Growing up Online

Another fine documentary from PBS’s Frontline series came to my attention: Growing up Online, broadcast 22 January 2008. I don’t know how, just yet, but I’ll have to make room in some of my classes to show at least some of the segments.

One good thing about this documentary is that it attempts to keep the hysterical “omigod, your kids are doing whatever they want online” attitude in check long enough to point out that socializing online is not a passing fad – it’s now part of the everyday media environment.

Watch the full programme and explore additional materials here.

Filed under: Education, Media Theory, Social media, Technoculture , Education, Media Theory, Postgrad, Technoculture

Music industry woes

For my students, some of whom are making a documentary on music downloading, and others who just like music:

“It’s the Wild West out there” – interview with Guy Hands, EMI boss.

The music industry – from major to minor, The Economist, 10 Jan 2008.

Miranda Sawyer, It’s no way to make a living these days (The Observer), on the question of how much music is worth.

…and Miranda Sawyer again, Who calls the tune in the new music age?

Filed under: Media Theory , Bifrost, Music, Postgrad, Technoculture

Sociology is a combat sport

Video: La Sociologie est un sport de combat (2001)
This is, as far as I can tell, a full version of Pierre Carles’ La sociologie est un sport de combat (2001), an attempt to use the documentary film format to introduce the work of Pierre Bourdieu to a wider audience. Yes, it’s in French – apologies to my non-Francophone students – but watching this rather lo-res version has put the DVD on my next library order. Let’s see how long this stays online.

Filed under: Media Theory , Bifrost, Bourdieu, Media Theory

Conference: Trouble Makers, Making Trouble

We’re putting on a one-day conference at Greenwich, Friday 22 February, 10am to 6pm.

Check out the Trouble Makers / Making Trouble page for full programme and speaker information.

See our Facebook Events page here.

Filed under: Social media , Events, Media Theory, Postgrad

Second Life links

For my Technoculture students, here are some links to illustrate what we’ve been talking about for the past few weeks – interfaces, virtual worlds, and what exactly people buy and sell in Second Life…

Second Life: Showcase videos, and here’s the William Gibson video (from the Drax Files YouTube channel, filled with good stuff). Drax reports for the Life4-U online TV channel, devoted to Second Life.

Also, check the Reuters / Second Life page, with rolling news updates from the world of bits and bytes.

Also, it’s in the sidebar on the right, but make sure you look at Terra Nova, about law, intellectual property, etc. in virtual worlds.

Finally, here’s a hilarious trailer for a CSI episode which takes place partly in Second Life:

Filed under: Technoculture , second life, Social media, Technoculture

Foucault and Chomsky

Here is the famous exchange between Chomsky and Foucault on justice and human nature.

With thanks to Pablo for passing this on, via Paris4Philo.

Filed under: Media Theory , Chomsky, Foucault