The Road Ahead

Courtesy of : http://startuporbust.com/2007/10/redesign/

We are now at the end of this course and we have been asked to produce our last blog entry relating to new media literacy. Through out the course we have consumed various readings that critically analyzed various topics as they related to new media. We engaged in such readings like that of the California Ideology concept that argued the origins of technological convergence. We then took our attention to readings on social media and various aspects of social media, most notably privacy in the social media world. We then tackled ubiquitous communication and devices, where we critically reflected upon the capabilities of the devices we carry in our pockets. We were then fascinated by the Vimeo productions by Kirby Ferguson, who opened our eyes to Hollywood and the Recording industries capability to remix. Then we were tasked with giving our opinion on our pirating ways, and the ethics behind such action. The last readings we indulge in are on the unification of the producer and consumer. 

The guiding question of this weeks module ask if we feel inclined to become a produsers after the various tools we have used in the course. To reflect on these various tools that we have used in the course, first of we have twitter. I can say that twitter has thus far been an enjoyable tool. In module 7, we were given the opportunity to critically reflect on Twitter. Overall I enjoy the capabilities that Twitter provides over other social media applications. The Wiki editing was a task that I think helped us to see the holes in the Wiki collaborative system. Video editing in popcorn maker was a tedious assignment the application seemed to be very limiting, that is without considering the limits of my creativity at the time. The audio podcast was an interesting task; it showed me just how important it is for users of an audio podcasting tool to annunciate properly. The more obvious use of blogs in the course was a very simple way to communicate our thoughts to one another. Last but definitely not least was the Storify application, by far my favorite tool we engaged with. I especially enjoyed the way all the various media came together in the Storify article.

Just for the sake of a formal response to the question brought up initially. No I do not feel anymore inclined than I did before enrolling in this course to become a produser (other than the occasional contribution to the twitter verse, or an occasional sharing on google plus). The article from this week’s module by Lunenfeld, P. (2007) brings about some interesting points about the issue of producers and costumers coming together as one. He instead talks about downloading, pulling in data and uploading, transferring data. He makes a bold statement that makes one stop and think when he writes, " Understanding and consuming culture requires great skills – ask anyone who has taught a child to read – but failing to move beyond downloading is to strip oneself of a defining constituent of humanity".  As someone that just recently proclaimed that I do not necessarily feel inclined to become a produser this makes me ponder whether if there is an ounce of truth in that. I wouldn't go as far as proclaiming a lack of an individual’s contribution to culture a failure to humanity, but I do not fail to see the long term effect of a larger populations lack of contribution.

As I read the Rheingold, H. (2010) article, I am forced to reflect on my original response to the guiding question brought up about if I feel inclined to become a producer. Rheingold brings up a scenario that didn't come to mind as I dove into my direct response to the question earlier. In his article he discusses five social media literacies, one of those literacies was that of collaboration. He brings up the scenario of national disaster and the response of the victims and non-victims through the use of social media. He talks about the use of blogs, wiki's, and craigslist to aid in locating separated family members. I believe that in a situation where simply contributing to a task like that, which could benefit the bigger community would in fact incline me to become a "producer". 

Lunenfeld, P. (2007). History as Remix: How the Computer Became a Culture Machine. Rue Descartes no. 55: Philosophies entoilées. Online [PDF]

Rheingold, H. (2010). Attention, and Other 21st-Century Social Media Literacies. EDUCAUSE Review. 45:5. pp. 14-24