#MITpress

[letterlocking]

Thank you, everyone! Surprise: It’s happening! Our book is coming out. Letterlocking: The Hidden History of the Letter by Jana Dambrogio, Daniel Starza Smith, with the Unlocking History Research Group. Publication date: March 4, 2025. Publisher: The MIT Press. 320 pp, 8x9 inches, 261 color illustration. Hardcover ISBN: 9780262049276, $40.00. Pre-order @mitpress @penguinrandomhouse @amazon @barnesandnoble @bookshop_org @Indiebound @indigo @booksamillion. 

Description The rich history of a centuries-old document security technology—folding and securing a letter into its own envelope for delivery—and a comprehensive guide to learning how to make your own locked letters. Before the invention of the gummed envelope in the 1830s, how did people secure their private letters? The answer is letterlocking—the ingenious process of folding, slitting, and securing a letter with a strip of paper and sealing wax so that it becomes its own envelope. The practice, used by historical figures ranging from Elizabeth I and her spymaster to Japanese samurai lords, and nearly entirely forgotten, was an everyday activity for centuries, across cultures, borders, and social classes. In Letterlocking, Jana Dambrogio and Daniel Starza Smith, experts who have pioneered the field over the last ten years, tell the fascinating story of letterlocking within epistolary history, drawing on real historical examples from all over the world. Letterlocking will be accompanied by a website, freely accessible scholarly articles, and instructional videos and diagrams, as well as foldable, tear-out sheets with instructions on how to fold and lock a letter. 

Thank you, @barnesandnoble for offering a pre-order discount to your members April 19, on our book “Letterlocking: The Hidden History of the Letter” #BNPreorder 

#mitpress #letterlocking #amsr #origami #documentsecurity #letters #correspondence #fold #diy #security #seal #secret #love #write #encryption #spies #invisible #teaching #instructions #book #publication #launch #video #share 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/letterlocking-jana-dambrogio/1145200759?ean=9780262049276

Alt text: A sparkling star made of magenta and yellow. In the center the date: March 4, 2025. Blue background with white lettering that says, "Letterlocking, The Hidden History of the Letter by Jana Dambrogio, Daniel Starza Smith, with the Unlocking History Research Group. Pre-order now @mitpress @penguinrandomhouse @amazon @barnesandnoble @bookshop_org @Indiebound @indigo @booksamillion

Thanks to Eirene Pianeta for sharing the gif design template in Canva. 

Citation information: Authors: Jana Dambrogio and the Unlocking History Research Group. Title: "Surprise: It's Happening! Letterlocking: The Hidden History of the Letter. Pub date: March 4, 2025, USA (2024))." Letterlocking Instructional Videos. Unlocking History number 6261/Letterlocking Unique Video number: 0304. Date filmed: April 19, 2024. Duration: 1:52. Date posted: April 19, 2024. Video URL: [Insert URL]. Date accessed: [Date].

Copyright 2024. Jana Dambrogio and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). All rights reserved. The following copyrighted material is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. Contact the MIT Technology Licensing Office for any other licensing inquiries.

To find out more about letterlocking, visit http://letterlocking.org and follow us on social media @letterlocking.

[somerabbitholes]

the more i think of it, the more i kinda see we don't have a lot of literary/misc/ others publications in Indian/Indian context, or maybe i'm just woefully unaware of them. I'm talking the likes of Aeon, BigThink, MITPress, The Nation etc. etc. do we have such publications available? Do you know of them?

you're right, we don't match in numbers at all, but i like to think they're growing. here's what i know: asian review of books, paper planes, the paperclip. other than these, i like the literary/culture sections in open, the hindu, scroll

always on the lookout for more, naturally

[earthtogwyneth]

Blog Post 11/7/23

How do corporations capitalize off social justice movement?

Companies and Corporations capitalize off social justice movements by engaging in meaningful discussion without working internally to have a diverse workforce and proper representation. During the height of Black Lives Matter in 2020, many companies made posts in support of #BLM, yet neglected to do the proper work internally to have diversity initiatives. The issue lies within companies creating a false sense of support only to reel consumers in. This false perception speaks to a large number of people who will go on to support this brand simply because of their support for a social justice matter. The outward support of a movement does not mean that the company has done anything productive within itself. People must critically research what companies they choose to purchase and align themselves with.

How does Black Twitter create a space for critical discussion?

Black Twitter creates a space for critical discussion by allowing for discussion to take place without an imposing threat of harm or immediate bias to taint the conversation. Black Twitter allows for those who are marginalized to come together in a space that uplifts one to organize change rather than cause harm Since it is the internet, the space is unable to exist without hate groups engaging with it (Lee, page 11). The organization within Black Twitter is what allows for meaningful discussion to happen that leads to radical action. The space of Black Twitter creates for a new way of discussion to occur with attempts at pushing out narratives that clog social networks.

How has hacking and doxxing affected true online discussion?

The fear of being hacked and/or doxxed has impacted critical discussion online greatly. Users online are afraid to share their true opinions about topics when the fear of having your personal information shared for all users to see is at risk. In the age of being hacked and/or doxxed, users weigh the benefits and risks of sharing their opinions online. People are entitled to their privacy, and the ways in which online spaces operate have eradicated this. Online anonymity can be crucial for certain figures that participate in online discussion.

How has online blogging affected online journalism?

Internet activism generates discussion amongst millions of users about certain topics. Online sources and journalism have constantly been viewed as unreliable, especially when online bloggers begin to post about news related topics. A discussion of whether an online blogger is a journalist has been a hot topic in media. Online bloggers often don’t go through the same training that journalists are expected to have completed. Online blogs are allowed to enhance their stories with their own opinions, whether as journalists are supposed to remain neutral on the subject. Online blogs have affected journalism by believing that opinion should be the norm in news and media. News should be delivered without bias to ensure that people can form their own opinions without being a fed a narrative.

Lee, L. (2017). Black Twitter: A response to bias in mainstream media. Social Sciences, 6(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci6010026

Vegh, S. (2007). Cyberprotesting globalization: A case of online activism. Governance and Information Technology, 208–212. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/7473.003.0027 https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/7473.003.0027

[ivo1112]

Blog post due 11/7

How did the September 11 attacks change the anti-globalization movement, and how did protesters operate?

The September 11 attacks led to the cancellation of major events, including the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the IMF, which were intended to draw protests. While these attacks shifted national security and foreign policy priorities, they did not significantly alter the agenda of the World Bank or the overall anti-globalization movement. Instead, activists adapted their strategies by transitioning from physical protests to online activism. The movement increasingly utilized the internet for communication, education, and mobilization, including the creation of dedicated websites for protests and alternative media platforms like the Independent Media Center. This shift highlights how activists can remain resilient and resourceful in facing external challenges, finding new ways to organize and express dissent while leveraging technology to enhance their visibility and impact.

What problems arise from the digital divide between big companies and activist groups regarding online protests?

The digital divide limits the reach and impact of online protests against corporations like the World Bank. While companies have the resources to manage their online image, activists often lack funding and technology, making online protests harder to organize. Many activists face basic tech challenges, like downloading emails, and rely on tools that may actually support corporate interests. This divide weakens the activist movement, making it harder to challenge corporate narratives or mobilize resistance. It highlights the need for activists to find new ways of digital organizing that don’t depend on corporate platforms.

How does Black Twitter help marginalized voices and show biases in whose stories get the most attention?

Black Twitter is a powerful tool for sharing stories and organizing against injustice, giving marginalized groups a space to be heard. It allows people to rally around shared experiences and push against mainstream biases. However, stories involving Black men facing police violence often get more attention than cases involving Black women, LGBTQ+ individuals, or immigrants. This reflects broader social biases about who is most ��at risk” and whose lives “matter” most in public eyes. Movements like #SayHerName aim to address these gaps, but the unequal focus shows that biases can exist even in spaces built to empower marginalized voices.

Why do social media movements like #BlackLivesMatter bring quick attention but struggle to create lasting change?

Social media movements quickly spread awareness by enabling rapid information sharing and emotional connection with specific cases of injustice. This ability to rally support around a cause, often through viral hashtags, mobilizes protests and public outcry in hours or days, effectively pushing issues into the national conversation. However, because social media is fast-paced and driven by current trends, attention can fade as new topics emerge, leading to what might be called "short-lived moments of resistance." While these moments are powerful for raising awareness, they don’t always lead to long-term, structural change. Additionally, social media’s reliance on “accepted truths” about whose lives are at risk may inadvertently limit the depth and duration of its impact, as some instances or groups receive less attention. The temporary nature of viral content highlights the need for organized, sustained offline efforts to complement social media activism's immediate reach.

Lee, L. (2017). Black Twitter: A response to bias in mainstream media. Social Sciences, 6(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci6010026

Vegh, S. (2007). Cyberprotesting globalization: A case of online activism. Governance and Information Technology, 208–212. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/7473.003.0027

[fashionbooksmilano]

Mondrian Dress Yves Saint Laurent, Piet Mondrian and Pop Art

Nancy J.Troy, Ann Marguerite Tartsinis

MITPress, Cambridge, MA 2023, 192 pages, 25,25x31.9cm, Hardcover, ISBN 9780262048354

euro 54,00

email if you want to buy booksinprogressmilano@yahoo.it

An extraordinary look at how the style of Piet Mondrian's abstract paintings was posthumously appropriated by 1960s fashion, Pop art, and consumer culture.

Yves Saint Laurent's 1965 Mondrian dresses are among the twentieth century's most celebrated and recognizable fashions, but the context of their creation involves much more than meets the eye. In Mondrian's Dress, Nancy J. Troy and Ann Marguerite Tartsinis offer a fresh approach to the coupling of Piet Mondrian's interwar paintings with Saint Laurent's couture designs by exposing the rampant merchandising and commodification that these works experienced in the 1960s. The authors situate the consolidation of Saint Laurent's fashion brand alongside the work of such Pop artists as Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and Tom Wesselmann, and show how conventional understandings of Mondrian's avant-garde abstractions were transformed by the mass circulation of his signature style.

Beyond its attention to 1960s fashion, Pop art, and consumer culture, Mondrian's Dress offers critical assessments of Saint Laurent's so-called dialogue with art, the remarkable art collection that he built with his partner Pierre Berge, and the crucial role that photography plays in the marketing of couture. The first book-length study of its kind, Mondrian's Dress is a provocative reevaluation of how art, commerce, and fashion became fundamentally intertwined in the postwar period.

03/12/23

[keybladeshya]

TUMBLR CASE STUDY WEEK 10

Power, Conflict, and Community: Navigating Digital Citizenship and Online Harassment in the Age of Social Media Governance

Social media is now a vital aspect of our everyday routines, providing remarkable opportunities for communication and self-expression. Yet, it also presents notable challenges, such as conflicts and online harassment. Grasping the concepts of digital citizenship and social media management is important for handling these issues responsibly.

Digital citizenship encompasses the abilities and understanding required to engage responsibly and ethically in online environments. It includes not just accessing digital content, but also producing and interacting in ways that promote societal good and encourage inclusivity.(Mossberger et al., 2008; eSafety Commissioner, NSW Department of Education). Digital communities are not without conflicts, as disputes over free speech, platform governance, and commercial priorities frequently arise. This illustrates that digital citizenship involves navigating these challenges alongside active participation.

Online harassment continues to be a widespread problem, impacting women and gender non-conforming individuals more than others. Studies indicate that more than half of girls worldwide have encountered abusive language on the internet, with transgender and female users being especially vulnerable. (Plan International, 2020; Haslop, O’Rourke & Southern, 2021).Harassment includes behaviors such as insulting language, rumor-spreading, and more serious actions like revealing personal information without permission (doxing) and sharing private content without consent. (Marwick & Caplan, 2018).These actions are typically coordinated and interconnected rather than standalone events, making it more challenging to combat them.

Social media governance operates on various levels, ranging from international regulations such as Australia's Online Safety Act 2021, which requires the quick removal of harmful content within 24 hours, to grassroots moderation efforts by community managers on platforms like Facebook Groups and Reddit. Despite these efforts, many users believe that platforms still fall short in tackling harassment, emphasizing the ongoing need for advocacy and corporate social responsibility initiatives. (Pew Research, 2021).

In addition to legal measures, innovative approaches like humor and advocacy help users combat and address harassment. Influencers and brands are now more often anticipated to publicly support victims and offer resources to handle online abuse. (Vitis & Gilmour, 2016; Littleton, 2023).

Education is essential in promoting responsible online conduct. Digital Citizenship Education (DCE) programs aimed at high school students have demonstrated effectiveness in decreasing cyberbullying by enhancing digital literacy, fostering empathy, and encouraging respect.(Rani & Swati, 2025). However, challenges remain in consistent implementation and evaluating long-term impacts.

In conclusion, as social media continues to shape digital communities, addressing conflict and harassment through comprehensive governance, education, and community support is essential for cultivating safe and inclusive online spaces.

---

( 423 words)

References: 

Mossberger, K., Tolbert, C. J., & McNeal, R. S. (2007). Digital Citizenship. The MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/7428.001.0001

‌Cover, R., Beckett, J., Brevini, B., Lumby, C., Simcock, R., & Thompson, J. D. (2025). Reporting online abuse to platforms: Factors, interfaces and the potential for care. Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies.  https://doi.org/10.1177/13548565251324508

Marwick, A. E., & Caplan, R. (2018). Drinking male tears: language, the manosphere, and networked harassment. Feminist Media Studies, 18(4), 543–559.

Pew Research Center. (2021, January 13). The state of online harassment. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/01/13/the-state-of-online-harassment/ 

Vitis, L., & Gilmour, F. (2016). Dick pics on blast: A woman’s resistance to online sexual harassment using humour, art and Instagram. Crime, Media, Culture: An International Journal, 13(3), 335–355. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741659016652445

Rani, M., & Swati, M. (2025). The Impact of Digital Citizenship Education on Promoting Ethical Online Behavior And Preventing Cyber Bullying Among High School Students: A Comprehensive Review. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15394234 

[maxchan03]

Week 6: What is Digital Citizenship? Hashtag Publics, Political Engagement and Activism

Welcome back to another episode of my Tumblr postings! Let's face it, the information that most of us consumed today are online as we are practically using social media on a daily basis. That includes this tumblr posting too as chances are you are on your phones or tablets. This brings the question of what is means to have digital citizenship and how something fun like hashtags can be used to increase political engagement and activism.

Ribble and Bailey (2007) define the term digital citizenship as the portrayal of actions related to safety, ethics, and responsible usage of media displayed by users and their behaviours. This means that each and every one of us has a digital footprint, the media we consume and share should be followed by the law and be legal as the importance of connecting with others respectively help create an inviting and safe place for people with similiar interests to engage in. However with this much freedom at hand comes with risks as Jæger (2021) notes how the violation of privacy can become a big concern if left unsupervised.

To help users find topics of interests in the digital space, the usage of hashtags is introduced. By definition, a hashtag is ‘a word or phrase preceded by a hash sign (#), used on social media websites and applications, especially Twitter, to identify messages on a specific topic’ (Laucuka, 2018). That is to say, one can search for, navigate, or engage with hashtags, while others can monitor, trace, and retrieve small or large datasets linked to them (Omena, Rabello, Mintz, 2020). Websites such as Elementor (2025) supports this claim as it mentions a 12.6% engagement increase when using hashtags on popular social media app Instagram. In terms of political engagement, Jackson, Bailey, and Welles (2020) note that the increased awareness due to usage of hashtags help bring light to cases related to political debates, social change, and inclusion. In fact, the hashtag activism is considered to be one of the popular approaches and methods that has a significant impact on political and social changes around the world (Ta’amneh, Al-Ghazo, 2021). An example in recent years would be the #BlackLivesMatter as one of the most popular cases was highlighting the reality of police brutality. Cumberbatch and Nicole (2016) call attention to how these hashtags bring in activism from Black Lives Matter helping to increase political engagement as social media is fast-paced and democratizes by acting as a "voice" for minorities to be heard when protesting. This can be seen as Bestvater et al., (2023) highlights the usage of of the hashtag where a total of 10 million users who have used the hashtag, 6.8 million users who have never used it before previously started tweeting about it during the 2020 incident.

Ultimately, digital citizenship is a concept that plays a vital role in our daily routine acting as the backbone for users to gain and spread information both ethically and responsibly. The help of hashtags and social media has fueled the absorption of media being portrayed thus promoting political engagement and activism whether it be a social event or protest. References: Best Hashtags For Instagram In 2025: Boosting Your Reach. (2025). Elementor. https://elementor.com/blog/best-hashtags-for-instagram/ Bestvater, S., Gelles-Watnick, R., Odabaş, M., Anderson, M., & Smith, A. (2023). #BlackLivesMatter Turns 10. Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech; Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2023/06/29/blacklivesmatter-turns-10/ Cumberbatch, P., & Nicole, T. (2016). Hashtag Activism and Why #BlackLivesMatter In (and To) the Classroom. Radical Teacher, 106. doi: https://doi.org/10.5195/rt.2016.302 Jackson, S. J., Bailey, M., & Foucault Welles, B. (2020). #HashtagActivism: Networks of Race and Gender Justice. In direct.mit.edu. The MIT Press. doi https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/10858.001.0001 Jæger, B. (2021). Digital Citizenship – A Review of the Academic Literature. Online-First, 14(1-2021), 1–XXI. doi: https://doi.org/10.3224/dms.v14i1.09 ‌Laucuka, A. (2018). Communicative Functions of Hashtags. Economics and Culture, 15(1), 56–62. doi: https://doi.org/10.2478/jec-2018-0006 Omena, J. J., Rabello, E. T., & Mintz, A. G. (2020). Digital Methods for Hashtag Engagement Research. Social Media + Society, 6(3), 205630512094069. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305120940697 ‌Ribble, M., & Bailey, G. D. (2007). Digital Citizenship in Schools. Ta’amneh, I. M., & Al-Ghazo, A. (2021). The Importance of Using Hashtags on Raising Awareness about Social Issues. International Journal of Learning and Development, 11(4), 10. https://doi.org/10.5296/ijld.v11i4.19139

[puyen05]

Digital Citizenship Across Cultures: It's Not One-Size-Fits-All! 🌏

Ever notice how what’s trending in one country is totally unheard of somewhere else? Digital citizenship changes depending on where you are, it isn't just one-size-fits-all. The internet isn’t as universal as we think.

Digital Citizenship: It's the New Superpower 💪

So, what is Digital Citizenship? It's all about using digital tech in a positive, smart, and responsible way. Think creating cool stuff, connecting with people, learning new things, and sharing your ideas. It's about being an active member of online communities – whether they're local, global, or somewhere in between. As the Council of Europe (n.d.) puts it, it's about engaging with digital technologies in a competent and positive way.

But here's the thing: Digital Citizenship isn't just about individual behavior. It's also about the bigger picture. It means:

Making a difference: Using tech to improve society as a whole (Mossberger et al., 2007).

Getting involved in politics: From voting to activism, making your voice heard is crucial.

Understanding the platforms we use: Recognizing how these platforms shape our world.

🤯 Culture Shock: The Internet Isn't a Monoculture!

The internet might feel global, but cultural differences are HUGE!

Values: The culture you grow up in shapes what you value in online spaces.

Privacy: What you’re willing to share depends on cultural norms around openness and privacy.

Expression: What is acceptable expression is rooted in their culture.

Access: Some countries have blazing-fast internet. Some don’t. This shapes what’s even possible to do online.

In South Korea, blazing-fast internet fuels a global gaming empire, and live streaming is practically a national sport. Scandinavians prioritize digital privacy, often leading the fight for stricter data protection laws. In more restrictive regions, memes, coded language, and encrypted messaging apps become tools of survival for free expression.

🛠️ Digital Activism:  Different Tactics, Same Goal

#MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter went global, but how activism plays out online depends on the local context (Mohammed, 2019). If a government restricts free speech, activists get creative with coded language and encrypted apps. For example, in Russia, Telegram channels organize protests, while in Iran, memes convey powerful messages under the radar.

📊 Algorithms and Cultural Influence

Algorithms aren't neutral; they reflect the values and biases of the people who create them. This means the content you see on TikTok or Instagram is shaped by cultural forces you might not even realize. (Hsu et al., 2021). Really, like what is a trend in the US is not going to be a trend in Africa.

🌐 Bridging the Digital Divide

Access to digital platforms isn’t equal. Economic barriers, language differences, and censorship create a fragmented digital world. True digital citizenship means pushing for inclusivity, ensuring voices from diverse cultures are heard, and respecting the digital practices of global communities. 🌉🗺️

💬 What Do You Think?

Have you ever experienced a cultural misunderstanding online? How can we be better global digital citizens? Share your stories and ideas in the comments!

References

Council of Europe. (n.d.). Digital citizenship education. Education. https://www.coe.int/en/web/education/digital-citizenship-education#

Hsu, T. W., Niiya, Y., Thelwall, M., Ko, M., Knutson, B., & Tsai, J. L. (2021). Social media users produce more affect that supports cultural values, but are more influenced by affect that violates cultural values. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspa0000282

Mohammed, W. (2019). Online Activism: Centering Marginalized Voices in Activist Work. Ada: A Journal of Gender, New Media, and Technology, 2019(15). https://doi.org/10.5399/uo/ada.2019.15.2

Mossberger, K., Tolbert, C. J., & McNeal, R. S. (2007). Digital Citizenship. The MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/7428.001.0001

[abdelrahmanalhussien]

Media Specificity

Blog #5

McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. MIT Press. Available at: https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/9780262134646.001.0001

The distinct knowledge of any medium is said to be media specificity and how these qualities determine the manner in which the stories are narrated or even how the texts are read. This is particularly evident in McLuhan’s work titled Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man where he spends quite a long time developing this idea and stating that ‘the medium is the message. In other words, the audience perceives a medium according to its external shape and structure. This text reminds us that knowing the basic features of a medium can perhaps provide an alternative area for creativity. Hence, the reason why a novel is different in both circulation and stimulation from a film’s audio and visual aspects. In the same manner, in contrast with cinema or literature video games offer a different interactivity. These comments of McLuhan tend to suggest that the creators should take advantage of the features of their medium rather than make it an imitation of other media.

[toemates]

Compulsory Question 3

The collaborative project that I would love to engage in is one that revolves around the concept of synesthesia and fuses traditional with digital art. This will bring together students of fine arts and graphic designers who will incorporate different tones, images into one visual piece. For fine arts students, they will produce paintings, sculptures or any other mixed media works which convey their senses while the graphic designers will bring in a digital aspect which may include animated images of the sound or music motion graphics that play in accordance with the particular sound. In a gallery setting, each art piece would be accompanied by headphones streaming a different sound theme so that the audience could experience how the arts render a similar sound in different forms. This joint effort will help create a different structure that would immerse the audience in sound and visual art.

And for the final project, I was thinking that I would want to work for the SPCA and help with the campaign. The goal of the campaign would be to increase the number of the animal adoptions through highlighting the underlying characteristics of each animal in the creative graphic design. This would entail doing work on designing posters and a website as well as creating content for social media in order to make a relationship possible between the animals and potential adopters. The objective would be to enhance the adoption process by using visuals that are more representative of the animals in order to change the perspective of the potential adopters.

Considering my professional aspirations, one of them is to run a cafe, attainment of which would require Critical Thinking Skills (CTS) A. It is fundamental to be inventive and resourceful for purposes of differentiating my cafe among others in relation to creating an appealing decor or adjusting the menu according to the preferences of clients. This would also enable me to solve problems such as those related to supply chain management.

Williamson, J. G. (2006). Globalization and the Poor Periphery before 1950.

https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/3312.001.0001

[degreeshow]

I can't think bricks without mentioning Carl Andre and Donald Judd. The founding fathers of minimalism. I agree that Carl’s displacement of sculpture from the plinth and onto the floor was revolutionary and …… shook the art world and challenged viewers ideas about art. However his life also raises the issue of whether you can separate art from the artist. His charge and acquittal for the murder of Ana Medietta is hugely problematic for me. More violence against, and murder of women that is displaced by rich, powerful men and prejudiced police forces.

In amongst the manufacture of the bricks, I was contemplating context.  It seems you can’t mention, intone or peak at a brick without the spectre of a Great White Male looming large. Minimalist artist Carl Andre, first brought bricks into the gallery in 1966, sculpture from the plinth and onto the floor, taking it horizontal rather than vertical. It was controversial and revolutionary. The constant referencing was proving problematic because his name should also be accompanied by the phrase ‘accused and acquitted murderer’ but rarely is.  In 1985 he was indeed accused and acquitted of killing his 3rd wife, the acclaimed artist, Ana Mendietta, pushing or throwing her from the 34th floor window of his New York apartment.  In the podcast mentioned below it highlights that she was something of a force of nature, quite fearless.... except for her fear of heights!  Finding out about Ana’s murder provided an unexpected link to the precarious nature of women’s lives, ever present in my practice. I am grateful for the opportunity to talk about her whenever the contextual links to Andre arise.

“We do not have time. We women. We don’t have forever. Some of us don’t have another week or another day to take time for you to discuss whatever it is that will enable you to go out into those streets and do something. We are very close to death. All women are. And we are very close to rape and we are very close to beating. And we are inside a system of humiliation from which there is no escape for us” (Dworkin 1983, cited in, MITPress, 2019).

Excellent podcast by Helen Molesworth

[hussainrazadigitalmedia]

Critical Analysis

Collins, K (2013). 'Chapter 2: Being in the Game', Playing with Sound: A Theory of Interacting with Sound and Music in Video Games, MIT Press, Cambridge. pp. 69-70. DOI: 10.7551/mitpress/9442.001.0001

The book of my choosing is “Playing with sound: A theory of interacting with sound and music in Video Games” by Karen Collins (Also known as KC Collins). Karen Collins is an author and a filmmaker. She was the associate professor in the Department of communication arts at the University of Waterloo before joining Carleton University as the professor in School of Information Technology. During her stay at Waterloo University, she was also the “Canada Research Chair in interactive audio” there. Her main expertise is in the field of sound and music, user experience, game and film and tv. Author of 10 books on sound, she is also the director of the movie “Beep: a documentary history of game sound.” Her books have been published by MIT press including this book that I chose to do my analysis on.

Overall, the book gives a very in-depth details on how sound in video games is used, why is it important for players, how players associate themselves to different sounds in the game, voice overs, and playing the game with music. There is so much knowledge written in this book that can make me talk for hours and as a game designer, I do believe that sound is one of the most important aspects of the game. It guides the players through their gameplay and becomes a part of their memory and creates a long-lasting effect.

For this analysis, I picked out page 69 and 70. The topic is voice and role-playing games. The reason of my choosing is because it answers my one of the longest asked questions, "Why not all popular games have voice overs?". The games and their characters are loved by their fans and surely, they would want to hear their voices, right?

In the first paragraph, Karen Collins talks about how voices in video games empathize with the players. There are different kinds of approaches in this regard, some have full on voices, some have voices only in cinematics and some have only written text with and an icon to display what they are saying, which was often used in the games of the past. She mentions that some games allow players to change the speed of the text or voice dialogues. This is because ,for some people, it is easier to read the text than watching or hearing the voice to understand.

Karen then goes on explaining her thoughts with an example of an NDS game series, “Professor Layton” (2007). The game oscillates between using voices and text on screen in order to guide the players. The game uses professional voice actors to deliver the best experience to their audience. There even were two different voice actors for the child characters, Luke, for the North American version and the European versions. This is to symbolize the importance of getting the voice acting done right.

She mentions how the game was received with mixed reviews. Most Britons were very displeased with the American version saying the voice is not authentic as the character, Luke, was British. Whereas Americans thought that the cockney version was a little “too British.”

She then further explains us how Nintendo refused to add voices in their popular game franchises like Mario and Legend of Zelda series. This is because, despite new fans asking for it, it will alienate some of their old fanbase from the game. The games originally did not have any or minimum voice acting when they were first released. Some fans associate themselves to that and listening to the characters now with sound will just make them feel left behind or just not right.

When "Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword" was announced, the big question was “Will it have voice overs?”. Some fans were excited to see how the voices of their beloved characters from Hyrule will sound like, while other part of the fanbase were praying Nintendo does not give them voices as they enjoy the game how they enjoyed in their earlier days, with text on screen and music to understand the emotions of the characters.

I think this topic gave me a very good understanding of how game designers think and what difficulties they face while making a decision for a game. There are many things to look out for like not to change too much, not to make something stereotypical while also making the game fresh, relatable and exciting for players. Some players play for nostalgic feelings, who want things to be similar like the previous games in the series while some players play to see what the game has new to offer whether it be mechanic, character development or a twist in the franchise.

The voice acting is certainly a point of controversy for the company as some fans enjoy it while other do not. Instead of offending any fans from either sides, they want to keep the game fun with text and minimalistic voice lines like how Mario says, “Mama Mia” in Mario Games.  Using minimalistic way gives the fan an understanding of the characters emotions, their personality and sometimes, their determination. In "The Legend of Zelda game: Breath of the Wild", Link communicates by making sounds. They did a wonderful job in this game as in the game, the other characters have voice acting and they often ask link why is he always so silent. This gives the players who want to voice acting a message as that link cannot speak with all the pressure he is under.

I personally think the author makes very valid points when it comes to not just voice acting but also sound and music in games. She describes how music and sounds, over the play time, becomes an extension of the players. They recognize the music or voice or sound instantly. Music, voice and sound makes the game desirable for its player base. As a designer, I will keep this in mind and during further research as I would like my fans to remember my games by associating it them with characters or music, like Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, or sounds.

[ykai-23]

Blog 7 Week 9 A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace | Electronic Frontier Foundation

In 1996, John Barlow, a pioneering digital-rights activist, proposed an appealing notion that cyberspace is a free, equal, borderless, and self-governed realm where governments should not have control and power over it, resembling a utopia online (Barlow, 2018). While Barlow claims that liberty online cannot be restricted by governments over the long term worldwide, countries including China, Iran, and Uzbekistan have adopted methods, such as legal frameworks, technological barriers, and censorship, to block the access to certain content online (Zittrain and Palfre,2008). In addition, according to Surfshark (2022), the governments of five countries including Belarus, Iraq, North Korea, Oman, and Tukmenistan have even criminalized VPN usage to further crack down on strategies to bypass internet filtering, restricting citizens’ liberty to access content online.

Apart from free access online, Barlow also asserted that problems online do not exist, and cyberspace is a new civilization being fair and humane. Examples of negative consequences, generated by the spread of disinformation on social media could be in Plateau, Nigeria. In June 2018, a Facebook post including photos of a disfigured baby and a man with the skull open, misleadingly asserted that they were Christians of Beroms killed by Fulanis Muslims and resulting in regional conflicts and the killing of many Fulanis Muslims; in reality, the photos were from an unrelated incident in Congo in 2012 (Apuke & Omar, 2020; Edwin & Yalmi, 2019). Therefore, issues and malevolence could arise from online space and lead to real consequences nowadays. One of the reasons for Barlow’s overtly positive attitudes towards the internet might be due to that limited number of people had access and control to the internet in 1996, whereas today an eclectic range of governments, netizens, and organizations with vested interests online could hardly coexist without experiencing dispute, chaos, and control.

Reference:

Apuke, O. and Omar, B. (2020) ‘Fake news proliferation in Nigeria: Consequences, motivations, and Prevention Through Awareness Strategies’, Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews, 8(2), pp. 318–327. doi:10.18510/hssr.2020.8236.

Barlow, J.P. (2018) A declaration of the independence of Cyberspace, Electronic Frontier Foundation. Available at: https://www.eff.org/cyberspace-independence (Accessed: 12 December 2023). 

Edwin, M.R. and Yalmi, G.L. (2019) ‘Fake news and Home Truths, its effects on the contemporary political narratives: An appraisal of India and Nigeria’, International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 9(6). doi:10.30845/ijhss.v9n6p4.

SurfShark. (2022). Countries where VPN usage is limited in 2022. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 27, 2023. https://www-statista-com.liverpool.idm.oclc.org/statistics/1343693/worldwide-virtual-private-network-usage-limited/

Zittrain, J. and Palfrey, J. (2008) ‘Internet filtering: The politics and mechanisms of Control’, Access Denied, pp. 29–56. doi:10.7551/mitpress/7617.003.0005.

[sinophone-net-art]

Title: Bowling Alley 《保齡球道》 Year: 1995 URL: http://bowlingalley.walkerart.org/ [Active] Format: cybernetic installation linking 3 public spaces-Walker and the bowling website through ISDN lines and digital sensor data Themes: Exploring power, access and desire in public and private spaces.

Artist(s): Shu Lea Cheang 鄭淑麗 City/Country: Taiwan/New York

More about:

Guggenheim. "Bowling Alley, 1995" Accessed November 24, 2023. https://brandon.guggenheim.org/shuleaWORKS/ba.html

Wilson, Stephen. Information Arts: Intersections of Art, Science, and Technology. The MIT Press, 2001. 596-97. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/3765.001.0001.

[fuerst-von-argot]

I beg everyone who watched the HBO series PLEASE read Sonja D. Schmid's History of the Soviet Nuclear Industry (https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/9229.001.0001) and perhaps the stuff by Loren R. Graham about science in the Soviet Union.

I love what they did with the relationship between Legasov and Shcherbina, but even those two would have benefited from a better understanding of the whole subject and history.

people really watched the HBO Chernobyl miniseries in 2019 and came away like "ah I see, the lesson is that communism is bad" and not "governments shouldn't withold critical information from citizens in order to save money and gain political leverage"

[drawdownbooks]

Ways of Hearing⁣ By Damon Krukowski⁣ Available at www.draw-down.com⁣ ⁣ Our voices carry farther than ever before, thanks to digital media. But how are they being heard? In this book, Damon Krukowski (Galaxie 500) examines how the switch from analog to digital audio is changing our perceptions of time, space, love, money, and power. In Ways of Hearing—modeled on Ways of Seeing, John Berger's influential 1972 book on visual culture—Krukowski offers readers a set of tools for critical listening in the digital age. Just as Ways of Seeing began as a BBC television series, Ways of Hearing is based on a six-part podcast produced for the groundbreaking public radio podcast network Radiotopia. Inventive uses of text and design help bring the message beyond the range of earbuds.⁣ Designed by #JamesGoggin / Published by #MITPress⁣ ⁣ #DamonKrukowski #WaysofHearing https://www.instagram.com/p/BzQIuXeHuC7/?igshid=c3ubrjhvr1sp