I thought about transmedia and how it applies to my life. I haven’t really heard of the term prior to this class, but I associated it with the mass marketing schemes that I am exposed to as a consumer.
To participate in transmedia, I need to use a variety of methods to communicate. Using one method would disqualify me from the Transmedia Olympics, if there were such a thing. Transmedia includes a combination of many forms such as texting, file, image, video, and audio sharing via the Internet, and the traditional print media. It seems as though most transmedia projects need to provide some sort of impact, or inspiration for social change. Multimedia storytelling provides such a powerful tool for change. Foreign governments know this and set strict regulations on Internet access. Do any of you have experiences with foreign governments?
The work that Scribe is doing with the Precious Places project is great because it is providing a voice to those that have a story to tell. It reminds me of how global non-profit organizations like Amnesty International is able to get their messages about human rights violations out to a wider audience. Evict Them In Five Easy Steps
If Scribe posted their Precious Places videos on YouTube, would it help or hurt the communities involved?
Thanks for a nice overview of how to define transmedia, Derek. I wanted to respond to the question, “Do I have any experience with foreign governments.” Not in a transmedia sense, but in a learning about how other governments control journalists sense, sort of. From the periphery. One time, in Mexico, I was teaching English in a private bilingual school that was run by a powerful woman from a powerful, rich family. I quit before the school year was over, and right after I quit I sent a note home to parents telling them why I was leaving. This really pissed off the owner of the school and she sued me for defamation (and my husband, who didn’t write anything). And, it turns out, in Mexico defamation is (or was in 2007) a criminal offense. I went to a magistrate and worked it out by basically writing a letter rescinding everything I wrote, and then hustled out of the country just to be safe. But the law was there as a way for rich, powerful people to put journalists in jail for writing anything that defames their character, even if it is true. Yes, even if it is true. The law was in the process of being changed, and hopefully that process is complete now. But I imagine it is harder for governments and powerful people to track this sort of thing now given the proliferation in just those last six years of social media.
your reflection is well-rounded, engaging, and showcases a thoughtful engagement with the concepts discussed in class. Keep up the great work in exploring the multifaceted world of transmedia!