Task 1d: 2d images

I have never owned a Flickr account before so this was something new to me but straight away I realised it is not much different from Instagram of which I am a regular user.
Creating the account was simple and straight forward, and I enjoying getting all of my performance photos together.

I decided to include my professional headshots as well as pictures from my college shows and assessments throughout my 3 years. As I only graduated in July and haven't yet performed professionally, this is a collection of my favourite photos of my performance experiences.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/118039117@N06/

 

 

We are a visual consuming society therefore the use of images and audio visuals are a great way of grabbing attention and are therefore a very important and easy selling tool! All the thousands of photo apps make it easier than ever for people to create great images from the click of a button.

 

An image can say a thousand words, often far more effective than just words. I know that pictures are far more attractive and interesting to me than just a page full of non stop writing.

 

But!...images in social media can also have a negative effect on its users for example; can social media images affect peoples body image?

we are now exposed to more and more images of unattainable beauty thanks to social networking, this can put pressure on people to have the perfect bodies.

 

Fantasy, reality, and painful comparisons

 “When looking at images of girls in a magazine almost all us know that they are altered electronically to appear perfect. When it comes to social media such as Facebook, most believe that they are looking at raw pictures, or ‘real girls.’ Whether this is true or not, they are ultimately used as a standard of comparison. --Mary - See more at: http://proud2bme.org/node/244#sthash.FTXEjHx6.dpuf

 

So although I do believe images in social media are a great way to share pictures amongst friends and family and an important tool in most professional businesses, there are also implications of this use which can have a negative effect on readers.

Task 1c: Audio-visual

This is the task I have been dreading and putting off all week! I hate the sound of my own voice so making a YouTube video of just me taking straight to the camera is my worst nightmare!
Whenever I have to speak in public, even just in class at college I always speak to fast and mumble and slur my words! You'd think being a performer this sort of thing would come naturally, but no! Give me a song to sing over speaking in public any day!
It took me about 20 time to finally be remotely happy with the video so here goes:

Starting out on BAPP:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TfE5jg5kWc

Task 1b: Professional Communication Technologies

For a long time now I have been a regular user of Web 2.0, but before reading 'Reader 1' I didn't even know what it was and after reading other students blogs, I realised I wasn't the only one.

This is my understanding of the difference between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0:

The internet was still only starting out when I was born, so its crazy to think how far its come in 20 years. Web 1.0 was created in the early 90's, it is a one way communication whereby the creator of the website gives information to the visitor and that's where the interaction ends.

Web 2.0 wasn't created until the late 90's- early 00's when I was still quite young, but old enough to be interested in this new way of communication which now a days our generation rely on. Web 2.0 is a two way communication whereby the reader and the creator interact and allows the reader to become the creator.

All social networking sites are included in Web 2.0, the site that I have been using the longest is Facebook, so that was the one that I decided to break down and show why I love it so much, and use it everyday:

• Members have their own page where they can upload and share whatever they want
• It can be accessed anywhere in the world
• The user owns their own date and can delete/add when they want to
• It is user friendly, quick and easy to use
• Most importantly its a fantastic way to interact with friends and family to share, connect, comment, like and collaborate.

After breaking down all the amazing things Facebook allows us to do, I realise that all the above point apply to every other social networking sites I use everyday such as twitter, Instagram and now blogger!

I joined Facebook in 2007, and have been hooked ever since, its the first thing I check in the morning and the last I check at night! Living miles away from home whilst training at college, Facebook allowed me to keep in contact with all my friend and family at home. Now I have left college and am living back at home in the North, it is also a great place to find out about upcoming auditions and classes through groups such as The Hustle, Dance Cast and many more.

Instagram and Twitter are another site I use daily. The great thing about these sites is that as well as friends and family, you can also follow your favourite celebrities! I love being able to see what all my friends are upto aswell as the Beckhams or the cast of TOWIE!

As teaching is something I am hoping to go in to, I am very aware of the dangers of using social media sites. Teachers have to consider confidentiality when working so closely with children. So using sites such as Facebook teachers need to be extra careful about what the say and discuss with other users, and be sure not to upload pictures, statues or comments about students.

On a bigger scale, Web 2.0 has changed the way we communicate, there are no boundaries and anyone, anywhere can be a user. I think the reason Web 2.0 is so popular is its relaxed approach, its not a place to be judged and there is no right or wrong, its for you to share anything you want with no pressure at all. It can be beneficial both professionally and personally is one of the greatest inventions of our time and I believe something we couldn't live without!

Task 1a: Professional Profile

Ok so here I go, my first blog! After spending most of the day reading through what seems like millions of pages about module 1, I am finally getting to grips with it.

After reading through some other blogs, I now have an understanding of how to write and go into detail on my own blog.
I'm not very good at bigging myself up, so the easiest way for me to start was to draw a diagram of all my experiences/work both theatre based and also waitressing etc.
I was actually surprised at how much was on there, and doing the diagram made me feel really confident about myself.

I have written it up in my 'About Me' section of my blog, so please feel free to read and leave any comments on how I could improve :) Thanks.