8th Topic: Technology and Media

It’s typical for a new technology to be adapted within a culture and used to support existing patterns of behavior. With your own relevant examples, answer these questions.

1) What kind of culture influences through technology can you see from today’s world?
2) Is there a possibility to reshape the (new) culture today via new technology, How?

Here is a "viral video" that I found which fits the answers to the question perfectly, created by anthropology faculty & students at Kansas State University:



1st Critical Reflection
What kind of culture influences through technology can you see from today’s world?
There are many kinds of cultural influences through technology nowadays that gives a huge impact throughout the world. One of the basic influence that I can see is most people nowadays use to type the words rather than writing it down by using mobile phones or laptops. More and more people start doing this as the found out that this way we can edit it easily to correct the spelling, grammatical errors, and rearrange the words easily. By just pressing the key, the letters will come out instantly rather than need to draw the lines to create a letter which takes time. Other than that, we can also write notes on our mobile phones which we can easily carry it anywhere rather than bringing 2 items like a pen and a small notebook.

2nd Critical Reflection
Is there a possibility to reshape the (new) culture today via new technology, How?
With all the technology around us which grows each second, there is a possibility to reshape the culture. Past great writers may just use a feather pen to write a story, while writers today use computers to just type the words away. I found an interesting article regarding on this topic:

The students’ inspirations may have been great painters like Braque, Dali and Hockney, but their canvas was a computer and their palette Photoshop, version 8.0.

Princeton University weekly bulletin

Based on the article, we can conclude that the cultures have been changed with the presence of new technologies. This helps us if we look it in a good way which enhance our way of doing things. Lastly, our culture today have been reshape by the influence of the new technology that expanding worldwide.

Personal Reflection
The class this week was pretty interesting. The lecture is about the technology and media that is changing our culture by Mdm Helena. The video on the twitter that's say about Facebook and the Internet Culture was really interesting, not to forget about the use of iPhone that which changes the culture and make our lives easier.

This is also the last post for the Media Culture blog assignment. Throughout this class, I really enjoyed learning this subject and I've learned a lot on how media works around us. Thanks Mdm Helena & Mr Radzi for guiding us throughout this semester. =)


with... as always... PASSION!
~Fadhil~

7th Topic: Media Imperialism

The documentary entitled "The Power of Nightmares (Part 3 - Shadow in the Cave)" by Adam Curtis was shown in class on Monday. How do you relate the information given to you in the documentary to the theory of Media Imperialism



Here some definition of Media Imperialism to get some ideas what it is all about. Taken from wiseGEEK.com:

Media imperialism is a theory stating that smaller countries are losing their identity due to the force-feeding of media from larger nations. It can be equated to small community shops closing down due to large superstores moving in, taking over and having a monopoly. As the larger media corporations begin to take over, smaller media companies are either being forced out or swallowed up.

The media coverage of the larger nations has been criticized as having blanket coverage of the world's events. The media content may be affected by the ability to control the content and amount of media coverage on a particular issue. Many think that media imperialism has led to biased information and inaccuracy within news stories.

1st Critical Reflection
The documentary is about the Neo-Conservative movement in the United States of America and the radical Islamists. After the tragedy of 9/11, US Government use this advantage to accused the extreme islamist fault and have a reason to infiltrate other countries as an act of protecting their nation by bringing down the terrorist. But if we think of the matter more deeply, they really don't have any rights to infiltrate other countries and sly accusation without solid proof. They just use a theory of which will give the US Government a threat in time, but theory alone can't prove the real thing. This shows that media imperialism is so powerful which can easily influence our mindset.

2nd Critical Reflection
The power of media imperialism can be interpreted as hypnosis. As the politician said that he promised to protect us from nightmares which they called terrorist. However, we are really living in the world of fantasy and deception. Even though we realize that it is wrong to simply attack one land without further investigation, the media repeatedly trying to prove to us that the wrong is right and vice versa which eventually confused our mind in judging the truth and the lies. As the US Government controls the media, there will be biased information provided to us because they want us to think of what they want us to think and not the opposite of that.

Personal Reflection
I was absent on this week (sorry about that :p). But I was able to watch the documentary on my free time by asking my friends what we were supposed/told to do in the class. The documentary entitled "The Power of Nightmares (Part 3 - Shadow in the Cave)" by Adam Curtis. Since the length of the documentary is almost 1 hour, I almost bore myself. But I must say it is an interesting documentary which reveals the truth of the US Government that creates an imagination on the people's mind to let the government do whatever they want to do.


with passion,
~Fadhil~

6th Topic: Tetrad of Media Effects

"We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us"

-Marshal McLuhan-

the tetrad of media effects

1st Citical Reflection
On the above is a diagram of McLuhan's theory to examine the effects of any medium on society. Based on my research and understanding, I've come up certain meanings to elaborate a little on the elements of the tetrad.

Enhance: What does the new media or technology make something impossible, improve or enhance?

Increasing the effects of which focus on the practical actions by using a medium. It is to create a kind of power to engulf the previous problem faced as a solution.
eg: In the case of a car it would be the foot, in the case of a phone it would be the voice.

Obsolesces: What is pushed aside or obsolesced by the new media?

The significant medium of which that we used before will wear away and doesn't need to be use anylonger. The past medium will get sink.
eg: The car makes walking obsolete, and the phone makes smoke signals and carrier pigeons unnecessary.

Retrieves: What earlier action or service is brought back into play by the new form? What older or previously obsolesced media is brought back and becomes an essential part of the new form?

The once lost or sunk media will get recovered back their values and insight. It is needed to be part of the newly form media.
eg: The sense of adventure or quest is retrieved with the car, and the sense of community returns with the spread of telephone service. One might consider the rise of the cross-country vacation that accompanied the spread of automobile ownership.

Reverse: When pushed to the limits of its potential, the new form will reverse of what was its original characteristics. What is the potential reversal of the new form?

The reverse of improvement which result in unexpected dissatisfaction. When it is pushed to its limits, the medium will flips back on its user, creating a new problem.
eg: An over-extended automobile culture longs for the pedestrian lifestyle, and the over-extension of phone culture engenders a need for solitude.


2nd Critical Reflection
There are millions of reading material on the internet. Online news, comic books, magazines, articles and many more can be easily found widely. Using McLuhan theory, tetrad of media effects, I'm going to explain the media effects of being able to read an online manga on the internet.

Enhance: Its enhance our eyes to read lots of manga from various artist and titles that is shared online.

Obsolesces: Trip to the bookshop and searching on the shelves is no longer necessary

Retrieves: We were able to read alot of manga books online at the same time for free despite of wasting energy and money. We can just type what manga we wanted to read and can read it right away.

Reverses: Over-extended of reading the manga for free, will cause some thieves to download it and make a mass copy of it to create a pirated manga for the benefir of oneself. This in turn will cause the publisher to having a loss.


Personal Reflection
Surprisingly, Mr Radzi said that the due date for the 2nd assignment is today. It was a shocked, but it was a joke. Somehow, that teach me how to be prepared early.

Either I'm not listening very well, or Mr Radzi didn't speak quite clearly. Sometimes he explains something a little bit fast but low, and people who are sitting on the back can't catch what Mr Radzi is really saying.


with passion,
~Fadhil~

5th Topic: Obscenity, Pornography and Indecency

Obscenity, pornography and indecency: What are the differences between these terms?

1st Critical Reflection
According to "The Oxford Paperback Dictionary", the meaning of these terms are...

Obscenity; page 555:
1. being obscence.
2. an obscene action or word etc.

Pornography; page 622:
1. writings, pictures, or films intended to stimulate erotic feelings by portrayal of sexual activity.

Indecency; page 405:
1. offending against recognized standards of decency.
2. unseemly.

These terms have some connection with each other but aren't too similar. Some of them have the meaning in the sense of sexual part but not entirely. I shall explain it in an order to display the meaning and the difference between these terms.

2nd Critical Reflection
Indecency which derived from the word indecent is an improper or offensive act toward the public. However, it does not rise to the level of obscenity. For example, someone who sat down during the national anthem is sung or played is indecent. Touching or kissing in a public is also indecent. You can say that it is an immoral behavior but also, indecency is something that can be accept and not accept depends on the events or the cultures.

After that, comes obscenity. It is a behavior, word or a display of an act which contains sexual, offensive and lust. Obscenity is something that disgusting, outrageous or can incite lustful feelings. For example, offensive or unacceptable words like mocking or cursing is obscenity. Watching people stripping off their clothes in a strip club which can arouse lust is obscenity. Easier said, it is offensive to ethical principles and moral values.

While indecency can be said as a rude behavior and obscenity is a more outrageous than indecency, pornography is much focus on the sexual part of it. It is a depiction of sexual acts in a material that can cause sexual excitement. Picture and movies that generally contains a sexy person or nude is considered as pornographic materials. It is also known as a display of sexual intercourse but in a form of media and it intended to stimulate sexual desire.

Personal reflection
We waited almost half an hour in the class for the lecturer to come only to find that there are no class but just a brief for our 2nd assignment by Mr Radzi. Well, we are informed to write an essay about "The Role of Media in Socializing; Discuss the human needs that the Media help satisfy in term of the News and Entertainment." for 800 words.


with passion,
~Fadhil~

4th Topic: Media Literacy

Children recite jingles instead of poetry and they know brand names instead of the names of the presidents. More students can identify Mr. Peanut and Joe Camel than can identify Abe Lincoln or Eleanor Roosevelt. They can identify twenty kinds of cold cereal but not the trees and birds in their neighborhoods. (Pipher, 1996, p.94)

What is media literacy and why is it important for you as FCM students to have it?

Media literacy is

• The process of understanding and using the mass media in an assertive and non-passive way. This includes an informed and critical understanding of the nature of the media, the techniques used by them and the impact of these techniques. www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/educational/teaching_backgrounders/media_literacy/glossary_media_literacy.cfm

• The ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and produce communication and information in a variety of forms and means. www.unesco.org/education/educprog/lwf/doc/portfolio/definitions.htm

1st Critical Reflection
Why does media literacy important for me as a FCM students? Well from what I understand, media messages are created with a specific goal or purpose in mind to give their ultimate impact on society. In other words, each type of media has it's own unique "language" in which are manipulated to give some impact to the society. So, with media literacy I can identify who creates the media messages and thus are less affected by manipulation and are able to enjoy using the media effectively.

2nd Critical Reflection
FCM students will need to know that some media may be effective or entertaining but less suited for informing and persuading. We also need to understand that the dynamic nature of media and the ways in which it changes to adapt to the current issue so that they can select the media better in which suits their reasons most appropriately. One of a great way for students to appreciate how media messages are compose is to design and create their own to understand the techniques and strategies to construct an effective media.

With this, FCM students can develop skills to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the strategies used and make modification for future productions.

Personal reflection
On the previous class, there is a lecture about representation and stereotype by Miss Helena. Many people seems to already understand about stereotype since they have done a research about it and it is a common all-time-subject. Stereotypes always occur anytime and anywhere, but mostly on the negative parts. Representation however, controls the minds and thoughts of the people by using the media. The videos that Miss Helena show to us turns out to be quite interesting. The class keeps on getting interesting more and more. And I realize a lot more on why and how does the culture around me react from an impact on media.


with passion,
~Fadhil~

Personal Reflection on week 6

Since we don't have any class for this week, I'll give a comment about how I find this Media Culture subject.

At first, I don't have any idea on why do we have to know about media(s). All I can think of that it is a boring class. As time goes on, I find out more and more about how important is the role of media to the world. It is getting interesting every time I learn and do a research about it. I found out what is social media and it's importance, the lies and truth about the internet, stereotypes, and media effects. Learning this subject is important for all of us to better understand about the use of media.

passionate,
~Fadhil~

3rd topic: Media Stereotypes

What is media stereotype? From your personal experience, what other media stereotype you have seen either on TV or in the movies?

1st Critical Reflection
I'm not a racist, so pardon me if I wrote something sensitive here.
Well, I was told to write a very short basic explanation so here goes.

1. Stereotyping often results from, and leads to, prejudice and bigotry.

2. Unchecked prejudice and bigotry leads to discrimination, violence, and, in extreme cases, genocide.

3. Prejudice can be spread by the use of propaganda and inflamed by demagogues.

4. Language, particularly slang, is often used to dehumanize members of certain groups of people, and this dehumanization is a precursor of discrimination, isolation, and violence.

from Stereotypes and Prejudice

So what is media stereotypes?
Here is a link describing some definition about stereotypes.

"Stereotypes" is often describe as a generalization or misunderstanding on a person or a group of persons that are based one limited and sometimes, inaccurate information. It's also an initial predictions on strangers based on their appearance, culture and race. The stereotypes that we often heard is, the Malays are lazy, the Indians are smelly, the Chinese cannot be trusted, the Arabs are terrorist, the Black people are criminals, and the list goes on. It's also a The media is solely responsible for the stereotypes that occur around the world. For an example, The Black males are often said as musicians, gangsters or rap stars, which is not true for the majority of them. The media also said that they are the ones who always wear hooded clothes, which eventually encourages them to keep wearing it.

2nd Critical Reflection
Stereotypes can lead to prejudice which will cause discrimination and violence. Media stereotype can easily influence anybody around the globe when they are unable to get a perfect picture of a certain people or groups. This will create some subtle or overt pressure which will discourge persons of certain minority groups from living in a neighborhood. This happens when we judge people based on prejudice and treating others differently with the things they didn't do. If you keep saying someone is something, eventually they become it and believe it.

Japanese stereotypes during the World War 2 era in the banned Looney Toons cartoon.

No offense but the cartoon above shows how stupid the Japanese are. It's also shows the hatred of the Americans towards the Japanese during the World War 2 era.


with passion,
~Fadhil~

2nd topic: Media Effects

"Rumors, lies and innuendo spread far, wide, and fast on the Internet."

Introduction to Mass Communication: Media Literacy and Culture" by Stanley Baran, pg 324.

As for this week's discussion:

Do you often take what is on the Internet as truth without thinking much about it? If yes, why? If no, why? Discuss this in your own words.

1st Critical Reflection
Well, there are pros and cons but personally, I almost doubt everything. Whether it is on the internet, or in the newspaper, we should never accept anything blindly. Based on my experience, parents and friends, I will probaby says no. But I do trust the internet a little.

There are some websites on the internet that can be reliable like The Star Online, Utusan Online, CNN, Discovery Channel and other websites that can be trusted and is well-known for its genuine on the information given they are mostly true, and can be accepted. Internet is a powerful tool in spreading out information in this global era. So whatever comes out on the net, people will rush through it quickly to gain information. Moreover, the news on the internet comes out faster compare than the newspaper which need to take some time to print thousands of copy before it can be distributed and sell.

At times, we should trust the internet more since a lot of newspapers and the news on the TV is controlled by the government. Therefore, the information given couldn't be fully trusted as the government will surely filter some parts of the information in order to take care of their names. The most clear example was during the election month for the politician. The media will be telling all the negative information for the opposing politician, but not for the government. But on the internet, many truth reveals there.

Sometimes, the information that you received by e-mail or chain message can be quite a shock. For an example, you got an e-mail telling you that your everyday favourite meal like a mushroom soup with certain brands have a high alcohol content with some poisonous chemicals that can eventually reduced your life-span. If you trust it, you will stop buying it anymore. The one who felt the cause of the forwarded message from e-mail to e-mail is the company who creates the product and their profits would most probably fall. See how powerful is the internet? Just a piece of an information could destroy a company.

2nd Critical Reflection
Some companies and politicians also use the internet to take advantage by telling fake information about themselves for marketting reasons. In order to enhance the positive perception and views of the society towards themselves, they will exagerate their achievements, cover up the bad news and even mislead their voters to gain some profit. The previous italic word is taken from the "truth and lies in media marketting". Click the link for more information.

Personally from my experience, I have been interviewed by Kosmo! to ask me about the incident when I got strucked by a dagger from 2 unknown stranger. I had told them everything I remember right from the start towards the end. But after that, when the newspaper comes out on the following day, the story is quit different from what I had told them. They just exaggerate it to make the story a little more interesting to read.

Some people thought that they can get a handful of information through browsing websites that most people unheard of. But how much can you trust the information given? Check out this video about Wikipedia.


For more extra information, try reading a book entitled "Truth, Lies and Trust on the Internet" by Monica T. Whitty and Adam Joinson.

Personal reflection
Well the class is noiser than usual. It's hard for me to pay attention since the people who sits around me couldn't stop talking. A lot of them doesn't even look at the front and talk about other things among themselves. Since I couldn't hear very clear of what Mr Radzi wanted to say, all I could do is looking at the slide and read it. Maybe I should sit in the front so that I can concentrate better and able to hear the lecture clearly.

This week Mr Radzi gave a lecture about how powerful the media is which can influence many people's thoughts eventhough it is not true. Even if it is just fictional which is made up, many people will get tricked by it and believe it since they doesn't know anything. Chaos can happens easily if the media is not under control. This really shows that the media is like a hand that holding the worlds together. It can make goood things happen and also destroy it anytime.


with passion,
~Fadhil~

Social Media

What is Social Media? Ever thought of what does it really means?
Seems simple yet can you describe it clearly?
Social media is more than just interaction between people who uses media as the platform.

Social media is an umbrella term that defines the various activities that integrate technology, social interaction, and the construction of words, pictures, videos and audio.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media

A category of sites that is based on user participation and user-generated content. They include social networking sites like LinkedIn or Facebook, social bookmarking sites like Del.icio.us, social news sites like Digg or Reddit, and other sites that are centered on user interaction.

searchenginewatch.com/showPage.html

The term social media describes media that is posed by the user and can take many different forms. Some types of social media are forums, message boards, blogs, wikis and podcasts. Social media applications include Google, Facebook and YouTube.

www.batchblue.com/glossary.html

Software tools that allow groups to generate content and engage in peer-to-peer conversations and exchange of content (examples are YouTube, Flickr, Facebook, MySpace etc)

www.bottlepr.co.uk/glossary.html

The term social media is used to describe the use of today’s technology of distributing information and encourage people to connect with one and another who share the same interest.
According to Mahalo.com:

Social Media is a term used to describe new media formats such as message boards, social network, blogs and virtual worlds. These services encourage participation from the public and allow users all over the world to create direct connections with one another.

Take a look at this video to get some ideas of what social media really is:

Well that sums up the basic understanding of social media.
Now let's proceed to this week's discussion for the MLC0013 class: Discuss how this new phenomenon is affecting your life and the lives around you.

1st critical reflection - Depend entirely on others opinion?
It seems that people will never really think for themselves to enhance or correct something, instead they will rely on other people’s word. Let’s take a picture of scenery and upload it in flickr for example. Some will say that it is a good picture while others will say that there is nothing special about it or it is a bad picture. If the person who commented on your picture is someone who is a well-known photographer or a good and established judge, then their comment is highly valuable. But since anyone can access this platform of communicating, how sure are you to accept each one of the comments? What if a drunkard or a kid who doesn’t have any qualification to judge your work, commented on your picture? They may pretend as a people who knew everything about certain fields and fake about it, or they just some bad photographers and unworthy judges. Even if you taken a beautiful picture of the Petronas Twin Tower and u didn’t know how beautiful it really is, then you accept the comment of others saying it is a bad picture. Wouldn’t it be a waste?

What I’m trying to say here that we can’t fulfill all the people’s heart and desire and give them what they want. You may get a bad comment on your blogs, pictures, videos, arts and all sort of other things. Even so, it is still a good way to share information and common interest with each others. Debating in this way will enhance oneself to correct and to do something better in the future.

On the other hand, social reviews are used to provide user feedback on everything from products to movies. Many companies pay for reviews, and of course, there are always those freebies floating around. Many experts say that a bad review can literally destroy a company. But if they get a good review, then the rate of the company will get high up and becomes a blast!

2nd critical reflection- Alter ego?
The existence of social networks like Facebook, MySpace and Friendster have cause less interaction between people in real life. People may unable to get along very well since they are used to interact with people online rather than meet together face-to-face.

People who are quiet and doesn't get along with people in real life, are sometimes different in the world of social networks. They maybe have lots of online friends and very responsive on comments towards another. Some people may looked like a talkative person through the net with their cheerful words when replying or sending comments actively on other people's page. But in real life, he/she maybe just a shy person who doesn't talk much.

Also, there is Web Logs, better known as blogging which is an interactive websites where individuals regularly make posts and allow readers to comment. This is also a personal way of expressing oneself to let out their thoughts and feelings about some current issue or what happens on their daily life.

Personal Reflection
Mr Radzi gave us a lecture about media in social life and how does media effect us as a consumer. I understand little bit more on a purpose to learn about media culture. But I couldn't quite get it clearly though about the lecture on that topic. Maybe the lecturer using the mono tone voice which caused myself unable to concentrate or is it just hard to understand. But I'm getting a hang of it and I hope I could understand the whole idea of each of the lecturers trying to give.


with passion,
~Fadhil~