We saw some example of second years work in our lecture earlier this week and I have to say it got me really excited for next year!!
I've chosen to take the video techniques module ( which include photoshop and a lot of effects) and 3D modelling, as this is something that had always stood out to me, and although I havent had any previous experience in this I really want to give it a go!
Looking at others people work made me really eager, and had inspired some more ideas for my creative video piece i am shooting next week, especially Craig's use of camera angles and the old fashioned style of his music video. I need to do a lot more planning but I have a concept, a rough idea of what I want to shoot and an actor ( my lovely friend Christopher) and I'm feeling much more inspired for this than my previous music video shoot.
I cant believe there's only two weeks of this term left( not including this week) and then only a week until exam leave after Easter, its strange how fast this year has gone! I'm really excited for next year though, both the living in a house aspect and getting deeper into doing stuff i love ( My summer will be full of trying to get as ahead with some of the programs as possible!(
I think I'm actually going to miss doing this blog! So you may find i continue it even though i will definately have no one viewing it haha, I like that I can look up a topic I think is interesting or aimed at something Ive watched/enjoyed and just ramble ( as I try to write a coherent argument) away.
:)
Wednesday 14 March 2012
Studentship Task- Week 23
I enjoy this type or learning activity, being allowed to make your own choices ( and then find out if you are wrong) helps to ingrain facts into your mind. Rather than reading a large bulk of text you also have short paragraphs or even just sentences, all aimed around certain facts and so you get straight to the point.
The interactive sections, such as on this task the page with the Phonograph make you pay more attention as you have to react, and the pictures add more interest.
The main reason I feel this tasks are successful are the small amount of text, although i personally like reading large sections of texts and highlighting relevant sections ( this is how i revise mainly) on these studentship tasks you basically cut out the middle men and just have the relevant text, being able to answer questions also make it more effective, and I feel help you to remember facts better and I visual text in my mind rather than just remember so I can visual where each sentence was on the page and what it said.
I think the pages could be brightened up a bit, although they may be this way because of the format of Blackboard itself and also as people may otherwise become distracted by any patterns in the background.
Overall I think these are very effective means and although I would not want to use things such as this permanantly for revision they are effective.
The interactive sections, such as on this task the page with the Phonograph make you pay more attention as you have to react, and the pictures add more interest.
The main reason I feel this tasks are successful are the small amount of text, although i personally like reading large sections of texts and highlighting relevant sections ( this is how i revise mainly) on these studentship tasks you basically cut out the middle men and just have the relevant text, being able to answer questions also make it more effective, and I feel help you to remember facts better and I visual text in my mind rather than just remember so I can visual where each sentence was on the page and what it said.
I think the pages could be brightened up a bit, although they may be this way because of the format of Blackboard itself and also as people may otherwise become distracted by any patterns in the background.
Overall I think these are very effective means and although I would not want to use things such as this permanantly for revision they are effective.
Most popular films
IMDb tops rated films, voted by the users of the website.
Looking at the graph you will notice that apart from "The Dark Knight" and " Return of the king" all the films are rather old, all before the turn of the millenuim, had the quality of film decreased in general over the last few years, have ( as i have touched on in a previous post) directors put too much emphasis on special effects and "3D" and the actual storyling is lacking?.
Something to think about.
Looking at the graph you will notice that apart from "The Dark Knight" and " Return of the king" all the films are rather old, all before the turn of the millenuim, had the quality of film decreased in general over the last few years, have ( as i have touched on in a previous post) directors put too much emphasis on special effects and "3D" and the actual storyling is lacking?.
Something to think about.
| 1. | 9.2 | The Shawshank Redemption (1994) | 726,800 |
| 2. | 9.2 | The Godfather (1972) | 543,850 |
| 3. | 9.0 | The Godfather: Part II (1974) | 342,638 |
| 4. | 8.9 | Pulp Fiction (1994) | 571,542 |
| 5. | 8.9 | The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) | 227,415 |
| 6. | 8.9 | 12 Angry Men (1957) | 178,131 |
| 7. | 8.9 | Schindler's List (1993) | 381,867 |
| 8. | 8.8 | The Dark Knight (2008) | 661,880 |
| 9. | 8.8 | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) | 510,532 |
| 10. | 8.8 | One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) |
Monday 12 March 2012
So, Lady Gaga has recently hit 20 millions followers on facebook....
20 MILLION ( almost a third of the population of Britain)
The other most popular twitter accounts are fellow pop stars Justin Bieber (18 million), Katy Perry (15.7 million) and Shakira (14.5 million).
Lady Gaga is one of the only large stars who actually write their own tweets, many celebrities actually have other people do it and so fans feels personally connected.
Twitter in itself is massive, easily catching up with the popularity of Facebook, although it is much simpler, "tweets" are limited to 140 figures and unlike Facebook you don't have groups, games etc...
So why has it gained so much popularity, unlike Faceook it is home to a mass of celebrities who ( or whoever they have doing it) tweet regularly and use it as a way to talk directly to their fan....
- Twitter has approximately 225 million users and rapidly growing.
- About 200 million tweets are sent each day. In January of 2009, users sent two million Tweets a day, and in 2010, they posted 65 million a day
Clearly over the few years it has been active it is gaining popularity and I dont see it stopping anytime soon, but what is it in for the average person? I use Twitter to write random thoughts I wouldnt do on Facebook ( I only have 70-odd followers, so I feel like i can talk rubbish without people thinking im weird) You can also write about anything, and it is easy to do, you can pick it up almost instantly.
Unlike Facebook you can, as a major selling point once again, see what celebrities have to say, you can retweet them and show your friends what amuses you.
I just found this - Why Twitter is Popular and I thinksomeof the points he makes are true, things I would add would that be unlike Facebook, the limit in number makes peoples tweets more interesting, no long rambles moaning about boyfriends of school. People have a limited amount of characters and so people put more effort it about what they write, trying to be funny or simply getting to the point.
Populairyt is something people craze on Twitter, i see many retweets from celebrities of fans who " Im your biggest fan, a retweet from you would make my day xoxox" People seem to craze followers and so again try to write more interesting tweets.... this was something i started off doing until I got bored and realised I wasnt actually very funny haha.
You can also contact a lot of television programs via Twitter, using hash tags which programs will often ask to use as you state your opinions in a tweet, and everyone would love to get a mention on the tv.
On a more personal note we have been using Twitter for this module, it allows people to comment on lectures or anything to do with technology and removes the "schloary" feel of a lecture, making it more easygoing and people more comfortable expressing their ideas.
I think twitter will continue to grow and flourish,but i also think that if celebrities suddenly lost interest or a new, more simple format came out, that the popularity would greatly diminish.
20 MILLION ( almost a third of the population of Britain)
The other most popular twitter accounts are fellow pop stars Justin Bieber (18 million), Katy Perry (15.7 million) and Shakira (14.5 million).
Lady Gaga is one of the only large stars who actually write their own tweets, many celebrities actually have other people do it and so fans feels personally connected.
Twitter in itself is massive, easily catching up with the popularity of Facebook, although it is much simpler, "tweets" are limited to 140 figures and unlike Facebook you don't have groups, games etc...
So why has it gained so much popularity, unlike Faceook it is home to a mass of celebrities who ( or whoever they have doing it) tweet regularly and use it as a way to talk directly to their fan....
- Twitter has approximately 225 million users and rapidly growing.
- About 200 million tweets are sent each day. In January of 2009, users sent two million Tweets a day, and in 2010, they posted 65 million a day
Clearly over the few years it has been active it is gaining popularity and I dont see it stopping anytime soon, but what is it in for the average person? I use Twitter to write random thoughts I wouldnt do on Facebook ( I only have 70-odd followers, so I feel like i can talk rubbish without people thinking im weird) You can also write about anything, and it is easy to do, you can pick it up almost instantly.
Unlike Facebook you can, as a major selling point once again, see what celebrities have to say, you can retweet them and show your friends what amuses you.
I just found this - Why Twitter is Popular and I thinksomeof the points he makes are true, things I would add would that be unlike Facebook, the limit in number makes peoples tweets more interesting, no long rambles moaning about boyfriends of school. People have a limited amount of characters and so people put more effort it about what they write, trying to be funny or simply getting to the point.
Populairyt is something people craze on Twitter, i see many retweets from celebrities of fans who " Im your biggest fan, a retweet from you would make my day xoxox" People seem to craze followers and so again try to write more interesting tweets.... this was something i started off doing until I got bored and realised I wasnt actually very funny haha.
You can also contact a lot of television programs via Twitter, using hash tags which programs will often ask to use as you state your opinions in a tweet, and everyone would love to get a mention on the tv.
On a more personal note we have been using Twitter for this module, it allows people to comment on lectures or anything to do with technology and removes the "schloary" feel of a lecture, making it more easygoing and people more comfortable expressing their ideas.
I think twitter will continue to grow and flourish,but i also think that if celebrities suddenly lost interest or a new, more simple format came out, that the popularity would greatly diminish.
Sunday 11 March 2012
Is television too honest ( This is England 86)
Honest
Graphic.
Has television become too real? Has it become too like real life, making people uncomfortable.
Watching " This is England'86" a lot of people seem to think so, the third episode of the series features rape. Always an uncomfortable subject, and the scene itself is vile. It makes for very uncomfortable viewing and made me feel towards both characters VERY strongly.
It is believable, beyond believable actually, the way the characters react and even the camera angle make it so.
The scene is not up on you tube or available on any websites i have viewed articles off of. Graphic is something people happily deal with, as long as it is wounds, blood, guts etc... When it comes to an act as horrific as this it effects people more. This happens to people, people are sick enough to do this, and this scares people. freaks them out.
There are multiple opinions stated on websites, some say that the director ( Shane Meadows) is trying to make rape "entertaining", and that people " Get off on it"
Others understand the need for this scene, sexual abuse is seen as Taboo and people avoid it, so putting it out there help people to understand it better... See why she stopped fighting him off etc...
People watch television to escape from reality ( although ironically one of the most popular programs is Eastensters which is, abeit melodramatic and grim, "real life" television) so when they witness something so real and emotionally damaging in such a raw light, it is shocking.
But the point is that you cant hide from this, this happens and it cant just be brushed under the carpet and shushed up.
People are happy to watch programs with murders etc... as they can see how fake it is ( usually) it is not overly graphic and there is a reason in the show. Rape is different, and what makes this instance worse is that it is by someone she knows and trusts, this again is a truth of rape.
The show contains warnings, is after the watershed and also had numbers and advice centres avaliable, hopefully it will raise awareness and people will understand more the situtaion ( or at least think they will)
Graphic.
Has television become too real? Has it become too like real life, making people uncomfortable.
Watching " This is England'86" a lot of people seem to think so, the third episode of the series features rape. Always an uncomfortable subject, and the scene itself is vile. It makes for very uncomfortable viewing and made me feel towards both characters VERY strongly.
It is believable, beyond believable actually, the way the characters react and even the camera angle make it so.
The scene is not up on you tube or available on any websites i have viewed articles off of. Graphic is something people happily deal with, as long as it is wounds, blood, guts etc... When it comes to an act as horrific as this it effects people more. This happens to people, people are sick enough to do this, and this scares people. freaks them out.
There are multiple opinions stated on websites, some say that the director ( Shane Meadows) is trying to make rape "entertaining", and that people " Get off on it"
Others understand the need for this scene, sexual abuse is seen as Taboo and people avoid it, so putting it out there help people to understand it better... See why she stopped fighting him off etc...
People watch television to escape from reality ( although ironically one of the most popular programs is Eastensters which is, abeit melodramatic and grim, "real life" television) so when they witness something so real and emotionally damaging in such a raw light, it is shocking.
But the point is that you cant hide from this, this happens and it cant just be brushed under the carpet and shushed up.
People are happy to watch programs with murders etc... as they can see how fake it is ( usually) it is not overly graphic and there is a reason in the show. Rape is different, and what makes this instance worse is that it is by someone she knows and trusts, this again is a truth of rape.
The show contains warnings, is after the watershed and also had numbers and advice centres avaliable, hopefully it will raise awareness and people will understand more the situtaion ( or at least think they will)
Kony
The video, KONY 2012 has gone viral, links are all over facebook, twitter, youtube, forums etc...
The video is a half an hour piece created by the charity "Invisible Children" and it was created to raise awareness of Kony, part of a rebel group that kidnap children and use them in their army.
For about 12 hours i was oblivious to the video, i saw it kept being posted up but chose to ignore it, and then i watched it.
The video itself is very well put together, using interviews from children affected, the main "character" is a member of the "Invisible children" who has apparently spent much time in Uganda helping. They say the video is to raise awareness, and enough to get people to act.
Of course, as with anything that becomes worldwide there have been several blogs and forums etc... that have hit out at this project, e.g - here
People are mainly criticizing the funding aspects of the group, some claiming only 30% of all money raised actually goes to Africa ( the video itself must have cost a lot to produce) others say that the charity are very pro-military and want to therefore use military force to capture Kony ( which would no doubt lead to the deaths of many child soldiers)
There are arguments for both sides, "facts" are being flung around that are completely contradictory. Whether or not " Invisible Children" are trustworthy is one thing.
The positive thing to come out of the video is AWARENESS, which is a large focus of the video itself. Even if you don't agree with the charity, you don't have to donate to them, if people want to help either financially or by raising awareness they can do.
Plenty of people I know had no idea who Kony was before all of this. So with the power of the internet thousands, millions of people now know who he is.
Whatever way you view the rest of it that had to be a good thing.
The video is a half an hour piece created by the charity "Invisible Children" and it was created to raise awareness of Kony, part of a rebel group that kidnap children and use them in their army.
For about 12 hours i was oblivious to the video, i saw it kept being posted up but chose to ignore it, and then i watched it.
The video itself is very well put together, using interviews from children affected, the main "character" is a member of the "Invisible children" who has apparently spent much time in Uganda helping. They say the video is to raise awareness, and enough to get people to act.
Of course, as with anything that becomes worldwide there have been several blogs and forums etc... that have hit out at this project, e.g - here
People are mainly criticizing the funding aspects of the group, some claiming only 30% of all money raised actually goes to Africa ( the video itself must have cost a lot to produce) others say that the charity are very pro-military and want to therefore use military force to capture Kony ( which would no doubt lead to the deaths of many child soldiers)
There are arguments for both sides, "facts" are being flung around that are completely contradictory. Whether or not " Invisible Children" are trustworthy is one thing.
The positive thing to come out of the video is AWARENESS, which is a large focus of the video itself. Even if you don't agree with the charity, you don't have to donate to them, if people want to help either financially or by raising awareness they can do.
Plenty of people I know had no idea who Kony was before all of this. So with the power of the internet thousands, millions of people now know who he is.
Whatever way you view the rest of it that had to be a good thing.
Monday 5 March 2012
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