A preview or review? I may be a little late on this. Anywho...
Kaitlin, a senior English major at Saint Joseph's University, discusses the film genre that has stood the test of time, musicals. She reveals her love for musicals and begs the question why these films are so popular. She discusses how musicals can communicate and tell a story in a way that no other film genre can.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Meaning in Musicals and All that Jazz...
SO...I think I finally landed upon an idea for my Final TED Talk.
I decided to talk about one of my favorite film genres of all time: musicals!
Musicals have so much more depth to them than what appears on the surface. The stories and songs have so much value and meaning to them, and I would love to share this with class in a 5 minute presentation. I figured one of the main components of any TED Talk is passion, and I am most certainly passionate about musicals. I am not passionate about public speaking in the least bit, but I always found it easier to talk in front of a group of people when it's something you actually care about.
Not too sure on the specifics of my talk yet, I'm still working out the kinks. But I can tell you that I am excited!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Case Study: Twitter
Here check out my slide presentation on Twitter:
So for the past month I have started using and experimenting with Twitter. Before I didn't really understand Twitter...at all. What's the point of having a total seperate site with Facebook statuses, when you can get that on Facebook? But alas I was proven wrong...Twitter ain't too bad. I've learned by writing my own little blurbs under 140 character or less for my classmates to read turned out to be kind of fun. Then again, I'm easily amused. Following my classmates as well celebrities ranging from Britney Spears to Mindy Kaling can actually be pretty entertaining. Also it's yet another website that will help me procrastinate and distract me from doing anything sort of productive.
Celebrities especially love to use Twitter and I emphasized that in my presentation. It's such an easy form of promotion! And I'm all of it, because it's kind of honest in a way. For the most part these promotions come from the celebrities themselves, and plus I choose to follow them in the first place. Nothing's shoved down my throat.
But Twitter can hold more value than just a form of entertainment. This is another point I stressed in my presentation. Twitter is becoming a whole news source in itself. Anyone can be a reporter through the use of the internet and I find that amazing. People can protest Prop 8 or Iranian elections. Victims of the 2008 earthquake in China can warn others quick and fast.
So is Twitter successful? Yes! Very much so. In fact, Twitter's success only continues to grow day by day. And honestly? If Twitter became the new Facebook like Facebook became the new Myspace, I don't think I would mind too much. After all, the only reason why I even go on Facebook nowadays is to read other people's statuses. I could do without the constant invitations to Farmville and the notifications of people being tagged in photo albums that I won't look at. Oh this girl I went to grade school with got drunk this weekend and took over 500 pictures of herself? I don't care. I've had my fair share of Facebook stalking, and I'm pretty over it by now. Twitter seems to be a more healthy and convienent way to stay in contact with other people.
And the only way to have fun on Twitter is to follow others and have others follow you! This is what I tried to illustate in my visual map.
Kaitlin Twitter Presentation
View more presentations from ksouth24.
So for the past month I have started using and experimenting with Twitter. Before I didn't really understand Twitter...at all. What's the point of having a total seperate site with Facebook statuses, when you can get that on Facebook? But alas I was proven wrong...Twitter ain't too bad. I've learned by writing my own little blurbs under 140 character or less for my classmates to read turned out to be kind of fun. Then again, I'm easily amused. Following my classmates as well celebrities ranging from Britney Spears to Mindy Kaling can actually be pretty entertaining. Also it's yet another website that will help me procrastinate and distract me from doing anything sort of productive.
Celebrities especially love to use Twitter and I emphasized that in my presentation. It's such an easy form of promotion! And I'm all of it, because it's kind of honest in a way. For the most part these promotions come from the celebrities themselves, and plus I choose to follow them in the first place. Nothing's shoved down my throat.
But Twitter can hold more value than just a form of entertainment. This is another point I stressed in my presentation. Twitter is becoming a whole news source in itself. Anyone can be a reporter through the use of the internet and I find that amazing. People can protest Prop 8 or Iranian elections. Victims of the 2008 earthquake in China can warn others quick and fast.
So is Twitter successful? Yes! Very much so. In fact, Twitter's success only continues to grow day by day. And honestly? If Twitter became the new Facebook like Facebook became the new Myspace, I don't think I would mind too much. After all, the only reason why I even go on Facebook nowadays is to read other people's statuses. I could do without the constant invitations to Farmville and the notifications of people being tagged in photo albums that I won't look at. Oh this girl I went to grade school with got drunk this weekend and took over 500 pictures of herself? I don't care. I've had my fair share of Facebook stalking, and I'm pretty over it by now. Twitter seems to be a more healthy and convienent way to stay in contact with other people.
And the only way to have fun on Twitter is to follow others and have others follow you! This is what I tried to illustate in my visual map.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Social Objects
Something that never fails to fascinate is how we're all somehow connected to each
other by some sort of fashion. From listening to Jyri Engestrom's lecture on social objects, I find he embraces the subject in a way I've never thought about before. He believes we're connected through "social objects", whether it be through photographs online or potatoes. It's very interesting and something I will love to talk about once I get the chance. Until then, here's a video of his lecture:
other by some sort of fashion. From listening to Jyri Engestrom's lecture on social objects, I find he embraces the subject in a way I've never thought about before. He believes we're connected through "social objects", whether it be through photographs online or potatoes. It's very interesting and something I will love to talk about once I get the chance. Until then, here's a video of his lecture:
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Imma do the things that I wanna do
I look back at my use of the internet since I was a wee lil' 8 year old, and realized that my main purpose of using the internet was for social purposes. Remember the days when people still used and paid for America Online? I do. I especially remember not even being able to instant message people, because my dad unfortunately signed me up for "Kids Only" settings. So I had to resort talking to my friends through e-mail and chat-rooms. Ah...memories.
Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that what seemed like a useless form of entertainment at the time, now serves as a permanent form in memory. Why? Because my use of the internet and the social tools out there have made major and not so major impacts on my life. I can still remember some conversations that took place 5 years ago through IM. Some of these conversations back in the day would have to take place face to face, but I resorted to having these conversations online. I can still remember unnecessary "drama" that took place between my friends that came up in the first place because of MySpace.
My generation pretty much grew up online. We most definitely part of the "Content Nation". It's fun to think of what we were able to experience as a result of social media, but at the same time it's still a whole new frontier to take on as there are no mistakes from previous generations to learn from. The Star Wars Kid we talked about in class is a perfect example. Another incident is about this one teenage girl a couple of years who committed suicide over a cruel prank played on her on Myspace. It's really no question that social media has brought both positive and negative consequences into our lives.
One good thing about YouTube? Music videos. Like this one from Weezer...
Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that what seemed like a useless form of entertainment at the time, now serves as a permanent form in memory. Why? Because my use of the internet and the social tools out there have made major and not so major impacts on my life. I can still remember some conversations that took place 5 years ago through IM. Some of these conversations back in the day would have to take place face to face, but I resorted to having these conversations online. I can still remember unnecessary "drama" that took place between my friends that came up in the first place because of MySpace.
My generation pretty much grew up online. We most definitely part of the "Content Nation". It's fun to think of what we were able to experience as a result of social media, but at the same time it's still a whole new frontier to take on as there are no mistakes from previous generations to learn from. The Star Wars Kid we talked about in class is a perfect example. Another incident is about this one teenage girl a couple of years who committed suicide over a cruel prank played on her on Myspace. It's really no question that social media has brought both positive and negative consequences into our lives.
One good thing about YouTube? Music videos. Like this one from Weezer...
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Group Videos
So I'm really upset that I wasn't able to go to Friday's class and see everyone's videos! I was really looking forward to seeing what all the other groups were doing and how their hard work paid off. I know me and my group worked hard on our video, "Beauty". I'm really proud of my group and our video, and I wish I got to see everyone's reactions and their feedback!
Xtra Cool Interview
Hey y'all. I really dig this website where it lets you make movies for free (Mostly). Check out my group's video:
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About Me
- kaitlinsouthron
- Welcome to my blog, "rants and ramblings". The title is pretty much self-explanatory, I just to like rant and ramble about I things I learn in my communications class and elsewhere. I'm a senior English major, and I love write. I'm hoping to find a career after I graduate where I can employ this love someway somehow!