LISTEN & ACT

Political documentary receives its power from the raw, uncensored, and real message that is conveyed to the audience. The power lies in the truth of the film, the story behind what most of us seem to know. Filmmakers have the thirst for knowledge and truth, however way they can get it. It is the job of the filmmakers to send out the message, whether positive or nasty, it must be spoken to the audience. American Blackout is a great example of uncovering the truth in our society and slapping it onscreen for everyone to see and realize what is going on behind the media they see on television. This film doesn’t make you sit there and feel sad and hopeless, but rather angry with the motivation to change the system. This film wants to make you scream while keeping you closely engaged to every word and movement of the people in the film.

Daily Kos – State of the Nation was voted as one of the top blog sites for politically active bloggers, having more than 2 million users per month. This site combines a news organization with its community as a whole. There are so many interactive links along with videos and diaries. Not only do powerful political figures post on the site, but every day Americans have the opportunity to speak and release their feelings and thoughts. How great is it to get to read and comment on political figures’ thoughts, it is almost as if your speaking with them face to face. It contains a multiplatform of media that will get you anywhere you want to go.

This YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBrKceZXoeE) is JK Citizens music video for Rock the Vote and has already gained over 150.000 views and growing. This hip hop artist is relating to the youth that need to be informed and become politically involved and what better way than rapping a video about it. It is refreshing and hopeful to see the youth involved and no look away as if it will not affect them.

the power to do more than watch

Empowerment gives a political documentary its power.

If the documentary doesn't show or inspire its viewer a way to do something about a problem
that is raised in the documentary, then the documentary is not as powerful as it could be.
For example, I the documentary Promises moved me to tears, but did not move me to action so I would not consider it a powerful documentary.
The fact that I watched the documentary will probably not change the world or any small part of it. I feel powerless to do anything about the situation between Palestine and Israel.

I have been most impressed with Van Jones' blogs. He has a great way of linking communities of color with environmental issues. For example:
When Obama named Hilda Solis as his choice for Secretary of Labor, Jones blogged
"Headlines are heralding her as the first Latino to hold the post.
But the green jobs movement is jumping for joy not only because she's brown.
It's because she's green." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/van-jones/new-labor-secretary-is-br_b_152246.html
This gets the interest of both "brown" readers and advocates and "green" readers and advocates and shows all of them how if you care about one, you must care about the other.

The Communities for a Better Environment, another organization that also works on environmental justice issues, which combine the fight against racism with the fight against environmental degradation, blogged about about sending a delegation to a conference "to help strengthen the movement for social and environmental justice. The US Social Forum is a space for people working for positive change to build relationships, learn from each others’ experiences, and share analysis of the problems our communities face."

The other blog posts seemed to have the same tone - they informed the reader of events.
It seems that they were writing for the "choir" and would not help make connections between apolitical members of communities and political legacies the way Jones' posts do.
http://communitiesforabetterenvironment.wordpress.com/

Both blogs discussed voting in recent posts - Prop 23 in particular. I think it's important to discuss elections in ways that engage youth.

I liked that video the vote could engage youth - even those who were too young to vote and those whose citizenship status would prevent them from voting. Anyone can volunteer to be a videographer, dispatcher, drivers, uploader/tech support, bloggers, etc. http://videothevote.org/volunteer

It is amazing to me how rapidly new technology becomes a part of life and politics.
I traveled to Ohio as an election observer and I thought we were pretty high tech by communicating via cell phones - whether it was with our monitor partner or our off site emergency contact.

A couple years later, I'm a little more high tech and am used to instant replies. I texted BLACKOUT to 75444, as directed from the documentary, and expected a reply within seconds if not minutes. 4 minutes later and I already feel my enthusiasm for participating start to fade (Note: it is now 11 and 1/2 hours later and I haven't received a reply). I looked at the website and everything seemed to be in anticipation of 2006. I didn't bother to sign up for the e-newsletter. This seems to be common from a few of the documentary websites that we've looked at.

It is really disappointing to see an outdated website, especially for a subject that is still relevant or even more relevant now than when the documentary was released.

This youtube video was like a youthful newscast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3pWmqrzekw

I liked this video of elderly twins voting for the first time. (note: it's at the end of the clip) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjmz81TzdhI&NR=1
The video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjmz81TzdhI&NR=1

Iraq for sale documentary

i just watched this documentary on Netflix and it was very disturbing to see all of the madness that goes on for money, first off i felt bad for the families who lost love ones due to the war, i also question the indipendant contractors and their motives, is money worth risking your life?also some bad information led to the arrest of innocent Iraq citisens of whom were then brutally beaten and tortured for weeks on end.It i sad to hear and see what goes on during the war,all of the big indipendant contractors were living large, one guy made 50millon dollars for doing so called extra securityactions. also most marines seen the money to be made and risked everything to work in Iraq for these indipendant companies. Plus not to mention all the inocent children and people that lost their lives to this tragic war. a must see,,here is a post since its late and many people are a sleep now and can not chat. thanks, Daniel Frias
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SLLA at Second Life or virtual terrorism 2.0

Grand Theft Auto

With all respect to the many intelligent and talented people involved in developing virtual platforms, avatars and a big shout out to the makers of Grand Theft Auto, I would have to say, the multi platform world of avatars, like smart games, is not where I would choose to spend much time.  Having researched the history of Second Life I am amazed at the kind of time people have invested in this construct.   I welcome any and all outlets where a good story may be told.  Or even better, where a good doc film may be viewed and gain a life of its own.  Gaming platforms with avatars built like Laura Croft?  Why not?  The choice of an Avatar, much like the choice of a pet can be fairly interesting when compared to the person doing the choosing.  I was hoping for a dog as an avatar.  I like talking animals.

While I still make doc films & stop action Japanese Sci-Fi inspired animation shorts, part of my current day job involves searching for & uncovering sources of terrorist funding in the very real world of the 21st century.  My only obvious qualification for this type of work is that I am really good at CLUE. Imagine my surprise when I began reading articles from 2006, 2007 & 2008 about terrorist attacks by the SLLA in the virtual world of Second Life.  (And yes I found most of this by searching the web)

I find this  germane to our discussion of Nonny de la Pena's epic effort with Unconstitutional & Gitmo.  To 'get' Gitmo I do not need to be caged in a virtual world.  I already have the picture literally, in real time from AbuGrabe to Guantanimo.  I agree with  another classmate, that if this parallel world of virtual experience ellicits a reaction and wakes people up to the behavior
exhibited under the rubric American Patriotism make more! 

But I question the intrusion of the real into the virtual universe. Quantum physics notwithstanding, universes do collide.  Apparently in 2006 Second Life, founded by Linden Labs experienced an exponential growth in new participants, and the

creators of  Second Life

construct of real world companies in this virtual world aka 'Mona Lisa Overdrive'.  The established participants of Second Life formed the SLLA/Second Life Liberation Army in protest.  They issued a manifesto claiming as "residents" of the world of Second Life they should have some say in the decision making at

Book

Linden Lab. Demanding:  "The establishment of basic 'rights' for Second Life players.  Having consulted widely we now believe the best vehicle for this is Linden Labs to offer public shares in the company.  We propose that each player is able to buy one share for a set-price.  This would serve both the development of the world and provide the beginnings of representations for avatars (residents of the virtual world) in Second Life." 

The SLLA organized and executed several terrorist attacks on the virtual sites of various Real World companies.  These terrorist attacks began in 2006 continuing through 2007.  To emphasize again, these were virtual terrorist attacks upon virtual constructs in a virtual world.   The SLLA was really creative in their planned attacks, planting bombs outside the Reebok store. In questionable taste, they flew a helicopter into the Nissan building.  The SLLA bombed the ABC store and bum rushed their way 'into' the American Apparel store incuring acceptable civilian losses of virtual customers.  Do virtual causalities and "androids dream of electric sheep"?

While some of us may find this to be a "get a life” moment; the Real World companies that were attacked in the virtual world of Second Life were real serious in their responses.  Real World Nissan responded as if this occurred in the Real World.  Online virtual Nissan sent in a virtual crew to clean up the crime scene, had virtual bodies removed and put into virtual coffins.  Worth noting, virtual Nissan did NOT close their business in real life or Second Life.  Real World ABC responded by taking action to protect their online/virtual sites.  ABC's most popular site known as Sandbox had the capability of interactive object construction.  ABC found the site was being abused; objects that were offensive/inappropriate were posted in the aftermath of the 'terrorist attack'.  ABC began monitoring the site on a regular basis and back tracing all visitors to the site.  The Real World American Apparel store was the only company attacked to close their virtual business and move out of Second Life. 

We are being asked to evaluate the different platforms available online as emerging digital media and to evaluate their application in the world of 2010-2011.  We are invited to work with a gaming platform as part of this assignment.  The "how and why" of utilization as applied to these digital platforms is still being determined.  This bit of web history could be dismissed as a very Gibson cyber punk moment.  In hindsight we might be tempted to write it off to a more idealistic, naive, momentary expression of fascination with avatars & a new media. 

It might be an amusing story of a group of people with too much time on their hands, except for the seriousness with which the Federal Government regards ANY form of terrorist attack.  An attack on access to free trade, even in a cyber world is considered an attack on the real world.  It was not by accident that the 9/11 attacks took place on the World Trade Center.  The fall out from this is an interesting read. Our own military executes Real World precision bombing missions with these gaming platforms & drones.  The virtual world is also utilized as one more way to teach & recruit would be very Real World Terrorists. 
National Security is cold blooded in their response to perceived terrorist attacks in the Real World and in Gitmo world.  

Linden Labs, avatars, machinima videos, smart games and even Grand Theft Auto are all powerful teaching tools when used with purpose.  Laptops, smart phones, i-pods connect your every moment to the world wide web, accessing all the digital platforms we consider every week.  By our usage and purpose we can recut/reframe/reuse any and all source material available.  We redefine the phrase 'by any means necessary'  everytime we log on.  If you are interested in reading more regarding the SLLA please comment & I will send the URL’s 

normalizing brutality

While I can see the potential of Second Life to become a major and popular social network forum like facebook is today, I myself am an example of the less tech savvy user who tries, but easily gives up because of the commitment required “to gain your legs” in SL, and I may never be able to give it the time someone like me needs to become fluent. I gave SL a try; my name is Dada Oxygen, and I never made it off Welcome Island.
But clearly SL really can become a part of people’s consciousness, occupying their dream space and potentially existing as a happy place for people—like nothing else in their offline life. I like the outlet it has created for creativity and civic action. It’s hard for me even to grasp the magnitude of SL. I can’t imagine attending a film festival in SL that others may actually be attending. This is the mind boggling part.

Virtual Guantanamo as a game would offer an unusually visceral perspective of being held hostage, rendered helpless, and tortured as our U.S. military currently treats detainees. Watching Unconstitutional, the documenttion of the illegal detention of so many citizens of the world felt way too familiar. How can our culture normalize this atrocious behavior of our government? We just go on about our lives, reading books and watching documentaries like Unconstitutional, but seemingly unable to truly fight back, or just overwhelmed trying to get by ourselves. Craziness!

There is so much storytelling potential in the current crossroads of broadcast Internet technology and I hope that whatever new platforms emerge, they embody the democratic potential so ready to flourish in the Internet medium. I loved the idea of news channels being informed by their users. Sadly, I do not have any exciting links to share, but I’m excited to read up on other posts!

Guantanamo is no game, but...

Guantanamo is no game, but…

Jim McKinney

If it takes a video game to get people to take another look at what our government has been doing there, I’m for it. Suspension of habeas corpus and subjecting prisoners to torture is nothing to play around with lightly.. When prisons such as Guantanamo and such actions as the euphemistically named “extraordinary rendition” are taken offshore deliberately to skirt the U.S. Constitution, and then caught in the spotlight of international media scrutiny, it puts us all in triple jeopardy—not only do we have to run the already existing risk of attack by terrorists, but we exacerbate the problem by stimulating the proliferation of terrorists, while at the same time destroying the foundations of our own legitimate government institutions and along with them the freedoms and protections that they were designed to safeguard.

Nonny de la Peña’s documentary, Unconstitutional, and Second Life video game, put together with the support of the Bay Area Video Coalition (yea BAVC!), have tried to keep the issue alive, an issue that many people I’m sure wish would just go away. Watching the now six-year-old documentary, I felt as if the issue had been all but forgotten by most Americans. However, just today, November 1, 2010, the Associated Press has reported that Canada has agreed to repatriate Omar Khadr who was sentenced to eight years for war crimes that included the killing of an U.S. soldier in Afghanistan. . Khadr was 15 when he was captured in 2002. The sentence ordered him to remain one more year in the Guantanamo prison before he could ask the Canadian government to return him to his homeland to serve the remainder of his sentence.

Draxtor Despres’ interview with Wendy Levy in the BAVC Second Life studios was not only very informative, but for me a real eye opener as to how a virtual world environment could be used for more than just a vehicle for video gaming, socializing, or leisurely schmoozing. Watching the interview in a virtual setting showed me how virtual worlds could offer opportunities for people to meet in virtual classrooms, seminars, as well as conference and lecture halls. It was inspiring listening to the interview as they talked about this “paradigm shift” getting traditional filmmakers together with “people who speak different technologies” to work for social change and develop new media strategies for making and distributing their work.

Unfortunately, when I went to Second Life to sign up, I was unable to do so. I picked out a first and last name and submitted all of the required information including my e-mail address. However, when I tried to download the software to run the program, I was rebuffed. I re-checked the operating systems and memory limits on both my Microsoft PC and my Apple MAC, and everything seems to exceed the minimum requirements, but I was unable to get started. I am definitely interested in many of the opportunities available, but I guess that I will just have to try again later when I can find more time to seek the necessary technical support. In the meantime, I am very intrigued by all that is out there…

http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/

http://www.techsoup.org/community/Second%20Life/page4997.cfm

Unconstitutional

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin

Unconstitutional is a very important documentary that details the assault on Civil Liberties that the passage of The Patriot Act made legal. Its passage, mostly unread when dropped in the middle of the night, at a time when people were feeling very afraid and vulnerable should serve as a warning of what can happen when we let emotions overtake our judgement and reason.

Having researched Second Life I am amazed at the kind of time and money people have invested in this virtual world, often at the neglect of their real lives. People seem to be more invested in their virtual "lives" than in what is happening all around them. Therein lies the problem that technology both creates and can work to remedy. New technologies allow people so many different routes for escape from the mundane, the everyday, the unpleasant news and events of the world that it makes it easier for people to turn a blind eye to what is occurring in the world. To me this sounds an awful lot like the film The Matrix in that people are so invested in the world that is "the wool being pulled over their eyes" that they do not notice the reality that is the world lying beneath the surface. However, new forms of media such as Virtual Guantanamo that are being infused into platforms where people go to "escape reality" and are themselves way to allow people to interact with realities that they otherwise would not be able to can help people to retain connections to what is going on in the world around them.

Although many people do not need to experience something in a virtual world in order to feel empathy or understand its importance, if this parallel world of virtual experience elicits a reaction and wakes people then I hope it continues.