COM 627 Reflection of Shudu

2018 is the rise of social media influencers; from Blogs to Facebook to Instagram, people (including myself) are obsessively following (maybe even borderline stalking) influencer’s social media presence.  I myself will admit I keep up with a few bloggers on many different platforms throughout the week.  What a lot of people might not realize is that some of these major social media influencers are not even real people.  People all over the world are following and deeply resonating with influencers who are figments of other peoples imagination, otherwise known as digital 3D rendering.

A great example of a digital 3D rendered influencer is Shudu, a black “supermodel” who was created by Cameron James Wilson, a famous fashion photographer in London.  Wilson’s supermodel creation Shudu was inspired by Barbie’s Princess of South Africa.  From personally exploring Shudu’s Instagram profile, it is very difficult to tell she is digitally rendered.  As of 7/27, Shudu has 130,000 followers and her bio claims she is the “World’s First Supermodel”.  Her photos are flawless and it seems that Shudu is posing for real runway pictures and events.

According to Huffington Post’s feature on Shudu, some believe that she is an “idealized image of a black woman created by a white man” (Brucculieri 2018).  Professor Pham from the Pratt institute believes Shudu is a digital example and result of “racial plagiarism”, since she believes people should be working with real black supermodels instead of creating virtual ones.

Personally, I believe the rise of digitally rendered influencers are going to over saturate the already over saturated social media influence realm.  Because social media is not a regulated industry, anyone can claim to be a “influencer” or even journalist.  The more digitally rendered models or influencers that are created, it is going to become more and more difficult to determine digital vs. reality.  Though Shudu does claim she is digital, there might be many influencers people are following today that are not real humans.

 

Here is the link about Shudu and other digital influencers!

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/some-instagram-influencers-not-real-people_us_5ac4ea12e4b063ce2e580ea5

Digital Communication Systems Assignment

1) Based on your experience with WordPress, what are your impressions with working with WordPress – the pros and cons? It started as a blogging platform but has evolved – should it still be relegated for small blogs, or do you see enterprise use?

At first, I had a hard time navigating WordPress.  I have never created or written blog content before, and had a hard time simply figuring out the website.  Since WordPress is not the easiest to follow for people who do not have much experience with blogging, I had to turn to a friend who majored in communications for undergrad.  She helped me create a simple design for my site that I was able to use for the first semester of the Comm@Syracyse program.  Personally, I believe word press is a helpful tool for beginner bloggers or for people need a creative outlet.  Enterprises and larger companies will most likely have better luck with a more sophisticated blogging site, especially if they have employees to help with coding and design.  Overall, WordPress has given me a great introduction to blogging, and how content is published for other people to see.

 

 

Week Ten: The Final Week

First semester almost done!  This week I finished my 7 page case study and class presentation on Uber.  Out of all of the papers and essays I have written throughout high school and undergrad, this had to be most interesting assignment yet.  I was able to find a plethora of scholarly and non-scholarly research on my topic that gave me enough facts and evidence to support my thesis.

This semester has been a huge adjustment; especially establishing time management skills that will allow me to continue to work full time while taking a full time graduate course load.  I am excited to see where this program takes me, especially when it comes to my future public relations courses.  This class alone has taught me to utilize social media platforms that I have never used before such as Twitter and WordPress.  I am very excited to continue my graduate work Syracuse University, and really look forward to what I will be able to accomplish once I have finished the Masters in Communications program.

Week 9: Starting My Case Study

This week I started writing my case study, specifically, on Uber.  This is the first time I have ever attempted to write a case study.  Being an anthropology major in undergrad, I am used to scientific writing with exact theories and analysis backed up by scientific evidence.  Writing this case study has not been easy so far, I feel as if I do not have enough data to support my argument, though that is not the case.

So far, the hardest part has been organizing my thoughts and opinions.  I have a plethora of research regarding Uber, Uber’s marketing strategies, customer reviews, etc, but so far I am having trouble focusing on one main argument.  I feel like I have too much information and research but will have a hard time narrowing down my thoughts.  This week I plan on narrowing down my main argument/thesis, and start to organize my thoughts into sections of the case study.  What I have enjoyed about writing this case study compared to other papers, is that I am able to include a wide range of sources, scholarly and non-scholarly.  In undergrad, all my sources had to be scholarly but with this paper, I am able to cite and reference blogs, charts, graphs, essays, and many other news resources.  This assignment has also given me a introduction of what writing is like in grad school, while learning how to balance working full time and two classes.

Week 8: Trends in Digital Journalism

This week we discussed the pros and cons of “citizen journalism”; the gathering and analysis of news from the general public, typically displayed on the internet.  Our discussion of citizen journalism got me thinking about my experiences of living in Washington DC, a major hub of citizen journalism.  Just by living in DC, citizen journalism is everywhere.  I am surrounded by some of the country’s most successful news networks, local and national newspapers, and many other media outlets.  Since living in DC gives more transparency to our government and how the country is run, I have friends and family members posting about current news and events with authority as if they are professional journalists.    Citizen journalism does provide fast and accessible ways to follow current events and remain updated in ones community, country, and even the world.  Citizen journalism is helping decrease the digital divide, while providing audiences with quick, up to date news.

Citizen journalism was very apparant during the Women’s March on DC.  My social media platforms were flooded with personal narratives and accounts of what the march was like, what happened at the march, and many political opinions.  Though citizen journalism is not entirely credible, it was comforting to read many personal accounts of the Women’s March since I was not able to attend.  It is also comforting to read “news” that is not censored nor influenced by a networks bias.  I believe that citizen journalism should be taken with a grain of salt, but also continue to grow, so as readers and viewers, we have access to the right facts and stories.

Week 7: Big Data

So far, this week has been my favorite top of discussion; big data.  During our class discussions, we brainstormed different media categories, and how they use big data.  Our big data conversation really made me think of my job, and how I use big data for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.  Working in graduate admissions, big data is the framework of my day to day basis, especially since college and graduate school applications are all digital.  I use big data to create my graduate admissions presentations, work with perspective students, organize and handle current applications, and present webinars and student roundtables.  If it was not for big data, it would make my job almost impossible.

Another interesting topic we discussed is big data in the fitness world, specifically the digital fitness world.  Many of my friends utilize social media such as Instagram and Snapchat to track their weight loss progress and keep themselves accountable.  I specifically use Nike Run and Map My Run to track my fitness progress.  After this class discussion, I realized that I use big data almost every hour of the day I am awake.  What is big data going to be like in my life 5 years from now?

 

Week 5: Half Way Through

Week five, just about half way through my first semester of Syracuse’s Communications program.  It has been a huge adjustment getting used to working full time and taking on the course load of two classes.  Before I started classes I thought it would be a piece of cake;  I  used to take 15-18 credits in college while working part time.  I did not take into account how exhausted I would be just from going to work all day then making time to see friends, study, work out, etc.  Procrastination has been my biggest struggle;  not leaving assignments to the very last minute and not rushing to get my a-synch videos watched.  After this midterm, my goal to finish up the semester is to dedicate certain days of the week after work to homework nights; to ensure that I get quality assignments in on time, while creating a schedule that works for my study habits.

Week Four: Media; Blessing or a Curse?

This week in class, we went through each others digital consumption diaries to reflect upon how connected we are during the day.  Unforuntaely, I was on the higher end of the digital media spectrum; mainly, since I have to use a certain software at my job for eight hours a day.  When I got to class, I thought that everyone would be as connected as I would.  After class I started brainstorming ways that I can decrease my digital media.  Do I need to watch Netflix while getting read for work?  Do I need to have my Alexa on all the time?  Do I always have to use my GPS?  After class I was slightly disgusted with my 15 hours of digital media use in one day.

This week’s assignment also made me reflect upon how I have changed since using so many different platforms of digital media.  I find myself constantly on my phone, tablet, or computer, scrolling through the same feeds.  Most of the time I do not even retain what I am looking at.  Do I need to scroll through Facebook and Instagram every hour?  I also found that digital media has negatively effected my relationships with friends and significant others.  If I do not get a text back right away I find myself getting angry at annoyed at the other person, thinking to myself, “I know this person has their phone on them”.  Also, my friends with conversations are mainly revolved around digital media, “Why has he not texted me back yet?”  “Can you analyze this text/email for me?”.  It will be interesting to see how connected we are to digital media in the next year or two.

Week 3: Social Media Presentations

This week we focused on very unique social media platforms; many of which I have never heard of, such as tapped and mod sims.  I came to class thinking I found a pretty unique social media platform (flikr), but I had the mainstream one!  Out of everyones social media presentations I recognized two of them, including my own.  This week’s live session made me think of my own social media use and how I feel behind in the digital age.  After class I went through my phone and counted the amount of apps I use on a regular basis; 6-7 main-steam apps such as Instagram, snap chat, etc.  I then asked my roommates to count the amount of apps they use on a regular basis; both of them counted over 12.  Am I behind in this digital age?  Should I know more social media platforms?  Am I not keeping up with the digital times like my so called “millennial” generation should be?

Week 2: Reflection of the Internet

In class this week we discussed the internet; how it came to be, who owns/controls it, and who should be able to control/own it.  This class discussion really made me think; I really do not know much about the internet!  I know how to use, how to post things, watch videos, use different urls, etc, but really the basics of it.  Learning about the history of the internet also made me think, where is the internet going to be when my kids are using it?

Growing up in a technological age I was introduced to the internet very young, but in a dial up way.  What is the internet going to be like in twenty years?  Are we able too access internet at light speed?  Is the internet going to be everywhere, I.e wifi access anywhere in the world?  In 20 years I imagine my generation laughing about wifi access.  I imagine planet earth being in one giant internet bubble, not having to ask “what is your wifi password” immediately upon arrival at a  friends houses.  The internet is a constantly changing community, I wonder what it will be like when my kids are taking “Intro into Digital Communications” at Syracuse.