Final Remix Video

Defense

My argument is ethical and legal example of the read/write culture. Through my remix I am pointing out how many of the celebrities in today's society, claim they are different then how they appear. I use Paris Hilton as an example. She is constantly claiming she is perceived by people as something she is not...a whore. When really, she does nothing for us to suggest otherwise. I use a Carls Jr. commercial she had done that was eventually banned, because of the extreme sexual suggestion with added clips of her stating her claims of not being a sexually suggestive person. This commercial is just one of the many resources I could have used to state my opinion. I back up my remix as being legal. I abide by the fair use law by only using portions of the commercials clips, and mix them so they do not follow the original commercials order. The extra clips of Paris's claims are only small statements that are seconds long. They are statements made on her reality tv show, The world according to Paris and interviews. I used music I had purchased and was owed by me. The music, "I Touch myself" by the Divinyls is not being used to viewed at it in a negative way and is not directed toward the artist or producer. This is a remix that was influenced by Lawrence Lessigs: reexamining the remix. In this he states “Free is an important essential part of the cultural ecology” This influenced my project because I do believe that our freedom is our culture. In order for Paris Hilton or any other celebrity to be viewed in a certain way they chose to use their freedom. The freedom to act in a certain way so that it makes up how people perceive them. They use their freedom in ways to give people the reasons to view them in ways they would rather not be viewed, without the freedom to act there would be no opinions. They want opinions. Just as remixes want to make a statement about something. We need freedom to identify ourselves. We need the freedom to be inspired by something and turn it into something that states our opinion. It determines what we say about our culture.

Through this project I have learned about the copyright laws. I had always known there were these laws, but I never knew what they meant or what the limitations were. This project has related to all the arguments on digital technology we have covered in class. Digital technology has opened us up to adding more restrictions on these laws. Through technology we are exposed to more culture, and able to share our remixes with the world. It is beyond the point of being able to be controlled. Digital technology and freedom for artistic expression is our culture now. The past can no longer stall the changes we have seen in our present and will make in our future.

Project #3 Ideas

I have been thinking about what I could use for this project. I am thinking I want to make a music mash up. I have started to research some rules for this that I could follow so I can figure out what music is legal for me to use. I have looked up some music from the 20's that would be legal to use, but I am not sure they would make a very good mash up. So I am trying to look into other options.

I have decided to make a remix video on Paris Hiltons banned Carls Jr. commercial. There are so many celebrities in society today that are constantly claiming people perceive them differently then they actually are. But based on what they choose to do and how they choose to present themselves, why would they expect us to think otherwise of them? I will combine this commercial with some of Paris's claims.

Rip! A Remix Manifesto

I think that the majority of the time we need other sources for our own creation. We are inspired by the things around us. I do not think I would be as inspired to do art if I didn't have access to books, movies, photos, the art in museums, ect. We are all bouncing creations off of one another. Using ideas from the past and changing it to call it our own. It is still original. Changing something enough so that there is a difference between the two. It is not a direct copy of what inspired you, therefore it is yours.

I really liked this movie. It was made in a very interesting way that kept my attention. It was a mash up movie. combining facts, history, opinions, clips, interviews, ect. In the end the point that is being made, makes you agree with it. We are a mash up generation. We are inspired by the creations all around us.

My approach to the Amazon Review on Little Brother

I have chosen to write one review. I will approch it in a direct informational way. Looking at many other reviews I decided what I liked and what I didnt like about them. From there I decided to make a review starting with a quick overview of the book. I didnt want to go into details about the events that happen, because I am directing my review to others who are interested in reading this book. So giving away too much of the book would make it unnecessary for my reader to actually read the book. I then stated what my opinion on the book was and why. I also included who I thought should read this book. Which includes people from all ages, parents to young adults. Taking this approach to my review contributes to my growth as a writer by making me include useful information on the book I have just read, and how I interpreted it. It also makes me aware of who I want to read my review and what I want them to take away from it. This type of writing makes me aware of the information I want people to have and how it can be useful to them.

Letter to Malcolm Gladwell

Dear Mr. Malcolm Gladwell,

You are pretty much a loser. The internet starts groups,which bring up the issues to others. It gets people from around the world to think about it or to become aware of the issue. From there these people can decided if they too would like to join in on taking action. This method organizes protests in a faster, more efficient way, then months of planing it took the four sit in lunch counter students. From creating this fast plan we can then take action. Protests are not eliminated by the use of technology. The internet helps to reinforce them. Activism without technology was not full proof and as organized as you say it was. Many people were murdered and many events were unplanned, before this could become effective. Those four kids could have very well not been supported by others and could have been "steemrolled by the white power structure" just as easily as it could have been using technology. Stop picking on Shirky. It makes you look even more ridiculous then you already do. He is so much smarter then you are and actually has real arguments that don't just try to find pieces of random bogus information to try to support his argument. The information you have to support your arguments suck and it makes it look like your writings are just a jealousy hit against Shirky. Stop being so butt hurt and get over your issues with him, because you just look stupid. Even though you already look like Judge Doom with your bulgy eyes.

Ridiculous Little Brother Review

Th15 8o0k wa5 th3 5h1zz

Final of "Little Brother" Reviews

Marcus and his three friends ditch school that day to play an online game, Harajuku Fun House. The city is then bombed and in a fight to get back to school they are caught in a mob in the underground bus tunnel, where Marcus’s best friend Darryl is harmed. Trying to flag down help, Marcus is pulled off the street by the Department of Homeland Security and held against his will. Thinking Marcus had something to do with the attack he is harassed until he gives the DHS access to his technology. After the bombing, the government goes into lock down mode on the people of San Francisco. Controlling all of their rights, abandoning their privacy, tracking their every move and forcing them to suffer if not cooperative. Once released Marcus starts a revolution to get back the rights of the people. Through Marcus's journey we see him go though many things including fear, fight, intelligence, realization, rebellion and young love.

I really enjoyed this book. It sprung so many emotions from me. It makes me feel irritated when reading about how stubborn Marcus is. It makes me feel scared to think about our rights being taken from us. Hopeless and hopeful when fighting the government. Excited for the take down on the government. Nervous when hope is lost and for what problems may lie ahead in our future, and paranoid, because I felt as though I was being watched, just as Marcus was. My every step was being tracked and I had no privacy. This book generated a lot of different thoughts and brought up many issues with our government we presently deal with or have dealt with in the past. Such as the civil rights movement or The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Although this book is at times exaggerated in many ways, it is a compelling book that I suggest people of all ages read.

I give this book *** and a half *

Articles relating to Little Brother

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/opinion/18wed1.html?ref=billofrightsus


http://www.englisharticles.info/2011/05/06/race-riots-in-america/

Genre Analysis

Reviews for Cory Doctorow books including: Eastern Standard Tribe, Makers and Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom-

In many of the reviews done on these books, I found many similarities. They almost all started off by explaining what the book was about, the qualities of the characters, the events that take place and the overall meaning/impression the book is trying to leave you with. They then go on to talk about how they felt about the book. Either as a whole, or in sections based on what parts they like and what parts they didn't and why. In many of the reviews there was also the pattern of talking about the Author. What their feelings on him were, and they relate the book they are reviewing to other books either by the author or books relating to the general theme. All of the reviews were written as informal opinions.

Science Fiction: Engineering Infinity By Jonathan Strahan- Most of the reviews started right away with what their opinion on the book was. These reviews were more argumentative then Cory Doctorow's. They did not talk about the actual story lines the book had, it was more based on opinion.

The Quantum Thief By Hannu Rajaniemi- many of the reviews start of stating how great the author is, and why or why not. They then go into the story line of the book, and end with why this book was great or not so great and why. Many of them explained what they didn't understand in the book and what they were thinking the authors intent for some things were.

Thoughts on Little Brother

This book scares me. As I was reading it made me feel like I too was being watched at all times like Marcus and it made me wonder, is our advancing technology not made for our convenience but rather for the governments?

This book has been a pretty smooth read, it does have its ups and downs for me though. At times I feel really interested and affected by whats going on and at other times it lags on with detail and a ramble of thoughts that I don't think are necessary. Marcus does have his good and bad qualities, but sometimes I really cant stand how much of a know it all he is. Reading about him sometimes actually changes my mood depending on how much patience I have that day. And in some situations it is great how much information he knows and how stubborn he is, but throughout the book the more he learns, the more scared he lets himself, which causes him to want change for the right reasons, it becomes less about himself and more about the freedom of everyone.

Digital Participant Profile

Conan O’Brien has always been a television show John makes me watch. Every time we watch it we always have discussions agreeing or disagreeing with
the topics of the world. That night Conan was talking about how we have become slaves to technology. I then turned, and asked “do you think we have?” John replied “Nah, technology has become a slave to us”
John was born in August 1988, he was six years old when he played his very first video game. “ It was Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunter for the Original Nintendo, Both of the games were on the same big fat cartridge, and it even came with the Duck Hunter Gun.” He played them because they were challenging to him. Like a puzzle, he had to learn the timing and coordination of each game, which pushed him to get better. “You just want to beat it, and once it gets to the end and you do beat it, it is satisfying.” Playing video games wasn't a big part of his childhood. He did many outdoor activities, like bmx racing and camping with his dad. Not until James Bond and Nintendo 64 came out when he was about 11 or 12, did he really start playing a lot of games. At this age he moved from Phoenix Arizona to Sun Valley Idaho. Where he struggled to make new friends. Over the years his game playing grew. Claiming that video games were getting more interesting, story lines were getting better and the graphics were constantly being enhanced. From ages 14-17 he had dedicated 80% of his free time to playing. At the age of 17 he had made more friends and as he says “got a life” so the free time he had dedicated to playing games decreased. Although it was still a big part of his life.

All of the time and dedication John had spent on games, made me wonder if he had been addicted, and what his thoughts on video game addiction were. Is it something that he could just walk away from? When asked this question he said, "I believe some people get addicted to games, but I think it's just like people who are addicted to anything, you want progress in what your doing and you want to be able to get better and better every time, so its just something you keep doing. It’s something you like doing even if your not getting much better. I do think it can be negative though, because for some people, it is all that they want to do, I think that too much of anything is negative really. If you’re going to just sit there and play video games all day everyday, it’s not good and it can be like that for anything.” Almost all John’s friends play video games “It’s 2011, like everyone I know plays games. I have so many friends that play so many different things. Now that I have my play station in my house, my roommate’s play a lot more then they ever have. It’s just something fun to do on your spare time. I don’t think being constantly productive would be very much fun.” For John everything about playing a game pulls him in, the progression made over the years, the challenge, the story line and its something that can be nice, even if he is just by himself and doesn't have someone there telling him how good he is at a game, he can just tell himself and it makes him happy. He doesn't think video games helps prepare us with real life problem solving, like seen in PBS Digital Media: New learners of the 21st Century. Or that we really get anything out of a game except for the fun of playing the game itself. He also doesn't think we loose anything out of it either.

In the video game world there are many things that can pull someone into playing. In PBS Digital Nation:Life on the Virtual Frontier, We see how many people are being affected by video games. Some are becoming dependent on the game world and neglecting their health. Spending every second of their spare time playing games. There are also those who are living in virtual worlds. Those living in virtual worlds are often becoming distracted from sensing what is real and some are just using it as a way to connect with people. According to John, "Unless you already have a very tenuous grasp on what reality is are you going to become distracted. Games do in a sense distract us from thinking about life’s problems and the bills you have to pay, but it’s something fun that you don’t have to think about. A hobby." Virtual worlds can connect us to people socially. They allow us to create an identity for ourselves, that may or may not be who we really are. Just like the identity profiles we create for ourselves explained in Boyds “Taken out of Context.”

John plays online games, but unlike some, they don’t necessarily connect him to those that he doesn't already know in person. There is such a wide variety of people that play online, that he wouldn't really be friends with in everyday life. They are just connected because they are playing a game together. When playing online games, he mainly enjoys playing with friends that are far away. It gives them a chance to have fun together while catching up at the same time. Through these virtual worlds, people are able to create identities for themselves that may or may not show who they really are. John is not necessarily one of those people. He will make up identities anyway just for fun, sometimes he likes to talk in accents or pretend like he is from somewhere else, just to be goofy, but he doesn't make up a different life in games. Stating “I already am how I wish or want to be or else I would be different.”

Presently John will play games for about an hour every two or three days. Except for in winter and during the school year, when he will probably play 2 hours everyday. He has never neglected his health due to a video game. I am apparently the only person that has ever told him he is addicted to games, because according to John I am jealous and don’t know what I'm talking about. Until I asked John what his thoughts on technology was and weather or not he thought the rapid advancements we have been making were a positive or negative thing, did I really start to look at it in a new way.

At first thought, I agreed with Conan O'Brian. We have become slaves to technology. We are shackled by our wrists and ankles, relying on all the conveniences that technology gives us.
John on the other hand, thinks that we are the ones who control technology; we make our own choices and control ourselves. "We control the power of technology just like we control everything else in our life. Video games and other technology is such a big part of people’s lives today. Technology is convenient and progression is a good, positive thing, it means were moving forward. Technology is important.”

feed back

Go with the topics of: what makes people play video games? what gets them playing? being lonely? progression? Opens the door for using that as a social outlet, gives you something to have in common with people. And how war has basically become a video game at this point and how we have to trust young people to tell what reality is.

Interview questions

• How old were you when you played your first video game?

-6

• What was your first video game and what made you play it?

- It was Super Mario Bros with Duck Hunter also, it was the original Nintendo and both games were on 1 cartridge, and came with the duck hunter gun. I played it because it was challenging, like a puzzle and I had to learn the timing and coordination of the games which made me want to get better and better, you just want to beat it, and once it gets to the end and you beat it it is satisfying.

• Was it a big part of your childhood?

-Not until I was about 11 or 12, did I really started playing a lot of video games. It was when James bond and n64 came out. I was slightly a little more coordinated and could perceive things better when I was that age, and once I got to 11 I started to stay up later and would play more, but I also did a lot of outdoor activities, so I didn't spend all my time playing. When I moved to Idaho, I didn't have a lot of friends so I started to play more and more, When I was between the ages of 14-17 I bet about 80% of my spare time went to playing video games, mainly because I didn't have very many friends, and also because video games were getting more interesting and started to have better graphics. I slowed down on playing games around age 17, because I made more friends and started doing other things, although I still played a lot of games.

• Do you believe in being addicted to games and technology?
  

- Ummm...I believe some people get addicted to games I guess. I think its just like people who are addicted to doing anything, you want to progress and you just want to do better and better every time, so its just something you keep doing, and something you like to do even if your not getting better. I think it can be negative, because for some people its all they want to do, but i think that to much of anything is negative really. If your just going to sit there and play video games all day everyday, its not good. it can be like that for anything.

• How many of your friends play video games?

-Almost everyone, its like 2011. Like everyone I know.

• On average how much do they play?
  

-Ahh I have so many friends that play so many different things, now that I have my playstations in my house, my roomates play a lot more then they ever have, its just something fun to do on your spare time. I dont think always being productive would be very much fun

• What is it about games that pulls you in?
  

-Ummm... gosh just everything, progression over the years, the challenege, the story line sometimes, it can be nice even if im just by myself, even if I dont have someone there telling me how good i am at a game, I can just tell myself and it makes me happy.

• Do you feel like virtual worlds made in games distracts us from sensing what is real?
  

- Hah no, unless your immature and have a very tenuous grasp on what reality already is.

• Do you think we sometimes wish it would distract us from reality?

-Well I mean i guess it "distracts" us from reality, its just something fun that you don't have to think about, its really just like a hobby, that can distract you from thinking about life's problems and the bills you have to pay.

• Do you feel like games connect you to people socially? if so how? if not why?

-Kind of, I play online games, and I talk to people about games at school a lot. I don't really feel connected to people online that I don't know in person, I guess your connected because your playing the game together, but there is such a wide variety of people that play that you wouldn't really be friends with in real life. Its nice to play with my friends that are far away though, sometimes playing together connects us.

• Do you create an identity when playing games that may or may not be who you really are?

-Not really. I kind of do that anyways just for fun, you know, sometimes I like to talk in accents just for fun, but I don't make up a different/fake life in games, I already am how I wish/ want to be or I would be different.

• On average how often do you play games and for how long?

-Lately an hour every two or three days, but during winter when i'm in school probably 2 hours every day, and in summer like an hour every 2-3 days

• Have you ever neglected your health, hygiene and daily obligations because of a game?

-No hah, except for when i was like 11 I would stay up really late sometimes and play games, but then I would be really tired the next day.

• Has anyone ever told you you have an addiction to technology?

-umm maybe you

why do you think they said that?

-Because your jealous and don't know what your talking about, jealous of the game.

• Why do you think video games are such a big part of peoples lives today?

-Because their fun. Technology is convenient and i feel like progression is a good, positive thing, it's moving forward, technology is important. I don't think that video games help with real life problem solving, I think that you don't really get anything out of a game that helps you solve real life problems, you don't get anything out of a game except for the fun of playing a game, but I don't think you really loose anything out of it either. Its just for fun.

• What do you think about the army using video games to draft more soldiers? Do you think that it is giving a false perception on what war is really like?

-

Interviewees: John Babcock

Three Sources to Support my Interview

These are the videos/readings that have inspired and supported my interview the most,

• PBS Digital Nation: Life on the Virtual Frontier: This video was full of a lot of useful information, it helped me understand how someone might act when going through addiction and how technology can really take over someones life. It showed me how technology is changing peoples realities, by creating virtual worlds. This movie somehow gives us a more negative look on how technology is effecting us today.
  

• Digital Media: New learners of the 21st century: This movies takes a look into how technology/video games have improved our ways of thinking. These digital schools make it possible to learn in a whole new way, they are allowing kids to go out and see things how they want to see it. They are being able to physically observe things and then interpret it how they want, being inspired by creations in order to create. This all seemed like a positive way to enhance our thinking but what are the cons on schools like this? Is technology distracting us from observing our surroundings or is it helping us really see what is there? Does learning how to solve video games in school, help us know how to solve the problems in real life?

• Boyd-Taken out of Context: This article looks at how we identify ourselves today using technology. Technology has become a self identifier, we choose how we want other people to see us and how we want to see ourselves. We identify ourselves through myspace, facebook, and even virtual world video games. When thinking about this article and relating it to video games it made me wonder if we are using a false identity for virtual worlds? or are we just making our identity known through them? Do these virtual worlds connect us to other people? And do we sometimes mistake them for reality?
  

Brainstorming and interview questions for the Digital Profile

For my Digital Participant Profile, I am considering the topics of,

Gaming because I am extremely interested in knowing how gamers feel about technology. Gaming has become a world wide phenomenon, we are constantly updating the game world, using better graphics and creating new worlds. I want to understand what interests gamers when playing a game and what their feelings are on technological addiction, I will ask questions like:

• How old were you when you played your first video game?
• Was it a big part of your childhood?
• Do you believe in being addicted to games and technology?
• How many of your friends play video games?
  
• On average how much do they play?
  
• What is it about games that pulls you in?
• Do you feel like virtual worlds made in games distracts us from sensing what is real?
• Do you feel like games connect you to people socially?
• Do you create an identity when playing games that may or may not be who you really are?
  
• On average how often do you play games and for how long?
• Have you ever neglected your health, hygiene and daily obligations because of a game?
• Do you ever feel like the world you live in in games is reality?
• Has anyone ever told you you have an addiction to technology?
• Do you feel like the game world connects you to people?
• Why do you think video games are such a big part of peoples lives today?
  

Interviewees: John Babcock

Learning to use 21st century technology, because we are the first generation to have grown up with advanced technology, I want to know how older people feel about the boom in technology, how the world and ways of life has changed for them because of technology, and how hard it has been to adapt and learn in this new culture. I will ask questions like:

• How do you feel about the technological takeover our world is experiencing?
• Why types of technology do you use?
• When did you start using advanced technology?
• How did you learn to use advanced technology?
• To you how has the world changed because of technology?
• Have they been positive or negative changes?

Interviewees: Curtis and Lisa Uhrig

Identity formation or "Impression Management"

Digital Media: New Learners of the 21st Century

Digital Media: New Learners of the 21st Century was really interesting to me. In a way I have always thought of certain technology, such as video games, a lazy activity with no real use except for entertainment. After watching this movie I feel completely different about it. A man in the movie said "Humans dont learn from abstractions, they learn from experiences" These digital schools make it possible to learn in a whole new way, they are allowing kids to go out and see things how they want to see it. They are being able to physically observe things and then interpret it how they want, being inspired by creations in order to create. I agree with this learning process. I think in order to really learn something you need to experience it. It needs to make a lasting mark in your life that tells a story. What are the cons on schools like this? Is technology distracting us from observing our surroundings or is it helping us really see what is there?

Clay Shirky/Larry Lessig

In Clay Shirkys video "Web 2.0 Expo" he said many things that made me go hmm... but the one that really made me think was the thought of, media that is targeted at you but doesn't include you, may not be worth sitting for. In the world of technology, we are being faced with many new media options, and it is a trial or error process. Those who create are challenged to think of what the viewer is going to want to see. If the viewer is made to feel apart of the creation then the creator has been successful, but if it is the opposite the viewer is not going to be involved in the experience that the creator is trying to provide, and is not going to want to be apart of it. Is this really how the digital world runs? Are we as creators creating for the approval of our viewers or for ourselves?

In Larry Lessigs video he had a lot of good points that I agree with. He says that now in the 21st century, we are taking and re-creating other peoples creations, so that we can say things differently. This made me think about how in my own art I see myself looking at what others have created, and being inspired I take it and turn it into how I see it. I think that in today's culture we are constantly seeing things in the world that inspire us, but we all interpret them differently. Digital technology puts our thoughts and ideas out there so that the creators can help others to create. But how much re-creating is needed when using other peoples creations? How far do we need do go to change what has already been made?