Internet famous responses
Teen Titan
Reading the times article on Braun and Beiber was very interesting to me because it really highlights how intense and methodical of a process it is for someone to become a celebrity in the way that Beiber did. It was a process of trial and error and exploring new options while also not forgetting what is proven to work. I found the part talking about Beiber playfully hitting the members of the other band and irritating them very interesting because I feel that it is very humanizing and paints a celebrity in a way that we don’t see often.
I also found the part talking about Braun being a extremely successful party planner in college very interesting and in fact a bit inspiring. It can clearly be seen that the skills that he learned in that early part of his life ( like event hosting , creating hype and networking) all directly translated to his success as a manager.
Towards the end when the writer begins talking about the way in which Braun tries to use his artists to fill the voids left by other superstars was interesting. He finds value in people viewing Justin Beiber as the next Timberlake because that is a role that has proven to be successful and long lasting. I had never thought of this because generally as an artists I always felt that the job was to set yourself apart from those before you.
I also found the part talking about Braun being a extremely successful party planner in college very interesting and in fact a bit inspiring. It can clearly be seen that the skills that he learned in that early part of his life ( like event hosting , creating hype and networking) all directly translated to his success as a manager.
Towards the end when the writer begins talking about the way in which Braun tries to use his artists to fill the voids left by other superstars was interesting. He finds value in people viewing Justin Beiber as the next Timberlake because that is a role that has proven to be successful and long lasting. I had never thought of this because generally as an artists I always felt that the job was to set yourself apart from those before you.
Listening and Longing
- I found the beginning of chapter five of this reading very interesting when the author is talking about the different reasons that people were skeptical of Europe’s newfound love for performance and music. In my head concert culture and the joy/excitement that is wrapped up with concerts and seeing musicians is something that I feel has largely been normaliz3d so thinking of a time in which this wasn’t the case is very unusual.
- Reading this section of the passage reminded me that much of what we consider a normal view on musicians and performing artists as giant celebrities is something that is still relatively new and there was a time in which even the most talented and like able artists would never be heard outside of the region they were born in. In a world where musicians and celebrities are starting to blur cultural borders it was extremely interesting to ponder this for a moment
Honey Boo Boo
Reading this article was very interesting and it really opened my eyes to the locations that we still have a fool archetype in today's society and the motivations behind that. The fool archetype allows people who feel unsure about their position in society to gain more security as they view the fool and think, “I would never behave like that.”
What was more interesting to me however was the last part of the article where the writer begins talking about how shows like honey boo boo and jersey shore also reinforce capitalist ideals. “ These shows reassure us that our struggle is worth it, all economic evidence to the contrary” the writer states that honey boo boo “indulges the American belief that you can work and spend your way to greatness. If you can afford the entry fees, the glitter, the makeup, the coach, and the stylists, you will be the Ultimate Supreme, as they say in the business.” This was interesting because it was obvious to me that the fool archetype may be used to make others feel elevated but I never considered the other implications.
What was more interesting to me however was the last part of the article where the writer begins talking about how shows like honey boo boo and jersey shore also reinforce capitalist ideals. “ These shows reassure us that our struggle is worth it, all economic evidence to the contrary” the writer states that honey boo boo “indulges the American belief that you can work and spend your way to greatness. If you can afford the entry fees, the glitter, the makeup, the coach, and the stylists, you will be the Ultimate Supreme, as they say in the business.” This was interesting because it was obvious to me that the fool archetype may be used to make others feel elevated but I never considered the other implications.
From Smart fan to backyard wrestler
As someone who used to enjoy watching professional wrestling when I was younger I found this reading especially interesting. I remember meeting up with all of my brothers and cousins to watch smackdown vs. raw while simultaneously playing with the correlating action figures. My favorites were always the rock and rey mysterio. At that age I was always suspicious that what I was seeing wasnt real but that never seemed to distract from the spectacle.
Through this reading I began to think more about these times of my life. I wondered why something that was so interesting and important to me earlier on holds very little importance in my life right now. I began to think about when I stopped enjoying watching WWE. Middle school, shortly after I joined the school team. There is a relatively strong sentiment in the wrestling community against pro wrestling like WWE because wrestlers feel like they are “actors” and that it gives them a bad name. From that point on, Pro Wrestling lost off of its luster for me. This article gave me insight that my loss of interest was largely due to the fact that I could no longer suspend my belief as that is such a large part of the experience. The ability to Suspend one’s belief and to just accept the entertainment at face value is what allows this type of sport to persist.
Through this reading I began to think more about these times of my life. I wondered why something that was so interesting and important to me earlier on holds very little importance in my life right now. I began to think about when I stopped enjoying watching WWE. Middle school, shortly after I joined the school team. There is a relatively strong sentiment in the wrestling community against pro wrestling like WWE because wrestlers feel like they are “actors” and that it gives them a bad name. From that point on, Pro Wrestling lost off of its luster for me. This article gave me insight that my loss of interest was largely due to the fact that I could no longer suspend my belief as that is such a large part of the experience. The ability to Suspend one’s belief and to just accept the entertainment at face value is what allows this type of sport to persist.
No Shame in a Selfie
I always have felt like there is a stigma around selfies and people that have social media pages where they post a lot of selfies and pictures of themselves. And while the selfie is generally thought of as being a fun, lighthearted and even a group activity it has began to carry a bit of a negative connotation as it has become related to narcissism and self absorption. I can honestly say that sometimes I used to subconsciously have a negative image of people on social media who posted a “excessive amount of selfies”
Through this reading however I was reminded of how the selfie can be a tool for women to take back their own image as a lot of times in our culture men try to define what women can and can't be. Through selfies many people feel empowered and feel greater agency over the person that they are portraying which is very important. It can be a way for some people to explore themselves and at times redefine themselves. Therefore i have a new sense of appreciation for the selfie and the positive effect it can have on people despite the negative connotations
Through this reading however I was reminded of how the selfie can be a tool for women to take back their own image as a lot of times in our culture men try to define what women can and can't be. Through selfies many people feel empowered and feel greater agency over the person that they are portraying which is very important. It can be a way for some people to explore themselves and at times redefine themselves. Therefore i have a new sense of appreciation for the selfie and the positive effect it can have on people despite the negative connotations
Celebrity Inc
While I was reading this article what stood out to me was the fact that reality TV still persists despite the moral issues attached to it and the bad reputation that it has gained since its inception. The production quality is often pretty poor and generally have unbelievable or poorly scripted characters. These shows also hold a bit of a social stigma as reality TV is often thought to be pandering to the lowest denominator. It seems as if nearly all of america recognizes that reality television, and the culture which it has created, is not the most healthy thing for our society and yet it has sustained itself.
I began to question why this may be and I realized that despite the negative aspects of reality Television, it still does what it was intended for, entertain, and it does a good job. Reality Television is able to produce episodes for low costs and keep people invested. They are able to get around the costs and expectations related to traditional television by stripping it down and just giving the people what they want, it just happens that what people want may not always be the best for them.
I began to question why this may be and I realized that despite the negative aspects of reality Television, it still does what it was intended for, entertain, and it does a good job. Reality Television is able to produce episodes for low costs and keep people invested. They are able to get around the costs and expectations related to traditional television by stripping it down and just giving the people what they want, it just happens that what people want may not always be the best for them.
Slenderman
I remember being in middle school and playing the Slenderman game on my phone with my friends anxiously watching from nearby. The game was the talk of the school and it gained a cult following almost out of nowhere. Playing the slenderman app was almost a right of passage, as those who played it gained some sort of unspoken respect from others who had played it as well. None of us knew where the myth of slenderman came from and yet we still accepted it as a part of our culture. I remember one time I dressed up like slenderman just to scare my younger brother as he was taking out the trash.
The idea of slenderman went from a fictional character to a brand and an entity that pretty much gained a life of its own. The amount of fan made materials and content that was produced was insane. Everything from art and wallpapers to fan made games and stories flooded the internet and seemed to never stop. The more that was made the more serious it became as we can see in the case of the two girls who attepted to murder a girl for slenderman after reading and believing fanmade lore about the character on the internet. It is a testament to how things like this can quickly go from a game to reality for fans and how this can cause negative effects.
The idea of slenderman went from a fictional character to a brand and an entity that pretty much gained a life of its own. The amount of fan made materials and content that was produced was insane. Everything from art and wallpapers to fan made games and stories flooded the internet and seemed to never stop. The more that was made the more serious it became as we can see in the case of the two girls who attepted to murder a girl for slenderman after reading and believing fanmade lore about the character on the internet. It is a testament to how things like this can quickly go from a game to reality for fans and how this can cause negative effects.
Make money with fandom
Why Virality is more about Emotional Connection than Luck
I used to feel like what made people become viral was solely based on luck and good timing. People who just happened to put out the right thing at the right time. Because of that i felt that the more iterations of an idea the more likely you would be to strike gold and create something that catches on. While I still believe consistency and multiple iterations is important, I now am realizing that making an emotional connection is an equal, if not greater part of the equation. It is interesting to me how these emotional connections are not always something that happen on their own or organically. As seen in the Ellen Selfie, content can be crafted with the explicit purpose of allowing for a large number of people to feel a emotional connection. What made the selfie so impactful was the diverse group of celebrities and public figures seen in the frame. The photo was successful in its attempt to draw in members of multiple different fandoms and use them in order to achieve ultimate virality.
This has made me consider how I can use my social media more effectively. Like I stated before, for a while I felt that consistency and iteration was what was most important when attempting to achieve virality. However now i now will consider how I can post and make art in a way that fosters emotional connection amongst various different groups and inspire my followers to want to share what Im producing.
This has made me consider how I can use my social media more effectively. Like I stated before, for a while I felt that consistency and iteration was what was most important when attempting to achieve virality. However now i now will consider how I can post and make art in a way that fosters emotional connection amongst various different groups and inspire my followers to want to share what Im producing.
Memes
The Art of Asking
Straight out of Chevy
This podcast made me reminisce about my time in highschool and even here in college where I often have found myself in predominantly white spaces. Its a strange dynamic and at times I find myself shifting between being an outsider and being a focal point. Naturally, being in these spaces, I have made many friends who don't completely understand my culture or the things that matter to me and at times it can become stressful. At times I felt like my difference was only something that is celebrated when outside eyes where looking in; That acceptance wasn't always felt on the day to day.
Even in college I at times get the feeling of being a outsider dropped into a space in which I don't always feel the most comfortable. obviously college is partly about finding people who differ from you and that has been something that I have always been open to however sometimes I get the feeling that I am more open/interested in exploring others cultures than the people I encounter at times. This can be frustrating because it makes me suspect that when people do show interest in my culture it is only a interest in the more shallow aspect of it like music and fashion.
Even in college I at times get the feeling of being a outsider dropped into a space in which I don't always feel the most comfortable. obviously college is partly about finding people who differ from you and that has been something that I have always been open to however sometimes I get the feeling that I am more open/interested in exploring others cultures than the people I encounter at times. This can be frustrating because it makes me suspect that when people do show interest in my culture it is only a interest in the more shallow aspect of it like music and fashion.
Shrek Imagine
Imagine, you’re lost in the woods; your clothes are torn and bloody from the fall, your feet strain with every step. Your in a haze, you aren’t sure how long you have been walking or how far you have left to go. The high pitched chirps of the birds cause the ringing in your ears to intensify. You see the early morning sun begin to creep through the forest canopy. As you make your next step you feel a change. The ground here is damp and the murky water floods your shoes. Despite the discomfort this is a comforting milestone. Your next step comes more effortlessly, it is followed by an even easier one. You feel your strength being restored. Before you know it your in a full trot, you gallop on all fours like a wild bronco illuminated by the reflection from the swampy water. You are one with the swamp. Your vision is now tunneled as you can now see a light. As you move closer the light becomes warmer. You tumble forward unto the glorious light landing on your back. No sooner than you land, a green hand reaches out to you and lifts you up with ease. The figure embraces you and in a heavenly voice he utters, “you have made it my beloved, welcome to my swamp”
The code of music responses
Patatap & Flora Drift
My Experience with Patatap and and Flora Drift were both very interesting. Patatap was the first that I began experimenting with, I found myself entertained by the different and interesting sounds and rhythms that I was able to construct using the site. This site is what I would consider a digital instrument because it gave you a set of sounds which you could use to create any sort of song. Flora drift ,on the other-hand ,was more of an interactive song. There was a base song that played in the background however by using the tools provided the user is able to change certain elements of the song but not the overall mood or rhythm. Out of the two I enjoyed Patatap more because even though what I created didn't sound as developed as the song I made with flora, I still felt more satisfied with the originality of it. If I had to change something I would give the users the ability to alter the song in a more significant way on the Flora Drift app because I did not think it was as expressive.
Rhythm Toy and Type Drummer
I really enjoyed using both of these online tools. The rhythm toy has a very easy to use interface and it allows the user to create songs quickly and rather easily due to the fact that it on a loop and has a set of about four sounds per group which generally are from the same genre. I enjoyed using this site however I wish it provided more instruments per group and allowed you to have more power over the length of the loop. Type drummer was also very interesting, I found myself constructing long paragraphs of jumbled up letters in order to create my desired sound. I enjoy the fact that on this app the user isn't bound to a loop. One thing I would change about this program is I would giver the user the ability to play more than one sound at once because at the moment there can only be one sound per beat.
Harmony Making
After using all of the different online melody makers I saw that many of them approached teaching harmony in different ways. I think the the interface that was the easiest to understand was the musiclab arpeggios machine. Although it does not give the user the ability to change the beat being played, it allows for the user to gain a clear understanding of how a sequence would sound when it is played in various different keys. I felt that the Ableton section on chords was also very helpful and also the most expressive. With it I was able to overlap different chords in order to create the melodies that I wished which i enjoyed. The final interface i used was the popular chord progression site, which I felt was very interesting even though it did not allow for much user interaction
Timbre
I really enjoyed exploring timbre using both of these sites. I feel that they both gave me a better understanding of both what Timbre is and how it can be changed/manipulated in order to alter the sound of the music. The Spectrogram interface was especially interesting to me because it gave very clear visualizations of sounds from a variety of different places from a birds chirping to a harp. This helped me to really understand how timbre is created because I am a very visual learner and having the form of the sounds in front of me was definitely helpful. Adding harmonics was also helpful in the way that you have agency over what frequencies go into the sound that you create. This interface was a little bit more confusing for me because at times I found myself not entirely understanding why certain changes in frequency led to certain changes in shape. However I do still feel that it was a helpful tool as well, just a bit more counterintuitive for me personally.