SALMEDIA

SMS Webpage: http://webspace.newschool.edu/~shars273/

Bridge to Next Semester…

1)      What is that I am trying to investigate in my practice? What I am most passionate about?

I am really trying to investigate the impact Media has on people. I am planning to conduct a lot of research behind this aspect. The reason I even wanted to study media was because of the negative way the media had depicted Muslims after September 11 and the rise of Islamophobia in the West.  I found these courses of events very interesting and knew that to some extent the media controls our perceptions unconsciously in how we should view the world around us. I’m really passionate about the “business” aspect of media. That’s why I am currently in the midst of obtaining the media management certificate at The New School. I see myself being a “CEO” of a major media network conglomerate one day, for whom, right now Arabs and Muslims, but I envision it growing to every culture.  It would be interesting to see and conduct a study of the impact and perceptions people have on news stories conducted about Islam, but produced by Muslims, or a story or news about African culture, conducted only by someone of African descent and so on and so forth. Then compare stories in the same topic or view but other different cultures and see the difference. Who knows 10-15 years down the line there will be a new media network conglomerate in America called SMS! Called Shattering Muslim Stereotypes or to relate it to everyone and every culture Shattering Media Stereotypes. Instead of CNN, ABC, or FOX, etc., that would be my dream come true.  I am just taking things one step at a time and this journey has been nothing but fruitful and exciting.

2)      What are my strengths and weaknesses?

Well, I have to say this class helped me brush on my “public-speaking skills.” I personally never really had to present that much, because studying biology as undergrad, all our work was just submitted via lab reports etc. There would be presentations here and there but not too much. I did take one speech class but still not many opportunities to talk in front of people. This was a huge change for me, something I wasn’t use to. Yes, I admit I do have speech phobia at times. This class helped me strengthen this weakness, and to relax!! But also to share my work in front of people, this class matured me in so many ways. Videos are also my weakness, taking pictures too. I’m really not the type of person who makes videos or takes pictures all the time, just for occasions and Kodak moments. This class pushed me to think outside the box and be creative, to use what you have and making it a masterpiece. I can really brush on my video editing and Photoshop skills. Hopefully, I can use it without using my editing process notes. My memory can be so bad sometimes! So far my video quality is “you tube worthy” which is a start. In terms of production, I am okay with editing. I have a great strength in paying attention to details. Just takes a lot, a whole lot of patience. I learned a lot from audio editing and paying attention to the smallest detail, everything had to be “perfect” in order for it to be aired live. I’m so used to audio/radio and being behind a microphone, getting the visual aspect was a big step for me as well. And, I’m good at coming up with new “ideas” for campaigns, I’m usually very theoretical and conceptual, which I hope to use for future projects and campaigns.

3)      What are the core elements missing from my practice? How will I obtain them?

I really need to figure out creative ways to reach out to people, so they can care for the ideas I am passionate about. I really want to be professional and presentable. I believe these two factors are vital and a key to success. Even if I were to conduct campaigns and present it in such a way that can strike an interest, I need to not only be confident in my work but have more faith. My resources are lacking as well. I looked into very cool stuff the other day with “information design” which really sparked my interest, regarding the advocacy work I intend to do as well. I want to learn more about it. I feel I can obtain a bit of all of this by merely networking! And actually working and putting my ideas into practice. I want to incorporate my ideas and work for non-profit organizations. I need to meet people, go to conferences, share my work etc. and explore more of what The New School has to offer.

4)      What was my preferred medium before this course? After the course?

Before this class I preferred just my microphone and an audio recorder. Now, I feel I got out of that shell and I’m not afraid to explore and try new things! I can’t say what I “prefer now,” I still love audio. But video and web design is something I want to enhance my skills in. “Shadow of Modesty” encouraged me to create short sweet videos about Islam that can give powerful and meaningful messages. I see this as something like a youth series for young women. I’m actually thinking of connecting and contacting my friend who started an Islamic Magazine and combining the two together. As far as web design, I see this as something I need predominately in the future. Everyone uses the internet! Well at least I think so. Especially because I want to manage my own company, I want to be interacting with people and be able to strike their interest. I’ll probably take a class in website management or design in the future, no doubt about that.

5)      What is the next topic, theme, or question I would like to investigate in my next project?

I recently conducted a survey regarding “Shattering Muslim Stereotypes” in the media and got interesting results. I know surveys are not out to prove anything but they can sure help grasp some answers to complex issues. I wanted to know what activity people would most likely participate in, and “online discussion” got the highest percentage. I want to explore on that idea and figure out innovative and creative ways in connecting people. The first topic on my list is “media-analysis” talks. Where I hope will strike a conversation. I also hope to research more on “social media” or take a class/internship in social media. I want to connect with people get them engaged. This is my primary step and mission.

6)      What is something I learned in this class that I can teach someone else?

I can teach someone how to use prezi, start the process in Photoshop and explain what most of the tools do. I can explain to them a step by step editing process in using final cut pro. I can teach them how make a short video and, also how to start on an html website. Organizational skills! Input, output, and build folder. I’ll never ever forget them. Furthermore, assist in exploring an idea and making it come to light, by creating a story, a campaign, or artistic image or design.

7)      What is something I will try to do next semester that I have never done before?

Share my ideas and goals to larger groups of people. I have to believe in myself before anyone else can believe in me, I really believe that. This class really got me out of my “shy” shell. I want to share my work with other people, because my company ideas will never flourish! If no one knows about it! I need to constantly achieve feedback and constructive criticism to go to the next level. Next semester I probably would sign up for final ruff cut presentations where I can share my work or research to professors, students, etc. I actually do have very good news :) My first opportunity is coming up next month, I will tell you how in person tomorrow.

8)      What is something I will try to do every day or week that I did not do before this course?

Updating myself! What I mean by that actually maintain a blog! And most what I am thinking, my ideas, and any small projects that I would be conducting. Also, now that I have a twitter account, I will maintain that as well. I do use a Facebook, but a blog is more personalized and something I can do to share my work with others in order to gain feedback all the time.

9)      What is a creative project that I would do with a budget of $ 150 million?

That’s an interesting question, I never really thought about it before, maybe work on making my own media network conglomerate for TV and Radio. To be more specific perhaps use “Radio Tahrir” (the program on WBAI Pacifica Radio 99.5 FM in NY) and spread this station nationwide.

10)  How I could do the same project with a budget of $150?

There’s a “Radio Lab” at the New School, that’s somewhere I can start from. I can buy materials; like a media tool kit to get something like this started.

Mood collage of pictures of stereotype in the Media (business-like mood)

color pallet

Home page

Week 12: Designing the Interactive Space (Part 1):

Website Analysis:

Website: http://www.soliya.net/

Analysis: The soliya non-profit organization is intended to serve students form diverse backgrounds across the globe. The website introduces their new technologies that enable cross-cultural communication and collaborative action.  Their projects are designed to build a global of young adults and empowering them to bridge the divide between the West and Arab & Muslim World. Which is accomplished by connect programs and innovative networks using the latest web conferencing technology, which also offers facilitators collaborative leadership conflict resolution skills.

Reversed-engineered Site Map:

For a webpage that I am considering in designing is of a collaborative & resourceful website that gains awareness with individuals in the community. Essentially it can benefit Arab, Muslims, and everyone. The target audience would particularly be the journalists in America. That would provide media analysis research (by presenting charts that reflect the media bias within the media network conglomerates such as: Fox News, ABC, NBC, etc.). Provide legal assistance for the Arab and Muslim communities to take action and speak out against the violations of defamation in the media. Create media training workshops for the youth in how to become better leaders in communications. Provide resource of all the TV, radio, and newspapers in America for Arabs and Muslims. Benefit on a national scale, promote peace and understanding amongst journalists and Arabs and Muslims. I am planning to call it essentially SMS which is my full name, Sally Monther Sharif but for the company’s theme, it would stand for Shattering Muslim Stereotypes (SMS). If this idea goes well I want to be able to reach out for all ethnic backgrounds and just generally call it SMS Shattering Media Stereotypes. To incorporate more into the theme of SMS, why not through texting! Interact more via SMS using these interactive SMS marketing techniques: http://www.smsmatrix.com/info-nonprofit-marketing.html, http://www.sumotext.com/news/SMS-Giving-Services.html , http://www.clubtexting.com/groups/non-profits.html.- “Club Texting is the perfect communication tool for Non-Profit Organizations to alert staff members, students, applicants, and alumni.  Non-Profit Organizations can use our SMS text messaging software for internal communication as well as to reach out to perspective volunteers and collect donations via a mobile marketing campaign.”

1. Homepage

·         Who we are

·         What we do

·         Programs offered

2. Action Tool Bar

·         Get involved; your voice, your world

·         Career/ volunteer opportunities

·         Future Events

·         Young Professionals & The Youth

·         Contact Us

3. Resources

·         Websites ( all the TV, radio, & newspapers)

·         Media Kits (for the youth)

·         Testimonials of the program

·         Journalists in America

4. Research Institute

·   Statistics (charts, media analysis, etc.) of bias content

·   Papers

·   Media Outlets

5. Productions/ Projects

·   Visuals (videos, power point presentations etc.)

·   Audio (interviews)

·   Photography 

1)      What is Wabi-Sabi and why is it difficult to define?

Wabi-Sabi is the beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. Wabi-Sabi is a beauty of things modest, humble, and unconventional. It’s simple, artless, and unsophisticated. I think Wabi-Sabi is difficult to define because it is not to everyone’s liking. It’s an extinction of a beauty. In addition, because people need the right disposition and most Japanese people never really learned about Wabi-Sabi in the intellectual context, because there weren’t any book or teachers to learn it from. The question whether this difficulty of understanding its meaning was intentional or not, was indeed intentionally thwarted.

2)      How is Wabi-Sabi different from modernism? How is the same?

There are many similarities and differences with Wabi-Sabi and modernism. The differences are: modernism is primarily expressed in the public domain, while Wabi-Sabi is in the private; domain; modernism implies a logical rational world-view while Wabi-Sabi implies an intuitive worldview modernism is absolute while Wabi-Sabi is relative. Modernism looks for universal, prototypical solution while Wabi-Sabi looks for personal, idiosyncratic solutions; modernism is mass-produced/modular and Wabi-Sabi is one of a kind/variable; modernism expresses faith in progress; modernism is future oriented but Wabi-Sabi is present oriented; modernism believes in the control of nature yet Wabi-Sabi believes in the fundamental uncontrollability of nature; modernism romanticizes technology and Wabi-Sabi romanticizes nature; modernism represents people adapting to machines; while Wabi-Sabi is people adapting to nature; modernism is geometric form while Wabi-Sabi is the organic organization of form (Koren, 26-27). The similarities, they apply to all manner of manmade objects, spaces, and designs, both are strong reactions against dominant, established sensibilities of their time. In addition, they both avoid any decoration that is not integral to structure; both are abstract, nonrepresentational ideals of beauty; and both have readily identifiable surface characteristics (Koren, 25-36).

3)      What is the Wabi-Sabi State of mind? What are its moral precepts?

Wabi-Sabi’s metaphysical basis: are things are devolving toward, or evolving from, nothingness within its universe. When the universe is destructing it’s also simultaneously constructing. Whatever new things that come out, are essentially coming out of nothingness. The universe is in constant motion toward or away from potential (Koren, 45). Its spiritual values consist of 3 factors that, truth comes from the observation of nature, that greatness exists in the inconspicuous and overlooked details, and beauty can be coaxed out of ugliness. Furthermore, that all things are impermanent, are imperfect, and incomplete.

4)      What is the Wabi-Sabi state of mind? What are its moral precepts?

Wabi-Sabi’s state of mind is the acceptance of the inevitable and an appreciation of the cosmic order. Its state of mind is often conveyed through poetry. Its moral precepts get rid of all that is unnecessary and focuses on the intrinsic and ignores material hierarchy of generally stopping our preoccupation of success and enjoy the unencumbered life (Koren, 58). Gaining this type of life style is not an easy task and needs a lot of effort. We need to sometimes learn to accept things the way they are.

5)      What are the material qualities of Wabi-Sabi?

The material qualities are the suggestion of a natural process which are irregular, intimate, unpretentious, Earthy, murky, and simple. There flaws testify to the history of use and misuse. And that these factors suggest a strong character. In regular things like a glass that’s broken up and put back together again, with glue. They are small and intimate, but offer a tranquility vibe. It’s unpretentious and demands its center of attention. It’ earthy and its material are not far from its initial form. They can be murky and have an unclear quality. But, it’s also simple at its core. 

This picture signifies a Wabi-Sabi. This was a personally a random photograph I found on a

Friend’s profile on Facebook. I thought of Wabi-Sabi when I saw it because it reminded of the

One of the spiritual things of Wabi-Sabi which is: beauty can be coaxed out of ugliness (pg.51)

This Picture at a glance looks like an infectious disease, a plague coming out of the paper or title or like a nasty bug. But when you overlook its details you begin to see its beauty of colored a rooted plant. The decomposition of things makes the nature imperfect but Wabi-Sabi teaches us to accept things the way they are. The state of mind of Wabi-Sabi is the appreciation of the cosmic order (pg. 57). The change of coloring and structure of the plant root represents the physical and deep structures that underlie in our everyday world (57). Its material is earthy and not evidently far from its original form. 

La Jetee

Act 1-“Setup”

Who are the main characters (protagonist and antagonist)? How do they relate to one another? What are the time and place settings in the film? What is the dramatic premise and dramatic situation? What is the inciting incident (or precipitating event, i.e. what sets the film’s plot into motion)? What is the first plot point or reversal (i.e. when the hero takes on the problem)?

The main characters in film is the man (Davis Hanich), who is the prisoner used as a subject for the scientists’ research on time travel. Also, the woman (Helene Chatelain) is who the man recalls in his past vague childhood memory. And, finally the scientists who research and conduct the time travelling experiment on the man.

The settings in the film take place in France (at Orly Airport; Jetty), at an unknown future time, but definitely after the Third World War.  The story is about a prisoner who is chosen after World War III, by research scientists who want to send the man to call from the past and future, in order to rescue the present, the inciting incident; what sets the plot in motion in the movie, is a vague scene of a man getting murdered at the Jetty; Orly Airport. The first plot point is when the man receives obsessive memories of the woman from his childhood.

Act 2-“Confrontation”

What are the obstacles, first culmination (the point where the hero seems close to achieving his objective), and midpoint?

Within Act II is the man’s quality time developing a romantic relationship with the woman in the past. The midpoint of film is when he finally points to the woman where he is from at the museum and gets travelled back to the present. The man then realizes that would be his last encounter with the woman after she has finally found out the truth.

Act 3-“Resolution”

What is the climax and denouement? What do you make of the “surprise” ending?

The point at which the plot researches its maximum tension is when he goes back to the past and sees the woman again, at the jetty. The denouement is when the man gets assassinated from an agent of his jailers.

It was crazy how his childhood memory of a man getting murdered ends up being him. This movie really takes you on a twisted mind loop!

How do the sequential still images reflect the themes and narrative of the film?