Reflection

An ethnographic study of an online community was an interesting experience.  I felt weird studying an online community because it is something so current and accessable that it was hard to wrap my head around the idea of 'researching it.'  However, looking critically at the time and trends you are amongst is critical to functioning in society.  

I must say, I am completely sick of the community I am studying.  It is not longer exciting with new information popping out at you- it is like a final I just finished and I don't want to go back to class for a LONG summer!

I feel attached to my community because I have been interacting with them so much lately.  Online communities truly give people a sense of locality that they may not be able to find immediately in the physical world.

My community was global, and I did feel a sense of disembodiment.  It seemed like everyone was just like me, but in reality they are from Romania to South Africa to Russia to anywhere is Europe and the US.  Their cultures and lifestyles are different then mine.  However, everyone bonded on a common ground, which can't be a bad thing.

Title Page Requirements

Kendra Zager

Artists Online: Modes of Control and Copyright

Paintings I Love

http://www.paintingsilove.com/

Digital Hub

http://paintingsilove.blogspot.com/

Online Elements

·         Quiz

·         Scribd – Embedded Research Paper

·         Link Lists for Web Sites and Articles

·         You Tube Video Scroll displaying a user’s art videos

            (Also embedded onto blog)

My Research Paper

J676 Research Paper

   Publish at Scribd or explore others:            School Work              Essays & Theses              Other              Magazines & Newspape              Books                  research              paper      

Italia's Videos

One of the artists on PIL made Youtube Videos.  One details her portfolio and one is a slideshow of sorts of the development of her painting, The Perfect Doll Fake Chinese.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c6E7Hd7dGE&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYI9Y4JJvxI&feature=channel 

Comments/ Interactivity

The Web site functions as a portfolio for artists to showcase their work.  Artists are able to gain exposure by interacting with other artists.

What I've found is that the more you comment and interact, the more people interact with you.  Since you can view what artists are 'online now' on every page you visit, interacting with the artists online generates the most feedback.

For instance, I commented on a picture for an artist online now.  He 'replied' to my comment "Thank you" with in 5 minutes.  From there, he must have clicked on my name (to the left of my comment) because he commented on one of my pictures one minute after he wrote "Thank you."

It is common for artists to respond to people's comments on their pictures. I was wondering how ethical this is because it raises their comments, thus raising their picture's popularity on the site, which gives it more exposure.  However, I determined that it is ethical to respond to other artists' comments on your page because it promotes humility, conversation and strengthens connections amongst users.

I have found that artists who are not of high caliber or who disobey the Terms of Service are filtered through participation.  There are no comments (or very few) on the artists' pictures who disobey the Terms, such as photographers.  Photography is not allowed on this site because the Terms say that their are other Web sites for sharing photography.  These seem to be the only pictures who get below 3 stars, accompanied usually by no comments.  I think this is the other artists way of gently telling them they are not welcome with open arms.

Comments/ Modes of Control

Comments are how artists interact with each other on PIL.  You must vote for 5 pictures before you are able to make comments.

Norms- The atmosphere on PIL is supportive and generous.  Artists online give positive feedback on each others work and rarely I see constructive criticism on artworks or ideas on how to improve an artist's next painting.

Sometimes artists will put up a half finished piece and ask the community for suggestions.  The artists who do this are very successful in getting feedback because they are continuously active members in the site.  The active members who seem to be online almost everyday, develop 'friendships' with one another.  These online friendships are built through support and interactive constructive criticism.

The comments are regulated by the administrator.  In the terms of service it outlines the rules for comments, you cannot use excessive capitol letters ("don't yell), excessive asterisks or exclamation marks, or obscenity.  The post comment button instantly censors the comments with excessive * and !.  

In my comments I've tried to add approximately 20 asterisks and exclamation marks to my comments and it automatically cut the number down to 6 each.  If you post a comment in all capitol letters the Web site automatically filters it to all lower case when you publish it.

That said, I was surprised when I posted a comment to a Romanian artist and I received this e-mail:

THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I ALSO CALL IT RETAIL BURN OUT. I HAVE WORKED IN RETAIL OVER 20 YEARS.

As Outlined in the terms of service, I did feel "yelled at." Although I was not offended because her email was nice and related to the comment I had made about her painting titled, "Burnt Out."

I tested obscenity on the Web site too. The f-word is not filtered right away when you comment on a painting.  So when I posted "I f***ing love this painting," I personally took it down.

I think people self censor themselves because the administrator gives himself full freedom to remove and censor anything on the site with out notice.  People on the website are also trying to share their artwork, or make a career for themselves in the art world.  Therefore there the atmosphere is respectful and somewhat professional.  Many people engage in artistic dialogue and, as the German artist told me, in depth art conversation via email.