For this final project I would like to touch base on three topics that this unit provided. I will separate each topic by a quote then paragraphs, and then I will move onto explaining how each topic resonates with the collage I made for this project. The three topics are: data privacy, creative commons and how artists use inspiration from other artists, and fictional characters being overly sexualized or overly fictional in (mainly) video games.

“It is up to technologists and social entrepreneurs to decide what counts as harmful and how to avoid it. What those who they allegedly seek to help and protect think about their own well-being is not discussed” (Maglhaes and Couldry 7).

As I have seen more and more as the internet continues and as data privacy is becoming a more talked about topic, platforms are becoming more transparent with their users about what their data privacy entails. This is only some platforms in small ways- for example, while using shopping apps such as ASOS, Misguided and Pretty Little Thing, as soon as I start using their app, there is a notification that pops up on my feed asking if they can track my data. I find it ironic that platforms started doing this as my classes started talking about it- however, it is a step in the right direction. My argument consists of I think companies, websites, and platforms of such should be more transparent and communicative of what their tracking privacy entails. I think they need things like notifications that ask users if they can track their data, make it easier to find on their sites, and explain more simply what tracking does, because a lot of users do not know.

“New art builds on old art. We hear music, process it, reconfigure it, and create something derivative but new” (Keller, 1).

The creative commons and fair use- I think- are so confusing. I think they need to be more simplified. I tend to get overwhelmed by all the rules copyright lists. I feel as if there are too many loopholes and what-ifs involved. As a design student, I am inspired by other artists and I tend to take parts of their work and create them into my own piece. I get a pass with using my work for educational purposes, but I feel like I do not know much about giving credit where it is necessary or appropriate. There are con artists, and that is a completely different topic, however there are lots of people who get in trouble or have their own work taken down when they are innocent. If someone is genuinely interested in making art and wants to give credit where it is needed and giving respect to the artist, the laws should be simplified and easy to access and understand. Maybe when people make art, there should be a required section where the artist explains their process and shows inspiration. Perhaps a new platform should be a community where artists share their art and give credit directly to the person.

“Psychological and sociological research reveals that cultural representations may have social and economic consequences” (Chander and Sunder 11).

As for fictional characters being overly sexualized and basically overly fictional, I do practice being extremely aware of other’s feelings. However, it is impossible for one human to go through life and not be offended by nothing. I do not play a lot of video games, but I have watched my brother play a fair share of them. I do think there are cases where characters are just a little extreme and perhaps sexist towards women, and that should definitely be altered in showing more variety of non-stereotypical women. I feel like people are already starting to change that. As for characters being overly fictional or having traits that some people can take offense to, I think is killing creator’s creativity. Creators, artists, and writers create fictional characters because it is part of their creative brain, and they are fictional. They make these characters knowing that they are unrealistic, and if people are being offended by characters, maybe they should do more research on what it means to be a fictional character. Asking creators to stop making extravagant characters is asking them not to do what they love. Characters are supposed to be extreme, having interesting and unrealistic lives, video games would become less magical if every character was a normal human. I feel slightly hesitant writing this because I truly do like to keep people’s feelings in mind- but asking creators to basically stop being creative bothers me because not everyone can be pleased. If someone has questions about a character, maybe easy access to the creator should be more available.

I wanted to create a digital collage for this project because I like the way collages visually address topics. A piece of art without many words or explanations creates discussion and has a touch of abstractness and lets the brain be imaginative. I included things in the collage like unity, artists, art, characters, and the words ‘be kind’. The main theme of the collage I think would be unity because as an artist, I feel like other artists know the struggle of working so hard on something and being extremely passionate about it only for others not to see how influential a piece has been. I feel like this relates back to the creative commons topic because artists just want to create art and be inspired, using inspiration from other artists should be encouraged and accepted. I included the words ‘be kind’ because it is important to think of others, be empathetic, and lift one another up, not put other people down to make our selves look or feel better. Doing this will make us all better and happier humans.

Works Cited

Everyone’s a Superhero: A Cultural Theory of ‘Mary Sue … http://www.jstor.org/stable/20439103.

Magalhães, João Carlos, and Nick Couldry. “Giving by Taking Away: Big Tech, Data Colonialism, and the Reconfiguration of Social Good.” International Journal of Communication, ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/15995/3322.

“The Musician As A Thief.” Communication and Technology, 19 Apr. 2010, zztechno.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/the-musician-as-a-thief/.

All photos from Unsplash