Entry 1: Picking a topic

This semester, we're given six topics to choose from based on Internet Cultures. Here's the list of it:-

1. Investigate a major controversy that unfolded online. Discuss its relevance to creative                 professionals.

      I've seen many controversy happening in internets but mostly are not considered major. But I've happened to stumble across a major controversy online. It's about parents are arguing about the pros and cons of baby seats (Willets, 2016).

2. Cyberspace is vital for protecting and spreading democracy. Explore this idea and question          its effectiveness.

The first thing that pops up in my mind is United State presidential election 2016. I remember how   Donald Trumps and Hillary Clinton's speeches can be widely seen throughout the internet which from Facebook, Twitter and even Youtube.

3. How did mobile devices change the way people use the internet? Consider its consumer               impact and relate them to a specific creative industry/ profession.

 Mobile device is a one big leap to technology advancement. Due to the device's mobility, most consumers have there hands on the device to go on anything they would with a computer.

4. Compare and contrast how two different communities or social groups use a specific social         media platform. Which of the two groups has more to gain from it and why?

I'm not quite understand this topic really well. I think the two different communities are Facebook user and Twitter user. I'm not sure what difference of gaining by using different social network platform

5. Malaysians are so uncreative that they cannot even make ‘dank’ memes. Argue for or against     the statement.

Meme is a term of "a cultural item in the form of an image, video, phrase, etc., that is spread via the Internet and often altered in a creative or humorous way"(Dictionary, 1976). But the term "dank" is the definition of cold, musty, damp and humid. Therefore, "dank" memes are about "ironic expression used to describe online viral media and in-jokes that are intentionally bizarre or have exhausted their comedic value to the point of being trite or cliché. In this context, the word “dank,” originally coined as a term for high quality marijuana, is satirically used as a synonym for “cool.”(Ltd, 2016)

6. Identify a figure who is generally known to have played a major role on the internet.                   Evaluate if his/her contributions are justified or mythologized.

What come in my mind is, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO/ Co-founder of Facebook. He had contributed       the community with a social network called Facebook. (Mark Zuckerberg Biography, no date)


After going through the topics, I think I would go for no.5 or no.6 as they are quite interesting topics for me. I'll confirm which topic to go for in the next entry.

Bibliography:

Dictionary (1976) ‘The definition of meme’, in Available at: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/meme (Accessed: 21 November 2016).
Hern, A. (2016) Smartphone now most popular way to browse internet – Ofcom report. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/06/smartphones-most-popular-way-to-browse-internet-ofcom (Accessed: 21 November 2016).
Ltd, L.M. (2016) Dank Memes. Available at: http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/dank-memes (Accessed: 21 November 2016).
Willets, M. (2016) Baby seat video creates major controversy online. Available at: http://www.parenting.com/news-break/baby-seat-video-creates-major-controversy-online (Accessed: 21 November 2016).
Mark Zuckerberg Biography (no date) Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/mark-zuckerberg-507402#synopsis (Accessed: 21 November 2016).