Edward Snowden: the presumption of guilt/innocence

Blog for University studies

Topic 5

Edward Snowden: the presumption of guilt/innocence

Is Edward Snowden a hero or villain? There's arguments for both cases.

For those who think Snowden is a hero, consider this: The rule of law is a cornerstone for all societies, and considering the notion of national security, Snowden knowingly broke laws whose breakability individuals really don't get to decide on; can we even imagine the consequences if everybody claimed the right to decide which stolen government secrets should be revealed and which shouldn't?

For those who think Snowden is a villain, consider this: Have you considered the information that Snowden, like Bradley Manning (and Julian Assange) before him, made public? Information that we had not just a right but a need to know. Information that was seemingly suppressed because the United States government seems to have evolved to the point that in a truly nonpartisan way it believes it's no longer needs to answer to its citizens.

The fact that there is legitimate cases for both sides of the argument proves that Toffler's (1980) notion of media biased presumption has no place in the modern media, where there is easy accessibility to independent and impartial opinions on matters such as this one, through the use of Blogs and social a media.

The modern media landscape lends itself to George Ritzer's theory on presumption (2010) which argues that due to the rise of user-generated online content, presumption on news stories like Snowden's are more centralised, due to both 'pro' and 'con' arguments being accessible.

Personally, I feel that the blogs, such as this one, and social media pages are a valuable commodity, as they provide and independent and impartial public sphere.

REF

Ritzer, George and Jurgenson, Nathan 2010 ‘Production, Consumption, Prosumption: The nature of capitalism in the age of the digital ‘prosumer’, Journal of Consumer Culture, vol. 10 no. 1, pp 13-36.

Toffler, Alvin. (1980). The third wave: The classic study of tomorrow. New York, NY: Bantam.

Innovators or Pirates? Are remix/mash-up artists innovators or thieves?

Blog for University studies

Topic 4 (Alternative)

Innovators or Pirates? Are remix/mash-up artists innovators or thieves?

This issue is relatively new in the music genre. with copyright lawsuits seemingly the "in" thing in the music industry. But that does not mean that the 'borrowing' of music originally performed or produced by others is a new concept. The world famous rock band, the Rolling Stone's, who themselves successfully sued English indie rock band 'The Verve' for plagiarising a guitar riff in their song "Bitter Sweet Symphony" (1999) have openly admitted to using old blue's riffs from American artists.

However the trend for borrowing or "sampling" another artist' track is seemingly more popular in the dance, hip/hop and rap scene. A popular case from the 80s was the copyright case between rapper Vanilla Ice, and two British rock heavyweights, David Bowie and Queen, who believed that Vanilla Ice stole their bass riff from "Under Pressure" and used it in his song "Ice Ice Baby" (2012) without permission. The lawsuit was settled out of court for a high fee.

But just what is the difference between plagiarism and copyright infringement?

There are some similarities, however they are distinctively different. Plagiarism is claiming attribution for something you did not author or using someone else’s work and not giving them credit, where as copyright infringement is using someone else’s work without getting their permission.

Lawrence Lessig, a Professor of Law at Stanford Law School, explains in his book 'Rip: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy" (2009) how remix artists, such as; Pitbull, Dr. Dre, Girl Talk et al. should be able to avoid piracy claims on the grounds of the importance of creativity.

Lessig argues about the importance of creativity being able to be built on the foundations of culture that already exists, a pathway only open if the extremes of copyright are sobered and a shared, free commons is actively promoted and created.

The core of this argument is a question about what kind of world we want to create for future generations. Lessig presents an argument that the natural way humans interact with content is to remix it, as we are used to doing with text. Just as we take no offense when somebody quotes our text in their own communication, we should resist the urge to control "quoting" of our digital content.

REF

Lessig L, 2009, Rip: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy, Penguin Books, New York.

Pescovitz D, 2012, ‘Vanilla Ice vs Queen/David Bowie', 25/08/2012,  http://boingboing.net/2012/11/01/1990-vanilla-ice-on-ice-ice.html.

Willcock J, 1999, 'Who's suing whom: Bitter Symphony as the Verve sued by Oldham', 25/08/2013, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/whos-suing-whom-bitter-symphony-as-the-verve-is-sued-by-oldham-1046409.html

Minimalism

Blog post for university.

ALC215 - Globalisation and the media

Topic 3 - What art movement, media genre, type or style has influenced your life and changed the way you view the world or cultures other than you own? How and why?

Minimalism

The phrase ‘Less is More’ is not only used in design, but also closely linked to the term Minimalism, which, although is initially referred to an art movement in the 1960’s was later applied successfully to design in a multitude of other disciplines. In each case, Minimalism always denotes reduction in an extreme case, and a central proposition of this work is to learn by looking at such extremes (VanEenoo 2011).

 
"A minimality of means" (Alburger, 1996) is the essential notion of minimalism that has changed my perception on the world.

"Of means".. what now, do we as a global population view as "needs"?  And do these "needs" change from country to country, society to society, minority to minority?

Minimalism has helped change the way I view the world in the sense of realising what the essential items needed for a happy life are. These essentials do not include having mass amounts of non-rudimental cash in my bank account or having the ability to access the internet in my hand 24/7.

You see, hear and read about the ravages that face third-world countries -famine, drought etc. - but have you ever thought that these individuals need vast amounts of cash, or access to a Facebook account?

In my opinion, the "essentials" in life are; family, friends and access to food, shelter, education and income.

A minimalist view on my life forced me to realise the incessant dependency on new technologies that ravages the western world.

We need to be reminded again and again: Technology has a power-off button. And the wisest of us know when to use it.

Our world may be changing. But the true nature of life is not. Life, at its best, is happening right in front of you. These experiences will never repeat themselves. These conversations are unfiltered and authentic. And the love is real. But if we are too busy staring down at our screen, we’re gonna miss all of it.

REF

Alburger M (1996). Minimalism, Multiculturalism, and the Quest for Legitimacy.” Ph.D. dissertation, Claremont University.

VanEenoo C (2011). 'Minimalism in Art and Design: Concept, influences, implications and perspectives ', Journal of Fine and Studio Art, Vol. 2, issue 1, pp. 7-12, 20/08/2013, http://www.academicjournals.org/jfsa/PDF/Pdf2011/June/vanEenoo.pdf

Financescapes

Blog post for university.

ALC215 - Globalisation and the media

Financescapes

When discussing financescapes, it's important to discuss both the current and past financial climates and the effect those financial climates have on society. I have been advised to also relate the topic to a family member who has been positively or negatively effected by financescapes.

Firstly, let me relate financescapes in a negative application to a family member, my brother.

My brother recently decided to try and make the bold move from the home cite of Melbourne to the complete other side of the world, Stockholm, Sweden.

At the time he had a Swedish partner and spoke the Swedish language relatively fluently, so, in theory, this move had all the right chips on place to be a success. It wasn't.

Although Sweden was not as hard hit by the GFC than their European counterparts in England, Greece et al., the current financial climate meant that Sweden's job market was even more insestual than normal, with foreign workers, outside the hard labour market, finding it extremely difficult to find any work.

My brother eventually had to cut his losses, and returned to his old job in Melbourne with his tail firmly between his legs..

My father has also had a mixed run with both the global and Australian financial landscape.

As a general manager of a company that relies heavily on the global market to invest in his companies equipment and systems, the value of the $A is incredibaly important.

In 2011-2012 the $A was arguabally the strongest it had ever been, which is fortuante for the average Australian who wants to purchase items online or travel overseas, a strong $A is not exactly great news for companies that rely on foreign investment/business.

2011 and 2012 were difficult years for business.

The good news for my dad however, is that the foreign market is slowly improving and the $A has decreased in value recently, hopefully meaning and uptake in business.

RW

Me :)

Blog Post for university.

ALC215 - Globalisation and the media.

Topic 1 - Introduce yourself (informal subject)

I always find it awkward when I'm asked to introduce myself because how does one decipher all of their information and choose what would interest people the most. But I'll give a go..

I am a 24 year old mature age student completeing my final year of tertiary studies. Ever since i was 11 I have wanted to become a journalist, but it wasn't until I was drunk one night in Sweden, with my funds running low that I decided to apply for a media and communications degree at Deakin, knowing that I had to do something with my life once my Europe adventure was over. Thankfully, I was accepted into the coarse, completing my first year at the Waurn Ponds campus in Geelong.

I then moved back to Melbourne, moving in with old work pal, who has a very famous father in the AFL playing/coaching fraternity, but I'll keep you guessing who that is. I then moved to the social hub of St Kilda for nine months before heading back down to reside by the bay again.

I hope when I have completed my studies I have gained the information vital for me to suceed as a journalist or a more than competent media performer.

Outside of Uni, my main interests are AFL (both playing, and watching the mighty Magpies), playing and writing music, going to the beach (yes, even in winter) and taking the piss out of average movies. But music is my biggest love.

In context of the music I write, my biggest influences are City and Colour and Neil Young. But in terms of the music I listen to, I have no preference but I have severe admiration for Justin Timberlake. I mean, the guy is the ultimate triple threat (singer, dancetr, actor).

I am trying to avoid this blog resembling an 'about me' section for an online dating website, so I am going to wrap it up.

P.S. - I like long walks on the beach and poetry.

RW