Digital Media Production Distribution

Digital Media Distribution

The audience of my digital media artifact changed the day I submitted my final draft. I decided that my design was elementary compared to the information I was trying to convey. That being said, I think I would have had an easier time with the project had I thought about my design and the subsequent audience a little further. Now, however, I am looking to distribute my work into an online space and I have chosen pinterest.com.

As a Web 2.0-centered location, Pinterest is an interactive and engaging website for people of all ages to “pin” things they like. As a space where teachers can pin class lessons, ideas, experiments, etc., I believe it is an appropriate place to distribute and publish my digital media artifact about political image.

Web 2.0, compared to Web 1.0, involves participating and engagement. Web 1.0 was very static; a location where information was displayed, but not interactive. Pinterest provides users with a place to keep what the find online in a central location. If you see something you like, you can “repin” or “like” it. Each pin also is able to lead you to the original source (if done properly).

Danah Boyd in “Streams of Content, Limited Attention,” talks about four core issues in regards to the flow of information online. One of the issues, power, was interesting to think about because the creators and users of Pinterest are not trying to assert power over anyone. Presumably, they are trying to create a space where people could find things they like and keep them in a central location, whether they be gifts, plans for a wedding or party, or recipes.

The structure of Pinterest is very Web 2.0 focused. Tim O’Reilly writes in “What is Web 2.0?” that the main difference between web 1.0 and Web 2.0 is a level of participation, interactivity and community. Before, people were not able to connect in a way that would allow for them to make suggestions for additions to sites. Now, they can do that. Anyone can pin or repin something from someone else. It is the ultimate interactivity in cyberspace between people who want to share their ideas, what they like, etc.

Pinterest does not have advertisers on their site, which begs the question “how do they keep themselves running?” This Web 2.0 internet source does not follow a “commercial imperative” attitude, as Henry Jenkins explains in “Why Participatory Culture is not Web 2.0.” Jenkins also says that many sites, even educational ones, take on a money-driven attitude. Pinterest is different in that it there aren’t any advertisers or advertisements on the site itself. I think the pinning a company’s product is an act of unconscious advertising in itself.

            I think this site is a great place to distribute my digital media because anyone (teachers and educators, included) has access to it, create an account, and go and repin my piece of media. I have since published my work to the site, on one of my boards “My sister the teacher” because my sister is studying to be an elementary teacher. I pinned a voting button first, then put the link to my PDF in the description. The link to the pin, link and the board where they are pinned is http://pinterest.com/pin/17029304812714860/ . Pinterest is a location where many people will see my media production and I believe it to be one of the best places to distribute it. 

Web 2.0

Reading about the evolution of the Internet and things that have changed? Unfortunately, I am uninterested. Reading about the ways the Internet adapts and the way communication methods changed over time because of the adaptation? That's a little better.

Upon looking at each of the readings for class tomorrow, one thing stuck out in my mind: it is important to understand that the web is and always will be changing and it's own evolving entity. The flow of information adapts, but you must adapt to it, the technology changes and the changing times in out society and world.

The flow of information and our use of the Internet for communication and new content is such a large part of our lives we don't notice the impact is has.

The Internet is an enabler.

The Rhetorical Situation and my digital media creation

A presidential election occurs every four years. Americans vote for their candidate based on a variety of things. I think a candidate’s political image can also have an effect on voters; how the candidates present themselves physically and how they speak can sway votes.

An example from this year’s election is the American flag pins the candidates wear. During the debates, although both of them wore the pin, Romney’s was noticeably larger than Obama’s. Is this because Romney has more patriotism? Although political (physical) image may not be the deciding factor of someone’s vote, it surely adds to the long list of things to sift through and think about before a decision is made and a box is checked at the voter’s booth.

Lloyd F. Bitzer, in The Rhetorical Situation, says a rhetorical situation comes to exist “because of something beyond itself; it functions ultimately to produce action or change in the world; it performs some task.” (pg. 3-4, Bitzer) He also says that “Rhetoric is a mode of altering reality, not by the direct application of energy to objects, but by the creation of discourse which changes reality through the mediation of thought and action.” (pg. 4, Bitzer) Because of this, I believe the Presidential candidates’ political images are a great example of a rhetorical situation in today’s societal context.

Bitzer goes on to describe exigency, or when a rhetorical situation is capable of positive modification and when positive modification requires discourse or can be assisted by discourse. (pg. 7, Bitzer) In this particular case, the exigency (organizing principle) explains the audience (voters) and the change to be effected (the outcome of the election based on factors, including, as I argue, political image.)

A rhetorical situation arises when the outcome of an action causes a change to occur. With this definition, the action (Presidential Election) causes a rhetorical situation, the outcome of which is a new president of the United States (or in this case, another four years with the incumbent.) My topic fits directly in as one of the seemingly overlooked pieces of information that matter to an election’s outcome.

The purpose of my digital media artifact is to inform my audience about some of the things that go into preserving a political image, such as makeup, dress, voice and body language/gestures, each of which are meticulously chosen with the interest of the candidates’ political image in mind. Demographics such as age, race, gender and other matters of identity all make umbers of my audience. By looking at this diverse group of people (voters), I generated a better understanding of what affects and doesn’t affect them.

I first chose to create an illustrator “poster” featuring each candidate being “dissected.” By this, I meant for the candidates to be diagramed on the page with lines drawn with one end leading to areas of their body, the other end leading to an explanation of each candidate’s image in reference to a particular category.

I used both images and text to make my argument. Although presenting the information in an interesting format (diagram) may be considered cluttered or messy, I think I’ve achieved an organized, easy-to-read digital artifact that addresses my argument. Using my in-class peer review comments, I made modifications so that I was focusing on one candidate. I also made the font size bigger so that it would be easier to read. Although I felt as though my first design was well put together and unique, I took into consideration the critiques of the class and finalized my project.

At the time of submission, I believe I created a visually interesting and easily readable piece of digital media using good design principles. Even though the election is over, the factors of political image I described still matter. This poster or piece of digital media can be used again and again in election years to come.

(I'll try and post a link to my actual final creation soon.)

Comments from Tuesday: Class Peer Reviews

Julia:
Argument: against horoscope/astrology/disproven by science.
Strength: good contrast, very informative/evidence, appealing layout that fits the theme
Development: it is a lot of block text, maybe add some images to break that up?

Meredith:
Argument: photo manipulation is often unnecessary?
Strength: interesting! very relevant to society today
Development: text, talk about the effects and the powerfulness of the program (photoshop)

Olivia:
Argument: you are encouraged to travel, each state has something different to offer
Strength: quality images, color contrasts, cool layout
Development: title, some images have text and some don't (happy medium?)

Kim:
Argument: buy local, homemade and handmade
Strength: nice flow, easily understood headings (don't need to unpack a lot of information)
Development: watch the white space

Courtney:
Argument: that you should participate in National Novel Writing Month
Strength: cool color and layout, good use of white space!
Development: all text, maybe add an image somewhere? (plain novel image, book, pages, etc.)

Devon:
Argument: cost of a meal plan/food at Tech
Strength: tumblr blog will reach the intended audience well
Development: create some subheadings under each post (ie: cost, options, etc.), your images also need some more explanation

Hannah:
Argument:
Strength: color is calming, layout is intriguing
Development: the white on green heading is a bit dizzying

Jane:
Argument: we need to use our technology and skills and put them to good use (or better use than what we are already)
Strength: color contrast, good recognizable images
Development: get the music to work :) and watch the speed of the text, add a few more images?

Jana:
Argument: Halonen Landscaping is the premier lawn and garden care
Strength: clear argument, black white and green contrast well, pop of color is good, adds interest
Development: shadow on the secondary text, name to contact?

A New Direction! (and a sloth to keep my mind off of the encroaching deadline)

Hello!! After struggling in the lab for some 6 hours between yesterday and today, I have decided to take my project in a new direction.

Although my statement of purpose will remain the same, I want to focus more on presenting the information I researched and less on an "interesting" way to display it. Gettin' scientific with either a ven-diagram (which WILL be interesting in its own way) or an image of Obama and Romney with descriptions coming from each aspect of their image (speech/choreography, makeup and finally wardrobe).  In relevance, here is a photo of Romney and Obama I plan to look at through my process.

Is help on the way? Please encourage me as I struggle some more with some programs I am trying to learn! I wish the HDMZ would offer some sort of workshops (with students who know how to use the programs) so that we can just learn at our own pace, rather than on deadline for an assignment.

In other news, I have acquired a vehicle! Having to rely on the BF for rides is no more!! :) In the meantime, here is a picture of a sloth to make you say "Awww."

Presenters: 11/08 Feedback

Sarah:
Major argument: more students should join Vocal Achord, singing group on campus.
Strength: great simple display, very structured and clean. Can't wait to see color!
To work on: although it does have a fun feel, do the letters of Achord need to be titled in the first logo? Maybe you've already explored that and like the tilted look better. :)

Cassandra:

Major argument: Greek Life is a good opportunity to take a leadership role. It's not all about socializing. 

Strengths: nice flow, like the headings and title is great!

Work to do: provide more examples, slow the prezi down so readers can stay on slide and finish reading. :)

James:
Major argument: there are consequences to online piracy (specifically music piracy)

Strength: awesome color contrast! Visuals are also very relevant to your argument.

To work on: fill the white space at the bottom with something (you plan to). Also state your argument more clearly. Citing your sources is also a good idea to add credibility.

Charlie:

Major argument: more college students should join the club for various reasons

Strength: appropriate information grouped together well, displayed in the right order

To work on: do you plan on using some music or something in the background? More visual interest as well (add the photos)

Issues!

I'm not sure yet if I like this assignment or if I don't. From what I've been doing, which is mostly coming up with ideas, its really hard for me to put it into a program that I don't know very well and trying to get the image in my mind onto the page or into the design program. :( I have a lot of ideas, but my project is hard to express on the page. Again, :( .

Maybe I need to rethink this...and focus on something I know more about. Gah!