Express More

Place the camera in the hands of...

Deborah Scranton is an amazing woman. She is responsible for creating the award winning documentary 'The War Tapes'. I found out about her work via TED.

Deborah gives US soldiers in Iraq a voice - in an unusual way. She didn't go to Iraq herself and conducting interviews and recording footage. No. Instead she puts cameras in the hands of a unit of the National Guard for a year. The footage is powerful by virtue of the fact it's raw. It's honest. It's said as it is. No questions asked.

It's remarkable to observe the stark difference between the footage I see on news programmes recorded by journalists (the outsider perspective) versus the scenes I watched as part of Deborah's presentation at TED. Whether you agree with the war or not, The War Tapes gives a rare insight into the psyche of a soldier at the frontline - from the perspective of the soldier.

A powerful research technique that uses technology to allow people to tell their own stories. I would if other industries and companies could learn a lot from this e.g. place the camera in the hands of a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy for a year. What could that tell us?

Truly inspiring work. Worth watching if you can spare 17:48 mins to listen to Deborah - a woman clearly moved by what she discovered.

Self exposure: the new self expression?

The Future Exploration Network published a report in July 2006 about the future of media. In it they produced a strategic framework illustrating the symbiotic relationship between mainstream media and social media i.e. they feed off one another. Here's the diagram (click on it to see a larger version).

They describe the key features of social media as conversation, relationships, annotation (i.e. commenting and referencing existing ideas) and self-exposure. Self exposure is defined as:

'...a more powerful driver of social media than self-expression. The exhibitionalism and associated voyeurism of blogs and social networks are a key factor driving participation'

I'm not 100% sure that I agree that blogging is a voyeuristic pursuit. I blog as a form of self expression. I enjoy writing and sharing ideas and being challenged and for me, this blog provides that opportunity. It's more about me putting it out there than wanting others to watch and admire. 

Arguably some forms of social media are more about exhibitionism - the videos on YouTube being a prime example. I read in The Australian today that Justin Timberlake's record label Tennmen Records has signed Esmee Denters after seeing her performance on YouTube. I bet the 18 year old didn't envisage Justin signing her up!

Humility

I'm just watching the Bill G and Steve Jobs interview at D5. Bill and Steve ooze humility. I just love it. Watch them describe each other's contributions to the industry. It's interesting how the media create this perception of rivalry and war. It's not a zero sum game. It's not a case of win lose anymore. They seem to have a genuine respect for one another.

Fire and Ice

An interesting concept. It's actually Steve Jobs analogy for the iTunes experience on Windows. He commented;

'It's like giving a glass of iced water to someone in hell'

This guy is smart. That was his reaction to a question about Apple developing Windows software at the D5: All Things Digital conference currently going on in San Diego. I watched the Steve Jobs interview here. What strikes me most about Mr Jobs is that he's passionate, relaxed and confident. He clearly loves what he does. Nothing seems to phase him.

He's realistic. He wants to dispel the notion that iTunes is something that locks people into iPod. He says 'it's ridiculous'. He's realistic about the fact that the average iPod has less than 25 iTunes songs. Apple clearly is a company that wants to democratise technology. In my opinion Apple products are enablers. They enable me to express myself and I customise them to express my identity. I'm proud to be seen bearing the Apple logo. That's clever stuff. And what's even more clever is that this is a company that has had to re-invent itself, something considerably more difficult than inventing yourself.

As Hugh MacLeod comments in 'The Hughtrain';

'Product benefit doesn't excite us. Belief in humanity and human potential excite us'

To me, that's what Steve Jobs personifies. As Hugh comments, and I agree, branding is a spiritual exercise. What I own is my soul. No-one can take that away from me. It's soul that informs the brand.

Blown

Has this guy got too much time? Justin Callaway was recently so frustrated with Cingular he went to these lengths to express himself (watch the video - the pathos is hilarious and heightened by the violin). Gone are the days of writing a letter to a company to explain one's frustration. Now the whole world gets to know about it. I really admire Justin's creative expression.

I think the singing is probably a reflection of Justin's pain at having his speaker blow up. I find that noise my phone makes when near a speaker so utterly frustrating...even more so if it blew up the speaker. Thank goodness Justin did this...my phone is staying well away from speakers.

A Jelly Baby

Expression. A word I sat here pondering on a Tuesday afternoon. Expression works at so many different levels. I was thinking about the difference between individual and a group expression.

Personally, until recent years I didn't know how to express emotions and feelings. The only thing I knew how to do was bury them. Deep. So deep that I didn't know they were there. I turned into a walking talking jelly baby.

The irony being that I was an anorexic jelly baby. Like a jelly baby I was pretty shapeless, plain and without words. Numb when by head was bitten off. Like a jelly baby I made myself attractive to others. On the outside my life looked good, inside I was mush. Personal expression is something I think is really important for emotional health. I wonder how many people can really express themselves and articulate what's going on? Can men share emotions without being accused of being gay? I look around at the number of ads with macho men. What sort of standard is being promoted?

Health is getting rising coverage especially with the awareness around obesity and the radical change to McDonalds menu. I must say the new rolls they've released look pretty good. But what about emotional health? Does that get overlooked in capitalist western society?

That's why I love the use of blogs as a media to express myself with other people. The same goes for the little emoticon and display images Express More creates. I change my display picture in MSN Messenger (I should say 'Windows Live Messenger') every week. That's just one form of expression - my clothes have always been another. Even at the age of 13 I'd wear crazy Lacroix trousers.

To me blogs aren't about saying 'look at me'. This blog is a personal reaction to the things I observe around me. And then this question pops into my mind. Can I really express myself without feeling judged? I think that might be related to self-confidence and honesty. That's what this blog is. Candidly honest thoughts from the jotter of an unconventional blonde.

free fall commenting

David Taylor, the brand coach behind 'Where's the Sausage?'  says it how it is on his post about 'commenting virginity'. As the conversation on this blog is all about 'expression' it would be deeply ironic if no-one commented.

As my gorgeous friend Jeanie Bergin taught me 'there's no right and wrong; there's only right and left'. It's kind of scary to say anything you like about the conversation on this blog but please do. That's the fun part. Not knowing where the conversation will go. Embrace the unknown, don't fear it. Free fall with your comments.