User:Hthrxlynn/NMAC 4460 Journal

August 18, 2019: New Media

Based on my current knowledge, I would define "new media" by saying that it is the forms of media that have been created with the addition of advanced television broadcasting and the internet. I already know that media is the way we communicate to a large number of people. Putting "new" before it implies that there is an "old" version, which I would say is newspaper, magazines, and local television stations. Now, we not only are able to show a news station across the entirety of the US, but we can share photos, videos, and text almost instantly online, where we are connected with the rest of the world.

With the internet, we can choose which forms we wish to communicate through: news websites and blogs, videos on YouTube, or social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Many people communicate through more than one of these, reaching an even broader audience. I think that defines another characteristic of new media: it's easily accessible. If you want to know what is happening in the world, find inspiration for a project you're working on, or even just look up how to do something, it's right there on the internet. You can even decide to join in and share your own content. This website is a great example of a collaborative effort with users from all over the world.

Hthrxlynn (talk) 21:57, 18 August 2019 (UTC)

August 18, 2019: New Media, After Research

After conducting research on the topic, I know that I was on the right track with my first entry. I was correct in my idea that because there is a new, there has to be an old. I forgot to mention radio, which I later found in my search of the definition of new media. An interesting idea I came across is the argument of what qualifies as new media. The line between what is and is not new media can be blurry; for example, some would say a photograph presented digitally is new media, but the same photograph in print is not. I agree with Manovich's argument that this definition is too limiting. With the way that these devices change our lives, I would argue that a photograph taken with an iPhone and printed into a book would still be new media. The subject itself, the idea that a portable device that functions as more than just a camera took the photo, and the methods of getting the photo into the book are all examples of the way that things have changed and that we have changed along with them. Finally, the main thing I missed in my previous journal entry is that the focus of new media is on the devices themselves. I think I beat around this idea, I just didn't explain the significance of the devices. The idea that we carry around a small box that can communicate with people on the other side of the world, take photographs, do math, edit and share photos and videos, and even unlock doors and give our dogs treats when we aren't home is mind boggling. The world has changed so much with the invention of the phone. There are jobs built around apps (like Uber) and we have full-length films at our fingertips with streaming services like Netflix. These are the kinds of things new media is all about.

Hthrxlynn (talk) 00:31, 19 August 2019 (UTC)

@Hthrxlynn: I agree with you and Manovich when it is stated that the term "new media" encompasses a much broader range than some people want to believe. My research article is based on a book that explains how video games are being implemented within new media and vise versa, and how it is having a positive impact on society and that these games are not merely a waste of time, but can actually help an individual grow and meet new people. Some people consider video games new media, while others argue otherwise. For me, I believe video games are and should be included as a new media element. Shannamartini (talk) 02:31, 26 August 2019 (UTC)