Name: Robbert Wagtelenberg
Student number: 3505502
Keywords: Animation, Visual digital culture, gender

I am, as I like to think, a designer. I like to create, be original, work with colours. I like to find out why people think like they do and it is very interesting to see what influence media can have on this. Not only do they influence representations but they also have the power to alter a society. What I find especially interesting is the feeling people have when dealing with media. Of course this seems quite abstract but I think that the reception of media is something that is underrepresented in media studies. Questions like what the influence is of a ‘pretty’ design, which are directly applicable to practice. I am mostly interested in the human factor of media; I think a technology offers a space for people to communicate but that there will always be a part of traditional human communication visible in new technologies.

PS: I was not sure if I was allowed to continue the Master program, this is why I was forced to hand this in at this time.

Student number: 3656497

Participatory culture, New media literacy, Social media/corporate Identity

Choosing was difficult, but became easier by thinking of what I’d like to be occupied within my future career where I aim to work in a commercialized organization. Participatory culture was introduced to me during the pre-master course by Schäfer. Ever since the topic has fascinated me how participation, power relations, media, interfaces and other tools could stimulate participation on a platform. So choosing new media literacy, something I’ve never particularly dealt with during my studies, seemed like a logical step. I find it very interesting how people with different social backgrounds, statuses, financial capacities etc. deal with the usage of media. I personally think there’s a lot wrong with how social media is being used as a dump for highly private information or personal photos. Social media can be critically analyzed or be used for positioning companies and their identity. Therefore my last theme is social media / corporate identity.

Vicky Levanti
Student Number: 3775461

Almost, for all of us, the choice of the 3 topics was really hard because sometimes the unknown is more appealing than the things that you have already trained or learned.

In the past, my interest was laying in the field of journalism with favourite area the sports! For this reason, I can adjust the data journalism in the field of sports data journalism. Data plays a fundamental role in commerce and this is something that interesting me, to find out ways to produce data for sporting events or in other areas as well. This can be immediately interrelated with data visualisation, infographics and open data. The market of sports analysis and data is massive and the term of ‘datartainment’ where the use of data can be seen as a primary source of entertainment is really important for me. Despite the fact that I was never fan of figures, I realize that raw data plays a vital part to report an event. Visual digital culture, digital screens and haptic media can be added into this field of research.

Another field that I would like to research is social media and participatory culture where the idea of interaction and the exchange of users’ content trigger my curiosity to find out the possibilities and the limitations (if any) of their power and their dynamics. Apparently, the new media literacy will help me to understand better these issues.

I apologize if I confused you but in the next months I will have a more clear view about my research :)

Name & Student Number: Milou Reiche | 3724603
Keywords: network theory and politics | participatory culture | media philosophy

Abstract

Vanuit de premaster en master hebben de volgende vakken mijn interesse gewekt: MCM voor TFT, Network Politics en Nieuwe Media en Participatiecultuur. Binnen deze vakken heb ik kennis gemaakt met internetgebruikers als prosumers, ICTs en media die een beroep doen op ‘free labor’ van gebruikers en bedrijven die hier op allerlei manieren van profiteren. Sociaal kapitaal wordt steeds belangrijker.

In deze context ben ik niet pertinent overtuigd dat de internetgebruiker in een illusie leeft die wordt gecreëerd door bedrijven voor eigen voordelen. Ja, de illusie is er en velen leven hierin uit onwetendheid of onverschilligheid, maar niet iedereen gaat hier in mee. De paper die ik voor Network Politics schrijf gaat bijvoorbeeld over mijn overtuiging in de case KONY 2012 dat bloggers een statische verhouding tussen bedrijven en internetgebruikers doorbreken.

Hier ligt dan ook mijn interesse, het platform ‘Internet’ en de verschillende partijen (gebruikers, ICTs, bedrijven) die allen een plek vinden in een dynamische ‘driehoek’ van belangen.

Rommert Zijlstra / 3724166
Keywords: media philosophy, digital screens, locative media, mobile/wireless media, virtual worlds, identity construction

As my colleagues mentioned as well, it is quite difficult to come up with a general research interest. The keywords in the article reflect some of the fields I am interested in. However, as you can see I choose five keywords, for my interest in the field of media studies is quite broad. Conversely, I think several of these keywords are more or less tied to eachother; digital screens, locative media and mobile media for example. Anyway, to make it easier for you to assign a tutor, I shall try to write down my primary interests based on my work in the pre-master program and the first three months of the master program.

In the pre-master program I wrote about mediated identity construction, notions of place and space in virtual environments, and the actual/virtual dichotomy. Currently, my research in the course Spaces of New Media is focussed on the actual/virtual dilemma again, theorizing the concept of place in relational/hybrid space from a Baudrillardian perspective. Furthermore, I am researching how the notion of creativity has changed through new media technologies in Imar's course New Media Archaeology. From this perspective, I am clearly interested in the more phylosophical aspects of new media tehnologies, for I am certain these tehnologies contribute to paradigm shifts regarding identity and spatiallity. Hence the keywords mobile media and virtual worlds.

In more of a general sense, I am interested in interfaces as well. I have a background in interaction and interface design and I, more or less, plan on continuing work in these area's as well—although from a more academic perspective. Here it might be interesting to research an interaction between interfaces and media philosophy/spatiallity/identity as well. I must say, however, that I am not certain, for there is far too much interesting research that can be done in the field of media studies.

Name: Hanneke Haan
Student number: 3725480
Keywords: E-learning, Participatory culture, Digital Archives, Design processes.

My interests are very broad, but eventually I chose to the four keywords above. Learning is a topic that gets my attention every time. With my previous study Digital Culture at the Hogeschool Utrecht, I worked with a group on an e-learning application for a ‘client’. But what does an e-learning application really do with people? And how can the user best be reached with it? I am interested in the modern digital possibilities to share and transfer knowledge. I also chose the keywords ‘Digital Archives’ and ‘Participatory Culture’ as I think they can be combined. The participatory culture appeals to me because it shows how the users interact with information and opportunities. I think this can be linked to ‘code is law’ from Lawrence Lessig. Also Digital archives are interesting because it shows how ‘old’ can be combined with today’s ‘new’ media. In addition, ‘Design Processes’ is more related to my previous study at Hogeschool Utrecht and I would like to combine that with this master.

Name: Roos Vermeulen
Studentnumber: 3218031
Topics: e-learning, participatory culture, social media,
Abstract: My interests are towards the more sociological/psychological approach of new media. I am very interested in what new media do to our daily lives and for example our perception of time and space. Although I haven’t chosen it as a topic, I’m also interested in the combination of culture/music and new media and especially what new media can do for culture. I might choose an internship in this direction.

Name: Karen Siemers
Studentnumber: 3360784
Keywords: Crowdsourcing (added) – Open data – Participation Culture.

My main research interest derives from my personal drive to examine current popular topics which are used in (mostly) commercial companies. The public has an important role in the topics of participation culture and crowdsourcing. I am curious to find out how this development proceeds. There are still many questions to be answered in my opinion, on the level of participation on the Internet, ‘power’ of the audience and the usage of this opportunity by corporations and institutions – not only in the advertising industry.
The last keyword, open data, has also my interest, but with a tendency towards legislation. I am highly triggered by lawsuits and new legislative proposals, even though I have no such background (except for the BA-course ‘Nieuwe Media en het Auteursrecht’). Perhaps a (further educational) career in that direction is something for the future, in this current program I want to use this kind of footage for analytical purposes and societal context. In my opinion, open data could make a nice match with participation culture and crowdsourcing, which leads to a decent attempt to define my research interest at this point of the program.

Naam: Rianne de Neef
Studentnummer: 3399168
Keywords: Media archaeology, social media + mobile/wireless media en media philosophy

Voordat ik aan deze master begon, was ik vooral geïnteresseerd in social media omdat het me intrigeerde dat men zelfs in de kroeg nog spelletjes op de smartphone deed. Tijdens de bachelor heb ik nooit helemaal geweten wat ik wilde. Sinds een paar weken heb ik echt het gevoel dat ik op de goede plaats zit, vooral bij Archeologie. Ik vind het een openbaring om te zien hoe bepaalde zaken die niet te verklaren lijken, vanuit een archeologisch perspectief opeens heel logisch zijn.
Verder ben in geïnteresseerd in mobile/wireless media en social media. Ik zie niet echt hoe dit samenhangt met archeologie, maar ik denk wel dat het verband tussen die twee thema’s sterk is. Internet is steeds meer alomtegenwoordig aanwezig en dit verandert de perceptie op bijvoorbeeld tijd en ruimte, communicatie en identiteit. Het lijkt me interessant om dit ook vanuit een filosofisch perspectief te benaderen omdat ik denk dat dit, wellicht in combinatie met een media archeologische visie, een heel nieuw licht werpt op zaken die nu al vast lijken te staan. Ik weet nog niet precies wat ik hiermee wil onderzoeken, maar ik ben er zeker van dat een tutor mij verder kan helpen.

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Name: Despina Skordili
Student Number: 3874435

Keywords:
Social Media, New Media Literacy, Participatory Culture

Abstract: My main research interest lies in the field of social media: the rapid changes they constantly cause to social interaction and, more specifically, organizational strategies. Therefore, I am also interested in new media literacy, because I believe it sheds light to the different ways new technologies are being perceived by each individual, concerning their familiarity and/or access to new technologies. I would like to find out how research on media literacy can improve marketing strategies for product companies, NGOs, political organizations etc. Finally, I would like to research this issue through the concept of
participatory culture, because it reveals the new forms of power offered to the individuals and the ways consumerist identity is being altered inside the frames of new electronic media.
I haven’t made up my mind yet about the specific subject I would like to research concerning these fields, during my internship and thesis. I hope that the knowledge I will gain from the previous courses I will follow, will help me gain more insight.