"But the glaciers have frozen your feet, I can't wait for eternity" - The End

Your reactions to BDC 101 Digital Media--what did you think of the course?

-What worked well about the course (in lecture and in labs). Why?
What worked well was the hands-on aspect of it all. I like the fact that we got time to just try things out and do the tutorials on our own. I also liked that half of the time was given to watch and learn and the other half was given to do the hands on work. It gave a nice sort of balance.

-What needs to be changed or improved? How and why?
I think the only issue I had was that my lab was right before a three hour lecture and I really did not like that. I found myself exhausted by the end of the day, especially with my long commute, too. But that's something that really can't be changed.

-In what ways has this course changed you?
It's helped me to understand certain parts of digital media that I didn't know before. I wasn't a big fan of flash and never really sat down and put time into it but afterwards I found that I was proud of myself for having learned this new program and making something on it. I also learned a lot more about the web than I knew before, especially in (X)HTML. I knew HTML before (X)HTML so it was interesting to see the difference. It kind of changed my perspective on the web too and I looked at it more analytically as to the characteristics of web 2.0.

-What is the most important thing (skill, knowledge, or otherwise) you are taking away from this course, and why is it the most important?
I'm taking away the skill to be knowledgeable in more than just the part of the course I like (audio). I think it's important for me to know what I'm doing in digital media even if I may not be going farther into it or making a career out of it. At least now I know the basics.

Shelly

"Take ths sinking boat and point it home, we still have time."

When I wrote my essay to get into RTA, I wrote about networking websites and the inportance of them. Little did I know that I was actually exploring a part of Web 2.0. I wrote about facebook, dating websites, blogs, etc. All these places are social networking websites. Which brings me to this point: would web 2.0 really be the same without all it's characteristics?

I mean, if you look at it this way, what are most of my 8 most visited websites on my computer?
1. Facebook
2. Email --> Hotmail
3. YouTube
4. LiveJournal
5. Ryerson
6. Online Banking --> TD Canada Trust
7. A WebComic --> A Softer World
8. Wikipedia

Most of these are social networking websites. Facebook, email, YouTube, LiveJournal. All places where it's possible for me to meet other people and network. Then the rest are essentials. I can do banking without having to stand in long lines on a Saturday when I would much rather be doing my english essay. I can go to the Ryerson website and view everything I need to know about my classes, account balance, grades, etc. And even access my school email from there. I don't actually have to go outside, I can do everything from my computer. I could even order grocceries, clothes, etc from my computer all with the click of a button. I can meet people and enjoy the companies of other... Over the internet.

It's a weird world that we live in now where people know everything about us online, or can know, and where we don't even have to leave our house to do anything anymore. But hey, that's the internet for you. Either love it or hate it, it's here to stay. Might as well take advantage of it and get some grocceries while you're writing that paper. =D

"The more things a man is ashamed of, the more respectable he is." - George Bernard Shaw

Characteristics that define Web 2.0
• Dynamic content, viewable on multiple platforms.
• User contribution (user generated content or user generated value)
• Social media
• Online applications
• Harnessing collective intelligence.

First Characteristic

As mentioned in lab, the first characteristic is "dynamic content, viewable on multiple platforms." In other words, it's content within content, pretty much. This includes mashups and applications that take content from other places on the web (e.g. blog posts, news stories, podcasts, etc) into another location on the web. An example of this would be iGoogle. iGoogle allows users to decorate their page with applications that they choose. For example, my iGoogle page has an RSS feed from CBC, which shows me all the top stories at the moment. Another application is my horoscope, which is taken from tarot.com. All these applications give me content from another website (like tarot.com, or CBC) and puts it right on my google search page. Voila! Dynamic content, viewable on multiple platforms.

Second Characteristic

The second characteristic of Web 2.0 is user contribution (user generated content or user generated value). What does this mean exactly? This means that the user (you, sitting at home on your computer) can choose what content goes on a website. Generally examples of this are ones mentioned in lecture such as YouTube (where users put their own videos up) and Wikipedia (where users write their own articles). Another one NOT mentioned in lecture is websites such as forums like proboards.com or invisionfree.com. These are places where users can create their own forums, their own posting boards and their own posts and dictate what content appears on their forum website.

Third Characteristic

Social media is the third characteristic. Social media can be described as "online media that provide opportunities for socializing, connecting, sharing." So, pretty much the exact definition of Facebook and Myspace. Both these websites were created for the sole purpose of networking and being social. On these websites you can cyber socialize, share photos and notes, join groups with other people, plan events, etc. Another example of this would be sites like plentyoffish.com, or other online dating websites wheren you can create a profile for yourself and socialize with other users.

Fourth Characteristic

The fourth characteristic is online applications. An example of online applications could be the applications found on Facebook (such as the photo upload tool which comes with every profile, or the applications you have to join to use such as graffiti or games.) Another example of online applications could be online games such as Winterbells or anything really found at NewGrounds because all these things - applications, games, etc - are all "software that we’ve traditionally thought of as something you buy and install on your local computer. There’s a new trend towards software that runs online." All those things are just that, software that runs online.

Fifth Characteristic

The final characteristic, harnessing collective intelligence, can be described simply as things such as tagging. Tagging is giving keywords to content which makes it easier for users to find when searching for specific things. Tagging can be found on blogs, flikr, deviantART, etc. Anywhere that a user would be searching for something specific. For example, I could type in "orange sunset" to deviantART and get pictures of orange sunsets because the user who uploaded the content put the tags as "orange" and/or "sunset".

That's my blog for this week.
This semester is almost done! Phew. Will I make it? I guess we'll see.

Also, check out the album In Flight by Florez. Amazing.

S.

Title Pending - Apparently I Lack Creativity Tonight - Week Nine

Artist Statement for Flash Animation

My concept for my flash animation was to make a Saul Bass inspired opening credits scene. I looked for a movie that I could get some sort of inspiration from and once I saw Big in my movie collection I knew it was perfect. I decided to use circles throughout the movie because I thought it would go hand in hand with the title and theme, especially when I make the circles grow bigger. My objective was to have a short movie with a different type of animation for each actors name that would all flow together nicely.

My target audience is generally the people who would be interested in the movie. I tried to make it go with the style of the day (the 70s) and give it a happy, comedy-esque feel to it because that’s what the movie is like. The target audience could also be the younger adult generation (late teens to mid thirties).

Since I’m not very good with flash to begin with I decided to play to my strengths and make the flash simple. That doesn’t mean I didn’t work hard, because I definitely put a lot of effort in. I used the knowledge I gained throughout our lab tutorials and tried to keep all the concepts I learned in previous digital media classes about colours, typography and flow in my mind while I was making my animation.

My biggest challenge was making the movie long enough. I started out making it too fast and realized half way through that it needed to be fixed. I tried fixing it one way and then gave up because I was messing up all my frames. I tried again another way and realized I had created my own little system that allowed me to move certain frames and make the movie longer. Another issue I ran into was getting my button to work. It took me about an hour going through the tutorial again and fooling around in flash before I could work my button, with the background and my action layer. When that obstacle was overcome I could finally move on to my animation. Which process was a little smoother than creating a button, might I add. Finally, my last issue was getting sound to work. Because I was using Ryerson’s Virtual Applications on my laptop at home somehow it wouldn’t let me work my music. I transferred the file over to my PC, used Flash 4 (which I have but is too slow to work on) and fixed the music layer there. Voila, I was done!

I’ve learned through this process mostly how to make the most complex things simple, and find other ways to do things. In the end I believe I met my original goal and target audience and I am quite proud of the work that I did. With having only used flash once in high school I am happy to say that I can successfully use the program and make animations.

Class Critique

Class critique went a lot better this time. I always hate getting critiqued in front of a large group of people but, then again, I bet you won't ever find someone who enjoys that... Anyway, the critique went well. They enjoyed the animation with a few suggestions. Of course, the suggestions were positive and I agreed that making those changes (such as fixing the ending to not cut off abruptly, and making it a little slower) would definitely help the animation. I was happy for the critique.

"I'm tired." "Ooo, I've heard of that before. My doctor says sleep will fix it. I think he's crazy."

It's weird that throughout the ages music videos budgets have gone from cheap to expensive, to cheap (homemade) again. But I mean I guess that makes sense. Yeah, it started out really cheap because no one really knew how popular music videos could get, and there wasn't really a set style as to what a video should look like. Then as time went on they got more expensive, more extravagant. Instead of it being just about the music, it went to being about the video. Videos told a story, helped make the artist popular, showed how much money they had or how "cool" they were. Now, videos are becoming more homemade and cheap again and I think that's because of boredom. People are used to the outrageous videos and they need something new and refreshing. And what's more new and refreshing than whatever was new and refreshing YEARS ago? Just like in fashion and trends, the old way of doing things comes back, but with a new twist.

This time homemade and cheap videos are sending a message and that message seems to be "I don't need to blow millions on a video to make a statement. Here's my statement. Enjoy my music." And that, to the masses, is new and edgy and refreshing and they eat it all up. So of course, we're gonna see a whole new trend of homemade videos. And then you know what's going to happen?

Something newer is going to come along. Some other idea. People will get sick of homemade and go "hey, those guys who spend a billion dollars on videos were on to something. Whatever happened to doing it that way?" And things will change again and again and again. It's all about what the masses want. And it seems that the masses want one thing, then another thing. They LIKE change, they like something new and so everything has to adapt to fit what they want.

That's just what I think, anyway.

I also think that the OkGo video was brilliant.

Shelly

"It's only real if you believe it's real. Life, love, happiness. You have to believe..." - Week Seven

I know this blog is a little late... However, I think that could be a good thing. After last weeks lecture on audio and all that jazz I decided to go out and see Passchendaele. I must say, after having a lecture on audio and how it is made and put into movies, what's real and what isn't, I definitely looked at the movie completely differently. I especially looked at it differently during the opening scene. Every little sound I detatched from the actual video, and I visualized the layers. What was added in afterwards, what (like some of the dialogue) was probably kept from the original shooting. Also, I must say that I have great respect for people (like your husband, Lori) for doing sound in a movie like that. Or in any movie, really. I mean, it's gotta be hard work.

While I watched Passchendaele I listened closely to every layer of sound. The background noise, the guns/bombs/explosions/etc, the galloping of hooves and the moving of the soldiers packs while they ran, even the voices. That's a lot of layers, and a lot of sound to put into a movie. Which lead me to thinking about where I want to go in my career after RTA. Sound effect making... Sounds pretty amazing to me. Really, it's a fascinating process and I'm intrigued by it all. I never knew all the noises you could make with vegetables and I never really thought about how sound effects in movies were made. Last lecture definitely made me look at movies differently.

But, it's not the first time a lecture has done that to me in the past two months.

The radio is just a time log in my head now. I'm constantly aware of format, target audience, music, commercials, CanCon, etc.

Station IDs, PSAs and Commercials are just layers, seperate audio tracks made into one, in my head now.

I went back to my old high school for a concert just last week and while they had audio issues I was tempted to go up in the booth and help them. I actually KNEW what they had to do to fix the problems. Last year I didn't even know there was a difference between a condenser mircophone and a dynamic mircophone.

Video Killed the Radio Star came on the radio while I was in the car with my friends and I immediately blurted out "Did you know that this was the first song ever to be played on MTV when it first started up?".

I never knew Farnsworth created the television. Or that there was a difference between private and public broadcasting. Nor did I know that the Beatles made multitrack recording popular.

Look what has happened to me!

I'm knowledgable in things that I've wanted to be knowledgable in for a long time.

And hey, I'm so not complaining. I still love my program, and everything I've been learning.

Anyway, that's my blog post for week seven. I'm gonna get back on track with these blogs. I know I get behind a bit, but at least they're getting done.

Shelly

"And I want these words to make things right, but it's for wrongs that make the words come to life" - Flash Assignment

Awesome, this blog will be done on time. I'm finally starting to get into a good rhythm of how to get everything done and still have time to breathe. So, this week is all about my flash assignment. I've thought a bit about it, but I don't think I'll know exactly what I'm going to do until I sit down and do it. Generally, that's how I work.

I've decided I am going to probably pick a poem or song lyrics. I was thinking maybe the song lyrics Fire and Rain by James Taylor because it creates interesting imagery. Or even Monster Hotel (MSTRKRFT remix) because of the way the music works out I can see it working perfectly in flash. Kind of like the flash movie example we saw in class with the phone message. Either that, or I will probably do something influenced by Saul Bass. I honestly have always loved that style and never knew anything about it until our last lecture.

To find more ideas I will probably search a few flash sites. I know www.newgrounds.com is a great website full of flash movies. I intend to see if any style pops out to me on there. Of course, I'm not saying I'm going to COPY what other people do, but see if anything kind of leads me off into my own style and idea. The weirdest things give me inspiration, too. So who knows what I could find between now and when I actually sit down to do my assignment.

I think I'll play around with Flash first before I decide on what I want to do most. I still don't even know how to put music in a flash movie. Gotta learn that!

Anyway, that's all I really know about what I'm going to do for my flash assignment. Now, I know it's only 9:20 but I'm going to read a bit of 52 (amazing comic book) and then go to bed. More homeowork to do tomorrow. Happy thanksgiving?

Let the good times roll,
Shelly

"Because in the end, for everything, the end justifies the means, and that’s fine with me – 100%."

My objective of my CD cover was to present a simple, artsy representation of the artist. I pretended that the model I chose was an actual singer and made the cover based around her personality and singing style. I chose the photo, also, because it created an interesting concept. The green was perfect for a background, whereas the orange of her hair helped make her stand out as the main focus. I chose the placing of the model to go with the Rule of Thirds (which is an art concept I used in my photography. The text is where it is because I didn’t want to make the right side or middle seem too busy.

My target audience would be independent music fans between the ages of 17-34. Independent music because the cover is rather artsy and the title of the CD is abstract. In my experience this type of cover would appeal to this fan base. The age demographic would be 19 to 34 because the singer is young and the cover looks more mature.

I used a photograph I took during the summer of a friend of mine and started out by duplicating the layer, then using an edge tool on the duplicate layer. This tool allowed me to “find all edges” which outlined only the edges of everything in the photograph. I erased a few hairs on the original layer that I didn’t like in the picture with the background eraser tool. Then I changed the transparency of the duplicate layer and merged the two into one when I finished. Next, I added the font. I created a tiny rectangle and made it thin enough to be a line, then positioned it just underneath where I wanted the font, copied the line and pasted it three times in other places and then added the font. I merged the layers once more to create my finished product.

It was challenging at first to figure out a concept. I knew what tools I could use, and what effects would work, but I didn’t know how to represent a singer. So I thought about her personality while I fooled around with the tools and I came across one tool (the find all edges tool) that made a neat effect I knew she (the model) would think was interesting. So I worked my way from there. It took me a while, though, to figure out what I wanted to do. That was my biggest issue.

I learned that it’s hard creating a concept from nothing. All I had was a photograph. In the end, though, I think that my piece did meet the objective I had when I first realized what I wanted to do. In my opinion, I think the cover meets the target audience because I myself am an Indie fan and as are my friends and I used my own perception in what I thought was attractive to make this CD cover.

Class Critique
The class critique was an interesting process. It made me look at my CD cover totally differently, but it also made me learn what I really liked about my own artwork. Everyone was saying that they didn't like the lines of the CD cover where I thought they were the coolest part. Their critique, however, made me realize I could probably use the lines, but instead change it so that they point to the model instead of the center of the CD cover. I also agree that I could have taken "debut album" out because it wasn't really needed. Although, I still think I did a good job for having no experience in photoshop or fireworks.

Shelly

"Absolute power corrupts, absolutely." - Week Four Post

Alight, I know this post a little late, but at least it's finally done. I've been so busy with other assignments, plus work that finally I have a chance to sit down and just do my blogs.

So our week four topic was typography.

You know the drill, enjoy:

Design #1

This typography choice automatically stood out to me as super effective. First of all, the bubbly text in white fits the theme of "peace". It makes me think of hippies, happiness and fun and it's a text I've seen used before for anything having to do with hippies, peace, love and happiness. The target audience is generally hippies or people who enjoy that lifestyle or type of music. The font obviously suits the target audience well since it was the first thing I thought about when I saw the poster. The other text used (the text in black) is also quite effective. The message is a statement that this event will change people and the bold, edgy font fits perfectly.

I like the kerning of the font too (which is the amount of space in between the letters). For the white font the spacing between each letter is extremely minimal, helping to give it the bubbly look. The black fonts kerning is equally effective because there is more space between the letters, helping create the "ATTENTION: THIS IS IMPORTANT" feel to it.


Design #2

As Henry Warwick said, this font (Trajan) is probably the most overused font ever. However, it works in this poster. The small pyramid of font at the bottom kind of points upwards towards the main character, making a great flow. The fact that "Legend" is the largest part of the title makes the reader know what word the emphasis is put on.

The kerning in Will Smith's name draws the eye so that the reader knows who the star of the movie is. Although, I wouldn't exactly suggest doing this with any other name because it can confuse the person looking at it, thinking that the biggest, most "out there" part of the poster is the name of the movie, not the actor. It's effective to it's audience because it does use the epic movie type font that makes any reader think "Yeah! This movie is gonna be badass!"


Design #3

My final design is the front cover for the first issue of 52 (which is an awesome comic book series, by the way). I think the font is completely effective. The inportant parts are bolding (one - indicating the issue that it is, and here - indicicating the main emphasis in that sentence.) Not to mention the 52 is original, easy to read and bold. This type of font jumps out at comic book fans (which is what the target audience is) because it's simple and very bold. It grabs the reader's attention from across the book store, no doubt.

The small text at the very bottom, I think, could be a bit easier to read. That's the only problem. The font STYLE is good for that little tagline, but it needs to be a bit bigger just so that it also catches the readers attention, telling them what exactly the comic book is about.

Alright, so there you have it. My week four post on typography.

Cheers,
Shelly

P.S Instead of listing the sites I used last time, I uploaded them as URLs instead of files so you can just click on the photo and it'll take you to where I found it.

"I'm so pro at life." - Week Three Post

So, for week three we were told to write about whatever we wanted (within the area of digital media). So I spent all week three thinking of something to write... It is now week four... So I thought I would write about the first thing I saw when I got on the internet. And what was the first thing I saw? Someone on facebook talking about Perez Hilton. Which led me to think about all the celebrity gossip websites out there.

It's not like we lack them. They're everywhere. Apparently what celebrities do in their lives is a pretty big deal to the general population.

The first, and most popular it seems, would have to be Perez Hilton. Complete with as much up to date celebrity information as possible, Perez Hilton (which is not his real name, by the way) is definitely doing something right. The second most popular is probably TMZ, which is known for their videos mostly. I know when I read Perez during the summer all the time (boredom will do that to you) I noticed he got a lot of his celebrity footage from TMZ.

Thinking about this led me to thinking more about the internet and how powerful it is as a form of media. I mean, if you think about it, the internet helps make celebrities. If a celeb wasn't popular before they got featured on TMZ or PerezHilton.com then they certainly are now.

Not to mention, YouTube is a HUGE way to make a name for yourself. There are so many YouTube celebrities that people talk about at work, school, home, etc. Just like they would talk about Paris Hilton or Britney Spears.

Here's a list of some of the most well known YouTube celebrities who made it big on the internet just by uploading videos. Also, remember, most of them are known by their videos and not their names.

- Juan Mann (Free Hugs Campaign)
- Neil Cicierega (Potter Pupper Pals)
- Pillip DeFranco (The Philip DeFranco Show - sxephil)
- Tay Zonday (The Chocolate Rain guy)
- Andy McKee (Guitarist)
- Douglas Sarine and Kent Nichols (Ask a Ninja)

Those are just a few I can name right now.

Anyway, that's all that really came to mind this week in the way of digital media. However, now I must go do my Hot Clock Assignment and my PSA.

Peace out,
Shelly

"Where the hell does he get his pants? Definitely not frickin' Mark's Work Warehouse"

CRAP.

I would write something witty about how the word for a design principle is also a curse word and a synonym for... Well, you know what, but I am not in a particularly witty mood tonight. In fact, I was just woken up from a wonderful nap by my stupid boyfriend who told me to do my blog or else. So, here I am. As I said before... CRAP: Otherwise known as contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity.

I chose four different images that all use more than one of these concepts.

My first image is an iPod advertisement:

This image uses all four concepts. The colours (dark orange, red, and black against beige) make a huge contrast. It isn't the typical contrast you would find where the opposite complimentary colours are used. However, this use of colour still makes the contrast stand out and pleasing to the eye. The image also uses repetition with the iPods and the lines unifying the adverisement. The image is symmetrical, and the lines and iPods are spaced evenly without looking sloppy or messy, which means the artist is using proper alignment to make the image aethetically pleasing. Not to mention, the text is centered. Finally, the organization of the iPods within the picture is a clear use of proximity.

My second image is a band poster for The Mars Volta:

The contrast, much like the first photo, is found in colours that are not the typical opposite complimentary colours. When I say this I am referring to the picture from class that showed how on the complimentary colour wheel generally opposites create the best contrast. In this photo the yellowy-beige and red contrast in the background and the white and black contrast in the text, the circles and the cityscape. Both contrasts put together, too, are a contrast in itself and make the poster stand out. Repetition is found where the circles and ribbon type shapes are used over and over within the same poster. The strip of city on the left helps create pleasing alignment, as does the text for The Mars Volta on the right. Finally, the grouping of the circles and ribbons adds to the proximity, organizing them together to make a pleasing looking poster.

On a side note, this image out of all three is one of my favorite because of the good use of alignment. It makes the poster look more interesting and I know what the main focus is because of the way everything is aligned.


My third image is a front cover to the first issue of the comic book Y: The Last Man:

The contrast on this image varies. First there's the black on white (the quotes and the outline of "Y") which draw attention to both those things, making them seem important. Next, white on brown makes a good subtle contrast that's only importance is to make the picture appealing to the eye. Lastly, the red on black found in the "Y" draws the eye automatically there. Those two colours are used to make this stand out the most because it is the most important part of the cover (since it is the title). Repetition is mainly used with the fonts. The rather normal black font is used for the quotes and the authors. Also, the small images at the bottom are a form of repetition. The alignment of the quotes and the "Y" are done well because it makes it easier to read and it brings attention to the important things first (by placing the "Y" as the biggest and also on the left. Also, because the quotes and the "Y" are both on opposite sides and "The Last Man" is centered it makes it easier to read. The boxed images at the bottom are aligned perfectly, without being messy or uneven, which makes it more pleasing to look at. Proximity is used with the images at the bottom, since they are all the same size and same type of image.

My last image is a poster for an Arts Club:

The contrast is found with the only three colours on the poster: blue, brown and white. The brown and blue contrast against each other completely, making the text look pleasing together, as well as drawing the eye to the brightest colour (the blue) and then to the brown afterwards. The repetition is used only in the text. The colour, the way it is the same font line after line and the use of bold both above the blue and below the blue. The alignment is simple. The text is all aligned right down the middle. This, however, is not pleasing to the eye because of how hard it makes the to read. The alignment makes the image symmetrical and pleasing to look at, but not to read. For proximity the date, time and location are all grouped together underneath the logo, and the information about the event is grouped together above the logo.

Now, to discuss the merits and shortcomings of the CRAP principles of design.

Merits: The CRAP principles of design help create guidelines for artists to use to make their posters, cd covers, advertisements, etc pleasing to look at. Each concept involved is known to make things look good. When an artists uses the CRAP method they know that the contrast between colours must work well together or else the font will be hard the read, the background will take away from the font, etc. If things were aligned poorly then it makes the artwork look messy, unorganized or make the viewer confused as to where the main focus is and where they are supposed to be looking. In short, CRAP is there to help artists make something that looks good.

Shortcomings: Not everything can fit within those four concepts. When something looks good, it just looks good, even if it defies the CRAP priniples of design. Also, some images only use one concept from CRAP because, as I said before, that's what looks good. Not every artist wants to use each concept included in CRAP.

So, there you have it.

CRAP.

Now I think it's time I go back to sleep. I am so tired...

Websites used:

Image #1: http://www.ilounge.com/gallery/wallpaper_contest/donaldemerson_05_CONTEST.jpg

Image #2: http://www.angryblackbear.com/secondposter.jpg

Image #3: http://adrianjames.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/ythelastman_vol1.jpg

Image #4: http://iconographi.ca/images/forportfolio/artsclub01.png

"Did you just compare my love of Macs to the Jonestown Massacre?"

Wicked.

My first project for digital media and it's making a blog. Can it get more awesome than this? Oh, it most definitely cannot, my friends. My friends meaning... Lori.

If you're confused by my title then let me explain. I like putting quotes in my blog titles of things that I think are funny, ironic, interesting, etc. Anything really. Mostly, though, I like putting quotes in that I hear in real life. I picked that up from another blogger a while ago.

This quote came about after a long discussion with my boyfriend about how I got into Macs.

He's a PC person, I'm a Mac fan.

It causes friction.

But enough about that. I have work to do. So, the first thing I have to write about, according to the assignment, is what my impressions of the term "digital media" were before the first class. That's actually an interesting question. I guess before class I never really thought about digital media as whole like that. I generally just thought about the specific parts within it. Music, television, text messages, PDFs, games, email, animation, video, radio, blogs, e-books... All of those things I never really thought about all together.

After the first lecture, however, my impressions changed completely. Instead of focusing on just one thing it was like I realized how broad the spectrum was, and how interconnected everything in digital media seemed to be. It was like zooming out from the tiny picture, and finally seeing the big picture.

Digital media, and learning about digital media, is such an important part of RTA. I mean, it's media. Radio and television are both major forms of media. And, like I said before, everything in the digital media world seems to be interconnected. Which means that if we're learning about radio and television, we're going to have to learn about EVERYTHING to do with both of those things.

Alright, I think I covered everything I had to in this post.

On a final note, though, I just want to add that I am so happy to have chosen this program. I love RTA. I definitely feel like I belong here, which is great.

That's all for now. I have a chapter in my HUGE textbook for Broadcast History that needs to be finished, and all of my short stories to read for english. Might as well do it now. Welcome to university...

Cheers,

Shelly