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crystalcarwin

Category Archives: About Me

Liberation Through Social Media

10 Thursday May 2012

Posted by crystalcarwin in About Me, MACT, Social Media

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Activism, COMM 506, Decentralization, Facebook, Harry Cleaver, Jeffrey Juris, Liberation, Social Media, Twitter

Our readings for Friday’s COMM506 class by Harry Cleaver and Jeffrey Juris are both touting the idea of liberation through the use of technology, more specifically with regards to uprisings against political regimes. Citing the Zapatista Army of National Liberation as the trigger for what are now known as global justice activists, groups with members assembled from far and wide, coming together to fight for what they feel are injustices. These groups have no central authority, they are open and they readily share information. Last year, we saw this happen with a number of middle eastern countries where people gathered on social media sites in order to converse and plan their next steps.

While I don’t mean to lessen the plight of those who are in situations where they feel oppressed, I thought I’d take Juris and Cleaver’s idea of liberation through social media and make this post a little more lighthearted to end off the week.

We have all seen how the availability of tools like Facebook and Twitter can open up dialogues between people and spread information at lightning fast speed in order to get something done. And, we have all, I am sure, experienced at some point or another, the failure of technology as well.

That brings me to this gem of a commercial:

It makes me laugh every time I see it. Today, we are not only seeing the rise in use of social media for more serious and dire situations like the uprisings in the Middle East, but also to bring random (often unconnected) people together for one-off events like with the flash mob craze. These technologies can be used to literally change the world or they can be used to brighten a stranger’s day. Both can be seen as liberating scenarios; liberating a country and liberating individuals to move outside of their comfort zone. Either way, social media is causing a scene and making our lives a bit more surreal.

Hello world!

30 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by crystalcarwin in About Me, COMM 506, MACT

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Tags

About Me, COMM 506, Kate Milberry, MACT, Welcome

From the standpoint of being a creator, I’m new to the world of blogging. It is something I’ve been considering for some time. Though my own personal blog would have been about fashion or style, any push to start a page at all is a step in the right direction.

About me: I graduated from the University of Alberta in 2007 after majoring in Film and Media Studies with a minor in International Studies. Along the way I found myself interested in the field of advertising. When I arrived home from a month long European excursion in the summer of 2007 I ended up finding employment as an Advertising Account Coordinator at the Edmonton Journal and have worked there ever since. Last May, I started my studies in the Master of Arts in Communications and Technology (MACT) program with the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Extension and have found the classes to be insightful and practical. I also like to think it has helped me with my move into my new position at the Edmonton Journal. As of April 2012, I’m their Sales Planning and Research Coordinator in the advertising department. The learning curve is huge, but I’m looking forward to tackling whatever challenges are thrown my way and the same goes for this last year with MACT.

It is due to Kate Milberry’s COMM 506 class that I start this blog. I hope that my posts on readings throughout this 2012 Spring Institute will prove to be a useful outlet for me, in addition to providing a way to share thoughts with my classmates and others who may happen upon my site. And, perhaps, when the Institute ends, I will transform the blog into something that encompasses more of my interests as I do intend to continue with it in the future.

So, with that, welcome to my page. I look forward to your thoughts as I muddle my way through subsequent posts. Cheers!

Recent Posts

  • Occupied With What?
  • Anonymity: Saving Face in a World of Fame
  • Julian Assange: The Ultimate Whistleblower
  • Liberation Through Social Media
  • Hi. How are you? You don’t know me, but I know you.

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@crystalcarwin

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