Author: antoniafish
China’s Internet Censorship
https://prezi.com/view/y4uySDPmuncxwUh7MY3n/
Kirsty, Luke and Antonia
The Rise of Asian music Supremacy
This week’s screening was one that again took me by surprise in the best way! 88rising is an American Music company showcasing Asian American and Asian artists who release music in the United States. The documentary covers artist from all across Asia, calling on their own influences, how they are making it in the industry and the struggles they meet w hen presenting themselves to western society.
Through the use of the internet, many of these musicians were able to not only learn English but spread their music in order to be heard by the world. These advancements have led to social changes, business opportunities and growth within their industries that is now being seen around the world (Li 2020, p 1). Operations within cultures such as music and fashion have allowed relationships to develop between countries (Athique 2019, p 17) clearly outlining the movement of modernization that symbolizes future opportunities (Athique 2019, p 17).
Looking into musicians like Rich Brian and Awich, the industry has shown that listeners are invested in their stories as well as their music and responded well. However, Rich Brian was met with scrutiny when he used a play on words with a racial slur to define his stage name, causing outrage amongst the music community. Both artists however, what to change the way Asian creator are defined, changing from the dorky Asian kid or a woman who cant rap, to powerful influencers that are shaping the industry.
Without even realizing it, I had already heard music from some artists associated with 88rising over the last few years as it made its way to our shores. This just goes to show that the digital market is undertaking some serious changes within technological advancements to create a more effective global approach to how things are consumed (Li 2020, p 1).
The overall message from the documentary was very clear in the intentions from the Asian community and how they are approaching their path to pushing the boundaries of the music industry, whether western artists like it or not. This concept will allow digital transactions to bring Asia to being seen in a new light (Athique 2019, p 18), melding countries and culture together for a new generation to expand and create without fear or hesitation.
#bcm320 #digitalasia #asianmusic #digitaltechnologies
An appreciation given by technology (BCM320)
As an artist, I have always wanted to explore art forms outside of Australia, wanting to know what lies outside of western art. With this, I have been very lucky that my mother introduced my brother and I to Asian culture from a very young age. Any time she went on an overseas trip, she would always bring back paintings, sculptures, dolls dressed like geishas, etc. I consider the way I view the world now very influenced by how diverse out household items were, and this allowed me to have no prejudice or toxic mentality to other people’s nationalities that I would encounter.
This subject has further reinforced my love for Asian culture and the arts scene that is being so widely recognized. It was eye opening to me upon viewing ‘People’s Republic of Desire (Hao Wu, 2018)’ as I had no idea the world of online influencers in China was bigger than anything I had seen on YouTube. The industry produces so much financially that in 2016 “the topic of digital transactions leads us to think of the trillion dollars reputedly moving outwards into the world from Hong Kong” (Athique 2019, p 4).
It is then pushed in other countries like India, that the flexibility of digital money creates a dominating linking system that gives people a sense of how great the effects of these transactions really are (Athique 2019, p 4). I am glad that we’ve been given such a wide range of topics within this subject, not only to expand my knowledge of these ongoings, but to give me a reassurance that my interest in these topics are shared with more people than I thought.
I was particularly invested in the week 6 screening of 10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki Ep. 4 No Cheap Excuses. I have had a great interest in animation for some time and once Studio Ghibli cam to Netflix last year, I was able to access (and binge watch) all of the movies available. I have been greatly influenced by Studio Ghibli, so much so that I have recreated and artwork seen in the film ‘From Up On Poppy Hill’ (2011).
I’m enthralled by the “diversity of languages, environments, philosophies and aesthetic traditions remains a defining feature of Asia” (Athique 2019, p 3) and have used that interest in the culture to further my own artistic experience. With so many platforms on the internet gaining popularity, cultural barriers begin to break down (Athique 2019, p 3), allowing others to form a love and appreciation for these genres.
#bcm320 #digitalasia #digitaltransactions #animation
References
Athique, Adrian (2019). Digital Transactions in Asia. Digital Transactions in Asia: Social , Economic and Informational Processes. (pp. 1-22) edited by Adrian Athique and Emma Baulch. New York, NY United States: Routledge
AlphaGO and AI
This week’s film was one that really surprised me. I was extremely intrigued in not only the game but the emotional investment by those involved. This idea that a physical game that is hundreds of years old that is now turned into a virtual online game that is now AI, further proves that western society really doesn’t pay attention to major/minor event that happen in Asia, where it was making headlines across their countries.
The fact is that these players not only see the game as a combination of moves and strategy, but as an art form. The computer program of AlphaGo in 2016 went up against the worlds lead Go player Lee Sedol but the board game itself, centuries old, holds more possible configurations that atoms in the universe. The use of specific moves and placements led to some who watched calling them ‘beautiful’ as if brush strokes on a canvas.
Many people outside of the creative industry forget that so much time and effort goes into ever piece of technology; equipment, design, advertising, packaging, the list goes on. Yet we are one of THE most overlooked industries that contributes the most when it comes to visuals.
https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/26/22348095/nintendo-switch-nvidia-dlss-graphics-ai-explained
The gaming industry is just one that combines technology, art and programming to create something that provides entertainment and employment whilst expanding their fan basis that then lead to merchandising, Comic Cons and brand deals.
Humanity is constantly changing, and with that, technological advancements will only push us further into the future as the creation of Deep Minds AlphaGo proves. The limits of technology and Artificial Intelligence have no boundaries, and if used in the right context, will no only be able to reverse climate change damages, but can aid industries like farming, health care and housing. Although the production of AlphaGo is one step in the direction of AI in gaming, it is a huge jump into what can be done for the future.
https://www.antoniafishart.com/little-fish-blog/alphago-and-ai
#BCM #ArtificialIntelligence #Gamingindustry
Cinema and India
For as long as I can remember, Bollywood movies were always beautiful, lively and extravagant. But after watching this weeks screening ‘India in a Day (Google India, 2016) A crowd sourced film’, I found it wonderful to see a new perspective of life in India from the city to the country as well as their struggles without internet.
Although with the current pandemic, the film and cinema industry (like everywhere) has taken a downfall in production as well as viewership. This has led to individuals finding new forms of entertainment.
In the article above, the “country’s film industry was estimated to be worth 194.2 billion rupees ($2.5 billion) in 2019”. This statistic reaffirms India’s income derived from their own people as well as those around the world who would view these film’s, yet with the situation now, filming an individual’s life at home is the only safe way to get media across whilst still being engaged.
https://yourstory.com/2020/12/technology-making-indian-agriculture-smarter-inclusive-resilient/amp
“Lack of knowledge about latest methods and technology: A majority of Indian farmers are smallholders who rely on traditional resource-intensive farming techniques. They have limited access to modern machinery, logistics and storage facilities, and information such as data on weather patterns, soil health, and protection of crops.”
Climate change is one of the biggest threats to India’s farming industry, which has become apparent to the public as well. In December 2019 where over 25,000 hectares of crops were destroyed in what experts term as the worst-such attack in 25 years by locust that couldn’t be predicted without warning of drought.
Most of the younger generations, mainly in the west, have no concept of life without technology. This then doesn’t show the gravity technology has on industries that provide for whole nations, with resources creating the foundations the youth live upon.
https://www.antoniafishart.com/little-fish-blog/cinema-and-india
#BCM320 #Cinema #Film
Asia in the Digital Age
Week 1
Asia in the Digital Age
Film: People’s Republic of Desire (Hao Wu, 2018)
The overall view from the film this week focused on China’s live streaming industry and how much money is spent in order for a title or ‘power’, yet most of these live streamers aren’t happy with their lives. I’ve always seen the live streamers from America and Australia, but I wasn’t aware of how huge China’s industry was until viewing this film.
After doing some research into the numbers and speaking with peers, 443 million people watched live streams in China and generated almost $4.4 billion dollars. It questions how the industry will shape the future not only for China but the rest of the world.
Although western society has accepted Asia culture more in the last few decades, there’s still so much that we don’t know about unless we have access to it on the internet. But even then, it’s not advertised as something to be viewed or desired by Western society.
Within an article I found on China’s digital market, the author talked about “The digital yuan bypasses the need for these banks…Unlike cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, the currency is also backed by a government.” This idea of digital money to motivate faster spending that is backed by their Government creates this spiral of money being spent on money but in reality, is just numbers traded for numbers.
Is it fair to say, then, that China has created such a bubble from the rest of the world, that these live streamers with amazing rich lives, are just entertainment to keep the population docile without questioning what could be outside of China?
In another article, this system that apparently ‘cures loneliness’ , the statistics for Diaosi showed that “Chinese live stream viewers are 75% male and 70% under age 30.” This generation, although loving the live streaming and providing virtual affection, also receives a lot of hate that takes a toll on live streamers mental health.
Overall this Digital Age in China has shown that the future will only use this technology more and faster as it creates revenue like never before. Countries with this access will only develop further in their economies but this also means that third world countries may not catch up and find a balance that could help them financially.
https://www.antoniafishart.com/little-fish-blog/asia-in-the-digital-age
#BCM320 #DigitalAsia #Online #AsianTechnology
Digital Asia 