Community Media - Interactive World

In all walks of life collaboration is very fashionable: as a practice, a theory, or a goal. But do we ever really think through the dangers or disadvantages of collaboration? If it really works, why does it so often encounter cultures of resistance ? If we are to believe its main exponents and its evangelistic supporters collaboration unlocks creativity; improves inclusion; reduces costs; increases efficiency; delivers more effective and responsive services. It sounds like a win-win scenario. Collaboration is a fashionable way of doing business and it is the rallying cry for governments and public service reformers. Being more networked, connected, co-operative, joined up… the collaboration industry is the dominant mode of discourse in the participatory world of Web 2.0. In a circular motion, new media and social media is built upon - and leads to - more collaboration. Is collaboration sometimes a downward spiral of depreciating values? Or sometimes a virtuous cycle of ...

In this blog I offer thirty-one critical responses to the current fashion for participatory projects and methodologies. While my main focus is grounded in playing devil’s advocate to the evangelical exponents of participatory video, I am very open to being shot down - or at least engaged - in counter-dialogues. (Either through the comments section below, or privately by email). Please attribute all quotations from this unpaid work. It is my life. Please also excuse the rhetorical tendency to exaggerate; I’m not using this blog to craft a highly nuanced critical essay.In other work I have addressed problems with, and potential solutions to collaborative models of work. Also, I’m still working through a projection of what comes after the promise of participation... The participatory field is admittedly quite fuzzy, since arts projects in the community may be quite vague about their intended modes or levels of participation; engagement evidence is notoriously ...

Exploring scopophilia, CCTV, celebrity, gaming, inspiring books, global media anxiety and world capitalist domination. Best wishes for 2030 ! 1984    George Orwell films Documentary Big Brother and Margaret Thatcher Rules Britain as Iron Lady. 1984 Did Not Happen , claim. (St Andrews, Avanti! ) 1984    ‘Video Nasty’ Scares hit Britain and Government introduces Video Recording Act. 1985    Lambeth grants £100 to finance world’s first ‘Scopophilia Awareness Day’ (s.a.d.) on  March 5 th . 1985-1995  Lots of new technology and ideas; ethical policy; corporate ethics; corporate cleansing; ethical cleansing; outsourcing. ‘Happy decade’ 1986    Jonny Dolour patents the ‘Entertainment Libido’ E.L. meme . Waves of celebrity fever. 1987 World of Borecraft anti-meme released 1996    YewTube ‘goes Big’ with Broadcast Yourself video-share 1997   September 4 th Big Brother comes to life i...

The Spectre of Community Rebranded as the Big Society, notions of citizenship and community are back in fashion. To borrow and adapt Marx’s Manifesto (1848), the spectre of the community (not communism) is stalking contemporary society. For some commentators it is feared that an army of community organizers are poised for subversive warfare. Alternatively, the force is an awkward spectre awakened from the vestiges of a tired capitalist system. That’s one side of the argument. The other is that a nostalgic return to the community spirit is just a cover for cuts to public services. Furthermore, there are no plans to limit or democratize corporate economic power, or the private enterprise and management structures. Isn't Big Society linked to less global corporate power? Can a big Society really be forged by simply adding together thousands of local activities? The semantic force of community is oddly resurgent , even as we begin to trace its loss: the familiar lament for lost idea...

In low budget and community film making a lot of attention is paid to the participatory process and less to what creates an imaginative product worthy of a wider public. But I believe that creativity and quality are essential. Experience shows that there’s some core advice that could help you to produce a high impact and engaging product.  With that in mind I’ve produced a short list of tips from my project notebooks. in order to help you to create an award-winning short film.  If you have any other tips and advice or stories, why not share your experiences? We followed a 40 20 40 'Guide' for project time and resources: 40% Pre-Production planning / 20% Production Filming / 40% Post-production - editing, reflecting, promoting, screening We are close to the life of the people involved (by us, for us / inside out) We have a lively sense of where we live: place, environment, or locality = our grassroots, our heritage, our futures ...

1. Postfilm is FREE. We are already bombarded by moving images, simulations and surveillance. We resist merely by volunteering our time and our dedication. We subscribe to Creative Commons. No restriction or ownership, please. 2. Postfilm is COMMUNITIES. Working with others we begin to disrupt a mono-cultural “Industry” that serves limited interests and false commercial tastes. By linking with other postfilm communities we combat shallow and deluded capitalist interest groups. 3. Postfilm is OPEN. We will not be asked to produce qualifications or college certificates; or guild, union, association, industry, or any other exclusive membership card. If you have one, throw it away. 4. Postfilm is a range of Co-OPPORTUNITIES for us to think outside the Box (Office) 5. Postfilm is an act of LOVE. We are enriched by a love for what we do and how we share it. 6. Postfilm welcomes MULTI-MEDIA, and TRANSMEDIA. We resist the strait-jackets of specialisation and creative alienation. We play, we...