intro to digital media studies

I thought our discussion on “A Rap in Cyberspace,” divided the class into two camps. One side, the student an NYU is innocent, or the other it was in fact rape. I think those who say he was innocent, miss the point that had he sent a letter of made a phone call with such graphic comments it would have been considered harassment, and punishable under law, and those who view it as a rape and punishable as such, including the author, Julian Dibbell, are making a gross overstep when assessing the situation.

Looking beyond Sandy Stone’s characterization of curiosity as a male impulse, I do agree with many of her points in "Will the Real Body Please Stand Up?" I found most valuable to our discussions, what I call a reality check, that, the “virtual community originates in, and must return to, the physical.”

The articles that we read this past week bring up the important debate over the future of television. After reading various articles giving opinions about the future of television, I still find television’s future to be quite unclear. It is obvious that television is in need of massive reform but each television network seems to want to go in a different direction. As Pomona College students, I feel we are biased in our views of the future of television.

Here's a funny parody of politicians using the internet to attract voters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrlSkU0TFLs

an interesting little clip about what facebook interactions would be like in the real world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8lvc-azCXY&feature=dir

Check this out-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW085dPRczQ&feature=related

As an endnote to our discussion on race online, I brought up a point about race on discussion boards concerning the Jeremiah Wright clips that populated youtube. This was a rare occasion in the blogosphere that allowed many to vent their anxieties about race relations in this country, and also defend and denounce his racially charged comments.

See for your self!

http://potw.news.yahoo.com/s/potw/69013/gadgets-and-gadflies;_ylt=AvYnR3...
&
http://potw.news.yahoo.com/s/potw/58092/the-most-memorable-web-videos-o;...

Here's a very funny youtube video about video games and storytelling!
GO TO IT, you won't regret it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jdG2LHair0