Bradford Museum: National New Media Museum

As part of my dissertation research into interactive design within public spaces I visited Bradford Media Museum to see how they've approached using interactive displays. From what I could see, the visitors of the museum seemed to engage a lot more with the interactive displays such as the TV sets in comparison to the more passive displays e.g. photographs/models.



A concave mirror, that gives the impression the reflection is protruding.



Mega zoom, have the control over cctv style cameras



Focussing a camera image



Spin the wheel to mix the colours into grey



The witches head appears out of the darkness when you press a button





Choose a TV programme to be in...



...and act on the blue screen and see yourself within the context of the programme



A news desk, read out a news report and be recorded



Choose with screen to watch/edit



Follow a voice over of a director and have people use the camera to film you. The video is fed to screens surrounding the set.





Choose how to send the TV signal, through cable/satellite/terrestrial/WEB. The lights show the signal moving, this one showing the cable signal.





The four options to choose from



Demonstration of photocells. By blocking out the light the signal is disrupted.





Feedback terminal, alternative to traditional comment book









Flip books



Touch screen information



3D photos





Flip books/film

Essay Proposal

Essay topic:

Media sensationalism: How is fear used by the media?

Main issues addressed:

How do newspapers use fear as a way of gaining some sort of control over audiences?
How reports favour certain members of society and demonize others.

Looking at news coverage from 9/11

Theoretical approaches:

Semiotics, Ideology, Marxism

Theorists/writers:

Stanley Cohen
Noam Chomsky
Jonathan Bignell
Dick Hebdige

Resources:

Cohen, S. (1973) 'Folk Devils and Moral Panics: Creation of Mods and Rocker', Location, HarperCollins.
Moores, S. (2000) 'Media and Everyday Life in Modern Society', Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press
Chomsky, N. (1998) 'Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media', Location, Vintage
Bignall, J. (2004) 'Media Semiotics', Location, Manchester University Press

anxietyculture.com
articlebase.com

Altheide, D.,Michalowski, R. 'Fear In the News: A Discourse of Control', Arizona

Globalisation

Reality, Virtuality & Hyperreality

Communication Theory

Adorno Vs Popular Music

According to Adorno there are two spheres of music; popular music and serious music. Popular music is considered to be 'standardized' even when this is avoided. This 'standardization' refers to both technical aspects and the actual content of the song (lyrics).
Due to the similarity of popular songs, Adorno argues that even if details are removed from the song the listener can supply the 'framework'. The listener does not even need to listen to the song, as it is composed in a way that 'dictates' the way it should be heard.
Listeners believe that they're making an individual choice but infact it's been pre-digested for them. For example, record labels make decisions on what people will like and the listeners can choose between types of music i.e genres.
A song can be enforced by being everywhere, this is referred to as plugging. People will then recognise it and associate recognition with liking it. As long as there is a gimmick and is plugged any song can be successful.
There are two types of mass behaviour in response to popular music; 'emotional' and 'rhythmically obedient'.
'Emotional' responses are caused by listeners identifying with the story in the song, this reponse can also be linked to film and tv.
'Rhythmically obedient' responses cause a desire to obey the beat of the song.


Here is an example of a music video which I believe supports Adorno's theory:



The chosen song is "Axel F - Crazy Frog".
Through use of plugging and a gimmick this song managed to become No.1. It makes use of a pre-existing song mixed with the Crazy Frog ringtone. I can't imagine that many listeners would respond emotionally to this song and is more likely to cause rhythmically obedient behaviour.

Psychoanalysis and the gaze