(After Tim, the blogger, finishes he talks with Jim, the commentator)
Jim was very impressed with the diversity of the talk and how relative everything is to the design process that manages to touch the imagination and excite us. Jim wonders how the relationship between mashups and pop culture is affecting education.
Tim the blogger says that pop culture sometimes does not have a message at all and comments that some portions in pop culture can be improved on such as TV shows that seem mindless. A lot of stuff being viewed now on television shows and movies is being inspired by the viral world. Movies such as The Social Network are a small example of how much the viral world can inspire the pop culture world, and designers driving the demand of pop culture by producing art that the public wants.
Jim says the web has now become one of the most important ways to get in touch with media and most people watch shows on television which have been inspired by ideas created and presented through the internet.
Tim also comments on the big impact on our life ideas such as Facebook have making millions constantly use that product and are impacted through the design.
Jim responds with the negative side that sometimes there is absolutely no message behind an art piece and that even though some things such as The Social Network movie are successful they shouldn't be considered as actual important art.
Tim goes on to say things such as blogging can really impact the public space although the ideas start out small with the degree of how now a days technology enables us to outsource so much faster than 5 or 10 years ago.
Education is also so much easier as you can produce and create stuff for yourself on the web. Learning techniques is also easier now through research on the web, as well as radio blogging which gives you a platform to speak and receive actual instant feedback.
Jim comments on a director being asked by his wife in a documentary, "What do you think the future of film is?" The director responds "video", explaining that our next Mozart or Beethoven will be found through the viral spread of those videos that are posted up.
Tim responds that not all videos though that are posted up may have value for you, but they will find a certain group of audience that demands it. Several children becoming famous while adults standing baffled is just an example of how it is important to consider that everything is possible.
Jim wants education programs to start engaging in the process and creating the space which allows students to succeed and fail, but at least attempt art work that challenges them. By having classes which focus on viral orientated media tools schools can prepare students even better for the world thats ahead of them when searching for jobs. What is so important about the web is that all forms of culture can be presented and analyzed by the public. This enables anybody to use the internet to advance their form of income or hobby.
Tim also brings up perfectionism. The internet allows people to quickly publish their work and have the courage to ask for help and receive the feedback. Fight the perfectionism instinct and ask for help from others to improve your work by publishing a lot of work instead of pondering whether it is finished or not.
Jim says people should definitely not be in art if they're not willing to put their ideas out there, since art is essentially the presentation of your idea to the public.
Tim continues that we should produce ideas only when we have enjoyment in them, and most importantly we do the work for ourselves so that we have actual value in the work. The environment, group of people, creativity, and the platform are important to actually being able to say and produce what your thinking.
Jim responds that people should definitely always explore and not think about what things should be but what they can be. Designers should keep their minds open and find their own story as Tim named his blog to reflect on what their voice and goal is. Jim fears that universities become places where students stop reflecting truly on their work and having creativity taken away from them, but realizes that things such as the web can take away such factors. Learning can happen outside of college too, and jobs are available out there for kids who don't go to schools by using devices and tools such as the internet.
DS106 FOR LIFE!!!!
