alt.media : Create to Engage

Today I presented an Open Media/Creative Activism seminar at the University of Coventry. It was great to finally meet the team behind some of the most intriguing and innovative open courses in the UK, including #phonar, #creativeact, and #picbod.

Here are the slides/abstract for the talk:

alt.media : Create to Engage from Helen Keegan

ABSTRACT: “I will describe the use of alt.media to create learning experiences for undergraduate and postgraduate cohorts in a transdisciplinary context. Exploring themes around identity, creativity, engagement, remix culture, spreadable media and curiosity, I will present a series of projects which centre on open educational practices where formal education and informal learning practices collide, subverting traditional methods through folk creativity, identity play, performance and transmedia intertextuality. Following Jenkins et. al. (2013) in their critique of the notion of ‘virality’, and developing ideas around ‘spreadability’, I will highlight our use and exploration of memes and remix culture through open production practices and crowdsourced research. I will also present an experiment in Alternate Reality Gaming to introduce mystery and intrigue into the curriculum, raising questions around produsage, identity play, and hoaxes online. Through highlighting a range of practices, many of which resonate strongly with open media and creative activism, I will encourage participants to consider everyday creativity, audience engagement and media production, consumption and critique.”

Thanks to everybody for coming along, and also to Dave Kernohan (JISC) for making the initial introductions last year. It’s always a pleasure to connect with kindred spirits in an increasingly chaotic space – and we’re already thinking about ways to connect Coventry/Salford students for some creative excursions into digital cultures… should be fun!