'Bring on the female superheroes!' - TED Talk by Christopher Bell

As we are taking our first tentative steps into 'Postmodern Media' please listen to this passionate TED Talk by Christopher Bell, Ph.D in which he asks 'where is all the female superhero stuff?'.

Consider the questions he raises about the way in which 'the media' exacts control over public perception and how easily women are 'erased' from the narrative.

He also uses some key terms including 'media saturation' (which we began discussing yesterday - see Dominic Striate quotes in the introductory doc) and 'public pedagogy' which we will be discussing regularly throughout the course.

Everything is a Remix - Remastered (2015)

Kirby Ferguson has remastered his seminal series 'Everything is a Remix' as one single video. This continues to be the starting point for our study into Postmodern Media.

Please watch and make detailed notes. We will begin our study of Postmodern Media on Thursday 1st October.

Martin Scorsese - The Art of Silence

Postmodernism and The Media

Narrative Analysis in Media Studies

"Look Up" from social networks and mobile devices.

A viral video that has been floating around Facebook and Twitter over the last week, has been calling for a digital revolution. Putting to one side the irony of creating a video promoting the dissolution of social networks, which is being promoted on Twitter and Facebook; does the video have an actual moral message about how we should remove social networks and our online self from our lives or is it just taking a narrow minded single view approach to how people use the online environment?

Related theories
Nathan Jurgenson - Facebook is real life.
Danah Boyd - Social networks blur boundaries of friendship.
Steven Handel - Digital Divide
Christine Rosen - Social Networks is about self-fulfilment.
David Gauntlett - Making is Connecting
Jean Burgess - Memes

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Introduction and Inside to Wes Anderson

An introduction short documentary about Anderson.

A compilation of overhead shots in his films.

A demonstration of how Anderson uses the frame.

A compilation of slow motion shots in his films.

Museum Of Wes Anderson

The Great Gatsby - Green Screen and CGI.

A Talk With Hitchcock

Whether you're an AS or A2 Media student, this interview with Alfred Hitchcock, in which he discusses his creative process, is really useful. It gives a detailed insight into how to tell stories on film. The section on 'cutting' is particularly insightful.

Part 1 and Part 2.

Postmodernism: Design in a Nutshell

Found this a bit too late for the class of 2013 but adding it here for use with the class of 2014.

Postmodernism in a nut shell, part of a series of short videos made by the Open University. This one on Modernism is useful too. 

[A2] The End is Nigh!

So the journey is almost over. Here be some links, videos and tidbits of advice as you finish preparing yourself for your 'critical perspectives' exam...

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Where to begin? This video gives a clear overview of the exam structure, in particular what you need to focus on in Q1a and Q1b:

1a (Looking inwardly)

• The chief examiner on responding to Q1a.
• Here I am responding to Q1a - def. worth a read!

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1b (Applying theory)

• The chief examiner on responding to Q1b.
• Example response to 1a and 1b.
• Revising key theoretical concepts.
• The chief examiner on doing exam answers.

And in response to Josh's tweet, if Media Language comes up focus on that theory: semiotics, mediation, camera, editing, sound, mise-en-scene. Do not get tripped up and discuss post-structuralism or postmodernism. Focus on how you used your knowledge of media language to 'mediate' and 'construct' your media text.

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#POMO or WTF!?

Don't forget that *postmodernism* is a cultural concept and *postmodern media* refers specifically to media texts.

To offer a full, detailed, conceptual response you must show how other areas of theory are directly connected to postmodern media, including: 'structuralism', 'post-structuralism', 'genre theory' and 'audience theories'.

And it is also an era, and a response...

Baudrillard (as if you need this!?)

And the best answers will make cogent links between historical examples like 'The Matrix' and present/future examples like 'Digital Identity'.

Finally, the chief examiner on answering the #POMO question.

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Well done to those of you who emailed me essays or essay plans. Remember, I am here and here, if you need me. And good luck!

Learning in Media @ CCC

After skyping into our classroom, Catherine Cronin asked us to create some artefacts to document how and why learning in Media @ CCC is different to other subjects. What follows are videos and images created and edited by A2 Media Students reflecting on the '3 tenets' that I have tried to foster in their learning:

"Openness ~ Social Media ~ Student Voice/Choice" - Catherine Cronin

This is very much a reflection of the value I place on Independent Learning. The 'leashes' have to come off!

Introduction to Learning in Media @ CCC

Josh on being able to make mistakes:

Alice on equality between learner and teacher:

Alice on using 'social media' to learn and progress:

Danielle on 'openness' and 'student voice':

Lucy on death by PowerPoint:

Hannah on being an independent learner and 'choice':

Did you know 4.0

Eternal moonwalk #meme #FTW!

Eternal Moonwalk is a never ending moonwalk made up of user-submitted videos. It's an awesome #meme, a great example of the power of the viral web and is also exceptionally #pomo! 

*You can hit the buttons below the video for some added MJ sound effects!

Laters!

Learn Adobe Premiere Pro

For those of you embarking on your first video-based editing project and for those of you who need a refresher, Adobe have put together a useful set of video's to help you learn to use Adobe Premiere Pro.

CS5.5 (Old Macs)

CS6 (New Macs)

The Web is REAL!

Tripod Trix

Cinematography is one of the most, if not the most important aspect of production. Apart from getting a range of shot types, a range of movements is also critical to the success of your product. Creating a steady camera shot while successfully achieving pans, tilts and tracking shots is a challenge in itself, but one of the most overlooked pieces of equipment in production is the tripod. Here is a quick tutorial showing you how to achieve a clean and steady range of camera movements:

For more information about how to use tripods successfully check out these videos

• Basic step-by-step knowledge of how to attach a camera to a tripod "Tripods, an Exposè!"
• How to achieve a dramatic "Hitchcock zoom "Zoom vs. Moving Camera"
• Why use a tripod when you got a monopod "Monopod Mania"

Go forth and have fun with tripods and experiment with different shot types and movements.

Embracing the Remix

This TED talk acts a nice caveat to Kirby Ferguson's fabulous 'Everything is a Remix' series...

Find out more at: www.everythingisaremix.info

Helen Keegan - Who is Rufi Franzen? (Keynote - PELeCON 2012)

Helen's keynote presentation from PELeCON. A full overview of the Rufi Franzen saga with slides.