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Week 5
still figuring out how this weird weblog thing works...
Anyway: WELCOME!
Name: Nicole, because I'm worth it
Age: 23
Special message: Hadie, I got your back ;)
Oh...and remember: respect the man in the icecream van!
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May 17, 2004
Willeke....Holland needs you
Eurovision Songcontest:
Okay I know....I shouldn't have watched it in the first place...It's all one big political game etc...We never get any points from Germany (even though we always give them points..what's up with that huh? See you in Portugal, bring it on!)... But still: couldn't help myself from watching.
Could it have been any worse?! Never mind the neighbours' cat checking out the ceiling from up veeeeery close at the beginning of every song (there were 24 in total..imagine the cat after that), or my housemate's rats doing a 360 in their cage... it was beyond comprehension: no excuses could cover this years contestants. Not to forget our own pride and joy Re-union (someone should TELL them...)
However, the entire show DID make me take a trip down memorylane....1994: There she was..Willeke Alberti. Those were the days.. The fact she came in last: well..everyone knows real talent is never recognised at Eurovisions. It made her no less of a true hero to me. She sang: Where is the sun.....
Willeke...you couldn't have been more right on this horrible saturday evening in may 2004
Posted at 10:13 am by nwartenberg
Week 5 - From consumers to users
Special message to my fans: I found these articles much easier to read (and more entertaining) than those of last week :S . However, I did find myself in a weird mood while doing the Q&A's.... so if you start frowning somewhere between Benkler and Du Gay....I apologise..... really I do. No, REALLY.
Benkler (reader)
Q. Throughout the article Benkler often relates the structure of mass media and it's several levels to the First Amendment. What can be considered as individual freedom of speech and when is the government allowed to interfere in order to maintain the most important goals of the Amendment. Perhaps I did not really understand what Benkler was trying to bring across, but to me it wasn't clear why, in the first place, the government should be so concerned with this (among several other similar questions)
A. To me, one of the most important aspects of the internet is the accessibility of it. ANYONE can become a participant (as active as one wishes), and by becoming one, you have multiple opportunities to express yourself. This does not have to be with words, you can join other groups, send in drawings, anything. This however is on an individual level. To gain access to the internet, at all, the individual is dependend on the providers. Here. Benkler brings up the First Amendment again. One of the aims of the government in order to protect civilians and try to offer what they call 'robust debate, diversity of viewpoints and individual expressive freedom' they tend to interfere whenever the mass media market becomes too monipolistic.
By giving the example of the Washington Post and LA Times against the users of a political website, it does become a bit more clear. Still, fact remains that the government has the difficult task to decide at which point they will intervene. But given the conservative background of the US government, another question comes to mind: will it ever be fair for everyone. To me, it's all or nothing. What can be considered as damaging to one, can be seen as a fair expression to the other. However, cases in which copyright laws etc are being broken, it's a matter of looking at the facts. Here comes the low-context legal system again! But is this applyable to the individual and their First Amendment?
Lessig (reader)
Q. This chapter from Lessig's book is not really open for critical questions (and answers), because it's more een overview of recent developments that were entering the world wibe web. Lessig explains each innovation and comments on them.
Still, after having read the described innovations, I was wondering how the 'real physical world' as Lessig mentioned in the beginning of this chapter undergoes major effects. The tone in which Lessing talks about he new services on the internet directs us more to the 'and it shall conquer the worlllllld!... or something like that). How can the recent developments/innovations/resources be related to the 'real world' and its market practices?
A. Whatever the innovations may be...the real world seems to deal with them in every way they can. For example, the music business: by stuufing the p2p sites with music, home users are more likely to download everything they want. (different outcomes were made public about whether people actually stopped buying cd's or not, so I'm not gonna get into that) But just looking at the facts that are given: Mp3 groes big, stores start selling more and more computers, Mp3 players etc. The 'new' is the cause, the real world comes up with the effect. But there's another option: look at artists like David Bowie or Prince (or the Symbol, tafkap, The Prince...oh no wait that was The Donald) who start 'offering' there music on their own websites. The whole productselling doesn't begin or end on the internet or anywhere else. One thing leads to another and the market is for the most part a self-regulating place (of course, in the hands of man but still) If it means that cd's must be sold at a lower cost: so be it... but looking at the different prices across the globe, it does not really look like the Internet has taken over.
Harries (reader)
Q. Harries is very elaborate about the fact that there are three emerging modes of spectatorship: viewing, using and (give it up for Harries!) 'viewsing' My question here would be: why does Harries insist on these three different and separate modes as being so different from each other?
A. You cannot compare apples and oranges Mr. Harries. To be more elaborate (yes Shenja:).. Woth the internet and all that comes with it, you've got a whole new type of media in your hands. Just because you can watch a movie on your computer does not mean that now your computer is like a television. For instance, when I watch an episode of a series I regularly download, I'm watching it differently from an episode I watch on television. If I want to see something again I just go to the little device thingy on my mediaplayer and scroll back. Or I watch two things at the same time...you name it. I consider myself not a viewer when on the internet therefore. (I almost wanted to write 'not a viewer while using the internet... that would give away some content of my argument)
I also thought that (if I paid enough attention in Gesch. vh Medialandschap) that when the first newspapers arrived, people should've stopped comparing them to the telegraph. Just because (and I'm going back to the fruit again) an apple and an orange are both fruit, doesn't mean they taste, look the same. Same goes with internet and film or tv: just because they both contain moving images doesn't mean that you're more of a viewer or user with any three of them.
A new media needs new definitions.
It's a new game, so new rules... "Yhatzee! Game On!" **
** I 'borrowed' this from Toni, our ever so friendly and non-aggressive member of the (so loved by me!) Paradise Hotel television series ;) Thank you Toni...for making my Thursday nights as memorable as can be.............(rrright: back to business)
Keith Negus, Identities and Industries (Cultural Economy)
Here, I would just like to comment on certain aspects Negusspeaks of in his article. He talks about the music industry in America, especially the black music section, about the social segregation as being oart of American life, commercial segmentation etc. I couldn't help but think what this industry looks like to me. Watching MTV is already enough to see how these rappers emerge as if they've come straight out of jail, one even more bad*ss than the other (and believing it themselves). It was a very amusing part to read when Negus interviewed Davitt Sigerson who wanted to 'retool'EMI but failed. Sigerson sai EMI 'needed a culture'. As if you can just go to www. getmeoneofthosecultures.org and whoopa..there you have it. But indeed, it looks like the industry works like this. Who in the world believes, for instance, the image our P. Diddy (...Daddy...Piffy...Puffy...Duffy??) tries to bring across. The man is bad! Yeah right... he grew up in a white suburban neighboorhood, a straight A student etc. But does that sell? No, so just give him the image you need and you've got yourself a bad*ss rapper.
Negus argues in the beginning of his article about the reasons behind the decisions at record companies and they are seldom based on who's talented or not, but that they are even more so based on gendered and radicalized class divisions within record companies. It all comes down to economics: you might pick talent over money making plastic popgroups...fact remains you need to earn your income in order to maintain your position in business. There's more than enough evidence on MTV as I speak that it's all one big marketing game. People might tink of Britney Spears as a fake product (bless Britney by the way!) but refuse to put her in the same box as . let's say... Avril Lavigne. The fact that Avril comes across more natural doesn't make her any more natural. Avril Lavigne perhaps has as much styling and marketing hooplah as Britney Spears, but because the record company wanted something different for the teenage girls (and boys) they PICKED Avril Lavigne to be their alternative 'I hate school man!' tough girl.
In ny case, if it sells, it sells. Like Beverly McKnight was quoted in Negus' article: America only sees one color and that is green. "They don't give a sh*t Jay-Z is a black guy from the hood or that Mary J. Blige came from Yonkers. Mary J. Blige sells" (122-123)
Negus uses the R&B industry to prove it, but as I mentioned above...perhaps these basics are universal.
Posted at 09:57 am by nwartenberg
May 10, 2004
Week 4 - Virtual Communities (organisation and culture)
Kuhn-Schankleman (reader)
Q. In this article, Kuhn-Schankleman talks about the levels of culture and how they define corporate culture. After having read the three levels and what there place is in the corporate culture, the following question came to mind. I don't really understand how a company can have A culture, for it is clear that the 'basic assumptions' level is an everchanging one. And because this third level explains the other two (1. artefacts and 2. espoused values)..to me it seems different to come up with a clear explanation of the word culture in the sens of corporate life
A. Like I already said, I'm a bit confused on how this third level is the root of the corporate culture. I understand the three definitions/explanations. But by quoting Schein, Kuhn-Schankleman doesn't make it any easier. Schein says (on the third level) "...when we see the essence of a culture...we can see instantly why things work, why people leave and so on" (p.10) This already indicates that things change, all the time. To me it would seem that the basic structure (from the top) about what the company wants, stands for and tries to sell is of more influence on the basic assumptions than the other way around. Maybe I dind't get the explanation of the levels as I thought I did. But I still believe that, following the article's trend, if a corporate business is really built upon (first of all) these basic assumptions than a corporate culture would always be a fluent one. This aspect, however, is never mentioned in the article.
De Mooij (reader)
Q. In what way are the differences between the Japanese and American culture inbedded in their businessess that cover not only their home country but also the other (as named above)?
A. De Mooij is very clear and elaborate about the differences in social structures across the world and it is very recognisable to read it all. However, whil reading it I kept wondering what can be said about for instance brands/companies like Sony or Nikon (to name just two). Japanes brands that are huge in the U.S. which would mean that the Japanese have adopted their cultural set of beliefs to the Americans. And vice versa. De Mooij mentioned that the Japanese are often clever enough to fool Westeners, but I wonder how this works for these mega-corporations. Is there another all-including set of codes that goes for every multicorporation? Is an American based corporation in Japan any different than the same company with American based offices? Also, the same question can be asked with regards to a Japanese corporation. Perhaps De Mooij addresses this in another chapter, but it was just something that came to my mind while reading it.
Nixon (reader)
Somewhere in the article Nixon mentions, first of all, The Birth of a Consumer Country and how the authors described the emergence of a consuming England in the 19th century. This is a very specific description. Later, Rappaport is mentioned by Nixon and here it is a culturally-informed argument which reflects topics as gender and how these could be put into a general model of consumer society or consumption.
Q. How could the concepts of The Birth.. be adjusted to a general model which could reflect any Western civilization?
A. First of all, I found it extremely difficult to work through this article.
But having read the advertising, consumption etc section I wondered how a general model could be implied on different cultural structures in different societies. Given the fact that each Western civilization has had a emergence of commercialisation, the basics might be implied on several societies. Like a Wedgewood manufacturer who, with great advertising skills, beacme a symbol in its own right, in its own homecountry. There might be a general model of these practices that could be found in all civilizations. Rappaport is said to be careful to not put different accounts in a general model. But given the successtory of a Wedgewood manufacterer, I believe this could be possible
McRobbie, from Holloway to Hollywood (Cultural Economy)
Q. Angela McRobbie writes a passionate chapter on how New Labour has managed to increase the age gap on the workfloor and how their talent-driven work atmosphere has completely backfired on them. To come up with a question is difficult, since I completely agree with her. Even so, perhaps she could have been more elaborate on how it COULD/SHOULD/WOULD work (according to her)??
A. It is difficult to sum up a complete list of political changes which would take the employment rate up, but still: it is a fact that more and more jobs are culture related. Why can't more companies or sectors be independent as to fill in the work themselves? I believ that in Britain, too much is influenced by the government. This government has already proven itself to be incapable of actually fullfill the promises they make. People should invest in themselves, companies should invest in their emplyees. Maybe come up with internal work-study programmes in order to strengthen not only themselves but also the employees. It might be not as bad as it is now that work replaces social, as long as it is a process that was experienced with the full awareness of the people who actually have to live this life. Of course money is always a, if not THE, problem, but you got to have ideas don't you?
Posted at 10:31 am by nwartenberg
May 9, 2004
Posted at 02:47 am by nwartenberg
May 7, 2004
Within the context of the virtual horse breeding and all.... here's the gateway to adopting a sweet chicken! (bless those chickens) www.adopteereenkip.nlPosted at 03:40 am by nwartenberg
May 5, 2004
Nicole Wartenberg
Hadewijch v Hilten
Sites: www.afterellen.com and www.thelwordonline.com
Afterellen.com deals with every aspect concerning bisexuality and lesbianism on tv, in film or in literature and keeps its visitors ans members up to date with any news that might concern them. thelwordonline.com is an unofficial fansite of an American television series which has been completely groundbreaking.
Coming across a fansite we were wondering how a community is established by using for instance forums and messageboards. also: we were wondering how a community in itself (lesbians and bisexuals are considered as a social minority) forms another type of community on the web, concerning exactly THAT what makes them a minority in the first place.
This is just a draft...work's still in progress ;)
Posted at 04:39 am by nwartenberg
May 2, 2004
Week 3 - Virtual Communities (space)
Hutchby (reader)
Q. How can technological developments be traced back to a gender related powerstruggle? i.e. Are the technological developments part of male dominated culture?
A. Hutchby does address the gender aspect in the sociological context of technologies. I just wonder, given the several wars/disasters, to what degree these new instruments are just an extension of what male domination is about. Women do not seem to get a place in this new world, and if so: only on the receiving end.
Dodge (reader)
Q. I was wondering how Dodge thinks about cyberspace communities being just a copy of real life situations.
A. He talks about cyberspace as a place where your identity is being build (in fragments) but isn't it okay to say that without the internet, the people who had an urge to develop their identities outside their real world would have done so anyway? Before internet people might have joined groups, theater ensembles etc. Now, just because gaining access is so easy, we tend to give to much creditto the internet.
Posted at 10:52 am by nwartenberg
Apr 25, 2004
** First of all I want to be completely honest with regards to the content of the texts in the reader. I had so much trouble getting through them.. and in the end so many questions came to mind, but unfortunately none of them useful for the assignment… Just didn’t understand what the deal was with these articles. Maybe someone would like to explain it to me? ;) Anyways…bit of a blur to me. But here goes…
H. Vogel – Entertainment Industry Economics
(Q) With regard to his ‘expected utility’ paragraph: what is the effect of the new developments like p2p shareware on the expected utility and how does it effect the pattern of demands for entertainment goods?
(A) With p2p being an enormously influential development of the past few years, the ‘normal’ ongoing pattern of people buying or demanding goods has shifted massively. In my opinion Vogel has left out one of the most important factors of why and how we purchase goods and how the expected utility changes because of it.
E. Castronova – On Virtual Economies
(Q) If virtual games can in fact, in the end, take over (a part of) social life and therefore have it’s own economy, what would be the outcome of a complete government created en controlled online game?
(A) Perhaps it is possible to measure up with some economic shortcomings when an online game is created where the citizens would pay taxes over. Incomings from this game would serve solely for the greater benefit, like normal taxes do.
Cultural Economy – 2: Symbolic Economies
(Q) John Allen states that, with regard to entangled knowledges, with the film industry, the technical and aesthetic co-exist. They would combine is ways which give the sector it’s distinctive blend of symbolic knowledges and that it is not possible nor desirable to draw a clear line between hard and soft knowledge. Now, I understand how these two completely different aspects of film would be combined in a certain way. I was wondering though how they could be seen in the same symbolic meanings, considering the difference in development of the two factors. Is it not necessary (also) to look at these two aspects separate form each other?
(A) Thinking of the film industry I cannot help but look at several key aspects on their own. Isn’t it so that the end product is a result of the sum of its parts? And that is what makes an industry like this so interesting. Not every aspect develops as quick as the other. When we do start looking at the aesthetic and technical as two different types of symbolic forms, the outcome of their combination would be different as well.
Cultural Economy – 3:Capturing Markets from the Economists
(Q) What can be said about the increasing output of products and upcoming new markets. If a market is a place with certain boundaries, how can they become smaller in content but larger in numbers? And how doe sit effect the audience?
(A) I believe in the boundaries of markets becoming vaguer as time goes by. Given this fact, it would be possible that the public constructs its own markets and therefore boundaries. I did not really find anything about this point of view in the chapter and was wondering how this could become reality or perhaps already is. Posted at 03:50 am by nwartenberg
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