In my ongoing battle against Blackboard I ended up reading through the course descriptions for first year RTA perhaps about 15 times. However, it was not until I was physically sitting in Laurie’s 
second period lecture on that first day that I actually realized that I had a class called Digital Media. “Digital Media, what the devil is that supposed to entail? Oh, I am DOOMED!” would be a more or less accurate account of my initial reaction. Something about the vague name, and the less than precise subject matter, must have left my eyes to glaze and my mind to pass over whatever little information there was about this course on the Ryerson website. I felt very unprepared.
second period lecture on that first day that I actually realized that I had a class called Digital Media. “Digital Media, what the devil is that supposed to entail? Oh, I am DOOMED!” would be a more or less accurate account of my initial reaction. Something about the vague name, and the less than precise subject matter, must have left my eyes to glaze and my mind to pass over whatever little information there was about this course on the Ryerson website. I felt very unprepared.However, throughout that first lecture my anxiety was slowly replaced with anticipation, and my bewilderment with realization: this course is about technology, communication and culture. It is about design and audiences, ideas and stories. My resources for this class are everywhere and have been my entire life: I am about as well prepared for Digital Media as I possibly could be.
My only remaining apprehension is that this is a constant on the horizon of my interaction with computers.
I’m working on it…
Despite my Death’s scythe hooked and hanging from my computer screen, the area of Digital Media that I am looking most forward to is web production. I am incredibly excited to learn Flash, which I’ve heard is both very difficult and VERY fun, as well as expanding upon my abilities as a blogger. I also hope to increase my understanding of HTML, which I first came across in 2004 when I, and I quote, “Pimped my Myspace”.
The one thing I’ve learnt in my various forays into the professional world is that anything you can do for yourself if of value. That is why a course like Digital Media is so important for a student in a program like RTA. The skills we will gain here will save us both time and money, and will make us invaluable contributors to any creative team. Furthermore, through increased knowledge we will have better control of all our endeavors, ensuring that everything we release into the world will meet our personal standards.
I am a musician, and through this course I am going to learn to design my own CD cover. When my band is ready for a website, I’ll know how to make it spectacular. I am a journalist who produces my own podcasts, which I subsequently release through my blog. With Digital Media I will have the opportunity to make a better-quality, more audience enticing blog, that will lead to a stronger following when I enter the professional market.
The worlds to be found in Digital Media are going to expand our experiences as public resources, and develop our understanding of our responsibilities as contributors to the information community. It is an awareness that we cannot do without.
So, was McLuhan right? Is the medium really the message? I haven’t decided yet, but I do know that while we are changing technology, technology is having no hesitations about changing us in return. A Multisensory Community is an absolutely accurate description of our modern North American lives, and if this weren’t true I’d probably still be sitting in RCC 204 ripping my hair out, unprepared, and out of communication.
Acey
Image: Sinead's pencil case, as scanned in class.
My only remaining apprehension is that this is a constant on the horizon of my interaction with computers.
I’m working on it…
Despite my Death’s scythe hooked and hanging from my computer screen, the area of Digital Media that I am looking most forward to is web production. I am incredibly excited to learn Flash, which I’ve heard is both very difficult and VERY fun, as well as expanding upon my abilities as a blogger. I also hope to increase my understanding of HTML, which I first came across in 2004 when I, and I quote, “Pimped my Myspace”.
The one thing I’ve learnt in my various forays into the professional world is that anything you can do for yourself if of value. That is why a course like Digital Media is so important for a student in a program like RTA. The skills we will gain here will save us both time and money, and will make us invaluable contributors to any creative team. Furthermore, through increased knowledge we will have better control of all our endeavors, ensuring that everything we release into the world will meet our personal standards.
I am a musician, and through this course I am going to learn to design my own CD cover. When my band is ready for a website, I’ll know how to make it spectacular. I am a journalist who produces my own podcasts, which I subsequently release through my blog. With Digital Media I will have the opportunity to make a better-quality, more audience enticing blog, that will lead to a stronger following when I enter the professional market.
The worlds to be found in Digital Media are going to expand our experiences as public resources, and develop our understanding of our responsibilities as contributors to the information community. It is an awareness that we cannot do without.
So, was McLuhan right? Is the medium really the message? I haven’t decided yet, but I do know that while we are changing technology, technology is having no hesitations about changing us in return. A Multisensory Community is an absolutely accurate description of our modern North American lives, and if this weren’t true I’d probably still be sitting in RCC 204 ripping my hair out, unprepared, and out of communication.
Acey
Image: Sinead's pencil case, as scanned in class.
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