Comments on: Volcano’s Africa Trilogy: Part I

By: ben

ben — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 05:14:00 +0000

Happy christmas.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 21:38:00 +0000

I'm not a "Lost" fan myself, Ben, but I do think we're seeing a revolution in artist/audience interactivity.

I also see this article as a defense of volatility over control, an issue very dear to my heart.

Happy Hols to you too, Mr. You-Can't-Impress-Me.

By: Michael Wheeler

Michael Wheeler — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:11:00 +0000

Hey Ben,

I think his argument goes deeper than the examples you site.

Things that resonated with me were the ways different generations filter information (or don't), that we often site the latest fad when we should be considering structural shifts, and that the internet is unique in its ability to be a general purpose media.

By: ben

ben — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 17:33:00 +0000

Interesting article (Clay Shirky interview), but he talks in such generalities drawn from “common wisdom” and “pop culture” gussied up in university talk, that moments after reading it, I can’t come up with a single thing that was actually said. It’s kind of like Noam Chomsky mixed with Entertainment Tonight, fascinating, but frivolous.

I mean really, the “Lost” fan-club is a deep effect of interactive media? Shows now-a-days have more fan clubs than in the 80′s? Does any of this actually mean anything?

By: Michael Wheeler

Michael Wheeler — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:16:00 +0000

Thanks for the link anon.

Shirky seems 10 x smarter than your average mortal, which may be why he is unintimidated by the vast flow of information that is the internet. I very much agree with his thesis that TV already caused a lot of the changes to society that people are getting up in arms about 40 years later and blaming the internet for.

Happy Holidays to you too.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 14:06:00 +0000

HERE is a very interesting article about the influence of the internet on modern culture. I especially recommend this to those who complain of the Web’s anarchy and vulgarity.

http://www.cjr.org/overload/interview_with_clay_shirky_par.php?page=all

Happy Holidays to all! (Anon)

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:37:00 +0000

Congratulations Michael. I look forward to reading more about the work ahead.

By: Lindsay Price

Lindsay Price — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:30:00 +0000

Wow, what an expansive project. Should make for some excellent content! I look forward to learning more about this.

By: Michael Wheeler

Michael Wheeler — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:46:00 +0000

Fair enough. Point taken. Theatre Ontario Professional Theatre Training Program grants are administered by Theatre Ontario, through a grant from the Ontario Arts Council.

I’m unfamiliar with their process, but am pretty darn sure they distribute these grants “based on arms length peer review”. In any case, my intent was to show appreciation in general to funders and fund administrators, not to muddy any waters…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:59:00 +0000

Mike, to call the O.A.C “generous folks” is misleading. They have been mandated by our government to award grants to artists based on arm’s length peer review.