Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Enthusiast blog reflection #3
The enthusiast blog project winds down. It's a little sad. I hope I keep up with my zombie blog. The articles we've read, and actually starting a blog that is intended to be read, have helped change my opinions on blogging. It's true that most blogs just float around in a murky puddle that we call the internet, never really breaking the surface, eventually growing so saturated that they sink to the bottom and meld into the sediment, but I now have the right attitude about it. I don't have to feel that a blog is a hopeless waste of time that no one will ever pay attention to. I was blogging (the few times I had done so) for myself, thinking only of myself and the attention I would get. With my zombie blog however I'm blogging for others, as few as they may be, and I'm blogging for the sake of the topic. I share my knowledge on any subject as it becomes pertinent to others, not whenever I feel like it trying to make myself look good; nor do I forget things that I know simply because I cannot get anyone to listen to me. The importance of knowledge is sharing it. And here with this blog, I'm leaving my knowledge in good context, with hopes that will help others see zombies the way I do, as fun, unusual, and unhampered.
Enthusiast blog reflection #2
After talking with the others during the face-to-face workshop, I thought about the video of "Happy Tree Friends" in my first post. It's unlikely that anyone easily-offended would stumble upon my blog, or any zombie blog for that matter, and be offended. "Zombie" is not a keyword that haphazardly turns up in searches, like a miss-spelling of "hotmail" for example. But, in any case, I felt like I would be a hypocrite if I didn't put some warning about the video. So, I put, in red, "WARNING! Gory Zombie Goodness".
I also want to add more links, so people who want to know more about what I know can click and do so.
Also, having one solitary picture on the right gets boring. I may implement some Javascript to make it a randomized picture from a pool of zombie pics I have.
I also want to add more links, so people who want to know more about what I know can click and do so.
Also, having one solitary picture on the right gets boring. I may implement some Javascript to make it a randomized picture from a pool of zombie pics I have.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Enthusiast blog reflection #1
I was very pleased to get the comments from Zach and Raymond that I did. They complimented my writing by saying that it was passionate, effortless, and direct. They also said that they wanted more in my second post and more about zombies in general.
I think my writing could use a little more information. It is very direct, and some extra information would make the blog more playful, which is something I want, because zombies are fun. That's the main thing. I wanted to have more in my second post but I felt rushed. I want to bolster it tonight, but I feel as though I've disorganized my blog by not asking the question "What is a zombie?" prior to talking about 'the split'. So I should ask the question "What is a zombie?" and part of my explanation will be 'the split'.
I think my writing could use a little more information. It is very direct, and some extra information would make the blog more playful, which is something I want, because zombies are fun. That's the main thing. I wanted to have more in my second post but I felt rushed. I want to bolster it tonight, but I feel as though I've disorganized my blog by not asking the question "What is a zombie?" prior to talking about 'the split'. So I should ask the question "What is a zombie?" and part of my explanation will be 'the split'.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
About the credible me
How will I influence people reading my enthusiast blog? Why would they listen to me? These ideas should form my About Me. I've seen a lot of zombie movies, and should display this sort of knowledge in my About Me so that people will get the sense that I know what I'm talking about. If they don't know the references, then they may not belong at my blog.
I love zombies. From Bub to Tarman, their moaning, groaning, shambling frenzy is a mirror to our own lives. We are zombies. We go through life too often on autopilot--from the bedroom to the bathroom, from the house to Starbucks. Will it take the dead for us to really give a damn about life? My blog doesn't address this question outright, but rather provides information regarding the finer points of zombie media, and not the zombie films that are themselves mindless, lifeless, inarticulate monstrosities. Hi, my name's Thomas, and I love zombies.
I think I'm going to go with that. Maybe rework it later. I should see if it makes a layperson interested in my blog.
I love zombies. From Bub to Tarman, their moaning, groaning, shambling frenzy is a mirror to our own lives. We are zombies. We go through life too often on autopilot--from the bedroom to the bathroom, from the house to Starbucks. Will it take the dead for us to really give a damn about life? My blog doesn't address this question outright, but rather provides information regarding the finer points of zombie media, and not the zombie films that are themselves mindless, lifeless, inarticulate monstrosities. Hi, my name's Thomas, and I love zombies.
I think I'm going to go with that. Maybe rework it later. I should see if it makes a layperson interested in my blog.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Brainstorming my enthusiast blog
My topic is going to be developments in Zombie culture. What is Zombie culture? It's however zombies influence (typically popular) culture. That's movies, books, knick-knacks, and some music. I would specify on any one of those categories but there simply is not enough change in any of those realms alone to create an active blog. (And rather than watching every crappy zombie movie, I'll review ones that are excellent.)
The subject is certainly directed to a specific cadre of cinephiles (given that zombie popularity is almost entirely due to movies) but it will also provide the less hardcore with a filter for what I believe to be the worth-while zombie news. These cinephiles would like to receive information on new developments that withstand the rigorous dissection of an informed zombie enthusiast. A lot of crap comes out regarding zombies that don't regard the cult vision of a 'good zombie movie'. They don't really need to see about every self-conscious, below b-movie that falls on its face. Perhaps to be more specific, I would like to thin the herd of zombie-related media.
My writing will hopefully be like and unlike a zombie. Unlike a zombie in its expression- that is to say far more adroit. But I also hope for it to be like a zombie in its occasional, ravenous mutilation of the topic. I would like to allow my negative reviews to be direct and blunt and, frankly, insulting. I'm very annoyed by the fact that one of my teenage fixations has entered the mainstream, where it's not appreciated within its own context. The fact that information regarding zombies is disseminated so haphazardly also offends me, and, paradoxically, I will be participating in this by creating a zombie blog, but at least my intentions are good. The page will be simple and subdued with muted colors. Not black or red with animated .gifs dripping blood tiled across the background. Lavender says 'zombie' to me for some reason.
Blog titles:
Cinenecrophiles
Necrocinephiles
(probably not such a great idea, people would misunderstand)
Undead something
Beyond the Grave
From the Grave
Moans
Moans and Groans: a Zombie enthusiast resource
Post ideas:
A brief history of the zombie
Funny zombie images
Links to other zombie websites
Zombie walks
'Zombieland' movie
Review zombie classics
The subject is certainly directed to a specific cadre of cinephiles (given that zombie popularity is almost entirely due to movies) but it will also provide the less hardcore with a filter for what I believe to be the worth-while zombie news. These cinephiles would like to receive information on new developments that withstand the rigorous dissection of an informed zombie enthusiast. A lot of crap comes out regarding zombies that don't regard the cult vision of a 'good zombie movie'. They don't really need to see about every self-conscious, below b-movie that falls on its face. Perhaps to be more specific, I would like to thin the herd of zombie-related media.
My writing will hopefully be like and unlike a zombie. Unlike a zombie in its expression- that is to say far more adroit. But I also hope for it to be like a zombie in its occasional, ravenous mutilation of the topic. I would like to allow my negative reviews to be direct and blunt and, frankly, insulting. I'm very annoyed by the fact that one of my teenage fixations has entered the mainstream, where it's not appreciated within its own context. The fact that information regarding zombies is disseminated so haphazardly also offends me, and, paradoxically, I will be participating in this by creating a zombie blog, but at least my intentions are good. The page will be simple and subdued with muted colors. Not black or red with animated .gifs dripping blood tiled across the background. Lavender says 'zombie' to me for some reason.
Blog titles:
Cinenecrophiles
Necrocinephiles
(probably not such a great idea, people would misunderstand)
Undead something
Beyond the Grave
From the Grave
Moans
Moans and Groans: a Zombie enthusiast resource
Post ideas:
A brief history of the zombie
Funny zombie images
Links to other zombie websites
Zombie walks
'Zombieland' movie
Review zombie classics
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Response to Stefanac
I found the reading of Stefanac interesting and useful. It puts the ideas one would have about creating a special topics blog into concise statements. The notion that made the largest impression on me was blogging with intent-- Blogging as though one expects one's blog to be read, that readers need to be satisfied in order to have visitors.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
My experience with blogging
My experience with blogging is limited, and limited still to authorship. I had one blog three years ago. I wrote three long-winded posts about whatever I could at the moment. Eventually I deleted them. I've read a couple posts of a few friends' blogs but that's it.
Rebecca Blood idolizes the weblog
Rebecca Blood certainly makes some interesting and reasonable claims in "weblogs: a history and perspective" but I regret to insist that she exaggerates the power of the weblog and the blog.
Ms. Blood claims that "By writing a few lines each day, weblog editors begin to redefine media as a public, participatory endeavor," which sounds very nice. Yet what are 'these few lines'? Don't forget that we were told only a few paragraphs before: "An editor with some expertise in a field might demonstrate the accuracy or innaccuracy of a highlighted article or certain facts therein; provide additional facts he feels are pertinent to the issue at hand; or simply add an opinion or differing viewpoint from the one in the piece he has linked." That means this:
URI.EDU how does a state funded organization deal with a waning budget? It buys new bait.
After I hit publish on this post have I affected the fundaments of media? No. I may change someone's mind, but that has nothing to do with blogging. As Joannah would probably say- that's rhetoric.
Another lovely half truth of Blood's essay is when she establishes the credibility of the weblog editors: "A weblog editor had either taught herself to code HTML for fun, or, after working all day creating commercial websites, spent several off-work hours every day surfing the web and posting to her site. These were web enthusiasts."
That may be true, generally speaking. But that does not mean that everyone in 1998 with a blog or weblog was a credible source of information. I knew enough HTML to start a weblog in 1998, when I was 12. I could teach you enough HTML to start a weblog in ten minutes.
I agree with Blood that the internet is a good place to express ideas- as Blood says, "[Weblog editors'] fearless commentary reminds us to question the vested interests of our sources of information and the expertise of individual reporters as they file news stories about subjects they may not fully understand." But let's not forget that anyone can lie about anything, anytime, with very little threat of redress on the internet. The appearance of credibility is still only appearance.
Frankly, I'm tired of hearing good things about the internet. Yes it's true that the "blogger, by virtue of simply writing down whatever is on his mind, will be confronted with his own thoughts and opinions. Blogging every day, he will become a more confident writer." But that's true of any writer. And maybe "a community of 100 or 20 or 3 people may spring up around the public record of his thoughts," and "being met with friendly voices, he may gain more confidence..." yadda yadda yadda the flowers bloom and birds sing. But it would be better for him to develop a community of writers in the community in which he lives. Near the house to which his internet is connected.
I agree with the heart of Blood's essay-- her second to last paragraph.
Blood flounders as she begins her penultimate paragraph: "And what, really, will change if we get weblogs into every bookmark list?" The silence residing within the page echoes the word 'nothing' in my ears.
I love that Blood asserts, "We urgently need to cultivate forms of self-expression in order to counteract our self-defensive numbness and remember what it is to be human." Although, I would call 'our self-defensive numbness' by the name of apathy, sloth, and affluence. But blogging is not a sufficient form of self-expression to combat any malaise and remind us of "what it is to be human."
I entirely agree with Blood when she says "We are being pummeled by a deluge of data and unless we create time and spaces in which to reflect, we will be left with only our reactions." But I completely disagree with the concept that anything on the internet is an antidote to the crippling effects of a media-saturated culture.
Essentially Blood thinks that nerds making snippy comments when they post links is going to subvert an omnipresent media-marketing machine.
Allow me to put this all into a nutshell: Blood is correct to say that the internet can provide information that is not under the strains of typical dissemination. But anything on the internet is always another drop in the bucket of the "deluge of data". If you want to swim outside the mainstream, figure it out for yourself- don't rely on the internet.
Ms. Blood claims that "By writing a few lines each day, weblog editors begin to redefine media as a public, participatory endeavor," which sounds very nice. Yet what are 'these few lines'? Don't forget that we were told only a few paragraphs before: "An editor with some expertise in a field might demonstrate the accuracy or innaccuracy of a highlighted article or certain facts therein; provide additional facts he feels are pertinent to the issue at hand; or simply add an opinion or differing viewpoint from the one in the piece he has linked." That means this:
URI.EDU how does a state funded organization deal with a waning budget? It buys new bait.
After I hit publish on this post have I affected the fundaments of media? No. I may change someone's mind, but that has nothing to do with blogging. As Joannah would probably say- that's rhetoric.
Another lovely half truth of Blood's essay is when she establishes the credibility of the weblog editors: "A weblog editor had either taught herself to code HTML for fun, or, after working all day creating commercial websites, spent several off-work hours every day surfing the web and posting to her site. These were web enthusiasts."
That may be true, generally speaking. But that does not mean that everyone in 1998 with a blog or weblog was a credible source of information. I knew enough HTML to start a weblog in 1998, when I was 12. I could teach you enough HTML to start a weblog in ten minutes.
I agree with Blood that the internet is a good place to express ideas- as Blood says, "[Weblog editors'] fearless commentary reminds us to question the vested interests of our sources of information and the expertise of individual reporters as they file news stories about subjects they may not fully understand." But let's not forget that anyone can lie about anything, anytime, with very little threat of redress on the internet. The appearance of credibility is still only appearance.
Frankly, I'm tired of hearing good things about the internet. Yes it's true that the "blogger, by virtue of simply writing down whatever is on his mind, will be confronted with his own thoughts and opinions. Blogging every day, he will become a more confident writer." But that's true of any writer. And maybe "a community of 100 or 20 or 3 people may spring up around the public record of his thoughts," and "being met with friendly voices, he may gain more confidence..." yadda yadda yadda the flowers bloom and birds sing. But it would be better for him to develop a community of writers in the community in which he lives. Near the house to which his internet is connected.
I agree with the heart of Blood's essay-- her second to last paragraph.
Blood flounders as she begins her penultimate paragraph: "And what, really, will change if we get weblogs into every bookmark list?" The silence residing within the page echoes the word 'nothing' in my ears.
I love that Blood asserts, "We urgently need to cultivate forms of self-expression in order to counteract our self-defensive numbness and remember what it is to be human." Although, I would call 'our self-defensive numbness' by the name of apathy, sloth, and affluence. But blogging is not a sufficient form of self-expression to combat any malaise and remind us of "what it is to be human."
I entirely agree with Blood when she says "We are being pummeled by a deluge of data and unless we create time and spaces in which to reflect, we will be left with only our reactions." But I completely disagree with the concept that anything on the internet is an antidote to the crippling effects of a media-saturated culture.
Essentially Blood thinks that nerds making snippy comments when they post links is going to subvert an omnipresent media-marketing machine.
Allow me to put this all into a nutshell: Blood is correct to say that the internet can provide information that is not under the strains of typical dissemination. But anything on the internet is always another drop in the bucket of the "deluge of data". If you want to swim outside the mainstream, figure it out for yourself- don't rely on the internet.
Friday, September 11, 2009
What is writing?
Writing is placing visual notations of sounds and words into systematic groups to express ideas.
I frequent these writing environments:
I frequent these writing environments:
- Email
- Creative writing groups
- Academic courses
- Facebook
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