Tag Archives: convergence

Copyright or copywrong? (Group Sept. 25th)

Kimesha, Dimitri and Steve

According to the Grey video, copyright law dates back to the early 1710’s and gave authors control over who could make copies of their books or build on their work but for only a limited time. The law’s purpose is still the same but after many changes by congress, it lasts for lifetime of the author plus 70 years. Both Grey and Lessig agree that copyright is stifling creativity in that we are not allowed to recreate and remix using other people’s content. Lessig’s discussion of this was in relation to digital technologies since our generation is built on technology; it is how we communicate with one another. A defense of copyright is fair use. The idea of fair use depends of the nature, extent and economic aspect of the work being used. The Center for Social Media reading discusses fair use for educational purposes. How educators are allowed to use different media in teaching students and help them learn. This is demonstrated in Faden’s video. He edited different clips from Disney movies to explain how copyright works and what it entails.

What are some other examples of amateur culture that you have seen or created?

Should artists and creators allow their work to be available more freely?

Is there any copyrighted material that you think should not be copyrighted?

Do you have any suggestions on how to make copyright laws more understandable?

How would the absence of a copyright law affect creativity?

Improvements Sept. 23

Web 2.0 sites allow users to interact and collaborate by creating content in the site’s community. Web 2.0 allows users to do more than just retrieve information like with the Web 1.0 sites. Without realizing it, most people use Web 2.0 sites every day, whether it be through social networking sites, blogs or Wikipedia pages, just to name a few. The idea of Wikipedia is very progressive. It allows for anyone to claim the title editor, which in hindsight might not have been the best idea because those “editors” can sometimes pass off false information as truth. Wikipedia also provides a convergence point for experts of all kinds. In this Web 2.0 world, a man who knows all things Star Wars can have the same power in that “field” as the astrophysicist in his.

Notes from today, and readings & blogging homework for Monday, September 16

Today we discussed the landscape of digital media. The chart of media ownership is worth another look; please review and consider whether these “born digital,” networked, digital media offer alternatives. Do we need alternatives?
Slides from today are available here.

On Monday 9/16 we will discuss non-text media: sound, images, and multimedia. Please read the following:
Meikle & Young, 13-27 (distributed in class or on reserve: HM742 .M45 2012)
Sisario, A Digital Music Option Thrives, Though Quietly,
Brna, Vinyl vs CD/mp3: Insights into Music Formats & the Metaphysics of Our Music
Elton, Love for Labels

(Get help with off-campus access to articles from library databases to access the Elton article.)

Your blogging assignment is one reading response blog post. Class discussion facilitators for Monday are Wendy, Ohlynn, and Edwin. Everyone else should visit the course site before class to review the questions they post.

Please let me know if you will be joining us on our visit to the zine collection at the Brooklyn College Library on Saturday, September 28 at 2 pm. I’ll need your RSVP by Wednesday, September 25.

~Prof. L.

Exposing The Unknown

The World Wide Web brings everything to the light due to the merging media and information that is located in many different shapes and form. In the book Media Convergence Networked Digital Media in Everyday Life. It mentions(dwyer) “on establishing a research agenda for digital media scholars’. I feel everything dealing with anything is on the web and for that single reason nothing can ever be totally private due to convergence of physical information, social networks,news reportings and daily events. I find it hard to believe that in the next 10 or so years that everything we do will be accessible to someone located anywhere near this thing we call the WORLD WIDE WEB and due to convergence one thing will  tie to the next

CONVERGENCE : the merging of distinct technologies, industries, or devices into a unified whole