Narrative music: towards an understanding of musical narrative functions in multimedia

As the computer screen is replacing the book as the dominant medium for communication (Kress, 2003), questions about how meaning is constituted by the multimodal interaction of different media (including music) is becoming increasingly important in contemporary research of pedagogy, sociology and media studies. The overall aim with this licentiate thesis is to explore musical narrative functions as they appear in multimedia such as film and computer games. The thesis is based on three publications. Publication 1 proposes a classification of musical narrative functions, with 6 narrative classes(the Emotive, Informative, Descriptive, Guiding, Temporal and Rhetorical classes) and 11 categories. The relational interplay of music with contextual factors is emphasized. Publication 2 describes the design of a software tool, REMUPP (Relations Between Musical Parameters and Perceived Properties), to be used for experimental studies of musical expression. REMUPP is used for real time alteration of musical expression, by the manipulation of musical parameters such as tempo, harmony, rhythm, articulation, etc. Publication 3 describes a quasi-experiment using REMUPP, where a group of young participants (12-13 years old) were given the task of adapting musical expression – by manipulating 7 parameters – to make it fit 3 visual scenes shown on a computer screen. They also answered a questionnaire asking about their musical backgrounds and habits of listening to music, watching movies and playing computer games. Numerical data from the manipulations were analyzed statistically with regards to the preferred values of the musical parameters in relation to the different visual scenes. The results indicated awareness and knowledge about codes and conventions of musical narrative functions, and were to some degree affected by the participants’ gender, musical backgrounds and media habits

What Keeps Social Documentaries from Audiences -- And How to Fix It

Offers an analysis and set of recommendations on how to improve today's market for social documentaries and make them far more accessible to people who want to use them

Multimedia Technologies and Virtual Organizing of Learning

This paper addresses the issue of what are the efficient uses of multimedia technologies in teaching processes, and what are the conditions that require these technologies in online learning. The background of this paper is made by exploring online master programs, given the burgeoning interest of this emerging phenomenon of the future of distance learning. Rigorous analysis and careful measurement of communication required were covered by empirical data. This analysis is to provide an early window into several communications processes and tasks that occur in virtual context of learning, using multimedia technologies.multimedia technologies, virtual organization, online learning, communication, effectiveness of learning

The Industry and the Unions: An Overview

[Excerpt] This overview chapter provides a framework for the chapters that follow by broadly describing the arts, entertainment, and electronic media (AEEM) industry and the problems confronting it. The overview is presented in four sections focused on: first, the economic structure of the industry; second, unions and bargaining structure; third, the impact of technological changes; and fourth, historical responses on the part of unions and the labor relations system to technological change

High definition systems in Japan

The successful implementation of a strategy to produce high-definition systems within the Japanese economy will favorably affect the fundamental competitiveness of Japan relative to the rest of the world. The development of an infrastructure necessary to support high-definition products and systems in that country involves major commitments of engineering resources, plants and equipment, educational programs and funding. The results of these efforts appear to affect virtually every aspect of the Japanese industrial complex. The results of assessments of the current progress of Japan toward the development of high-definition products and systems are presented. The assessments are based on the findings of a panel of U.S. experts made up of individuals from U.S. academia and industry, and derived from a study of the Japanese literature combined with visits to the primary relevant industrial laboratories and development agencies in Japan. Specific coverage includes an evaluation of progress in R&D for high-definition television (HDTV) displays that are evolving in Japan; high-definition standards and equipment development; Japanese intentions for the use of HDTV; economic evaluation of Japan's public policy initiatives in support of high-definition systems; management analysis of Japan's strategy of leverage with respect to high-definition products and systems

BECOMING A GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE PLAYER: THE CASE OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IN JAMAICA

This paper uses the NSI approach to examine the prospects for industrial development in Jamaica, a small middle-income developing country. It argues that the present state of the Jamaican NSI is not adequately developed to provide the necessary support to ensure that one of its key emerging industries – the music sector – becomes competitive on global markets. It suggests various policy options aimed at industrial upgrading and better integration with those markets. The type of applied research presented here is highly original and speaks to a wider audience, as it represents a novel attempt to operationalize the concept of NSI in a developing country context, with particular reference to the music and entertainment sector, which is not traditionally treated in the NSI context. This sector, however, has been selected as one of the leading emerging sectors for the Jamaican economy identified in its national industrial policy.

Smart TVs: the new age of television and advertising

A televisão teve, ao longo de toda a sua história, um papel preponderante na cultura e economia mundiais. A sua importância reside no seu potencial enquanto veículo de informação e entretenimento, mas também de promoção para as marcas, que foi, aliás, a sua principal fonte de receita ao longo dos anos. Com o lançamento das Smart TVs, a publicidade na televisão sofrerá uma grande revolução graças à união entre TV e internet, criando um novo mundo de inovação e tecnologia para o qual este estudo abre as primeiras portas. O estudo é constituído por uma revisão histórica e literária, seguida da elaboração de um estudo exploratório qualitativo a 12 especialistas internacionais da indústria da publicidade e da televisão. Dessa pesquisa concluiu-se que uma grande mudança irá acontecer, mas de forma gradual e progressiva, alterando-se alguns dos principais paradigmas atuais da publicidade na televisão tais como a capacidade de avaliação de resultados e a segmentação. Posteriormente concluiu-se que a futura publicidade na televisão fará uso de aparelhos complementares à TV para melhorar a experiência e impacto no utilizador. Privilegiará também a componente social e interativa da publicidade, assim como a personalização dos conteúdos provenientes de ligações on-air e online. Finalmente concluiu-se que alguns dos principais papéis dos elementos da indústria irão mudar sendo os anunciantes e os canais de televisão os menos afetados, ao contrário das agências que terão forte necessidade de adaptação e dos produtores de TV que sairão fortalecidos graças à oferta de soluções publicitárias para as marcas.Television had, throughout its history, a leading role in the world economy and culture. Its importance lies in its potential as a vehicle of information and entertainment, but also of promotion for brands, which was its main source of income over the years. With the launch of Smart TVs, advertising on television will suffer a great revolution thanks to the merger between TV and the internet, creating a whole new world of innovation and technology for which this study opens the first doors. The study consists in a historic and literary review, followed by the elaboration of an exploratory qualitative research to 12 international experts from the industry of TV and advertising. This study concluded that a big change will gradually and progressively happen, by changing some of the major current paradigms of advertising on television such as the results measurement and targeting capacity. Later it was concluded that the future TV advertising will make use of complementary devices others than TV, to enhance the audiences’ impact and experience. The social and interactive component of advertising will be valued, as well as the customization of content coming out of on-air and online connections. Finally it was concluded that some of the main roles of the elements of the industry will change being advertisers and broadcasters the least affected, unlike agencies that will have strong need of adaptation, and TV producers who will be strengthened through the delivery of advertising solutions for brands