The New Media Amusement Arcade: Music, Games & Films
New media is “…reinventing the notion of identity…” (Fisher, 2012), in some ways it is becoming an essential to the establishment for one’s ‘self’ (Fisher, 2012). Evidently, new media has allowed for an increase in participation worldwide, influencing the evolution of several entertainment platforms; social networks, blogs, virtual worlds and more.
Stephen Levy’s 2006 publication The Perfect Thing illustrates how one platform of new media, the iPod, reveals a sense of identity for an individual. As outlined by Levy, “[a]ll someone needs to do is scroll through your library… and, musically speaking, you’re naked (pg. 26).
In another view, social networks are forever allowing access to an increasing amount of knowledge on individuals’ lives whenever and wherever one may be (assuming there is internet access); with this said however, privacy is increasingly becoming a thing of the past.
Aside from new media’s cultivating impact on individuals’ identity, new media has transformed and continues to transform the music, gaming and film industries. With an increase in participation, connectivity, innovation and collaboration has never been easier amongst these industries.
Casey Pugh’s ‘Star Wars Uncut’ is a prime example of collaboration through a new media platform (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ezeYJUz-84). ‘Star Wars Uncut’ is a collaborative YouTube film made up of 15 second clips gathered from all around the world from people unknown to each other, combined through “networked individualism” (Leong, 2012), to recreate the original ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’.
Ultimately, new media is forever allowing for participation and influencing the notion of collaboration worldwide.
Reference List:
C, Pugh. 2009. Star Wars Uncut: Director’s Cut. Available online at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ezeYJUz-84
L, Fisher. 2012. “Why Social Media Is Leading To A New Era Of Identity”. Acessed March 16, 2012 from http://www.simplyzesty.com/social-media/why-social-media-is-leading-to-a-new-era-of-identity/
S, Leong. 2012. KCB206. New Amusement Arcade: Music, Games and Films: Week 3 [Lecture Notes]. Accessed March 16, 2012. http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/
S, Levy. 2006. “Identity” In The Perfect Thing: How the IPod Shuffles Commerce, Culture and Coolness. Simon & Schuster Paperbacks. Accessed March 16, 2012 from http://blackboard.qut.edu.au
