Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Report #1
Report Link:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5960094/Computer%20and%20New%20Media%20Report%20%231.doc
-or-
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18Kmb-PS_HLtzaiTwWmj7nZHy5ey03oaR1nzH98UWgbU/edit
Presentation Link:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5960094/Kanji%20Storyteller.pptx
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5960094/Computer%20and%20New%20Media%20Report%20%231.doc
-or-
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18Kmb-PS_HLtzaiTwWmj7nZHy5ey03oaR1nzH98UWgbU/edit
Presentation Link:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5960094/Kanji%20Storyteller.pptx
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Assignment #2: Similarities in Media Consumption
While the reasons for taking computers and new media differ widely given the difference in backgrounds and experiences, there is an overall desire to understand the connection between the media we use and experience and its effect on culture.
Given that the majority of the class are computer scientists, there is a prevailing desire to understand how the software that they develop is viewed, consumed, and deployed as well as a desire to to do all those things effectively.
Media is widely viewed as a vehicle for communication of a message. As such the study of computers and new media tends to be viewed as a way of enhancing the experience of a medium's content.
As for the patterns that can be seen in media consumption go, it is worth noting that many of the students cited that they played the Elder Scroll series, Civilization, and Fallout. What makes these games so widely played? I think it is because they offer a level of autonomy in their play that allows them to explore their experience while simultaneously molding that experience as they see fit.
The Elder scrolls and Fallout focus on exploration as the primary experience.
Civilization focuses on the control and empowerment/achievement as the primary experience.
It is also worth noting that the kinds of media most cited are media or instances of media that are meant as entertainment: Music, TV, Movies, Video Games, and Books
I think this is worth noting because it shows what people want: To have fun!
They see media as a way of enhancing their lives through entertainment rather than through some direct utility.
Given that the majority of the class are computer scientists, there is a prevailing desire to understand how the software that they develop is viewed, consumed, and deployed as well as a desire to to do all those things effectively.
Media is widely viewed as a vehicle for communication of a message. As such the study of computers and new media tends to be viewed as a way of enhancing the experience of a medium's content.
As for the patterns that can be seen in media consumption go, it is worth noting that many of the students cited that they played the Elder Scroll series, Civilization, and Fallout. What makes these games so widely played? I think it is because they offer a level of autonomy in their play that allows them to explore their experience while simultaneously molding that experience as they see fit.
The Elder scrolls and Fallout focus on exploration as the primary experience.
Civilization focuses on the control and empowerment/achievement as the primary experience.
It is also worth noting that the kinds of media most cited are media or instances of media that are meant as entertainment: Music, TV, Movies, Video Games, and Books
I think this is worth noting because it shows what people want: To have fun!
They see media as a way of enhancing their lives through entertainment rather than through some direct utility.
Monday, January 23, 2012
The Extensions of Man - Marshall MacLuhan
So I have to say that MacLuhan's ideas are probably the most stimulating thing I've come across in terms of how I view the affect of technology in people in a while.
While I strongly disagree with how he shuns the idea that the value of any technology is determined by how we use it, I can see how his disposition toward technological determinism is at least somewhat justified.
After all, the instant knowledge and gratification that comes through internet access has shaped our culture in clearly identifiable ways. While many may see this as a reason to despair over the 'degradation of our society' there must be something that can be said of our ability to make choices for ourselves and practice self-control. After all, the greater the opportunity to practice self-control and be aware of it, the better we can become at honing the related virtues.
In this way, I think that there is a balance or compromise that can be made between the extremes of technological determinism and self determinism which MacLuhan finds himself conflicted over. Also, I cannot see why media while having their own 'flavors' of influence can't also contain an important message through their content. In my mind, both are equally important.
With that said, maybe MacLuhan is right in thinking that we are hopelessly shaped by the media we used. I know that I've been influenced despite my will.
It's easy to see how MacLuhan's ideas have become embedded in the way we approach media too. I've heard the idea that technology is an extension of ourselves through the popular physicist Michio Kaku as well as from other sources that I can't remember as of now.
The idea that "the Freudian censor" is a reaction for learning material rather than to filter out morally contradictory ideas makes a lot of sense to me too.
I also like Nietzsche's idea that understanding stops action. Personally, I know that the more I understand other's viewpoints, the more docile and accepting I become of them. In that way, I think that the instant communication and increased degree of collective consciousness that we have achieved with modern media is promoting peace in a way that we haven't quite seen before in history.
Albeit, society has also fragmented into cliques (or tribalized as MacLuhan would put it) that does prevent mutual understanding in many places.
In any case, I am still of the persuasion that mankind may never fully outgrow its propensity for war, disagreement, and conflict.
I looked up some of MacLuhan's ideas/philosophy here:
http://www.philosophicalsociety.com/Archives/McLuhan%27s%20Philosophy.htm#II.%20An%20Overview%20of%20McLuhan%27s%20Thinking
I'm not sure whether to call MacLuhan a visionary or label him as a loony, but his ideas are certainly galvanizing and insightful at most times.
I could say much more, but MacLuhan's ideas speak for themselves much better than I can, so I'll just post a few here:
"The only way not to feel alienated in the new media environment, McLuhan said, is to understand what is going on in the present, to be keenly aware of one's environment. Most people, however, do not do this: they live in the past. They suffer from a "rear-view mirror" mentality. Their thoughts and feelings belong to the preceding generation (we've all met people who are "still living in the 1960s or 1980s," still talking about former presidents, the "good old days," the innocent past)."
"Media are extensions of human beings and affect our outlook and attitudes, our feelings about culture, schools, politics, studies, moral values, societal norms. They can totally disrupt our social existence and equilibrium."
"The introspective life of long, long thoughts and distant goals...cannot coexist with the mosaic form of the TV image that commands immediate participation in depth and admits of no delays."
While I strongly disagree with how he shuns the idea that the value of any technology is determined by how we use it, I can see how his disposition toward technological determinism is at least somewhat justified.
After all, the instant knowledge and gratification that comes through internet access has shaped our culture in clearly identifiable ways. While many may see this as a reason to despair over the 'degradation of our society' there must be something that can be said of our ability to make choices for ourselves and practice self-control. After all, the greater the opportunity to practice self-control and be aware of it, the better we can become at honing the related virtues.
In this way, I think that there is a balance or compromise that can be made between the extremes of technological determinism and self determinism which MacLuhan finds himself conflicted over. Also, I cannot see why media while having their own 'flavors' of influence can't also contain an important message through their content. In my mind, both are equally important.
With that said, maybe MacLuhan is right in thinking that we are hopelessly shaped by the media we used. I know that I've been influenced despite my will.
It's easy to see how MacLuhan's ideas have become embedded in the way we approach media too. I've heard the idea that technology is an extension of ourselves through the popular physicist Michio Kaku as well as from other sources that I can't remember as of now.
The idea that "the Freudian censor" is a reaction for learning material rather than to filter out morally contradictory ideas makes a lot of sense to me too.
I also like Nietzsche's idea that understanding stops action. Personally, I know that the more I understand other's viewpoints, the more docile and accepting I become of them. In that way, I think that the instant communication and increased degree of collective consciousness that we have achieved with modern media is promoting peace in a way that we haven't quite seen before in history.
Albeit, society has also fragmented into cliques (or tribalized as MacLuhan would put it) that does prevent mutual understanding in many places.
In any case, I am still of the persuasion that mankind may never fully outgrow its propensity for war, disagreement, and conflict.
I looked up some of MacLuhan's ideas/philosophy here:
http://www.philosophicalsociety.com/Archives/McLuhan%27s%20Philosophy.htm#II.%20An%20Overview%20of%20McLuhan%27s%20Thinking
I'm not sure whether to call MacLuhan a visionary or label him as a loony, but his ideas are certainly galvanizing and insightful at most times.
I could say much more, but MacLuhan's ideas speak for themselves much better than I can, so I'll just post a few here:
"The only way not to feel alienated in the new media environment, McLuhan said, is to understand what is going on in the present, to be keenly aware of one's environment. Most people, however, do not do this: they live in the past. They suffer from a "rear-view mirror" mentality. Their thoughts and feelings belong to the preceding generation (we've all met people who are "still living in the 1960s or 1980s," still talking about former presidents, the "good old days," the innocent past)."
"Media are extensions of human beings and affect our outlook and attitudes, our feelings about culture, schools, politics, studies, moral values, societal norms. They can totally disrupt our social existence and equilibrium."
"The introspective life of long, long thoughts and distant goals...cannot coexist with the mosaic form of the TV image that commands immediate participation in depth and admits of no delays."
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Introduction and Weekly Media Consumption
Howdy!
My name is Ross Peterson and I'm a first year Master's (Non-Thesis) Computer Science student at Texas A&M university. (see photo below)
I am currently enrolled in a course called "Computers and New Media". I'm very much excited to be in the class as it is truly the narratives and and environments that I've enjoyed through computers that has inspired me to be a computer scientist. We create worlds and forms of expressions through our machines and programs and I want to thoroughly understand this dynamic. I hope to employ what I learn here in the video game industry someday!
Speaking of media, I enjoy the following on at least a weekly basis:
Video Games (I play games in just about every kind of genre except for sports games, but even then, there are exceptions. But to just list a few...and the particular title may vary from week to week)
-Strategy (Real Time and Turn Based) : Civilization, Total War Series, Starcraft
-First Person Shooters : Halo, Gears of War
-Puzzles : Tetris, The Legend of Zelda
-Adventure : Zelda (again), Assassin's Creed, The Elder Scrolls series
-Creative/Collaborative : Minecraft
Television
- Drama : House
- Game Shows : Cash Cab
- 'Reality' TV : Anything with cook Ramsey
- Anime : (the show varies with time but it is weekly) Soul Eater (Action, Horror, Drama), Samurai X (Action, Drama, Historical), Sword of the Stranger (Action, Drama), Angel Beats (Action, Comedy, Drama), Guilty Crown (Action, Drama), Cowboy Bebop (Action, Drama, Tragedy)
Music:
-Rock : Aranda
-Hard Rock : Drist
-Metal : Demon Hunter
-Classic Rock : Jethro Tull, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin, Queen, AC/DC
-Blues : Whiskey Folk Ramblers
-Classical/Symphonic/Orchestra : OC Remixes, OSTs
-Game Music : OC Remixes, OSTs
News:
TAMU student newspaper
Books:
- School Books : Hamlet on Holodeck
- Fantasy: Game of Thrones series
Web Shows/Shorts:
- Educational : Extra Credits, The Big Picture
- Comedy : Unskippable, Zero Punctation
- Video Game Reviews: Zero Punctuation
- Movie Reviews : Escape to the Movies
Email:
TAMU
Gmail
Instant Messenger:
Steam IM
Facebook IM
Telephones:
Verizon LG Cell Phone
Radio:
Classic Rock: 99.5
Rock: 103.9
My name is Ross Peterson and I'm a first year Master's (Non-Thesis) Computer Science student at Texas A&M university. (see photo below)
I am currently enrolled in a course called "Computers and New Media". I'm very much excited to be in the class as it is truly the narratives and and environments that I've enjoyed through computers that has inspired me to be a computer scientist. We create worlds and forms of expressions through our machines and programs and I want to thoroughly understand this dynamic. I hope to employ what I learn here in the video game industry someday!
Speaking of media, I enjoy the following on at least a weekly basis:
Video Games (I play games in just about every kind of genre except for sports games, but even then, there are exceptions. But to just list a few...and the particular title may vary from week to week)
-Strategy (Real Time and Turn Based) : Civilization, Total War Series, Starcraft
-First Person Shooters : Halo, Gears of War
-Puzzles : Tetris, The Legend of Zelda
-Adventure : Zelda (again), Assassin's Creed, The Elder Scrolls series
-Creative/Collaborative : Minecraft
Television
- Drama : House
- Game Shows : Cash Cab
- 'Reality' TV : Anything with cook Ramsey
- Anime : (the show varies with time but it is weekly) Soul Eater (Action, Horror, Drama), Samurai X (Action, Drama, Historical), Sword of the Stranger (Action, Drama), Angel Beats (Action, Comedy, Drama), Guilty Crown (Action, Drama), Cowboy Bebop (Action, Drama, Tragedy)
Music:
-Rock : Aranda
-Hard Rock : Drist
-Metal : Demon Hunter
-Classic Rock : Jethro Tull, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin, Queen, AC/DC
-Blues : Whiskey Folk Ramblers
-Classical/Symphonic/Orchestra : OC Remixes, OSTs
-Game Music : OC Remixes, OSTs
News:
TAMU student newspaper
Books:
- School Books : Hamlet on Holodeck
- Fantasy: Game of Thrones series
Web Shows/Shorts:
- Educational : Extra Credits, The Big Picture
- Comedy : Unskippable, Zero Punctation
- Video Game Reviews: Zero Punctuation
- Movie Reviews : Escape to the Movies
Email:
TAMU
Gmail
Instant Messenger:
Steam IM
Facebook IM
Telephones:
Verizon LG Cell Phone
Radio:
Classic Rock: 99.5
Rock: 103.9
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