Tuesday, December 7, 2010

SHORT REVIEW SESSION FOR OUR TEST FRIDAY DEC. 10TH

ALL WE ARE GOING TO DO TODAY IS JUST GO OVER WHAT YOU NEED TO REVIEW FOR THE FINAL TEST ON FRIDAY


1. The Medium is the Message, by McLuhan
review:  Understanding Media: Extensions of Man (1964)


"McLuhan proposes that a medium itself, not the content it carries, should be the focus of study. He said that a medium affects the society in which it plays a role not only by the content delivered over the medium, but also by the characteristics of the medium itself."


Be able to explain McLuhan's concept of medium, content vs. message, global village
Give examples of current mediums and how they would fit into McLuhan's philosophy of "the medium is the message.

2. Social Media and Web 2.0 / Andrew Keenreview: Social Media and Web 2.0
explain the shift from web 1.0 to web 2.0
what technologies are examples of web2.o, what are some specific examples?



According to Keen, what are some of the downfalls of Web 2.0 and this current trend in media (how is it KILLING our culture?) be able to give examples...
review:
The Great Seduction - Andrew Keen
Truth and Lies - Andrew Keen


3. Douglas Rushkoff (Digital Nation and The Persuaders)
Be able to talk about Rushkoff and the techniques from his films:


* neuromarketing ( psychological )
* emotional branding
* creating a culture around a brand
* narrowcasting
* rhetorical marketing
* under the radar marketing
* guerrilla marketing ( talk about re-appropriation of marketing techniques  )
 



4. Bitmap VS. Vector Graphics
Be able to explain the differences between the two
What applications and file formats are associated with each?

Friday, December 3, 2010

REVIEW FOR FINAL TEST ON DEC. 10TH LAST DAY OF CLASS

OUR FINAL IS GOING TO BE NEXT FRIDAY DEC.10TH THE LAST DAY OF CLASSES

 SO WE WE WONT HAVE A FINAL ON DEC 17th at 8:00AM.. 

BECAUSE OF THIS, OUR FINAL REVIEW WILL BE THIS TUESDAY THE 7TH NEXT CLASS

this final test is going to be cumulative through the semester and will cover various questions from topics throughout the semester such as:

Marshall McLuhan (Medium is the Message), 
Rushkoff videos (the Persuaders and Digital Nation),
Neuomarketing methods of persuation
Web 2.0 (democratized media) -amateur vs professional
Andrew Keen Readings,
Photoshop/Illustrator file formatting
Bitmap Vs. Vector Graphics
 Is democracy threatened by the unchecked nature of the internet

SO WE WILL HAVE A FINAL TEST THE LAST DAY OF CLASS DEC. 10TH

Keep looking at Techniques of Persuation...USING NeuroMarketing

Today we will finally finish Rushkoff: the Persuaders
CONTINUE TO TAKE "ELECTRONIC NOTES" ON YOUR BLOGS.. DEFINING AND DESCRIBING THE ABOVE TERMS AS WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY

Key Terms
* neuromarketing ( psychological )
* emotional branding
* branding/creating a culture around a brand
* narrowcasting
* rhetorical marketing
* under the radar marketing
* across-media marketing
* product placement across media
* guerrilla marketing
* viral marketing

IF WE FINISH THE VIDEO IN TIME I WANT US TO WATCH THIS GOOGLE TECH TALK PRESENTATION CALLED:
IF IT FEELS GOOD, DO IT: USING NEUROMARKETING TO GO BEYOND CLICK-THROUGH
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND NEUROMARKETING..

DUE TUESDAY 7TH CREATE A BLOG POSTING GIVING AN EXAMPLE (FROM THE PERSUADERS), THE WEB OR OTHER MEDIA OF EACH OF THE ABOVE KEY TERMS

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

finish rushkoff the persuaders

NOTE: WE LEFT AT 18MIN 3SEC ON TUES
Rushkoff: the Persuaders
Key Terms

* neuromarketing ( psychological )
* emotional branding
* branding/creating a culture around a brand
* narrowcasting
* rhetorical marketing
* under the radar marketing
* across-media marketing
* product placement across media


TAKE "ELECTRONIC NOTES" ON YOUR BLOGS.. DEFINING AND DESCRIBING THESE TERMS AS WE FINISH THIS DOCUMENTARY!

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/persuaders/

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Turn in your Illustrator Projects today..

I'm going to come around with a flash drive and copy your .AI files..
Please name them:

FIRSTLAST_vector.ai

if we have time we are going to start the other rushkoff film I wanted you to see:
start with section 4 next time..

THE Persuaders
Americans are swimming in a sea of messages.
Each year, legions of ad people, copywriters, market researchers, pollsters, consultants, and even linguists—most of whom work for one of six giant companies—spend billions of dollars and millions of man-hours trying to determine how to persuade consumers what to buy, whom to trust, and what to think. Increasingly, these techniques are migrating to the high-stakes arena of politics, shaping policy and influencing how Americans choose their leaders.

see the LOVEMARKS COMPANY  
the advertising age

Friday, November 12, 2010

thANKSGIVING SCHEDULE CHANGES AND ILLUSTRATOR DEADLINE

HERE ARE SOME THANKSGIVING SCHEDULE CHANGES: 


24-28 Wednesday - SundayThanksgiving holiday. No classes held. 


TUESDAY NOVEMBER 23RD NO CLASS

it is very important for you to attend class tuesday the 16 and the 19th  because we won't meet again until after the break.

******DEADLINE FOR ILLUSTRATOR PROJECT (SEE DETAILS ON THE PREVIOUS POST)

tues THE 16TH BRING IN the 
.AI FILE OF YOUR VECTOR ART..
and
Post a flattened .gif (along with the original image) on your blog

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Recreation of Graphic Art using Adobe CS5

I would like to take a LUCKY volunteer from the class and use that artwork to show all of you how to get started on this assignment:

RECREATION OF VECTOR GRAPHICS USING ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR CS5

USING YOUR SELECTED IMAGE AS A REFERENCE I YOU WILL RECREATE AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE YOUR IMAGE USING A  COMBINATION OF THE VECTOR TOOLS IN ILLUSTRATOR, AND THE PHOTOGRAPHIC MANIPULATION TOOLS IN PHOTOSHOP.

YOU CAN "PLACE" THE IMAGE IN ILLUSTRATOR AND USE IT AS A REFERENCE, BUT IN THE END YOU WILL TURN IN A COMPLETELY NEW GRAPHIC YOU CREATED (WITHOUT THE ORIGINAL IMAGE)

SO DUE FRIDAY THE 12TH BRING IN AN .AI FILE OF YOUR VECTOR ART..

ON FRIDAY WE WILL LEARN HOW TO EXPORT THIS OUT OF ILLUSTRATOR AN PLACE ON YOUR BLOG.

Friday, November 5, 2010

illustrator tutorial

WE ARE GOING TO WATCH AND REVIEW THE FIRST FEW "GETTING STARTED" VIDEOS FROM ILLUSTRATOR TUTORIALS FROM ADOBE

THEN:




MORE USING THE PATHFINDER..
how to access it, what is it for
practical application of the pathfinder menu


TRACING BITMAP GRAPHICS INTO VECTORS


ILLUSTRATOR TUTORIALS FROM ADOBE

FOR TUES. PLEASE BRING IN A PIECE OF VECTOR ART (IMAGE FROM THE WEB, PRINT, STILL FROM VIDEO) THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO "REVERSE ENGINEER" OR RECREATE USING CS5-ILLUSTRATOR

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Intro to adobe illustrator

  1. Bitmatp Vs. Vector Review
    Vector-based images generally contain well-defined elements such as curves and shapes of various colors. These elements can either be pure graphics, western alphabets or Asian characters. Each element is defined mathematically by the computer. For example, if a vector-based image contains a red dot, then information such as the location of the circle's center point, the length of its radius, and the color, red, would be the essential information for this image file.
    File names for vector-based images usually consist of extensions such as *.EPS, *.AI
    Vector-based files are more suitable for illustrations that require precise measurements. They are also easily scalable due to their mathematical nature. However, the vector-based file format has its drawbacks as well. It is not good for displaying photo-realistic images such as a photograph because images of this type generally do not contain well-defined shapes and curves.
    Bitmap-based images, on the other hand, do not rely on mathematical formulas to define their various elements. Each bitmap-based image is mapped into a grid. The size of the grid is based on the image's resolution. For example, a bitmap-based image of 1 inch x 1 inch with a 600 dpi resolution would be defined by a grid of 600 x 600 pixels. Hence, a bitmap-based image is like a mosaic of pixels with each pixel holding a specific color value.
    Bitmap-based files are more suitable for photo-realistic images that require complex color variations. They are, however, not easily scalable because each bitmap-based image is mapped to a non-flexible grid. If a bitmap-based image were to be enlarged, it would lose its sharpness. All edges within the image would appear to be jagged.
    File names for bitmap-based images usually consist of extensions such as *.PSD, *.JPG, *GIF, *.TIF, or *.BMP.
    In general, bitmap-based files require more computer memory for file storage than vector-based files. The former contains all information for every single pixel of the image while the latter contains only the defining mathematical formulas for each element within the image.
ILLUSTRATOR TUTORIALS FROM ADOBE

Friday, October 29, 2010

FINISH DISCUSSION OF INTERNET DEBATES - QUESTIONS DUE TUES - vector v bitmap

Debate: The Internet and Democracy
 Is democracy threatened by the unchecked nature of the internet

NO:
jimmy wales- co founded wikipedia (with ex partner and larry sanger)
Micah Sifry COFOUNDER OF http://personaldemocracy.com/
VS
YES:
Andrew Keen
Farhad Manjoo - journalist from slate.com  Farhad Manjoo's page on the Internet


A series of questions (based on information from the Debates watched in class, and on the readings from Keen's book "cult of the amateur" are due as a Blog Posting by November 2nd. Include links or references to reinforce your answers.

  • Please cut and paste each question in to your blog, and type your answer to each one below the question.
1. Based on this debate and previous readings What Definition of democracy do you feel is most fitting for us to use in-conjunction our growing reliance and integration of digital networked technologies?


2. How does your answer to #1 fit into the unchecked nature of Web 2.0 technologies, and what are some tangible examples of this? Do you feel this is an important issue that needs to be addressed further?


3. Define and describe the phenomenon of the Media echo-chamber as described in the Internet Debates. What are some examples of this silo effect, and do you believe it is an issue that needs to be addressed? Why or Why not?


4. What are some ways that expertise and authority could be (or is being) enforced on the internet? Who would be behind these forces? Why do you believe are they are needed or not needed?


6. Give a through example of an adaptation or improvement made by a of a social, political, or cultural group, government, business or individual to keep up with changing nature of the internet.

7. Is democracy threatened by the unchecked nature of the internet?




MAYBE TIME TO START NEW VECTOR GRAPHIC PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES IN ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR ;)

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

RUSHKOFF'S ANSWER TO KEEN

 Discussion of your answers to Questions about Andrew Keen's great seduction:

1. How does Keen's does Keen define Democratized media, and what are his main issues with this trend? use examples from the web in the form of links.

2. Compare and Contrast Keens take on Social Media with Douglas Rushkoff's. Which one speaks to you and your own experiences and why?


  IN CONTRAST TO:

Program or be Programmed

Ten Commands for a Digital Age
Douglas Rushkoff

The Commands are not commandments, meant as orders from God to a population, but rather ways of taking command of any of the biases of digital media. The way to take command of digital media’s asynchronous bias, for example, is not to be “always on.”
Here are the ten from the book.


I. TIME
Do Not Be Always On
II. PLACE
Live in Person
III. CHOICE
You May Always Choose None of the Above
IV. COMPLEXITY
You Are Never Completely Right
V. SCALE
One Size Does Not Fit All
VI. IDENTITY
Be Yourself
VII. SOCIAL
Do Not Sell Your Friends
VIII. FACT
Tell the Truth
IX. OPENNESS
Share, Don’t Steal
X. PURPOSE
Program or Be Programmed


 WATCH:

Web 2.0 "How the Web Ate the Economy and Why it’s Great for Everyone."
Web 2.0 by douglas rushkoff 2009

Next time look at andrew keen's solutions..

Friday, October 8, 2010

The great seduction for tues

mention upcoming schedule (after keen)



Finish Watching andrew keen at google: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN_n7I0PM3w



For Tuesday I would like you to finish reading the Great Seduction by Andrew Keen and answer the following questions, using the reading and keen's commentary from the google talk as reference points:


1. How does Keen's does Keen define Democratized media, and what are his main issues with this trend? use examples from the web in the form of links.


2. Compare and Contrast Keens take on Social Media with Douglas Rushkoff's. Which one speaks to you and your own experiences and why?












I thought you maybe interested in this: http://www.cinemablend.com/dvds/Catfish-4848.html


Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Discussion of Commentaries

1. I want to discuss some of the things that you Discovered after reading each other's blog postings on digital nation.. I'll Take volunteers or select students to share in class


2. Pass out "The Great Seduction by Andrew Keen"


 3. For Fri th 8th.. I want you to respond to the commentary made on your blog..


4. Have The Great Seduction Read by Tues. the 11th

If we have time we will watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN_n7I0PM3w

keen's blog http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN_n7I0PM3w

Friday, October 1, 2010

Digital Nation Discussions / BLOG POSTINGS

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/238643/july-15-2009/douglas-rushkoff
WATCH IN CLASS
RUCHKOFF LIFE INC

1. we will find partners today to start the "Digital Nation" Discussions..

2. Under my direction we will divide into groups of 2-3

3. By the end of class you need to read your partner's essay,  and post their thesis on your blog.. along with your "response thesis"

followed by a in-class discussion..

FOR TUES

RESPOND ( in the comments section of your partner's blog)
should be 1-3 pages
I also want you to read 3 other students postings and make a short response in their comments section..

MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE YOUR FIRST, LAST NAME, AND A FULL LINK TO YOUR POSTING IN THE COMMENTS

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Finish Digital Nation

Lets finish Digital_Nation..

Then we will have a discussion about the film, followed by any questions or topics raised from your assignment (reposted below)



Social Media and The Wisdom of the Crowd Postings (DUE FRIDAY)

I would like to pose the Following topics taken from online talks from boingboing.net about "the crowd" - particularly the way group activity, creativity, and awareness are both enhanced and exacerbated by our digital networks. 

TOPICS LIST:
Open Source and Crowdsourcing.
What are the values implicit in both collaborative open source activities and "crowd-sourced" activities on behalf of a corporation or organization? Has the open source movement created new forms, or just copies of old ones? What are the possibilities, here, for new cultural and economic institutions, and how might they be improvements on the status quo? 


The Mob.
What are the, perhaps, unintended effects unleashed by our connectedness? Does anonymity plus connectivity always equal misbehavior and cruelty? How are we to explain some of the collective anger that seems to be unleashed online - and is it a result of the same anger characterizing much of our society's discourse, or is it the cause?

Whither the Individual?
As we join groups and social networks from affinity sites to Facebook, are we extending and expanding identities, or increasingly conforming to the cookie-cutter profiles demanded of these interfaces? Is the loss of "personal space" and "reflection" so many users complain of merely the necessary surrender of "ego" as we learn to participate as members of a more evolved "collective organism" of "hyper-people?"

Folksonomy and the Folks.
Everybody is, indeed, here now - but should everyone be here? Does the rise of the amateur lead to an unnecessary devaluation of the professional? Do collective online activities promote a new form of participatory democracy and the development of new and accurate folksonomies, or rather to they lead people to overestimate the value of their unconsidered posts and opinions? Do representative democracy, academic disciplines and other seemingly elitist artifacts fall by the wayside?

FULL POSTING DUE FRI the 1st:
choose one of the above topics for a blog posting on the topic equivalent to at least a 3 page paper ..

You can take a positive or negative stance towards your chosen topic, but you need to back up your opinions with examples from valid sources. This means to include links to your sources.
After that I am going to have you respond to each others blogs in the form of commentaries.
I

Friday, September 24, 2010

Continuing Digital Nation... Topics/assignment about the "wisdom" of the crowd

start at 1:11:32 on tues.

Today we will finish watching Digital Nation--> we left off at 34:08, I believe

Watching Rushkoff and Dretzin's Digital Nation
life on the virtual frontier

I would like to pose the Following topics taken from online talks from boingboing.net about "the crowd" - particularly the way group activity, creativity, and awareness are both enhanced and exacerbated by our digital networks. 

TOPICS LIST:
Open Source and Crowdsourcing.
What are the values implicit in both collaborative open source activities and "crowd-sourced" activities on behalf of a corporation or organization? Has the open source movement created new forms, or just copies of old ones? What are the possibilities, here, for new cultural and economic institutions, and how might they be improvements on the status quo? 


The Mob.
What are the, perhaps, unintended effects unleashed by our connectedness? Does anonymity plus connectivity always equal misbehavior and cruelty? How are we to explain some of the collective anger that seems to be unleashed online - and is it a result of the same anger characterizing much of our society's discourse, or is it the cause?

Whither the Individual?
As we join groups and social networks from affinity sites to Facebook, are we extending and expanding identities, or increasingly conforming to the cookie-cutter profiles demanded of these interfaces? Is the loss of "personal space" and "reflection" so many users complain of merely the necessary surrender of "ego" as we learn to participate as members of a more evolved "collective organism" of "hyper-people?"

Folksonomy and the Folks.
Everybody is, indeed, here now - but should everyone be here? Does the rise of the amateur lead to an unnecessary devaluation of the professional? Do collective online activities promote a new form of participatory democracy and the development of new and accurate folksonomies, or rather to they lead people to overestimate the value of their unconsidered posts and opinions? Do representative democracy, academic disciplines and other seemingly elitist artifacts fall by the wayside?

FOR TUESDAY HAVE 1/2 FINISHED TO START DISCUSSION, FULL POSTING DUE FRI the 1st:
choose one of the above topics for a blog posting on the topic equivalent to at least a 3 page paper ..

You can take a positive or negative stance towards your chosen topic, but you need to back up your opinions with examples from valid sources. This means to include links to your sources.
After that I am going to have you respond to each others blogs in the form of commentaries.
I would advise you to start thinking about and researching your chosen topic as we finish the documentary..

Friday, September 17, 2010

Social Media and Web 2.0

IN CLASS ASSIGNMENT ONE:

We are going to follow up the last assignment with another photoshop in-class project.

For this assignment, I would like you to create another version of the last assignment.. so,
choose another example of a medium write a blog posting explaining the content, message, etc..
post this on your blog at the end of class..


Read "Social Media and Web 2.0" and The Blog Posting on Transparency in Social Media Please answer the following discussion questions Include any relevant links or media in a your blog entry due tuesday.

  1. Today many TV shows and advertisements try to look amateurish or "homegrown" to emulate what is often seen on the Web. Do you think professional production values will continue to drop, or do you think amateur user-generated content will get better over time? WHY??

  2. What social media sites do you find yourself using the most, and why? In your opinion why is Facebook so much more successful than MySpace, and do you think Facebook is "here to stay" for the long term.


    before answering question #3 please read the Transparency in Social Media Blog Article

  3. Why is transparency such an important concept in the Social Media world? Is it MORE or LESS important in the offline world? Why?

    The wikipedia article on "Astroturfing" may be of help

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

In Class Lab to Complete McLuhan Photoshop Assignment



NOTICE:
You have Until the end of class to finish your McLuhan Compositions..

Make a blog post "McLuhan Photoshop Final Post"--Including your image and description.
Leave your self enough time to save your file as a .jpg or .gif not a .psd and post a thoughtful explanation with your image. ->This should incorporate the idea of content vs. message from The McLuhan reading and Lectures.

I will be here to help with photoshop questions as much as possible.

Friday, September 10, 2010

photoshop techniques tutorial

1. Photoshop Composite techniques for Production Assignment one

setting up a document
Layers
image size
canvas size
selection tools.. filters, layer effects
cut/paste
cropping
save as .PSD
save for web and devices


Production One: Channeling McLuhan into Photoshop

Project Description:
choose one of the three mediums you found from your previous assignment.
making the distinction between the content of your medium and how McLuhan would see the Message caused by this innovation

Seek out various Visual representations symbolizing this Medium and it's effects.


Photoshop Assignment Part TWO--- Due Tues. the 14Th

for next class: taking cues from the medium is the message, and WIRED magazine's virtual interview with McLuhan create a photoshop composition
that VISUALLY CONVEYS shows what effect or significance this medium's introduction had on society.
You may use a combination of 4-10 or more images, Layering, Effects, Text, Graphic and Photographic Imagery to convey your ideas

For Next Class bring a
Photoshop Document on Your Flash drive with your layers intact at a minim 800 X 600 pixels, 72ppi, that composites 4-10, or more different images to create your Photoshop Document .PSD

ALSO Post the a .jpg version of your progresss using the save for web and devices function to post on your blog.

remember

Make sure you explain the difference between the mediums' content and "message".
Start to come up with ways you will visually represent the effect and consequences that emerge in culture and society with the introduction and widespread acceptance of your chosen extension of ourselves.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Channeling McLuhan into Photoshop!

"The efficiency of the machine age cannot discover anything worthwhile now."
Marshall McLuhan, WIRED magazine interview

1. Discussion---> channeling a virtual Marshall Mcluhan from WIRED MAGAZINE

2. Look at some of your examples of mediums

3. Photoshop Composite techniques

setting up a document
Layers
image size
canvas size
selection tools.. filters, layer effects
cut/paste
cropping
save as .PSD
save for web and devices

4. Channeling McLuhan into Photoshop
Photoshop Assignment #1.1 Due Fri the 10Th

choose one of the three mediums you found from your previous assignment.
making the distinction between the content of your medium and how McLuhan would see the Message caused by this innovation

Seek out various Visual representations symbolizing this Medium and it's effects.

Create a New Photoshop Document at a minim 800 X 600 pixels, 72ppi, that composites 4-10, or more different images to create a .PSD that VISUALLY CONVEYS shows what effect or significance this medium's introduction had on society


SAVE YOUR PROJECT, RETAINING THE LAYERS AS A .PSD AND STORE IT ON YOUR FLASH DRIVE BRING IN your progress next class

Friday, September 3, 2010

Mc Luhan Reading / Homework assignment 1




assignment one / medium/message
TODAY: INTRO TO Adobe Creative Suite. (see also What's New)
Setting up a document for this class
BASICS OF PIXEL GRAPHICS
TAKE NOTES!!

1. Passout McLuhan packet, be ready to discuss next Thur.
"Understanding Media: Extensions of Man (1964)" -- "Medium is the Message" read by next class

2. Discussion of Interactivity (In New Media)
If you are interested in further study/exploration in this see: Lev Manovich Texts

3. Post in 3 examples of current "mediums", innovations/inventions/breakthroughs in communication technology, along with visual examples of these mediums
One of these should be an example of interactivity.
Post these examples as a single blog entry by next class (Tuesday 7th) , but also save them to your USB drive.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Course Intro

Pass out Syllabus
Creation of Blogs on http://blogspot.com/

create a blog with your "Blog Title" as your first and last name (name the URL something you will remember)
"add a gadget" called bloglist
I will link your blogs to our class blog

The First Reading will be The Medium is the Message by Mc Luhan
due 9/7