Week 10: Response to Content

What exactly is Cyberpunk? And Who are Cyberpunk‘s’?

 

The word Cyberpunk is taken from the words cybernetics and punk:

Using Google's Dictionary tool

·         Cybernetics;

noun (plural) /ˌsībərˈnetiks/ 

The science of communications and automatic control systems in both machines and living things, and

• Punk  

adjective /pəNGk/

A loud, fast-moving, and aggressive form of rock music, popular in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s with an anarchist, political philosophy and a DIY, anti-expert, ‘seize the day’ approach to life.

Cyberpunk is a postmodernist perspective of the technological advances in society and how they influence people and life. Cyberpunk is ‘a genre of science fiction set in an imminent, computerised and information-governed world. Cyberpunk centers around an alternative post-industrial culture predicated on the interface of biotechnologically enhanced human bodies, interactive information technology, and omniscient corporate power’ (Novotny, P 1997).

Christian As. Kirtchev created a Cyberpunk Website and a manifesto for the cyberpunk community or ‘sub-culture.’ Here he describes cyberpunk as a style or almost a way of being, which is backed up by many of his cyberpunk peers. “We are the ELECTRONIC MINDS, a group of free-minded rebels. Cyberpunks. We live in Cyberspace, we are everywhere, we know no boundaries.’ Christian and his peers describe themselves as a younger generation of technologically packed individuals, outcasts from ‘normal’ society, strange, loners (most friends are on the net), with a dream of freedom; claiming that the current society that we live in denies itself of the information and new ways of doing things that cyberpunks have the ability to perpetuate. 

Sources:

 - Novotny, P 1997, Political Science Fiction: No Future! Cyberpunk, Industrial Music, and the Aesthetics of Postmodern Disintegration, viewed 4 October 2011.

<http://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=QyKkrxd80CUC&oi=fnd&pg=PA99&dq=cyberpunk+and+society&ots=Hwh8dA0_xC&sig=lbAjLWXFHUJh_PsVkCgb2RADc2U#v=onepage&q=cyberpunk%20and%20society&f=false>

 - Kirtchev, C 2005, A Cyberpunk Manifesto, viewed 4 October 2011.

<http://project.cyberpunk.ru/idb/cyberpunk_manifesto.html>

 - Urban Fantasy, Cyberpunk Elven Trilogy, Elves, Elfpunk, n.d., image, viewed 4 October 2011.

<http://elventrilogy.wordpress.com/cyberpunk/> 

 - Amos: This man is your friend, he fights for freedom, n.d., image, viewed 4 October 2011.

<http://www.myspace.com/somasen>

Week 9: Tutorial Task

1. Sign an e-petition.

E-PETITIONS CONFIRMATION

Thank you Mr. Keen

Your name has been added to the Ban on the sale, use and promotion of prong collars on dogs E-Petition as specified below.

Please print this page if you require confirmation.

Click here to return to E-PetitionsTO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland

Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House the call to ban the sale, use and promotion of the torturous prong collar on dogs.  Banned in Victoria since 1997, prong collars are made of multiple wire prongs that puncture the neck.  Deemed unnecessary by experts the prong collar is an inhumane tool used to inflict pain and promote aggression.

Source:
Current e-petitions: Queensland Parliament. Viewed 22 September 2011.

<http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/e-petitions>

2.  What are the Australian Government's plans to censor the internet (the so-called "Clean Feed")?
'The Australian Labor Party has announced it intends force ISPs to censor the Internet. This is contrary to the current practice whereby consumers have the choice to filter their Internet connections either through PC filters or subscribing to a filtered ISP. The plan is to censor Refused Classification content, almost all of which is legal to view and possess. The government have announced that they will conduct a review of the Refused Classification (RC) category for approximately 12 months, with an unspecified start date or guidelines for review, with the stated aim of ensuring that the content in the category meets 'community standards'.
The Liberal/National Coalition as well as the Greens have declared that they will vote against the Government's policy when it is introduced to Parliament. Unless the Government can convince a sufficient number of cross-bench Senators to vote with the Government to form a majority vote, the legislation will not become law. Furthermore, with the Government in a minority position in the House of Representatives, they must also convince a sufficient number of cross-bench MPs to vote for the legislation to achieve a majority vote.' (whirlpool.com)

Source:
Australian broadband news and information: Clean Feed. Viewed 22 September 2011.
<http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/cleanfeed>



3. When will the NBN get to your place? What are the benefits?

The open access, wholesale-only NBN will transform the competitive dynamics of the Australian telecommunications sector.

The NBN provides key enabling infrastructure to support Australia becoming one of the world’s leading digital economies by 2020. The NBN will offer high-speed broadband to 93 per cent of Australian homes, schools and business via fibre optic cabling. The remaining 7 per cent of premises will be connected via a combination of next-generation, high-speed wireless and satellite technologies. These next-generation wireless and satellite technologies represent a significant step-change over speeds currently experienced by users of those technologies today.

The OECD report, Economic Survey of Australia 2010, released November 2010, stated that the NBN ‘strategy will improve internet services for the entire population and promote a fairer competition between private firms on retail services.’

It is not yet know when the NBN will be availiable in my local area.

Source:
NBN: National Broadband Network Australia. Viewed 22 September 2011.
<http://www.nbn.gov.au/about-the-nbn/>



4. Find out who your local, state and federal representatives are. Send one a message.

Local Government: Gold Coast City Council - Division One Representative is Donna Gates
State Government: Premier & Minister for Reconstruction is Anna Bligh MP Deputy Premier Treasurer & Minister for State Development and Trade is Andrew
Fraser MP
Federal Government: Prime Minister of Australia is Julia Gillard

Sources:
Gold Coast City Council Website: Councillor Donna Gates. Viewed 22 September 2011. <http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard2.aspx?pid=351>

Queensland Government: The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory. Viewed 22 September 2011.
<http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/ministers.html>

Prime Minister of Australia: The Hon Julia Gillard MP. Viewed 22 September 2011.
<http://www.pm.gov.au/>

Week 9: Response to Content

Essay Plan

Essay Topic:
What is communication? Do whales communicate? Do birds? Do atoms? Does DNA communicate? What would you suggest as the limits to communication? When does a failure of human communication occur?

I have chosen this particular topic because I believe it is a question which is fundamental to the course 'Bachelor of Communication'. To get back to the roots behind where technology has taken communication and discover what the essense of communication is and what it encompasses. I have not yet written an essay since beginning this course so this will be very challenging for me, however I am looking forward to it.

Introduction:
- Introduce topic
- Create a thesis: communication is a very broad subject which does not just include the human format, however communication is any form of communicating between any matter on Earth.
- Create 3 points to prove and tease out through the essay

Paragraph 2:
- Introduce point one:
* What is communication (define)?
* What/who uses communication?
* When was communication first brought about?
- Research academic works from sources such as the internet, griffith library and it's databases
- Provide your opinion and/or how this blends into the next point....

Paragraph 3:
- Introduce point two:
* What are some of the limitations to communication?
* Who are what decided that these were the limitations to communication?
* How are these limitations?
- Research academic works from sources such as the internet, griffith library and it's databases
- Provide your opinion and/or how this blends into the next point....

Paragraph 4:
 - Introduce point 3
* When does a failure of human communication occur?
* What are these failures?
* Why are these failures?
- Research academic works from sources such as the internet, griffith library and it's databases
- Provide your opinion and/or blends into the next point....

Paragraph 5:
- Conclusion
* Wrap it up!
* Restate the points again
* What have you discovered
* How have you proved/supported your thesis
* Conclusions/Findings/ Final Recommendations.

Reference List.

Week 8: Tutorial Task

So this week, we have all gone our separate ways and filmed our scripts in order to collaborate them all together and edit them.  In my video, I had the light dimmed very low to create the recluse, secluded mood, had old style photo's of my grandfather, grandmother and my mother. I wore a business shirt with a loose tie to portray my tired, stressed and anxcious feelings. I had a stand for the digital camera and one for the light angled at my face.

After choosing the lighting, the setting and the angle of the camera, I filmed it many times until the right one was created without mistakes. I attended the tutorial and my group mates and I edited the film using Windows Movie Maker. I put the slides together, then created some transitional slides with text on them, telling the story between our separate counselling sessions. After that, I created the transitional effects going in and out of each slide, with music at the introduction, on each transition slide and the conclusion; coming in and out of each frame. With the timing right and a solid story being told; we were finished the film. And here it is...

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Sources:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6NB4IoaQh4

Week 8: Response to Content

What is the Difference Between Free and Open Software?

Free Software is defined by Richard Stallmans Free Software Foundation as:

“Free software” is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of “free” as in “free speech,” not as in “free beer.” Free software is a matter of the users’ freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:

• The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
• The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
• The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
• The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits. (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this. (Wheeler 2007)

Free Software means that you are free to do whatever you want to do whenever you want, to the associated software. Free to make modifications to the software and to redistribute copies without needing permission from anyone in particular, or in any particular way.

(Picture from: http://davefaq.com)

Open Source Software is has a very similar definition, "includes free software, but also some proprietary programs, where you can access the source code. It is said that 'open source software' is a marketing term for 'free software' however according to the open sourse software definition, the software must meet the following criteria:

1. Free Distribution
2. Source Code
3. Derived Works
4. ingregrity of the Authors Source Code
5. no Discrimination Against Persons or Groups
6. No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor
7. Distribution of License
8. License Must ot Be Specific to a Product
9. The License Must Not Restrict Other Software and,
10. No Provision of the License Must Be Predicted

The difference between the two is that 'free software' is completely free both in terms of money and freedom. You are entitled to do whatever you want to that software at any time and redistribute without mentioning so or paying a fee. 'Open source' software is not entirely free in terms of 'freedom'; there are certain limitations and regulations in modifying and distributing the works made to such software.

Sources:

Open Source and Free Software, image, viewed 20 September 2011.
<http://davefaq.com/Opinions/OpenSource.html>

Wheeler, D 2007. Why Open Source Software / Free Software (OSS/FS, FLOSS, or FOSS)? Viewed 20 September 2011.
<http://www.dwheeler.com/oss_fs_why.html#definitions>

GNU Operating System (date unknown) Why “Free Software” is better than “Open Source. Viewed 20 September 2011.
<http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-for-freedom.html>

Week 7: Tutorial Task

Making the Script

This week we have made our scripts and are on our way to making our film. A film with a similar counselling theme like ours is a HBO film, 'In Treatment'. In watching this film, I could see the way I would have to act towards the camera. I am a technophobe, an older man who is anxious, scared, frightened, horrified and a recluse; somebody you cannot help but feel sorry for and hope they will make it through their troubles.


I decided that considering I am so afraid of this technology, I would also be frightened of the terms because words create meaning right? So I have made some signs to hold up to the camera every time I need to say a word related to technology. Here is my script:


Question from psychologist:


"So how have you been this week"


Me:


Well Doc, I've been going surprisingly well.
Actually, I've been coping, not exactly progressing.
I'm stuck Doc!


Okay, so people have stopped replying to my letters, obviously I can't use the phone (holds up sign)
Yeah... (bows head) still using the signs!


The only way people will write to me is through email!
Oh! A 'lady friend' from lawn bowls came over and had a go at me stove kettle, as if I'm supposed to use an Electric Kettle.


Even me own generation doesn't understand anymore.
Technology... it's taken over my life and I still can't seem to accept it. It's just not natural to me; it's not me. Everyone else is obsess with technology even just to communicate! What's wrong with a little face-to-face contact? I wasn't raised communicating this way, through phone, internet, email, fax, but I'm forced to! And it's hard! But talking to you about it, is making it better. So yeah, I'd say still coping....  but not exactly progressing.


Sources:

<http://www.hbo.com/in-treatment/index.html>


CSL: CartoonStock, image, viewed 16 September 2011.
<http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/t/technophobes_gifts.asp>

Week 7: Response to Content

Produsage: Help or Hinder?

Produsage: 'the collaborative, iterative, and user-led production of content by participants in a hybrid user-producer, or produser  role'. (Bruns, 2011) In other words, the uploading of information to a site; a site created by peers for peers. Axel Bruns, from the Queensland University of Technology explains that 'in recent years, various observers have pointed to the shifting paradigms of cultural and societal participation and economic production in developed nations. These changes are facilitated (although, importantly, not solely driven) by the emergence of new, participatory technologies of information access, knowledge exchange, and content production, many of whom are associated with Internet and new media technologies.'

Wikipedia is a very popular site which many people turn to for information, but is this information accurate?

Vasilis Kostakis from the University of Macedonia in his writing of produsage in particular to the site claims that 'Wikipedia is constantly at risk of transforming itself into an inflexible, despotic hierarchy, while new disputes are emerging about the mode of content creation and governance. As the size of Wikipedia increases (in terms of both content and participants), it becomes more difficult and complex for a relatively small group of administrators to keep track of everything that happens “in the far–flung of the site.”'

Bruns beliefficiency can be achieved when searching on the internet and this can be helpful. However, just like Wikipedia, it is helpful but to some extent it may not always be useful due to be amount of “incremental” users. Basically, the information present may not always be valid or necessarily credible.


Sources:

Jona's Blog, DIY Culture and Design: Physical Goods Through the Online Rhelm, image, viewed 16 September 2011.
<http://jonathanpeck.wordpress.com/ >

Kostakis, V 2010. Identifying and Understanding the Problems of Wikipedia's Peer Governance: The Case of Inclusionists Versus Deletionists. Viewed 16 September 2011.
<http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/2613/2479>

Bruns, A (Date Unknown), Towards Produsage: Futures for User-Led Content Production. Viewed 16 September 2011
<http://produsage.org/files/12132812018_towards_produsage_0.pdf>

Week 6: Tutorial Task

Making a Film

Week six now and there is a group video to be made with a hint of 'New Communication Technologies' within it's theme. The question to be asked is how to go about it and what equipment (including computer programs) could be used? Well, the truth is, I have had only a very basic video editing experience in grade ten, so I don't really know too much about this so I am most likely going to use the Window Movie Maker program.

The group and I have decided to make a film based on three patients in a pysch or counselling sesison, where we would play the role of somebody who has a case or problem with technology but has to complete the session over skype. After completing some research in technophobia and psychology in general we decided that I would play a technophobe, Joanna would play a troubled woman who 'needs' to have her Mac Book Pro and Amber would play a woman who was completely addicted to her mobile phone or even phone's'.

Video equipment:
 - Digital Camera for filming
 - Stands for camera to keep angle and stability
 - Equipment to 'set the scene' eg. photographs
 - Windows Window Maker

We may have problems with copywrite when using music, images or outsourced media that will be in the film. So we will have to use Creative Commons' website and gain some media which is free and has much media that can be used safely without running into trouble with copywrite. People put their art or works on this site to get their work out there so with most, as long as you reference them in your film or mention who the work is created by, it will be fine.

Sources:

Shamoon, E 2009. Technology Leads to Anxiety and Depression, Studies Show, Viewed 9 September 2011
<http://www.switched.com/2009/02/04/technology-leads-to-anxiety-and-depression-studies-show/>

Taylor, J 2009. Psychology of Technology: Disconnectivity Anxiety,viewed 9 September 2011.
<http://mobilitydigest.com/psychology-of-technology-disconnectivity-anxiety/>

Jacobsohn, J 2008. Social Networking Anxiety Disorder - What is this?, viewed 10 September 2011.
<http://www.networkinginsight.com/2008/06/social-networking-anxiety-disorder---what-is-this.html>



Week 6: Response to Content

Does the Internet Negatively Impact the Film Industy's Profit Margin?

The Internet has become a new means for distributing information and resources, much of which is accessed free of charge. This whole notion of 'free of charge' has definitely been taken advantage of by the general public, particularly in reference to the means of free downloads and file sharing on the World Wide Web. The magnitude of what the internet encompasses and the diversity of it's information is immense. Royal Pingdom is a website which has gathered the statisitics to present the details of internet usage in 2010. With a total of 255 million websites as of December 2010 it is easy to see how the internet can impact people and industries on a very large scale.

(Daily Kindling)

The entertainment industry uses media to create and distribute the work it creates and much of this can easily make its way onto the internet. With illegal downloads and little privacy on many sites, the internet has been used as a portal for people attempting to get their hands on this work at no cost. Many people now download film or music instead of buying a film from the local supermarket, regarless of the lessened quality of sound and imagery. For instance, from 2008 to 2009 there was an increase of 33.6% of illegal dowloads from year to year; from 785,000 to 1,049,000. (Moses, 2009)

Although the internet has served as a means for society to cheapen the works that people have dedicated much time and money to, it has served well for the film industry in terms of Advertising. However, 'The movie and music industries are battling revenue declines because legal downloads are not yet making up for the drop in physical disc sales. They have ramped up the pressure on governments and internet providers around the world to do more to prevent online piracy' (Moses, 2009). The internet has made negative impacts on the film industry and the law can only inforce this so much. How is it okay to steal a movie off the internet, but not from the shop? It's not, and if the left continues, there will be no film industry to create the entertainment so many enjoy.


Sources:

Daily Kindling: Illegal Downloaders Buy More Music, image, viewed 9 September 2011.
<http://truefire.com/blog/uncategorized/daily-kindling-illegal-downloaders-buy-more-music/>

Moses, A 2009. Illegal downloads soar as hard times bite. Viewed 9 September 2011.
<http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/downloads/2009/05/27/1243103577467.html>

Pingdom, R 2011. Royal Pingdom: Internet 2010 In Numbers, viewed 9 September 2011.
<http://royal.pingdom.com/2011/01/12/internet-2010-in-numbers/>

Wray, R 2009. The Guardian: The Pirates Will Always Win, Says Carphone's Dunstone, viewed 9 September 2011.
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jun/05/dunstone-carphone-warehouse-results-pirates>

Week 5: Response to Content

The Theme of Rubber Creates the Imapact

Rubber is a film directed by Quentin Depieux which takes you through the journey of a tire that comes to life in California, kills objects and people with psychic powers who is watched by an audience with binoculars. The films main theme is loneliness. Through the film the tyre encounters everything alone, takes on every journey and every situation alone and could possibly be the reason for they tyres anger in the first place.  

Ray Morton, writer and script analyst discusses Screenplay Theme in his focal points for a film. His first two steps in making a well-constructed movie are based on theme. You must first ‘make sure you have a clear grasp on your theme. This gives your film the point you want to make; the lesson you want to teach; the message you want to convey. It is the foundation upon which the rest of the story is built (Moreton 2009). Rubber’s theme of loneliness is set straight from the beginning in the first Act. Set in the baron wilderness of the Californian desert, amongst sand, wildlife, deserted rubbish and tumble weed.

The next tip he gives is to ‘make sure that all elements within the script affect the theme’. He expalains that you must have a portagonist’ who is the exact opposite to the theme who will eventually prove the films theme or message by having ‘that character journey along a path that will land him at exactly the point the theme is trying to make by the end of the story. The characters in Rubber are human. They prove the message of loneliness not only by the setting but by the obsession with killing him; its rubber to fend for himself, no family, no friends, no support.

Rubber is a movie with the underlying theme of loneliness. This is proved from the very beginning of the movie and is carried the whole way throughout. It is the message, the essence and the driving force of the film to which obstacles are overcome. The viewer leaves the movie with the underlying theme and message of the movie long after the credits roll. Without the theme, the movie would be nothing but a tire going on a rampage, killing for no purpose and the viewer would be left empty; without the theme, there is no meaning.

Sources:

Goldman, W 2011. The Paradigm Worksheet, viewed 25 August, 2011.
<http://www.sydfield.com/featured_theparadigmworksheet.htm>

Morton, R 2009. Focal Points: Screenplay Theme, Structure and Characters, viewed 25 August 2011.
<http://www.movieoutline.com/articles/focal-points-screenplay-theme-structure-and-characters.html>

Rubber (Official Movie Website) 2011. Viewed 25 August 2011,
<http://www.rubberthemovie.com>

Horrow Comedy challenge. Image, viewed 25 August 2011,
<http://www.filmrant.net/horror-comedy-challenge/>