This is corny, but the ideas are expressed, though without an argument.

This is entirely political propaganda, but well done. The argument being made is clearly for the candidate shown, and there are not any image montages that shift and distort meaning.

Now that I have been thinking and searching I think that this is the best example of what Stephens is writing about. The argument is against big business and consolidation of power. It says a lot about religion and the way people (culturally and intellectually) over history.

Using images of war and fighting, to the earth and peaceful nature, to evolutionary images, to war again and the destruction of the twin towers Zeitgeist is crafting an argument against the majority view points and general apathy/nonchalance of average people’s every day life. They desire to disturb and unsettle using sound and image that are not sequential or even necessarily chronological.

Fans are not fringe extremists with an unhealthy and unrealistic interest in a particular media text, but savvy consumers who are able to use popular culture to fulfill their desires and needs, often explicitly rearticulating that culture in unique and empowering ways. (Charles Cheung, 82)

Complete agreement having read the article. I will admit that an image of “trekkies” did waft into my minds eye upon the mention of fan-sites, though the connotations were not bad or inappropriate; simply…intense.

The use of fan sites for every genre of entertainment in various dedications is a wonderful happening associated with internet. This is good stuff.

‘Nuff said.

This is a difficult question to concisely articulate. Which, is in itself, partly answer to the question, but not answer enough.

The identity I want to create is honest: comics, video games, anime, + lots and lots of books; AND passionate: environmental and political. There is more that could be included, like the fluidity of my identity, but that comes out in posts, not in breakdowns.

The identity I want to create for my internet homepage includes webcomics like Scary Go Round and Penny Arcade, video games like The Legacy of Kain, Portal, Sonic, and old school Nintendo, as well as anime like Samurai Champloo, FLCL, and Trigun. Books are a huge part of my concept of self throughout high school and college (including searching for the best way to purchase), from fantasy and science-fiction to novels of social commentary and even post-colonial criticism that I have had to read and still enjoyed. I also really like the book Watership Down. The passionate part of my designed identity is much easier to express on the internet because that is where many of my connections and information has come from. Some of my passion for parts of the injustices in the world have their source in the internet. There is the environmental faction represented by World Changing and TreeHugger most notably, and the political side represented by AdBusters, TruthOut, and Democracy Now!. That covers everything I professed in the beginning.

And now that I am finished I realize that I attempted to elucidate an entire actual identity instead of crafting and embracing a single, individual, entertaining facet and running with that. I believe that I might try it now that I have remembered again. Have my home page identity be that of a pissed of environmental/political activist with a disregard for being liked or political correctness. That could be fun, and it is the internet. As Cheung says, “people who use thier homepages for self-presentation can lay out, arrange, retouch and manipulate thier ‘home page selves’ until the outcome reflects the self-identities they intend to present,” (Web.Studies, ed. David Gauntlett, 60) which could be completely removed from ‘real life’.

Cool Things:

The Future of Ideas

by Lawrence Lessig

The Future of Ideas is focused upon the Internet as a great technological force for innovation and distribution of ideas that is in danger of being completely subverted. The text makes it clear during the prologue that the author’s outlook is fairly cynical, believing that it is entirely possible for individual human laziness and apathy to allow corporations and policy makers to steal the Internet away and make it a place for consumerism and the barest of community interaction. Lawrence Lessig writes Ideas as a plea for readers, activists and everyone else, to get up after reading the book and make change. That said, his tone is not sermonizing, it is a sincere appeal using reason and argument from research to sway anyone reading. His subtext is “The Fate of the Commons in a Connected World,” which states rather succinctly exactly his intention. [There are reviews in brief, and reviews in breadth.]

Cyberactivism

ed by Martha McCaughey and Michael D. Ayers

Cyberactivism is a collection of essays that analyze the possibilities and realities of activism taken to the internet and often then translated back into “real-life” (their phrase use). From cyber social movements to theoretical analysis to cautionary appeals the book is striving to inform the current activist and the potential one. The introduction by the editors is a good breakdown of the past internet phenomenons (money making get rich quick internet schemes) that have overshadowed the current (indymedia.org, worldchanging.org) and the possibilities and paths that activism could take and be more focused and successful than ever before. Cyberactivism is a veritable battle-cry for activism on the internet to change the status quo and connect people like never before. [The only reviews.]

Thats it I’m out, best of luck.

The website known as del.icio.us is the site that I have been using for years now. The learning curve is very short and the integration of the functionality of tagging into the web browser is easy and helpful. The site provides a page for all tagged websites that is accessible from any computer and easy to search through. Other functionality is mainly focused on an area I have not had a lot of experience with. The idea is that other people are browsing the web and finding worthwhile sites as you are and bookmarking them, so instead of searching for them yourself it is easily possible with the bookmark sharing to find websites that are interesting to you through the convenient and flexible tag system.

Diigo is a fascinating site that incorporates a great deal more functionality and complexity to the idea of social bookmarking. Using an in situ system a user is allowed to interact with any website as dexterously as if it were a piece of paper. The system allows for, amongst other functions, highlighting, clipping sections, and sticky notes. There is a great deal more to each of these aspects as well as integrated functionality among them such as adding a sticky note to a highlighted section of a website. The whole process of this Web 2.0 technology is very concisely and engagingly explained in their about Diigo video.

Blinklist is nearly identical in functionality to del.icio.us. The site does the same things and allows for the same functionality not overreaching the concept of Web 2.0 social bookmarking.

During this research there emerged a very clear difference in tone between the three websites. Del.icio.us is clearly an established bookmarking site with a relaxed no bullshit tone that gives you online, tagable, sharable bookmarking functionality without trying to do more than you want or need. Del.icio.us is relaxed with an easy interface, nothing too flashy, and very professional. The Diigo site which is very different functionality wise retains a confident tone that has everything laid out and clear but is not trying to be overly enticing toward the internet lay person. And finally blinklist which has a tone that reminds me of insincere commercial tripe which is built to psychologically attract more users. The site is adequate and functional but is definitely targeting a very different audience.

The end of an era.

??? For realz…or not.