Exploring Online Relationships
My video takes a branch from the topic labelled ‘Sexing up
New Media: From Online Dating to Porn’. Whilst I found the topic quite
interesting, I thought it may be difficult to produce a video on online
pornography and sexuality as people find the issue quite controversial and
difficult to talk about. Instead, I focussed on the notion of online relationships.
Not in the typical sense of people who have met online, but rather exploring
how couples (regardless of how they have met) use social media and technology
throughout their relationships. I truly believe this topic is highly relevant,
and not always completely noted when discussing online behaviour.
I chose to create my own video and image content whilst
filming this video, rather than reusing material online. In order to do this, I
created a script of the scholarly information I needed to include, and my own
personal opinions on the topic I have chosen. Following this, I highlighted
sections that may be easily enhanced with video footage and scripted scenes that
would suit them. I also captured a few screenshots relevant to certain sections
of footage. I included music that was listed on the ‘Free Music Archive’
website to ensure it was safe to use.
I chose to reference the 2011 Waskul reading, ‘The New
Sexuality Studies’ in my video as that was the initial reading that sparked my
interest in this topic. I took notes, particularly on the concept of cheating
online, and formed a document referencing interesting material and quotes. I
also scanned through a few different chapters in the same book to broaden my
understanding of sexuality in the internet era. I found this better supported
my knowledge when explaining what my video was about to friends, before asking
them if they would like to be involved. Before the reading I had a very
simplistic, un-revised concept of what I considered cheating. It occurred to me
that proceeding the reading that the concept is far more complicated then I
imagined.
My second reading was by Couch and Liamputtong, titled 'What
are the real and perceived risks and dangers of online dating? Perspectives
from online daters'. There were a few key points I considered when talking
about online dating specifically, and how it is more common and less
marginalised with the increasing use of technology. These key points informed
my opinions about the dating app, Tinder.
The last reading I found was the reading I discovered was
the most relevant to my argument. The book titled ‘Love Online: Emotions On The
Internet’ by Ben-Ze’ev explored how online relationships are indeed conducted
by actual flesh and blood people. It explored how prominent the online world is
in affecting our own realities. As I suggest in my video, and as a
generalisation, people’s offline relationships are highly influenced by their
online relationships, with their behaviour leading to both deeper emotions for
a partner or more paranoia and distrust in them.
Whilst the assignment was extremely engaging, there were
challenges along the way. Before commencing the making of my video, I created a
timeline of when I would work on certain areas and film specific scenes. I was
initially very determined by the vision of what my video would be and the
timeline that I would get it done by. However I found relying on people to
follow through with allocated filming times quite difficult. Although this was
frustrating, I persisted to create my own content and am happy with the final
result. A further challenge was using a video editing program I had not used
before. However, with the help of YouTube tutorials and multiple tabs from the
program website, I easily grasped the editing tools to produce the content I
needed.
Bibliography:
Waskul, DD, 2011, ‘Internet sex: the seductive “freedom
to”’, in Seidman, S and Meeks, C (eds.), Introducing the New Sexuality Studies,
Routledge, Abingdon and New York, pp. 364-70
Couch, D, Liamputtong, P, & Pitts, M 2012, 'What are the
real and perceived risks and dangers of online dating? Perspectives from online
daters', Health, Risk & Society, 14, 7/8, pp. 697-714, Business Source
Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 31 August 2014.
Ben-Ze’ev, A, 2003, Love Online: Emotions On The Internet,
Cambridge University Press, New York,
EBSCOhost, viewed 31 August 2014.
