How is your chosen site structured?
My chosen site (www.seeqpod.com) is an online playable music search which encompasses music, film (from YouTube) and play lists of the previously mentioned.
The entire site revolves around the search function, and once a user has searched for a given phrase they have the ability to chose from searching Music, Film or Playlists. These can then be placed into the users’ play list, organised by themselves and then viewed/listened to. From the home page there are other features, one of these is SeeqPod Mobile. This is an application you can install on your phone to provide the same features as SeeqPod (online music/film searching) on your mobile device, making SeeqPod portable. This is similar to the way the iPod works but it is giving the user more choice than with an iPod - where you have to purchase all the music and download it through the computer.
Another feature of the site is the “Echo” section, which allows new and upcoming musicians to advertise and distribute themselves through SeeqPod. Users search through “Echo” to find the new artists who have advertised themselves there. When a user has searched for specific music the “Discoveries” function can be used to show related shopping items such as band t-shirts, ringtones and Cds.
For first time users, there is a function called “PodCrawler” which displays randomly music, film and play lists from the entire site. This allows new users to see a snapshot of what is contained on the site and also allows experienced users to discover new material.
What is it about on a cultural level?
On a cultural level it can be viewed as functional, social and a way of discovering media. The functional aspect of the site is that it can be used purely for listening to music that one has already discovered/listened to or gone on recommendation. The user is using the site as a conventional music player without the attachment of loading in Cds or downloading files. The site is social on a cultural level because it can be used as a tool for introducing people such as friends to new music and can also be used for introducing people to the search function of the site allowing them to discover new music. This works well due to the fact it’s online based, it is easily accessible by anyone who has a computer and the internet.
As mentioned above, the site can be used for discovering new media. This comes about in the form of advertisements for similar artists (to the ones the user has searched for) and also by the PodCrawler function (random listing of media from the site). The adverts on the site point to merchandise such as ringtones and T-shirts etc. SeeqPod helps users to discover new music through it’s features for example when a user wasn’t intending to find new music.
The site is interactive in the sense that users can be produsers through the creation and uploading of their own play lists of music and film which can be arranged. The site is freely available to any internet user, membership to the site is offered (for free) but there is no obligation and non-members are not restricted in listening to music.
What is the appeal for you as the user?
The appeal as a user from my perspective is that the site is based purely around music without any other dialogue leading to anything non-music based. It allows the user an opportunity to find new music. I think one of the biggest appeals for a user is the fact that music can be searched, organised into playlists and played without any form of restriction or membership. This means that users can interact with the site whenever they please giving them freedom to use the site at any time. Rafaeli (1988) theorised that "user ralationships with interactive media should be understood in terms of the existing "Uses' and Gratifications" Theory. This applies when users visit SeeqPod as they seek entertainment - escapism, aesthetic enjoyment and relaxing.
As previously mentioned, when users visit SeeqPod they become "produsers". Bruns (2005) originally theorised that a user produces what they gain through the internet. This applies to SeeqPod because users can create their own playlist and also share that playlist with other users. I feel that SeeqPod can be seen as an "Ideology of Progress" (Lister et. al., 2003) as they are bringing together multiple services (mediums) - internet radio, portable music, searchable music and new music.
Friday, 27 February 2009
Thursday, 19 February 2009
5th Week Topic 2 Q: C
Produsage will last websites are depending on advertisements and bigger websites to advertise themselves.
Of course commercial forces will buy or outstand certain none mass media websites. Once a website has a big audience it is hard not to take up on an offer of what can seem like exploitation but be a stepping stone to get views, likes, dislikes and many other interesting topics across.
Of course commercial forces will buy or outstand certain none mass media websites. Once a website has a big audience it is hard not to take up on an offer of what can seem like exploitation but be a stepping stone to get views, likes, dislikes and many other interesting topics across.
5th Week Topic: 2 Q: B
It does defeat the purpose of a "free for all" but on certain websites they do need moderation complying with most sites. But some sites could not agree with giving content away for free such as itunes you have to download songs legally not download illegally.
5th Week Topic: 2 Q: A
A "produser" is a hybrid of a producer and a user of a software developed community.
"Produsage" is a shift from industrial content production.
"Intercreativity" is being able to interact with your creativity. That being any network from youtube, blogger etc.
All of these are useful to understanding collaborative creation on the internet.
You can see when looking at them that most sites have these charecteristics.
"Produsage" is a shift from industrial content production.
"Intercreativity" is being able to interact with your creativity. That being any network from youtube, blogger etc.
All of these are useful to understanding collaborative creation on the internet.
You can see when looking at them that most sites have these charecteristics.
5th Week Topic: 1 Q: F
Te internet can contribute to facilitate new media institutions as it has been successful with doing so allready. The internet has many aspects, genres, niche markets and audiences that there will be many more institutions set up. Therefore the claim that the net will facilitate new media institutions is a foreseeable claim.
5th Week Topic: 1 Q: E
Open news can be open but quick to have judgement and criticism cast upon it or for it to be demised by bigger corporations therefore losing its individualisation.
It may also become "professionalised" therefore becoming like other alternative media outlets. (para 19)
There are certain restrictions on site as to what you can discuss or write about, as it may offend etc. But you can essentially write about anything.
It may also become "professionalised" therefore becoming like other alternative media outlets. (para 19)
There are certain restrictions on site as to what you can discuss or write about, as it may offend etc. But you can essentially write about anything.
5th Week Topic: 1 Q: D
Can open news be of quality?
It can and it cant be as news depends on the quality and truthfulness of the content.
BUT open news can also be very interesting, and hold a lot more information that wouldnt neccessarily be broadcast across the nation on television.
People can all come together to produce or add or edit to a story making it a better story. With more veiwpoints covering one story it can make interesting news and not be so pinpointed to one main aspect, perhaps talk about other parts that wont normally be broadcast.
This does then continue onto whether the news is of quality and whether there is just alot of information about a topic that is biased and doesnt give a topic its fair justice. Also sometimes well researched work is taken off straight away due to other stories which may not be as reliable or truthful etc, leading to no exposure of the well produced news source.
It can and it cant be as news depends on the quality and truthfulness of the content.
BUT open news can also be very interesting, and hold a lot more information that wouldnt neccessarily be broadcast across the nation on television.
People can all come together to produce or add or edit to a story making it a better story. With more veiwpoints covering one story it can make interesting news and not be so pinpointed to one main aspect, perhaps talk about other parts that wont normally be broadcast.
This does then continue onto whether the news is of quality and whether there is just alot of information about a topic that is biased and doesnt give a topic its fair justice. Also sometimes well researched work is taken off straight away due to other stories which may not be as reliable or truthful etc, leading to no exposure of the well produced news source.
5th Week Topic: 1 Q: C
They are best thought of as an alternative culture as they choose what to write. Also it does create a more diverse sources of information and will be the most up to date especially if individuals are in certain places of the interesting story etc. Although it could lead to a biased view soemtimes if people are allowed to make their own news etc.
The only type of organisations where people are having thier say would be for protesters in the streets, e.g. individuals trying to stop the Gaza war to animal activists. These will inform you of the latest news if it was to in any way change peoples minds to gather a stronger following. Yet again this can lead to bias views, and unreliable sources.
The only type of organisations where people are having thier say would be for protesters in the streets, e.g. individuals trying to stop the Gaza war to animal activists. These will inform you of the latest news if it was to in any way change peoples minds to gather a stronger following. Yet again this can lead to bias views, and unreliable sources.
5th Week: Topic: 1 Q: B
Newsgroups and weblogs are considered as the new journalist as they are publishing there own information. This does arise the issue of what and who is now a newsmaker.
I guess anyone who wants to produce news but who arent in a corporate company can now do this with the freedom of the internet.
New journalists on the net are based more on the information retrieval not based upon production.
I guess anyone who wants to produce news but who arent in a corporate company can now do this with the freedom of the internet.
New journalists on the net are based more on the information retrieval not based upon production.
Week: 5 Topic: 1 Q: A
News on the web "has led to a shift in how we recontextualise news around a much larger search for information" (152) Para 7, Burnett and Marshall.
News is something the audience go to look for aboiut certain topics or relevant goings on that may be of interest.
Something the audience are wanting to gain more information about and they become thier own researchers.
But can they trust what they read online if it isnt broadcast on TV.
Burnett and Mashall discuss that news on the net is an "ongoing shift in the boundary of what constitutes newsmakers." (para 9) ....Therefore meaning is it anyone who puts news on the internet, is it then less valid?
News is something the audience go to look for aboiut certain topics or relevant goings on that may be of interest.
Something the audience are wanting to gain more information about and they become thier own researchers.
But can they trust what they read online if it isnt broadcast on TV.
Burnett and Mashall discuss that news on the net is an "ongoing shift in the boundary of what constitutes newsmakers." (para 9) ....Therefore meaning is it anyone who puts news on the internet, is it then less valid?
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
4th Week: Topic 1: Q: D
People can become producers of culture either that being fan culture websites, games etc.
Individuals producing their own culture do this via blogs and websites about anything of interest, to thoughts and feelings throughout their week, month etc.
We go to the interent to seek information of something more specific "than the materials we seek in television" Page 184
Sites such as the website number 10 where petitions can be forwarded onto gives individuals the power to express cultural differences of what they want and dont want to happen in their town etc. Also indy media gives people the chance to find out about unheard of news that isnt in its masses .
Individuals producing their own culture do this via blogs and websites about anything of interest, to thoughts and feelings throughout their week, month etc.
We go to the interent to seek information of something more specific "than the materials we seek in television" Page 184
Sites such as the website number 10 where petitions can be forwarded onto gives individuals the power to express cultural differences of what they want and dont want to happen in their town etc. Also indy media gives people the chance to find out about unheard of news that isnt in its masses .
4th Week: Topic 1: Q: C
"Internet has suddendly been colonised by the vast mass of unruly, pleasurable and expressive forms of popular culture" Page 184
"Maybe we should consign its strange productions to the cultural Oort cloud... along with other excremental spectacles" Page 183
Here freedom on the internet can been seen as a not so positive thing as it can lead to many individuals adding anything of their topical preference whether that be a activist view or alternative one or merely a fan culture.
But it can also be a positive thing as many people can access topics of interest,music etc that they wouldnt be able to access otherwise.
"Maybe we should consign its strange productions to the cultural Oort cloud... along with other excremental spectacles" Page 183
Here freedom on the internet can been seen as a not so positive thing as it can lead to many individuals adding anything of their topical preference whether that be a activist view or alternative one or merely a fan culture.
But it can also be a positive thing as many people can access topics of interest,music etc that they wouldnt be able to access otherwise.
4th Week: Topic 1: Q Bthat we do not believe what we read, see and hear
"It's not so much that we do not believe what we read, see and hear in the news as its that we are inclined to believe that there is more than what we read see and hear." Jones (2000: 177)
Taking this quote into account we can see that the "public sphere" of which people partake in whilst on the internet is an activity that people will choose to do out of interest. Most sites visited will be chosen sites where there is a connection with themselves and the site. Such as facebook, msn to shopping sites such as amazon and e-bay.
Sites such as Indy media let avid fans of the news, access news that isnt broadcast through popular television. Mainly journalists will visit this site to find different stories to comment on or take further. It's breaking away from the capitalist mass media, but when assessing this, is it just another indy niche market that is going to get to the standards of mass media. Therefore taking away the whole point of alternative organisations.
Limitations on the Net are that of the upgrade culture. This can stop people accessing certain things if not having the techonology to either watch hear or listen to. (Page 180)
When it comes to childrens sites these can be surveillanced and disciplined which is a good thing as the moral panic of paedophilia is a fear that is amongst us all.
Taking this quote into account we can see that the "public sphere" of which people partake in whilst on the internet is an activity that people will choose to do out of interest. Most sites visited will be chosen sites where there is a connection with themselves and the site. Such as facebook, msn to shopping sites such as amazon and e-bay.
Sites such as Indy media let avid fans of the news, access news that isnt broadcast through popular television. Mainly journalists will visit this site to find different stories to comment on or take further. It's breaking away from the capitalist mass media, but when assessing this, is it just another indy niche market that is going to get to the standards of mass media. Therefore taking away the whole point of alternative organisations.
Limitations on the Net are that of the upgrade culture. This can stop people accessing certain things if not having the techonology to either watch hear or listen to. (Page 180)
When it comes to childrens sites these can be surveillanced and disciplined which is a good thing as the moral panic of paedophilia is a fear that is amongst us all.
4th Week: Topic 1, Q. A
Is online community empowering or disempowering...?
It can be seen as giving opportunity for folk to express their political and cultural debates, which can cover many a topic.
It can empower certain groups to form together who have similar interests and may eleviate people who struggle to find connection with like minded people in real life.
The disempowering bit would be that this can leave a false sense of identity for some as its a virtual connection not a realistic one until made real in reality etc.
Apart from what people can gain educationally, emotionally, spiritually etc they can and have spread around which are now very common, abbreviated words. The use of these words had spread onto phones via text, even written print to communicate with other people. And more annoyingly so when people actually say the words for e.g. lol !
The niche had become the mass.
As abbreviated terms such as lol and brb are now very common.
It can be seen as giving opportunity for folk to express their political and cultural debates, which can cover many a topic.
It can empower certain groups to form together who have similar interests and may eleviate people who struggle to find connection with like minded people in real life.
The disempowering bit would be that this can leave a false sense of identity for some as its a virtual connection not a realistic one until made real in reality etc.
Apart from what people can gain educationally, emotionally, spiritually etc they can and have spread around which are now very common, abbreviated words. The use of these words had spread onto phones via text, even written print to communicate with other people. And more annoyingly so when people actually say the words for e.g. lol !
The niche had become the mass.
As abbreviated terms such as lol and brb are now very common.
Friday, 13 February 2009
3rd week...Topic 1: Q, E
Relationships online can be the same as offline ones especially if you are allready friends with them. But if just becoming friends on the internet you wont really know what the friendship or relationship is like.
Going back to friendships and relationships which are allready established before the online one then they arent exactly the same realness as offline. Much better flow in conversation, picking up on body language etc.
Going back to friendships and relationships which are allready established before the online one then they arent exactly the same realness as offline. Much better flow in conversation, picking up on body language etc.
3rd week.... Topic 1: Q, D
Yes they do in the case of a game it wont be "normal social reality". If your a warrior in "World of warcraft" you obviously wont be that in real life.
Cyberidentities can give individuals a sense of escapism as they sometimes depending on what site they are on dont have to be themselves. It really is down to each individual as to what their interests are as to what sort of cyberidentity they choose to be.
Cyberidentities can give individuals a sense of escapism as they sometimes depending on what site they are on dont have to be themselves. It really is down to each individual as to what their interests are as to what sort of cyberidentity they choose to be.
3rd week....Topic 1: Q, C
If its a games site you can be prejudice about someones race, gender or class. Because the individual doesnt need to disclaim this info. This is where people can fake who they are to be a part of a group etc.
Its whether people can attach themselves from who they really are to whether something will offend or upset them. If they pretend to be someone they are not then something they may discuss or be a member of a group of could end up with trouble on the horizon.
The sense of whether fluidity of the internet does give that to individuals depends on what situation someone has put themselves in as to whether they will or wont get judged for who they really are or are not.
Its whether people can attach themselves from who they really are to whether something will offend or upset them. If they pretend to be someone they are not then something they may discuss or be a member of a group of could end up with trouble on the horizon.
The sense of whether fluidity of the internet does give that to individuals depends on what situation someone has put themselves in as to whether they will or wont get judged for who they really are or are not.
3rd week... Topic 1: Q, B
Yes it does, people can be a different personality. The individual can exert themselves online with people and their confidence etc, whether that is positive or negative its upto them.
People will come across risks, meeting new people online to meeting them in real life. Giving certain btis of information out to people they've never met before.
Also the extent of how you should and shouldnt discuss for example, being political, religious etc could cause offence with or without purpose of doing so.
How far freedom of speech can be taken is a big risk to take.
People will come across risks, meeting new people online to meeting them in real life. Giving certain btis of information out to people they've never met before.
Also the extent of how you should and shouldnt discuss for example, being political, religious etc could cause offence with or without purpose of doing so.
How far freedom of speech can be taken is a big risk to take.
3rd week...Topic 1: Q.1
To provide "from the outset to provide for the circulation of information" Page 165 Lister et al.
"To allow computers to form networks that could send small packets of data to one another" Page 165 Lister et al.
"No attempt to prescribe how or where such data flows" Page 165 Lister et al.
So overall the net being classed as an "open architecture" it could project the thought of it being open for more vaired programmes etc to be sent from on network to another making it easier to access and giving more variety. To keep a constant flow of information being circulated.
"To allow computers to form networks that could send small packets of data to one another" Page 165 Lister et al.
"No attempt to prescribe how or where such data flows" Page 165 Lister et al.
So overall the net being classed as an "open architecture" it could project the thought of it being open for more vaired programmes etc to be sent from on network to another making it easier to access and giving more variety. To keep a constant flow of information being circulated.
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