This is my first attempt at using Blogger so be gentle with me.
I learnt about this site on a course on teaching the new Media Studies specification and thought I'd start testing it now!
WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?
This is an attempt to help you understand how to write about new media technologies in your exam this summer; specifically in the short essay question you have to write as part of your Audiences and Institutions paper.
I thought it would be nice to actually use one of these new media technologies to give you an example of how technology can be a GOOD thing whilst not forgetting that it can have a down side too.
There are loads of case studies that you can teach yourself if you know what to look for.
SOME DETAILS
The simplest way to answer the short essay question is to remember the title of the unit Case Study: Audiences and Institutions.
To translate - what you're expected to do is use examples or case studies - notice the plural examples & case studies! - to explain how new media technologies have made life - communication/playing/talking/listening - better for audiences.
Don't forget though that whilst audiences (sometimes referred to as consumers or users) get a lot from new media technologies there's another group who also benefit - institutions (sometimes referred to as producers or companies).
Once you've thought about the GOOD things now you can start to worry about the downsides - how are audiences (or users) limted or cheated or restricted or put in danger (sometimes physical most times technological) by new technology?
Or even how are new technologies bad for business - bad for certain institutions?
GENERAL TECHNOLOGY WEBSITES
The very best place to start is with the BBC Click programmes website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/default.stm
It has a video and html page archive stretching back several years and buyers guides for the latest technology.
EXAMPLES - THE CASE STUDIES
Here are a list of the case studies I've done in the past with some internet links to help start you thinking.
Remember to ask yourself the same questions for each technology - how is it good and bad for me (the user, consumer or audience) - and how might it be good and bad for the companies involved, the institutions or producers....oh, and you don't have to do all of these, just choose two or three you're interested in and if you're not interested in them find some of your own you fussy pup...
THE MAIN CASE STUDY I TEACH
1. The rise of Peer to Peer Networking - how has digital downloading affected the film & music business?
The rise and rise of file sharing - December 2004
Life after piracy - interview with the boss of Napster - August 2005
Q&A on music downloading - March 2004
Young prefer illegal downloads - November 2005
What's your opinion as a 'user' of digital music?
Here's where you can find out what the industry (institutions) think...
British Phonographic Industry Anti-Piracy Site
IFPI_(International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) Website
Pro-Music/Anti-piracy Website
RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) Anti-Piracy Pages
So what's baaad about those dodgy downloads?
Is it the same for the film industry?
More generally...
Entertainment digital future - loads of ideas in this BBC special report
THE OTHER CASE STUDIES I'VE USED
2. Format Wars:
(a) Music players - Apple's iPod vs Microsoft's Zune & Sony's Mp3 Walkman
(b) DVD players - Blu-ray vs HD-DVD
(c) Home entertainment consoles - Sony's Playstation vs Nintendo's Wi & Microsoft's XBOX & Sega
(d) Tape players - VHS vs Betamax - a 'back in the day' format war from the early 80s before DVDs took over
3. 'Phone Wars - mobile communication - what's so special about the iPhone?
4. Big Screen Technologies - from cinema's first viewings to the mighty IMAX
Right - that'll do for now...
