The Influence of Technology on Contemporary Photographic Media Essay

The Influence of Technology on Contemporary Photographic Media Practice - Essay Example The emergence of such technologies as laptops, cell phones and digital cameras transforms the nature of media practices and opens new possibilities for 'citizen journalism' (Gillmor 2006). An average citizen receives a chance to publish unique videos and photographs on line neglecting strict censorship rules and privacy concerns. The problem is that "the production values of the image are hardly professional. What does matter is the utter authenticity of the image, made so by the fact that the man was there at the right time with the right media-creation gear" (Gillmor 2006). Following Bowman and Willis, people are not passive consumers at the mercy of technological instruments but active users of different technologies and mediums. Just because the average television is switched on for several hours a day does not mean it is being avidly watched (Peterson 87). Gillmor (2006) and Bowman and Willis (2003) call this process 'we media' underlining an increasing role of citizens in news creations. "Everything from eyewitness accounts and photo galleries to commentary and personal storytelling emerged to help people collectively grasp the confusion, anger and loss felt in the wake of the tragedy" (Bowman and Willis 7-8). Individual sites and blogs tend to focus on what a person wants to tell the visitor rather than responding to the visitor's requirements. Typical of this category is a focus on the way in which the blog is structured, photographic facilities and details. Audience-centric sites reflect the fact that many types of visitor will use the site and that their needs may be very different. A brief visit to a site of this type will give a clear picture of why it was constructed and which audiences are being targeted. Rosenblum (1997) underlines that new technologies allow an average citizen to manipulation public opinion and produce fals e images of news and public figures. This can lead to negative perception of journalism and photography in general (Peterson 87). Technology such as the video machine can also allow audiences to take more control over their viewing practices and shared video-watching can be used as a social event in itself. It can also be a way of gaining access to cultural resources unavailable on mainstream programming (or only shown unsociably late at night). Following Bowman and Willis (2003) "From a participatory journalism perspective, P2P [person-to-person] has enormous potential to distribute the content created by digital amateurs. One example is the recent emergence of P2P photo-sharing software programs" (31). Thus, interest in the use of media technologies and the process of consumption also opens up new questions about power, not the power of the media per se, but the social power structures within which consumption is embedded (Rosenblum 569). Web blogs and web sites are designed to gain a tangible advantage. While the nature of the WWW site gives an insight into the way the audience intends to use the Internet i t is only a snapshot of how far the strategy has evolved. The visual attractiveness of the site will still be important but the main concentration is on the quality of the content and facilities it provides (Peterson 87). The other problem is many amateurs do not want to be paid sharing unique images and photos for

The Album Close to You by the Carpenters Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Album Close to You by the Carpenters - Essay Example This album landed them on their way to fame and success. Though not appreciated by critics, the album has made it to the top 200, which emphasizes the fact that they did have talent. Rolling Stone, describing Karen, comments that â€Å"Hers is a voice of fascinating contrasts, combining youth with wisdom; chilling perfection with much warmth† (Changi Airport – â€Å"Enjoy the Elegance). Jon Landau, says that Karen has "all the qualities of a good pop singer," phrasing with "subtlety and ease." On the other hand, some critics think that her voice has not got any depth and is just sort of simple. Other critics believe that Karen does not have much stage presence when she play the drums and sing along, it is not elegant enough. However, Richard’s work is well appreciated for his rhythmic tunes and, yet again, critics did not enjoy his lead in some songs. The band, consisting of this duo, is however, soaring high after the release of the title song ‘Close To Y ou,’ which rank #1 on Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on top for four weeks. In my opinion, they landed a spot in the Rolling Stone list because the album had become a hit even though the political situations were not favorable during the time. The popular demand continued to grow on wild and loud rock, whereas they featured soft and melodious music. The album showcased Karen’s wide ranged voice and also original compositions of Richard, namely, Mr. Guder, Maybe Its You and Crescent Noon. It is difficult to say that the album was a success only due to one of them. Rather, it was a joint effort and has received attention throughout the world. Though they have mixed reviews, the album has won the hearts of a lot of people. I really enjoyed the album and I am thankful for having been given this assignment as it has given me the opportunity to explore into details the depths of songs that I did not even know existed. I find all the songs very good and my personal favorite is â€Å"Maybe Its You†. The song just spoke to me, I was instantly amazed. The piano brings out all the delicacy of the song. Though the lyrics might not be much, but still â€Å"couldn’t we stay and watch the splashing rocks we throw?† (Maybe It’s You Lyrics: The Carpenters) expresses inner most feelings and emotions that are delicately touching. The first stanza itself paints a lovely picture of a couple walking down the beach. The soft music reflects the calm waves lapping up the shore. There is a really soothing feel to that song which instantly makes one feel good. Well at least to me it does. The songs range from soft to deep to haunting and lingering types. This is what makes the album so special. Its diversity has the ability to draw the audience to it and make them stay with it for long. The music world has a lot to offer, and it is a blessing to us that music from those times has been recorded. If man had not found a way to capture music, then so much would have gone to waste. Though people are not immortal, their works are. They continue to exist through the wonderful contributions they have made to this world. Saying this, I do believe that Karen remains in a lot of people’s hearts. Not to mention her partner throughout this wonderful journey, her brother Richard, whose musical arrangements and tune compilations have brought the songs to life. I really appreciate their hard work and though they did get thrown into the world of overnight fame after the release of the song ‘