Convergence Culture Fall 2013: Welcome!

Monday, September 2, 2013

Welcome!

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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****NO CLASS TUESDAY 12/3****

Due to an extreme medical emergency class presentations are postponed and will only begin 12/5. Please complete all projects and post to the blog tomorrow. We will adjust our schedule to accommodate all presentations in the remaining days. Final exam schedule is not affected.

Please do not email with questions. I will explain all the remaining details when I see you on 12/5.****

Due Tuesday 11/26

*NO CLASS 11/28 (Happy Thanksgiving!)

Post 4 -final post due by 11/28

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?

Work on your SEMESTER PROJECTS!!

ALL PROJECTS DUE ON THE BLOG ON 12/3 BEFORE CLASS BEGINS!!

*presentations on 12/3, 12/5, 12/10 please arrive in class at 2:20pm- we will begin class exactly at 10am and I will take attendance at exactly 2:30pm

*final presentation day 12/19 class begins at 11:45am!

Checklist:

-summary on the blog along with images and any videos

-link to your project (including pdf projects)

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

-print projects must be handed in to me on 12/3

-all students must hand in to me a resources list/bibliography in addition to preparing the above for the presentations and on the blog.

-I have invited guests to attend our final presentations.

***We will have a visitor for our class on Thursday, 11/21!!!

His name is Hashem Bajwa @hash

Check him out at:

http://www.hashembajwa.com/

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Due Tuesday 11/19

READINGS: Jenkins, Photoshop for Democracy pg.217-250 and Pavlik/McIntosh, Chapter 15

Due Thursday 11/21

NO READINGS!

Work on your semester projects!

Post 4 -final post (only due Tuesday 11/26)

2 Tweets with #convergcult

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Due Tuesday 11/12

READINGS:

Research Marshall McLuhan

Case Study - The Sleeper Curve on Blackboard

Steven Johnson -excerpt from Everything Bad is Good for You - The Sleeper Curve http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4762320

Jane McGonigal - Why I Love Bees

http://www.avantgame.com/McGonigal_WhyILoveBees_Feb2007.pdf

**Give me project updates and bibliographies if you have not already (see below due 11/5) - hard copy in class - and post updates to the blog.

Due Thursday 11/14

READINGS: Jenkins, Afterword pg. 271-294

2 Tweets with #convergcult

Work on your semester projects!!!

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Due Tuesday 11/5

READINGS: Pavlik/McIntosh, Chapter 4

Updated Proposal and Draft Bibliography/Resource List for Semester Project (if you have not already handed on in!!)

Please list resources from your research on your topic. These include: inspiration (examples similar to what you would like to create) and the resources you have already that are informing your project.

Please be sure to address: Why are YOU making this project?Who is your audience? What is your message? How does this fit into your professional aspirations?

Be specific, focus your message on a clear point, use your research to help flush out your ideas.

Group 7 presents

DUE THURSDAY 11/7

READINGS: Pavlik/McIntosh, Chapter 10 and Jenkins' Conclusion pg. 251-270

POST 3

Transmedia storytelling

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE ASSIGNMENTS

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. ~5 paragraphs, with images and citations

2-CREATIVE

Create a simple message/story/experience across multiple platforms (twitter, flickr, our blog, tumblr, foursquare, facebook, instagram etc.) You may use something you have already begun or created as a starting point. Your transmedia story/experience must accomplish several things: promotion of your product/show/story, addressing and involving fans and/or casual viewers, getting feedback or participation from a larger audience, use multiple platforms to create or elaborate on a single product or story. How do you use the different tools as the arc(s) of the story develop(s)?

Create a post on the class blog that points us to the various locations and media you have used for the experiment.

*If you choose this option you can work in pairs.

2 Tweets with #convergcult

_________________

DUE TUESDAY 10/29

Over the weekend in addition to looking at the Alone Together links below - watch all of the videos in this playlist: http://www.ted.com/playlists/26/our_digital_lives.html (10 videos - we have already seen 3 of these talks in class - watch the other 7.)

READINGS: Pavlik/McIntosh, Chapter 5 and Jenkins, Searching for the Origami Unicorn pg.95-134

Group 6 presents

DUE THURSDAY 10/31 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Draft Bibliography/Resource List due for Semester Project. Please submit an update on your semester project as well as list of resources thus far for your project. Scholarship as well as market research, inspiration, audience, production resources. Please list everything you have accomplished and decided thus far. Be specific. Include an extensive bibliography.

2 Tweets with #convergcult

____________________

DUE TUESDAY 10/22

READINGS: Pavlik/McIntosh, Chapter 8

DUE THURSDAY 10/24

READINGS: ****I COULD NOT MAKE THE FILE ACCESSIBLE - you do not need to read Sherry Turkle, Alone Together on Blackboard - but you must research her and her theories over the weekend once we review her book today in class.

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

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

Group 5 presents

2 Tweets with #convergcult

___________________

DUE TUESDAY 10/15 and THURSDAY 10/17

MIDTERM PRESENTATIONS!!

Proposal of final semester project scope, Bibliography and Resource List (thus far) for semester project on the blog and a print copy handed in to me + 2-minute presentation to the class. 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 arrive to class 5 minutes before class begins at 2:25pm. Attendance will be taken at exactly 2:30pm.

________________

DUE TUESDAY 10/8

READINGS: Pavlik/McIntosh, Chapter 11

Group 3 presents

Proposal Due for Semester Project

~One page (printed and handed in) explaining the topic you have chosen to focus on and research, the medium you hope to explore in creating your project (research paper, essay, video, art project etc. - see the project description on the syllabus.) Please be as specific as possible. Also include some research in a small bibliography, inspirational examples and other resources you plan to use.

DUE THURSDAY 10/10

READINGS: Pavlik/McIntosh, Chapter 12 pgs. 384-397

Group 4 presents

POST 2 HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOR EDITING!! Please go back and edit, format*, re-write if needed. These posts should be strong analyses of the readings, convey an understanding of the readings and cite them extensively. Use media examples to illustrate your points from the readings or 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 revisit these by Friday 10/10 at 11am

*Please be sure that your published post is formatted correctly with spacing, alignment, paragraphs, images and captions of images lined up as best as can be. Fonts and images should be sized correctly. Please remember these are on the web. Please 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!

**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.

2 Tweets with #convergcult

________________

DUE TUESDAY 10/1

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.

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DUE THURSDAY 10/3

****GROUP 2 presents*****

Readings: Pavlik/McIntosh, Chapter 9, Jenkins, Spoiling Survivor pg. 25-58

*****Proposal (topic and media with short description) Due for Semester Project

2 Tweets with #convergcult

____________

DUE TUESDAY 9/24

READINGS: Review last week's readings and Pavlik/McIntosh, Chapter 6 +7

DUE THURSDAY 9/26

READINGS: Clay Shirky, Publish, Then Filter

****GROUP 1 presents*****

2 Tweets with #convergcult

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DUE Tuesday 9/17

READINGS Due: review Jenkins, Introduction to Convergence Culture pgs.1-24 READ Jenkins, Why Heather Can Write pg.175-216

DUE Thursday 9/19

POSt 1 DUE (published on the blog 9/19 before class)

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.

5+ paragraphs 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

2 Tweets with #convergcult

____________________

--Reminder: NO CLASS on Thursday 9/12

DUE Tuesday 9/10

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:

Pavlik/McIntosh, Chapter 1+2

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

2 Tweets with #convergcult

_________________________

Due 9/05

Be sure you are signed up for the blog and create a draft post to practice using blogger.

READING:

Jenkins, Introduction to Convergence Culture pgs.1-24

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Link to Syllabus

Links to online videos 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.