In light of this week's discussion about and readings on copyright, I wanted to post this video on fair use:
It's one of my favorite videos on YouTube.
Showing posts with label Disney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Disney. Show all posts
Monday, April 7, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Music in message, new media
I'm looking forward to our discussion on music tomorrow. Every time I've ever had a discussion in class about music, it turned out to be really interesting. Music and audio seem to be really amazing ways to spread cultural messages, as our various short samples for this week show. No matter what the message is, if it's accompanied by music, it'll most likely be more successful. I thought juxtaposing Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes with Radio Disney was really interesting, since in a number of ways they are opposites. One is a grassroots critique of the effects of the industry buyout of a musical genre, the other is a musical story written by the industry itself. One is a genre that originated in African American culture and is sharply aware of race and class, the other portrays itself as generally white and largely ignores race and class issues. Yet they both appropriate music to attract a larger audience.
I also wanted to point to the interesting ways that new media have affected the distribution methods of musical content. The point made in Hip Hop about the fact that record labels today don't want to sell positive, inspirational, revolutionary rap music got me thinking about more underground labels. While they can't get their music onto MTV or Clear Channel for the most part, many of them do have a very large audience through the Internet. And they often distribute free content, perhaps partially as an eff you to the money-mongering music industry. So although they may not get a spot on TV, more people get a chance to hear their stories now than ever before. (We'll see if this changes as big companies figure out ways to buy up the Internet too.)
I also wanted to point to the interesting ways that new media have affected the distribution methods of musical content. The point made in Hip Hop about the fact that record labels today don't want to sell positive, inspirational, revolutionary rap music got me thinking about more underground labels. While they can't get their music onto MTV or Clear Channel for the most part, many of them do have a very large audience through the Internet. And they often distribute free content, perhaps partially as an eff you to the money-mongering music industry. So although they may not get a spot on TV, more people get a chance to hear their stories now than ever before. (We'll see if this changes as big companies figure out ways to buy up the Internet too.)
Monday, February 4, 2008
Disney creates "virtual theme parks"
According to a Sunday article from the LA Times via SLToday.com, Disney is expanding its virtual empire. While the media and advertisers are fixated on Second Life and other virtual worlds aimed at adults, Club Penguin and Webkinz are drawing in huge numbers of kids. "As many as 20 million children and teenagers will visit virtual worlds by 2011, up from 8.2 million in 2007, according to research firm eMarketer Inc."
What does this mean? Well, first Disney will spend between $5 to $10 million dollars for each of the 10 virtual worlds it plans to create. (Note: Disney already owns Club Penguin.) Disney calls their new investment "virtual theme parks," noting that they will be "much more accessible. You don't have to get in a car or a plane." So for those kids whose parents won't take them to Disney World, they can make avatars that let them become Mickey and Minnie.
The difference between many of the sites aimed for kids and say, Facebook, is the fee. You can't log on to some sites without a fee, and for others, like Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean game site, you can play for free, but you have to pay to get access to the tools to win. One parent cited in the article noted that he decided to pay for the site rather than face the immient "meltdown" from his daughter.
How do you feel about kids becoming members of these online communities? They are designed to hook kids in by playing lots and lots of games to earn points. I have a friend whose daughter begs and begs to play Webkinz for hours because she has to play the games to earn stuff for her Webkinz. (At least I think that's how it works.) I know it's not that much different than the kid who really wants to beat a video game, but at least that seems to have a set ending. These activities go on forever.
I don't have kids, so I don't know what I'd do in this situation. On the one hand, I love virtual communities. I enjoy using Facebook, and I do play video games. I even love to watch TV more than reading a book for fun (I think it has to do with reading for school and work and the need to do something different - don't kick me out of library school!) :) But at the same time, I really worry about kids playing online for hours and hours. We all need to do a variety of things, whether it's playing on the computer, reading a book, watching tv, or playing outside. Perhaps I worry more about the specific medium than the act of sitting still. I feel as if a lot of kids don't just go play outside and make up games the way I did - there are too many choices. What do you think?
What does this mean? Well, first Disney will spend between $5 to $10 million dollars for each of the 10 virtual worlds it plans to create. (Note: Disney already owns Club Penguin.) Disney calls their new investment "virtual theme parks," noting that they will be "much more accessible. You don't have to get in a car or a plane." So for those kids whose parents won't take them to Disney World, they can make avatars that let them become Mickey and Minnie.
The difference between many of the sites aimed for kids and say, Facebook, is the fee. You can't log on to some sites without a fee, and for others, like Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean game site, you can play for free, but you have to pay to get access to the tools to win. One parent cited in the article noted that he decided to pay for the site rather than face the immient "meltdown" from his daughter.
How do you feel about kids becoming members of these online communities? They are designed to hook kids in by playing lots and lots of games to earn points. I have a friend whose daughter begs and begs to play Webkinz for hours because she has to play the games to earn stuff for her Webkinz. (At least I think that's how it works.) I know it's not that much different than the kid who really wants to beat a video game, but at least that seems to have a set ending. These activities go on forever.
I don't have kids, so I don't know what I'd do in this situation. On the one hand, I love virtual communities. I enjoy using Facebook, and I do play video games. I even love to watch TV more than reading a book for fun (I think it has to do with reading for school and work and the need to do something different - don't kick me out of library school!) :) But at the same time, I really worry about kids playing online for hours and hours. We all need to do a variety of things, whether it's playing on the computer, reading a book, watching tv, or playing outside. Perhaps I worry more about the specific medium than the act of sitting still. I feel as if a lot of kids don't just go play outside and make up games the way I did - there are too many choices. What do you think?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)