What did you think on the first day of CT101?

On my first day of CT101, I was curious about what the course would offer in terms of skill and materials. I was interested from the beginning because I heard this course is fantastic, and since that statement, I got even more curious and couldn’t wait till the class started.

Did you like hearing about the course and its creative content? How did it make you feel?

I logged into my first day of CT101, which was interesting to me, but I also realized how this course would be a fun experience because it would allow me to try new things, making me look forward to upcoming classes and projects.

How does CT101 compare to some of your other classes?

CT101 gives you more freedom and a calm mindset compared to other classes. It’s a course that provides you and your mind to express your ideas and feelings in good yet funny ways. CT101 is what brings our creativity to the fullest. 

What are the potentials of this class?

This class will provide us with the knowledge and information to help us learn then master the arts of design through technology. This course will also make us tap into our more creative sides and think of ways to design something.

How do you feel about learning new skills that use internet tools?

Skills that use internet tools will help me expand my knowledge about computers and software. This time around, people worldwide use the internet to communicate, research, shop, etc., in their daily routine, which is why it is very important to stay up to date and learn as much as possible.

What did you think on the first day of the CT101?

BRRRRINNGG BRRRRINNGG BRRRRINNGG. Still asleep, my body rolled over to the other side of the bed on its own, grabbing my phone, twisting and turning it in all directions until it was right side up. I managed to open my eyes just enough to press the snooze button but also enough to see the time and realize I had pressed snooze one too many times. It was 7:04 and I was still lying in bed questioning if my education was worth being sleep deprived while I was supposed to be getting dressed and heading to school to make it on time for my 10 am. I know what you’re thinking “but Safiya, CT is online” which may be true but I have classes right after leaving me no time for travel. Even though I could’ve slept in a little later and entered class on my phone and not really pay attention, I wanted to pay attention and find out what the course was about since I couldn’t figure anything out from the name which piqued my interest. I made my way to school and connected to the wifi waiting for class to begin. I wasn’t very fond of the whole 10 am sitch but you win some, you lose some. I didn’t have many thoughts about the course beforehand only thing I knew is that it would be a hit or miss and within the first five minutes, I declared it a hit and as my new all-time favorite class. For the whole hour lecture, the only thought in my mind on a loop was this is the coolest class ever.

Did you like hearing about the course and its creative content? How did it make you feel?

Hearing about the course and its creative content brought me so much joy because it was like I finally had time to do something that I love without having to worry about school because this is my schoolwork. Whether it’s making blog posts or gifs, I’m here for it all. I felt for a while that I was lacking a creative outlet and this class came at the right time which is why I was so happy. Although it may not be the usual drawing or painting I am into, I love exploring and practicing different parts of the creative world, how they work, and making work of my own.  This was the only class ever besides English where I have been excited and eager to do my assignments because I knew that I would enjoy it. This professor is great I thought to myself the whole day after class and proceeded to rant to my one and only friend about how much I love this course and how fun it’s going to be despite only having it once a week.

How does CT101 compare to some of your other classes? What are the potentials of this class?

Compared to my other classes, I feel as if CT is my most breathable course right next to English because I like both equally. They both give me space to voice my opinions whether it is verbal or written, appropriate due dates, and just enjoyable and not stressful at all which are the elements that make a class enjoyable. This class being digital-based leaves many potentials such as discovering or obtaining a new skill or interest of mine which could lead to something much more. Another potential of this course is that since we are going to be creating our own websites and learning how to blog properly, we can create a name for ourselves out there that can branch out to new opportunities. 

How do you feel about learning new skills that use Internet tools?

Personally, I feel like learning new skills using the internet is fun, frustrating, exciting, and very much so necessary. I feel this way because I love to learn new things which are exciting and can be fun when things I like are incorporated-such as memes. However, the internet and its tools are infamous for making me lose my mind from time to time. I get so angry sometimes when my laptop acts up or something is not working or I just can’t seem to figure things out. Besides that, I have no beef with internet tools because I think learning new skills regarding internet tools is crucial in this day and age especially s we advance into the future. This is because we use the internet every single day for a variety of things and have become so dependent so the least we can do is figure out how to use it beyond the bare minimum. 

What did you think on the first day of the CT101?

Well, I thought it was going to be an intense boring class filled with information regarding exams. But however, after the first day of CT101, I felt extremely happy knowing I would learn to express myself using the internet and working with GIFs.

Did you like hearing about the course and its creative content? How did it make you feel?

I am extremely excited because Memes and Gifs are the new trends of fun on the internet. It can also test us on how creative we can be. Before signing up for this course there was a different feeling of anxiety thinking it’s the same basic course but seeing the content and opportunity to be able to create content I am jubilated.

How does CT101 compare to some of your other classes?

NO COMPARISON! after the first day of CT101 I already rank it #1 class in my book

What are the potentials of this class?

Getting to work with a generational tool like GIFs and IMGUR. Creating content, sharing it with others to express my feelings on certain matters also, content can be competitive because students view the Thursdays classes work also. When viewing multiple students’ work can help me create my post. When viewing some students’ work can motivate me to do as much or even better because sometimes, we have to push ourselves for perfection.

How do you feel about learning new skills that use Internet tools?

GIFs can help boost the effectiveness of your social media and content marketing. Because of the way the brain works, the information presented within or alongside GIFs is more easily retained by consumers due to its association with the GIF. GIFs can help your brand come to life. Engaging with your community on social media is one of the best practices for social media success. It humanizes your brand, which encourages interaction. Interaction, in turn, promotes the growth of your community by introducing you to the communities of those with whom you are interacting via their timelines.

What did you think of the first day of the CT101?

We had our first class using Zoom. The professor gave an introduction to CT101. I had the opportunity to meet each and every one of my classmates. I think it was fun and chill. To be honest, I’m also excited for this class since it will motivate me to learn sign languages. 

Did you like hearing about the course and its creative content? How did it make you feel?

When I originally signed up for this class, I assumed it would be a class where we would just write an essay about how technology is enhancing communication, but I wasn’t prepared for the fact that we would also be required to be creative. As an introvert, this class will allow me to express myself more freely and be more creatively without having to worry about what other people think.

How does CT101 compare to some of your other classes? 

CT 101 is, without a doubt, the most enjoyable class I’ve ever taken. I THINK THIS IS THE ONLY CLASS THAT ALLOWS ME TO FINALLY START CREATING WHILE STILL BEING ABLE TO SHARE MY WORK FOR EVERYONE IN MY CLASS SEE.

What are the potentials of this class?

Digital Storytelling exposes me to visual literacy and shows me how I can use it to improve my learning. The class will allow me to build my own digital narrative in a hands-on environment. Digital tales may be told in a variety of forms, including text on a website or social media platform, narration and pictures in a video, and narration in a podcast. Digital tales have a storyline, characters, and themes, much like a novel or a documentary. So I’m really excited to learn more about this.

How do you feel about learning new skills that use Internet tools?

To be honest, I avoid social media because of the negativity, but this class has been fantastic.  I’m  learning how to make social media fun and creative.

 

Are memes ART?

Yes, I considers memes to be a form of Pop Art and draws a parallel to Andy Warhol’s work, which often involved appropriating images from pop culture.

Pop art is an art movement that emerged in the 1950’s and flourished in the 1960’s in America and Britain, drawing inspiration from sources in popular and commercial culture. Different cultures and countries contributed to the movement during the 1960’s and 70’s.

Memes are here to stay… But is this good or bad for Art?Is this good or bad for communication?

Memes are good for art. Memes, in all forms, are an act of condensing information. The digital horizon demanded new symbols that transcend language barriers. Instead of attempting to represent subjective reality, memes collage shared experiences for a single purpose which is sharing. It is not who created the original meme but rather how its meaning has been transformed or imposed on by who is sharing it.

Are memes simply just forms of self-expression?Or are they MORE? Well, why or why not?

Personally speaking, Memes are a way of expressing culturally relevant ideas and thoughts.

According to behavioral science Memes are an extremely sophisticated form of communication.

Can Memes be used for storytelling?

Yes, Because the storytelling process is mostly left to visual storytelling. Visual storytelling always involves the use of graphics, images, pictures, and videos to engage with viewers in an effort to drive emotions, engage intercommunication, and motivate an audience to action.

My favorite existing memes are?

The reason why those two memes are my favorites is because they are short, witty, relatable even though they are all unique, most memes tend to follow similar patterns in the characteristics they possess and the effects that they have on their audiences.

What did you think on the first day of the CT101?

On my first day of CT, I was excited but skeptical about what to expect of the course. While I have heard about the class before, I was worried that it wouldn’t be fun and would only involve the boring parts of technology. My feelings changed rather quickly.

Did you like hearing about the course and its creative content? How did it make you feel?

Upon joining our first Zoom session, I loved learning that the course would involve doing fun and creative assignments. It definitely gravitated me more to the class and made me look forward to upcoming projects.

How does CT101 compare to some of your other classes?

Compared to my other classes, CT is way more chill and exciting. Other classes don’t really require much creativity and individuality. Working to make something cool for this class makes homework time much more compelling. Otherwise, I find myself scrolling on TikTok all day.

What are the potentials of this class?

This class can not only teach us a lot about how to use technology for design, but it can help us tap into the more imaginative aspects of ourselves. I can speak for myself when I say that it’s not something I do often or is encouraged of me in school or work, which is why I don’t think I’m very creative. So, I appreciate the opportunity this class gives me.

How do you feel about learning new skills that use Internet tools?

Learning new skills that use Internet tools is super important in our day and age, as technology seems to be consuming all of us and it’s needed more and more everyday. Especially with social media, such as Instagram and Twitter. Someday, I do see myself working in digital media whether it’s in journalism or something else. It’s good information to hold on to. So I’m excited for what’s to come in the course.

Assignment #3 are memes art?

some sources claim that memes are a work of art because of their cultural such as the page named newsrecord which claims and says “In this regard, memes in fact serve as a generational expression of art. Art evolves with its medium, and has continued to do so in the internet age. Where previously an artist’s materials were often limited to oil paints and graphite, the digital era has led to a more versatile medium”.

However there are counter arguments who opposed the idea of memes being a form of art for example, the page SpookenVision has stated “There is, however, a counter-argument that says memes can’t be art because they have no artistic value and were made for cheap laughs. And that’s true: memes have a short lifespan and can only be popular for so long. Memes of 2018, like Ugandan Knuckles (seen above), only lives in a short lifespan because of the environment. In the case of Uganda Knuckles, it lived only until virtual reality (VR) users were able to learn how to make better online avatars. Memes about video games die out as soon as the next big video game hits the shelves. Political memes die out as soon as the politician becomes irrelevant, like many of the Hilary Clinton memes, compared to Donald Trump memes that are still used because he’s now the President of the USA.”

This is a picture of Uganda knuckles a meme from 2018 that came out from a VR game to socialize with people, which is a 3D model made by someone in a software, and here when it comes my opinion when memes are art, since art can be everything that express any sort of emotion or message, memes like Uganda knuckles could fall into the categorization of art since, it kind of sends a message of cuteness or just a funny form of a character that we all know from our childhood from the show of sonic.

I don’t think that memes hurts art in any single way since memes are not a valuable custody, that you can buy and hope that anyone would get the message or even appreciated since memes are everywhere.

I Think memes are great way to communicate between individuals and share feelings and emotion, usually a lot of memes are about peoples feelings and those memes become relatable to them due to their experiences in life, for example the meme that I created about finding the room is probably a meme that more than one can relate to since it happened to me in my other class of CT205 which is in the same room.

I do think that memes can be use for story telling, since a lot of memes are used from shows that already have a story by themselves, for example this panel from a show call JoJo can be use for a lot of story telling.

the template by itself comes from a manga panel, that has a lot of stories and battles therefore in theory you could use all of them as a form of memes and piece of media to express emotion, plus the template of the meme is a piece of art by itself since is a drawing.

Things that make me happy on the internet 🙂

I am an AVID horror and gore fan. Anything scary makes me happy, that might sound odd but the adrenaline rush that has my on the edge of my seat is addicting! Haha of course I would be terrified if any of the stuff I watch or read was to happen in real life but I love that I can find something on the internet that makes me have a heart attack at three on a random Monday morning.

Another thing that makes me extremely happy is cooking shows! I started cooking when I was six and I immediately fell in love given how much I adore food. Now wouldn’t it be interesting if there was a show that included both horror and cooking? And I’m not talking about those “spooky” cooking or baking shows but one that genuinely makes your skin crawl!

I sound like a total psychopath :/

 

This week’s assignment:

Let’s begin!

I’ve found this website that seems to have more meme templates.

Last night’s news has left me feeling a bit hollow.

In researching the question ‘are memes art?’ I found several sites with varying opinions.

There was even a YouTube video that covered the topic.

In my opinion, memes can be considered art. After all, art is in the eye of the beholder. And if someone likes a meme, no matter how silly it is, why can it not be considered art? Some works of art don’t even look visually appealing, but they are highly prized in the art world.

Take for example the above piece by Jackson Pollock called Number 5, 1948. It was sold for 140 million dollars! But what makes this different from a meme?

Memes can be used for storytelling. The following meme called ‘Loss’ while viciously mocked does tell a story.

Stories in the end are just a collection of experiences that people relate to. Here are a few of my favorites.

And my personal favorite:

Are Internet Memes ART? 

Let’s discuss! You know that you want to!

**The class video recording and tutorial for this assignment is posted below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/MzCWT3eigGJutQGvAGe6wE44SYt6g8hcZRPSLVhCC9Aro4D6wWXS_m6pF7-X0UAk.7oODCxc1kYzFLm-C 

Passcode: nD9GX@!4

 

First – (lets screen the video above and then later read the article below for more context..)

Second – The Assignment Details: A New Blog Post is in order.

Assignment #3 – Are MEME’s ART?

Start by doing an Internet search for; “Are memes ART?”

See what you discover, gather those links and be prepared to share them in your post.

No matter how you cut it, memes are here to stay… but is this good or bad for Art? Is this good or bad for communication? Are memes simply just forms of self-expression? Or are they MORE? Well, why or why not? I want to know what you think.

Can MEMEs be used for storytelling? 

Lets create a compelling way to share our responses.

And by all means plan to create, search for, discover and share your favorite existing Memes via an image or URL, or embed them into your new blog post for this coming week.

How will you craft a narrative between using Memes and your own personal experiences?

**Oh, and, you MUST create at least 2 of your own memes to express your sentiments for our CT101 class! Be sure to include the words: “CT101” in your meme!

Perhaps, you will say “CT101 be like…”

OR, “What if I told you that CT101….”

All of this nestles quite well into in new Blog post! (thats your assignment!) Please consider the formatting of this blog post that you are reading right now. Notice how we see a mixture of images, video and hyperlinks that help give context and reference to where we are drawing resources from.

Some Online Tools for making Memes:

Giphy.com – (create a free account)

Imgur.com – (create a free account)

Make a Meme – work with some of the Internet’s classic templates

Are there others that you know of? Please share them in your post!

More Insight on MEMEs:

Thrillist top 100 memes of all time

The Wiki Definition(s)

A good synopsis via how-to-geek.com

Another Take via theVerge.com

————————————————–

***The CT101 Meme Project will later be exhibited on the NET-ART website as a collaboration project!  Check out some of the other projects on display there now – https://netart.commons.gc.cuny.edu/galleries-exhibitions/

---

Read this article below – be sure to reference it!

Are Memes the Pop Culture Art of our Era? Kate Knibbs

(I know, I know, its a dream come true assignment!)

Have fun!

GIF’S RULE THE WORLD- ASSIGNMENT 2 

The first day of CT 101 was a worrisome ride for me because I never heard of a Digital Storytelling class before. I thought I needed to be an expert on being a creator but have been suprised I am able to keep up. I am also happy to have a deaf professor because it gives me a new experience to learn from an expert in the field of the digital world.

When I learned about what we would be doing in CT 101 I became ecstatic. I understood all about the gif world already and how to create them on old editing video apps such as Inshot or Imovie. I felt refreshed that I could be more creative and didn’t have to follow a stone set of rules like other very stern classes.

When comparing CT 101 to my other classes I see no actual comparison in terms of fun. In this class I feel free to communicate with moving pictures there is no need for words or emotions. I can be able to find new ways to make my points fun or exciting so there not boring. While in other classes I have to investigate or do deep dives and stick to certain sources or be told I am wrong because I don’t understand something. While here I am free to express in any form I see fit.

I see so much potential in this class to be able to become a better creator. I can explore new ways to express my likes to this class in an interesting way. Plus there is always room to learn something new especially from a Professor who received more than 1.5 BILLION STREAMS.

Learning and using new internet skills has been so cool. I never knew how to hyperlink something before which is great because I can now send you directly to the link of new information. I am glad to add new internet skills to my resume of expertise because they help you to find jobs in the workforce.

That has been all of my opinions about this class. I hope they continue to be good because this is a great class.

What did you think on the first day of the CT101?

I thought I was going to be working day and night trying to complete assignments and be extremely stressed. I was a bit overwhelmed since it seemed like I had to do an assignment weekly and use a website I’m not even familiar with.

 

Did you like hearing about the course and its creative content? How did it make you feel?

I was really excited since it was my first time using a blogging website and learning how to properly blog. It’s very different compared to my previous classes.

How does CT101 compare to some of your other classes?

This class is more focused on learning new skills using internet tools while other classes are very textbook-based and this class is very flexible it seems like and will help us express ourselves more while in other classes you can’t express yourself as much since you have to follow a syllabus and learn specific criteria.

What are the potentials of this class?

The potential of this class is I can learn a lot of new skills and expand my knowledge as well; I never knew how to make a GIF until now and it was pretty easy to do, I can’t wait to learn more skills in the future.

How do you feel about learning new skills that use Internet tools?

I’m excited to learn new skills and use them in the future.

I’m a dog groomer and it always makes me happy seeing my doggies transformation. I always look forward to how they start and how they end but since I’m the one creating the art, I see the process first hand and my goal is to just make them pretty. If you are interested in getting your dog groomed, come by me at PetSmart and book an appointment at the Atlantic location!

Tacos is my number 1 favorite food in the whole entire world, I try tacos from different places all the time. One of my all time favorite places is in my neighborhood called Fresh Taco they make some good food but my favorite order is a jack cheese quesadilla with shrimp, steak, sour cream and guacamole inside. It’s delicious and if you ever pass by, grab a bite. You won’t regret it.

This movie is such a classic and it signifies good videography throughout the whole film. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

is a movie that has a good plot, good actors and good shots. I highly recommend this movie, it is a good watch.

 

Recently, our fellow Cardinals won three victories/championships for indoor track and field. This makes me happy because as a fellow athlete, there is happiness in victories like this and it always feels good to receive a champion title. Although, I’m not on the track team I do see the track team practice and work hard then to see the results is satisfying.

The month of March is approaching which means the new Batman movie is coming out! I’ve read an article regarding it and the co-writer and I’m excited to see the new spin they have on the Batman and what direction their going to take this. Batman is one of my favorite super hero and I just love him.

My first day of CT was such an eye-opener because I was completely lost and misguided on how the whole blogging process worked. But today in class, my worries were put at ease and I was definitely able to refocus and put myself on track, with the help of the professor and my classmate. In my mind I look like her saying “hmm?” Now I feel like I’m not so lost anymore.

Hearing about the course and its creative content got me dancing in my shoes, I love to be able to express myself in a unique and entertaining way and blogging will give me the opportunity to be as creative as I want to be. I’m excited to see where the rest of the semester takes us as a class and where it takes me.

My other classes stress me out and CT used to stress me out in the beginning because I didn’t know what I was doing. I feel like maybe I just need to reset myself in my other classes so I don’t burnout. I am majoring in journalism and I have taken a photography class so blogging is not that new for me however, I’ve never blogged like this before. The closest I’ve gotten to “blogging creatively” is on Instagram.

The potentials of this class can bloom into something beautiful. There are so many different ways to post creatively, collaborate with each other and learn more technical shortcuts for all of us to use in the future.

I feel smart learning the different internet tools because I can utilize it outside of the classroom. I also have the ability to teach others around me and I feel like it makes me versatile, I can use these tools to my advantage. I think learning new things expands the mind and can make anyone feel better about themselves because knowledge is food for the brain.

The internet influences many things in our lives. For myself, I am always on the phone looking at new things to obsess over or things that are trending. One thing that makes me happy on the internet is all the Euphoria tweets and memes. Euphoria is a popular show that goes through lives of teenagers in high school that go through substance abuse, domestic violence, high school drama and etc. The show captivates the real life dangers of using drugs and trying to survive and maintain a social life.

Another thing that makes me happy on the internet weekly is that there is always something NEW I can read and adapt to. I am a big fan of reading and I usually read on Wattpad that has a bunch of books written by people all around the world that inspire me to even write every day.