A Final Word March 26, 2009

I would like to note that this is in fact my final and my last blog acquainted to this assignment.

To begin I would like to thank Dr.  Michael Strangelove for this unique project which he has assigned.  Though I am a constant user of Facebook and other social networks, I never have maintained a public blog before.

I had always assumed that blogging was nothing more than a way to rant and rave about things not important enough to publish.  In fact I sort of saw the art of blogging as lame, and ineffective.  In fact the only time I’ve ever encountered blogs they caused nothing but trouble and contained the angry outbursts of teenage girls.

But I see this form of information sharing in a whole new light.  It’s a form of uncensored information shared amongst one of the most up front and in your face new age information medians.  This information is distributed and remains in circulation longer than print.  It is virtually inerasable. 

Furthermore, I never knew the potential the Internet had in regards to testing the boundaries of capitalist society.  Blogging is done by individuals who technically have no ties in representing corporate organizations in the commercial business sector and therefore pose a threat in pointing out flaws in such corporately distributed information and propagated media.

But do I fully believe that the Internet will in fact over throw or undermine capitalist society?  This I’m not quite sure.  I still feel it’s too soon to tell.  From what I gather, being a constant user of the world wide web, I believe that the public and the business sector will continue to use it as they wish for a long period of time. 

As much as I enjoy Dr. Strangelove’s book and its contents, I still remain a little sceptical if the Internet will truly produce the predicted outcome which he portrays; though, I do admittingly see it posing a threat to Capitalist society and the business sector.

I do not claim to know the outcome, or in any case theorize how things may turn out but I can certainly say that by becoming more aware that the Internet is in fact one of the greatest communication mediums, it is to be understood that it may pose the greatest influential changes to society as we know it.

I guess that with the time to come I will bear witness to the showdown between the Internet and capitalism and will eventually see for myself which direction it takes.

I don’t know if I will uphold a public blog again, but I will not forget it as an option to expressing what I might feel needs to be said and share uncensored information.

Today’s Over Reliance on CellPhones March 26, 2009

Today I will be looking at the unquestionable Phenomenon: The Cell phone.  More specifically however, the over reliance which has developed amongst parents and youth to this electronic hand held device.

A new University of Michigan study has found that despite cultural differences, youth around the world use cell phones for similar reasons: Coordinating plans, maintaining social relations and acting as a fashion statement.

This is probably why tweens and teens a like are not hesitating to accept cell phones from their parents. 

By putting a cell phone in the palm of their children’s hands parents can rest assured that they can let their daughter walk to school alone knowing she can call 911 at anytime, or ensure that their son will be able to call home letting someone know he will be late from soccer practice. 

But in all honesty, pulling out a cellphone at a time well needed does not always work out as smoothly as anyone plans.  We cannot honestly say that anyone can actually pull out their cell phones in a time of crisis.  We are jumping to conclusions that cell phones can chase our problems away.

Dr. Weisskirch, of California State University, estimates that more than half of adolescents now carry cell phones. The few studies that have been done suggest that they identify security or safety as the primary reason for using this technology.

An online poll of 339 parents did find that 78 percent were considering getting a cell phone for their children so they could be in contact with them in case of an emergency.

An outside study shows that cell phones can actually give a false sense of security.  People are taking safety risks thinking that if they have a problem, they ca just call for help.  People cannot come to rely solely on cell phones.

But the safety factor aside, let’s look at cell phones as a tool for coordinating plans, maintaining social relations.  Has the cell phone become the only means of communicating between young adults?  How did we communicate without it?

A study done by Scott Campbell, a professor in the communication department at the University of Michigan, was astonished at the role cell phones play in the lives of young people, and the way they’re able to carry out their social relations with a lot more autonomy, under the radar.

But how frustrating can it be when your cell phone fails you, and you’re not communicating properly?  Take poor cell phone reception for example.  There is nothing more frustrating than having to repeat yourself numerous times, or having to fill in the blank for words you couldn’t quite make out.

Phone conversations are the next best thing to speaking to someone face to face, and with young adults crunching time, it might be the only means. Many people use their cell phones during down time in their days.  However many also use their cell phones for more than just making calls.  We use them as programmed alarms, cameras, and even as watches.  But are we relying on these extra perks too greatly?

It’s a problem I think many of cell phone users experience; we don’t realize how reliant we are on these things.

To recap, cell phones are mainly used for maintaining social relations, and coordinating plans.  We’ve come a long way from tin cans and string.  But how sure are we that we can in fact rely entirely on cell phones?  We expect instant results with our phones, things need to be done right away, and information needs to travel faster then ever to keep up with us. 

But we cannot always expect information to travel as fast as we’d like.  We rely far too much on cell phones.

We expect our cell phones to keep us safe.  Parents rely on cell phones to keep their children safe by having a technological device which would allow them to monitor their children, and communicate when ever they wish.  But cell phones have the tendency to create a false sense of security. 

Furthermore, young adults and parents a like are turning to their cell phones and cell phones alone to plan and coordinate their lives.  But as we’ve seen, cell phones cannot always be relied upon.  We must learn to strengthen our communicating skills, and not always place our trust in one technological device.

Chapter Seven: Utopic Capitalism, Global Resistance, and the New Public Sphere March 26, 2009

In the following chapter, Dr. Michael Strangelove sides with renowned French philosopher Pierre Levy, when claiming that the Internet will be the communication median to allow for a revolutionary digital enlightenment.  Here he takes on the counter model of the liberal theory as seen in chapter six, looking at capitalisms as a “highly destructive force” and the Internet as its opponent.

We begin by looking at how the Internet is predicted to tend towards two extremes: towards Normalization, and towards utopic extremes.

The Normalization theory claims that the Internet will become nothing more than mediated propaganda belonging to the corporate commercial business sector.

The Utopic theory claims that the Internet will be the main source in inducing an electronic enlightenment held in cyberspace against the corporate propagated sectors of the business world.

Since Dr. Strangelove’s views of the Internet so closely reflect those of Levy, I will be focusing on the philosophers views as depicted in this chapter.

Pierre Levy’s views greatly reflect the mode of thing of the 1990s which looked at more liberation philosophical views towards capitalist society.

According to Levy, “cyberspace is the catalyst that will perfect cultural and biological evolution and deliver control over our collective destiny.” (The Empire of Mind: Digital Piracy and the Anti-Capitalist Movement., p.200) Levy’s approach is a “utopic one”.  He believes that cyberspace will determine the history of mankind on earth and form its very own purely democratic system, which he calls cyberdemocracy.  This cyberdemocracy will consist of a governmental system and established means of justice distribution.  Furthermore, he claims that all intellectual property will diminish and there will be no corporate hand in this cyber-world.  It will even be able to influence the natural environment and its biosphere in order to alter evolution to our will and benefit; all the while maintaining its natural balance.

He believes that the communication evolution on the planet is headed in only one direction.  This would be that there is “one single energy of life from the first cell to the collective intelligence of cyberspace.”( The Empire of Mind: Digital Piracy and the Anti-Capitalist Movement., p. 202)

Levy also looks at the spiritual aspects of the Internet.  He considers that we can find spiritual fulfilment in the Internet in his notion of collective intelligence—the creation of the greater mind through shared information on the global level.  He believes it will form the “religion of the future”. (The Empire of Mind: Digital Piracy and the Anti-Capitalist Movement., p. 202)

He sees the Internet as a form of public liberation where freedom of speech will flourish and in the end develop an entirely different free public and public sphere in cyberspace.

Though Dr. Strangelove’s views of the Internet greatly and closely reflect those of Levy; however, unlike Levy, he sees the internet being more likely to be morel likely to undermine or even over throw capitalist society rather than a utopic vision of it collaborating with it and working in unison.  Evidently in the thesis of his book, we can see this theme reoccurring.       

Chapter Six: Online Journalism and the Subversion of Commercial News March 23, 2009

This chapter’s predominant focus is on how the critical theory views the effects of corporately produced commercial media, and non-commercial media on the Internet.  Non-corporate news is the production of information that does not occur within the confines of the commercial sector.  It is not constrained by the marketplace.

In the following, I will be looking into the differences of the effect of corporate news, and non corporate news, as well as the challenge of non-commercially released information and one of it’s most reliable forms of delivery: The Blog.

Dr. Michael Strangelove explores the threat which non-commercial mediated news poses upon the marketplace.  This is because the non-commercial media is put into production by amateur journalists, and not by capitalist commercial elite.  In fact, “Ken Auletta, author of the book Backstory:  Inside the Business of News and media columnist for the New York magazine, also notes that the Internet’s promotion of self-publishing and diversity of opinions ‘scares the heck out of media moguls.  It is a distribution source they don’t control.’” (The Empire of Mind: Digital Piracy and the Anti-Movement, p.164)

Online news is different from corporately produced and released information.  It is not under the control of corporate control and is not under the control of the corporate elite.  These individuals and corporate organizations have no control over what information is released and shared to other over the Web, and therefore are threatened by it.  News and information released by corporations, commercial media, is seen as a forma of advertisement.  Therefore, non-commercial news, being outside of the corporate sector, could and often does counteract the advertising of the information being released by those in the market place.

It may be noted that commercial media is deeply enrooted in the marketplace; where as non-commercial media displays the exact opposite trend, and has the tendency to focus on the news between the lines of the advertized information of the corporate sector.  In fact, the phenomenon of non-commercial news exchange is so great that the number of people involved vastly out number the amount of professional journalists. 

Dr. Strangelove notes that non-corporate news has a very weak relationship to the commercial marketplace, and therefore works almost directly against it.  This is because corporate media looks to serve the purpose of the economic and capitalist system of the business sector.

In doing so, Dr. Strangelove insists that “we are now witnessing the third major historical shift in the economy, ownership, and structure of news production.” (The Empire of Mind: Digital Piracy and the Anti-Movement, p. 166)  This third major shift is acquainted to the fact that towards non-corporate goals up against capitalism. This is because non-corporate news content is produced by amateur writers, who work against the commercial business sector, and are liberated from writing within commercial constraints.

This is a problem because much like the connection between the public being exposed to corporate media (allowing it to shape their values, their beliefs, and they economic habits), the corporate sector fears that non-corporate news will in fact counter act the information/advertizing which they’ve released.  The Internet is accessible; therefore, non-corporate mediated news is accessible; which, according to Dr. Strangelove: “visibility is power.”(The Empire of Mind: Digital Piracy and the Anti-Movement, p.167)  Research shows that news manipulates public opinion.  This would mean that during this third wave of information, the public will be exposed to both corporate and non-corporate media and hence, will be influenced accordingly.

In the section dedicated to the challenges of non-corporate media, Dr. Michael Strangelove declares that one of the most invigorating and significant changes brought about by the Internet  is its ability to created a substitute news median.  The Internet is redefining journalism as an active public process where all information is welcome, and is not constrained by the corporate sector.  Non-corporate news is not only taking place online amongst those involved in common activist groups.  It is a social phenomenon gaining wide spread recognition through the use of “discussion groups, Web sites and Web logs, through peer-to-peer file exchange programs, instant messaging, and audio/video online broadcasting…” (The Empire of Mind: Digital Piracy and the Anti-Movement, p.172) and so on. 

This brings me to my next focus, one of the main non-corporate news exchange sharing median, the Blog. 

Blogs, also known as Web logs allow Internet users produce their very own online content.  Anything and everything is at their will, and even with little technical knowledge can add to the subject matter of the Internet. 

I am one of these people.  Due to the requirements of this course, I am now part of the Blogging community.  I will admit that I do not produce what I believe to be non-corporate news, but do (because of the subject content of the course) often find myself questioning the ethics and works of Capitalist society.

“The blogging phenomenon highlights three central aspects of the Internet’s impact upon commercial news: the ability of any Internet user to participate in uncontrolled news production; the sudden expansion in participating in news production; and the ability of the online community to dissect (fact check) the work of the professional journalist.”(The Empire of Mind: Digital Piracy and the Anti-Movement, p.174-175) 

Blogging throws all journalistic techniques aside and bring a brutal honesty to the information cycle.  It’s driving force is marketable capitalistic society and therefore works against the corporate agenda, therefore deteriorating what they have produced. 

It is influential to read the work of the common man—from one amateur to another, scrapping the significance of a journalist—a mediator between corporations and the public.  People become vastly exposed to news that has not been fact checked, and though they may not believe all of its content, referring back to Dr. Michael Strangelove’s “visibility is power” this is exactly what online blogging

Chapter Five: Naughty Barbies and Greasy Clowns March 20, 2009

This chapter focuses its attention on two of Capitalism’s biggest organizations in the market: Mattel and Barbie, and McDonald’s.  Its predominant focus is on the illegal distribution and transmission of destructive images, videos, and audio of two of these two capitalistic titans.  We are now subjected to the transformation of intellectual property, in the form of culture jamming and media alternation, and the result is Naughty Barbies and Greasy Clowns.  This phenomenon is one of the leading factors demonstrating the failed attempts from the corporate sectors in their efforts to ‘control’ the altered media of their property online and to censor those responsible for these modifications in cyberspace.

Somewhere stored far away back home is an abnormally large container of pretty pink ponies, a low rider bubblegum pink convertible, parked away in some hot pink majestic dream home.  With it you would discover an endless amount of clothing, and pretty plastic shoes, along with a magnitude of dolls varying in professions from dancer, to teacher, to rock star, to astronaut, and house wife. 

 

I intend to focus on Chapter five’s look at Naughty Barbie, since I to, like many young North American girls, was once in the hands of the corporately produced Pink Princess herself.

As one of the most valuable toy brands in the world, Barbie is the representation of the ideal consumer.  She symbolizes “a lifestyle, not just a toy…a fashion statement, a way of life.” (The Empire of Mind: Digital Piracy and the Anti-Capitalist Movement p.137)  Since Barbie is in fact the ideal product on the market, instilling the ideal capitalist consuming values, she sets one of the perfect prime examples for which corporations control their intellectual content over the Internet.  Barbie has proven, and remains to be, one of the subjects of great debate both on and offline.

It’s simple really, if I truly wanted to be like as successful as Barbie is, then I would have to lipo my waist to abnormal proportions, grow larger breasts (or spring for implants), take up a cheesy profession, meet my Ken, get the dream house, the pink car, push out a Kipper/Skipper or two (of course re-lipo my waist), and be the best soccer mom I possibly can be.  Oh, and of course, go Blond.  See?  Simple.  Sarah Burge ring any bells? 

 

This is the image which Mattel must battle to protect from those who create the parodies past the idealistic pretty pink icon that is Barbie.  Artists such as Mark Napier, a supporter of the anti-Mattel debate, created the web page The Distorted Barbiefor all the young girls enthralled by the glittering facade of this toy by digitally enhancing images of the doll to resemble and mimic other popular media images in the effort to bring about the absurdity in the values of Barbie.

Dr.  Michael Strangelove research conducted between 1996 and 1998 in the legal proceedings which Mattel took against online artists or “culture jammers” Mattel showed no remorse in imposing charges censoring the work of these individuals. However, for every image of Barbie removed from the Internet, six more turn up in its place, hence proving the degree to which mediated information travels, working against corporations and capitalism. 

Capitalism’s only chance at survival in my opinion is in regards to what it can control.  “Capitalism’s substantial power rests in its ability to control the meaning of things in the consumer’s life-world, yet online, capitalism’s mechanism of definitional control are powerless against the Internet’s new mode of cultural transmission.” (The Empire of Mind: Digital Piracy and the Anti-Capitalist Movement p.21)

Barbie might be the corporate capitalist model of the ideal consumer pushed upon young girls, in hopes that they to aspire to be just like her, but she is also the ideal popular culture icon to alter and distribute online in order to transmit original representation of an ideal anti-capitalist movement.  Maybe they should create a Split Personality Barbie?

He Messaged Me—He Messaged Me Not. March 16, 2009

 

Forming relationships has changed.  We no longer need to rely on face-to-face mediated contact in order to shape our interpersonal relationships.  Interpersonal relationships, unlike the formal interaction between daily acquaintances, are the simultaneous interactions between two people who mutually influence one another, mainly for the purpose for managing impressionable relationships.  Though face-to-face communication has proven to be the most effective and preeminent way to interact with one another in order to maintain a relationship, we are able to use various types of media to carry our interpersonal messages.

We can now use telephones, faxes, e-mail, and electronic chat rooms, amongst many other electronic devices in order to communicate.  When we use these devices, we are using mediated interpersonal communication.  This form of communication with others is established by using media rather than a face-to-face encounters. 

But can a relationship be developed, sustained, or maintained using media medium?  Can you be satisfied communicating technically rather than face-to-face?  

Fortunately, research suggests that some long-distance relationships can be just as satisfying as face-to-face.  Being a University student away from home, I can vouch that this is in fact true.  I maintain numerous interpersonal relationships electronically while at school.  I communicated with: family on a regular basis, I maintain a long long distance romantic relationship, and I have weekly phone dates with girl friends in order to keep each other entirely updated about our lives, without missing a beat.  And though I miss seeing them all in person, I can honestly say that I am truely satisfied and happy with all my closest mediated relationships. 

In using technology to communicate we have picked up different ways to compensate for the lack of non-verbal cues and lack of proximity between other individuals.  We use emoticons, and capitals in order to express our tone of voice and severity of an issue, as well as becoming much more descriptive in our communicating style.  

   

Joseph Walther, a communications researcher, developed a social information-processing theory.  This theory explains how people use information they receive from others via electronic media such as e-mail to develop relationships.  Walther claims that there is a difference in the way which we process information in face-to-face communicating to that of e-mail interactions.  In face-to-face communication, one processes far much more information at a quicker pace than by e-mail, which one takes in smaller amounts of information and in a longer amount of time.

In fact, one of his research studies shows that people who meet face-to-face differ little from those who communicated through computer-mediated processes.  In fact, they found that the computer mediated group developed richer, fuller relationships than those who communicated face-to-face.  This is because people communicating a-la-technology, ask much more direct questions which allows for more informative and revealing information about that  individual.

Since there is a mutual understanding of communication patterns, online or technological medians can be the perfect means for creating a personal relationship.  This leads me to believe that it is not necessarily the means by which we communicate, that allows us to exchange the sentement of information (though I do believe that there are appropriate times and place to use technology in order to communicate because each median influences the way which we interact), but; rather it is the sincerity and emotion which we portray in what we say to one another.  If the information and content is honest, then the interpersonal “message” is communicated.  Whether it takes a week by e-mail or minutes through instant messaging,  if we truly communicate how we feel and what we mean, then all that`s left to do is chose the media source to use in order to deliver it.   

Oetzel, J.G., (2009). Intercultural Communication: A Layered Approach. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

 

       

 

Ok Ok—I’m hooked on Facebook. March 16, 2009

Hello,

My Name is Kristen; but you might know me as Refined Krissy, or kstan88.  I am writing today to admit to you once and for all that I am a popular media guzzling, advertisement scrutinizing, market targeted, multi median channel user, blogging, YouTube watching Facebook Addict.  

That’s right, my name is Kristen and I am a Facebook Addict.

My problem shows itself in many forms.  Facebook is my set automatic homepage when I open the web.  There are 850 million photo’s uploaded to the website, and 28 million other pieces of content posted alone in a month.  Of these I have approximately 30 photo albums which I have created, 2 videos, and have been tagged in over 500 photos (not counting those that I haven’t been tagged in).  On an average basis I receive wall posts, and respond almost instantly since I often find myself at a computer, and you guessed it, on Facebook.

I Facebook at home, I Facebook at friends, with friends, I Facebook at work (during work), and in classes.  I creep, poke, post, comment, write on walls, tag, and update my status regularly.  And I’m not ashamed of it either. 

I mentioned earlier in my previous blog that I do not understand why people feel the need to place their life on display, letting everyone know what they’ve done during their weekend, or what they’re eating for dinner that night or two nights ago in their status.  In fact, more than 18 million users update their statuses at least once each day (telling us what they are eating for dinner, or anything else).   And yes, even though I am admitting to be notorious for it, I can’t exactly tell you why.  Maybe because like all the other 175 million active users on Facebook, I enjoy having a webpage dedicated to me, which I have control over and can create at my own will.  Take this YouTube video for example explaining why it is so easy to become addicted and furthermore, dedicated to this web page.

 

Worldwide, more than 3 billion minutes are spent on Facebook, and I as well as you I’m sure are contributors to this number.  In fact it leads me to think of how much time I actually do spend on Facebook a day in total.  How much more productive could I be without this website to distract me?  Why can’t I cut down my usage and the amount of time I pour into this site? 

Because, like many have, I’ve made it part of my life and daily routine.  It is more than just a web page; it is my own personal photo album, a schedule, and an e-mail account.  As a student, it ‘s a way to stay in touch with friends who have gone far far away, with worrisome family members, and contact new friends you’ve just met at school.  It has become more than a simple reason to procrastinate, but one of the simplest, most efficient communication mediums.  How could I or any other student do without it?

However, it’s not only students using this site, in fact the fastest growing demographic is those 30 years old and older.  Facebook is constantly changing, and preparing itself so that my demographic (the student demographic) can transcend into a different category and still remain reliant on its service and addicted to Facebook.  I can see it now, 30, at work, and still on Facebook, or the next new overly convenient communication website.  And for some reason, it seems perfectly normal to me. 

In fact, I kind of hope this is the case.  So Yes, my name is Kristen and I’m a Facebook addict, but lets be honest, so are you.

*I would like to duly note that this blog entry took much longer t write than anticipated.  Instead of taking me approximately 20 minutes, I had drawn it out over an hour because I was on Facebook. *    

http://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics

 

Can u YouTube Respect?–No Job, but a load of Views. March 15, 2009

After a class lecture on Wednesday with Dr. Strangelove, I left that night disturbed by what I had watched.

I’ve always been aware of the implications which the Internet puts on today’s generation.  My father made it his personal mission to ensure that I didn’t use any form of online media inappropriately.  From scanning over my IM contact list, to having to personally approve any photos posted on my MySpace page, any information median was to be used properly, responsibly, and ethically.  However, it seems no one seems to have the same concern for privacy these days, and leaves me wonder why this is the case?  I’m not sure why we feel the need to put our lives on display or why we desire to fill in entire networks on what we’ve done during our weekends. 

Call me old fashion, but I’ve always been taught that one should respect their privacy and that in return, others will do the same—that is respect your privacy.

I’ve always thought it was clear how posting one’s life on the Internet worked.  You post what you want seen.  Once it’s online it never disappears.  Never goes away.  It’s a simple concept really: don’t disclose what you don’t want seen, and don’t want known.  That’s how privacy works.  But does anyone really care anymore?  I believe we’ve lost our grip on the importance of privacy, and in doing so we’ve given others the same justified reason to obstruct others privacy.   

How is it that we no longer take one another’s dignity and reputation into consideration? Our only goal has become to achieve views, public ratings, and online popularity and recognition. 

This video, like many, in itself destroys the reputation of an individual and demonstrates the utmost disrespect of the privacy of another.  I believe Dr. Strangelove put it into words best when commenting on this video.  It was along the lines of “You Idiot, you have no idea what you have done.”  I could not agree more.  I will tell you what he has done—what many have done in depicting individuals in distasteful manners—he has potentially ruined his sister’s personal reputation.  She will be haunted and followed by this display of behaviour caught on film.  She will be on steady guard in her professional life worrying constantly whether or not this video will resurface.

This video may have gotten a great number of views and made a few people laugh, but it will haunt her, and hopefully his guilt for a very long time to come; almost indefinitely.

Gucci: Beauty, Beach, Barf… March 13, 2009

Before reading Dr. Michael Strangelove’s The Empire of Mind: Digital Piracy and the Anti-Capitalist Movement I did not know the meaning of the word Culture Jamming.  As an online movement Culture Jamming is a form of deconstruction of corporate social order.  It is a considerable small group of individuals ranging from your ‘average joe’ to acclaimed academics, and has become a great online social phenomenon. 

Culture Jamming allows for a personal take on a publics reinterpretation of their ideals of Capitalism.  The Internet allows for easy distribution and access of these videos, images, and altered audio.  With new communication technologies, especially the Internet, the act of Culture Jamming permits for newly developed belief systems within, and of Capitalist Society.

For example, take this YouTube video.  This is a prime illustration of digital culture jamming.  The advertisement for Gucci has been altered.  Rather than an image of a beautiful woman in what appears to be a fine fitted wedding gown, looking into the sunset on a striking tropical beach, a culture jammer saw past the facade of an idealistic view and right into the world of bulimia, illness, and the weight obsessed world of fashion.

The bucket of bile, and the soars which appear over the models body are significant in terms of looking beyond the idealistic world advertisers try to create to the brutal truth; a world where there’s a weight limit to models, as well as a weight minimum.  A world where bulimia is a common problem faced by at least 1 in every 30 women in Canada and 80% of women in North America who alone have admitted to dieting before the age of 18.

Since Empire of Mind, I now notice and look at advertising in a whole new way.  I look into the meaning of the original advertisement: “What is the company or organization trying to portray in this advertisement?” or “What is the hidden meaning which can be uncovered by culture jammers?” 

However, Culture Jamming doesn’t just stop at eating disorders; there are a magnitude of social issues to be uncovered in the new media and the Internet provides easy access to media images, audio recordings and video images in which to rework, tweak, and alter to send their message to Capitalist society and its audience.  

 

The Empire of Mind: Digital Piracy and the Anti-Capitalist Movement

 

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0009569

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ruth and Tyra Talk Tech: Adolescents Over Reliance on Cell Phones February 25, 2009

Hey for all of you, this is a chance to check out our my group video project featuring, myself, Christine Friske, and Carli Coleman.  Enjoy!