This semester we have been doing research into research itself as a lead into using this knowledge toward our own research. Our research is published in the labsome wiki (which is still growing). Which leads me to be asked ...
How would i use my research into applied research in my own practice?
As we are all "Applied Communication" students technically all our research should be of the "Applied" variety, giving me a framework into how I should be researching toward my production folio and accompanying research. I can work my knowledge around what applied research is considered to be and the processes of researching in this way (basically, toward finding a solution to a problem or question with results and recommendations and applying these practically). Having a stronger knowledge of exactly how to research in this way and frame it academically gives my own work greater direction throughout the research process, improving the end result. In presentation of academic content being able to frame and provide findings, recommendations etc. correctly will greatly enhance our work. Finding out more about *how* to research and *why* we research in certain ways will make our research in itself easier and improve our content.
Posted in Labsome | no commentsPosted by Nicko
Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:13:00 GMT
Why is my research a productive problem?
My research opens up a number of questions about adapting to new media that are framed in the context of a particular medium but can be applied across the media as entertainment products and objects become increasingly digital and marketed differently to consumers, presenting challenges to creators and publishers. All media companies and forms are currently grappling with the questions involved and these problems are not only relevant to the current changes but can present options for adapting to future developments in media technologies.
Why does it matter?
It matters because the speed of change in media technologies is forcing people within these industries to adapt constantly, and any insight into how to adapt proficiently is a valuable resource.
Who does it matter to?
Media creators, publishers, retailers, audiences across a range of mediums, although it is most relevant to the comic book medium.
Who do I think my work is for?
Primarily the work is for me, allowing me to create a folio of work. On another level it is also for any others interested in the area, as I am also documenting my practice in using and publishing the folio using new media technologies and researching the most effective ways to take advantage of these advances.
Posted in Labsome | no commentsPosted by Nicko
Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:48:00 GMT
Online publishing and networking opens up a range of options for artists and creators of independent media beyond those of previous generations, particularly in the comic book medium. Despite the obvious benefits, these developments can also prove problematic as the diversity of options and speed of change do not always present a clear publishing or development path for creators. Through the creation of a folio of self-published graphic novels I will explore the options available to independent comic book creators throughout the creative process, reflecting upon my own creative practice and documenting methods used. Used to potential, new methods of online and self-publishing can enhance and increase the output of creators worldwide and have a dramatic effect upon both independent and mainstream sections of the industry.
Posted in Labsome | no commentsPosted by Nicko
Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:37:00 GMT
Some of the books I'm using / reading. My research is split into four areas: scriptwriting, comic book theory, online theory and graphic design. These are mostly the comic book theory ones for now (although there is quite a bit of crossover) and the other areas will be added later in further posts. As well as these there are many online resources I haven't listed yet that I'll get into later. Also with comics theory a lot comes from reading actual comics, which are a little impractical to list.
> Barber, John and Withrow, Steven. 2005. Webcomics: Tools and Techniques for Digital Cartooning. Barron's Educational Series.
> Bendis, Brian Michael. 2001. Powers Scriptbook. Image Comics.
> Buscema, John and Lee, Stan. 1984. How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way. Fireside.
> Campbell, T. 2006. The History of Webcomics. Antarctic Press.
> David, Peter. 2006. Writing for Comics with Peter David. Impact Books.
> Dooley, Michael (Editor) and Heller, Steven (Editor). 2005. The Education of a Comics Artist. Allworth Press.
> Eisner, Will. 1985. Comics and Sequential Art. Poorhouse Press.
> Eisner, Will. 1996. Graphic Storytelling and Visual Narrative. Poorhouse Press.
> Eisner, Will and Miller, Frank. 2005. Eisner/Miller. Dark Horse.
> Ellis, Warren. 2001. Come In Alone. Ait/PlanetLar.
> Gertler, Nat (Editor). 2002. Panel One: Comic Book Scripts by Top Writers. About Comics.
> Gertler, Nat (Editor). 2003. Panel Two: More Comic Book Scripts by Top Writers. About Comics.
> Kardon, Andrew and Root, Tom. 2004. Writers on Comics Scriptwriting 2. Titan Books.
> McCloud, Scott. 1993. Understanding Comics. Kitchen Sink Press.
> McCloud, Scott. 2000. Reinventing Comics. Harper Collins Perennial.
> McCloud, Scott. 2006. Making Comics. Harper Collins.
> Moore, Alan and Burrows, Jason. 2003. Alan Moore's Writing For Comics Volume 1. Avatar Press.
> O'Neil, Dennis. 2001. The DC Comics Guide To Writing Comics. Watson-Guptill.
> Salisbury, Mark. 1999. Writers on Comics Scriptwriting. Titan Books.
> Salisbury, Mark. 2000. Artists on Comics Art. Titan Books.
> Talon, Durwin et al. 2002. Panel Discussions: Design in Sequential Art Storytelling. TwoMorrows Publishing.
> Talon, Durwin et al. 2004. Comics Above Ground: How Sequential Art Affects Mainstream Media. TwoMorrows Publishing.
> Wood, Brian. 2005. Demo: The Twelve Original Scripts. AiT/PlanetLar.
Posted in Labsome | 2 comments | no trackbacksPosted by Nicko
Sun, 15 Apr 2007 07:50:00 GMT
A list of potential supervisors. I cant decide which one i want, probably someone interested in design and online theory, which cuts it down a bit. I'm waiting until next year to get a supervisor anyhow because i wont need one until second semester 2008.
Posted in Labsome | 1 comment | no trackbacksPosted by Nicko
Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:38:00 GMT
This happened. So now i write this. My words are:
Clean > I spend a lot of time working toward how my productions and writing looks and feels. Making sure it's clean (in all the ways that can mean: visually, the code, the words, the colors, everything) is important.
Designy > I also use alot of designy type things. Thats the only word i could come up with to describe it. Just nice little visual additions to the work. You know? It's designy.
Visual > This kind of ties the two words above together, and they're all leaning in the same area. As the comic book medium is visual storytelling emphasising the visual is extremely important.
Space > I like using space alot. Having clear areas, making it feel like it has room to move. Not cramped or stuffy.
Free > Similar to space, but also tying into the online and global sense of free and freedom.
Global > The work will have a global feel (in the western sense), being online and with most off my writing being done while im travelling.
Creative > Creative writing, creative design, creative imagery. I'm creative. Ideas and stuff.
Clear > There will be a clarity to the work, visually and in the words. Nothing too convoluted or complex.
Pop > Nothing too convoluted or complex. Also will be tied into pop culture alot, as that's what i tend to do, and talk about.
Blue-Grey > The color i like most at the moment. Kind of like the sky when theres going to be a storm soon. That's the color it will feel like. And i'll use it alot in the visuals and design.
Talky > I will be definitly very wordy and talky in the comic stories as that is how they are currently shaping up. The whole thing will feel like a conversation. With me doing all the talking.
Cloud > I like clouds. Theyre my favourite thing, Everything i do will be a little cloudy.
Connected > As it will be published online, and reference alot of online and connected material, as well as exploring online affordances, being connected is key to the project.
Posted in Labsome | no comments | no trackbacksPosted by Nicko
Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:24:00 GMT
Is happening slowly. I think its because i'm working from wanting to create content in a certain medium, and it's hard to express that in a problem / question without having to be too dull in what my theoretical side will take. I'm getting there though.
Adrian said this:
Nico’s abstract has a clear focus and is a rich topic. This makes what is being done quite clear. The problem at the moment is that it appears to be more about publication than then affordances of online comics - it isn’t clear what the problem is that is being investigated or explored. If the project is more about the practice of online comics (which it can be) then what is being investigated in relation to that practice?
I want to explore the affordances through the publishing process. The practice of publishing isn't that exciting, but exploring the affordances is. I just have to reword it so i makes more sense. There's also a line between what the actual comics will be about and what my topic is on that i have to integrate into the wording and i don't think really came across in the initial abstract.
Posted in Labsome | no comments | no trackbacksPosted by Nicko
Sat, 24 Mar 2007 15:14:00 GMT
Everyone in Labsome made a four sentence abstract about their project, then we made a positive and negative comment about each one. These are mine.
Arnie
It's cool that you want to write a film script. It's nice having something tangible in the end like that, and scriptwriting is good. I like scriptwriting. Problems? Scriptwriting is only part one of the process. Do you have a concrete plan for making the film afterward? It's nice having a script but then you have to deal with the whole film-making process, which isn't always fun for the scriptwriter (especially when it's around a script that your probably going to love after you've spent a whole year on it). What makes your film so unconventional? Trying to write something "unconventional" before you've started it doesn't necessarily make it unconventional, don't get caught in that trap, guidelines are often guidelines for a reason. Why are you trying to make it Australian AND Universal? What makes it Australian? Trying to make something "Australian" is often the reason Australian films are "uninspiring" and "similar". Universal is good, stick with that. Whats the genre, seeing as its a "genre" film? It should probably be explicitly stated. Please make it Zombies, what would be awesome.
Kris
I like the concept of looking at how different cultures portray ideas and stories in film that are essentially supposed to be remakes. It's always interesting to see how films portrayed in different versions and i often wonder how people react to depictions and concepts based upon their cultural background and viewpoints. I would be wary of making assumptions about audiences reactions, i.e: "This might have been, amongst others, the cause of stereotypes amongst most of the large audience which has been accepting the inaccurate portrayals as accurate depictions." Also be sure to consider closely the audience certain films are made for and consider the film-makers intentions in the changes they have made, as they could often be positive and necessary "translations", rather then the negative connotations losing ideas in translation implies.
Michaela
This topic is something i wrote about in like every second undergrad essay i did and is really important and interesting. I would totally be writing on it if i wanted to move in the more journalism-ey (that's not a word) direction. There's so much out there on this. Probably my favorite of everyone else's concepts. Criticisms? You seem to have already decided that "lite" news "compromises" liberal democracy ("This research aims to prove" etc). I would argue (for arguments sake), that this kind of news is what such audiences are demanding and is a result of that. Does it really compromise liberal democracy with the internet and every possible range of opinion and "hard" news being easily accessible online? Is commercial television news really that influential? How long will that influence last? Are you sticking to the bounds Australian commercial television news? It's pretty easy to get around the argument your making by looking beyond commercial TV news. Globalization / Digital Communication / Online News / Citizen Journalism is hugely important in relation to this topic.
Pheona
I did VCE Media and i totally understand why you're doing what you are. The subject tries to be so many things (Communcations theory, Cinema Studies, Television, Productions, Film-making etc.) and as a result struggles to do everything well. Often it's considered a low priority within schools, and doesn't always get the A grade students. I know lots of people i went to school with saw it as an easy subject that didn't really matter, and i think the system kinda treats it the same way. Finding ways to make the subject better is always going to be a good thing and encouraging and finding a workable balance between practical and theoretical, as well as giving teachers of the subject (which aren't always prepared for it, they are mostly media graduates after all, :) yep) something to work with is great. I can't think of anything critical about this really (i suppose i'm just kinda overly critical of VCE media to start off with). Maybe making sure your own interests don't overly influence your project as it would obviously need to be fairly accessible. Yeah just making sure it's accessible for a range of teachers and their own teaching styles.
Sarah
It's good that you reworked your abstract so well and integrated your key interests into it. Looking at using the internet as a way to network and use nice markets, groups and products effectively is a realllly positive use of the medium. It's alsso good your using your radio training. As you'll be doing a project are you going to be writing mostly about radio and tap-dancing or how to use the internet and online radio to tap into niches? this is a problem im having in choosing how to word mine in that will your actual work your publishing reflect the theory sufficiently (the radio shows). Or will the project be as a result of the theoretical concepts? What is being assessed?
Sue
Cool topic. Tying the representations of war in film to media coverage of conflict and looking at how they are constructed in terms of message and perspective is perfect and politics in cinema really interests me (reading that over it sounds sarcastic but i promise i'm serious.) It's pretty huge, but you'll be able to narrow it down based on certain films and related coverage which is great about cinema studies essays. It's a political topic, so you would have to be careful in how you reflect your own opinions in the writing, yeah? I suppose it depends how your writing it. I hope your looking at both pro and anti war films. It would be cool to contrast how different viewpoints are depicted for different audiences. Considering the audience would have to be a key part two in understanding the creators intentions and message.
Vivian
Before you read this, i'm totally sorry your names alphabetically last and i probably will have less to say than the others because i'm tired and i've already been writing about these for like an hour or possibly longer, and it might not exactly be coherent, but ill try. Starting a company is really cool, you have a clearly identified market and product available and that is also cool and is really the first step. I suppose you'd have to make sure you have strong business as well as creative / advertising skills, but i'm sure you've thought about that. Okay here's some questions but they're pretty obvious: What are the economic reasons country advertising talent moves to larger cities? What size towns are you thinking? Did you choose country towns because its a market gap you identified or because your passionate about smaller areas? I'd imagine you could still target these areas quite easily communicating with customers online from wherever you are, cutting costs. Is the business model sustainable? Will it cost more to operate out of a regional area? I guess i'd just like to learn more about your business plans. Sounds good though.
Posted in Labsome | no comments | no trackbacksPosted by Nicko
Wed, 21 Mar 2007 13:19:00 GMT
What do you think makes a good project or topic? What sorts of qualities should it have to be ‘good’ or ’successful’? What does ‘good’ or ’successful’ mean? Who is your project or thesis for? Why? What is it for? Why?
It has to be for you, and be exactly what you want to do. At a basic level anyway, if it works for other people aswell (assessors, audiences, readers etc.) then that's a bonus. It has to have clear outcomes and a direction or career path you hope to get from the project (i.e. it shouldn't be something that goes nowhere for you). It has to be cohesive, coherent, and worthwhile. Being successful is doing what you want to and doing to the best of your abilities, and also coming out of it with something. Even if it fails it can be successful in having outcomes for you, although it would be hard to fail at this stage if you doing your best.
Practice Concept Abstract:
Online publishing and networking opens up a range of options for artists and creators of independent media beyond those of previous generations, particularly in the comic book medium. There is no single or clear path through the ever-changing online sphere. Although exploring and pushing the use of the affordabilities of both the online and comic books mediums can greatly enhance a creators chances of success, whatever they consider that to be. Used to its potential, online publishing will enhance and increase the creative output of comic book creators worldwide and have a dramatic effect upon both the independent and mainstream parts of the industry.
How do you think your finished work (thesis or project) will be presented. What form will it take? Why?
My project will take the form of a folio of comic books published online. This way i can: practically explore the affordances of online comic publishing, create of folio of completed and published work, and have a written accompaniment with the theoretical/academic side relating directly to aspects of the online publications.
Words/qualities you want your finished project to express:
Clean, designy, entertaining, creative, refreshing, visual, clear, cohesive, cool, space,
connected, free, global, ikea, more words later ...
Posted in Labsome | no commentsPosted by Nicko
Wed, 14 Mar 2007 09:28:00 GMT
Why am i doing honours?
A combination of reasons came together toward the end of last year and over the summer that made honours @ rmit something i really wanted to do and really should be doing. Completing the undergraduate BComm Media was pretty relieving, although in the final semester i also really saw alot of my ideas and what i had been doing in the previous three years (apart from wandering around aimlessly) come together in ways that i saw directions forming. For most of the undergraduate degree i kinda drifted, picking up bits of everything but never really settling on any one medium or being completely dedicated / driven toward a certain area (i.e. film). Scriptwriting was my strongest area, and i was also good at new media stuff and my politics major. I tried doing a film production, it didn’t work. Sometimes i feel constrained by large collaborations for a heap of different reasons, which can probably be read about in previous semester reflections that are still on here. Anyway i ended up doing a comic book production for my final year project using the same script i wrote for my short film i was going to make. It also turns out this was a really good idea as the collaboration process and the production process was far more enjoyable and satisfying than any other i have had working on short film or tv productions, which really just frustrate me. I like writing for film/tv aswell, just as long as i don’t have to be involved in actually making it afterward. I also get the impression your script gets screwed in film/tv, theres a pretty sweet quote somewhere ill post when i remember it. Soooo at the end of my final year i found something i enjoyed doing, and it would really have been a waste of three years if i didn’t use the direction i found and go further with it. I need more resolution to my undergraduate degree because at the end of the initial three years i really think i needed more to be able to do what i wanted to do.
Honours gives me a structure around which i can build a folio and move further beyond undergrad toward the writing areas i would like be involved in professionally.
Also i’ve been at school/uni nonstop from prep until now, and i have to wait until mid-year before i start my latest world tour. So really i prefer to be studying something rather than doing full-time work, i’m too young for that. I think i like the stability and direction of uni because subconsciously i’m constantly trying to go against these things, i know that makes no sense but those are the words that came out.
What do i hope to achieve as a result?
By the end of my honours year (or two years if i defer mid-year which i havent told adrian im thinking of doing yet but im probably going to do anyway, surprise adrian!), i hope to have built a folio of my writing/productions, mostly in comic books as this is the best area for me, but also in film/tv (to a lesser extent). I hope to have a number (around 5, one per quarter depending on page length) of completed comic book productions published online that either i can use to get paid work in the industry, use to apply for further postgrad study and/or just something cool people can read and appreciate. I also hope to be able to improve my web design and graphic design skills, which are key elements linked to my writing i need to develop further. Mostly i want to feel as if ive come out of this degree with a clear folio of work and a clear ability to work professionally in the area, even if producing free independent work online. I’d also like to do an internship somewhere if its possible, but thats more of an if the planets are aligned kinda thing.
What don’t i know about this year that i would like to?
I think i know most things about this year as i did the undergraduate course leading into it. But then again i think i know most things about everything and that doesn’t always work out. Most things i want to know are really just project parameters, “what is expected of the projects?” really. Just little bits around exactly how our work is expected to take form, most of which will be discussed as we frame our topics i assume, and from experience it should be pretty flexible and no problem.
What are you afraid of this year?
Taking too long to get into things and having a huge amount of work to do at the end. Not living up to my expectations of myself which are usually really high and ending up producing work i don’t think is the best it could be. I just typed a whole other bit here that was about 500 words long that when i finished typing it i realized was completely unrelated to honours, it sounded really insecure so i deleted it.
What are you looking forward to?
Making stuff, having something awesome to show for it. The whole honours setup, i like the whole creative lab style, and working how and when i want to. The people should be cool aswell
Decide if you think this should be a blog entry?
I don’t see why not … blogs became pretty central in Bcomm Media so i dont really think about it. I guess it depends how personal my thoughts are on the subject, but i’m pretty cool with it being public … it holds me accountable. Plus ill just delete it later if i decide i don’t like it. And “Decide if you think this should be a blog entry?” isn’t a question.
Posted in Labsome | no comments | no trackbacksPosted by Nicko
Tue, 06 Mar 2007 12:08:00 GMT