Flickr
is a virtual space photo and video manager with a free terabyte,
537,731 photos at 6.5 megapixels quality and video’s that can be
collaboratively processed, organised, shared and stored.
Image from: www.childrensparkofgeorgia.com
Fickr has given me a vehicle and the freedom to stroll through people’s life experiences through their lens but as I am still learning this network I feel that my freedom is like a child running through a maze, wanting to keep exploring and but not sure which path to take. Traveling through physical space is easier because it is my way of knowing. Flickr designers allow users to create a username and account, upload pictures, subscribe to a Flickr Blog and take a tour through the network, just like a leisurely stroll down the alley ways of Paris window shopping (Prouty, R. 2009) to see what communities might be interesting to later join. Friends and family can subscribe then make changes and organise the users photos. Mapping can be seen through tagging a picture, adding a comment, give a star (same as liking on Face Book) on pictures from a joined community group. This adds more opportunity for communication with other members of the community whilst gaining power.
Allen.
(2003) explains “geography matters to our relationships with those who
exercise power and turning this around, what power is matters to what
can be said geographically about its exercise.”
Pg 2. It is up me on how much power I want to
have within the Flickr Network. My empowerment will depend on how many
communities I want to join and blog inputs I create to how many stars
and comments I want to make on others photos and
videos.
Reference List
Allen, J. (2003). Lost geographies of power. Malden, MA.: Blackwell
Barnes, G. (1997). Passage of the Cyber-Flanuer. Otago University. Retrieved from:
http://learnjcu.edu.au
Buchanan. M (2003). NEXUS: Small Worlds and the Ground breaking Science of Networks. Prelude. 1st Ed, pg.11 – 22
Petray,
T. (2013). BA1002. Lecture 3.1: Our Space: Networks, Narratives, and
the Making of Place. Maps: Seeing and Representing the World [PowerPoint
slides]. Retrieved from
http://learnjcu.edu.au
Image Credits
Hey Jayne :)
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you came up with your username on Flickr, it's interesting how much of ourselves we put into names, even when they are made-up. The pictorial online network is really fascinating in its idea of "maps", being much more visual and allowing users to establish a true idea of the space of their network. As Theresa said in her lecture, you have named your home-range, but I wonder what you would define your territory as? Overall, I really enjoyed reading your blog post, it was really interesting to find out about online places I've never been before.
Hi Jayne,
ReplyDeleteA great blog. Given that I know very little about Flickr it'll be interesting to follow your blog and develop an understanding of how your travel within the Flickr network and how it utilises the six key concepts of power, space and place, communication, reality and virtuality, and self and community. Your choice to remain anonymous within Flickr whilst you learn the ins and outs of this particular social network, brings to mind that, "A user's experience of the Internet is of a dizzingly free zone." (Turkle, S. 1995). I look forward to reading more of your experiences within the world of Flickr!
- Turkle, S. (1995). Life on the Screen - Identity in the Age of the Internet. NY, USA. Simon & Schuster Paperbacks.
Flickr certainly does allow one to view life through the lens of others and gain a different perspective. Flickr certainly is a choice website when investigating the idea of "maps"and how they fit around social networking systems. I suggest that if you would like to quickly make networks within the Flickr Universe, to follow the local group pages and upload some photos to them, as by doing this will break down the barriers even further.
ReplyDelete