The Media Mixer:User Creativity through Production, Deconstruction and Reconstruction of Digital Media Content

Christian Hviid MortensenPhD fellow, Curator, The Media Museum Vitus VestergaardPhD fellow, DREAM, University of Southern Denmark

Overview

Remix? Remix Culture?

• a crosscultural trans-media phenomenon

• collage, montage, parody, imitation, sampling, reinterpretation etc...

Remixing is not a new phenomenon

• Panchatantra , India 4th century BC• ...• ...• ...• Hip hop music and beyond!

Sampling, remixing and mash-up music

• Coolio (1997) C U when U get there• Mash-up madness: Girl Talk

Remix

• Remix / Mashup• A derivative work• One transformed work, or…• ...several works mashed together• E.g. a collage

RW-culture

• RO: Read-Only• RW: Read-Write

• RW-culture doesn’t require digital media, but…

• …digital media and the web makes RW-culture and remixing easy!

Hardworking George

Der Untergang parodies

• An Internet meme• Extremely popular• Millions of views

Remixing as a cultural practice

• Museums are part of society• Museums could (or should?) reflect

what is happening in society• Remixing is a significant cultural

practice

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… and one RW-example

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The RW-museum

Our notion: The RW-museum

…over to Christian ;-)

The Media Mixer

The Media Mixer

Studio Activities:• The Hot Seat.• Chromakey Studio.• The Soundbox.

A (Re-) Mixer Station

A Hot Spot Area.

Goals & Means

GOALS:• Reach and engage a new younger audience.• Facilitate a more reflective perspective on

media.• Inspire to take (inter-)active part in RW-culture.

MEANS:• Provide unique resources on-site.• Provide situated experiences of both front

stage and backstage aspects of media.

The Hot Seat

• Activity: Virtual interview• Experience: Answering coherent on

live TV is not as easy as it seems!• Outcome: Understanding different

styles of interview and the importance of giving a quick and concise answer.

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Chromakey Studio

• Acitivity: “Live” reporting.• Experience: The chromakey illusion

and Framing is everything!• Outcome: Understanding the power

of narrative framing.

The Mixer

• Activity: Remixing and sharing productions.

• Experience: The editor has the last word!

• Outcome: Understanding the power of editing.

The SoundBox

• Acitivity: Foley sound production• Experience: There are no “right” way

to make sound. And sound in media is different from real world sound!

• Outcome: Understanding the role of sound in audiovisual media

The Word is Yours

• Comment on a current topic or question

• Small exhibit on the topic• Topic should be a bit provocative or

perhaps a dilemma• RW-museum; strong incitements to

write ;-)

The provocative display

The Word is yours

• Statements related to the topic• Meta debate• Graffiti• Errors.

Learning in the Media Mixer

• Experiental learning• Discovery Learning & Constructivist

Learning (Hein)• Scaffolding devices

Challenges

Challenges:Copyright

• No concept of ‘fair use’ in Danish law.• We do not provide commercial content.• We do provide access to material on

the web.• We cannot stop the users from

remixing with copyrighted material.• We will remove any productions

infringing copyright.

Challenges: Organizational

EXTERNAL:• Disadvantage when dealing with

subcontractors.• Coordinating diverse specialties.

 

INTERNAL:• Entrenched notions of the museum-user

relationship.• Loss of professional authority?

• Compartmentalization 

Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s and Don’ts

 DO:• Make a detailed description of every installation and how it

functions before engaging with subcontractors. Early technical proof-of-concept is important.

• An iterative design process + early technical installation on site• Concentrate on what you are good at. Outsource the rest.• Seek expert advice in evaluating subcontractor deliverances.• Uphold all your promises on time.

DON’T:• Make too tight time schedules. Make space for extensive (user)

tests on site.• Take subcontractor assurances at face value. Demand proof of

progress. • Be Mr. Nice Guy.

Perspectives & Discussion

• Cultural references are essential for remix culture.

• Museum collections are treasure troves for remixers!

• Copyright: We are convinced that time is working with us, not against us

Thanks!

Thanks for listening

Time for question, comments and discussion.