– so ends this intriguing Wired article by Clive Thompson.
I’ve been pondering GIFS and other short bursts of content for the past few weeks, particularly since the illustrious Jim Groom “gave good GIF” in an #etmooc presentation a couple of weeks ago.
from http://erdalinci.tumblr.com/
I’m full of questions, such as:
* does repetition change meaning?
* why are we drawn to the infinite moments – making time stand still?
* can one be GIF-literate? can you learn to think/speak in GIF? what about in 140 character tweets?
* do the best memes come from accidents, or are they meticulously planned?
* can a GIF express an previously inexpressible emotion? Is this visual perception as emotional shorthand?
* how has media “come alive” with our ability to mashup /remix/ transform?
* is cinemography really just a strand of voyeurism (and if so, is that a bad thing?)
* is something as abbreviated as a GIF or tweet capable of delivering useful information? inspiring deep thinking?
Clive Thompson of Wired explains the phenomena as
It’s this shift in what we consider valuable and poignant that I am interested in.
In his Gutenberg Parenthesis theory, Professor Thomas Pettit discusses the breakdown in categories we are now experiencing.
For some time now I’ve been puzzled why some people don’t “get” my history-based musc video parodies , because they feel they are too brief and superficial as opposed to a full lecture, course, or textbook chapter. Um, ok. I usually explain they are not meant to replace the full lesson, but to inspire thought or interest. But I’m taking that back. Indeed, I think brevity can be more poignant, as long as it (image, phrase, or action) is
After all, we are not supposed to be force-feeding our audience with ideas, but rather attempting to light a fire, right?
If my student turned in a final assessment like mine for #edcmoc would I think any lower of her? No, I’d think she spent time SYNTHESIZING and CREATING – both time-consuming and demonstrative of understanding and critical thinking. (this is in response to a very ugly debate happening on Metafilter about my work)
Confession:
My attention span has become altered by my technology use – I get fatigued when I have to read more or listen to someone speak for more than 140 characters. That might be an ever-so-slight exaggeration, but you get my drift. I also find that when I compose a presentation, for example, I think ahead (metacognition I guess) if I can “craft” any tweetable phrases.
I call this
I don’t know if this is necessarily negative or positive, it just is.
So what do you think? Can you answer any of my questions? Do you have an anecdote to share? Are we becoming a culture of quips?
Update:
Here’s a gif I just tried using a snippet from my French Revolution video
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Hi Amy, I think repetition definitely changes the meaning of things. Here is a nice article about it: The Illusion of Truth http://www.spring.org.uk/2010/12/the-illusion-of-truth.php
And regarding Metafilter: haters are going to be haters, right?
For me it’s pure jealousy. I always wonder why these people think the whole world turns around them? Maybe because it doesn’t? At all? So I am sorry for them, but still – nothing worse than uncreative bitter critics, who know everything better without ever having the courage to put something risky out themselves. My recommendation: ignore them! Just wish there was a way to make this easier for young people, but maybe living it as an example is. I think seeing people on the internet they like having to deal with all the uglyness of e.g. youtube comments can really help young people grow their own thick skin necessary for free thinking and creating. At least I hope so…
Thanks for the support! I forget that there are the malcontents out there sometimes. Definitely agree that walking the walk oneself is a good model for students.
I thought Professor Pettit should’ve got Nick Park involved in that video. Like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-brSS9kJeI
And gifs can convey a lot of information, for example:
It’s a matter of using the right tool for the job: when it comes to information, there are a lot of choices for “the right tool”.
These ideas make me think of Andy Warhol (ex.:http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=61239), not only for repetition, but for our awareness of culture and how we see things. Great thoughts.
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