Part 1
What 2 points from this week’s reading stood out to you as particularly important and/or interesting? Why so?
In the book Always Already New: media, history and the Data of Culture, Gitelman (2008, pp. 1–22) mentioned that while media seems surreal in the modern day, it still has meaning, much like ancient art and science. Their similarities to scientific and art historical items make them essential to a feeling of representation. Additionally, new media delineate and reflect predecessors while offering fresh venues for the continuous representational experience. Thereby showing the close connection between ancient culture and art and new media.
Second, Gitelman (2008, pp. 1–22) says that the public's view of new media is shaped by its social environment, particularly in light of globalization. A worldwide community of Americanized customers is created by blending cultures, softening distinctions, and using digital and satellite communications. This is a significant shift in media culture, demonstrating how consumer-producer contact has become more homogenized and disparities have been diminished.
References
Gitelman, L. (2008). Always already new : media, history and the data of culture (pp. 1–22). MIT Press.
Part 2
Do we want media to “disappear”? Why/Why not?
The media has a crucial role in forming the society we live in, thereby I do not want them to vanish. Humanistic messages are propagated through the media, assisting individuals in understanding appropriate behavior and perception. Laws disseminated through the media will promote order and structure, particularly in politics. As Kubitschko and Knapp (2012) point out, media play a crucial role in the infrastructure of contemporary living in addition to disseminating lifestyle concepts that contribute to the creation of an ideal society.
References
Kubitschko, S., & Knapp, D. (2012). An invisible life? A response to Mark Deuze’s “Media life.” Media, Culture & Society, 34(3), 359–364. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443711434298
When is realism not the goal of particular media texts (examples).
With escapist media texts, specifically media texts focusing on video games or entertainment through virtual worlds, realism will cease to exist. The goal is for participants to have fun and entertainment.
League of Legends offers captivating gameplay, fierce battles, and a competitive atmosphere, constantly updated and introduced with new champions. Mario, a renowned cultural symbol, has become synonymous with the game across various platforms, including animated television shows, motion pictures, and merchandise.
References
Wikipedia Contributors. (2019a, January 15). League of Legends. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Legends
Wikipedia Contributors. (2019b, November 2). Super Mario Bros. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_Bros.
In your own words, describe what is meant by “media convergence”.
According to my understanding, converged media is the fusion of various media formats into a single chain that offers interaction, income generation, and convenience. From there, consumer behavior changed due to advancements in technology. Thanks to the internet and digitization, which have removed barriers between various platforms, users can now access a variety of information on the same device.
What are some specific examples of converged media that you have engaged with lately? Be sure to note how they demonstrate convergence (i.e. what media forrms/technologies do they merge?)
Adobe products are a few instances of convergent communications that I have utilized lately. Adobe's creative suite of products, which includes Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and After Effects, combines different media types and technologies for the creation, design, and production of multimedia. And specifically Adobe Portfolio, which is where I work on media projects at the moment. Another example is Smart TVs, which integrate internet connectivity with broadcast television to allow users to browse the web, interact with social media sites like Google, Netflix, and YouTube, and access a plethora of convenient applications.
