What docos are really about

When I was young, when I heard the word documentary, the first thing that came to mind was footage of animals getting it on it the wild.

No thank you!

As I grew up I realised they’re not always about animals and their habitat. They can be about basically anything, and they are actually really interesting. Some popular modern documentaries include Supersize me, March of the Penguins and Fahrenheit 9/11.

In all seriousness… docuentaries are overlooked. They are a major source of information and entertainment. They are generally made for a purpose – to educate. Documentaries such as Supersize me educated people on the horrific effects of McDonalds and created awareness about the obesity rates in America. It’s a nice change to watch a film and come out feeling that you’ve actually learnt something.

Some documentaries offer a clear insight to things in the past such as war or 911. They offer ‘dirty reality’ (Birchall 2008) – very different viewing experience than we are used to.

And now, thanks to our buddy YouTube, people all over the world can easily make their own documentaries. They film their own footage, edit it and upload it for the world to see. People also have the opportunity to leave thoughts and comments which can ultimately help the creator enhance their work.

Documentaries give people a chance to create footage about something they are passionate about. Not only this, but a chance for them to show other people; to educate, inform and create awareness about something.

One Phone Will Rule Them All!

Back in the day mobile phones were rare. Only the rich and important people had them.

People left their phones out on tables in public just to demonstrate their status to others. If you saw a phone on their table at the café – steer clear – they’re far too busy for you.

Despite that at this time mobile phones weighed a tonne and you probably needed a second handbag just to carry them, it was a social status. It separated the men from the boys.

A lot has changed since then. In the 21st century if you don’t own a mobile, you’re probably a little on the weird side. From your nine year old kid to your ninety year old gramps – they’ve got em!

Not only do they call people – they now allow us access to the internet, they let us take photos, send emails, record videos and download applications. And that’s not even the half of it.
It has gotten to the point where we feel we need our mobiles. I know I speak for many others when I say without my phone I feel lost and somewhat naked.

So will the mobile phone screen become the dominant screen of the 21st century? From the looks of things it’s already on its way. Screens are getting bigger and bigger making them perfect for watching movies and browsing the web. Being portable means accessibility is easy. Anywhere any time. It makes ‘useless places useful’ (Levinson 2009).

We certainly don’t need this other screen to view movies – we have television and cinema for that. We don’t need it to take photos – that’s what our cameras are for. We don’t need it to design art – we have paint. And as for access to the internet? Home computers will do the job. So why have a mobile phone when we’ve already got all these things? Because its all-in-one! We love our phones because we have everything we need in a pocket-sized little gadget. Some people disagree completely with mobiles and technology all together. But there really is no harm in being so attached to our phones. We are staying up-to-date with society and they are merely making our lives easier!

It is inevitable that mobile phones will have a greater part in our lives as time goes on. As they become more up-to-date, they also become more useful. In turn, people subsequently become more and more reliant on them.

Vote for Youtube!

Youtube, Facebook and Myspace. Now days its all you hear about.
Every kid on the block has got a Myspace account, your grandma probably has Facebook and everyone Youtubes for entertainment.

These forms of social media have changed our lives. It has altered and enhanced the way we communicate to others, and has become a popular reference for finding videos and entertainment.

Being so cool and all, its no wonder politicians have given it a shot. Anything to engage with, and impress a younger audience.

That’s right, whilst you were happily avoiding anything to do with politics, bam! – there it is on the ‘recently watched’ tab on Youtube.

So what’s the deal with people like Obama, Rudd and Gillard using mediums such as Youtube? Well, it happens to be advantageous in many ways:

Youtube reaches a massive audience – hundreds, thousands, millions of people. Plus, it reaches countries all over the world.

Youtube is also predominantly used by a younger generation enabling political leaders to persuade them. Finding out about a politician on Youtube whilst searching for entertainment is sure to be more persuasive to a young adult, than seeing it on the news.

Another upside is that it allows the maker to be creative. World leaders and authorities have a chance to show a side of themselves that we don’t get to see on the news.

Not to mention – its free. Much cheaper than sending out letters and making billboards.


It can be argued that using social media is now essential for any politician during a political campaign. True or False?

Although there is no real way of telling, it certainly seems this way.

The internet and social media sites rule the lives of young people – so it is in politicians’ best interests to relate to them. Changing the way politics and campaigns are presented and the mediums they use by being creative and using Youtube is a sure way to achieve the goal of attracting a younger audience.

Produsers overcome Producers

Prod-USERS

Youtube, the internet, cameras and phones are everywhere. Thanks to mediums of technology, we can now create and distribute our own ‘goods’.

This can be referred to as ‘produsage’ and ‘produsers’

Produsage occurs when people alter work of another person and redistribute it. For example, the link below is to a Youtube video of a trailer for the film Fight club. However someone has altered the trailer and chosen different clips to completely change the direction of the film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phcbqQu5Exk&feature=related

There are thousands of examples of this all over the web – especially Youtube. People make their own ‘home videos’ and within hours they have thousands of hits from people all over the world. People become famous because of their Youtube clips – a recent example being Justin Bieber who was otherwise unheard of.

There are other examples of produsage such as Wikipedia – where anyone can publish their own information for the rest of the world to use. Second Life is also another primary example.

With the ability to create peoples' own work, as well as distribute already existing media - there is a decline in real producers, distributors and consumers. What does this mean for the future?

There could come a day where films no longer sell because people can illegally download them.

A day where people become famous without even knowing it because someone filmed them on their camera phone and posted it on YouTube.

A day where all information on the internet is unreliable because anyone can alter the information.

Got Porn?

Want free sex? Why not – its so easy to access you might as well… right?

The never ending issue with sex in cyberspace has become notorious. Everybody knows its there. Everybody knows how to get it.

But what some of us want to know, is where can we draw the line? Will online pornography one day be regulated by the law?

Online pornography litters the internet; there is an abundance of it. There are millions of sites to choose from to satisfy everyone’s sexual desires: Hardcore? Fetish? Same-sex? Three-somes? Whatever you want, you got it.

Not only is there a vast variety out there – from countries all over the globe, but a lot of it is free, and readily accessible by anyone. Although some porn comes for a price, there are plenty of people out there willing to spend their hard-earned cash for a good night in.

Pornography on the internet brings with it a lot of concerns. For one, accessibility is so easy – your twelve year old kids are probably looking at it right now. All they need is the internet connection – they don’t even need to pay for it. Pornography isn’t child-proof, even some that attempt to keep children out aren’t fool-proof; it’s so easy to lie about your age to a computer, I mean seriously, who’s gonna know?

There’s also the concern of spam and viruses. A good chunk of what you download will come with a complimentary bug that will probably destroy your computer. Or you’ll join up for a membership (to get that VIP access) and 2 days later your inbox is loaded with dirty emails – most of which contain viruses when opened.

Another major worry about sex in cyberspace is the links it shares with fraud and illegal activity. But not much can be done to stop or prevent it.

Sure, sex is a part of life. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it, how people do it, or who they share it with. People should have the right to access porn without being frowned upon. If you watch porn it doesn’t mean your sadistic and lonely, a paedophile or just a down-right sick person. It means you’re human.

The primary issue here is that we want to be able to access porn – because whether it’s legal or not, people will find a way. However, we should have more control over where it comes from and who really can access it.

Sex in cyberspace is so common because the Internet is the new everything – it’s easier than hiring a DVD (which could be embarrassing), and better than buying a poster (it actually moves).

So with all these awesome advancements in technology and the internet – there should be a way to regulate pornographic usage. The main concern being that children under 18 shouldn’t have access to it – full stop. And also, laws should be in force to prevent extreme and illegal porn clogging the system.

Online pornography will never go away. People love it too much; just ask the addicts who will "never have the drug out of their mind" (Layden, University of Pennsylvania's Center for Cognitive Therapy).

There will also always be negative associations with online porn, or any porn for that matter, but for the people who use it properly, restrictions should be put into play to keep themselves and their computers safe as well as giving them piece of mind that their children can't and won't stumble across it.

Virtual vs Reality

Ever wanted to escape reality and go to a world where you are in control of almost everything? Want to control not only everything that happens to you, when and how it happens, but also how you look. Two words; Second ... Life.

In June 2003, the Linden Lab developed and released a virtual computer game called Second Life. In the game people are able to make their own avatars and explore and interact with other people.

“People in virtual worlds build things, use them, sell them, trade them and discuss them. When another person confirms what I am seeing, places value on it, spends time working to pay for it, buys it, keeps it, uses it, talks about it, gets emotional about it, and then sells it – this tells me there is something real happening. The suspension of disbelief has become a grounding of belief”. Meadows (2008:51).

This statement is true in how it identifies that something real is happening. Although games such as the Sims and Second life are called 'virtual worlds' - there is a fine line separating them from reality; people spend hours on these games and even when they're not playing - they cant stop thinking about it! Second life takes it a step further than the Sims by allowing real people to interact. There are stories of people fighting in reality and getting divorced over having affairs etc in Second Life.

Sure, the idea of Second Life is fine. A harmless game that you can actually relate to. But when people take it too far by using it to hurt, stalk or lure people - it's not okay. People make avatars that are beautiful and look nothing like themselves - in order to lure people in to talking to them.

Meadows is correct in saying something real is happening. People do spend a lot of time on Second Life, they spend money to pay for it, they talk about it to others, become emotionally attached and some even make money from it. For some people it is a part of their life or even their job. But how do people live with themselves as they meet new people whilst hiding their true selves under the faces of their perfect avatars?

Will there be a day where everyone has their own avatar? Or works from home via their avatar? So many things are possible with the internet and virtual worlds it makes me question how far people might one day go.

EXTREME-ism

Taking Extremism to the Extreme?

Extremism is occurring every minute, everyday – all over the globe. As you read this, people all over the world are joining, creating and supporting hate groups.
So what is it? Extremism occurs when an individual or group of people hold strong views on political or social issues and go to extreme lengths to demonstrate these views.

There are thousands of hate groups littered all over the web, such as; Aryan nations, Stormfront, Hammerskin nation, Skinheads and White power forum – just to name a few. All of them attempt to gain supporters and share their hate. But why? What drives someone to behave like that? It mainly comes down to strong religious or political beliefs and ideologies, a lot of hate, and a lot of anger.

Some people take extremism so far. They are willing to round up their followers and promote activism. Very often this can lead to violent behaviour. People protest and fight each other - they are willing to put themselves and others in harms way for the sake of proving a point. So are these hate groups taking extremism to the extreme?

‘Identity, Independence, Freedom’. Sound familiar? Then you’ve probably stumbled across the homepage of the Australia First Party.

On first glance - The Australia First Party appears somewhat harmless – supporting the Australian industry, jobs and families. However look closer and you’ll see some of their other policies like “Abolish Multiculturalism’, and ‘Reduce and Limit Immigration’.

Founded by Graeme Campbell, the Australia First Party is a group attempting to keep Australia free of immigrants and non-whites. I feel the need to ask however, can the leaders or creators of this group be certain that they themselves are from a 100 per cent white heritage? Is it even possible to track your family heritage so far back? These people act like they are pure whites but really; maybe they're just a bunch of angry hypocrites?

Firstly, they couldn't possibly think they can really one day accomplish their goal of a white Australia.

Secondly, the creators themselves are probably not as pure as they think.

And thirdly, multiculturalism is almost essential for the economy. It brings together people and traditions, creates new ideas and jobs. The creators of the Australia First Party couldn't possibly say that they don't have ANY foreign friends or colleagues, or that they've never had work because of someone from another country, or even that they've never enjoyed the food from other cultures!

The fact that these people even think they have the power to achieve their ridiculous goals is almost humorous. People need to stop thinking that racism and violence can solve their silly little problems. They should get out – off the computer, go meet some new people and embrace multiculturalism. There have been significant changes and achievements in Australian history by the help of people from different cultures whom without – Australia just wouldn’t be the same. I don’t think there will ever, or can ever be – a white Australia.