May I lose your acquaintance please?

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Zoe Annabel

Interesting article in the age today about the way we see our online friends so differently than we do in the ‘real world’.

Technology exposes us to vastly more opportunities for making social connections, and far more effortlessly than even a stroll down the street and a handshake.

But what are the implications of this? Do we make friends ‘too easily’ online, and then regret it later when our newsfeeds are cluttered with posts about Justin Beiber and ‘totes awesome selfies’. Today, ‘unfriending’ someone is like kicking them out of your house because they got drunk and vomited on your vege garden, the next time you see them it will be awkward and there will be that moment of hesitation when your forced to say hi – do you acknowledge it?

There are Facebook friends with whom you want to share everything, those you’ve grown apart from, and those you’ve barely heard of.

So how much do you want to share with each group, and do you even really need the clutter of people who probably don’t even read your posts? I think Facebook clean outs need to be done as the seasons change, and as you evolve as a person.

There are Twitter followers with whom your acquaintance is strictly professional, those you know from school, but didn’t necessarily like, and those who are your dad.

Maintaining a voice on Twitter is much more important, and keeping a pool of close acquaintances is not as important on this platform as it’s a lot more observational and overarching.

Social media builds social capital, rather than degrading it and online networks have a tendency to obliterate the nuances between different kinds of relationships. Despite Facebook’s lists, privacy settings and the rest, Mullany points out, “ultimately, somebody is either your friend on Facebook or they’re not. In real life, we’re very political about our friendships, and I don’t mean that in a bad way.” There are friendships we’ll let fade to nothing; others for which we’ll put on a facade for a few hours at Christmas; or friendships of necessity, where we’ll give the impression of intimacy without the reality.

See the full article here.

The Institutional Landscape:The Market of Virtual Communities

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Zoe Annabel

Marketings influence on public life – politics and governence is influenced by corporate interests and economic preassures leads to outrage/scandal and become unconciously embedded into daily life – “consumer driven entertainment culture sets the very terms of democratic governance today” – Pg 78

Consumerism colonises life and endeavors of art become appropriated for commercial ends.
If the internet becomes overly commercialised what will that do to communication and the idea of a community?- are they already cultivating ‘categorical identities’ of marketing techniques?
Initially, the internet represented an unusual mix of concern for control, power and freedom – the internet will permit humanity to leapfrog over capitalism unless public policy restricts/colonizes cyberspace – perhaps this assumption has been targeted by the market as a technique?
being a member of on online group/community makes you a target of advertisers because simply by being a member you are showing your interest in a topic/field.
“each online community struggles for distinction amid a chaotic market of websites and must find creative ways to deter members from leaving the group seeing as it is easy to do so” – Pg 86
The key to a healthy community is the people involved in shaping the ebb and flow of the group’s day to day dynamics.
Are communities effectively commodities if members are encouraged to approach communities as consumers, and virtual communities in turn pitch themselves to companies as the ideal platform and service for marketing?
Do online communities promote an alternative to contemporary life – an online rendering of the self? Personal data becomes a form of currency online/the amount you give away can be seductively powerful within a community.
The internet excels in bringing together formerly disparate or marginalised groups of people – viral communities have become an incredibly effective tool for bringing previously unreached (active and potentially loyal) audiences to marketers – EG)YouTube
Niche communities allow marketers to observe their tastes and develop specifically targeted campaigns to maximise their own efficiency – corporate interests can easily become confused for empowerment of a minority group.
“The commodification of virtual communities exacerbates the existing culutral tendency to frame pluralism within an ethic of consumer choice and thus, potetially weakens our conception true pluralism and diversity by claiming to represent it” – pg 96
Dispositional goods such as mutual trust, obligation and reciprocity and overshadowed by the encroaching priority of the relationship between the individual and the community as a ‘service provider.

Things to think about//

How can we avoid being targeted, yet still be a part of active, creative communities, how can we know when we are being targeted?
Treat our communities as collaborative partners – NOT CUSTOMERS!

Jonathan Hutchinson via Skype.

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Zoe Annabel

Community Manager

Is on the ground/interacting with audience, they look at new content and users and ‘survey’ the online landscape and how people are interacting.
Enabling, encouraging and fostering respective skills – start to pair up people who can share skills and knowledge so projects can gain momentum.
Start bringing in other platforms such as Facebook and Twitter and learn to talk about them on social media platforms.
Think about building a community and how you can promote your ideas to the right people. Understand your colleagues and their individual approaches.
Maintain a solid relationship with your community.
GLAM – galleries, libraries, archives, museums – tap into things that they are promoting and grab a piggyback – use inertia!
You are the conduit between all the institutions and how the project can be moved forward in the best way.
PARTER UP – Pool allows this in a dynamic way which generates new community members and new energies.
Identify motivations and use them

Social Media Producer

more about setting regulations, abstracted from the audience, teaching others.

ABC Pool Roles

pool team
interacting with community members - community manager
interaction with the ABC as an institution - talking to other producers, editors, legal staff who keep projects operating
project design/management – how you identify audience members you will be working with and decipher emerging interests and map out key elements to fold them into a project design.
“if people are talking about techiniques, topics then obviously they are interested in engaging in that space…take these observations and incorperate it into your own creative project”

Networks

Are hard to build from scratch
Try and engage in conversation with ‘powerful’ people who do have a lot of Twitter followers to attract the attention of their followers.
Use the Twitter ‘search’ function to see whats out there – dont underestimate the search within Twitter and Facebook.
Aim for retweets and shares and trending hashtags – look at what’s trending in your area and attempt to incorporate it into your own dialogue.
Know your audience and know your motivation

Participatory Projects

Identify like minded people who will bring new light to your concept
Put all your energy into people who are contributing and establish a clear goal
Partner up with ANYONE who may potentially be able to connect with other institutions such as galleries
Keep in contact with contributors and keep people in the loop and acknowledge contributions.
Consider barriers in participation – people are more likely to work with you on their platforms rather than you dragging them onto your platforms.
Think about skill levels
Start conversations now

Expose Yourself – Filmmaking Seminar

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Zoe Annabel

Natalie Eleftheriadis, Daniel Scharf & Sandra Sciberras

Currently, i’m sitting in the 5th Expose Yourself Seminar for third years (yes, im an imposter). As always, everything comes down to Networks & using the affordances of the industry to enhance your own work & distribute it as widely as possible.

“Become empowered by like minded people” Natalie Eleftheriadis

I really responded to this idea, that a network of like minded people can create a unique collaborative environment which can foster incredibly inspiring work. This is the kind of thing I hope we as a year level can achieve by really banding together and making work which is both inspiring and educational for our impending entrance into the industry. Natalie continued to emphasise the importance of team collaboration whilst on and off set. One really interesting thing she foregrounded was the value of every team member knowing the technicalities of what is going on around them on set. Natalie suggested that actors, producers, directors and technical operators should have cumulative knowledge of each others areas in order to foster a truly ensemble like environment where there is a collective rather than fragmented approach and each person can perform their role confidently and with the comfort of knowing that everything is working in harmony.

“write as if your work will never be made”

Daniel Scharf

This reminds of that age old “dance like no ones watching. So, really, just GO FOR IT! Don’t let fear hold you back and just expect to hear the word ‘no’ alot.

- Dont discard ideas if they aren’t working, save them for later in case they become relevant.

- Try different production roles before you commit to just one.

- Directors and Producers need to be increasingly aware of the affordances of the digital age and need to understand (creatively&visually) what they can and cannot do.

- Cinematographers need to have a photographic background and must pay attention to lighting and have an eye for detail. They need to be able to collaborate with Art Directors & Costume Designers.

- Personalities that cope under stress and need to be able to work under certain parameters while maintaing their creativity.

- Film Festivals foster the lives of films & expose you to a multitude of diverse audiences.

- Use platforms like blogs & networks to advertise your work & put your work out there into the world of content!

- SUCESS: Sandra emphasised the ‘art’ of filmmaking as often being marred by the pressure of succes. Natalie suggested that commercial gain can and should never be the goal which necessitates succes, she emphasised developing personal goals grounded in the project. Always set goals, always have a vision, a work in progress and an idea your working on.

ADVICE FROM THE PANEL:

- Hair crimpers are never cool!

270430_249238248424343_111878712160298_1192402_3170934_n_large - Roadblocks are never permanent, they can always be walked around, they are temporary diversions & your work is only ever not worth pursuing when you decide it’s not. There is ALWAYS something to move onto.

- Achievement can always be improved on – just because you reach succes does not mean you have nothing to learn.

- Don’t wait for things to come to you, ever. In pursuit you will be forever learning.

Mad Media Musings

Tag Archives: Online Communities

May I lose your acquaintance please?

The Institutional Landscape:The Market of Virtual Communities

Jonathan Hutchinson via Skype.

Expose Yourself – Filmmaking Seminar

SoundCloud is a platform that puts your sound at the heart of communities, websites and even apps. Watch conversations, connections and social experiences happen, with your sound as the spark.