Ahmed Omar - Final Thesis Proposal

I. The Story of a Scavenger Boy

II. Abstract:

The Story of A Scavenger Boy is an interactive video narrative, combining elements of documentary activist journalism with techniques of narrative drama to communicate the state of struggle for a sense of national identity amidst the enormous upheaval that characterizes modern day Pakistan. The project will meld together the sagas of young street scavengers and allow the viewer to engage and interact with the characters and their stories.

Keywords: interactive, database narrative, non-linear, street children, activism, documentary.

III. Project Introduction & Background Information:

The aim of this project is to raise awareness about a neglected community consisting of more than 100,000 street children who suffer due to extreme illiteracy, chronic diseases and drug abuse. Moreover it is part of an initiative intended to motivate people to take action to improve the lives of these children.

Since it’s creation in 1946, Pakistan has been severely handicapped by corrupt governance, military dictatorships and regional tension. Pakistan is a country in which an estimated 44% of the population still lives bellows the poverty line. In a country where the literacy rate is just hitting 50% (where you are considered literate If you can read and write your name) I was fortunate to have studied in the most prestigious high school in my country. As a young child, I remember playing cricket and flying kites with these children on the street outside my home in Karachi. Today, these same children I once associated with commit petty crimes and scavenge for food and water. They lack the guidance, motivation and direction to excel in life.

More than 100,000 child scavengers or rag-pickers can be found across Pakistan, according to the International Labour Organisation. They are exposed to scabies, malaria, dysentery, anaemia and muscular problems, as well as to chronic diseases like Tuberculosis, jaundice and liver/kidney disorders. Exposure to cast-off syringes puts them at risk of contracting infections like HIV/AIDS.

Omar is from the gypsy community of Lahore, Pakistan's second largest city. At just ten, Omar has four years experience of "professional" scavenging for 10-12 hours a day. His work returns little so he eats what he finds. He spends three or four nights on the street in various locations and returns 'home' when he can.

Omar doesn't go to school and seldom spends time playing with friends. Tired or sick, Omar works. Time is a precious commodity that he uses to scavenge scrap metal and other goods for his employer. Although he has no fixed salary, Omar says that he has contributed to marginally improved conditions at home. He recounts experiences of physical and verbal abuse by his employer, but scavenging has been his life- he has known no different.

Source: Pakistan: Poverty unveiled (http://meero.worldvision.org/sf_pakistan.php)

IV. Description:

Definition of the Project:

• Genre: This project will blend fact and fiction. The project follows a non-Linear database narrative structure driven by several central characters and the stories based around the characters. However, within these narratives, the user will find factual information in the form of interviews, and data about the discussed issues. This information threaded into the narrative will give the project a critical and scholarly component. Thus the genre of the project can broadly be categorized as a documentary that is driven by a dramatic narrative.

• Research Methodology: I intend to use prior research conducted by local as well as international organizations that include World Vision, UNICEF, The Azad Foundation and Consortium for Street Children. In addition, I also plan to conduct original research in areas where previous research is limited. Specifically, these areas include the documentation of the daily lives and routines of street children and the cognitive and psychological effects of living on the street. Also, I plan to conduct original research in the form of interviews done on location, in Pakistan, both among the street class of children and among social workers and citizenry.

• Delivery Format: The project will be delivered via a dedicated website. It will be available in both low and high resolution. Also project will be released on DVD format and possibly High Definition. Information presentation, and details about web delivery are discussed later.

Project Goals and Initiatives: The goal of this project is to engross the user in an interactive and dynamic environment where the user is as much a part of the project as the characters depicted. It aims to immerse the user in an environment where he/she feels engaged and empowered and in doing so, allows the user to reflect upon their own life while interacting with the narrative and characters presented. Secondly the project aims to raise awareness about the lives of underprivileged children in Pakistan and the external factors at play that cannot be disregarded when attempting to understand issues related to 3rd world countries in general. This project is part of a larger initiative to improve the lives of underprivileged children all over Pakistan. I plan to become affiliated with organization working on the grassroots level in Pakistan such as The Citizens Foundation (TCF). Lastly, this project hopes to be valuable as an academic and scholastic resource for future research about street children, poverty, and the dynamics of a lower class family in Pakistan.

This project must be realized in multimedia as it uses new media technology, and multimedia tools to achieve the outlined goals. The project will be unlike anything done before. It will approach a social issue using a new interactive medium that allows for greater interactivity and flexibility and gives the user control. The experience will be unique and inimitable for every user.

Project's Significance within Contemporary Scholarship: In the past large amounts of research has been done by scholars about street children and poverty in Pakistan. In addition many local television networks and independent documentary filmmakers have produced documentaries about issues concerning lower class families in the slums of Karachi, Pakistan. However this project will be the first attempt to present the data and research using a non-linear database narrative structure. Moreover, the project will be part of a larger initiative intended to motivate viewers become actively involved with current projects working to improve the lives of street children in Pakistan. Through the website, viewers interested in getting involved will be directed to NGO’s that are currently working on projects in Pakistan. The information and research present in the project will be accessible to scholars and academic units that are working on similar issues Thus the significance of this project is three fold. Firstly it will serve as a tool to educate. Secondly it will present information in a way that will enable users to engage more completely with the content. Lastly, the project will serve as a prototype to encourage the use of new media technologies as viable tools for social change.

IV. Timeline:

Spring 2008: Pre Production
Summer 2008: Production (Shooting at location in Karachi, Pakistan)
Fall 2008: Post Production (Editing raw footage, designing interface)
Winter 2008-09: Production (Shooting on location + interviews etc.)
Spring 2009: Post Production (Editing and finalizing footage, website development)

V. Budget:

Pre-Production: A minimal amount of finances will be required during pre-production stage of the project.

Production: The production costs of this project will broadly include cameras, lighting, transportation, cast and crew stipends and catering. The total estimate cost will range between $100 – $500. Since production will take place in Pakistan costs incurred will be in the local currency.

Post Production and Distribution: Post-production costs will be minimal. However the costs of distribution and web hosting will be significant. Depending on the scale of the project, the distribution, promotional and website costs will range between $200 to $500.

VI. Advisors:
The following is a list of confirmed advisors. All of the following individuals are aware of the project and have agreed to serve as faculty advisors for the project.

• Stacy Smith (Communication Department): Stacy L. Smith (Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara, 1999) joined the USC Annenberg Faculty in the fall of 2003. Her research focuses on children’s responses to mass media portrayals (television, film, video games) of violence, gender and hypersexuality. Dr. Smith has written nearly 50 journal articles and book chapters on content patterns and effects of the media on youth.

• Andreas Kratky (Institute for Multimedia Literacy): Andreas Kratky is a media artist whose work focuses on memory, database, and new forms of cinema. His current work includes The Night Journey, a computer game project in collaboration with the video artist Bill Viola, and the interactive database narratives The Imaginary 20th Century and Venture to the Interior.

VII. Presentation and Distribution Plans:
The project will be officially released on a dedicated website. Along with this project, the website will host information about the project and other features including the following:

Website:
• Information about the project, including author statement
• Photo Gallery & Behind the Scenes footage
• Character Information & profiles
• Contact Information
• Getting Involved
• Online donation via Credit Card
• Discussion Forum

I also plan to launch my project on DVD and distribute it widely across the United States and Pakistan. In the future I hope to publicly exhibit the project in DIY conventions.

VIII. Production Resources:
Sony PD 170 DVCAM or
Sony VR-Z1U HDCAM
Lavalier Microphones for interviews
Final Cut Pro editing system
Korsakow or other database narrative system
Dreamweaver for website development

IX. Prior Related Work:
• A documentary aired on Dawn News TV titled “Equinox: Street Children in Pakistan”
• Research by World Vision about poverty and scavenger children.
• The Azad Foundation: A group dedicated to improving the lives of street children in Karachi, Pakistan

X. Research Bibliography:
World Vision: Pakistan: Poverty unveiled
http://meero.worldvision.org/sf_pakistan.php

World Education Forum: Grassroots stories: Pakistan
http://www.unesco.org/education/wef/en-news/pakistan.shtm

The Azad Foundation:
http://www.azadfoundation.org

The Consortium for Street Children:
http://www.streetchildren.org.uk

The Edhi Foundation:
http://www.edhifoundation.com

Updated May 7, 2008

Elizabeth Geli Thesis Proposal

IML 346 Thesis Proposal

Elizabeth Geli

I. Title

Personal Reporter: A Tool for Online Journalism through the Lens of College Football and Marching Band

II. Abstract

I am creating a new tool to be used in filtering through electronic journalism, especially in the case of large articles. A large feature story has many aspects, and some readers may only be interested in a part of the story. This tool allows them to check off which subjects they are interested in, and how much additional multimedia content they would like to see, and then it renders a customized article, tailored to the needs of that particular reader. In creating this interface I hope to explore the possibilities or user-control over news, and whether or not it is journalistically responsible on the production side to give readers that much control. As the prototype for this system I will write and report a long feature story about college marching bands and their effect on college sports teams, especially football. I hope to incorporate the issues raised in the article (school spirit, branding, athletic competition, musical performance) into the design and feel of the site.

III. Description

Definition

1. Genre- Interface design

2. Research Methodology- To write the article itself I will interview, research, report, gather data, and gather and create multimedia. The interface will visualize the article data in the form of a reader’s preferences. By creating this interface I hope to provide the reader with a personal and engaging reading and viewing experience. For example, there are many different audiences for the article; athletes, band members, coaches, band directors, parents, sports fans, etc. And there are many categories within the article, for example; bands opinion, athletes opinion, coaches opinion, fan opinions, descriptions of bands, the various sports (football, basketball, etc), various schools (USC, UCLA, Oregon, etc). Each person cares only about certain aspects of the article. Say there is a USC band student interested in reading the article. They may only want to read the sections related to USC, not any other schools, and say they only are interested in hearing the players opinions of the band, in addition, they are at work and cannot view and video or audio. Upon arriving at the website, they can check off those story elements, and in multimedia section only check photos and the interface will create an article for then that only includes those sections and only uses relevant photos as multimedia.

3. Delivery Format- website including text, photos, video, and audio. A user will come to the website and view a short intro video that previews all aspects of the article. Then they will be presented with a checklist. The list will include all of the main subjects in the article (previously listed) as well as an option of what type of multimedia you prefer to view. There is also a “select all” option for people that want to read the article traditionally as a whole. In a database, each block of text with a multimedia component attached will be tagged with the different subjects. After you make your selections and hit submit, an article will be rendered for you that only includes the subjects you wanted, attached to the multimedia that you requested. At the end of the article you have the option to go back and start over, or to view an article “map” that shows all subjects and you can just browse at leisure through it. I may include a comments or message board feedback page to see how people respond to this and allow them to debate its merits.

Project Goals

Multimedia is necessary for this project because it will render a personalized article based on the user's preferences, something that cannot be achieved in print. A user will take away from it exactly what they want out of it, since it is their input that determines the output. This project is valuable in an academic context because it provides a new reading method for the future of digital journalism, incorporating both text and multimedia, and also opens discussion about whether users should even have the right to choose their own content at this level.

Project Significance

This project addresses the rapidly expanding field of digital journalism. I imagine that journalists would have many varied opinions on whether a tool like this could hurt or help online journalism, with very strong opinions on both ends. Choosing the categories listed becomes and editorial decision in itself. Future research could be done on how users respond to this tool: do they like it? Or would they rather just read the article as a whole? Outside the university, journalism scholars, as well as anyone involved in marching band or college athletics could be involved.

IV. Timeline
Summer 08- collect data, conduct interviews, gather media, begin work on interface

Fall 08- collect data and media from current football season, continue working on the programming

Spring 09- Write completed article and plug it in to the tool, present.

V. Budget
No funding needed

VI. Confirmed advisors
Steven Johnson, Annenberg School for Communication, School of Journalism

VII. Presentation and/or distribution plans/venues

IML thesis show, website, possible online collaboration with the Trojan Marching Band or Halftime Magazine

VIII. Production resources
Unsure at this time, will need help learning to program this sort of thing.

IX. Prior related work

Journalism course work at USC’s Annenberg School For Communication, which includes endless discussion on the future of print journalism, Online Journalism course, writing for several different newspapers, editorial internship at Halftime Magazine (The Sights, Sounds, and Spirit of Marching Band Magazine and Online Community)

X. Research bibliography

www.halftimemag.com

Bibliography is limited at his time as most of my research will occur in the summer.

(updated May 6, 2008)

Heather's Thesis Proposal

IML 346 Thesis Proposal Outline

I. Title: Who Killed Little Joe Owen? Mississippi and Moonshine

II. Abstract: This project will be an effort to research the circumstances and events leading up to the death of Joseph Percy Owen, Jr., a federal agent for the United States government, who was shot in a standoff between government officials and moonshiners in 1922. This will include an abbreviated family history, the history of Prohibition, and the general conditions of the United States (and particularly Mississippi) at the time of “Little Joe” Owen’s death. Sections will also focus on moonshine in mainstream media, from the time of Prohibition to the present, in news, art, and culture. This project will be intended primarily for laymen, but a majority of the information may appeal to a scholar or historian.

III. Description:
1. The genre of this project will be essayistic and taken from both original research and the synthesis of pre-existing theories concerning a culture of moonshine in the South. It will be formatted as a website, including a visualization of data and collection of photographic evidence.

2. This project must be realized in multimedia because the synthesis of varying elements would not be possible in a traditional essay or book form of historical research. Also, it will attract those who may not have been interested in knowing the history of a revenuer in 1920s Mississippi, but to see it visualized, attractive, and applied to their own context will hopefully drawn an audience. The viewer should take away a knowledge of not only the personal story of Little Joe, but a sense of his community and the circumstances of the time. Also, it will serve to shed a bit more light on the culture of moonshining, which is still popular in the South today. This study is valuable in an academic context because this particular story has never before been researched, or weighed against the state of the nation at that point in time. It has also not been inspected for truths that hold fast over 80 years later. History teaches where one comes from and also helps to explain one’s present surroundings—both of which this project will be able to tackle.

3. This project could, depending on findings, be applied to moral political debates which are currently under scrutiny within American politics, although it does not necessarily introduce any issues (known of as yet) into contemporary historical scholarship. The story of Little Joe is an example of government tightening restrictions on production and sale and policing based on morality, which are issues of states rights versus federal rights and who truly has control to govern. It will add to the scholarship which is already in existence on the South, tying violence to alcohol and the law. The format does not necessarily create a forum for investigation or discussion, but that could be amended in the future (visualization of alcohol-related deaths by state and year, death of IRS agents on the job by state and year, etc.). It would certainly create a resource for further research, both by sifting through the histories of Little Joe’s town and last days, and also by compiling research and expression of this moonshine culture as it has progressed. It will be a tremendous resource to anyone wanting to further pursue the topic of alcohol and Southern culture, prohibition, the Owen family tree, or moonshine in media. It also has the capacity to reach audiences outside of a university, scholarly setting, and to encourage them in pursuing history.

IV. Timeline:
- April-May 08: propose film to contacts, begin making connections with research liaisons
- May-June 08: begin research in Mississippi, compile according to website design structures
- July-August 08: finish research in Mississippi, begin in-depth work on website, oversee film production in Texas
- August-November 08: polish website, work on code for visualization graphs (if pursued), prepare for History Dept. showcase
- April 09: prepare for and present in senior showcase

V. Budget: n/a

VI. Confirmed advisors: Terry Seip (HIST), IML advisor yet unknown

VII. Presentation and/or distribution plans/venues: website, USC History Department Fall ’08 Open House, IML Student Showcase Spring ‘09

VIII. Production resources: Photoshop, Dreamweaver, maybe Final Cut Pro; filming equipment; a film student (and actors) interested in constructing a 1920s-esque film on the last day(s) of Little Joe; a website

IX. Prior related work: none on Little Joe, unknown on alcohol and violence trends in the South

X. Research bibliography: n/a for now

Lydia's Draft Proposal

I. Title: Central Alaskan Yup’ik: Linguistic Research Tool

II. Keywords: linguistics, Central Alaskan Yup’ik, Alaska, Eskimo-Inuit language family, research tool, data collection

Abstract:

Collection of original linguistic data in the form of video recordings of native speakers of Central Alaskan Yup’ik

Post-production and annotation

Generation of components for mock, ideal research tool

Survey of existing websites and tools for linguistic research

Creation of working architecture of linguistic research tool

III. Description

1. Genre/Audience
   This project consists of primary source data, original research, and improvements to the current systems set up for linguistic field work. It has particular significance to speakers of endangered languages, linguistic field workers and linguistic researchers.
2. Introduction
   Linguists face two particularly significant problems when doing research: many languages are spoken in remote locations and many are becoming extinct (i.e., they are no longer being spoken by younger generations, and will eventually not be spoken at all). The first problem makes it difficult to acquire primary source data, as doing so requires that the researcher travel to the remote location where the language is spoken. The second problem makes it crucial that linguistic data be collected efficiently and immediately, before there is permanent loss of the data.[1] I feel that the current models that seek to address these problems are inadequate.
3. Research Methodology
   First, I will do preliminary academic research on Central Alaskan Yup’ik by familiarizing myself with the corpus of information that already exists on the language. I’ve already begun to do this, but have much more material to go through. This also involves listening to the radio show recordings I purchased last summer which will introduce me to the lexicon, phonology, and grammar of the language. This will help me collect more relevant data.
   To collect the data, I will go to the Bristol Bay area of Alaska for approximately one month and use my Sony DCR-HC96 video camera and high quality lavalier microphone to record native speakers of Yup’ik.
   After that, I will return to Los Angeles and spend approximately one more month doing post-production work on the video footage I collect. This will involve editing and organizing the video footage into relevant and manageable clips at the IML lab. I will also annotate as much of the footage as is possible using the EUDICO Linguistic Annotator (ELAN).[2] Ideally, this will involve a transcription of the speech into the orthography currently used for the language and into the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), and a translation into English.
   Next, I will conduct a survey and analysis of the existing websites and tools for linguistic research. I will identify flaws and note ways that they can be improved. Then, using the primary source data from Alaska, I will create a proof-of-concept that combines the positive attributes of the existing systems and improves on them.
4. Delivery Format
   This project will eventually exist online as an easy-to-use prototype for what will ideally become a widely-accessible research tool. This will consist of a linguistic data archive and a user interface for accessing, uploading, and analyzing data.

5. Project Goals
   
1. The goal of this project is to create a working proof-of-concept for a tool that will make research on languages easier to conduct. This will also make endangered language preservation efforts more successful.
2. This project must be realized in multimedia because language is by nature an aural and visual medium. Although it can be laboriously transcribed, this can never capture all of the information conveyed by an audio recording device, and it is certainly not as efficient. Since endangered languages are at stake, efficiency is key. In addition to audio recordings, visual cues must also be captured, as they carry significant linguistic information, as demonstrated by the McGurk effect.
   
   
   
   In this video, one sees a recording of a man saying “ga ga – ga ga – ga ga” but hears a recording of the same man saying “ba ba – ba ba – ba ba.” Because there is a mismatch between the visual cues and the sound heard, the viewer/listener sometimes perceives that the man is actually saying, “da da – da da – da da,” which is in between the sounds “ga” and “ba.”
3. In the most ideal situation, a person using the full-grown version of this research tool should be able to easily access, upload, or analyze linguistic data, such as transcriptions, audio files, video files, and texts, on all studied languages of the world.
6. Significance
   This project is significant in many ways. It is directly significant to the Yup’ik people, as their language is endangered. Although it is one of the healthier native American languages, linguistically, it is being learned by children in only 17 of 68 Yup’ik villages, according to the Alaska Native Language Center of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.[3] It is of immediate value to certain graduate students at USC with whom I have been in contact who are doing research on the Yup’ik language and would benefit greatly from primary source data such as what I will be collecting this summer. This project also addresses United States policy as put forth in the Native American Languages Act of 1990 which states in section 102, article 1, “the status of the cultures and languages of Native Americans is unique and the United States has the responsibility to act together with Native Americans to ensure the survival of these unique cultures and languages.”[4] This project not only sets up a system that will ultimately improve the survival situation of all endangered languages, but it will immediately preserve a great deal of information about Central Alaskan Yup’ik.
   
   
7. Timeline
1. Early Summer 2008: Pre-research using established corpus of information
2. Mid Summer 2008: Data collection
3. Late Summer 2008: Post-production/annotation
4. Spring 2009: Survey and Analysis of existing linguistic research systems
5. Spring 2010: Creation of proof-of-concept linguistic research tool
   
   
8. Budget
1. Equipment
   Since I already purchased a video camera and microphone for this project last year, I don’t need money for that (although in the future it would be good to have higher quality equipment, especially a better microphone and my own equipment to do video editing and audio analysis). However, I need to purchase about 30-40 mini DV tapes and a few more spare batteries for the microphone (I definitely do not want to run out of either of those while I’m up there, as it is nearly impossible to get supplies while there). I also need funding to purchase books on the language, such as a dictionary ($44), a grammar ($33 paperback, plus $10 CD), and reference books on linguistic field work methodology (prices vary, although if I plan ahead enough I can interlibrary loan most of the field work books and photocopy pages that I think will be most helpful).[5]
2. Travel
   I also need money for my plane ticket ($900-$1200, depending on the time period when I fly up there), and for gas, which was $5 a gallon last summer. I will be staying 20 miles away from where most of the speakers I will be recording live. Fortunately, I have family that commutes to work in town nearly every day, so if I plan carefully then my gas expenses can be significantly reduced.
3. Per diem costs
   Since I will be staying with my extended family, I will probably not have to be paying much for food and lodging. Ideally, I would like to chip in, so I’m not just mooching off of them, but I can probably work out some kind of deal where I chip in with work in exchange for food and lodging
4. Funding Sources
1. Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship, $3000 – GRANTED![6]
2. Sophomore Opportunities for Academic Research, $1000 – application in process (I’m uncertain if I am still eligible, but I’m going to try anyway)[7]
3. Student Senate Academic Research Fund, $1000 – application in process[8]
   

9. Confirmed Advisors
   Bruce Zuckerman, School of Religion
   I’m still searching for someone in the Linguistics Department who will actually be helpful to this project
   
   
10. Presentation/Distribution Plans
    This project will be presented at the 2010 IML Senior Thesis Showcase.
    It will also be available online.
    
    
11. Production Resources
1. Sony DCR-HC96 video camera
2. Lavalier microphone
3. Yup’ik dictionary/grammar
4. Other reference books
5. FinalCut Pro
6. ELAN
7. Website design software
8. Flash
   
   
12. Prior Related Work
1. Research Experience
   During the first semester of my freshman year at USC I worked on a research project under the guidance of Professors Bruce Zuckerman and Lynn Swartz Dodd doing original research on cylinder seals from the Ancient Near East. This was my first exposure to serious academic research. After that I worked for a while with Robert Shanklin on a research project having to do with the Philosophy of Language.
2. Experience with Yup’ik
   I have spent two and a half summers in Alaska, doing commercial drift-net salmon fishing. During my time there, I have tried to learn as much as possible about Yup’ik, and last summer I was able to record about thirty minutes of one native speaker of the language, Gusty Bartman. The following are a few phrases and words of Yup’ik and their English translations.
   
   -clip of Gusty Bartman- (can't get it to work right now)
   
   
   
13. Bibliography (see footnotes below)
    

---

[1]See the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Indigenous Language Initiative http://web.mit.edu/linguistics/mitili/language%20loss.html for a brief outline of facts and figures

[2] EUDICO Linguistic Annotator (ELAN), see http://nflrc.hawaii.edu/ldc/December2007/techreviews/berez.html for more information on the program

[3] http://www.uaf.edu/anlc/langs/cy.html

[4] See http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/jWCRAWFORD/nala.htm

[5] Information about book prices: http://www.uaf.edu/anlc/pubs/cy.html

[6] http://www.usc.edu/programs/ugprograms/ugresearch/fellowships.shtml

[7] http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/general_studies/inds/soar/funding.html

[8] http://sait.usc.edu/ca/funding/sources_additional.htm

Meredith's Rough Proposal

I. Title: Artistic Collaboration in Live Performance
II. Abstract:
From Pink Floyd laser light shows to John Cage’s high-concept, multimedia project, HPSCHD, the range of live collaboration has only expanded throughout the twentieth century. While these collaborations nearly always supply the audience with a uniquely visceral experience, they also raise many questions. Why collaborate to begin with, and, more importantly, why live? What does an audience receive from observing multiple artists’ work simultaneously? How does the juxtaposition of works and collaborative presence change the respective artists’ works? Who is the author in such a situation?
Ultimately, the only way to answer these questions is to personally delve into the collaborative world, and explore the possibilities of creation with a diverse group of artists.
III. Description
1. Definition of Project:
The project is both a documentary of past works, as well as an essayistic approach to my findings on the dilemmas and questions raised in artistic collaboration. I plan to research many past types of live artistic collaboration, from the high art world to the arena of pop music. Once the historical research is completed, I will complete the most personal form of original research, where I will create three different collaborations with three types of artists, and document my experience via a blog. Thus, I will be able to answer my own predetermined questions, as well as take notes of any new dilemmas that arise. The final product will consist of two parts, the performances themselves, as well as a website that provides an archive of my research, a blog of my experience in the performance process, as well as a forum for artists to discuss ideas, and possibly plan future collaborations.
2. Project Goals:
Ideally, the project will give insight into the collaborative process, as well as provide a resource for artists’ to see past examples of this process, as well as my own experiences. The audience for the live performances may differ from the viewers of the website, although both should take away an informative and thoughtful exploration of the artistic process from multiple perspectives. Because of the unpredictable nature of the collaboration, as well as the use of hybrid mediums, it is only possible to realize this project through a website, as well as the use of multimedia and video art in the live performances.
3. Project Significance:
The project would most likely be more useful to the artist than in a classroom environment. However, the project does address and extremely important and often debated issue in new media and film production: the authorship dilemma. Scholars, artists, and students alike may use the project as an example, as well as commentary, on the collaborative process and the questions that arrive in who is the author of the final project. Just as any film requires collaboration and cooperation from multiple people in various fields of expertise, collaborative live performance also requires the interaction of multiple artists in different fields. Scholars in many different fields may use the project as an example of working in a collaborative environment, which is necessary in every field.

4. Progress/Plans to date
Currently, I have completely preliminary research on past collaborations, as well as designed a basic wireframe layout for the website. While I have not made decisions regarding who I will be collaborating yet, I have begun to plan the logistics, such as venue, my planned role in the collaborations, as well as my goals for the performances.

IV. Timeline
August 2008: Complete historical research on the topic.
October 2008: First collaborative performance with Artist 1, have research organized and ready to place in website
December 2008: Basic website setup, Second collaborative performance with Artist 2
February 2008: Third collaborative performance with Artist 3, have archive aspect of website ready
April 2008: Have complete website, including analysis of my experience completed.

V. Budget
Minimal funds needed, as I need enough to pay for promotion of performances and any possible small production costs. Because I plan to use a non-profit venue, fees to use the performance space will be minimal. Any costs will hopefully be covered by suggested donations at the performance.

VI. Confirmed advisors
Pablo Frasconi, Cinema-Television Production
Virgina Kuhn, Institute for Multimedia Literacy

VII. Presentation and/or distribution plans/venues
Performances will take place at Zero Point Space in Los Angeles, CA, or in the Echo Curio, in Echo Park.
Final project will be displayed online as a website.

VIII. Production Resources
For the performance, I will need to find 3 artists in 3 different mediums (music, painting, etc.), and ideally, from different artistic backgrounds. I will need a digital video camera, a 35 mm still camera, and editing software in order to create photography or video art used in the performances, although I have access to these resources. I will also need resources for promotion of performances, such as postcards and fliers.
For the website, I will need basic HTML software, such as Dreamweaver.

IX. Prior Related Work
Many artists have experimented in collaboration, and examples of past collaborations is a large part of the project itself.
The Digital Performance Institute helps to support collaborative multimedia performances.


X. Research Bibliography
Digital Performance Institute
http://www.digitalperformance.org/

Update on Lydia's Provost Fellowship

Dear Lydia,

I'm writing to congratulate you on the approval of your application for a
Summer Research Fellowship. You will receive a $3000 stipend to support
full-time research for a period of not less than eight weeks during the period May 20 through
August 20, 2008.

Gene Bickers
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Programs

Lydia's Provost Fellowship Application (one-page limit)

Linguists face two particularly significant problems when doing research: many languages are spoken in remote locations and many are becoming extinct (i.e., they are no longer being spoken by younger generations, and will eventually not be spoken at all). The first problem makes it difficult to acquire primary source data, as doing so requires that the researcher travel to the remote location where the language is spoken. The second problem makes it crucial that linguistic data be collected efficiently and immediately, before there is permanent loss of the data.[1] I feel that the current models that seek to address these problems are inadequate.

I propose a two-part research project that will result in a proof-of-concept research tool that makes linguistic data, such as video footage, transcriptions, etc., more accessible to researchers. The first part of this proposed project, namely data collection, will be conducted this summer. The second part will be conducted later as part of my senior thesis for the Honors in Multimedia Scholarship and will use the data collected this summer to create a model for a more effective research tool.[2]

For the data collection, I will spend approximately one month living in Alaska in the Bristol Bay region where Central Alaskan Yup’ik is spoken. Central Alaskan Yup’ik is still being learned by children in only 17 of 68 Yup’ik villages, according to the Alaska Native Language Center of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.[3] Although it is not the most critically endangered language spoken in Alaska, it is one which I have access to through family members living in that area.

Using my Sony DCR-HC96 video camera and a high quality lavalier microphone, I will record at least four different native speakers of Yup’ik to gather as much linguistic data as possible from their speech. It is important that there be both audio and video documentation in order to reduce the ambiguity of certain sounds that would otherwise be difficult to distinguish through audio alone.

I will then spend approximately one month back in Los Angeles using the Institute for Multimedia Literacy’s lab to perform post-production work on the recordings. This will involve editing and organizing of the video clips, as well as transcription of the speech using a linguistic annotation program known as ELAN[4], developed by the Max-Planck-Institute for Psycholinguistics at Nijmegen.

This organized and annotated data will not only be useful for my senior thesis project, but will have immediate intrinsic value. There are graduate students at USC with whom I have been in contact who are doing academic research on the Yup’ik language who would benefit greatly from access to this primary source data. I have also contacted the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, to find out how they may find this data useful. The Native American Languages Act of 1990 makes clear that the languages of Native Americans have cultural and linguistic value. [5] It also states that preservation of these languages is crucial. The data I collect this summer will be a lasting and accessible record of Central Alaskan Yup’ik that will aid in the preservation of one of the United States’ diverse indigenous languages and will eventually seed my proof-of-concept research tool.

---

[1]See the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Indigenous Language Initiative http://web.mit.edu/linguistics/mitili/language%20loss.html for a brief outline of facts and figures

[2] See Institute for Multimedia Literacy homepage, http://iml.usc.edu/, for more information on the program

[3] http://www.uaf.edu/anlc/langs/cy.html

[4] EUDICO Linguistic Annotator (ELAN), see http://nflrc.hawaii.edu/ldc/December2007/techreviews/berez.html for more information on the program

[5] See http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/jWCRAWFORD/nala.htm

Visualizations

Baby Name Wizard
Tracking popularity of names over time.

Trulia: Maps of Properties Through Time
A real-estate map showing building over time.

MOMA Exhibit: Design and The Elastic Mind
This page is, ironically, almost impossible to navigate,
but try to find the section on MAPPING look at Cabspottin
and take the time to find works and techniques that may relate
to your inquiries.

We Feel Fine
Harvesting blog posts for emotional expression.

Ahmed Omar: Midterm Thesis Proposal (Revised Version)

I. The Story of a Scavenger Boy

II. Abstract:

Since it’s creation in 1946, Pakistan has been severely handicapped by corrupt governance, military dictatorships and regional tension. A country in which an estimated 44% of the population still lives bellows the poverty line. In a country where the literacy rate is just hitting 50% (where you are considered literate If you can read and write your name) I was fortunate to have studied in the most prestigious high school in my country. Having lived in the United States for the past few years, I have come to realize the importance identity, which makes our lives worth living.

The Story of a Scavenger Boy is not just a journey of a young boy in search for his true identity. It is the story of my life, a story of all our lives. A story about the struggle every person must go through in order to find his place in this world. This is your story and you tell it.

Project Introduction:

More than 100,000 child scavengers or rag-pickers can be found across Pakistan, according to the International Labour Organisation. They are exposed to scabies, malaria, dysentery, anaemia and muscular problems, as well as to chronic diseases like Tuberculosis, jaundice and liver/kidney disorders. Exposure to cast-off syringes puts them at risk of contracting infections like HIV/AIDS.

Omar is from the gypsy community of Lahore, Pakistan's second largest city. At just ten, Omar has four years experience of "professional" scavenging for 10-12 hours a day. His work returns little so he eats what he finds. He spends three or four nights on the street in various locations and returns 'home' when he can.

Omar doesn't go to school and seldom spends time playing with friends. Tired or sick, Omar works. Time is a precious commodity that he uses to scavenge scrap metal and other goods for his employer. Although he has no fixed salary, Omar says that he has contributed to marginally improved conditions at home. He recounts experiences of physical and verbal abuse by his employer, but scavenging has been his life- he has known no different.

Source: Pakistan: Poverty unveiled (http://meero.worldvision.org/sf_pakistan.php)

Remixing Fact & Fiction:

The Story of a Scavenger Boy is an interactive project and an initiative to raise awareness about a community/world hidden behind a veil of claimed development. As the world waits to see who takes office in Pakistan’s recent elections, a young boy cries hoping for his cries to be heard. But no one’s there. Some stops by and go’s, leaving behind pieces of roti, empty wrappers, and broken chappals.

The young boy searches through this pile of litter left behind, as he see’s the train go by. Hoping to find an item of value he walks along the train tracks scanning either side of the tracks. Finally his face lights up as he spots a small piece of an electronic item half buried in the ground. A broken pair of headphones. The young boys picks it up, safely stores it in his pocket and walks away towards the cabaria hoping to sell the item for a few rupees. After a long days work he goes home, proud of his days work, looking forward to spending time with his family.

III. Description:

Definition of the Project:

• Genre: As discussed earlier this project will blend fact and fiction. The project follows a non-Linear database narrative structure driven by a central character (young scavenger boy) and a fictional story based around the character. However, within this narrative, the user will find factual information in the form of interviews, and data about the discussed issues. This information will be embedded within the narrative to provide a critical and scholarly element to the project. Thus the genre of the project can broadly be categorized as a documentary driven by a narrative.
• Research Methodology: Prior research as well and original research will be used in this project. Data and information collected by organization like UNICEF, World Vision and The Azad Foundation will be re-worked into this project. However large amounts of research will also be done and multiple perspectives will be presented. Interviews will human rights activists, social workers, scholar, and children will be conducted and present in this project to provide arguments from all various sides.
• Delivery Format: The project will be part of a dedicated website. It will be available in both low and high resolution. Also project will be released on DVD format and possibly High Definition. Information presentation, and details about web delivery are discussed later.

Project Goals and Initiatives: The goal of this project is to engross the user in an interactive and dynamic environment where the user is as much apart of the project as the character depicted and the creator of the project. It aims to immerse the user in an environment where he/she feels engaged and empowered and in doing so, allows the user to reflect upon their own life while interacting with the narrative and characters presented. Secondly the project aims to raise awareness about the lives of underprivileged children in Pakistan and the external factors at play that cannot be disregarded when attempting to understand issues related to 3rd world countries in general. This project is part of a larger initiative to improve the lives of underprivileged children all over Pakistan. I plan to get affiliated with organization working on the grassroots level in Pakistan like The Citizens Foundation (TCF). Lastly, this project hopes to be valuable as an academic and scholastic resource for future research about street children, poverty, and the dynamics of a lower class family in Pakistan.

This project must be realized in multimedia as it uses new media technology, and multimedia tools to achieve the outlined goals. The project will be unlike anything done before. It will approach a social issue using a new interactive medium that allows for greater interactivity and flexibility and gives the user control. The experience will be unique and inimitable for every user.

Project's Significance within Contemporary Scholarship: In the past large amounts of research has been done by scholars about street children and poverty in Pakistan. In addition many local television networks and independent documentary filmmakers have produced documentaries about issues concerning lower class families in the slums of Karachi, Pakistan. However this project will be the first attempt to present the data and research using a non-linear database narrative structure. Moreover as discussed earlier the project will be part of a larger initiative that will users to become actively involved with current projects working to improve the lives of street children in Pakistan. Also the information and research present in the project will be completely accessible to scholars and academic units that are working on similar issues in the future. Thus the significant of this project is three fold. Firstly it will serve as a tool to educate. Secondly it will present the information in a way that will enable users to think more constructively and creatively about the content. Lastly, the project will be a tool for reaching people in any city, state, or country. It will be accessible online free of cost.

IV. Timeline:

Spring 2008: Pre Production
Summer 2008: Production (Shooting at location in Karachi, Pakistan)
Fall 2008: Post Production (Editing raw footage, designing interface)
Winter 2008-09: Production (Shooting on location + interviews etc.)
Spring 2009: Post Production (Editing and finalizing footage, website development)

V. Budget:

Pre-Production: A minimal amount of finances will be required during pre-production stage of the project.

Production: The production costs of this project will broadly include camera, lighting, travel, cast and crew, food and catering. The total estimate cost will range between $100 – $500. Production will take place entirely in Pakistan therefore all costs incurred will be in local currency.

Post Production and Distribution: Post-production costs will be minimal. The distribution and development, hosting and domain of website will be a significant. Depending on the size of the project distribution, promotion and the website will cost between $200 - $500.

VI. Advisors:
The following is a list of possible advisors. All the following advisors are aware of the project and have shown interest in the project. I will personally meet with each advisor and make a presentation after which I will officially approach the advisors.

• Professor Jon Taplin: Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California. Taplin’s areas of specialization are in international communication management and the field of digital media entertainment.
  
•  Professor Robert Scheer: Professor of Media and Society at the Anneberg School for Communication. Robert Scheer has built a reputation for strong social and political writing over his 30 years as a journalist. He has written extensively about Pakistan.
• Professor Doug Thomas: Douglas Thomas is Associate Professor in the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California. He is founding editor of Games & Culture: A Journal of Interactive Media, a quarterly international journal that aims to publish innovative theoretical and empirical research about games and culture within the context of interactive media.
• David Barsamian: Award winning founder and director of Alternative Radio, the independent weekly series based in Boulder, Colorado. He is a radio producer, journalist, author and lecturer. He has been working in radio since 1978.
• Steve Anderson/Virginia Kuhn: Professor Steve Anderson and Virginia Kuhn are both, leading practitioners in the field of database narratives, non-linear narratives and new media.

VII. Presentation and Distribution Plans:
The project will be officially released on a dedicated website. Along with this project, the website will host information about the project and other features including the following:

Website:
• Contain the information about the project, and author statement.
• Photo gallery/Behind the Scenes
• Contact Information: How to get involved
• Discussion Forum
• About the Characters: Characters based on real children

I also plan to release my project on DVD and distribute it widely across the United States and Pakistan. In the future I hope to publicly exhibit the project in DIY conventions.

VIII. Production Resources:

Sony PD 170 DVCAM or
Sony VR-Z1U HDCAM
Lavalier Microphones for interviews
Final Cut Pro editing system
Korsakow or other database narrative system
Dreamweaver for website development
The Citizens Foundation TCF (Collaboration)

IX. Prior Related Work:
• A documentary aired on Dawn News TV titled “Equinox: Street Children in Pakistan”
• Research by World Vision about poverty and scavenger children.
• The Azad Foundation: A group dedicated to improving the lives of street children in Karachi, Pakistan

X. Research Bibliography:
World Vision: Pakistan: Poverty unveiled
http://meero.worldvision.org/sf_pakistan.php

World Education Forum: Grassroots stories: Pakistan
http://www.unesco.org/education/wef/en-news/pakistan.shtm

Schedule

Please schedule yourselves (due this weekend) for the rest of the semester. Look hard at the posted outline and break it down into specific tasks. Assign yourself tasks per week:

April 3rd Week 11: Class Period = HTML/CSS Workshop 2
April 10th Week 12 DUE: Show plan/beginnings of prototype or storyboard (begun week 9)
April 17th Week 13 Written Draft due! (posted - it can be rough)
April 24th Week 14 DUE: Show prototype or storyboard
May 1st Week 15: Presentations
TUESDAY MAY 6th: Final Proposal DUE

The Story of a Scavenger Boy - Video

The purpose of this video is to give you a glimpse into the lives of the children I'll be working with for this project. All the photographs complied is this promo were taken in the slums around Karachi, Pakistan.

Ahmed Omar - Midterm Thesis Proposal

The Story of a Scavenger Boy

Abstract:

Since it’s creation in 1946, Pakistan has been severely handicapped by corrupt governance, military dictatorships and regional tension. A country in which an estimated 44% of the population still lives bellows the poverty line. In a country where the literacy rate is just hitting 50% (where you are considered literate If you can read and write your name) I was fortunate to have studied in the most prestigious high school in my country. Having lived in the United States for the past few years, I have come to realize the importance identity, which makes our lives worth living.

The Story of a Scavenger Boy is not just a journey of a young boy in search for his true identity. It is the story of my life, a story of all our lives. A story about the struggle every person must go through in order to find his place in this world. This is your story and you tell it.

Project Introduction:

More than 100,000 child scavengers or rag-pickers can be found across Pakistan, according to the International Labour Organisation. They are exposed to scabies, malaria, dysentery, anaemia and muscular problems, as well as to chronic diseases like Tuberculosis, jaundice and liver/kidney disorders. Exposure to cast-off syringes puts them at risk of contracting infections like HIV/AIDS.

Omar is from the gypsy community of Lahore, Pakistan's second largest city. At just ten, Omar has four years experience of "professional" scavenging for 10-12 hours a day. His work returns little so he eats what he finds. He spends three or four nights on the street in various locations and returns 'home' when he can.

Omar doesn't go to school and seldom spends time playing with friends. Tired or sick, Omar works. Time is a precious commodity that he uses to scavenge scrap metal and other goods for his employer. Although he has no fixed salary, Omar says that he has contributed to marginally improved conditions at home. He recounts experiences of physical and verbal abuse by his employer, but scavenging has been his life- he has known no different.

Source: Pakistan: Poverty unveiled (http://meero.worldvision.org/sf_pakistan.php)


Remixing Fact & Fiction:

The Story of a Scavenger Boy is an interactive project and an initiative to raise awareness about a community/world hidden behind a veil of claimed development. As the world waits to see who takes office in Pakistan’s recent elections, a young boy cries hoping for his cries to be heard. But no one’s there. Some stops by and go’s, leaving behind pieces of roti, empty wrappers, and broken chappals.

The young boy searches through this pile of litter left behind, as he see’s the train go by. Hoping to find an item of value he walks along the train tracks scanning either side of the tracks. Finally his face lights up as he spots a small piece of an electronic item half buried in the ground. A broken pair of headphones. The young boys picks it up, safely stores it in his pocket and walks away towards the cabaria hoping to sell the item for a few rupees. After a long days work he goes home, proud of his days work, looking forward to spending time with his family.


Description:

Narrative Driven / Factual:
The project follows a non-Linear database narrative structure driven by a central character (young scavenger boy) and a fictional story, as it’s main stem. Factual information and authoritative personnel interviews, views will be linked/embedded with this fictional narrative to provide an analytical and critical element to the project.

Project Goals and Initiatives:

Objectives: The goal of this project is to immerse the user in an environment where he/she feels engaged and empowered and in doing so, allows the user to reflect upon their own life while interacting with the narrative and characters presented. Secondly the project aims to raise awareness about the lives of underprivileged children in Pakistan and the external factors at play that cannot be disregarded when attempting to understand issues related to 3rd world countries in general.

This project is part of a larger initiative to improve the lives of underprivileged children all over Pakistan. I plan to get affiliated with organization working on the grassroots level in Pakistan like The Citizens Foundation (TCF).

Delivery Format:
The project will be part of a dedicated website. It will be available in both low and high resolution. Also project will be released on DVD format and possibly High Definition.

Presentation and Distribution Plans:
The project will be officially released on a dedicated website. Along with this project, the website will host information about the project and other features including the following:

Website:
• Contain the information about the project, and author statement.
• Photo gallery/Behind the Scenes
• Contact Information: How to get involved
• Discussion Forum
• About the Characters: Characters based on real children

I also plan to realize my project on DVD and distribute it widely across the United States and Pakistan. In the future I hope to publicly exhibit the project in DIY conventions.

Production Resources:
Sony PD 170 DVCAM or
Sony VR-Z1U HDCAM
Lavalier Microphones for interviews
Final Cut Pro editing system
Korsakow or other database narrative system
Dreamweaver for website development

Budget:

Pre-Production: A minimal amount of finances will be required during pre-production stage of the project.

Production: The production costs of this project will broadly include camera, lighting, travel, cast and crew, food and catering. The total estimate cost will range between $100 – $500. Production will take place entirely in Pakistan therefore all costs incurred will be in local currency.

Post Production and Distribution: Post-production costs will be minimal. The distribution and development, hosting and domain of website will be a significant. Depending on the size of the project distribution, promotion and the website will cost between $200 - $500.

Advisors:
The following is a list of possible advisors. All the following advisors are aware of the project and have shown interest in the project. I will personally meet with each advisor and make a presentation after which I will officially approach the advisors.
:
• Professor Jon Taplin: Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California. Taplin’s areas of specialization are in international communication management and the field of digital media entertainment.
• Professor Robert Scheer: Professor of Media and Society at the Anneberg School for Communication. Robert Scheer has built a reputation for strong social and political writing over his 30 years as a journalist. He has written extensively about Pakistan.
• Professor Doug Thomas: Douglas Thomas is Associate Professor in the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California. He is founding editor of Games & Culture: A Journal of Interactive Media, a quarterly international journal that aims to publish innovative theoretical and empirical research about games and culture within the context of interactive media.
• David Barsamian: Award winning founder and director of Alternative Radio, the independent weekly series based in Boulder, Colorado. He is a radio producer, journalist, author and lecturer. He has been working in radio since 1978.

Timeline:
Spring 2008: Pre Production
Summer 2008: Production (Shooting at location in Karachi, Pakistan)
Fall 2008: Post Production (Editing raw footage, designing interface)
Winter 2008-09: Production (Shooting on location + interviews etc.)
Spring 2009: Post Production (Editing and finalizing footage, website development)

Prior Related Work:
I have worked in the news media in Pakistan. During this time I worked extensively with editing systems (Final Cut Pro). Also I produced a short film (currently in Post Production) about street children in Karachi, Pakistan. I have also worked on Dreamweaver to develop my own website.

Research Bibliography:
World Vision: Pakistan: Poverty unveiled
http://meero.worldvision.org/sf_pakistan.php

World Education Forum: Grassroots stories: Pakistan
http://www.unesco.org/education/wef/en-news/pakistan.shtm

Thesis Proposal Outline

IML 346 Thesis Proposal Outline
I. Title
II. Abstract
III. Description
1. Definition of Project specifying;
Genre
i.e., argumentative, documentary, essayistic, game, etc.
Research methodology
i.e., present original research, synthesize pre-existing ideas, analyze an
issue from multiple perspectives, visualize data
Delivery Format
i.e., website, installation, video, DVD, game, performance

2. Clear articulation of project goals
Why must this project be realized in multimedia?
What should a viewer/user take away from it?
Why is this project valuable in an academic context?

3. Statement of this project's significance within contemporary scholarship in your field.
Does the project address a current scholarly issue?
Create a forum for investigation or discussion?
Create a resource for future research?
Intervene in a political debate?
Annotate, interpret or criticize a pre-existing text, film, artwork?
Is it a tool for teaching?
Is it a tool for thinking differently about a topic?
Is it a tool for reaching audiences outside the university?

4. Progress/Plans to date
Description of prototypes, story boards, interface design, experiments.

IV. Timeline
incl delivery milestones
V. Budget*
Estimate and Range
*there is no department support for a thesis project, so either you need to design a project with no need for outside funds or start early to identify outside sources of research funding.
VI. Confirmed advisors
At least one advisor from home discipline, One from IML faculty

VII. Presentation and/or distribution plans/venues

VIII. Production resources
Software and/or Hardware needs
Collaborators
Presentation Needs

IX. Prior related work

X. Research bibliography

Lydia's Mad Lib

I am developing a standardized and user-friendly method for collecting linguistic data and organizing it in an interface where it can easily be made use of by researchers, because such a system would greatly facilitate the process of doing research on languages.

Meredith's Mad Lib

Sorry, I forgot to post this earlier!!

I am exploring the value and effect of combining multimedia with live performance because I want to find out the most effective application of multimedia in a performance setting in order to help artists of various mediums create more dynamic and technologically forward performances that create interaction between art of differing mediums.

Wow... that was a very repetitive statement...

Mad Lib Assignment - Ahmed Omar

I am researching a life of a lower middle class family in Karachi, Pakistan because I want to find out why poor families are forced to send their children to religious institutions in order to help my viewer understand the ground realities of a nation handicapped by political uncertainty, corrupt governance, foreign negligence and social disparity.

Heather's Mad Lib Post

I am exploring the history of faith in New Orleans because I would like to understand the progression from the Civil War to Katrina. I would like to research in order to either reinforce or deconstruct (or perhaps both) stereotypes that exist about the religions of both the Old and New South.

Mad Lib- Elizabeth

Possible Mad Lib:

I am reporting on school spirit because I want to find out where it comes from and how it is manifested in order to help past, present, and future USC students become better Trojans.

**EDIT**
2 more possibilities

I am reporting on marching bands because I want to find out how they affect school spirit in order to raise awareness about marching band as a valuable entity to a school.

I am reporting on athletic bands because I want to find out whether or not they truly help motivate athletes in order to help bands improve what they do to help teams more effectively.

Speaker: Henry Jenkins

Henry Jenkins at USC

The Institute for Multimedia Literacy and the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences is pleased to present “Combating the Participation Gap: Why New Media Literacy Matters,” a lecture by Henry Jenkins on Thursday, February 7, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. in Lucas 108.

According to recent studies by the Pew Center on the Internet and American Life, more than half of American teens online have produced media content and about a third have circulated media that they have produced beyond their immediate friends and family. These statistics reflect the growing importance of participatory culture in the everyday lives of American young people. Work across a range of disciplines suggest that these emerging forms of participatory culture are important sites for informal learning and may be the crucible out of which new conceptions of civic engagement are emerging….

Comment Press!

Here is our class link to Comment Press.