Gervaise Media Blog: September 2009

Sunday, 27 September 2009

Music Research

What is music downloading?

A music download refers to the transferring of a music file from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment if required.

Popular examples of online music stores that sell digital singles and albums include the iTunes Store, Amazon MP3, and eMusic. Paid downloads are sometimes encoded with Digital Rights Management that restricts making extra copies of the music or playing purchased songs on certain digital audio players.

Digital music sales now generate around $2 billion in revenue, with tracks available through 500 online services located in 40 countries, representing around 10 percent of the total global music market. Around the world in 2006, an estimated five billion songs, equating to 38,000 years in music were swapped on peer-to-peer websites, while 509 million were purchased online.

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/music downloading

Where do people download music?

It would seem as though people download music from site such as,

www.napster.co.uk/freetrial

http://www.7digital.com/

www.music.alot.com

www.orange.co.uk/monkey

I have also got facts and figures from this website

www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/3358823/The-six-best-digital-music-download-sites.html

Why do people download music instead of buying it?

MP3 downloads are saving my day, and they're saving me money. I don't always like every single song on an album. With the ability to download individual songs at a time, I don't have to skip the ones that I don't like. I can just avoid hearing them altogether by only buying the mp3 download songs that I do like. And, that is saving me money. I can buy a bunch of songs for a fraction of the price I'd pay if I had to buy the whole CD for every artist I wanted to hear. I love using mp3 downloads to keep my music collection new and fresh and updated!

The majority of young people – 89 per cent of those polled – also said that having ownership of MP3s was still important to them.

68 per cent of those in the survey said they listen to music on their computer every day, while only 15 per cent did the same for CD's

www.ipodandmp3players.com/

www.nme.com/news/various-artists/46627

How does downloading music affect the music industry?

Downloading illegally obviously has but also legal downloading is affecting the music industry. The production of CDs/Tapes/Records have gone down because people are able to download off of iTunes, etc.

However, the positives are mostly in favor of the musicians. Musicians are able to get their music out easily because the majority of people now would much rather be able to have a wide variety of genres at their finger tips rather than have to go to a music store (Not saying that I would at all)

John Russell, editor at DailyMusicGuide.com, said: 'Arctic Monkeys are a living example of how giving music away for free can propel a band into the mainstream very quickly. 'But, whether filesharing has 'a dangerous effect' on the music industry as a whole is a different matter, and hugely subjective depending on what stage a band or artist is at in their career.'Established artists such as Lily Allen are concerned about units sold and so illegal downloads for her can be 'bad news'.

wiki.answers.com/Has the ability to download music negatively affected the music industry?

www.bcs.org/server.php?show=conWebDoc.32235

paidcontent.co.uk/.../419-almost-everyone-copies-music-listeners-split-on-copying-levy-research/

What age group downloads music?

The wide-ranging report, which looks at the competitiveness of Europe's digital sector over the past five years, found that 16- to 24-year-olds have a hardline attitude to online payment systems.

Digital Competitiveness found that 33% of the so-called "digital generation" appear to be reluctant to pay at all to download or view online content, twice the average across the EU.

While the statistic appears to confirm the worst fears of TV, film, music and newspaper companies that it may be impossible to get the younger generation to pay online, the EC report did offer a glimmer of hope.

The report found that 10% of 16- to 24-year-olds had paid for such online services, twice the level of the EU average

www.guardian.com/what age group downloads music

Illegal music site

Napster

Legal music site iTunes

How I can use this research in my documentary?

The research I have gathered such as the facts and figures will help the structure of my documentary in a big way. In terms of how viable this documentary will be to film I think that the topic of music downloading would definately appeal to people who are still in further education. Another reason I think this documentary is viable, is because music downloading is an issue in todays society so filming a documentary about music downloading will definately get my audiences drawn into this topic. I can interview people that download illegal and legal music or even get an expert who knows about music downloading and get their opinion on what they think. This documentary will be alot eaiser to film thanks to the research I have gathered above and this has made this documentary practical to film.

Gaming research

Who is most likely to be effected by video games?

Tucker Carlson says, “According to a new study, non-aggressive children who were exposed to high levels of media violence had similar patterns of activity in the area of the brain linked to self-control — the same as aggressive children diagnosed with disrupted behavior disorder.”

Research shows that the target audiences most likely to be affected by violent games are males aged 16-25.

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9087687

Are games to blame for violent behavior?

Psychologists, ‘who have worked with violent television and films for 50 years’, argue that there are a number of different factors that need to be taken into consideration when observing the link between violent video games and behavior. The link below highlights several reasons why certain games could be to blame for violent behavior. (1) The games are highly engaging and interactive, (2) the games reward violent behavior, and because (3) children repeat these behaviors over and over as they play (Gentile & Anderson, 2003). Psychologists know that each of these help learning – “Active involvement improves learning, rewards increase learning, and repeating something over and over increases learning.”

www.psychologymatters.org/videogames.html

What are the violent games that are causing the most concern?

Parents are unaware of the popularity of violent games and because of the attitude and behavior of society, parents will now look further into the ethos of certain games for their children. For example, during the first minutes of Resident Evil 4, it displays a lot of violence. “It's possible to find the corpse of a woman pinned up on a wall--by a pitchfork through her face."

Other examples included Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Here the gamer is a young man working with gangs to gain respect. His mission includes murder, theft, and destruction on every imaginable level. Player recovers his health by visiting prostitutes then recovers funds by beating them to death and taking their money. Player can wreak as much havoc as he likes without progressing through the game's storyline."

Furthermore in God of War, the player, who is independent, becomes a ruthless warrior, seeking revenge against the gods who tricked him into murdering his own family. “Prisoners are burned alive and the player can use 'finishing moves' to kill opponents, like tearing a victim in half."

In NARC not only focuses on the violent aspect but also on the drugs. “The player can choose between two narcotics agents attempting to take a dangerous drug off the streets and shut down the KRAK cartel while being subject to temptations including drugs and money. To enhance abilities, player takes drugs including pot, Quaaludes, ecstasy, LSD, and Liquid Soul which provides the ability to kick enemies heads off."

To add to the list, The Warriors which is based on a 70s action flick, “Set new standards for artistic violence, street gang battles its way across NYC in an attempt to reach its home turf. Player issues several commands to his gang, including 'mayhem, which causes the gang to smash everything in sight."

The game, Crime Life Gang Wars, looks into a ruthless street gang. “Spending time fighting, recruiting new gangsters, looting, and of course, more fighting. Player can roam the streets and fight or kill anyone in sight for no apparent reason."

www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?type=article&article_id=218392248

Why are these games so dangerous?

This whole argument to whether violent games can result in violent behavior is subjective as it can’t be measured. This is reinforced by the government who state that, "It is important to note that there is no conclusive evidence of any link between playing computer games and violent behavior in real life.”

"A researcher at England's University of Essex says that there is little evidence to suggest that video games are harmful. Patrick Kierkegaard, writing in the current International Journal of Liability and Scientific Enquiry, adds that, in his view, games do not lead to aggression. He also suggests that previous studies linking games and aggression are biased.”

Kierkegaard explains... “There is no obvious link between real world violence statistics and the advent of video games. If anything, the effect seems to be the exact opposite and one might argue that video game usage has reduced real violence.”

The research we have found, suggesting that there is a link between the two, shows that games are dangerous because of the following. (1) They influence an impressionable generation, (2) they encourage and reward unacceptable behavior and (3) they glamorize a negative lifestyle.

How are these violent games regulated?

Video games are supervised by a company called BBFC. The BBFC is a highly expert and experienced regulator of the moving image (especially film, video/DVD and video games), and also a service provider for new and developing media. They have the authority to give games a certificate that is suitable for certain age groups. Games such as the dragon age origins has been officially marked 18 due to strong bloody violence and one strong sexual image.

www.bbfc.co.uk/recent/index.php?media=film

Are there any cases in which video games has been linked to crime

There are subjective views on this topic that has made people believe that Devin Moore has murdered people due to a very negative video game called Grand theft auto, which mainly concentrates on violence, sex, drugs and abuse. Not only that but many people believe that this influences people to come out of their comfort zone just to be like the person in the game. Last winter, a multi-million dollar lawsuit was filed in Alabama against the makers and marketers of Grand Theft Auto, claiming that months of playing the game led a teenager to go on a rampage and kill three men, two of them police officers. Attorney Jack Thompson, a long-time crusader against video-game violence, is bringing the suit. "What we're saying is that Devin Moore was, in effect, trained to do what he did. He was given a murder simulator," says Thompson. Moore’s victims were Ace Mealer, a 911 dispatcher; James Crump, a police officer; and Arnold Strickland, another officer who was on patrol in the early morning hours of June 7, 2003, when he brought in Moore on suspicion of stealing a car.

www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/17/60minutes/main702599.shtml

What can be done to stop this

If we were to use games that are educational and games that would benifit us for a positive reason then maybe the crime of violence will be reduced.

Violent Game
Educational game

How I can use this research in my documentary?

The information gathered for my gaming research has made me understand that certain games can effect people such as children by changing their mood and behaviour. My focus group have introudced that games such as Brian Training and Wii Sports can actually benifit children to do excercise physically and mentally. This plays a big impact on my game documentary as it would make me focus on how games can affect children from two different angles, one from a violent angle and another in a benificial angle. I genuinely think that this documentary has potential as my research answers a lot of the questions that I have wanted to find.

However I do not think that this documentary is very viable as I havent found research to prove that good games can benifit children. If I was to find facts that suggest that games can teach us something, then I could mix this docuementary between the two topics making the documentary more viable.

Graffiti Research

How has graffiti affected a younger generation?

Young people (ages 16-25) grew up in a generation fully submerged in a digital culture. They account for the highest percentage of text message users in the United States. On average they read up to 100 text messages a day. They grew up around computers, video games, using the web, downloading digital photos and writing on their cell phones.

This is precisely how anyone can see and experience Graffiti tags without physically being there. Graffiti artists now take pictures on their cell phones and send them to friends. Text culture and the accessibility of phones changed the way Graffiti is now accessed, documented and read. Graffiti that was done on walls and the streets was never documented in this way before. The way most Graffiti artists documented it was through cameras that used film and then they developed the images for documentation. They often had to develop several shots and form a series of collages to get a full view of a piece they did on a long wall. Often, Graff artists compiled photo albums of their pieces and carried it with them to show others their work, a sort of artistic portfolio.

http://www.journalofaestheticsandprotest.org/6/another/diaz.html

Why Graffiti is aimed at this target audience?

This website has been carefully analyzed and this is what they have found during their research

www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/antisocialbehaviour

Where are the most targeted places?

This website gives prime examples of where graffiti is being targeted

www.press.homeoffice.gov.uk/press-releases/Government

Who is responsible for graffiti?

This website tells us details of who is mainly responsible and what object this jeopardizes

www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/crime/youngpeopleandcrime

What can be done about graffiti?

Agencies, working together to tackle graffiti can prove the most effective. For example, in Surrey the police are working with the local authority, county council, British Transport Police, schools and local youth groups. The project has been running for three years and focuses on cleaning up graffiti, prevention by connecting with young people through the district youth council. Youth diversionary activities are important and the CDRP has funded these through youth clubs and a recently opened youth cafe. Young people are often not aware that damaging property by graffiti is a criminal offence and education is a crucial element of the project. Specialist youth affairs police officers and PCSO's spread this message through schools and also point out the consequences of being caught damaging property.

www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/criminaldamage/cdfaqs002.htm

When does graffiti change from vandalism to art?

This website gives statistics on what you think graffiti is

About Poll
Is Graffiti Art or Vandalism?
It's definitely art and should be celebrated (2442)	57%
It's definitely vandalism and offenders should be punished (641)	15%
It's art but there ought be specific places to create it (568)	13%
It's art but I don't want it on my wall thank you (100)	2%
If it's art, why not do it on a canvas and frame it? (138)	3%
Some of it's art, but most is rubbish (312)	7%
Something else (35)	3%
Total Votes: 4236

painting.about.com/b/2006/05/01/is-graffiti-art-or-vandalism

Graffiti done with permission is art is in the eye of the beholder. My office has even funded many beautiful graffiti-like murals.

However, it becomes a crime when you put that "art" on someone else's property. I have a message for the graffiti vandals out there - your freedom of expression ends where my property begins!

If illegal graffiti were truly an art form, these thugs would have their tags all over their own homes and vehicles, which is not the case.

As City Public Safety Chair and a former prosecutor, I can tell you that, "Art is not what motivates the vast majority of taggers. At its best graffiti is just a way for immature vandals to seek notoriety and at its worst it is messages between rival gangs and drug dealers.
Graffiti is a gateway crime that both leads children and adolescents astray and sends a message that a graffiti-covered neighbourhood is ripe for criminal activity."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4946378.stm

Art

Vandalism

How I can use this research in my documentary

This idea will reflect how much graffiti is a really big issue in the UK and other places around the world. This would definately be a great topic to do as I can interview some people that I know that do graffiti, but in terms of shooting this topic for my documentary I do not think that this idea will be very viable as I havent got enough research to prove my point. The topic aimed to reach my target audience, but I did not get a solid enough answer to where and how graffiti started. This has brought my view on how viable this documentary is to film to a halt as I honestly think that I my documentary will fail to answer the question properly and that it will not produce the results I hoped to answer accurately.

Friday, 25 September 2009

Gaming (Violence or Education)

My focus group figured out that this idea would not appeal to both of my target audiences as not a lot of girls play games. However my focus group said that females might be interested as they could have some knowledge of what violent games there are in this world. My focus group then suggested that I should do a comparison of the games that are causing trouble, but at the same time advertise games such as Wii sports that would promote the beneficial side of games depending on what angle I was looking at it. They would like to see games like brain training, (educational) featured on the documentary and games that would keep us healthy such as Mario and Sonic Olympic games. My focus group predicted that bringing more educational games into my documentary would definitely meet my brief target 16-24 year olds. However one of the members in my focus group thought that if I was to concentrate too much on both ideas, it would steer away from my objective.

My focus group said that my idea can have an effect on how games benefit us as equipment such as the Wii fit would be a excellent way of get exercise and that at a young age it’s not seen as a boring process but seen as fun instead. Another thing that my focus group mentioned was that because this is a game children would be willing to play about with it more and it would also make the children more active and interactive. My focus group added that because children don’t really exercise any more they still play games, this would take away the negative effect from society.

My focus group suggested that I should have the style of my documentary based on children and parents views and that I should keep this documentary informal. The point was also made that if I was to base my documentary on game companies and psychologists then my documentary would change to an informal mode of address, but if I was to base it on parents and children them I would be able to hear more of an opinion and it would appeal more to the audience watching it. I also received some feedback that I should also have game producers feature in my documentary so that I can get their opinion on what they think they are doing and if it is a good thing. I then heard that I should go around to sports and leisure centers and see if they think that sports and educational games are good for you in terms of exercise as it falls into the same category of keeping fit.

Overall my focus group thought that this idea was interesting as it would now appeal to both genders and target audience and that it would teach my audience educational information. Now that I have received feedback from my focus group it has now made me reconsider on what my topic should be decisively based on. If I was to only focus on the ideas of featuring educational and healthy games, this would evenly balance my documentary by making sure there is enough time to explain my topic. In terms of production I think that this idea is quite viable as there as it can analyze a lot of views and opinions.

Graffiti (Art or Vandalism)

My focus saw art and vandalism as two different thing, they also thought that I should see what other people think and base my documentary on the majority of their views.

My focus group suggested that I should do my documentary on the street instead of a studio so that people can see what I am talking about and what sort of graffiti there is. My focus group gave an example of going down to London and looking at banksies graffiti and that if I was to do this it would make people think that his designs are art. They also thought that if I was to go to a place full of graffiti my audience would be able to visualize the atmosphere around me. My focus group thought that if I was to choose the positive aspects of graffiti I should go to a location that is legal to practice and advertise graffiti. They also got the idea that I should get other people to have a go at graffiti and ask them what they thought of it.

My focus group noticed that graffiti is aimed at trains, buses and places that are local such as Chadwell heath or Dagenham. They also said that as well as them areas it is quite global in places like France and that graffiti is everywhere around you. They also confessed that not a lot has been done to stop graffiti and that they can’t stop people from doing it. However they said that there could be some tighter security in train stations but there is still not enough that is being done to stop graffiti. They also told me that I could reveal the dangers of graffiti. They made an interesting point by pointing out that if they were trying to stop graffiti then people wouldn’t be able to do art in other locations. They also said that if the police caught the people responsible for graffiti they could give them community service or make the people clean other people graffiti.

Overall I think that my focus group thinks this idea has a lot of potential, one of the reasons they like it is because they think that graffiti is seen as seen more as an art than vandalism as people can express themselves. My focus group said that if you are going around just writing a tag on objects then it would be seen as vandalism. I think this quote will help me in a big way as it is viable and there will be distinction between art and vandalism. Without a doubt I feel that I can definitely go for the art side of graffiti and have people behind me in the background doing graffiti legally which will add effect to my documentary. My focus group quoted that they used to see graffiti as vandalism but nowadays they see it as art. This will help add the reality to the start of my documentary. The locations will also add the reality to documentary as it will give my audience the impression that this topic is positive. My focus group has definitely made this idea much more viable to do as there are still two side of my topic, but now this really gives me an oppurtuniy to look into which one I will choose.

Music Revolution (downloading)

The focus group felt that it would be good if my documentary had facts and figures to make my documentary well balanced.

My focus group also made the point that people such as, the music industry and recording artists will try to stop illegal music downloading.

My focus group suggested that I should make this documentary informal as it should not be too serious and interrogating but calm and interesting

My focus group came up with some negative feedback saying that if I was to give hints and tips, such as what sites to download on, it would be a bad idea as it would promote illegal downloading on my documentary. However straight after that I got some positive feedback saying that I could promote the sites that are legal, this would include buying songs off a website such as iTunes or Nokia.

Overall I think that this idea is very viable. The reason I think this is because this is the strongest idea out of my three initial ideas, this feedback has reflected one negative thing about my documentary, However it has gave me lots of positive ideas and I think that instead of affect my idea it helps me shape it.

Tuesday, 22 September 2009

Games Focus Group

My third idea focuses on the effect violent gaming. My focus group questions are as follows:

1.Are there any violent games you would like to see featured in this documentary?

2.Do you think that a documentary about gaming will appeal to both genders. if not, how can I make it appeal to both?

3.What is your opinion on the effects that violent games have on young people?

4.Would you like this documentary to be more of a debate between gaming companies and phycologists or based more on opinions? (childern and parents)

Graffiti Focus Group

My second idea focuses on what Graffiti is. My focus group questions are as follows:

1. What is your opinion on graffiti? Art or vandalism

2.Would you prefer to have he documentary set in a studio or locations that features graffiti?

3.Why do you think people graffiti? And is it a national problem that is just in London or other countries, How and where do you see graffiti in your area?

4. What is being done in the UK to stop graffiti and is this enough? Who's responsibility is it to stop graffiti?

Music Focus Group

My first idea focuses on what music downloading is. my focus group questions are as follows:

1. What style would you want this documentary to be, would it either be a documentary like panorama which is facts and figures, or Ross kemp which is chatty.

1b.Why do you like this style?

2.What do you already know about music downloading, if you don't know anything what would you like to know about it?

3.Do you watch factual documentaries, what kind of documentaries do you watch?

4. Would you like hints and tips about how to download music? Is there anything I can do to make it better?

Tuesday, 15 September 2009

Content Research Music

Who Downloads most music?
What is music downloading?
Where do people download music?
When did this generally start?
Why do people dowload instead of buying albums?
How it has affected the music industry?

Content Research Gaming

Who is most likely to be effected by violent games?
What are the voilent games that are causing most concern?
Why are these games so dangerous?
How are these violent games regulated?
Are there any cases in which video games has been linked to crime?
Are games to blame for voilent behaviour?

Content Research Graffiti

How has graffiti affected a younger generation?
Why is graffiti aimed at this target audience?
Where are the most targeted places?
Who is responsible for graffiti?
What can be done about it?
When does graffiti change from vandalism to art?
Does it encourage anti social behaviour?

Friday, 11 September 2009

Music Revolution

Gervaise Lynch's conventional questions

Has has music changed over the years?

Why has music changed?

Has any genre changed more than others?