DIGITAL SPACES

In 1938, America experienced an alien invasion, not a real invasion, but an invasion in the form of a radio broadcast. The date was October 30, 1938, and Orson Welles’ The Mercury Theatre on the Air performed an updated adaption of The War of the Worlds. This particular broadcast was performed so well that many listeners believed the events surrounding an alien invasion were real. This early radio performance is an example of how you can create an unbelievable story without visual cues, even if it terrified thousands or even millions of people. Podcasting can be our War of the Worlds broadcast. I don’t mean as an instrument to frighten people but as a way to present our works of fiction, non-fiction, and more. Our class is about creating and remixing different pieces of works in the digital space. Podcasting is a way for us to deliver our opinions, stories, or other things we create to a wide audience. Because it is free of federal regulation, we have the freedom to talk about or create whatever we want. The great thing about podcasting is that anybody with a recording device and Internet access can create a podcast for millions of people around the world to listen to. Podcasts have allows people with Internet access to become a radio DJ, talk show host, and more. You can post interviews, talk about personal experiences, your original stories or works, and even class lectures. Another amazing aspect of podcasting is it is personal on demand, meaning that I can listen to any podcast at anytime. This has developed a great source of information and entertainment when walking to class, riding the bus, working, or as background noise.

If I could create a podcast or use the podcast technology for the class, I think it would be cool to present my play and other works as audiobooks, for example a podcast I just got into, We’re Alive, which is a weekly podcast that tells the story of a soldier during a zombie apocalypse. The problem with this podcast though is there are parts of it and certain characters that fail to come alive. There is no sense of realism like the War of the Worlds. It’s like watching a terrible movie where you know the people you’re watching are acting. Some characters of We’re Alive come across this way. I would also like to create something like Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History. Taking a historical event or events and present it as a story. The problem with this podcast is it is too long for most. For example, his Wrath of the Khans series is a combined eight hours spread across five episodes.

A great podcast will feel organic as if you were sitting in on a conversation. Some of the best podcasts I listened to are not stories or performances but interviews. These podcasts have hit a certain level of entertainment with me that it’s hard to explain why I listen to them. It feels like I'm a fly on the wall during a genuine and organic conversation between people who believe in what they say no matter how crazy or out there it may be. For example, its not unusual for the Joe Rogan Experience podcast for them talk about health, mixed martial arts, politics, marijuana, current events, comedy, and aliens or Bigfoot in one episode. It may seem crazy or weird to some of you, but when I listen to an episode no matter how crazy or how far they get, I get the feeling that Joe Rogan and his variety of guests believe in what they say.  Some notable guests of his include Freeway Rick Ross: an American convicted drug trafficker in Los Angeles, California, in the early 1980s, Dana White: the President of mixed marital arts organization the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and Peter Duesberg: known for his belief that HIV does not cause AIDS. Another great podcast is the Skeptic Tank; comedian Ari Shaffir invites guests to talk about a specific topic from drug addiction to miscarriages to prostitution to silly topics like a prank war. Two of his best episodes were about his father’s experience during the Holocaust and a couple’s experience during the Holocaust. After listening to both, it’s hard to talk about them because you can hear the pain in their voices. The Joe Rogan Experience and the Skeptic Tank along with Hardcore History have used the tool of podcasting to create their own the War of the Worlds broadcast. They have influenced, educated, and inspired millions of people around the world.

Our class has been about remixing our projects; podcasting is another way to expand how we can use digital spaces and technology. This technology could bring our works to life and give our characters personality that may be hard to develop in other digital spaces. Podcasting if used to its potential can become our War of the Worlds broadcast.