Critical reflection:
I chose to base my module two assessment on the online dating component of the unit. Specifically, I was interested in the way that online dating has evolved from a stigmatised act to an accepted and normal phenomenon. To convey this, I decided to do a 'vlog' style speech and weave relevant material in and out of the video to break it up and keep it [hopefully] interesting for the viewer. The creative aspect of my video included recording someone Googling and clicking on the webpage for eHarmony, as well as another clip of a person toggling with the Tinder app on their phone. As neither of these people were visually identified in the video, I felt that there would be no need to obtain official written consent. I incorporated small clips from eHarmony and match.com's YouTube adverts in order to give a certain part of my speech context. After researching the 'fair use' law based on YouTube's own rules, I came to the conclusion that as it was for not-for-profit and educational purposes, it should be okay for me to use these short clips. I also decided to download screen-capture software and record my screen as I was signing up for match.com. This meant that the viewer can see me filling out details that the site prompts you for, and choosing interests and hobbies that go towards determining who ones 'matches' are. I also included screenshots I took of the front pages of online dating websites to use when breaking up large amounts of speech, such as at the start of the video.
In order to gain scholarly resources for this assignment, I based my topic off the prescribed reading 'Shopping for love: online dating and the making of a cyber culture of romance' by Sophia DeMasi. I found this reading very helpful as it provided a great foundation for how online dating has become destigmatised over the past decade in particular. Using that reading as a starting point, I looked for resources that would further my discussion about the types of factors that influenced the rise in popularity of internet dating. Thus, the findings of Stephure et. al. in 'Internet initiated relationships' and Valkenburg and Peter's 'Who Visits Online Dating Sites?' helped me further my discussion as they provided many facts, figures and insightful theories into the demographic, characteristic, social and economical changes that online dating went through since the start of the 'web 2.0' era.
While this assignment was enjoyable to create overall due to its use of digital media, there were certain factors that challenged me along the way. As I had never edited a video in this way before- with my audio track continuing on behind other clips- I had to learn how to use the iMovie software in a way I had never experienced. Moreover, although this may sound simple, I found that trying to talk to a camera without looking down too often at my notes was difficult, as was attempting to speak clearly and not too fast. Perhaps my biggest struggle though is the emails I now get from match.com as a result of my mock-sign up in the screen recording.
Overall, my aim for the video was to quickly and clearly explain the way that attitudes towards online dating have drastically changed since the concept was first introduced over a decade ago.
REFERENCES-
DeMasi, S 2011, ‘Shopping for love: online dating and the making of a cyber
culture of romance’, in Seidman, S and Meeks, C (eds.), Introducing the New
Sexuality Studies, Routledge, Abingdon and New York, pp. 206-1, accessed September 9, <http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy-f.deakin.edu.au/eds/detail/detail?vid=5&sid=6fa81262-93ef-4db7-a8a2-16231e8e3495%40sessionmgr111&hid=115&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=cat00097a&AN=deakin.b2545033>
Stephure, R, Boon, S, MacKinnon, S, & Deveau, V 2009, 'Internet Initiated Relationships: Associations Between Age and Involvement in Online Dating',Journal Of Computer-Mediated Communication, 14, 3, pp. 658-681, Communication & Mass Media Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 11 September 2014, <http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy-f.deakin.edu.au/eds/detail/detail?vid=7&sid=6fa81262-93ef-4db7-a8a2-16231e8e3495%40sessionmgr111&hid=115&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=ufh&AN=43227511>
Valkenburg, P, & Peter, J 2007, 'Who Visits Online Dating Sites? Exploring Some Characteristics of Online Daters', Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 10, 6, pp. 849-852, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 13 September 2014 <http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy-f.deakin.edu.au/eds/detail/detail?vid=10&sid=6fa81262-93ef-4db7-a8a2-16231e8e3495%40sessionmgr111&hid=115&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=bth&AN=27949158>
