Author Archives: Andrew Clough

Reading Summary Klosterman discusses the negative impact of media on society’s romantic perception of love. He begins with an anecdote to illustrate the point that people’s desires for love and a partner are driven by what is portrayed through the media. This can happen through actors in movies, musicians in songs, or plot lines inContinue reading “This is Emo”

Reading Summary To start, Smith defines interactivity by distinguishing it from passive media consumption, claiming that it is the ways media makes us do things and the activities they elicit.For example, these meta-messages broadcast by types of media encourage viewers to view it in a certain environment, consume the story a certain way, or discussContinue reading “Ch. 8 What is Interactivity?”

Reading Summary The chapter’s main focus was to highlight the meanings and distinctions of the mediums of media. In particular, the emphasis was placed on “essence”, ranging from what makes each particular form of media unique to the factors that enable those unique traits. For example, technology and its development through innovation have transformed theContinue reading “Ch.7 What Difference Does a Medium Make?”

Reading Summary This article seeks to answer the proposed question as to why pre-recorded sports events are less pleasurable than watching them live by providing 5 (rational and irrational) explanations. The first of these is that the removal of commercials, since you can fast-forward through them, eliminates the moments of emptiness between sets where tensionContinue reading “Space, Time, and DVR Mechanics”

Reading Summary This chapter outlined the many different methods and techniques to filmography. The first topic the chapter describes are the many different types of shots that a director can use. The first of these that are described are different focal lengths, distances, and angled shots. Additionally, different perspectives, movements, and emphases create different moodsContinue reading “Film, Space, and Mise-en-Scene”

Reading Summary The first part of the podcast looks at a segment where two comedians engage in a ridiculous performance. They sing this song that is repetitive and very much toilet humor, but those in the audience enjoy it at first. As they continue in the song, the audience gets less and less amused withContinue reading “On Repeat”

Reading Summary This excerpt focuses on the meaning of signs and the different tools and methods that influence our understandings and analyzation of those signs, otherwise known as semiotics. A critical piece to interpreting signs, defined as something that carries meaning, in ensuring we are examining them in their appropriate systems. These systems gives usContinue reading “The Semiotic Method”

Video Summary The first video explains the importance as well as how to apply a visual hierarchy in graphic design. This is important because it creates order, gives clear organization, and establishes different levels of importance (hierarchical) to the information being presented. The video uses a menu to demonstrate the effects of different typography techniques.Continue reading “WSINYE Videos”

Reading Summary These two chapters outline the things to avoid and the techniques to remember for great designs. Chapter 4 focuses on the former, calling them the “layout sins”. In short, the chapter focuses on simplicity and to-the-point design work. This includes: fitted and bordered photos, clean margins, simple backgrounds, and overall uncluttered work. AdditionalContinue reading “Chapters 4-5”

Reading Summary The chapter outlines one of the main methods used to answer questions related to media interpretation in content analysis. This process describes the interest and allows for one to draw their own inferences from the gathered facts. This technique is inherently objective, as most reasonable researchers should examine the same, trustworthy quantitative researchContinue reading “Scientific Methods in Media Effects Research”