Lucybonfield

PROTOTYPING…. WHERE THE FUN BEGINS.

The Prototyping stage of my Digital artefact has been an enjoyable process. All my fears and nerves had settled, and I felt really comfortable and confident with my Ideas and how I wanted to execute them. I was and still am incredibly open to change and not being “married” to my ideas, but this prototyping stage has been enjoyable (just how it should be).

Since the Ideation stage of my Digital Artefact “Wander with luce” has started blossom and evolve and a big part of the evolution and growth of my DA is from the feedback loop from my users.
After an abundance of feedback and the ideation of my content, the Offical name and look for my DA was confirmed.

PROTOTYPING

“Wander with Luce” a hiking/exploring page for adventurous souls out there. It is a place for individuals to learn about local hiking spots and day’s trips adventures around the Illawarra and south coast area.

To gain feedback for the prototypes I was creating and posting, I did a bunch of polls and Instagram stories. I did this to gain feedback to make sure I was creating the right kind of content my users were wanting so that they could increase value from my posts.

My following may still be small, but after tweaking my posts and creating my videos/ reviews on places, my users were wanting. I started to see a growth in my following on Instagram and more views on my YouTube videos.

I continue to draw inspiration from accounts I mentioned in my Ideation Blog Post to create a relaxed, adventurous vibe.

To create this relaxed, adventurous vibe for my both my Instagram page and Videos posted on IGTV and YouTube. I have been trying to create a flow by taking photos that contribute similar colours. Standard colours and themes you will see through WANDER WITH LUCE are blues/greens and sandy whites. Each post is focused on nature and Adventures. For editing my photos, I use VSCO and PREVIEW to create a coherent theme. I use the same two filters for my photos.

From posting my first few prototypes, the captions for my post were simple and based on how the places I visit make me feel I have iterated my captions based on feedback. I have implemented this and have started writing reviews and asking questions to engage more with my viewers and to make my content for informative, so my users can gain more value from content.

This process, for me, will never end. I will continue to produce new ideas and create prototypes to continue my learning process as well has to evolve my Digital Artefact over time.
For more insight into my evolution of “Wander with luce” and the process and steps, I have been taking to get my DA to where it is today head over to my YouTube channel and watch my Project beta.

Thanks for reading…..

Until next time

Lucy xx

Project Beta…. Wander with Luce

At the start of BCM 114, I planned on having a YouTube channel showcasing video footages of adventures I go on. Using footage I have from previous trips and ones I planned to take over the semester. After feedback that I’ve posted on Instagram, Twitter and my personal Facebook,, I iterated my digital artefact and created “wander with luce”.

Wander with Luce is hiking/exploring page for adventurous souls out there. It is a place for individuals to learn about local hiking spots and day’s trips adventures around the Illawarra and south coast area.

Throughout the prototyping stage, I have been posting Instagram stories and polls on Twitter, asking for feedback on the content my users are wanting to see more of.

After receiving this feedback, I have tried to implement them into the content I’m creating for “wander with Luce”.

Iterations I have made to my Digital artefact have begun with narrowing down the type of content ill be producing. Aiming to connect more with a pacific audience rather than making it broad with videos of “this and that”. I have iterated the “wander with luce” series to be based in the Illawarra with aspirations to do series in other areas down the track.

Other Iterations I have made to my digital artefact have included creating an Instagram account and using this as my leading platform with YouTube as a secondary platform. Posting photos and videos on IGTV as well as on my YouTube channel.

Starting off with simple captions about how the places I visit make me feel I have iterated my captions based on feedback. I have implemented this and have started writing reviews and asking questions to engage more with my viewers and to make my content for informative, so my users can gain more value from content.

hit that like button and subscribe to my channel! join this adventure with me

Until next time

Lucy xx

CULTURAL APPROPRIATION…. HIP-HOP

When hip-hop music and culture was first developed, it wasn’t well known. It stems back to the more impoverished areas in New York City by the African American community in the 1970s. The music was a way to express struggle and hardship that the African American people had experienced as well as their lifestyle. Hip-hop is forever evolving and is a prevalent genre of music.

The hybridisation of global music is very common. The issue with this is it can lead to either Cultural appropriation or cultural appreciation, the line between the two is extremely fine, and this is where things get a bit blurry.

There are many successful musicians who cultural acknowledge Hip-Hop history and roots. Unfortunately, some artists use marginalised cultures music as a form of entertainment. Inescapable, sometimes aspects of those cultures are taken and used for entertainment, suppressing and disrespecting them further.
“cultural appropriation is often is defined as taking elements of another culture, often without permission or consideration for what those aspects of culture may mean to that minority” (Raychawadhuri, Anita 2015)

One artist who still struggles to understand the difference between Cultural appropriation and Cultural Appreciation is Iggy Azealia.

Iggy Azalea is a Caucasian Australian musician who has copped a lot of backlash for cultural appropriation. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Azealia based on the way she portrays herself and her music. Iggy is known as a white hegemony that views black cultural resources ripe for the picking. One main issue that the Hip-hop community has with Azealia. An article from “Capital Xtra” stated that “Many believe that she is adapting “blackness” and using black culture to help excel in her career.”

A public feud between Iggy Azalea and African American Azealia Banks highlights that Azalea has created her image by the cultural appropriation of black culture. Banks stated that “she seemed to be ripping off Nikki Minaj’s Reloaded by titling her album re-release Reclassified. Banks called it “cultural smudging”. Banks has addressed many other issues in regards to the Hip-Hop artist exploiting black culture. Iggy referred to herself as a “runaway slave master” in her song “D.R.U.G.S”. Banks explains in an interview that people need to stop exploiting black identity that Rap and Hip-Hop are all they’re holding on to.

Image result for azealia banks and iggy azalea

Iggy Azalea. Aware of the history of rap and Hip-Hop, aware of the burden and hardship people of African American culture has gone through, still portrays herself and her music without cultural acknowledgement.
The repercussions of Azalea actions have led to her career being tarnished by her lack of cultural appreciation of Black culture.

REFERENCES

Raychawdhuri, A. (2015). End cultural appropriation in hip-hop scene: Azealia Banks’ social media comments bring attention to racist practice. Pipe Dream, pp.6-6.

Eberhardt, M. and Freeman, K. (2015). ‘First things first, I’m the realest’: Linguistic appropriation, white privilege, and the hip-hop persona of Iggy Azalea. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 19(3), pp.303-327.

Capital XTRA. (2019). Iggy Azalea Reveals She Thinks Cultural Appropriation Is ‘Subjective’ After Backlash. [online] Available at: https://www.capitalxtra.com/artists/iggy-azalea/news/reveals-thinks-cultural-appropriation-subjective/ [Accessed 31 Aug. 2019].

Chang, J. (2014). Azealia Banks, Iggy Azalea and hip-hop’s appropriation problem. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/dec/24/iggy-azalea-azealia-banks-hip-hop-appropriation-problem [Accessed 31 Aug. 2019].

Ideation…. the start of something big.

I was unsure if I chose the right path when starting this degree halfway through the year ( a tad overwhelmed) and curious as to where I wanted this degree would take me. All I knew is that I wanted to be creative.
This assessment task for creating a Digital artefact has been a blessing in disguise. Overwhelming at first, but once it all sunk in turned out to be the most enjoyable assessment yet.

Taking Ted and Peter advice of thinking about something you love doing and want to do more of and creating content based on your interest. ost This led me to step one

THINKING
With my passion for nature and adventure, I knew that I wanted to base my content of travelling and the outdoors. I had a lot of footage from previous travels and had always wanted to do something with them, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to explore. I’ve always wanted to create videos with the footage I have and wanted to take more footage. Because I’m a “Lil” timid, I was scared that if I couldn’t make something great, then I didn’t want to ruin it. How silly is that? Throughout the first couple of lectures, it gave me the confidence I needed not to care if it’s not perfect #FEFO. Everyone is in the same boat, and we are all here to encourage and support each others progress.

INITAL IDEAS

Creating my pitch, I narrowed down my ideas and decided on my vision for my Digital Artefact.
I went with my first idea of creating a YouTube channel producing travel videos for the like-minded individuals who have a love for the outdoors and travel. Inspiring individuals to explore areas around them and show them places I go in the Illawarra.
Inspiration for this idea came from a few YouTubers and social media influences. My name inspiration came from a girl name SAM CLARK. Who creates short video montages of her travels around her home town in southern California ( i’m a fan of her early content ). I’ll link her channel below.

Other inspiration came from accounts on instagram such as Patagonia, visitnsw, Australia, jade_elise_collins, celestecameron. Just to name a few.

After creating my pitch, I already started to make changes engaging with my peers and creating new ideas lead to narrow down my DA even further.
I did a survey and posted it on twitter and facebook to see what my current audience are interested in. This helped to make sure I was producing content on the right platforms for my targeted audience.

With the survey coming back as Instagram being there leading social media platform, I decided to create an Instagram page for my content. Posting photos of beautiful places, posting videos on IGTV as well as posting videos on YouTube.

My content has changed a little bit too. Rather than creating videos of travels, I’ve been on overseas, and at camp, I’m going to focus on hiking, hidden gems and beautiful lookouts around the Illawarra and south coast. And once I feel as though I have produced enough content for this area, I might branch out and do my home town of Newcastle and create a following of people up there.

Lately, I’ve been searching for more inspiration; there are so many beautiful lifestyles and travel blogs/ Instagrams and youtube channels out there that I’m hoping that maybe one day my content can inspire someone else the way these people have inspired me.

Thanks for reading. I would love to hear from you all on what you think of this idea and where it’s going. Let me know if there is anything you want to see. Please follow this journey with me on Instagram and Youtube. Exciting stuff coming soon keep an eye out.

Lucy xx

Oceans 8… Women and Culture

Oceans 8, a spinoff on the ocean’s series trilogy starting Sandra bullock and cate Blanchett was No. 1 at the box office in 2018. This film is produced in the world’s most powerful country (America) by one of Hollywood’s most prominent directors (Gary Ross). Oceans 8 has had enormous global success. This film targeted audience I believe, is for all women; women from all ethnicities, not just women from the global north.

This Film follows Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) recently released from prison to build a team of Eight intelligent, diverse female crooks. Theses 8 women steal a $150 Cartier necklace from the neck of a famous actress attending Met gala. Debbie’s idea that “women don’t get noticed as much as men so they should use it to their advantage”. Her ultimate goal for this robbery was to get revenge on her Ex-Boyfriend, who has previously committed fraud and convicted his partner (Bullock) and pleaded innocent.

Overseas the film was released in over 16 different countries with the within the first weekend made a whopping 12.2 million dollars. By the end of the third week, its revenue had an international total of 70.9 million dollars. With its highest markets being from the United Kingdom, Mexico, Japan, Australia and South Korea; countries from both the global north and south.

This movie is a perfect example of hybridisation, With the cultural diversity of all the characters and the blending of different elements of their culture with western culture. It makes this film considerably more exciting and integrated for the viewer.

Thomas B. Ksiazek and James G. Webster states in Cultural Proximity and Audience Behavior: The Role of Language in Patterns of Polarization and Multicultural Fluency ‘there are other levels of similarity or proximity, based in cultural elements per se: dress, ethnic types, gestures, body language, definitions of humour, ideas about story pacing, music traditions, religious elements, etc.’’

I mention this because Oceans 8 captivates the viewer with global themes such as; loss, money, friendship, revenge, unity, as well as the cultural diversity of the women characters and behaviours. Throughout this film, there are many multicultural references made based on the main characters. One of the female leads “Amita” (Mindy Kaling) comes from an Indian cultural background.

In one scene Amita is working at a family business run jeweller she is arguing with her mother about grading a diamond (this scene is spoken in Hindi with English subtitles). Amita mother refers to a framed picture of a traditional family wedding “ this is why you have no husband, like your sister”.

This conversation engages with topics commonly discussed within most families globally; e.g. expectations, marriage and family. However, by filming this scene in a non- English speaking language, it is showcasing the cultural proximity that many cultures have. This is just one small example of the hybridisation shown throughout this film.

Oceans 8 had global success with its main selling point being of a female cast. A crime heist film with a group of female protagonists portraying women from many cultural backgrounds by some of Hollywood’s top actresses. I believe that this film has had a very positive impact on young women not only in western countries but globally. Oceans 8 shows women that they can be successful in film and powerful role models.

REFERENCES

Ksiazek, T. and Webster, J. (2008). Cultural Proximity and Audience Behavior: The Role of Language in Patterns of Polarization and Multicultural Fluency. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 52(3), pp.485-503.

Chow, A. (2018). ‘Ocean’s 8’ Is No. 1 at the Box Office. [online] Nytimes.com. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/10/movies/oceans-8-hereditary-box-office.html [Accessed 16 Aug. 2019].

Boxofficemojo.com. (2018). Ocean’s 8 (2018) – Box Office Mojo. [online] Available at: https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=wbeventfilm2018c.htm [Accessed 16 Aug. 2019].

Riani Putri, N. (2018). Ocean’s 8: The importance of an all-female main cast. [online] The Jakarta Post. Available at: https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2018/06/18/oceans-8-the-importance-of-an-all-female-main-cast.html [Accessed 18 Aug. 2019].

Let me pitch it to you…

For my Digital Artefact, I’ve chosen to create a YOUTUBE channel where all be posting Travel vlogs and video montages of the adventurous things that I do. I’ve chosen this path as I have a passion for adventure and spending time outdoors. I’m hoping to inspire people to get outdoors more see what this beautiful world has to offer as well as capturing beautiful places and moments in time on film. The content I create will include footage from previous trips and adventures I’ve gone on as well as ones I intend to take.

Examples include

– footage from my experience working at a summer camp in the USA

-hiking at Belmore falls

– watching the sunrise at bald hill

-a trip back to my Newcastle showcasing my hometown and more

Any feedback on my DA would be much appreciated. Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel

Thanks for listening.

Lucy xx

Television… its just the beginning

The evolution of the television not only in Australia but globally has been one of the biggest phenomenons to happen in history. My memories of TV growing up consisted of my sister and I trying to be the first one to get the remote so we could have the first pick of what to watch. I used to love waking up early on a Saturday morning to watch Saturday Disney, and my favourites were Hannah Montana and Kim possible.

Growing up, programs such as Foxtel was seen as a luxury in the family home. My family grew up watching free to air television and to this day is still a big part of my consumption. I like to be aware of what is going on around me and free to air TV is a great outlet to use. Australian news programs often consumed in my household is “WIN news” and “the project”. Most Australian families like the cultural proximity of local news programs.

Growing up in the late ’90s and 2000’s free to air television was most Australians primary source of consumption Jonathan D. Levy article (1999) stated that “free to air television stations remain the most popular source of programming, even in pay-TV households.” This was true for the time this article was written; however, a lot has changed since then.

News programs like ‘the project’ are one of a kind, and I think that is why it is still a popular program for Free to air television. However, while programs like the project may be very engaging and produce great content, its audience is starting to diminish. Sadly, this is a common trend for Australian national television. The reasoning behind the fall in viewers is not because of the quality of Tv but its 2019 and today is just the beginning of global technology and video. There are many other forms to access specific programs such as 10play, 7plus etc. Australian networks not only broadcast live Tv and other programs but frequently post online for viewers to access them not only nationally but all of the world.

Emily Watkins and Glenn Dyer, March 29,2019 “crikey.com.au

As a teenager, a lot of my consumption was profoundly American based television. I loved shows such as laguna beach, the hills, and pretty little liars. I found that a lot of these American television shows were very relatable. Especially “Laguna Beach” and “The Hills” because they were reality tv shows and for a young girl easily influenced, it was comforting to see “real-life people” going through similar struggles and experiences.
For me, I still gravitate more towards American and Australian based television. This is primarily due to the cultural Proximity between Australian and American television programs.

I must admit I’m a sucker for Netflix and Stan these days. These programs are now so affordable and accessible that it is starting to become almost a staple in most family homes not only in Australia but globally.
Over the last decade, Netflix has grown and become incredibly successful across its global audience. “We are in the era of transnational TV” (Turnbull S). This streaming platform can connect us no matter where we are. Australian Netflix alone has had a 25.5% increase in paid subscriptions from 2018 to 2019, and that number is expected to rise again.

Reference list….

LEVY, J. (1999). Competition and Copyright: Retransmission of Free-to-Air Television Signals by Pay TV Services. Prometheus, 17(4), pp.387-403.

Watkins, E. and Dyer, G. (2019). The Project is one of Ten’s few winners, but who’s watching (and where)?. [online] Crikey. Available at: https://www.crikey.com.au/2019/03/29/the-project-is-one-of-tens-few-winners-but-whos-watching-and-where/ [Accessed 10 Aug. 2019].

Roy Morgan. (2019). Netflix surges beyond 11 million users in Australia. [online] Available at: http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/7912-netflix-foxtel-stan-youtube-amazon-february-2019-201903180631 [Accessed 12 Aug. 2019].

Numbers that speak….

My studio base project is the evolution of data visualisation in a A1 poster format. Over the last two weeks, our class has been focusing on the first two of seven stages of the design process; DEFINE and RESEARCH.

My initial idea for my poster was to convey information and statistics about American summer camps. The Information that I wanted to convey included; types of camps they offer ( boys camps, girls camps, co-ed camps, religious camps, etc.), what states do most of the campers come from, and what lengths of the camps are most popular, eg. 1 week through to 7 weeks.

After researching this chosen topic, I was unable to find enough data that was needed for the assessment.
I decided to change the idea to another interest of mine; the environment and sustainable living in Australia.

I’ve been looking into data for single-use plastics and recycling in Australia. I have found this task challenging to execute as when finding data, a lot of the information I have found is already displayed in beautiful tables and graphics. Whereas our task is to find the information in table format and just statistics.

After a lot of research, I stumbled across a goldmine of precisely what I was looking for. Now that I’ve found my data, I’m going to dig deeper in order to create a visual story through the information in my final poster.
The data that I have found has a lot of information on many different topics in regards to types of plastics being used over different states; and recycling rates in not only each state but in Australia as a whole.
I’m excited to see where my research takes me and the story that I will end up conveying in the A1 poster.

LEARNING THE PROGRAM….

I’ve currently learnt how to create graphs and import our researched data into Illustrator. Illustrator is a whole new ball game for me, as I have never used this program before. After a few attempts and watching some beneficial tutorial videos linked onto VCD102 Moodle, I started to get the hang of it and am feeling more confident.

examples that I made in Illustrator the listed tutorial videos on Moodle.

Being brand new to Illustrator this semester, Wes had recommended that I do some research and learn how to use the program and play catch up to learn the foundations of the program. Tools that have helped me have a better understanding of how to use Illustrator for this upcoming assessment task have been the tutorials that the illustrator program offer. There are many tutorial videos available in the program. You can find them under the “learn” tab. These tutorial videos have been beneficial, and I highly recommend anyone who is having difficulties with Illustrator to check it out.

REFERENCES……

-Povilaitis, V. (n.d.). camper enrollment report 2017. [online] Acacamps.org. Available at: https://www.acacamps.org/sites/default/files/resource_library/2017_CamperEnrollmentReport.pdf [Accessed 2 Aug. 2019].

O’Farrell, K. (2018). 2016–17 Australian Plastics Recycling Survey. [online] Environment.gov.au. Available at: https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/c8dd95af-c028-4b6e-9b23-153aecbf8c3c/files/australian-plastics-recycling-survey-report-2016-17.pdf [Accessed 7 Aug. 2019].

The skies the limit…

beautiful Camp Agawak for Girls, Minocqua, WI, USA
photo by @Lucybonfield

For the past couple of weeks i have been brainstorming like crazy thinking of what I would like to do for my Digital Artefact. I have come up with a few ideas but there is one in particular that I keep coming back to.

I’m not much of a writer, I enjoy writing but its definitely not my forte, so these blogs posts are putting me a little bit out of my comfort zone but I’m excited to give it a crack and see how I improve over the semester and remanding of my degree.

The ideas that I have come up with for my Digital Artefact are mainly based off some of my passions and interests, I love the outdoors and going on adventures, finding waterfalls, watching the sun go down, sky diving, paddle boarding, jet skiing etc. I worked at a summer camp in the States for four years so that is a BIG passion of mine. These interests are my foundation for all of the ideas that I have come up with for my DA.

IDEAS…..

Starting blog based on beautiful places of my home town Newcastle and on the south coast.
Starting a Podcast, interviewing camp counsellors about there experience ( how there experience shaped who they are and the lessons they learnt over there time at camp.
- going off the above point also starting a blog as well as the pod cast including written versions of the interview, tips and hacks for people wanting to become camp counsellors etc.
Vlog idea starting a youtube channel and doing a series of video montages of adventures I’ve gone on and will go on. capturing beautiful moments and beautiful places, inspiring the target audience to get outdoors and explore this beautiful world and country.

These are some of the ideas that I have come up with, if you have any thoughts on how I can improve my ideas or what you think about them leave a comment down below.

Thabnks for reading and remember, its free to be kind.

About.

My names is Lucy, and I’m 25 years old. I grew up in the coastal town of Newcastle Aus, surrounded by good people, the coast, and the creative arts scene. I’ve always loved to create since before I can remember. You would always find me, painting, drawing, or building things. I am in my third year at Deakin University studying a Bachelor of Communications (Advertising).

I am down to earth girl, smiley girl, who when I’m not at my desk, I’m at the beach with my dog. I love being spontaneous and adventuring in a national park, having a drink around a bonfire with friends and family, and heading to the ocean every day to unwind.

I hope you enjoy all my thoughts over this next few years of this degree. and i look forward to getting to know all of you.

Love Lucy x