So one of my stranger interests is Chiptunes. Chiptunes is a gnere of music characterized more by the technology used to make it than by any particular style. The reason is because the technology places a huge limit on the music produced. Basically, huge nerds either dig the sound controller chips out of their old nintendos or use special software to hijack the chip in their gameboy (etc.) to make music.
It can get kinda strange sometiems, but in general I think the music is pretty cool, and the idea is really cool. One of the really neat things about the whole scene is that since it's such an underground (read as: "no one but them gives a shit") scene, just about every artist involved provides their music for free either through their personal or label webpages. one label I particularly like is www.8bitpeoples.com , a label that makes their entire discography available for free download.
I actually first discovered chiptunes through that label. I had just discovered the website www.rocketboom.com , a Vlog that sort of does the news and is responsible for that annoying "ask a ninja" podcast. I was watching a video on rocketboom where they were describing this neat experiment someone did with an NES game called Gradius where they overlayed 15 people playing the game to observe patterns and successful strategies (the experiment was published in a video game developers industry journal). At the end of the video were 2 website names, one of which directed me to 8bitpeoples. After rewatching the video, I'm fairly sure the music is from the original game, but whatever. I just figured this story was worth telling given how random my encounter with this music was. You can watch the video or read about it here: http://thenewgamer.com/content/archives/averaging_gradius
So I just embedded this flash player from Last.FM, which apparently has a shit-ton of chiptunes on it, to try and give you a taste of this stuff from the convenience of my blog. Ironically, the first song that came up after I put it up was a Venetian Snares song, which is NOT chiptunes (cool IDM, but not what I wanted). So as a disclaimer, if it doesn't sound like music you might find in an old NES game, just click the next button.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Monday, February 19, 2007
hyperreality on Youtube
So my favorite concept related to post-modernity is hyperreality:
"Hyperreality is significant as a paradigm to explain the American cultural condition. Consumerism, because of its reliance on sign exchange value (e.g. brand X shows that one is fashionable, car Y indicates one's wealth), could be seen as a contributing factor in the creation of hyperreality or the hyperreal condition. Hyperreality tricks the consciousness into detaching from any real emotional engagement, instead opting for artificial simulation, and endless reproductions of fundamentally empty appearance. Essentially, (although Baudrillard himself would perhaps balk at the usage of this word) fulfillment or happiness is found through simulation and imitation of a transient simulacrum of reality, rather than any interaction with any "real" reality." -From Wikipedia Hyperreality.
I'm bringing this up because well, I find myself encountering hyperreality on a regular basis online (in fact, I first encountered postmodernism in general when doing research on internet-related philoisophy about 5 months ago: the term "hyperreality" came up in a JSTOR search and the rest is history). Story time.
So everyone remember that shitty "Man of the Year" issue time released last year, where it turned out to be "YOU."? Well, in one of the articles on Youtube it mentioned the SNL digital short "Lazy Sunday." At work about a week ago I let slip that I hadn't seen it. Apalled, one of my co-workers demanded that we find it on Youtube. Little did he know, I tried that and it has been absolutely BURIED under imitations and parodies. I brought up hyperreality, and my friend commented, "This is the most post-modern thing that has ever happened to me." After a while he found it posted on a blog somewhere under a different title, a title I certainly would never have guessed having not seen the video. I challenge you to find it. Seriously, poke around; it's not as easy as it sounds.
For a different hyperreal experience, check out these videos in sequence.
Citi Bank Identity theft commercial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGPBRXKuoMc
Youtube Identity theft
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCDccnwgJdY&mode=related&search=
Re: Youtube Identity theft (1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTor_JGxIHc&mode=related&search=
Re: Youtube Identity theft (2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25Wc7e0QYKo&mode=related&search=
The same thing happens to every video posted online.
>>EDIT: I decided this waws as good a post as any to link to GAM3R 7H30RY http://www.futureofthebook.org/gamertheory/ . It's a book/forum sorta. This Media Studies professor at New School is offering up a full draft of his upcoming book for public viewing and commenting. It's an interesting idea, an open source review. The book is an application of critical theory to video games. Check it out. Also, if you're interested, there's an interview of the author on This Spartan Life (I think it may even be the video I linked to in the TSL post).
"Hyperreality is significant as a paradigm to explain the American cultural condition. Consumerism, because of its reliance on sign exchange value (e.g. brand X shows that one is fashionable, car Y indicates one's wealth), could be seen as a contributing factor in the creation of hyperreality or the hyperreal condition. Hyperreality tricks the consciousness into detaching from any real emotional engagement, instead opting for artificial simulation, and endless reproductions of fundamentally empty appearance. Essentially, (although Baudrillard himself would perhaps balk at the usage of this word) fulfillment or happiness is found through simulation and imitation of a transient simulacrum of reality, rather than any interaction with any "real" reality." -From Wikipedia Hyperreality.
I'm bringing this up because well, I find myself encountering hyperreality on a regular basis online (in fact, I first encountered postmodernism in general when doing research on internet-related philoisophy about 5 months ago: the term "hyperreality" came up in a JSTOR search and the rest is history). Story time.
So everyone remember that shitty "Man of the Year" issue time released last year, where it turned out to be "YOU."? Well, in one of the articles on Youtube it mentioned the SNL digital short "Lazy Sunday." At work about a week ago I let slip that I hadn't seen it. Apalled, one of my co-workers demanded that we find it on Youtube. Little did he know, I tried that and it has been absolutely BURIED under imitations and parodies. I brought up hyperreality, and my friend commented, "This is the most post-modern thing that has ever happened to me." After a while he found it posted on a blog somewhere under a different title, a title I certainly would never have guessed having not seen the video. I challenge you to find it. Seriously, poke around; it's not as easy as it sounds.
For a different hyperreal experience, check out these videos in sequence.
Citi Bank Identity theft commercial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGPBRXKuoMc
Youtube Identity theft
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCDccnwgJdY&mode=related&search=
Re: Youtube Identity theft (1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTor_JGxIHc&mode=related&search=
Re: Youtube Identity theft (2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25Wc7e0QYKo&mode=related&search=
The same thing happens to every video posted online.
>>EDIT: I decided this waws as good a post as any to link to GAM3R 7H30RY http://www.futureofthebook.org/gamertheory/ . It's a book/forum sorta. This Media Studies professor at New School is offering up a full draft of his upcoming book for public viewing and commenting. It's an interesting idea, an open source review. The book is an application of critical theory to video games. Check it out. Also, if you're interested, there's an interview of the author on This Spartan Life (I think it may even be the video I linked to in the TSL post).
The library
I should really just stop borrowing books. I get most of the info I need from articles that are readily available through online databases my school subscribes too, but every now and then I'm just too tempted by some juicy piece of book I have to read. Often, the book is relatively rare making it expensive.
A few months ago I checked out 2 books. I renewed them over winter break, and they were due at some point in late jan/early feb. I just checked my school eMail account (an account I rarely look at since I have about 10K pages of eMails and well...suffice it to say I can't send anything from that account) and not only are those books late, I'M BEING CHARGED $100 PER BOOK. On Saturday I earned $120 snowboarding, and recently got a paycheck from one of my other jobs (i'm currently working 3). I'm trying to save up for a new computer; I really don't need these book fines.
There's nothing worse than getting excited over a paycheck only to realize you have to blow the whole thing and-then-some on bills. Well, no... plenty of other things are worse, like cancer, but I mean it's pretty frustrating. i guess working 3 jobs means this computer will happen eventually, but the sooner I can afford it the better. I'm planning on building it myself from components, and I've never done that before, so the project alone is kind of intimidating without the added frustrations of me being a flake with library books.
I mean, come on. The books are lying right there by my desk. Every evening I see them and think, "Fuck. Today should have been the day. It's late now, I don't wanna walk over, I'll do it tomorrow." They're going in my backpack pronto. Time to go to the library and plead with whoever is at the desk to cut back the fines. Otherwise I'm keeping those suckers (and losing some bank).
A few months ago I checked out 2 books. I renewed them over winter break, and they were due at some point in late jan/early feb. I just checked my school eMail account (an account I rarely look at since I have about 10K pages of eMails and well...suffice it to say I can't send anything from that account) and not only are those books late, I'M BEING CHARGED $100 PER BOOK. On Saturday I earned $120 snowboarding, and recently got a paycheck from one of my other jobs (i'm currently working 3). I'm trying to save up for a new computer; I really don't need these book fines.
There's nothing worse than getting excited over a paycheck only to realize you have to blow the whole thing and-then-some on bills. Well, no... plenty of other things are worse, like cancer, but I mean it's pretty frustrating. i guess working 3 jobs means this computer will happen eventually, but the sooner I can afford it the better. I'm planning on building it myself from components, and I've never done that before, so the project alone is kind of intimidating without the added frustrations of me being a flake with library books.
I mean, come on. The books are lying right there by my desk. Every evening I see them and think, "Fuck. Today should have been the day. It's late now, I don't wanna walk over, I'll do it tomorrow." They're going in my backpack pronto. Time to go to the library and plead with whoever is at the desk to cut back the fines. Otherwise I'm keeping those suckers (and losing some bank).
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Grammar flaming
In my opinion, one of the most dissapointing things about Computer-Mediated-Communication outlets is that there are always those individuals who instead of addressing the content of a discussion attempt to discredit a poster ad hominem by highlighting poor spelling or grammar. Take this post for instance from some random forum at (i just learned that " 'learn to spell' + forum" is a fun search) : http://www.girlslearntoride.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=869&whichpage=2
"how old are you? edit: I'M confused and misdirected? how about learning how to spell, then you can propose a worthwhile argument."
In the 'real world,' grammar and vocabulary are used as metrics for education; this is why verbal reasoning figures so highly on standardized test such as the SAT, GRE, MCAT, and LSAT. But the fact of the matter is when people communicate online, be it on a BBS style forum or live chat, people are often in too much of a hurry to get their ideas out on the table that they simply don't care neough to significantly review their posts before tossing them out. Folks who have clumsy typing ability end up getting the ass end of the stick.
Personally, I could care less. Whether someone abbreviates the word whatver as "wtv," (maybe 1337 speak isn't quite as pertinent to this discussion), or just types so fast that tehir wodrs come out all jmubled, the content of their posts ought to be the focus of attention. Perhaps we ought to treat spelling variations and irregularities like accents expressed through ones fingers. I have friends who drawl and slur words together, and I myself am a fan of words that don't really exist in the english language like "howdy" and "ain't," but these types of speeking patterns don't pose a problem in day-to-day communication. Anyone who has ever transcribed a verbal interview knows that people often speak with awful grammar and throw sentence fragments around like confetti on new years. The double standard must end!
Forums are typically not homes to polished essays, and I posit that we should not expect them to be. Poor grammar is not indicative of an immature poster, just sloppy typing. Keep the ideas and arguments central people, lay off the spelling and grammar.
"how old are you? edit: I'M confused and misdirected? how about learning how to spell, then you can propose a worthwhile argument."
In the 'real world,' grammar and vocabulary are used as metrics for education; this is why verbal reasoning figures so highly on standardized test such as the SAT, GRE, MCAT, and LSAT. But the fact of the matter is when people communicate online, be it on a BBS style forum or live chat, people are often in too much of a hurry to get their ideas out on the table that they simply don't care neough to significantly review their posts before tossing them out. Folks who have clumsy typing ability end up getting the ass end of the stick.
Personally, I could care less. Whether someone abbreviates the word whatver as "wtv," (maybe 1337 speak isn't quite as pertinent to this discussion), or just types so fast that tehir wodrs come out all jmubled, the content of their posts ought to be the focus of attention. Perhaps we ought to treat spelling variations and irregularities like accents expressed through ones fingers. I have friends who drawl and slur words together, and I myself am a fan of words that don't really exist in the english language like "howdy" and "ain't," but these types of speeking patterns don't pose a problem in day-to-day communication. Anyone who has ever transcribed a verbal interview knows that people often speak with awful grammar and throw sentence fragments around like confetti on new years. The double standard must end!
Forums are typically not homes to polished essays, and I posit that we should not expect them to be. Poor grammar is not indicative of an immature poster, just sloppy typing. Keep the ideas and arguments central people, lay off the spelling and grammar.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
This Spartan Life
Machinima: a portmanteau of "machine" and "cinema," machinima is a broad genre of animation chracterized by the use of videogame engines as 3D rendering platforms. A classic example of machinima is the video series "Red vs. Blue", which is filmed and about the game HALO.
"This Spartan Life", TSL, also filmed in halo, is at the top of my list of favorite machinima. It has one various awards within the machinima community, and has a rather original format for a machinima: most machinima are science fiction chronicles, TSL is actually a talk show. Topics on the show generally are focused around the general theme of emergent media particularly machinima, and are not above touching on the postmodern. TSL guests run the gamut from media theorists to multimedia artists and video game designers. They even got Malcolm Maclaren. Here's one of their most recent interviews, it's pretty good: http://www.thisspartanlife.com/1004_mod3.html
One other reason I like the show is that they feature some excellent 8 Bit music, AKA Chiptunes. More on chiptunes later, but for now feel free to check out the playlists available through TSL at http://www.thisspartanlife.com/8bit.shtml or go straight to the source and check out on of the most active labels, http://www.8bitpeoples.com (their entire discography is available for free download, but don't be afraid to show them some support).
I guess i'm just that big of a nerd.
"This Spartan Life", TSL, also filmed in halo, is at the top of my list of favorite machinima. It has one various awards within the machinima community, and has a rather original format for a machinima: most machinima are science fiction chronicles, TSL is actually a talk show. Topics on the show generally are focused around the general theme of emergent media particularly machinima, and are not above touching on the postmodern. TSL guests run the gamut from media theorists to multimedia artists and video game designers. They even got Malcolm Maclaren. Here's one of their most recent interviews, it's pretty good: http://www.thisspartanlife.com/1004_mod3.html
One other reason I like the show is that they feature some excellent 8 Bit music, AKA Chiptunes. More on chiptunes later, but for now feel free to check out the playlists available through TSL at http://www.thisspartanlife.com/8bit.shtml or go straight to the source and check out on of the most active labels, http://www.8bitpeoples.com (their entire discography is available for free download, but don't be afraid to show them some support).
I guess i'm just that big of a nerd.
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