Second Take--We Bang Steinways

"We Bang Steinways" is an online Facebook group that I have been a part of for several years. I first wrote about the group here and concluded that it was a community. Not only can people from all over the world at different talent levels speak to each other, but members can discuss about technical levels and promote their own performances and work. The "We Bang Steinways" group can offer discussion opportunities while providing a support system to members.

For example, people can post links of Youtube videos and discuss about various performances or help inspire others by what a member deems as exceptional playing. One video that has been posted to inspire pianists or provoke fury against prodigies is shown below. A 9 year old is playing a difficult etude by Chopin, in which the two weakest finger combinations must be played repeatedly in quick rhythms.



In another case, a pianist posts an event for the whole community to see. He is debuting at the prestigious Carnegie Hall.



Lastly, a "We Bang Steinways" member posts a video to prepare for her competitions. Feedback can be given back, and people can enjoy her rendition of Bach's "Fantasia."

http://www.facebook.com/video/?oid=2204722457#/video/video.php?v=934694273043&oid=2204722457

Thus, "We Bang Steinways" provides opportunities for people to discuss about the world of piano while sharing information across the globe. This information is not limited to words, and many members choose to contact each other through posters, images, and/or videos. The community is multi-modal and provides a support system to all of its members.

Works Cited
We Bang Steinways!. N/A. Facebook. 22 Nov 2009 .

Comparison of the English 1101 Final Project and McGonigal's Description of Flash Mobs

The final project and flash mobs are similar in organization and the overall purpose. According to McGonigal, flash mobs are a gathering of people that perform events that seem random. However, these flash mobs are extremely organized through various communication methods (mainly through cyberspace) and typically with a given leader(s). Flash mobs attempt to 1) prove a point, 2) make a change, and 3) be accessible to a wide audience.The video below is a good example of a flash mob, showing how organized the event is and what happens during a flash mob.



The final project of group 2 is to redesign the east side of the Georgia Tech campus (area of redesign can be seen in the picture below).

The project is extremely organized with the help of a leader. The IRON program and email are the primary methods of communication and transferring data to each other. The purpose of the project is to 1)prove how these changes will benefit Georgia Tech, 2) change the living dynamics of the freshman for the better, and 3) be accessible to everyone by making a website.

Thus, flash mobs and are project does directly relate through overall concepts and thinking. They both aim to educate and inspire a mass audience. In order to be effective, a large amount of time and effort need to be supplied. This can only be done through heavy organization with leaders, and typically, the members will be able to follow and understand what is going on through online communication efforts. Both these projects hope to benefit people.

Works Cited

McGonigal, Jane. "SuperGaming: Ubiquitous Play and Performance for Massively Scaled Community." Modern Drama 48.3 (2005): 471-490. Online print.

"OFFICIAL Michael Jackson Flashmob Dance Tribute Amsterdam." 21 Jul 2009. Online Video Clip. Youtube. Accessed on 15 Nov 2009. .

Steiner, Caleb. "Google Earth Selection-Final Project." Google Satellite, 2009. Online Image.

Project Runway Online Groups: A Fashion Cybersubculture

In the world of fashion and reality shows, Project Runway is any fashionista's dream to watch. The show is hosted by Heidi Klum, and appearances by a myriad of fashion celebrities allows the viewer to have a feeling of some sense of fashion credibility. The show's concept is take emerging designers, propel them on national television, and make it a fashion competition.


Since Project Runway's first show, these heavily pronounced gay men, Tom and Lorenzo, have started a blog Project Rungay, which plays on the show's name. The blog is mainly about Project Runway and have since dabbed into other fashion realms.

Due to the show's popularity and the witty comments about each Project Runway episode, Tom and Lorenzo's postmodern blog has a huge following. Hundreds of comments are made about a contestant's dress, whether hideous or pleasing. Perhaps a prime example of this is from the first episode of Project Runway, when one of the contestants (Austin Scarlett) made a dress out of corn husks. The execution was exemplary, and people raved about the dress.

The blog brings many people of various backgrounds to one place in order to talk about the love of fashion and the show. It provides a foundation for people to come together and form a cybersubculture about Project Runway. Basing off of personal experience and comments made after each post, these commentators come from different backgrounds: racially, location, socioeconomic status, education, et cetera. We all love Project Runway, and a valid comment from an average-working American is no different from a valid comment offered by an anonymous fashion stylist.

Lastly, this group of Project Runway enthusiasts if a prime example of a postmodern community. Bell would characterize this group as a fan culture because of the large following of people who would characterize themselves as fashion fans. People come to this group to follow their interests in a virtual realm. Since not every person in the face-to-face community is a Project Runway viewer/fan, the Project Rungay blog is the next best thing. This emptiness in real life from not having a fan to talk to is fulfilled by commentators online. This void that ceases to exist through the group is an experience that Delanty describes. The group is propelled by interests.

In addition, your neighbors will probably not be as hilarious as Tom and Lorenzo and even be celebrated by the New York Times, The Boston Tribune, or The Chicago Tribune. Plus, the blog helps a viewer relive the TV moment the next morning when reading the blog, and laughs can arise, such as the from the "Drag Queen" episode.



Or the moment can be relived through an image of a wonderful entry made out of plants.


Works Cited
Bell. "Cybersubculture." An Introduction to Cybercultures. N/A.

Delanty. "Postermodern Community: Community Beyond Unity." The Idea of Communication Communities. N/A.

Tom and Lorenzo. Project Rungay. Project Rungay, 2006. Web. 8 Nov 2009.