<nettime-ann> masters of media: collaborative student blog

[Geert Lovink <geert@xs4all.nl>]

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Masters of Media
http://mastersofmedia.hum.uva.nl/

The Masters of Media (MofM) blog is a collaborative initiative from the 
New Media Master students of the University of Amsterdam (NL). The blog 
was set up in September 2006 as part of the new media practices course, 
given by Geert Lovink.

MofM strives to become a recognized authority on what’s going on in the 
wide world of the web. We observe, review, criticize and co-create on 
multiple levels in new media.

The New Media M.A. is one of the masters of the Media and Culture 
study, which is part of the Faculty of Humanity. The programme is 
divided into two different formats, i.e. a one year programme and a two 
year research variant.

First topics discussed were pro-ana sites, experiences with Writely (as 
we speak taken over by Google), defining 'shockblogs', what is 
commonism, free cooperation, Wikipedia debates and so on.

The masterclass is a course in how media, particularly new media, 
address people, culture and society with a special focus on diverse 
forms of engagement. Course participants develop an understanding for 
this and have an opportunity to examine new media developments and how 
they can be placed in a cultural context. Exploring theories and 
practices in new media not only help us develop a broader understanding 
of advancements in technology, it also provides an in-depth perspective 
of shifts in our culture.

The first students to build and use Masters of Media are Twan 
Eikelenboom, Eva Kol, Heleen van der Klink, Anne Helmond, Pepijn 
Uitterhoeve, Roman Tol, Tom Roes and Jeffrey van Schie. Courses of Jan 
Simons and Richard Rogers are also using the blog.

One of the new media matters we study is the occurring rise of the 
blogging phenomenon. The way we use the web is shifting in a 
fundamental way. Instead of being passive consumers of information, 
more and more internet users are becoming active participants. This is 
why blogging and other forms of unfettered expression on the web are 
often referred to as the rise of the participant economy.

Besides providing academic insight, this blog aims to be a testing 
ground for commercializing itself. Our objective is to reach a wide 
international audience and by doing so generating financial gain. By 
the end of this academic year (July 2007) we expect to have accumulated 
enough capital to pay for a three course dinner at one of Amsterdam’s 
hotspots.

By checking this blog regularly, you will learn from our gains and 
mistakes in the process of commercializing our site. In return we 
provide a critical view of the global conversation of the web, helping 
you to tune into what’s interesting, topical, entertaining, and just 
plain fun.

For questions, comments and everything else you can reach us at these 
adresses

Email
mastersofmedia at gmail.com

Snailmail
Masters of Media
Lokaal 0.13
Turfdraagsterpad 9
1012 XT Amsterdam
The Netherlands

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