Week 11 Reflection

This week I have been focusing on the Produsage project. I decided to create a Facebook group designed to support dance students as they progress through their dance journey. I as the instructor would upload dance tutorials and other important information such as membership info and upcoming events. The students are also allowed to communicate within the group and ask questions or make any suggestions to support their own and the group's progress. While creating the group, I decided to set the visibility to "public" for grading purposes. I did not announce the creation of the page on my personal Facebook page, nor did I tell any of my friends and acquaintances about it. But a couple of days after making, I saw that 12 people joined the group! I was very suprised. I guess Facebook notified my followers that I created a new group. I think this is a good example of the power of social media. Even if you don't think people will notice what you are doing online, they are. This week we focused on using social media internationally. As a student of East Asian languages, I have experienced using to practice my language skills and I have used social media in other countries to communicate with people at home in the U.S. I was in Korea back in 2017 and one of the things that I noticed is that there was a bit of a tonal shift in the information that was presented to me online. It was no longer America-centric, but Korea-centric. There were events that happened in Korea, The North-South Korea conflict, and U.S relations from the Korean perspective. China wasn't necessarily the "bad guy" but a trade partner that sent over "Yellow Dust" every year. Japan needs appologize and America.... needs help? It was very different from what we hear from day to day in the States.

Week 10 Reflection

This week's dicussion we discussed acitivism online. I think people at times underestimate the power of social media. Through active networks, the voice of a single person is not restricted to just their immediate family or close friends, it can now reach thousands of people. Platforms like Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, Reddit, etc., People have greater opportunities to express themselves in a variety of ways. Their message can easily be shared by others who view it, and connect or relate with it. This sharing enables to messages to spread and sparks others to consider and research different perspectives. We've seen this in action with Black Lives Matter and the Me Too movement. One person shared their message or experiences they have had or witnessed, then over time, the message spread through social media and triggered conversations and protests. During the Black Lives Matter (BLM) period, many of my friends and acquaintances from various backgrounds began to ask how they can take part and help. I and other black dancers shared our perspectives on the issue. From there, teachers and event organizers began making posts and howsting workshops about the importance of supporting "Source Dancers". Meaning dancers from Egypt and Middle Eastern countries, where Belly Dance originated. Also, they highlighted the importance of making events inclusive and accessible to all who want to participate. These kind of conversations became more common place after protensts such as (BLM). I think this highlights the power of social media and that sometimes, it just takes one voice, and the social networks can amplify that voice for the world to hear.

Week 9 Reflection

This week I played with Slack. I find the layout of the application interesting. It seems to be a combination of Discord and Microsoft Teams. The use of "channels" is very reminicent of Discord, however, the format and the ability to either do group messages or direct messages opperates the same as Teams. This week, I also found a great example of an instructor who effectively created a community for her students. On Youtube, there is a channel called Learning the Harp. On this channel, the instructor teaches the viewer how to play the harp and any other instructions on how to properly play and care for the instrument.The instructor also has a website were she offers a pre-recorded beginners course and a membership that includes access to the full website library, private zoom meetings with the instructor and access to the membership community. After discovering this website, Facebook suggested to me the accompanying Facebook group. I was so suprrised to realize the group was created by the same person. This confirmed for me that she is a leader in the online harp niche online. After doing some browsing, it was clear that each space is complimentary but has a defined purpose. The Youtube provides free video instruction to help members of the public who are interested in learning how to play the harp. It also introduces new members to her community. It is a gateway and entry point. The website offers a free beginners course, but primarily houses her paid services. The Facebook page provides learners community support. There anyone interested in the harp can share their progress or ask questions. Many people share videos of their performances, others, like myself, ask for advice from the more experienced members. The teacher also occassionally makes posts advertizing free classes she is offering. Her most recent post, she advertized a free workshop teaching how to sight-read while playing. As I was going through her platforms and content, I was impressed with the system she has developed. It seems very well-thought out and addresses the different levels of community and provides different levels of support a learner may need throughout the learning process. Youtube is the primary gateway. At this point, the viewer is an observer of the community.They are here either out of curiosity or they are looking to resolve a specific issue. Facebook is the next level. The viewer is looking to interact and become an active member of the community. The Facebook page enables the viewer to ask questions and interact directly with others who share their interest. The teacher also offers free courses to draw the viewer in. The final level is the website. This is where the teacher provides additional paid resourses and more detailed instruction. This is where the viewer goes to become an official insider of the community.The main thing I think is missing from the Facebook community is direct interaction from the teacher, though that may be reserved for the community within the website.

Audition Season

This week, I began seeing signs of audition season approaching. I joined several groups and pages on Facebook dedicated to performing arts casting calls and event notifactions. This week I saw an increase of casting calls being posted in the Orlando area compared earlier in the summer. In Tallahassee, typically, casting calls are posted around September or October- after the semester begins for FSU students. The casting calls for both cities are usually posted by Film students who are casting for their thesis film. I also sometimes see casting calls for commercials or fashion shows. Some people reading this may be wondering "Have you seen any casting calls for major films?" The answer is yes, actually. A couple of years ago, I saw a casting call for extras in a major film being shot in Thomasville, Georgia. And just yesterday for another in Miami. Did I apply for either? No, sadly. I really wanted to, but I had conflicts for both. I'll be making my move to Orlando the week of the film in Miami. Maybe I'll get a chance another day.

Apartment Hunting

These last few weeks, I've been apartment hunting for my upcoming move to the Orlando area. After researching the different neighborhoods, I narrowed my search to 3 areas: Sanford, Altamonte Springs and Winter Park. I've viewed possibly hundreds of apartment listings on Apartment.com and I've gone through just as many websites through Google search. It's been quite a challenge making a choice. Not only am I uncertain of the environment of the complexes, but I haven't spent much time in Orlando. So, I try to look up reviews of each complex. One day, I went onto Reddit and made a post in the r/Winter Park subreddit requesting advice and suggestions about appartments in the area. A few people replied giving me suggestions. I also searched for similar posts in the subreddit to see if any others may have helpful suggestions. I founnd quite a few helpful posts and comments from them and even more in r/Orlando. In fact the moderator created a pinned thread just for housing questions and advice because there were so many posts just about housing. I also had a person reach out to me offering to answer any questions I had about two suggested complexes. Hopefully my search will come to an end this weekend. I will visit my top choice apartments on Saturday. I then will have to make a choice. Asking Reddit users has been a big help since I've had to search from a distance. I was able to find what appears to be really nice apartments that I wouldn't have found on my own.