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Week 11

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Week 10 - Unpacking the Gamer stereotype

Who is a gamer?

As a rather broad definition, we could say that a ‘gamer’ is simply someone who plays video games. That may be on a console, PC or phone/tablet. 

Although I have personally known a diverse group of avid gamers, there is a typical image that springs to mind when thinking of one: this is a young middle-class man who is either white or east-Asian (Hardwick 2020) and spends his day locked up in a dark bedroom in front of his PC living of flaming hot Cheetos and microwave meals with a monster energy drink to the side. A case in point; a solid 30% of the customers I serve at EB Games.

Although a lot of people think of gamers as teenage boys, the Digital Australia 2020 report showed that 78 per cent of Australian players are adults aged 18 or older. Though the average age of gamers had steadily risen from 24 years old in 2005 to 34 years old in 2015, that seems to have now levelled out with the figure sticking at 34 for this year. (Brand, 2020)

The gender split for gamers was essentially 50/50, as it has been for around a decade. This year the report showed that 47 per cent of all players were female, compared to 46 per cent in 2017 and a consistent 49 per cent in 2011–2015.

The report also looked into why people play video games, with 74% of respondents saying games contributed to their emotional wellbeing, and 67% saying they helped maintain social connections. Gaming is an inherently social activity, with a gamer likely being part of many different communities as they play different games and participate in various chat forums and events. There is a strong community of gaming individuals, not just online but in person events too. Even games that are single-player can be vividly interactive as players stream walkthroughs, engage with fans in real time, and chat with friends over Discord. Yet what is perhaps the unifying force that binds all these ‘mini-communities’ is the “mutual production and reciprocal exchange of knowledge” (Jenkins, cited in Hardwick 2020), where players continuously strive to improve their gameplay and the game itself  (modifications of a video game)

Interestingly 42% of people aged 65 years or older play games, with many in that age category saying that they played to keep their minds active. Men under 50 play more than women the same age, women between the ages of 60 and 75 play much more than men in that age group. (Taylor, 2018)

The culture of online gaming is changing, including more diversity and inclusivity. Gaming provides a means of social interactions for those who might not otherwise be able to interact with others.

Taylor, TL 2018, ‘Broadcasting ourselves’ (chapter 1), in Watch Me Play: Twitch and the Rise of Game Live Streaming, Princeton University Press, pp.1-23

Brand, J. E., Jervis, J., Huggins, P., & Wison, T. (2019). Digital Australia 2020. Eveleigh, NSW: IGEA. 

Hardwick, T 2020, ‘Gaming Communities, Social Gaming and Live Streaming’, MDA20009 Digital Communities, Learning materials via Canvas, Swinburne University of Technology, 

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Week 9 - Political Power of the Web

Political parties use organised conversation to tell a story. We call this a campaign, what they are trying to persuade, This is achieved through the campaign strategy and series of planned actions working towards particular goals.

Each social media platform is used by political campaign agencies and individuals to target certain objectives or publics to reach set goals. This includes the use of Facebook, Youtube Instagram and most popular Twitter. Youtube content can allow videos for longer targeted information, this is home of the “prosumer voice: messaging and modeling” (Stickels, 2020) The platform also allows for ads for billions of monthly users to view, this can be campaign targeted based on previous video views. Twitter is also a popular educational platform for political communication. The iconic “#Auspol” has seen Australians through many political bloodbaths, including the unusual phenomenon of having five prime ministers in five years. Short for Australian politics, #auspol is most often used for commentary and rumour spreading about the schemes of the federal government. (Bogle, 2016) This has also been seen if not more in the US Election process and current President Trump communication. During the 2008 US Presidential Campaign saw the beginning of the use of social media for political advantage, the 2008 Obama campaign represented the first ‘social media election’ (Gunn, 2017)

Its not just political campaigns that use these methods and platforms. Social activism follows a similar but not always as well structured method of communication. This can provoke change in society, to better the community and the world. Groups and organisations can effectively en masse in a short amount of time, and keep the topics in the headlines for weeks, “defying the typically fickle attention span of the news cycle” (Alvarez, Lauzon, Zaiontz, 2019)

There are 4 roles those leading the moment must do to invoke change (Moyer, 2017) Social movement activists need first to be seen by the public as responsible citizens. They must win the respect and, ultimately, the acceptance of the majority of ordinary citizens in order for their movements to succeed. Consequently effective citizen activists need to say “Yes!” to those fundamental principles, values, and symbols of a good society that are also accepted by the general public. At the same time, activists must be rebels who say a loud “No!” and protest social conditions and institutional policies and practices that violate core societal values and principles. Activists need to be change agents who work to educate, organise and involve the general public to actively oppose present policies and seek positive, constructive solutions. Finally, activists must also be reformers who work with the official political and judicial structures to incorporate solutions into new laws and the policies and practices of society’s public and private institutions. Then they must work to get them accepted as the conventional wisdom of mainstream society. 

Alvarez N., Lauzon C., Zaiontz K. (2019) 'On Sustainable Tools for Precarious Times: An Introduction'. In: Alvarez N., Lauzon C., Zaiontz K. (eds) Sustainable Tools for Precarious Times. Contemporary Performance InterActions. Palgrave Macmillan

Enli, Gunn 2017, “Twitter as an arena for the authentic outsider: Exploring the social media campaigns of Trump and Clinton in the 2016 presidential election”, European Journal of Communication, vol 32, no 1 pp 50-61

#auspol: The Twitter tag that Australia can't do without, Mashable March 6 2018 https://mashable.com/2016/03/21/twitter-australia-auspol/#4tvfXtsZUEqV

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Week 8 - Not so Insta-perfect procedure #selfie

With its focus on aesthetics, Instagram has become almost synonymous with 'body image'. Often cited as the reason for an increase in demand for cosmetic procedures, as it goes in hand with Facetune. At the same time, however, those that receive surgical and cosmetic enhancements also express dissatisfaction about the results. Due to higher expectations or sinister outcomes from average and sometimes not qualified medical professionals. It’s the role of public health policy to adequately educate people about the risks and benefits involved.

Aggressive new trends and cheap deals are increasingly targeting vulnerable customers with unlicensed facilities, low-cost imitation and online influencers emerging on the market. “Cosmetic surgery is more popular than ever, but if proper safety measures aren’t followed it can be extremely dangerous. That’s why we’re ensuring patients are aware of the risks and receive the highest standards of care.” Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos

The rise of “cosmetic tours' ' allows Individuals to travel and receive cosmetic procedures and surgeries for a fraction of the price in their home country. Flights, accommodation and a fresh set of breast enhancement and a cheeky nose job all for the low price of $6k and only a 4 hour flight from Perth. Bali, Malaysia, Thailand are all hot spots for this low cost option. Influencers, C grade celebrities and naive individuals are walking categologies for these companies promising 5 star service and treatment. Instagram and word of mouth are the common ways of publicity for these companies.

Brands are also cashing in on this. Marketing with the use of pornification template, enhancing features or emphasised femininity (small waist, slim jaw, high cheekbones, fat ass etc) ( Daniels, 2016) Fashion Nova, Skimms, House of CB, White Fox, all these businesses marketing of this hyperrealistic woman.

Social media represents a platform that can be used by plastic surgeons to advance collective goals of patient education and informing the public that board certification as well as adequate training matters. (Dorfman and co, 2018) In 2019 the Victoria Government, in conjunction with the Health Department created a campaign highlighting the dangers of unregulated cosmetic procedures in a bit protect Victorians from the horrors that can be unleashed by dodgy and unlicensed “medical staff”

It’s important to let the public be educated and understand the risks associated with these procedures and not get swept up in the culture of plastic and Facetune.

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Week 7 - Fierce, Fast and unethical made fashion industry

Prada, Dior, Givenchy and those you would find on the streets of the rich and famous are goals many inspire to have. A respected industry and quality pieces that will last a lifetime many will splurge for. “Staid affair” leads these fashion greats to design pieces that cost hundreds to thousands of $$$ (Sull and Turconi, 2008) These designer prices prider wears with feels of lux and high class. Almost a sense of such creates a sense of social and cultural acceptance.

For many this isn't achievable and with a growing sense of consume, consume, consume with social media and other society pressure businesses are using this consumer demand to be “intrend and on market” to their advantage. The fast fashion such as Zara, H&M, Fashion Nova and even Aussie classics like Target are profiting from our greed. While these developments have had the positive effect of democratizing fashion, allowing a broad range of consumers to share in close copies of the most exclusive and expensive designers, the fast fashion model has undermined the value of intellectual property belonging to designers, dramatically expanded the industry’s carbon footprint, and promoted a culture of waste.(Brewer 2009)

Social media and other applications, love it or hate it is providing grounds to bring more to the table, including the rise in sustainable and environmentally friendly fashion. Sustainable fashion refers to those goods and services that respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life, while minimizing the use of natural resources, toxic materials and emissions of waste and pollutants over the life-cycle, so as not to jeopardize the needs of future generations. (Butler, 2018)

Sustainable fashion influencers such as Claire Goldsworthy @thefashionadvocate on instagram (pictured above) sharing their brand and lifestyle of being a fashion blogger but not with the waste of single wear items made in poor conditions. All items worn are created in Australia usually by the designer themselves. Most items are $100+ but they are made from quality and ethically made. Another app which is helping minimise the 11.9 million tons of clothing and footwear are discarded annually and the 8.2 million tons ended up in landfills is Depop. Similar to an Ebay, this marketplace app lets users buy and sell second hand clothing, accessories and shoes from all around the world. Adding individuality and uniqueness, but also helping the environment. Very nice.

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So true! Tumblr is the perfect place for discussion and connection with individuals. Loved your point on Tumblr being a democratic society  

How does Tumblr function as a digital community?

Weeks 1-5 

Being a prominent social platform such as Tumblr, the media site has experienced some very distinct and extreme changes relating to audience perception over the years; this was proven through collection and analysis of engagement data. Most recently they recovered their image, which had become associated with a “certain counter-cultural deviance”, after misuse of the site (Romano, 2018).

Now having recovered their image, the platform has become a community for progressive political discussion, an exchange of fandom content and conversation, blogging, as well as being a known open and safe space for the queer community. Tumblr’s anonymity allows its users an opportunity to create a social media presence in which they can engage with others on a very personal and intimate level, through direct messaging, blogging, as well as mixed media exchange.

Having regained their image, Tumblr has now been labelled by some as having an “air of millennial narcissism”, with the site becoming notorious for being domineered by the youth of the globe; resulting in the content becoming very niche and specific to their demographic (Romano, 2018). This exclusion is however not conscious, but instead a by-product of the site’s youthful audience and content.

Put simply the Public Sphere is a space where “public opinion can be formed”, free from threat or institutional influence (Calhoun, 1992). In reality, obtaining a public sphere is an impossible ideal, it has never been obtained, and never will be in accordance with the ideals and strict concepts which it must follow in order to fulfil the requirements of a public sphere.

Image source - https://giphy.com/gifs/harry-potter-8VLgtJqaxIlhu

Tumblr by principle will never be in accordance with the traditional understanding of the public sphere. The conceptualisations of the public sphere still remain somewhat unfairly idealised. The ideal that was once thought of, and remains thought of as the pinnacle and ultimate example of a democratic society, was so plainly undemocratic in its very principles (2002, p.11). 

Throughout the centuries since the public spheres introduction into social theory, the public sphere has been exclusive to the elite social class. Only since the turn of the technological and social media age, has the public sphere included women, people from lower social classes, as well as people of colour. It is very interesting to contrast this past version of the public sphere which was exclusive and prestigious, and seen as a controlled upper-class activity, now being revolutionised by the access that our modern technological age has allowed for.

Image source - https://giphy.com/gifs/12JgIV6zAkYFbi

Past theories have however conceptualised that the true inception of the public sphere into our society relies on a measure of “anarchy, individuality, and disagreement”, rather than the rational and the reserved discussion practised by the upper class (Papacharissi et al. 2002, p.11). Tumblr of course is known for controversy, disagreement and passionate discussion, engaging in a sense of chaos at times; meaning that Tumblr is possibly a greater representation of a democratic society, rather than the outdated pre-existing idea, instead engaging with a new inception of a modern public sphere.

With contrasting theories regarding the public sphere, what it means, as well as what it represents or reflects about society, it is almost impossible to categorise Tumblr as a representation of the public sphere, or a site who conflicts with Haberman’s theory; one thing for certain is that Tumblr is a diverse community, which allows everyone from all minorities and walks of life, to engage with an open, raw and inclusive discussion.

References

Calhoun, C 1992, Habermans and the Public Sphere, MIT Press, Massachusetts.

Papacharissi, Z 2002, ‘The internet as a public sphere’, The virtual sphere, vol.4, no.1, pp.9-27.

Romano, A 2018, Tumblr is banning adult content. It’s about so much more than porn, Vox, viewed 19th of April 2020,

<https://www.vox.com/2018/12/4/18124120/tumblr-porn-adult-content-ban-user-backlash>

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With a network hosting over 475 million blogs and 400 million monthly users in 2019, tumblr is a large digital community. While the dynamics of the platform is different to others in the social media space like Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. It’s unique way of communication of pictures, videos, GIFS, audio and large bodies of text helps communicate and build communities of a range of interests and niches.

Social media has brought the discussion of Habermas idea of a public sphere as a place where “private people come together as a public for the purpose of using reason to further critical knowledge” (Kruse, 2019) While this 1992 ideology probably didn’t constitute shipping characters of Supernatural (#desiel4eva) nor the tight knit community of Sugar Babies. Not to mention the pre-2018 days of endless smut and soft porn (resulting in the coining of the term NSFW) The fandom communities ranged in the early 2010’s covering TV shows to those in the film and music industry. The creation of art and writing (also known as fan fiction) became quite large and still is today. Tumblr and it’s ability to locate and share posts about particular interests or fandoms made it a popular choice in sharing these creations to a large audience anonymously.

The freedom of this created a community that can have its audience create anonymously blog with limited ties to an actual identity but rather a curated persona. This means they are able to find other personas with similar interests (as normal or socially questionable it may be) This is a form of “Constructing Platform-Specific Self-Brand” (Scolere, 2018) The absence of contextual boundaries means that one’s family, friends, coworkers, and potential employers are often privy to the same digital persona. So rather than sharing the families annual reunion on Facebook, a young professional woman can join the conversation on the behaviours of serial killers in American without the concerns her boss might be worried or question her professionalism.

Another example of constructing a platform specific self brand is the Dolly Parton challenge. Something that has circulated around the internet earlier in 2020, that mimicked the way individuals highlight different aspects of themselves depending on the social media platform. The post was a collage that had divided a four-square grid showing who she would choose to share with the world on LinkedIn (sharp suiting keeping professional) Facebook (a daggy family friendly sweater) Instagram (a strong sense of personal style for the perfect staged image) and finally Tinder (a little suggestive costume)

Tumblr is allowing self expression and individuality by creating a community by allowing niche groups to connect without the worries of judgment or prejudice.On tumblr users can be who and what ever you want, they’re a blank canvas just a .tumblr.com away from anything they want to be.

Specially thanks the the work of:

Kruse, LM, Norris, DR & Flinchum, JR 2018 Social media as a public sphere? Politics on social media, The Sociological Quarterly, 59:1, 62-84, 

Scolere, L, Pruchniewska, U & Duffy, B 2018, "Constructing the Platform-Specific Self-Brand: The Labor of Social Media Promotion", Social Media + Society, vol. 4, no. 3

Hoffman, A 2020, Dolly Parton Challenge Lights Up the Internet and Our Lives With Every Version of One's Best Self, viewed 19 April, 2020, <https://time.com/5770992/dolly-parton-challenge/>.