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GLOBAL
MEDIA AND POPULAR CULTURE PROJECT TO DISCUSS SERIOUS ISSUES ABOUT OUR PLANET'S FUTURE HOME RECORDING & FILM MAKING • UNDERGROUND WEB WORLD • MUSIC • FILM • MULTIMEDIA GUIDES TO POPULAR CULTURE • TELEVISION • DC FOREIGN TV GUIDE • RADIO • PRINT MEDIA COMPUTERS • VIDEO GAMES • GRAPHIC & VISUAL ARTS • ARCHITECTURE • CENSORSHIP An indirect message can sometimes be far more powerful than a direct message. In their own way, film, art, and music influence the subconscious part of the mind. This is why we study the links between global pop culture and the use of art in politics. Via our Global Media Project we would like to communicate with key people in the media and entertainment industries worldwide in order to explore ways that positive messages can be placed into artistic projects. We would also like this project to serve as a place where people can learn about the pop culture of countries other than their own and thereby expand their view of the world. We have already produced a lot of material. We have spent years searching the internet and have developed a large set of links. Some of our foreign TV guides to major cities are in the top ten in internet search engines. We have produced two excellent guides to home recording and home film making, designed to show how people of limited means can begin to develop their artistic abilities. Our main interests are music and film but we are also interested in video games and comics. We see the emergence of various artistic subcultures that could have relevance such as the "Goth" and "cyber punk "subcultures in the west or the anime subculture in Japan and Asia. A big priority is to take an international view. We want to track culture in giant nations like China and India. We also want to research the use of music and film in politics. In modern rap music, for example, there are some useful themes of social commentary that are often ignored in light of some of the more negative aspects of this culture. The worlds of rap and metal, while containing a lot of pointless and often self destructive hedonism, do contain artists and music that could be guided in useful directions. We would like to educate and encourage constructive popular music trends such as questioning some aspects of the present world order, while discouraging negative and stupid trends such as the lack of respect for women. Music is of enormous power, having the ability to penetrate into the subconscious part of the mind. Enlightened leaders of the rap music business have already held conferences to try to move things away from negative directions and towards positive directions. In the case of film, we are looking at how film has been used as a tool of social commentary as well as the relationship of certain aspects of film to the world of ancient mythology. For example, many people are not aware that George Lucas was heavily influenced by the work of Joseph Campbell in the creation of the Star Wars series. People such as Campbell and Jung have been able to perceive the appearance of ancient themes in human art, music and literature down through the ages. Frank Herbert's book and film, Dune, is an interesting example. The central character is a political messiah chosen by fate. The film Devil's Advocate is a fascinating commentary on good and evil. In the case of social commentary, the German TV series, Traffik, paints a grim but compelling portrait of the gap between the global rich and poor in a story about the international drug trade. (This is not to be confused with an American film with the same name.) We would also strongly oppose efforts to censor film and music. Art is the depiction of reality. Sexuality and violence have had a place in art since the beginning of time, from the world of ancient Greeks to the Renaissance. Obviously, some things should be kept out of the view of very young children. However, we have respect for the intelligence of most teenagers and young adults. We have found that most of them can recognize the difference between art and exploitation. The ability to make that choice should be theirs, and their freedom to experience art should not be taken away by a group of politicians in Washington. In Europe, where there is far less censorship, there is also far less crime than in America. There is reason to believe that a well-organized web site, aimed at the film and music industries, could be useful in stimulating ideas for productive works of art. This would include examples of good works in the field of the arts and specific ideas for musicians and film makers. We plan to devote part of our web site to this goal, and may even set up a web site aimed specifically at the artistic community. We want to use the internet to link people together in a constructive manner. WFF HOME RECORDING GUIDE Technological advances have made it easy for musicians and DJs with limited means to create high quality, digital music in their homes. Those who wish to record their own music can do so at their own convenience and for relatively little money. However, getting started can be confusing. This is why we have created a guide to home recording. We combine this guide with a collection of informative links that show artists how to create and distribute their work online. We encourage artists to be socially conscious and place positive political messages in their work. WFF HOME FILM MAKING GUIDE Technological advances have made it easy for aspiring filmmakers with limited means to create high-quality, digital video in their homes. Those who wish to create their own films and videos can do so at their own convenience and for relatively little money. However, getting started can be confusing. This is why we have created a guide to home filmmaking. Included with this guide is a small collection of informative links on filmmaking. We encourage filmmakers to be socially conscious and to place positive political messages in their work. The World Future Fund has created a web site dedicated entirely to the study of underground culture and its relevance to society as a whole. The UWW Internet portal is designed to appeal to artists who are interested in social, political, and cultural issues. We provide links to a wide number of web sites covering subjects as varied as Metal music, art, religion, and philosophy. Handy sites for guitarists are also listed, providing online lessons, song tablature, and information.
Networks, video players, news shows, television channel schedules.
World TV A listing of free online radio stations, services, players, and programs. Includes information on satellite radio, talk radio, and podcasting. COMPUTERS AND ONLINE MEDIA A listing of companies, software, hardware, and computer media.
WFF
Guide to Internet Searching The world of video games represents a new global culture. These games combine skills from the worlds of film, music and comics to create a truly interactive culture where the viewer is an active participant in a world of virtual reality.
LINK TO THE FOUNDATION PROPOSAL FOR THIS PROJECT HOME RECORDING & FILM MAKING • UNDERGROUND WEB WORLD • MUSIC • FILM • MULTIMEDIA GUIDES TO POPULAR CULTURE • TELEVISION • DC FOREIGN TV GUIDE • RADIO • PRINT MEDIA COMPUTERS • VIDEO GAMES • GRAPHIC & VISUAL ARTS • ARCHITECTURE • CENSORSHIP |