A Space Outside has just released a publication to spread the word about the G20, we hope that it excites, informs, and offers an analysis of some of the issues surrounding the G20. Please download publication.pdf and help us distribute.

This is their first publication, the next will be far more comprehensive and spiffy! Submissions close 16th October. We are still looking for articles, images, illustrations…so get crankin and send us ya work! email aspaceoutside@hush.com

I started this semester feeling rather apprehensive about the blogging phenomenon, which has perplexed Sean. I have mentioned numerous times just how advantageous I believe it is to be aware of the myriad of possibilities available to you via the web. This course has definitely facilitated that. I was confused recently as to what was meant by meta-design, which led me to do a little bit of my own research. I found a PDF of a lecture presentation that clarified my uncertainty and also led me to my next point, which in response to the question asked in a lecture a little while ago as to whether we will be prosumers/creators of media or consumers?

I found that Meta design is classified as a theory, a methodology, a technique, a design philosophy, and a cultural strategy. The term is evolving and as prosumers we will most likely contribute to its definition. At the moment though it is a movement aims to identify the new design space that is a product of the technological information age we are experiencing. Meta-design seems to be a complete overhaul of our creative processes. It deals with the creation of context rather than content.

Further to this I found discussion of meta-design in relation to anticipation, participation, and emergence. Which has direct references to when you consider how it is you will be involved with the web in the future. Thus far my web presence exists as a light stalkers member, which is a database of creative practitioners. Its been handy for me thus far in terms of being able to refer people to that site in order to view your work, and in terms of social networks, keeping in contact with people from university and establishing new contacts. I hope that shortly I shall have my own website as there are certain limitations that are expected from a group database, for instance a smaller amount of space allocated to each member.

Further to utilising the web for my own publicity, I presume within the future I will utilise it as a platform to facilitate a couple of projects that I have brewing in my head. I enjoy the webs ease of access, and its ability to more easily feature non-hierarchical structures (I think I’m still tackling how to do this, as I have been conditioned to always present work in a linear fashion). I think it will be challenging to pitch an idea for example a documentary that will solely have an Internet presence. Which is a result of peoples’ hesitation to have their photo and information on the web for everyone to view.

I think in the future I will most likely benefit from the web possibilities rather than be a creator of any new web developments. Does that make me a prosumer? I will be involved in a project shortly, which will involve the production of a film/documentary specifically for the web. A project that I would never have contemplated, had it not been for my recent web emergence.

An interesting and precious resource for any online doco project you may endeavour upon post this subject – that is the ABC site with a list of online doc projects they have previously commissioned and funded. I tried to look at a couple but as I am plodding along here with a dial-up connection, I decided to write a blog about it instead and access them at a later stage. 

Courtesy of Craigs blog I just came across this interesting project that predicts the direction the media will take in 2014. The directors have looked at the current trends of media consumption by people, businesses, and corporations and then extrapolated their own vision of the future. A world where the media in 2014 will be dominated by Googlezon and where The New York Times in a responsive move will spitefully decide to go offline. Overall a very smart and fortuitous film, not to mention witty and dogmatic.

What the film suggests may be our reality, which consists amongst many aspects the delivery of a personalised media system. What I find the most overwhelming about technology is the mountains of information it presents. I already find myself unable to keep up to date with books, magazines, and films. I always have a list in my head or scraps of paper of what I hope to read or watch next. The film mentions a new system or algorithm that will filter news for us, establish what we are interested in, and deliver that information to us. Sounds like that could be my solution to feeling overwhelmed, of course I'm not naive to the limitations such a service would incur. There will always by an initial dissident response to anything new technologically, I'm sure we will be inundated with moments of speculation and hesitancy over the next few years.

What I find interesting is that there is not much discussion about these developments in terms of their health repercussions. Are wireless hot-spots affecting us? In America there are entire cities that are wireless, what detrimental health problems will this contribute too. There has been a recent health scare in Melbs. with the infamous RMIT tumor issue, which distillery discussed. Mobile phones now, where to next? It is definitely something to aware of, if not take measured precautions to alleviate potential health concerns.

Wow, what a day…have been walking the streets of Brunswick asking people to participate in a documentary on the community of brunswick. That is if they they think there is a community. Im not sure yet if I like the footage Ive obtained. I will be combining information on the Holga camera as mentioned previously and Brunswick. The Holga part will be a series of landscape/urban images from around Brunswick, and the Brunswick component will address the question of community. I address the concept of community via interview and image. I approached probably around 8 people today, mostly strangers and a couple of people I knew. I am also going to film myself as I am also a part of Brunswicks community. 

For all those people that are following the progress of mondovisions there are a few points that require clarification dating back to the second entry I made (a long time ago I know). Courtesy of Seans feedback I have realised that I was a little muddled in regard to my understanding of hierarchy in media, and public vs private. I discussed hierarchy in respect to a media organisation, rather than addressing it in the context of media content. That is the inherant differences of publishing on the web versus print. Both can be linear, and non-linear. An example of a linear print publication is National Geographic, and non-linear is Adbusters. National Geo. would more than likely design their articles in a basic layout, where image and text lay side by side. Adbusters on the other hand often design their articles where the viewers attention jumps all over the place in a non-stuctured manner. Im not sure which one I enjoy more, I guess it is dependant on the subject. I do like photos to override any written material and not be disrupted though, which may be leaning towards favouring linear structure. 

I also need to clarify my understanding of public vs. private. I will discuss this in regard to the differences there are in publishing photos online rather than in a magazine or newspaper.  Recently I explained to a friend that anything in my folio thats been published in a magazine is worth ten times more than images on the web. Even if I present something that is torn and maybe a little crumpled, it has more impact and credibilty than a beautifully printed photograph. The fact that someone else has made the call and 'accepted' your work, sets a precedent and allows others to also approve and utilise your work. I have been told this numerous times and have experienced it myself. I dont believe at this stage images published on the web have the same impact on editors, or gallery owners as work that is published in print. 

Further to this I enjoy seeing my work published and the appreciation I have of anything that is tactile. This being said I am enticed by the opportunities the web presents for future publishing opportunities. I guess longterm it would be ridiculous to be an advocate of one and ignore the other. Both are necessary and both will continue within to the future.

I have decided finally, without an inkling of doubt, to do my online documentary on the HOLGA community. Now you may ask what exactly is this HOLGA. Well, it is a small, cheap, plastic, medium-format camera. It was initially introduced as a camera for the working class to capture their social events and family. In this digital photographic age the Holga is a rare entity, especially considering its ridiculously cheap price. Its plastic construction, including a plastic lens, produces images with trademark vignetting, blur, and lightleaks. Characteristics that each Holga enthusiast is mad about. Comparitively theres many advantages of a Holga camera with other more expensive and big cameras. I have found in my own practice that as a result of the Holga looking like a toy camera, the subject is often not intimidated and therefore more able to be captured in a natural and comfortable pose.

The Holga is an interesting camera as it is not only utilised by 'amateur' photographers but by 'professional' photographers. There are quite an array of Holga images created by prestigious and prominant photographers. I will attempt to locate these and link them to this entry. I have found a few blogs dedicated to the Holga and its magnificance. A few worth a look at are Always Arriving, Dave's Holga Page, and many more links to an plethora of pages at a Toy Camera database. I have a few images as well that I will post shortly. You will notice in many of the images the trademarks mentioned earlier.
Now, the question of the grand Holga and community. How do these both interact? It is simple really each Holga user is a passionate advocate of their camera and without probably being aware are inextricably linked to a community of Holga users. This is the community I wish to tap into and create a database of their images, their thoughts and opinions on the Holga. I want to facilitate a community that is wholly and utterly dedicated to the Holga. I will do this by emailing people who already have a Holga web presence, I will advertise through camera stores and other possible places Holga users may hang-out, and I will film people on the street and ask them if they are aware of this camera phenomenon. By these methods hopefully I will create a broader community that just may maintain a web presence post this subject.

Lastly, a classmate Kimberly is producing an online documentary on the LOMO, which could be classified as Holgas one and only competitior. Although the same company produces both cameras. Both are very similar and part of the wider toy camera community. Both our documentaries will compliment and assist each other in the objectives we are attempting to achieve.

I have to admit I was watching Rove the other night and was interested to hear that he was talking rather excitedly of viewers going to the Rove web page in order to access more of a story they had shot. They offered you a little preview of the story to entice you to access the web and watch more. Maybe I'm a little outdated but I felt pretty amazed by this blatant advertising of their website. Are people that involved with television that they would bother. I guess so! I guess its along the same lines as being part of a television audience. A phenomenon I have yet to understand.

I was discussing this 'crazy' deal with Lei-lani and she told me that with introduction of digital TV, there will be such a device that will allow you to view anything you download on your computer directly onto your TV. Hmmmm this ignites all kinds of ideas for any projects you may develop for the web. I shall research this a little more later on…

I have been mulling over this concept of community for a little while now, oscillating between using images already taken or out right beginning a new project. I am in favour of the latter, however as time closes in I am interested in starting a project that is achievable, I have access to, and that has room for me to develop it further post this subject. I was initially thinking about Brunswick as a community, however I feel that this is far too broad. A recent idea was the idea of flatmates as your community and photographing people in their homes with complimentary text.

However I have had a change of heart about both of these ideas and am having to ask myself exactly what is a community? I discussed this with a couple of friends the other night (which ended up being a little forced and staged). If I can I shall post this delightfully entertaining conversation at a later date. I would argue that yes community can be a result of your location, or where you live. More importantly though it is a result of a common objective. I believe a community needs to be active, whether that be for the purposes of craft, sport, religion, or for the benefit of a political cause. I think the beauty of community is that it can attract people from a range of different ages, genders, socio-economic status, and nationality. An interesting collective of people that share a common goal.

Where does this leave me? My flatmate idea doesnt fit the bill and neither does Brunswick (in terms of if you look at it purely as a geographic space). If I chose a specific activity in Brunswick, then possibly. For instance a community hall, or an activist space. I shall have to give this more thought and see if I am able to access a particular place.

After my discussion with friends, I opened the mail to find a letter to the resident saying that Sydney Rd will be closed on Sunday 26th for a ‘community’ cycling day. I had a little chuckle, here I was saying I didnt feel that Brunswick was yet a community for me and there I was being invited (so to speak) to an event that will bring the community together. I guess this word community gets utilised in a myriad of contexts. All fitting of course.

I shall have to resolve my ideas very shortly.

I was wrong!!!! aaaaarghhhhh how terrible. My mobile actully does work as an alarm clock, snooze button included, while its OFF. Guess this means Im now officially sleeping with my mobile off, probably a damn fine plan, considering the latest word on the street about mobile phones and tumors.