How did I ever live without this? While browsing the NPR podcast selections I cam across this little gem - National Public Radios pop-culture central. Designer stun guns and articles about the 'Batman Curse' make this page worth checking out...now. No, really, what are you waiting for?
Holy Lion of Zion -- click here and check it out. For you iPod addicts, the podcast is fantastic - worth the space on your media player.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Pop Culture Criticism - Cultural Surplus
I found this great article on shirky.com - I think it is a pretty good example of what pop-culture criticism can be. Being a critic is more than just attacking an idea, rating a movie or album or pointing out flaws in logic. As you'll read in the Ivie article and as I think you'll start to realize after reading this fun piece is, criticism is productive, not just constructive. Criticism shed new light on ideas, open new pathways for understanding and relating to our surroundings. It gives perspective and invites revision and reconstruction.
This article by Clay Shirky, about cultural surplus is a hybrid of film and cultural criticism. When you read it, ask yourself a few questions.
1. What is the artifact in question? What made it significant or interesting to discuss?
2. What are the main ideas or arguments of the article? What is Shirky trying to communicate to the reader and what impact does it have?
3. Does it spark any questions from you? How does it conform to or oppose your definition of criticism and/or the role of a critic?
4. Ivie and to a certain extent Foss argue that criticism is productive, that it produces new social knowledge and poses new questions. Think about Ivie's short article -- what is produced in this article?
OK, enough of the instructions! On to the article. I hope you enjoy it! Click here to read the article.
This article by Clay Shirky, about cultural surplus is a hybrid of film and cultural criticism. When you read it, ask yourself a few questions.
1. What is the artifact in question? What made it significant or interesting to discuss?
2. What are the main ideas or arguments of the article? What is Shirky trying to communicate to the reader and what impact does it have?
3. Does it spark any questions from you? How does it conform to or oppose your definition of criticism and/or the role of a critic?
4. Ivie and to a certain extent Foss argue that criticism is productive, that it produces new social knowledge and poses new questions. Think about Ivie's short article -- what is produced in this article?
OK, enough of the instructions! On to the article. I hope you enjoy it! Click here to read the article.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Webisodes
An emerging form of story telling that blends short story with commercial called 'webisodes' are about to take off and with the support of some pretty big names in entertainment. While YouTube darlings Darth Vader Day Manager and Lonelygirl were DIY endeavors produced by fans and auteurs, new shows like Gemini Division are produced with the support of major name actors and production companies (in this case, Rosario Dawson and NBC).
Interesting for a couple of reasons. First, it is another example of entertainment becoming more interactive. Part of the appeal of Gemini Division will be a role for the viewer. Texts and emails direct fans on missions that have an impact on the serial's storyline and characters. Yes, we have seen this before. Abrahms did it with lost and recently on this blog you saw how Trent Reznor incorporated a science fiction theme into a recent tour. The difference this time is that while in the case of Abrahms' Lost and Reznor's tour back story, which served as a backdrop to an external story line, Gemini Division actually involves the viewers in the primary storyline.
The second reason that this is interesting is that GD looks really cool. A cross between Sin City/Blade Runner and the 40's Buck Rodgers movie serials GD could be the break out hit that NBC and other major media outlets are looking for to take the YouTube generation to the next logical step. The moment we keep hearing about where online storytelling begins to eclipse traditional TV based nightly entertainment could be upon us on August 18 when GD premiers.
More on the making of GD can be found here. For now, enjoy the trailer. More on this once Gemini drops!
Interesting for a couple of reasons. First, it is another example of entertainment becoming more interactive. Part of the appeal of Gemini Division will be a role for the viewer. Texts and emails direct fans on missions that have an impact on the serial's storyline and characters. Yes, we have seen this before. Abrahms did it with lost and recently on this blog you saw how Trent Reznor incorporated a science fiction theme into a recent tour. The difference this time is that while in the case of Abrahms' Lost and Reznor's tour back story, which served as a backdrop to an external story line, Gemini Division actually involves the viewers in the primary storyline.
The second reason that this is interesting is that GD looks really cool. A cross between Sin City/Blade Runner and the 40's Buck Rodgers movie serials GD could be the break out hit that NBC and other major media outlets are looking for to take the YouTube generation to the next logical step. The moment we keep hearing about where online storytelling begins to eclipse traditional TV based nightly entertainment could be upon us on August 18 when GD premiers.
More on the making of GD can be found here. For now, enjoy the trailer. More on this once Gemini drops!
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