Convergence FA2014: Welcome to Convergence

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Welcome to Convergence

Hello Convergence Culture students,

It will be a fast-paced, lots of reading in record-time kind of semester. I will make it as fun and awesome as I can. It is up to all of you to do your part and make it awesome too. YOU MUST DO THE READING.

I look forward to spending the next semester engaged in great discussions, impressed with your projects and getting to know all of you. Welcome!

Prof. Caçoilo

A frame from the You Tube video of Neda Agha-Soltān's death.

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ALL FINAL PROJECTS DUE ON THE BLOG ON Wednesday 12/3 AT MIDNIGHT

*presentations on 12/4 ONLY please arrive in class at or before 2:25pm- we will begin class exactly at 2:30 and I will take attendance at exactly 2:30pm. You must be ready to present BEFORE 2:30pm.

Checklist:

-project summary on the blog along with images

-a link to your project including written projects which must be published somewhere or linked as pdfs. (oryour project can be included in the post ex: videos embedded)

-presentations will be from your blog post or linked directly from the post PLEASE TEST THIS BEFORE ARRIVING IN CLASS - 5 minutes MAX.

-written projects (research papers and essays) must be handed in to me in print.

-all students must hand in to me a final resources list/bibliography (or this can be included in your blog post) in addition to preparing the above for the presentations

-I have invited guests to attend our final presentations.

+++11/25 TUESDAY+++ we have class Tuesday, 11/25 instead of Thursday on Thanksgiving week.

*NO CLASS 11/27 (Happy Thanksgiving!)

READ: Pavlik/McIntosh, Interactive Media Chapter.

Post 4 Future of Convergence - Due Tuesday 11/25

What is the future of convergence? What is the intersection of technology and storytelling? How can we approach the future with our knowledge of the past and our contemporary experiences? What do we forsee? What can we expect? How can we prepare?What should we be thinking about?

Use examples and references to the readings (with citation and bibliography) you have done about the future of gaming, popular culture and politics.

5-6 paragraphs, with images, captions and links. Share resources with us that we have not discussed. Dig! Find something inspiring. What does the future of media look like? How can we (you) get in the game?

**Draft Bibliography/Resource List and project update due for Semester Project - printed and handed in to me. 2-3 pages plus a resource list/bibliography.

Work on your semester projects!!

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Due Thursday 11/20

READ: Pavlik/McIntosh, Chapter Media Ethics and Chapter Mass Communication and Politics in the Digital Age (chs 10 + 13 in new edition)

Jenkins, Conclusion pg. 251- 270. Afterword pg. 271-294

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Due 11/13

READ: Pavlik/McIntosh, Chapter on Audio/Radio/Music. And Case Study - The Sleeper Curve on Blackboard (please let me know if you cannot access the reading)

POST 3

Transmedia storytelling

1- ANALYSIS

What is the difference between multimedia and transmedia?Choose a message/story/product that uses multiple platforms to expand the reach and experience of a story (idea.) Choose an example that has not been discussed in class. Use the readings from class and additional readings to analyze how this story is told using various platforms (including ARG, games, social media, traditional media, etc.) How does this strategy engage participation? How does the use of various platforms benefit or change the story or the audience?

Find research to back up your argument. Use various essays/articles to speak to your points. Cite your research. 7+ paragraphs, with images and citations.

Group 6 presents

2 Tweets with #convergcult

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Due 11/6

READINGS: Pavlik/McIntosh, Visual Media Chapter: Photography, Movies and Television. (Chapter 5 in both editions)

and Jenkins, Searching for the Origami Unicorn pg.95-134

Group 5 presents

2 Tweets with #convergcult

UPDATE YOUR PROJECT PROPOSALS - Revise your existing proposals to include all new work and development you have made on your project. Please list your new research, new ideas, new production. If you did not address all questions I requested in your original proposal. Please address these now. If you have changed your idea entirely please REPOST your idea to the blog, let me know and email me as soon as possible with details and a new proposal.

2 Comments on project proposals. Read through student project proposals. Choose two or more to give feedback and help with/give additional resources. Be constructive and thoughtful.

_________________

Due 10/30

READINGS: Pavlik/McIntosh, Social Media chapter (old book ch8 - new book ch7)

see: http://www.alonetogetherbook.com/

and read the excerpt: http://www.alonetogetherbook.com/?p=4

In addition to looking at the Alone Together links above - watch all of the videos in this playlist:http://www.ted.com/playlists/26/our_digital_lives.html (10 videos)

Group 4 presents

2 Tweets with #convergcult

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Due 10/23 **Please arrive in class 5 minutes before class begins at 2:25pm

MIDTERM PRESENTATIONS in class

Proposal of final semester project. In a two page (700+ word description printed and handed in to me) please explain: the topic, the form your project will take, the scope of your research, intended message of your piece, the audience you would like to reach (be specific - of course you may want it to reach the broadest audience possible - but who are you directing it towards specifically), the way(s) you intend to distribute or publish your work, how it will involve your audience, how do you intend it to "make change", why are you making this project, why is it important to you, how does this project fit in to your portfolio or career ambitions, how will you produce this project, how are you taking advantage of convergence in the project or distribution of the project, how do you plan to make something amazing.

Please include a Bibliography and/or Resource List for semester project (so far) in addition to your 2+ page description. Include any academic research/scholarship, literature, inspirational projects, media works you are looking to, any resources you plan to use in order to create the project, expertise you plan to employ, help you will be seeking to accomplish your ambitious goals, all materials and information you hope to access to complete the project.

HAND IN TO ME YOUR PRINTED 2+ PAGE midterm proposal proposal and bibliography/resource as you enter the classroom on 10/23.

Then you will give a 2 minute presentation to the class.

On the blog create a NEW extensive summary post, a "pitch" to the class of your proposal. This must be posted by 10/22. Presentations will be from your blog post and should explain where you are in your research and production of your project and how and where you plan to be at the final presentation. What are you making, why and how? Please concise, clear and impressive!

You will be graded on the proposal you hand in, on your blog "pitch" and on your presentation.

No New Readings Due. No Group Presentations Due. No tweets due.

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Due Thursday 10/16

READINGS: Pavlik/McIntosh, Chapter on Advertising and PR and Chapter on Media Ethics

2 Comments on project proposals. Read through student project proposals. Choose two or more to give feedback and help with/give additional resources. Be constructive and thoughtful.

Group 3 presents

Post 2 DUE Mass Amateurization

In the reading Everyone is a Media Outlet, Clay Shirky describes "mass amateurization." Explain what he means by this and give a clear example from your experience that illustrates his argument. What does Shirky argue is the outcome of this?

Similarly Jenkins inWhy Heather Can Write describes fan fiction culture and the amateurization of the author. Please use examples to explain this development.

What do you feel is the future of the media professional? What do these two readings suggest may be shifting, if anything, and what may come of these new authors?

Feel free to use other essays/articles as well to speak to this points. ~5 paragraphs, with images and citations.

Important note on Post 2 The post should be a strong analysis of the readings. Be sure to convey an understanding of the readings and cite them extensively. Use media examples to illustrate your points from these readings and those of your own choosing. These should be titled (create a strong title), carefully written, well edited and properly cited with bibliographic information at the bottom of each post. All posts should include illustrative images with captions and links that are clear and introduced in your text.

*Please be sure that your published post is formatted correctly with spacing, alignment, paragraphs, images and captions of images lined up as best as possible. Fonts and images should be sized correctly. Please remember these are on the web. Format them to reflect your best published writing for the web with images and text appearing as polished as possible. This is a good part of the writing grade. EDIT!

2 Tweets with #convergcult

GROUP PRESENTATIONS must also have a summary posted to the blog. One post per group. Best to complete this before your presentation in class. For those who have presented please do this immediately. This post is part of your presentation grade.

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Due Thursday 10/9

Readings: Pavlik/McIntosh, Chapter on Journalism, Jenkins, Spoiling Survivor pg. 25-58

GROUP 2 presents

2 Tweets with #convergcult

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Due Thursday 10/2

Semester project proposal due (topic and short description of your research and what you plan to create 2+ paragraphs) on the blog. You may include images and links to supporting material.

READINGS: Pavlik/McIntosh, Chapters 6 +7 and on Blackboard: Clay Shirky, Publish, Then Filter

GROUP 1 presents

2 Tweets with #convergcult

___________

Due Thursday 9/25

POSt 1 DUE

Society of the Spectacle

What is the society of the spectacle? How does Debord describe the spectacle and its impact? Discuss the theme of commodity as described by Debord in this chapter specifically. What is the commodity as spectacle? Please use your readings about the media, convergence and spectacle to help illustrate your descriptions and your points. Use clear examples from contemporary mediated culture to help explain your interpretations of this text.

You must cite from your sources (in body citation) and use images (at least 2) to illustrate your examples. Feel free to also link to additional resources and information.

500+ words posted on this blog: well-developed, edited, and formatted correctly.

READINGS Due: Pavlik/McIntosh, Chapter 3 and Clay Shirky, Everyone is a Media Outlet on Blackboard and Jenkins, Why Heather Can Write pg.175-216

2 Tweets with #convergcult

DUE Tuesday 9/18

Introduce yourself on the blog - MINI POST

Please post 1 paragraph about yourself and your professional and academic goals. How do media, media consumption and media studies fit into your life, your academic goals and your interests? You must include one image and one link.

READINGS:

Jenkins, Introduction to Convergence Culture pgs.1-24

Pavlik/McIntosh, Chapter 1+2

Debord, The Commodity as Spectacle (1977 translation)OR(2002 translation)

2 Tweets with #convergcult

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Link to Syllabus

Link to online videos (links) from class screenings

Readings on the syllabus refer to chapters in your texts:

John V. Pavlik and Shawn McIntosh's Converging Media and

Henry Jenkins' Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide

**Additional readings can be found on the Blackboard site or linked here and will be specified here for each class. Please check here each week for additional readings.

Please see this great list of classroom discussion guidelines for guidance on classroom discussion. It is also helpful that everyone in the course reviews several key terms that are crucial to the course material. Please review this important list of terms.