Beginning in the mid '90s and earning its 'mainstream' status in the mid '00s (due to the introduction of Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter), internet memes have become an indisputable aspect of cyberculture (i.e. internet culture), the importance of which has grown exponentially with the rapid development of social media platforms in recent years (e.g. Reddit, … Continue reading Meme Warfare: What do you meme?
Networked Participation & Collective Intelligence
Collective intelligence refers to the thoughts and products produced by individuals working collaboratively. These collectively-constructed ideas become aspects of our everyday lives, of which we all contribute in one way or another (often while being unaware of it!). From the search results achieved by Google, to the content contained in the world’s most famous encyclopedia, Wikipedia; the latest viral TikTok dance, to your Instagram story poll––the common key factor is user input.
Broken is Beautiful: The Art of Glitch
Glitch art refers to "the practice of using digital or analog errors for aesthetic purposes by either corrupting digital data or physically manipulating electronic devices" (Wikipedia, 2020). It has evolved from being the "result of miscommunication from sender to receiver during the transcoding of information" (Jackson, 2011, p.11) into a "pop culture artefact" (Jackson, 2011, … Continue reading Broken is Beautiful: The Art of Glitch
McLuhan’s Paradox
'The medium is the message' is a popular paradoxical phrase originally coined by Marshall McLuhan in 1964, but what exactly does it mean? How can the medium through which a message is communicated also be the message? Firstly, it is important to understand the terms in McLuhan's equation. The medium he introduces does not simply … Continue reading McLuhan’s Paradox
The Medium is the Message: How My Appearance Shapes Your Reality
What do newspapers, YouTube, and my hair have in common? They're all forms of media! Think about it—what defines media? Well, medium (the singular form of 'media'), refers to 'the middle state,' that is, something between two different concepts, or the channel through which a message is communicated. This message shapes your perception of the … Continue reading The Medium is the Message: How My Appearance Shapes Your Reality
Pitch Perfect: An Introduction to my Digital Artefact 1.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ2hm4oWM3U As explained in the video above, Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) are weekly study groups run by students who've previously excelled in the subject. While PASS has been supporting student learning at UOW since 2002, it was only last year that the team recognised the importance of building a greater digital presence via social … Continue reading Pitch Perfect: An Introduction to my Digital Artefact 1.0
The #BCM112 DA: Keep it Simple, Stupid
In the weeks leading up to semester, I had considered every possible idea for my DA. Maybe I'll create an Instagram page for all my travel photos. Maybe I'll blog about all the events I attend, and review them. Maybe I'll share my extensive collection of dad jokes on Twitter under the name @daughterjokes. Up until recently, I was even set on the idea of running an Instagram/YouTube account called @seekdiscomfortuow, where I challenge both myself and students at the University to put themselves in situations that push the boundaries of their comfort zone.
Hello, my name is Taylor
For the longest time, I tried to get into blogging. I think having the ability to consistently create and share content is an important skill–not to mention a great way of building both a platform and portfolio–and between my love for travelling and attending music events, I certainly don't lack topics to blog about. What … Continue reading Hello, my name is Taylor
LEGO Long Jump?
This isn't usually what I would post about, but recently, I came across a video of some guys who have found a new use for their treasured LEGO bricks: LEGO Long Jump. I'm sure the best of us have inevitably found ourselves cursing after unfortunately stepping on a misplaced LEGO brick, but these guys have … Continue reading LEGO Long Jump?
‘This is not a Brick’
If there's one thing LEGO attempts to convey in their advertising messages, it is that LEGO brings joy. With touches of childlike humour, an emphasis on the limit of possibilities being only one's imagination, and encouragement to 'build together', LEGO conveys a powerful message about the value of a brick, and the limitlessness of a … Continue reading ‘This is not a Brick’
Taylor Sumelj 