Reflection of final project

For this project, because we had more time, we were able to spread the workload out more compared to the video project. Before Thanksgiving break, we got together to figure out what type of new media we were going to use for the project. Originally, we were going to do a podcast, as well as a pamphlet to go along with the podcast. However, the idea for the pamphlet got scratched because we found that we were not really critiquing Bahktin and Austin’s ideas. Therefore we decided to do more of a conversation podcast that brings up questions about how both Bahktin and Austin’s theories relate to new media like the internet. This was important because Bahktin and Austin’s theories are about language genres and performative utterances, and how these are captured and varied in everyday language dependent on the people and situations that arise. So over Thanksgiving break Lauren wrote a good chunk of the podcast because she felt like she had a better understanding of the theory because she had taken a class that addressed Bahktin; and when we got into class on Tuesday we finished writing the Austin part and the actual critique of the theories. When we recorded Tuesday night, we had a major problem of time. The podcast had run into eight minutes, which was a full minute over the time frame of six to seven minutes. Cutting was probably the most difficult aspect of this because the theory is so complex, explanations and examples are crucial for understanding the theory. We ended up shortening sentences, taking out any unnecessary jargon, and even cut out a whole paragraph that was an example of speech genre. To me, this was not that big of a deal because later in the next paragraph we go through another example. After doing the initial podcast, the editing aspect of this project was not very difficult. We added sound effects to emphasize points and also to make it not sound as if we were just talking the entire time. I think having the timeline was effective in that it gave us a good idea as to how much time we had before the project was due, and so we were not rushing at the last minute to get things done. We ended up recording on Lauren’s computer, which made it easier to record and make edits in a quiet area where there would not be a lot of disturbance. Overall, I think this was a good project in regards to having us really analyze theory as well as apply it to modern technologies. I wish the time limit had been a bit more liberal, because it was difficult to get in everything we had to say; but having to edit and look at the larger picture of what you wanted to convey to your audience was part of why the time limit for this project was enacted. This time limit did hinder our ability to discuss the theory thoroughly as well as critique it to the extent that we had originally intended to.