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Lecture 2: Organising Your Research Project





DISCOVER: The YouTube Reader



Snickars, P and Vonderau, P. (2009) The YouTube Reader. Stockholm: National Library of Sweden.


Discovered
This book is a series of essay's written about YouTube some of which are extremely relevant to my dissertation whereas others are. The main texts I have focused on within this collection are those exploring YouTube as a media platform that directly competes existing and traditional media industries. Authors and writers within this text underpin the argument I have putting forward within my third chapter which looks at YouTube as a grass roots tool for amateur creatives versus the professional world or hollywood and the mass media and corporate control. 


DISCOVER: Youth, Identity, and Digital Media

Buckingham, D. (2008) Youth, Identity, and Digital Media. Cambridge: The MIT Press.


Discovered 
This text begins to touch on the concept of how the audience has transition from being a passive consumer to a participate of the media industry, with the advent of the internet, it's mass appeal, accessibility and ease of use has meant anyone can become a creator. 


Key Quotes
'In recent years, digital media and networks have become embedded in our everyday lives, and are part of broad-based changes to how we engage in knowledge production, communication, and creative expression.'

'Digital media have escaped the boundaries of professional and formal practice, and the academic, governmental, and industry homes that initially fostered their development.'

'The shift toward interactive media, peer-to-peer forms of media communication, and many-to-many forms of distribution relate to types of participation that are more bottom-up and driven by the “user” or “consumer” of media.'

'Audiences have always had the opportunity to “talk back” to corporate media or to create their own local media forms. However, the growing dominance of gaming as a media format, the advent of low-cost digital production tools, and online distribution means a much more dynamic range in who participates and how they participate in the production and distribution of media.'

Research Methodology

Case Study
The main methodology I will be using to conduct my research will be the case study method, the case study method is when a object, in this case YouTube, is studied as a whole and in which it is analysed through the different perspectives as well as looking at the object or service through various ideologies such as it's sociological and economic influence within society. This methodology will form the basis of the secondary research that I will be conducting.

E-Research
My primary research will be conducted using e-research methods in which I will use various internet or digital communication tools to conduct and gather primary research. This research method will allow me to gather research from people all over the world in which traditional forms of communication do not allow me. I will be using digital technologies such as Skype to conduct interviewers over the internet as well as using email to communication with participation in my study. Additionally I could use forums another internet based communication tool to talk with the YouTube community.


Dissertation Structure

Dissertation Time Management

DISCOVER: Born Digital: Understanding the First Generation of Digital Natives



Palfrey, J. and Gasser, U. (2008) Born Digital: Understanding the First Generation of Digital Natives. New York: Basic Books.


Discovered
I will be using this text to underpin the argument I will be developing in chapter one, chapter one of my dissertation explores the role of digital natives, those born into a world with the internet and don't know any different. Digital natives are responsible for the rise of youtube and therefore exploring this generation will frame my argument for rise of youtube into a media powerhouse.

Key Quotes

‘when social digital technologies [first]…came online’

‘They have created a 24/7 network that blends the human with the technical’ 

‘tremendously creative…they show off who they aspire to be and put their most creative selves before the world’.  

‘The internet has unleashed an explosion of creativity and along with it thousands of new forms of creative expression’ 


Lecture 1: Synthesis



Dissertation Presentation Feedback




Dissertation Presentation 2

DISCOVER: Making is Connecting: The Social Meaning of Creativity



Gauntlett, D. (2011) Making is Connecting: The Social Meaning of Creativity, from DIY and Knitting to YouTube and Web 2.0. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Discovered
This text has provided a deep analysis of YouTube by understanding three core values of the services. Which are include the service as a framework for participation, it's agnostic about content and how the websites fosters a community. 

Key Quotes
‘embracing the community, and by acting as community member’s themselves’

‘community participants’ and not by ‘acting as aloof stars.’

‘stage for creative performance’

‘‘patrons’ of collective creativity, retaining some power and control, but also welcoming the imaginative work of users.’ 

‘are only able to exist because they funded by advertising, and generally this is an expected part of the deal [by users]

‘actively encourages users to make comments, subscribe, to give star ratings, to add friends.’ 


 

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