content out the wazoo!

It is often said that the internet created a whole new world. That Web 2.0 redefined media. However, as Terry Flew points out that the "technological developments would...be limited in their significance if they had not also been accompianed by changes in how people use these technologies, and how they transform modes of social interaction" (2002, p 61). While the internet has changed vastly from the days of waiting patiently as you listened to the dial up tone while staring at your DOS screen today's media users and consumers have changed significantly as well.
Henry Jenkins refers to a interactive audience, a 'participatory culture' on where audiences are no longer passive and are become more interactive and taking part in their media. However it is important to note that there has always been some form of participartory culture. As Barry Saunder's pointed out in the Week 7 lecture, DIY media and collaboration has a long history which didnt start when the internet exploded into mainstream media. Barry talked about the way community radio was a form of DIY media and collaboration. One of the first FM stations in Brisbane was 4ZZZ, a youth community radio station, where someone from any walk of life could volunteer and put on a show, voicing their opinions, their music and on their terms. In a virtual world we can see personalities voicing their opinions on YouTube, Blogger, LiveJournal and even something as small as Twitter. People's yearning to make their voice heard has not changed, it is the platform on which they can make their voice heard that has made it easier, quicker and much less painless to do so. There is now a blurry line between a media producer, consumer and user which is getting blurrier every time Smosh posts another mashup. In my mind, to make it easier to understand it can be understood as a community. Where there isnt a hierarchial structure with the Producer of the media being placed on a pedastool above the consumers and users. Instead there is a network of people who take part in whatever they feel they want to or feel they can contribute. This goes back to the fundamental idea of DIKW which was discussed in Week One. Virtual Cultures and communities do not stop a the flow of information and knowledge, that is, it is not feed from top to bottom rather it is a continous loop. As Axel explained 'there is a fluid movement of participants between roles as leaders, participants and users of content' (Bruns, 2008).
Citizen Journalism, Political Campaigning, Blogs coming out the wazoo! It seems that the amount of content that is fueled by the virtual community is endless and astounding. However it is not just a cultural phenomena. Economically people are sitting up and taking a look at how this participatory culture and virtual communities can be utilised in cost cutting or simply being ahead of the pack. Even Facebook, the social networking sites to end all social networking sites, has a place to sell real estate. I can't help but be pessimisstic about the beauty of business's using ( i am tempted to use the word exploiting) the virtual communities contributions. Is it ethical? Virtual communities have redefined the way people voice their opinions and make themselves heard, the way they show their loyalty, the way their express themselves. Should they redefine copyright laws?





Flew, T 2002 New Media: An Introduction. Oxford University Press: Victoria

Bruns, A 2008 Week 7 Podcast.


NB: Blackboard was done when i wrote this, so i will post the full reference and link to the podcast in the next blog.