system my own school district was instituting this same type of campaign similar with the "one laptop per child" campaign and each student in grades 6-8 were given a laptop to use for the remainder of their time in the district.
Flash forward 3 years I am now a senior in college, this campaign has clearly expanded as one of my roommates is student teaching at an elementary school within the school district I attended for K-12. Each student in her 3rd grade class has a Chromebook to participate in lessons on. The math program has been completely redesigned as to how math is learned and taught. There is no doubt that technology is incorporated into every lesson these students have and will have in the future.
This personally makes me sad. We hear all about how the younger generations are growing up behind screens as opposed to when I was growing up and spent my days outside until the sun started to set. I personally feel that the way I learned in school caused me to think critically and allowed me to develop a strong sense of problem solving on my own. This has allowed me the ability to create my own opportunities. Often today it is too easy to turn to a computer for all the answers.
While at least we live in a western country that we have access to be able to look things up that we don't know about and are able to learn and develop knowledge on particular subjects, the downside is that we have adapted to having less problem solving skills and a smaller work ethic. And I believe that work ethic plays a huge role in creating opportunity.
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Guest Speakers
So far this semester we have welcomed 2 different guest speakers into our class. While these guests spoke on different topics, both were extremely knowledgeable in their given fields, and through their presentations they conveyed a lot of passion in what they do.
Nate Herzog was our most recent guest speaker, who came to discuss his work beginning StoryhackVT. StoryhackVT was started as an offset to HackVT which specializes in digital app creation. Storyhack was a way to merge digital with the creative. He has organized and held 2 24-hour "hackathons" for Storyhack contestants with given criteria in both 2013 and 2014. Due to limited participation and the increased amount of time putting on such events he has moved on to other things in his career, though he still has a passion for this type of storytelling.
This raises the question as to how these creative events can actually be a solid business model. Because he came to visit us at our college, the thought of holding these events at universities is actually a great idea- students are used to staying up working at all hours of the night, they have the abilities based on what they are studying in courses or what they are inspired by, and the colleges have the resources to provide students with all that they may need- food, location space, technology, etc.- for events like these to be successful on college campuses.
His visit to class provided a perfect real-life example to all that transmedia storytelling encompasses. Seeing Storyhack submissions served as great examples of what our class projects should be like. And lastly, the discussion sparked curiosity as to how these types of events can become a more sustainable business model rather than using transmedia storytelling as a way to market a business. Is the medium the message?- Is marketing the concept of transmedia storytelling in competition form a good idea?
Nate Herzog was our most recent guest speaker, who came to discuss his work beginning StoryhackVT. StoryhackVT was started as an offset to HackVT which specializes in digital app creation. Storyhack was a way to merge digital with the creative. He has organized and held 2 24-hour "hackathons" for Storyhack contestants with given criteria in both 2013 and 2014. Due to limited participation and the increased amount of time putting on such events he has moved on to other things in his career, though he still has a passion for this type of storytelling.
This raises the question as to how these creative events can actually be a solid business model. Because he came to visit us at our college, the thought of holding these events at universities is actually a great idea- students are used to staying up working at all hours of the night, they have the abilities based on what they are studying in courses or what they are inspired by, and the colleges have the resources to provide students with all that they may need- food, location space, technology, etc.- for events like these to be successful on college campuses.
His visit to class provided a perfect real-life example to all that transmedia storytelling encompasses. Seeing Storyhack submissions served as great examples of what our class projects should be like. And lastly, the discussion sparked curiosity as to how these types of events can become a more sustainable business model rather than using transmedia storytelling as a way to market a business. Is the medium the message?- Is marketing the concept of transmedia storytelling in competition form a good idea?
Friday, February 26, 2016
Transmedia Storytelling: Part Two
My last post explored what transmedia storytelling is defined as. However, transmedia storytelling is used in a variety of different ways. As a Business Administration and Media Studies, Journalism, & Digital Arts double major, I am very interested in advertising. After reading the chapter that defined how transmedia storytelling is used in marketing and advertising, the whole concept of transmedia storytelling definitely made more sense to me.
Transmedia storytelling is a tool that advertises utilize across multiple media platforms. The difference in the case of advertising is that the story is different. While common transmedia storytelling contains a plot, unique characters, and such, the story that advertisers and marketers tell through transmedia is a message that a company would like associated with what their brand means. In my business communications course we are learning about the importance of a company's brand image, or their overall reputation in the eyes of its stakeholders. How advertisements utilize transmedia storytelling across platforms influences how a consumer views a company, using transmedia storying in a captivating, creative way, creates a positive outlook on a company, while using it in a repetitive, distasteful form could harm a company's brand image.
Thinking back to the SuperBowl ads, when we consider what makes a quality commercial, emotion conveyed through a story is key. The extra gum advertisements have done a great job at this. Even in 30 seconds, viewers are able to quickly grasp the plot, meaning, and entertainment value of a commercial. These ads make viewers feel something, and in doing so, the brand is further retained in a viewers mind; With extra gum, you get a little extra.
Transmedia storytelling is a tool that advertises utilize across multiple media platforms. The difference in the case of advertising is that the story is different. While common transmedia storytelling contains a plot, unique characters, and such, the story that advertisers and marketers tell through transmedia is a message that a company would like associated with what their brand means. In my business communications course we are learning about the importance of a company's brand image, or their overall reputation in the eyes of its stakeholders. How advertisements utilize transmedia storytelling across platforms influences how a consumer views a company, using transmedia storying in a captivating, creative way, creates a positive outlook on a company, while using it in a repetitive, distasteful form could harm a company's brand image.
Thinking back to the SuperBowl ads, when we consider what makes a quality commercial, emotion conveyed through a story is key. The extra gum advertisements have done a great job at this. Even in 30 seconds, viewers are able to quickly grasp the plot, meaning, and entertainment value of a commercial. These ads make viewers feel something, and in doing so, the brand is further retained in a viewers mind; With extra gum, you get a little extra.
Friday, February 19, 2016
Transmedia Storytelling
Do you know what Transmedia is? Prior to taking this class I didn't either. Transmedia, a form of social media, involves media that occurs on a variety of platforms as the story grows. Take for instance Harry Potter- while it began as a book series, it has grown into movies, billboards, theme parks, video games, and much more.
What is interesting about this type of media is how it is defined throughout the U.S. While the East Coast focuses on interactivity, the West Coast is much more commercially-focused on Hollywood hits, big pieces of media- films, video games and the like. While it can be used in many forms, the process of establishing a transmedia story follows 2 routes; either spreading the same story across different media, or starting with one piece of media and adding parts to the story using different media.
As a business major interested in marketing, I take a liking to the more commercially driven types of transmedia storytelling rather than the more creative and interactive forms. I am a big fan of the Kardashian franchise and regardless of your opinions and/or views on this controversial family, the fact is that the family has brilliantly built their empire through transmedia platforms. What began as a simple reality show about a family much like The Brady Bunch, exploded into a media empire that now encompasses several different spin-off series, books, video games, mobile apps, and much more, each expanding on the story the family portrays to its audiences. Will they be able to keep this up, or will transmedia storytelling overexpose the family to the point where no one is longer interested in tuning in to the lives of this family? Either way, the family is talked about every day, a true sign of success in transmedia.
What is interesting about this type of media is how it is defined throughout the U.S. While the East Coast focuses on interactivity, the West Coast is much more commercially-focused on Hollywood hits, big pieces of media- films, video games and the like. While it can be used in many forms, the process of establishing a transmedia story follows 2 routes; either spreading the same story across different media, or starting with one piece of media and adding parts to the story using different media.
As a business major interested in marketing, I take a liking to the more commercially driven types of transmedia storytelling rather than the more creative and interactive forms. I am a big fan of the Kardashian franchise and regardless of your opinions and/or views on this controversial family, the fact is that the family has brilliantly built their empire through transmedia platforms. What began as a simple reality show about a family much like The Brady Bunch, exploded into a media empire that now encompasses several different spin-off series, books, video games, mobile apps, and much more, each expanding on the story the family portrays to its audiences. Will they be able to keep this up, or will transmedia storytelling overexpose the family to the point where no one is longer interested in tuning in to the lives of this family? Either way, the family is talked about every day, a true sign of success in transmedia.
Friday, February 12, 2016
The Super Bowl
Being a Media Studies major the best homework assignments are the ones when I am assigned to watch TV! I was more than excited to spend my Sunday evening sitting on the couch with my roommates eating some good food and watching TV... for homework! The Super Bowl is basically a national holiday in the U.S. with millions of households tuning in to watch the final big game of the football season, the elaborate performances at halftime, and the comical commercials that are sure to be discussed for weeks after the event. The Super Bowl has certainly grown to become a great marketing spectacle!
This year marked Super Bowl 50 and with a milestone as big as this, the commercials were sure to live up to the big expectations. With Forbes reporting that a 30-second commercial cost companies $5 million, the quality of this years commercials did not disappoint. From the emotionally touching, the hilarious, the playful, and the just bizarre, these commercials were some of the best yet!
Whats interesting is the buzz that the Super Bowl generates is not just about football. Throughout the broadcast, the commentators mentioned a multitude of sponsors throughout the game, which was followed up by a commercial break featuring the sponsors commercial- brands were everywhere! The halftime show also generates a lot of discussion in the days following the Super Bowl. This year, Beyonce's performance caused a lot of discussion around race, police brutality, and even- yes, another brand- Red Lobster. Red Lobster reported that its sales have increased 33% since Beyonce debuted her new song, Formation. This just goes to show the power of popular media, in commercials, songs, and performances.
I leave you with my favorite Super Bowl commercial this year that is sure to put a smile on your face...
I leave you with my favorite Super Bowl commercial this year that is sure to put a smile on your face...
Friday, February 5, 2016
Chapter Four: Nancy Baym's Personal Connections in the Digital Age
The word community is often associated with groups of people living within the same geographic location, sharing in their beliefs, culture, religion, and interests. A physical community, people who interact by seeing each other, co-existing in the same physical space. I grew up in South Burlington, Vermont, a very close-knit and supportive community, because of this I felt as though I knew what a community was in every sense of the word. However, Nancy Baym discusses how the digital age has brought forth a new form of communities, one that I never thought could exist: online communities.
Online communities can be arranged through space, shared practice, shared resources, shared identities, and interpersonal relationships. As a Vermonter, growing up I have witnessed my mom making friendships with others in our neighborhood through being active on Front Porch Forum, a local neighborhood forum for members of our community to discuss concerns or events coming up- which creates an online community based on space. The hashtag creates discussion forums based on the same topic, and practice of using a hashtag- creating online communities based on shared practice. A rise in crowd-sourcing and gaining funding for projects or those in need through sites such as Kickstarter have created online communities based on shared resources. Bloggers create online communities based on shared identities. And perhaps the most surprising- or not surprising because of all of the commercials we see for these types of services- communities are formed based on interpersonal relationships on online dating sites.
While we may never have considered it possible, the digital age has brought forth new ways of relating to others, which in turn has created new networks, new communities, and thus forged new relationships. As people find homes within these communities, bonds are made between members based on these commonalities, and the community becomes more authentic- even if it is occurring online.
Online communities can be arranged through space, shared practice, shared resources, shared identities, and interpersonal relationships. As a Vermonter, growing up I have witnessed my mom making friendships with others in our neighborhood through being active on Front Porch Forum, a local neighborhood forum for members of our community to discuss concerns or events coming up- which creates an online community based on space. The hashtag creates discussion forums based on the same topic, and practice of using a hashtag- creating online communities based on shared practice. A rise in crowd-sourcing and gaining funding for projects or those in need through sites such as Kickstarter have created online communities based on shared resources. Bloggers create online communities based on shared identities. And perhaps the most surprising- or not surprising because of all of the commercials we see for these types of services- communities are formed based on interpersonal relationships on online dating sites.
While we may never have considered it possible, the digital age has brought forth new ways of relating to others, which in turn has created new networks, new communities, and thus forged new relationships. As people find homes within these communities, bonds are made between members based on these commonalities, and the community becomes more authentic- even if it is occurring online.
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