I was struck by the idea of automation when I read section one in the Manovich book. He identifies it as one of the five principles of new media, and I had never given it much thought until now. I think this could be the one big downfall of new media, although I am sure I will be proven wrong in class discussion. Knowing that so much of new media is created in a sea of automation begs the question, How much does automation drive our creative process? As Manovich points out, “The numerical coding of media (principle 1) and the modular structure of a media object (principle 2) allow for the automation of many operation involved in media creation, manipulation, and access. Thus human intentionality can be removed from the creative process, at least in part” (32). The examples he gives illustrate this point very well.
He talks about automation as it applies to a variety of settings, including Photoshop, animation, writing, and web pages. To use the Photoshop example, the idea that a program can automatically “correct” an image or manipulate it speaks to me about the removal of “human intentionality.” I am thinking in terms of what was seen or intended by the photographer when the picture was taken. By putting the raw image through a system of automated fixes, the product could end up being very far removed from the vision. Perhaps this is not the best example to make my point. I realize that the functions I am wary of can probably be turned off and that the “fixes” in Photoshop could also be part of the original vision. Let’s talk, then about templates.
As we have learned about and explored some of the web 2.0 applications in this class, I have been oblivious to the templates. I am thinking, here about my blog, or my Prezi, or my Google site. I realize that these templates make the applications much more user-friendly and without them, people like me who are not tech savvy would probably not utilize them. I appreciate that aspect of them. But I have to wonder what I would have come up with had I been given the limitless realm of my own creative brain. Would my blog look the same? I can say with confidence…no. Would any of the projects I did look the same? Again…no. Am I happy with the way these projects look? Yes. But I can’ help but think these templates are moving us back to the industrial revolution inspiration. New media users are cranking out what I would consider different versions of the same product. Manovich talks about variability as another principle of new media, and to a certain extent, variability accounts for automation.
As Manovich says in the variability section, “Instead of identical copies, a new media object typically gives rise to many different versions” (36). My worry is that automation has the capability of stifling creativity with templates. Instead of making something from scratch, new media users can take shortcuts that may not fully accommodate the rhetorical situation they set out to write in.
On a funny side note, I found this video when I typed new media into a You Tube search.
That's a really good point about web 2.0 applications and automization. None of these applications were available when Manovich wrote this book, and I've heard presentations at conferences about how we should spend more time with html. I did a lot this summer -- modifying the code to my blog, really tinkering with the look of the thing. But I haven't done it this fall -- I haven't made it a priority, even though i HATE the way this blog looks -- so generic. Given the amount of other things I have to do, living with an ugly blog seems ok.
ReplyDeleteLoved the video, but that is kind of a sad realization. I had not thought about it, but it is very true that so many bloggers have stuff to rant about, strong opinions and often appear needy and grumpy. My son is in law school at U of Mich. He has a blog and I used to read it, but then it started to sound like whining and slamming and criticizing. It was still smart but seemed jaded too.
ReplyDeleteI have concerns too about the impact of computer technologies on personal imaginations and creativity. I approached a mentor teacher about using the Prezi to make the Biography posters in the class but she said it would take too much time, and the kids liked to make them by hand, and that she wanted them to hang around the room for the students to view for weeks to get to know each other. I could understand her point but I wondered what computer access she would be open to. She said only for their research papers, as usual. I would like to see some integration but will have to wait until I have my own classroom. We do have to learn to learn about technology and teachers seem too busy to stop and learn, and they also say there is not enough access to computers in the school.(Mnt View High) I feel students are missing out on the chance to explore, experiment and engage in analysis and production of digital media as we learned about in the PDF reading this week.
This video makes me think a little more about what we call digital communities and why I am pretty opposed to facebook... It seems like it promotes a lot of narcissistic behavior. I know this has the potential to cause debate (bare with me on this), but as a user I saw so many areas in myself where I became more concerned about stating what I thought than actually being a part of a community. I didn't like thinking about myself so much... posting what I was doing or thinking so someone could validate me. It is already easy enough to do. I finally got to the point that I decided I should just call people to catch up with them instead of trying to interpret their facebook posts. So, all that to say, we have a lot of places that are called digital community, but like Joan said, often those spaces become dumping grounds. However, is this simply our internal dialogue coming our more readily, or is it just so we can be a part of a community that accepts us for us.. ? I don't know if either one is the point. What is the point of a digital community if we are not able to collaborate and connect? Do we just connect on what we think is lame and ignorant? Or are we growing and learning about others in positive ways? I will stop writing. Something to think about I guess. That was a little Debbie Downer.. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic video. It seems that every year more and more extremist opinions seem to leak onto the Internet. Just today I came across a person who posted an unbelievably ignorant rant at the bottom of an online article on Yahoo. The article was about the law trying to repeal "don't ask, don't tell" being voted down. The post eventually spirals into a rant about how terrible everyone is that is gay, muslim, and a Democrat is and how they aren't "real Americans". It was shocking. I looked up his profile and it revealed that he had a blog. I didn't go to it. The Yahoo post made me sick enough, but I have a general idea of what is in the blog. I'm sure it's just rants about the "real" America (wherever the hell that is). I don't know if that qualifies him as a "new media douchebag", but he's the first person I thought of when I saw the video.
ReplyDeletesweet vid, I think I'll post it on facebook :) I too am afraid of the limitations of the template virtual world. I do think there is some merit to it though, especially in intro writing courses. For papers we often try to give some sort of template-y guidelines, and then try to help our students move beyond that as soon as they are comfortable. I think that web 2.0 apps with templates are no different. those who take the time or have the desire can grow significantly sophisticated with these technologies, much like sophistication in old media writing.
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