Digital Storytelling- SATC Fandom

Being the end of semester, here we are at the last assignment post BCM240 students are suppose to submit. It is quite a bittersweet moment; throughout the August session, blogging and cramping our brains to come up with something interesting to write about have somewhat became a way of life, and so quickly here we are bidding farewell to this habit we’ve grown into and to this hectic semester.

The last task at hand was to get involved in digital storytelling. Upon weeks of deliberation and research, my team mate, Christine, and I have finally agreed to produce a video about the Sex and the City fandom from our personal perspectives as we both are such fervent fans of the series.

It was an interesting topic to cover as we were so familiar with the materials in hand and we were able to relate to the comments made by other fans from all over the world. Linking and relating to fandom theories and concepts were also made easier as we were able to put ourselves under the microscope and ask, ‘is that really true?’

At the end of the project, we were able to identify that people watched this 90’s sitcom up till today, making it a cultural phenomenon that influenced the way women thought, dressed, led their lives etc because of its ‘human dimensions’. Fans related to the girls on screen when it came to men, fashion, career, and other daily issues.

Enough of words, let’s get to the juicy part..

Watch our video titled Sex and the City Fandom: a Personal Perspective by clicking on the window below!

Let us know your thoughts as well 🙂

 

Mobile Phones, Space and Us

Previously, in simpler times, the only syndromes and addictions we hear about was in pertinence to health and well-being; for instance substance addiction. The solution to the problem was easy, frequently pointing to medicine, rehabilitation and what not. Today, along with the advancement of technology that is supposed to help make our lives easier and better, comes a new series of problems that would essentially set the humankind back from our march towards a better brighter tomorrow if not dealt with accordingly. It has become a common phenomenon in many countries across the globe where people suffer from technology-related addiction that rehabilitation centres are set up to help curb this problem. Thinking about it, this phenomenon that only surfaced recently in the beginning of the 21^st century is completely absurd. People who use technology do not ingest anything unlike drugs or alcohol to distort their state of mind and have complete power over their devices; and yet they grow overly dependent on these digital gadgets that their whole lives are derailed?

Focusing on mobile phones this week, we’ll be discussing issues that most of us are probably guilty of on a daily basis.

Mobile phones were previously only designed to aid communication where its user is permitted to make calls or send out short texts on the go. Today, so many other features have been incorporated into the little palm size gadget that it is able to eliminate other devices. We no longer carry our cameras, mp3 players/ipods, calendars, laptops, alarm clock, maps, calculator etc etc, simply because they have been made into one. This integration significantly impacts our lives whether we realize it or not.

1. Selfies

Looking at the camera function and linking it to how it affects us in terms of space, brings us to the topic of selfies- the act of taking photos of oneself while posing. In recent times, especially with the front camera function and Instagram, selfie has taken over the world and even made it as a legit word into the English dictionary. This blurs the lines between private and public spaces and creates gray areas as private space gradually inch towards extinction. Celebrities like Kim K, Miley, Snookie, and Paris indulge in the act of taking selfies before sharing them with the world; photos that include those taken from the comforts of their home and bathrooms. With fan bases (possibly) larger than the Malaysian population, people are bound to follow the footsteps of their idols. Hence the wave of selfies we see online today. Therefore, it can be said that private and public spaces are merging into one because what is supposedly the most private and intimate part of our lives are now revealed and commonly found on the public domain of the internet. People do not have to be physically in your bathroom to see you in your undies because you’ve virtually let them in. 

2. Shutting the world out

If you ever commute on public transportation during peak hours of the day, the picture above would probably be a regular sight for you. We all consume media for personal gratifications, some use it to keep up with current issues, some for entertainment, and some to just avoid having to give up their seat. In the very public sphere of a train/bus, people carve out their little private bubbles (similarly like the scenario of people and televisions/public display screens shared in my previous post). This has proven to be dangerous as that was how Justin Valdez was killed on a San Francisco train. The gun man raised his gun, pointing it across the aisle, before tucking it back against his side; then draws it out several more times, once using the hand holding the gun to wipe his nose. Dozens of passengers stand and sit just feet away but none reacts because they were too engrossed with their little gadgets. If only people were more aware about their surroundings, perhaps Justin would still be alive today?

3. Altering the way we experience things

Till this day, I don’t understand the people who would hold up their mobile devices to tape and record a concert or live show from start till end. Not only does this alter and disrupt their experience of the event, it also affects the people around them. It becomes a nuisance that some performers make it a point to remind their audience to put away their devices and just enjoy the show. In the midst of being excited and trying to record the moment, concert-video-tapers forget that it is after all a public space and they should respect other people who paid as much money to be there to enjoy the show.

People & Screens in Public Spaces

Task of the week was to spend some time in front of a television or digital signage screen in a public space and note how it makes me feel and observe the behaviour of others.

So, I conveniently ran to the nearby mall and stood in front of the promotional television facing outwards of Movie Magic video store that constantly plays new movies or music videos that they have in store.

Since I was consciously and deliberately doing this to observe others, how I feel at that point would be a tad bit invalid I would say. Hence reflecting on past experiences when I had to wait for someone in a shopping mall, I find myself paying attention to the television or digital screen to kill time and ultimately to avoid feeling/looking like the awkward girl standing alone in the middle of nowhere alone. Once I am engrossed in the featured video, although without sound effects most of the time, it helps me feel like I’ve been transported out of my current situation and my main focus would become what happens next in the video.  At this point, it is safe to say I’ve built my own private bubble in the midst of the once very public space. Factors such as the way people viewed me, the amount of time I had to wait for my buddy to arrive and the awkwardness of standing in the middle of the corridor no longer bother me.

As minutes ticked by, I find that more and more people joined me in staring at the electronic box. Whether they were waiting for someone, I wasn’t sure, but this was definitely a case of monkey-see-monkey-do. Like me, many passers-by quickly carved their private spaces in the very much public place, indulging in the Blu-ray verison of Taken, starring none other than Liam Neeson. Even if they didn’t stop to watch part of the video, people would at least turn their heads to check out what was being shown.

With this said, it is obvious why most video shops place a television screen facing outwards of their shops- to attract the attention of passers-by and create interest in them to buy discs as nobody could possibly stand still for 2 hours watching a video from the start to the end without sound. In a way, the promotional television screens do fulfill its purpose in giving snippets to people who walk by. However, when people use these screens for personal reasons like my own (to avoid looking/feeling awkward and to kill time) the purpose of these screens in public spaces deviate and evolve to a whole new issue.

What do televisions or digital signage screens in public spaces do for you?

Piracy…Arrr!

Picture from: http://www.blackgate.net/blog/sharing-is-not-piracy/

Piracy- a phenomenon so common in Asia (well, in Malaysia at least) that many people guilty of it don’t even realise they are engaging in criminal activity of stealing intellectual property. Stores are open in broad daylight selling pirated DVD’s for mere RM8, computer shops are offering customers a cheaper but pirated version of Windows, students are listening to youtube-converted mp3 files on their Ipod on their way to class and what not; all these scenarios illustrate and accentuate the fact that piracy has integrated into our everyday lives.

Based on my personal observation, most countries in Asia are not as strict on copyright issues as compared to the United States of America or United Kingdom. Unlike in the mentioned nations, it is rare to see people being arrested for illegally downloading movies in Malaysia. This may be argued that the two Western power houses have more at stake in terms of economic gain; it is quite apparent that the Western nations are more dominant in the media arena. Hence creating laws to control and protect the rights to “what belong to them”.

To a certain extent, I do agree that whatever form of piracy is unethical and should be avoided; but also on another extreme end, I understand and can relate to why people indulge in this illegal activity. According to Karaganis (2011), prices of media goods are relatively high when compared to the low incomes of the people especially in areas like Brazil, Russia and South Africa fuel the global media piracy phenomenon. People simply cannot afford retail prices of a CD, DVD, or copy of MS Office as they are five to ten times higher than in the US or Europe.

Convenience can also be considered another factor that contributes to media piracy. With the advancement of technology, the Internet has a much faster network that makes piracy so much easier. Today, people can download movies, music, books, program softwares and what not through torrents or peer to peer sharing programs with just a click of the mouse. Upon downloading desired materials, users can also use/watch/read them whenever and wherever they like. So, in countries which downloaders have low risk of being caught, what is there not to like about downloading things off the net again? After all, people like Lady Gaga, Bill Gates and J.K. Rowling are rich enough without soliciting payments from illegal downloaders who make up a big part of their fan/consumer bases.

What’s your take on piracy?

Reference

‘Debate continues over media piracy’ 2005, PRweek U.S. edition, Apr 25, accessed 6/10/13, http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/docview/232048900/fulltext?accountid=15112

Karaganis, J 2011, Media Piracy in Emerging Economies, Social Science Research Council, accessed 6/10/2013, http://piracy.americanassembly.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/MPEE-PDF-1.0.4.pdf

Fandom

Fandom is traced back to the roots of basic human interest; its subject can be narrowly defined, for instance a band or celebrity, or sometimes broadly defined, from fashion to cars and what not. Whether we like to admit it or not, everybody, literally every single soul on this planet, is a fan of something or someone. Hence the key question, why? Why do people get so caught up, sometimes to a point of obsession when the subject matter is of his/her interest?

I, myself, am personally guilty of this fan phenomenon, and I’m not even going to try to hide it. Well, truth is, most people already know about my obsession with Sex and the City (SATC) since I’ve been going around quoting Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha after watching the entire series and the two movie sequels numerous times. SATC has somewhat became part of my life, where on a daily basis, I find myself imitating its characters in terms of the way they speak (specific words, gestures, intonation etc), the way they dress, generally the way their lives unfold on the tv screen.

Many people do not understand my obsession with the show. After all, it did air its last episode when I was merely 12 years old. Upon watching the first movie released in 2008 without knowing anything about its background, I was so caught up with its plot and characters that I started watching the series from episode one to episode ninety-six. Up till today, I still watch the show on a regular basis whenever I have time; but I’m ultimately connected to it through my Facebook account where I’ve liked its fan page which provides regular updates to help me relive parts of the show.

In retrospect, I can safely say that SATC appeals to me because of two main reasons- the issues highlighted and how its characters deal with it. Every episode talks about a certain issue that most females can relate to, from balancing love life and career, managing rejection, self-inflicted financial difficulty after buying too many pairs of shoes to everlasting friendships. It is a show that basically encompasses all our daily issues. Also, I could see a little of myself in each character. In certain scenes of the show, when drama unfolds, I sometimes could hear the little voice in my head saying ‘I would have done the same’.

When you add all this up, it is apparent that I’m so hooked on SATC simply because it is deeply interwoven with my sense of self and who I would like to be- like Carrie, I’d want to find my Mr.Big; like Miranda, I’d want to be successful and good at what I do; like Charlotte, I’d want to have a beautiful family; and like Samantha, I’d want to be confident and independent- aligning to Sandvoss’ theory of fandom being based on the projection of our own image and the object of fandom.

Reference

Bennett, L 2013, ‘Researching Online Fandom’, Cinema Journal, Vol.52, No.4, accessed 29/9/2013, http://muse.jhu.edu.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/journals/cinema_journal/v052/52.4.bennett.html

Sandvoss, C 2005, Fans: The Mirror of Consumption, Polity Press, Cambridge UK

How do space and place affect our assumptions on media effects?

As discussed in previous postings, spaces can be distinguished into public or private areas in people’s lives. However, there seems to be no clear constitution of what each means; what may be considered a public space to one, may not necessarily mean the same to another and vice versa. The advancement of technology; the shift in perception and use of media; and the change in social trends and lifestyle leave grey areas in the distinction of public and private spaces that are constantly evolving, leaving researchers with something to ponder about. Whether public or private, these spaces affect the way people use media and similarly they influence the effects that media leave on people as well.

From a wide perspective, place affecting media effects on its audiences can be seen through the way culture influences the way people perceive and act upon a specific media message. Here’s a scenario for instance, advertisements in China irregardless of products or services are very commonly linked to collectivistic values that resonate with its audiences. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, the Chinese culture embodies collectivistic traits and would appeal to it. However, if we were to put the same type of ad in countries of an opposite culture, for example in the United States or Australia where individualism and informality are emphasized, audiences would not be able to connect with the advertisement as well as compared to the audiences in China (Lin 2001). Hence, it simply boils down to the fact that physical place do actually influence the effects media have on its audiences. The way we are brought up and the things that we are taught within our culture mold the way we perceive and use media and ultimately affects the prints it leaves on our lives.

Zooming in to a more domestic setting where clear examples of space affecting media effects on its audience can be seen;

Today, it has become a common phenomenon for many households to own more than one television set. Parents and children seem to have personal television sets in the vicinity of their own private space, from their bedrooms to their bathrooms. On top of this, many of us also have access to other mediums too, for instance our smart phones, laptops and tablets. In comparison with the times where television used to be watched in the living room as a form of family bonding time, the way we consume media in specific spaces today has a profound difference in terms of the effects it leaves.

One aspect that we can look is that the privatization of spaces and the personalization of use of media have empowered its users. Previously where one television set is shared among members of the family and very usually the head of the family (the father) gets to control the channels and the duration of television watching. With the advancement of technology where people have their personal smartphones, smart televisions that are connected to the internet, tablets, laptops and what not, each individual has been empowered to make choices in terms of what media they want to use, for how long and for what purpose. This can be closely related to Professor Henry Jenkin’s theory of media convergence and audience empowerment. In long run, I would say that this phenomenon of freedom of choice would produce a generation of people that see themselves as individuals and equals; and are less submissive to ‘authority’.

 

Reference

Lin, CA 2001, ‘Cultural Values Reflected in Chinese and American Television Advertising’, Journal of Advertising, Vol. 30, No. 4, pp. 83-94, accessed 26/9/2013, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4189198

Jenkins, H 2004, The Cultural Logic of Media Convergence, International Journal of Cultural Studies, Volume 7(1): 33–43, accessed 18/9/2013, http://ics.sagepub.com.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/content/7/1/33.full.pdf+html

Television Watching Habits

As we learnt in class today, television watching used to be an activity that bind the family together where every member sits down to watch and enjoy a program together. However, as time and trends have shifted, today, television watching has transformed into a somewhat individual activity where each member of the family utilizes each of their private spaces to consume the media. Looking at it from a time and space perspective, this shift marks the 180 degree change of the way people used media, in this case, television specifically.

The way people use and consume media can be said to mirror and is a representation of reality. In the 1980’s, the existence of the remote controller empowered the holder. Very usually, in a family setting, the father gets to decide what program everybody should be watching while the mother and children play the submissive role. However, in today’s society where equality and democracy prevail, individuals are seen to have the power to choose and decide on their own media consumption. The advancement of technology also fueled this shift in power; for instance the internet that enabled portability and flexibility of watching ‘television’. Just look at the children with personal ipads, they decide what they watch on their device with very little interference from third parties.

Based on observation, watching television is mostly done in public spaces as a form of socialization. People sit down and watch a television program when they visit other people’s house, when guests arrive at theirs, when sitting at the mamak etc. It is as if watching television programs would build common ground for conversations and bonding. In settings as such, people are typically not 100 percent focused on what is being screened, rather they are consciously or subconsciously distracted, with the presence of others and what not. Receptivity is at its peak when people are totally at ease in their private spaces and possess the power of deciding on their television program preference.

The Importance of Space in Audience Measurement

Ever since its existence, the cinema has gone through so many changes to evolve into what it is in present day. From silent films and audience segmentation based on skin colour to surround sound systems and digital screenings; visits to the cinema transformed from being a novelty to a mere normal day pastime. With the advancement of technology and the change in social practices, this marks the change in people’s spatial temporal reasoning. This basically refers to change in the way people see things, weigh their options, and ultimately the way they make decisions. In the context of media studies, this change draws up a new and profound area for research.

When asked about her cinema-going experience during the 70’s and 80’s, my aunt let me in on a world that I never imagine existed. Born in 1960, it was a treat or it had to be an occasion for my aunt to watch a film in the cinema. Unlike what we have today, where cinemas are planted in every mall to convenient its patrons, cinemas back in the days were mostly standalone buildings located in the heart of the city. Whenever my aunt wanted to visit the cinema, she had to catch a bus ride that took more than an hour. Hence she only makes the trip for special occasions, for instance a date. The space-time path was rather a long one. There were so many factors to take into account; unlike today where most kids with sense of entitlement and pocket money they didn’t work for, just step into the nearest mall, go straight to the counter to pick up tickets purchased online and do a movie marathon.

Also, in contrast to the Hollywood-invaded culture we have today, people in the Asian world were seen to be more conservative thirty years ago; for instance, parents did not appreciate seeing young couples showing public display of affection and young couples were not ‘allowed’ to move-in together before marriage. All these factors made moments spent together a little more special. Going to the movies meant being able to spend more time with that special someone. No, do not allow your minds to drift and think about hanky-panky stuff, it is purely just about enjoying another person’s presence in close proximity. It is as if the darkness in cinemas created a private space for movie goers to escape from reality for a bit. Teenagers and young adults today might not really see and understand this as times have changed and they enjoy much more freedom as compared to teens in the 70’s and 80’s.

Comparing the yesteryears with what we have today, so much has changed. Time and space are looked at differently and definitely used in different ways as well. Therefore, it is needless to say that audiencing is a time-space dependency. According to Swedish geographer, Torsten Hägerstrand, people take three time-space constraints into consideration when deciding to do something- capability, authority and coupling. However, the change and state of trend and social practices do bring about new visualisation, surveillance and measurement challenges. Until they were closed down, cinemas in Kelantan required lights to be switched on during screenings and viewers of different genders to sit apart. As a researcher, how would you study people’s behaviour in the context of space and time? Tricky eh!

Reference

Nafis, F 2013, BCM240 Searching for the Audience, lecture notes, accessed 3/9/2013, eLearning@UOW.

Public & Private Spaces

In 1964, German philosopher Jurgen Habermas described the public sphere to be an area in social life where people can get together and freely discuss and identify societal problems, and through that discussion influence political action.

In 1999, Gerard Hauser defined the public sphere as “a discursive space in which individuals and groups congregate to discuss matters of mutual interest and, where possible, to reach a common judgment.”

Previously, the public sphere simply referred to physical public spaces accessible to people based on their belief, faith, socio-economic status, issues, language, gender and common experience. It was easily distinguished from private spaces which was its complete opposite.

“The private sphere is a certain sector of societal life in which an individual enjoys a degree of authority, unhampered by interventions from governmental or other institutions.”

Today, with the emergence of technology and the evolution of the way media is being used, lines of distinction are blurred and clear definitions are no longer easy to draw. Factors such as the internet, social media sites, ingenious software and sophisticated hardware are key contributors that shape, mold and readjust our sense of public and private spaces. Hence the ultimate question; in our technology savvy society, are public and private spaces separate entities or have they fused into one?

We are currently living interchangeably between the real world and the virtual space of the Internet where privacy is a constant battle. Based on personal observation, I would have to say that most private spaces have been wiped out from the surface of our planet. Take the simple function of the BCC button available on every email service online for example, what may seem to be a private conversation between two parties can turn out to be a public viewing gallery for many unbeknownst to one of the conversation participant.  Photo sharing on websites like Facebook and Twitter is also closely linked to the issue of private and public spaces. A video uploaded by NBCActionNews (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2vARzvWxwY) illustrates how easy it is to locate and pinpoint one’s room in his or her home, favourite fast food store, school and what not, just by a click of the mouse. What was intended to be innocent photo sharing can land unsuspecting netizens into serious trouble.

Looking into the issue at a larger scale, the phone hacking scandal involving the now defunct News of the World newspaper as well as United States National Security Agency (NSA)’s surveillance programs are substantial episodes that extend the boundaries of private spaces into public ones. Phone calls, voicemails, emails, instant messages and other forms of communication can be monitored and exploited by a third party for various reasons, all thanks to the rise of technology. This marks the shift from what is private to what is now being made public.

It is no wonder that JWT’s Director of Trendspotting, Ann Mack, spoke about why more people are Going Private in Public during the Social Media Week earlier this year. Perhaps it is time we all sat down and think of creative ways to carve out private spaces in our lives too.

References

Dekker, A 2008, ‘Where the public space turns into private space and the private space opens up to the public’, 14th International Symposium on Electronic Art, pp.140-141.

Habermas, J 1964, The Public Sphere: An Encyclopedia Article, New German Critique, Issue 3, pp.49-55

NBCActionNews, 2010, Smartphone pictures pose privacy risks [Online], accessed 25/8/2013, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2vARzvWxwY

The Internet As Public Sphere: Contesting Social Networks n.d., accessed 25/8/2013, http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/english/cconline/Dietel/internet.htm

Vaughn, J 2013, Trends Shaping Social Media: Going Private in Public, accessed 25/8/2013, http://www.jwtintelligence.com/2013/02/trends-shaping-social-media-private-public/#axzz2cuXgMEMO