I have recently discovered that I am not studying for a Doctorate of Philosophy, but a Doctorate in ABD: ‘All But Dissertation’. Apparently this is a form of study, an affliction in some ways, that has reached pandemic status in academia. Well, I’m on the road to recovery, and to getting back to my proper research. I’ve found a great resource to help: the iProcrastinate Podcast. Dr. Timothy A. Pychyl explains the research into the area of procrastination, with a particular emphasis on how it manifests in academia. For those not aware, procrastination is not about doing nothing, it is usually about doing lots of things, just not what you need or want to. I’m back on track now and am busy writing up lots of theories that will be published in…err…a few months to a year. Geez the academic publishing cycle is slow! But in the meantime, check out the podcast — it is great!
Emily Turrenttini, the powerhouse behind two blogs on mobile phone technology and content: picturephoning and ringtonia (and textually which aggregates the other two). Emily has now added a blog dedicated to reporting on TV on the Net:Â
TvSeries Online will be following user generated TV content published online, it’s impact on the Television industry and will explore the new generation of TV series as a writing genre, focusing on their impact on US society and international.
Because I think it’s huge already (I know so many people who no longer watch TV series on television, but over the Internet – I’m one of them), I’m opening a new blog called TVSeries Online.
It will follow how TV content published online is impacting the Television industry and how the industry is fighting back. It will explore the new generation of TV series as a writing genre, realistic and fast paced – truly a new art form. [ 24′, Weeds, Desperate Housewives, Prison Break, Lost, Heroes, nip/tuck, Dr House, Dexter, CSI:, Grey’s Anatomy, the 1400, Veronica Mars, Scrubs, The OC, Smallville, The Shield… ]
But also, the crossing of moral bounderies each new season. I’m going to try and pull together research and studies on what this says about our society and how it’s perceived around the world.
Hmmm, I guess her next blog will be one that looks at the relationship between TV on the web, TV on TV and TV on mobiles…Â
A while ago I came across Kevin Robert’s site SISOMO. Kevin is CEO Worldwide of Saatchi & Saatchi, Ideas Company and is behind paradigmatic approaches such as LoveMarks. I put SISOMO down on my list of things to chase up and got distracted. But thankfully I was reminded of the idea when SISOMO contacted me to feature my advice on cross-media in their forthcoming newsletter. I gave permission (of course!) and they kindly sent me a copy of his book: SISOMO: The Future of Screen. I read it all in one sitting and found some delightful things. Here is the quick overview from the website:
The digital revolution is transforming marketing, entertainment and technology everywhere. The boundaries between media and advertising, content and products, creator and producer, audience and critic are dissolving. This new world demands new language.
sisomo is the powerful combination of Sight, Sound and Motion on screen. sisomo is an idea at Saatchi & Saatchi’s core. A new word that powers our creatives, our interactives, our media thinkers, our planners, our account lines. sisomo is the great melting pot of creative communications and digital technologies. Life gets more fun when you think sisomo.
sisomo is not about tools and technologies. It’s about people, ideas and creativity. The idea with the most attitude, personality, authenticity and truth, wins.
What Kevin does in his book (which is quite unique) is offer a way of viewing the different screens. Now, for me cross-media entertainment isn’t just about screens. It is about ALL media and all artforms working together. But for those who work only in creating for and deploying through screens, or just want to understand the affordances of screens, his schema is interesting. He puts forward a ‘Family of Screens’ and outlines their personalities, ambitions, loves and fears. For instance, a PDA Screen:
Lives: Wherever it’s needed;
Personality: Nerdy kid who needs to get a life
Loves: knowing everything
Fears: Being dismissed as an address book
Ambition: To live with the phone family
Favourite song: From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come) — Bruce Springsteen (page 65)
But then the section that I really loved was his description of storytelling and sisomo. He listed the the traits of sisomo storytellers, which I’ll reproduce just the beginning of here so I don’t steal his copryright!:
A love of screen…
The ability to visualize stories…
Teh skills to combine Sight, Sound and Motion with…
The clarity to navigate…
A passion for the “what if questions…
The conviction that the screen offers…
Access to a rich store of stories…
Perspective…
An inquiring and curious mind…
Judgement….
The new storytellers will need great job titles to reflect what they do: Idea Navigator. Information Designer. Action Architect. Signposter. Fact Finder. Choreographer. Orchestrator. Magician. Guardian of Myths and Legends…
The last point I laughed out loud about because I had my new business cards printed up a couple of months ago. My title is: Universe Creator & Transmodiologist. 🙂