Excerpts From An Online Forum For A Class I'm Taking (Pt.1 of 500,000)

I'm taking a class currently where we discuss random topics involved with television and new medias that are coming up in our time.

Here are 2 recent topics and my posts on them. Enjoy.

Topic:
How do you think the existence of transmedia storytelling, or extratextual content related to television shows, changes the shows' meanings? That is, how is Heroes potentially different for someone who visits the website regularly vs. someone who only watches the show on NBC? How is Alias different for someone who plays the Alias ARG online?

My Post:
Extratextual content has become a new way for TV shows to reach out to their fans and give them more media to ogle over. I mean that in a good way. As someone who occasionally can get lost in the bonus features of dvds, extra stuff found on tv shows websites and whatnot are the bonus feature for them. Except, you can watch them now, and not wait til the dvd! Webisodes are like bite sized versions of the show, great for a recharge, but man oh man will you be jones-ing come Tuesday night at 8.

All in all someone who doesn't dive into the extras are missing out, the TV show will still give them everything they need to know. Only if the show wants to utilize the extras in a way that it will enhance, will it enhance. Otherwise its character bios and photo galleries for you, and by you I mean the middle aged NCIS viewer. Not interested in NCIS themed badminton extreme online game challenge? Fine, click this way to the Mark Harmon fan page, its to the left of the episode guide.




Topic:
How do you think the existence of transmedia storytelling affects our role as viewers? What kind of demands do these texts place on us? Do you agree with Henry Jenkins that this is media's future--or is it too much "work"?


My Post:
Transmedia TV is where it's At! Just like the soda-shops of olden days, so too are plain jane TV shows. Nowadays you have to have the extra content for fans. Have you ever watched Bravo? They have extras for the extras, where you'll find a link to a video on how the made the extra extra extras!

I say all that in jest, but when you think about it, despite it being the future, it can be a little much. Perhaps my kids one day will be able to find the time to visit all their favorite shows sites, tie-in novels, video games, and line of cereals, but for me, there's just not enough time. I'll keep up as much as i can Two and A Half Men, but don't expect me to read the latest book, Two and A Half Men and the Case of the Disgusting Sneakers (that's actually an Encyclopedia Brown novel, i feel like I should distinguish between good media and bad media, and feel Encyclopedia Brown doesn't get nearly the respect he deserves, come on a kid solving mysteries?! Who does he think he is, Angela Lansbury?!)

Anyway, back to transmedia tv, in conclusion (because I have one) TV is evolving, and will continue to evolve. It's best if we don't fight it. Wow, that sounds like TV is terminal cancer of the brain.... but wait, maybe it just is... nah.... that's crazy. TV, live with it, or live without it (Though I highly disapprove of the latter.), no matter where it decides to go and do.

Work Study.... More Like Pay Me To Watch TV...

So during my time in college I have been a work study student. Normally this means that I would have to work hard, for a pre-determined amount of money, to be given to me in bi-weekly paychecks, all the while learning how to be responsible and better student. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, god that sounds great in theory. I however, have not had any of those useful lessons. Instead I work at possibly the easiest job on campus, most of the time I sit around and watch TV, surf the web or sleep. And like any other work study student, I get paid to do it! WOOHOO! You mean I can sleep for 2 hours, and get paid 8 dollars for every hour of dreaming? Well then imaginary hiring man, sign me the fuck up!

I'm not condemning where I work, instead I'm considering the possibility that work study is an inefficient method of slave labor. Now that's not to say that at times I enjoy my job, but for the most part its a series of finite tasks that add up to Boredom Town USA! Where you can get a 25% discount if you recommend your friend. And by discount, I mean a slap in the face for asking about the discount.

For different places on campus to employ student workers is a risky situation. Student workers are firstly students, and what do students like to do? Party and party harder than the last time they partied hard. This means that a good majority of student workers are working hung over, and exhausted. How does this effect efficiency? Well everyone knows a hung over worker is a slower worker, and a more grumpy worker... But I'm getting off point, which is, I love and hate my on campus job. Which is why I'm writing this while here, because I just couldn't handle anymore of the "V" mini-series marathon on SyFy. And another thing "SyFy"? More like "LameFy". Ok, I think I'll go work, and by work I mean take a nap in the sound booth.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz <----That's me sleeping. Pretty cool right.