Entertaining Ideas Heather Paige Preston Department of Communication Entertaining Ideas Appalachian State University AEJMC Entertainment Studies Interest Group • Spring Newsletter • Vol. 7, No. 1 ASU Box 32039 Boone NC 28608-2039 ESIG Looks To 2007 Conference, Beyond By Ron Leone ESIG Head With the December planning the idea was floated out as one that discussed at the Council of Divi- meeting in our rearview mirror (see other divisions and interest groups sions meeting. I hope it continues John Chapin’s report about our should consider for a number of under John’s guidance after I step successful programming efforts), reasons. First, it helps with the down later this year. we now look to the future and our actual job of planning the confer- I mention this now because it’s plans for the 2007 conference in ence. Second, it gives the person not too early to start thinking about Washington, D.C., and beyond. who’ll be in charge of making participating in ESIG’s leadership. This year marks the begin- deals next year a taste of what it’s It’s a great interest group represent- ning of electronic submissions for like. The final reason discussed ing a broad range of researchers, SecondLife from page 2 all AEJMC divisions and interest was that it promotes continuity in topics and methodologies. So, if acters in Mystery Science Theatre. Web site (http://www.secondlife. Retrieved online January 22, 2007 groups through a dedicated Web leadership. you’re thinking about running for a There’s more than one Irish pub com). from http://www.bigbrothersecon- site. While we expect some bugs At that time I was a bit skep- chair position, consider ESIG. and everyone dances the perfect Many resources exsist to help dlife.com/ that will need working out, it will tical, because I felt three people Finally, much information jig. Virtual people throw parties educators get started and be active. streamline the paper submission were too many to have at the meet- related to electronic submissions for Mardi Gras and Halloween. Or Linden Lab makes available what MMORPG Chart. MMOG Active and review processes, something ing, and the position required a will most likely be disseminated they can sit in Fred Flintstone’s it calls “Campus: SecondLife with Subscriptions. Retrieved Online from which we’ll all benefit. three-year commitment beyond be- through the listserv. If you haven’t car at the drive-in in Bedrock and a wiki” for updated information at January 25, 2007 from http://www. On a related note, we also need ing research, PF&R and/or teach- signed up, I’m including instruc- watch out-of-copyright cartoons. http://secondlife.com/csl. A mail- mmogchart.com/Chart1.html as many judges as possible. And, ing chair. But, now that it’s been tions, courtesy of Carole Bell, Third, instructors can create ing list for educators using Secon- while we know many people are six months since ESIG elected again: their own entertainment experi- dLife (SLED) is also available; it Sege, Irene. (2007, January 20). already referees for other divisions, Brad Yates as its first vice head- Send an e-mail to listserv@unc. ences with their students. Together is high traffic and generally high Online Creatures, great and small. we promise not to overburden you elect, I think the idea is a good edu with “subscribe aejmc_esig” in they can take the theory, apply it quality and one of the best sources Boston Globe. Retrieved Online with papers if you make time for one. As Brad, John and I have the body of the e-mail. and see the results. Students and of hands-on information from January 22, 2007 from http://www. ESIG too. E-mail Tony Ferri, moved through different leader- Or go to http://www.aejmc.net/ their professor can rent space for other educators and librarians us- boston.com/news/globe/living/ research chair, at drums@unlv. ship positions and participated in es/listserv.html on our ESIG Web a social club, or rent a night club ing SecondLife with their students. articles/2007/01/20/online_crea- nevada.edu. conference planning, I think we’re site and fill out the online form. for a night. They can contact an Elsewhere on the Web, educa- tures_great_and_small/ A sincere thanks to John establishing the sense of continuity organization and arrange to host a tors have tagged related Internet Chapin and Brad Yates, the vice discussion on a relevant topic. Par- resources on the social network- Resources head and vice head-elect respec- ticipants can build just about any- ing site del.icio.us (http://del.icio. SecondLife homepage and an- tively, for their work at the plan- Are You The One That They Want? thing in SecondLife. And students us/secondlife/education). Colleges nouncement blog – http://www. ning meeting in December. They By Jim Sernoe PF&R Chair just may gain a new perspective on and universities can even buy their ithaca.edu and http://blog.secon- both were great, and I know that I don’t watch or follow “Amer- how the contemporary pop culture entertainment. It’s user-generated own island (basically access to a dlife.com next year’s round of programming ican Idol” and its approximated star is created. content on steroids; nothing hap- server) for a discounted price. The will go smoothly with the two of 6,218 spin-offs. Let’s start with the camp. pens in SecondLife if the residents New Media Consortium bought New World Notes (a blog with them running the show. But I’m trying to decide what Bad singers, annoying children don’t plan and build it. And the many islands to make available to event announcements and updates) I want to take a moment to I think of the phenomenon, and it with no talent, entrepreneurs who residents retain the intellectual colleges with innovative plans for - http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/ discuss having a vice head-elect. goes beyond a simple “good” or need to find different professions, property. using the space. It’s a position that some divisions “bad” analysis. and stars who can’t dance popu- Basic accounts are free and so and/or interest groups have filled On one hand, shows of the late the talent-reality roster. Some is the client software you need to Sources for a while now. Last August at “Idol” ilk are pure camp. But on people attain their 15 minutes pre- download from the SecondLife Big Brother SecondLife. (2006). the Council of Divisions meeting, the other hand, they have changed cisely because they are bad (Wil- You’re The One continued on page 3 4 Entertaining Ideas ESIG 2006-2007 Officers Teaching, Entertainment & SecondLife ESIG Offerings Planned for 2007 D.C. Convention By Kim Gregson Teaching Chair By John Chapin Vice Head Head Ron Leone SecondLife, a virtual world The Dutch firm Endemol The December plan- 11:45 a.m. PF&R Session Journal- not determined yet. Combines Stonehill College [email protected] created by Linden Lab (http:// brought its Big Brother television ning meeting went ism Ethics Goes to the Movies Communication Technology’s pro- Tel. 401.333.9020 www.secondlife.com), has been program into SecondLife in De- well and the chip Co-sponsor: Ethics posed New Directions in the Study featured in a variety of media over cember 2006. SecondLife residents auction results are of Video Games’ Content and Ef- Vice Head 5 p.m. Top Research Papers in John Chapin the past year, including as cover entered a contest to win a spot in in. ESIG’s pro- fects, with ESIG’s proposed, Video Penn State University ESIG [email protected] stories in Business Week and a the Big Brother house created in gram during the Games in the Curriculum Tel. 724.773.3557 guided tour in Wired. It’s gone the world. For a month, they did 2007 confer- 6:45 p.m. Business Meeting Co-sponsor: Communication Technology Vice Head-Elect from approximately 3000 people tasks, talked to people passing by, ence will be Brad Yates online concurrently in 2005 to and recruited votes that determined among the Saturday, August 11 Sunday, August 12 State University of West Georgia [email protected] almost 30,000 concurrent users in whether they got to stay or go at best. 3:30 p.m. Teaching Session 10 a.m. PF&R Soaps, Tel. 678.839.4938 the first weeks of 2007. More than the end of the week. Thursday, August 9 Should Funny Come First? The Telenovelas and Reality Shows: Research Chair three million accounts have been Reuters has an embedded 3:15 p.m. Mini-Plenary session Ethics of Political Humor on Tele- What is the World Coming to? Anthony Ferri created and the number is climb- journalist and a magnificent build- Leads: Media Management & Economics vision Co-sponsor: Minorities & Communica- University of Nevada, Las Vegas tion [email protected] ing faster than people using Sec- ing with an auditorium the orga- Co-sponsors: Law & Ethics Co-sponsor: Ethics ondLife imagined even last year. nization used in January for live PF&R Chair 5:15 p.m. Research Session (with Jim Sernoe It’s not as big in terms of con- interviews with policy makers, Friday, August 10 Midwestern State University Communication Technology) Title [email protected] current users as World of Warcraft, businessmen, and celebrities at the 8:15 a.m. Poster Session Tel. 940.397.4391 which can have millions of people World Economic Forum summit in You’re The One from page 1 Teaching Standards Chair online at once, and had more than Davos, Switzerland. Kim Gregson 6.5 million active subscriptions in Wired magazine sponsored a liam Hung, where are you?). But on the other hand, “Ameri- majors for many, many reasons, Ithaca College [email protected] July 2006. It’s not even as popular talk at the SecondLife International I recently was forced to watch can Idol,” “Nashville Star” and few of which had anything to do Tel. 607.274.7348 as Club Penguin, a virtual world Space Museum with a journalist “You’re the One that I Want,” the others have democratized the with talent. At 42, he won the title, Graduate Student Liaison that targets children 8 to 11 , that researching the disappearance of competition for roles in the revival entertainment industry, at least a and within months had several hits Howard Fisher had four million users in Decem- the high quality tapes of the Apollo of the musical “Grease.” I say little bit. They have allowed aver- on country radio. Ohio University [email protected] ber 2006. moon landing for an upcoming “forced” because sometimes in re- age Americans who couldn’t under And the list goes on. At last However, SecondLife’s range Wired article. lationships we make these kinds of other circumstances get near Sony count, Billboard magazine listed Newsletter Editor Heather Paige Preston of activities and venues of interest Residents gathered at more compromises, although the period Records a chance to make it in the at least 100 singles, albums and Appalachian State University to those teaching about entertain- than 10 sites around SecondLife to of my good boyfriendhood lasted big bad music world. They have videos by these non-traditional [email protected] Tel. 828.262.2449 ment makes up for the lack of watch the premier of a Sundance 20 minutes — two candidates for allowed Sandy- and Danny-Wan- stars that have gone to No. 1 on Danny and two for Sandy — before nabes — many of whom might not its various charts. Fantasia, Kellie Webmaster concurrent users. sponsored movie called Four Eyed Carole V. Bell First, instructors can examine Monsters; the filmmakers were I couldn’t take any more. have the nerve or the finances to Pickler, Clay Aiken, Josh Gracin University of North Carolina (CH) I’ll spare everyone the gory live in New York City for six years and dozens of other winners and [email protected] mainstream media experiments actually at the screening room built Tel. 919.933.3327 in new media. For instance NBC by the Sundance Channel to take details, except to say that all four waiting for a role in the chorus finalists have had major hits in a competitors were incredibly attrac- — at least a shot. wide range of genres. Secretary recreated Rockefeller Center for questions from other residents. Kelly Schultz the lighting of the Christmas tree Second, instructors can exam- tive and had great stage presence. Kelly Clarkson was just an Granted, “Idol” isn’t the first Penn State University But only one could sing, and her average young woman from Bur- talent show on which a star was [email protected] in December 2006. When the tree ine the many entertainment activi- Tel. 814.865.6106 was lit in real life (and experi- ties created by non-corporate enti- voice was more appropriate for leson, Texas, before she won the discovered. Both Frank Sinatra and enced by most people on televi- ties. Everyday residents can attend a jazzy-blues album in the style inaugural season of “American Gladys Knight will tell you that. Entertaining Ideas is published three times a year by the Entertainment Studies sion), the virtual tree was also lit. dances, art shows, fashion shows of Etta James than for the role as Idol.” But the times have changed. Interest Group of AEJMC. The newsletter People in SecondLife skated on and discussions on religion and Sandy. Worse yet, the judges, Then there’s the first winner I’m sure a good journal article is intended to provide readers with timely information concerning entertainment the ice rink, wore their best win- philosphy; listen to live streaming including the woman of my teen- of “Nashville Star,” Buddy Jewell, or an AEJMC panel lurks some- studies research, theory and teaching. try clothing, danced, listened to music with DJs; and participate age dreams, Olivia Newton-John, who had been puttering around where in all of this, but I’m not the Article submissions may be sent to music, and enjoyed the event with in trivia contests. Residents get lavished these mediocre candidates Nashville since he was 21, doing one to pursue either. I’m too busy Entertaining Ideas, in care of Editor Heather Paige Preston at prestonhp@ friends and friendly strangers from together to watch movies and make with high praise. The studio crowd the usual demos, back-ups and with my own ascent to stardom. appstate.edu. around the world. sarcastic comments, like the char- went wild — multiple times. barroom gigs. He had been turned Look out, Oliva Newton-John. SecondLife continued on page 4 The pain, I tell you, the pain. down many, many times by the Here I come.

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