Essay Research

Sources of info

Presentations and slideshows

One of my sources of information came in the form of a 29 slide presentation found on Slideshare.net

The presentation gave me some key info that is very much related to my essay question. The format of the presentation meant that I could absorb the info in small chunks and so understand and use it easier and effectively. It is also a more engaging and stimulating method of research.

Online Articles

my second, larger source of info came in the form of online articles.

to use these sources of information, I first read through it to check that it was an academic source and that it made sense in cohesion with what I was writing. A lot of online sources can be very unreliable and can often offer information that is incorrect or inaccurate.

I have a few ways of making sure the source is acceptable for referencing:

- Including checking the legibility of the website itself by looking at the bottom for any sponsors/ awards etc. 

- I also cross reference information from two or more sources. This allows me to know whether the info is telling the truth or is just made up.

Books and other publications

Typically, this source is the most reliable as information rarely makes it into books without being checked for legibility etc. This means that text found in books can be trusted a lot more than whats found on the web. 

I've taken out a number of books from the college library as my main source of information.

Planning & Structuring an Essay

Module Question...


"What is the role of print media in the digital age?"


Possible sources of information to use as references...


Benjamin, W. (1936) 'The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction'.

Rock, M. (1996) 'The Designer as Author', Eye, no. 20 vol. 5

Davis, D. (1995) 'The Work of Art in the Age of Digital Reproduction'. Leonardo, Vol. 28

Davis, M (2012) Graphic Design Theory. London: Thames and Hudson 

Klein, A (2009) 'The Role of Print Media in Today's Technological Society' 

Wright, J (2013) http://www.ideastap.com/IdeasMag/ 


Examples of Graphic Design I will analyse...

So It Goes Magazine - A magazine started by James Wright in the middle of a magazine crisis

“Isn’t it a risk starting a print magazine in the current climate?” 

The world’s biggest small arts magazine.
http://www.ideastap.com/IdeasMag/all-articles/DISCUSS-can-print-publishing-survive-digital

Other well known magazines/ newspapers of the digital era

- Life Magazine
- Marie Claire
- GQ

"The pain that the newspaper industry is going through is well known by now"

- The Guardian
- The Metro 

BILLBOARDS

LIBRARY RESOURCES

Why are us as students recommended to use Libraries and the books within them

Why is information in a book considered more reliable and accurate than that online

Essay Map...

Introduction:

- Explain in more detail the key terms of the question; Print Media & The Digital Age
- Bit of background knowledge for each; history of print media and impact of digital age
- Explain HOW I will show the reader the ROLE of print media now; 
- Use 4 different examples of print media: 
   
   > Magazines

   > Newspapers

   > advertising billboards/ campaigns

   > Books used by students? 



Main Body:

1. Magazines


2. Newspapers


3. Advertising billboards/ campaigns


4. Library resources?? & why books are more reliable than online sources



Conclusion

Summarising & Paraphrasing

Summarised and Paraphrased notes 

Extract from Graphic Design Theory by Meridith Davis.

For many, memories of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre are less about any reporting at that moment and more about the iconic imagery replayed for days after. This point being in favour of the power and role of print media.

McLuhan's Hot & Cool theory - This theory explains that there are two categories for all media. Radio and Film are hot media because they're clearer and more information-rich and require less sensory participation. Political cartoons and tele are cool medias as they require more involvement. This theory, however, is a bit dated as television now requires next to no sensory involvement most of the time. 

Another of McLuhan's theories describes a Global Village. This is the idea that because of television, everyone has access to the same information and the same time all over the world. This can have major affects on nations and their practiced democracy. E.g. the Nixon v Kennedy election; Nixon appeared 'rumpled' whereas Kennedy appeared 'composed' on television.

Levinson explains that new media seek to remedy the problems of previous technologies. For example, GPS overcomes "physical clumsiness, inaccuracy and complexity of printed maps.

Thorburn & Kenkins speak about how the graphic design press in the 1980s were preoccupied with debates concerning the loss of traditional craft and designer control du to the introduction of the Macintosh and design software.