Yes! The world is changing. The world is becoming more ‘futuristc’, open an old sci-fi graphic novel or VCR and you can observe the similarities. Philip K. Dick’s depictions of the future weren’t too far from accurate. As the human race becomes more reliant on technology to entertain them, new media swiftly becomes our biggest ally. Where do you go when you want to watch or find information about a film? Want to buy or play a game? Get information on or listen to a band? The internet! When all else fails, get to Google. This sudden dependence on new media and the internet isn’t only facilitating the consumer but is equally beneficial for the creator. In one of the required readings from this week, Madhur Singh(2008) points out that by having digital content of bollywood films available on the internet, the amount of illegally downloaded content is reducing. When further elaborating on independent filmmaking, Manu Kaushish, Senior Vice-President of Eros Entertainment claims “They will be able to market their content without the expense of the distribution to cinema halls.”
Games like World of Warcraft haveenabled us to live an alternate life in an online gaming world (Nardi 2010), and Xbox Live puts us in a world-wide competitive arena. With this alternate connectivity and interaction it’s no wonder games like Call of Duty: Black Ops grossed over $360 million dollars in sales in its first day (Schwartz 2010).
The internet is a helpful device for any musician. Being able to buy tickets to a concert, purchase and listen to music, and discuss with others, all in the one place.
References:
Nardi, B. “My Life As A Night Elf Preist: An Anthropological Account of World of Warcraft” Last modified July 5, 2010. http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3064/2574
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. “IFPI Digital Music Report 2010: Music how, when, where you want it.” Accessed March 12, 2011. http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/DMR2010.pdf
Schwartz, W. “Call of Duty: Black Ops Day One Sales Gross Over $360 Million” Last modified November 11, 2010. http://attackofthefanboy.com/news/black-ops-day-sales/
Singh, M. “Bollywood’s Viral Videos” Last modified February 14, 2008. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1713342,00.html
