My Essay Plan

Does the extensive use of computer/video games have an adverse impact on the health of young people. What are the most recent papers? Clarify what both sides of the argument claim and only then offer your reasoned opinion based on facts.


I chose this topic because there are currently, so many violent games out there that young players are addicted to. With this in mind there some health scares and also disruptions in their everyday life. In my view, the stereotypical boys are getting aggressive and more physical due to such violent exposure. I will be conducting some extensive research for reliable evidence to show what issues are arising when young adolescents are participating in video games and online games. Writing both sides, the good and the bad side of video games for adolescents, hopefully I come up with a conclusion that is agreeable to all. 

OUR FILM!

Finally done. Our film is about text messaging which is a very communicative tool today. Here is the link to our video... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnfgRO2ZCOg

Week 8 - filmmaking progress part four...

We are nearly finished with our editing work. All the scenes are successfully shot. Some scenes that were initially in mind did not work out because we are only beginners I don’t think we can shoot a scene where the guy is abducted by aliens. Today, we are in search of the right music for our film.  Thankfully Creative Commons Mixter helped us out. Any music we can use legally for free. I found one that was quite suitable for our theme. All we had to do is credit the music provider in our video and that’s it!

Using music by someone else without permission is definitely unacceptable. Thanks to Creative Commons, films like ours just for classes are just so convenient. Students can’t afford to pay thousands of dollars just for a music score. Next week our group will do a finishing touch on the film before class.

Week 7 - filmmaking progress part two...

So we started shooting today. We shot scenes through my iPhone but we made a little mistake. We shot it vertically if that makes sense. Does not look too professional but hopefully it works out well through some good editing skills. We also took some screenshots of the text messages so the storyline follows nicely. We tried using iMovie but failed. We didn’t take all of the scenarios at once just the ones we could shoot in class. Two of our group members decided to shoot them at their place since they are roommates. So, if all that is complete by this week, all we have to do is the editing next week. One of our group members knew how to use Windows video maker so we chose that instead. It’s better to edit with the one you can use right?

Come to think about it, our idea for this short film is very intriguing. Have you ever felt you’re heart skipping a beat because of text messaging? This is exactly what we are portraying. A little exaggeration here and there but still the power of this phone communication device, toying your emotions is definitely a highlight.

Week 7 - Lecture

Wikipedia is definitely the first source I choose to find information about anything I need to know instantly.  Of course many of our teachers encourage us not to use it in our research essays, it is however a good starting point.

The readings for today talked about peer governance and the 'inclusionist and deletionists' of Wikipedia. The most interesting section was the example case of the 'inclusionist and deletionists'. It is without a doubt that Wikipedia's information is untrustworthy. Mainly because people can edit the information easily. It is an open source. Although it is now quite restricted, it is still doubtful. Some information can be true but some can be fabricated. But, then again, despite of all this, people tend to come around Wikipedia usage. Perhaps because we are already so used to it, it is an automatic choice. Like using Google as search engine.  'Google it' is probably the most common phrase now... 'Just quickly read Wikipedia' is only just behind.

Kostakis, V 2010, 'Identifying and Understanding the Problems of Wikipedia's Peer Governance: The Case of Inclusionists Versus Deletionists', First Monday, vol. 15, no. 3, viewed 7 September 2011, <http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/2613/2479>

Week 6 - filmmaking progress part one...

Our task is to make a short clip anything that deals with new communication technology. One of our group members suggested that we should have a girl texting her boyfriend. They start messaging each other but the guy stops. With no reply, the girl worries and starts thinking about different kind of scenarios in her head. Thought this would be a great idea for filming because it is quite relatable and texting is of course, a new communication device. Sort of like the ice coffee advertisement for Dare.

We will have to go through some copyright issues because it is important that we don’t use anything illegally. Creative commons is one of the sources that we will use especially for music. All in all it was a great discussion. We made a Facebook group just to keep everyone in contact in case someone found a new idea. Which is probably a good communication tool. I think for group assignments Facebook group is a great way to communicate to everyone and share ideas or comments.

Week 6 Lecture

The birth of cinema was 1895 and since then filmmaking developed in a way that no one possibly could have thought back in the days. By developing new technologies we can now watch movies on demand. The Internet can easily do this as it also allows you to watch streaming live films on television via Netflix or Foxtel. YouTube is another predominate device that consumers can watch feature films. It is a good source for developing filmmakers before entering the ‘real world’ of cinema. In our lecture, famous directors shot some short films targeting the Internet market. BMW short film series was a great success.


The timeline of cinema, as our lecturer elaborated, reveals how much technology developed during these periods. It is still continuing to please the audience. 3D television says it all.

An article questions if cinema is still required in our world today. The issue is that most revenue comes from DVDs instead of cinema itself. Is it killing Hollywood? Well not exactly, films are still making money right? And isn’t that what Hollywood is all about? Worst-case scenario, consumers watching films online for free. Although, it is quite scary what the future holds for cinema next. Hopefully technology will keep cinema alive instead of the Internet dominating.

Roddick, N 2006, ‘Does Cinema Need Cinema?’, Journal of Sight and Sound, vol. 16,  no. 9, pp. 1-12, viewed 4 September 2011, ProQuest Central database

Week 5 - Tutorial Task

*SCAVENGER HUNT*


1. The first university was founded in year 258. Najing University, China. I found this via the search engine Dogpile and went on to this site: http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~bump/OriginUniversities.html


2. Stephen Stockwell was in a rock, punk band called The Black Assassins! He played the keyboard and did the vocals. Hit tracks include: Death Take Me Now, Barricades and Run Ronnie Run. Again, used Dogpile and went to : http://members.optusnet.com.au/~toxicoh/blackas.htm


3. This time, search engine Bing found me the the World's biggest machine. It is called the Liebherr T 282B Hauling Truck and weighs approximately 203 tons. Costing them a whole $3.5 million!
http://trulypre.posterous.com/worlds-largest-machines-ever-built-1


4. I guess it's really creepy to look up Justin Bieber's lawyer. Couldn't find him anyway, all his stalkers will stalk the lawyer if it was on the net!


5. The cheapest form would be by plane costing you $89. Found it using Bing
http://www.airfaresflights.com.au/flights/Gold%20Coast/Melbourne-MEL/

Week 5 - Lecture

I have watched the film 'Rubber' last semester for a film class, and it definitely is a comical but with a real twisted, horrific sense. Our lecture was about the language of film and its construction of meaning where there are five essential plot lines to consider when deconstructing a film, which in this case, I will be looking at Quentin Dupieux's film 'Rubber'. Also, the three act structure is crucial in filmmaking.


The five essentials are:


- A believable, sympathetic main character
- The difficult problem that the character faces
- How they will overcome these hardships
- Climax
- Resolution


The three act structure is:
- Act 1(The Setup, where we get to know about the main character in play)
- Act 2 (Confrontation)
- Resolution (Where Act 1 and 2 are now solved)
Between each act we have plot points to smoothly run the story


Now, the film Rubber is a little tricky. I will only discuss Act 1. It's interesting to see that the protagonist is an object. A tyre brought to life. At first the audience does not know it's characteristics let alone the plot. But sooner or later the audience discovers that the tyre can kill people. A murdering tyre. That is the setup for the film 'Rubber', the main character wheels around and murder anything that gets in his way.

Week 4 - Tutorial Task

For this week's tutorial task we have to pick a social networking site and understand the Terms of Service. I decided to check out Tumblr! I go on Tumblr everyday just to see what the people I currently follow upload, and since I haven't read their conditions of use when signing up, why not today? Three
questions are up for discussion in regards to researching Tumblr's Terms of Service.

First of all, I hardly ever read the Terms of Service when creating a new account via the Internet. I have an instant reaction that it would be safe and secure besides, I am always in a rush to create a new account so I tend to skip it. But, after a group discussion about how much power networking sites can uphold, it was very surprising. Little did I know that the social networking sites are able to invade my personal information and use it in anyway they like it. As soon as you upload content on your Tumblr, it's owned by Tumblr nothing else. Regarding privacy, the policy was indicated to a whole new page discussing about it! Tumblr can access your personal information and use it against you if you are disrupting the site. Otherwise it is on a restricted database so your information should be secure. All the content you upload is on copyright regulations so your content is yours unless personally asked if third parties can use it.

Tumblr, 2010, Accepting the Terms of Service, viewed 17th of August, http://www.tumblr.com/policy/en/terms_of_service

Week 4 - Lecture

Week 3 - Tutorial Task

TASK 1
What was Stephen Stockwell's first article in an academic journal? What year? Provide a full citation. What database did you use?


His first journal is called 'The Brisbane Model: Considering a Unique Experiment' published in year 1995


Stockwell, S, 1995, 'The Brisbane Model: Considering a Unique Experiment', Urban Policy and Research, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 89 - 96, viewed 10 August 2011, via Taylor & Francis Online database.


In which comic did Governor Slugwell appear? Which Issues? Give their full citation for the earliest. Where did you find this information? What database did you use? (Check the trial databases)
I used the trial database and there was a link to Underground and Independent Comics. I was able to find three issues where Governor Slugwell appeared. The comic is called 'Flaming Carrot Comics', and he is in issue numbers 7,10 and 11.


"When the Shoes Aren't Worth the Shine", by Bob Burden In Flaming Carrot Comics, no. 7. (Renegade Press, 1985). page(s) 3-3)


What is the latest medical thinking on the dangers of mobile phones? Provide a full citation.

This journal article is about how radiation from the phone can cause cancer! It hasn't been fully justified though but there are some evidential research going on this article.


Janssens, Jaak Ph, 2005, 'Mobile Phones and Cancer?', European Journal of Cancer Prevention, vol. 14, no. 2, viewed 10 August 2011


-Found through Griffith's database.

In Bladerunner, what is Leon's reaction when Holden asks him about his mother? Quote the 1982 draft script and provide a full reference. (Check the trial databases)

Leon looks shocked, surprised.  But the needles in the computer barelymove.  Holden goes for the inside of his coat.  But big Leon is faster.  His LASER BURNS a hole the size of a nickel through Holden's stomach. Unlike a bullet, a laser causes no impact.  Itgoes through Holden's spine and comes out his back, clean as a whistle.  Like a ragdoll he falls back off the bench from the waist up.  By the time he hits the floor, big slow Leon is already walking away.  But he stops, turns and with a little smile of satisfaction, FIRES atmachine on the table.

Fancher & Hampton 1938, 'Blade Runner (1982): Draft Script', viewed 10 August 2011

- used American Film Script's Online Database

*TASK 2*

Social networking sites are trendy. Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr are the main 'fashionable' sites that are obvious. It's quite possible though, that these sites will eventually become the 'old school' networking material which has happened to MySpace so to speak. For this week's task we have been asked to search an old source of communication, via the internet, that has lost their trendiness. I decided to search Usenet. First of all, since I've never even heard of this site, it's quite clear that it has faded in today's modern Internet society! And thus begins my Usenet journey...

Usenet was formed between 1970s and 80s, even before the World Wide Web was introduced (it was only 1991 that it was formerly announced). It was a very popular bulletin-board system, an excellent source to share information around. Between this period of early development, it was shared among the main US universities to transfer such educational resources and experimental data and later was able to connect internationally. It was at its peak point before the World Wide Web was developing rapidly and other sites were able to develop other, newer sources of sharing files. It's exclusive to people who want to share information with only the people they want to share it with.

However, people change and so does the way of communication on the net. Popularity doesn't last forever. I guess the creation of new technology is like this too. The item have their shine on days and then sooner or later something 'cooler' will replace it. Social networking sites are very much alike. When something newer approaches we are bound to be interested and slowly forget about the old.

Moraes, M 1999, What is Usenet?, viewed 10 August 2011, http://www.faqs.org/faqs/usenet/what-is/part1/

Week 3 - Lecture

Week 2 - Tutorial Task

It's been quite a while that iPhone 4 was released, but I really wanted to show you how much this Facetime technology has changed the way we communicate. Like Skype, it's a definitely a good way to communicate with your family who you don't meet so often or even a friend who is overseas or perhaps if you want to show someone your new look! I think this advertisement/video for iPhone's Facetime is relevant to our communication technology today.

*PART 2*
I have an iPhone application called Kakao Talk. It allows you to send free text messages to people you know who owns this app. Not exactly free if you don't have a wireless internet around you but it's seriously one of the apps I recommend. Since a lot of my friends and family uses the iPhone, I found this app an efficient way to communicate especially when overseas. I travelled around europe with my friend during the mid-sem holidays, and Kakao Talk was very useful to communicate with my mum. Since I wasn't able to communicate with her on the phone, and free wireless internet was easy to find, I was able to tell her where I was, what I was up to and also send her some pictures. In the Korean community, the app, Kakao Talk is well-known. I found it through my friend. Not to mention, in Korea, all smart phones are compatible with this app so from time to time I chat with my aunts and uncles over there which is awesome! I found it very easy to communicate. And like everyone, Facebook is also definitely an easy way to connect with friends, or even re-connect with some you haven't talked to in a while.

Privacy is always and will be an ongoing issue over the Internet. We can't really do anything about it. Even if you do set your profile on private, Facebook employees would know what you talk about with friends if they start hacking you. It is disturbing but in a way, people really don't care. Well, I don't anyway because I'm not famous.

I don't associate with people I've never met on the Internet. I think I've watched too many movies. Strangers scare me. All in all, iPhone is probably the best innovative technology. There are so many apps that you can connect with your friends! Cannot live without it.

Week 2 - Lecture

This week's lecture, 'Are We Communication?' was about the very beginning of communication technology and how far communication devices have come to and is currently developing.

The Genealogy of Communication was discussed in the lecture. Learning the historic background of old communication methods was crucial to understand what communication is now and of most of all, have we considered ourselves as humans who simply cannot survive without communication via technology. Before such inventions, communication form would have been quite difficult. Today, if we were to look at the world with an old-fashioned eye, it would also be hard to communicate with other people. In other words, the creations of new devices are subtle and people are expecting more or even demanding to amaze them. It's amazing to see how last year's laptop would look so old compared to this year's. It's only a year gap!

The invention of electricity has definitely been and still is, the integral part of making such communication devices. Electricity is essential. No doubt about that. It's easy to say that after the Greek's invention of vowels, electricity is next.

The linguistic roots of communication means to bring a community together. Looking at the world today, it certainly is connecting everyone especially through the internet. Nonetheless, we can be defined as communication.  

Week 1 - Lecture

Since it's only the first week of semester 2 our lecturer decided to go easy on us. For starters, we were mainly filled in with what this course is all about and what assessments we will be doing in the future. Once the overview finished, the lecturer moved straight to the subject of 'old communication technologies' that is, how people used to communicate 'back in the days'. This aspect of the lecture was quite interesting because it enabled us to compare 'new communication technologies'. Decades ago, people would communicate via speech (in-person) but now there are tools that help us such as social networks and mobile phones. The speed of communication has drastically increased making significant news go around faster. Not to mention wireless internet is one of the key resources that aids in new communication technology.

Security and privacy issues on the net was another subject that was talked about in this week's lecture. We watched a news clip that dealt with the issue of hacking. In response to hacking, security issues is that, although there are many technology-intelligent people that try to fight back, there are is no proper defence material. Hackers will find their way to hack into someone's cyber-life over and over again despite new programming to avoid them. Realistically though, real personal information should literally be personal and not posted on social networking sites if it's uncomfortable!


At the end of the lecture, our lecturer asked this question, is digital communication the very best way?
In my opinion, yes it is the best way. The main reason for me is probably due to its speed. Through one call or text message we can tell something urgent to our family or our friends right away. I don't think a hand-written letter would do the trick... Not to mention in order to survive this world now, we need to know how to use a mobile phone at least.

There are no readings for this week so I shall start on that next week!

ABOUT JUDES

My name is Judy and I'm doing a bachelor of communications, majoring in digital writing and Japanese! I love watching films in my spare time and I'm interested in the whole genre of social networking because it's amazing to watch how quickly news can spread via internet. I am quite interested in blogging (not for core subjects of course!) because there are a lot of people who succeeded just by posting their thoughts and inspirations. At the moment, I don't have the courage to actually post things like that but perhaps this course can help me proceed a social blog in the future.