LibGuides: Media Arts: Web Resources

Using resources from the Web

The main issue with the Internet is that you have so much information within your reach that it can be difficult to find the information you need. The solution is to go into your search with a clear idea of the what you need to find out about.

If you're unsure of what a concept or theory means, you can use Google as a dictionary, e.g. search for semiotics definition. Click on More info >> for web definitions of semiotics and see if these help you to understand the term.This can also be a great way to find new keywords to use within your search.

If you're getting too many unrelated results, think about what aspects of the topic you want to find out about, e.g. a particular song, image, poem, or examples of how an idea has been applied by others.

Remember: It's best to keep to keywords. Typing in your assignment question can lead to no results.

What about Wikipedia?

Wikipedia often provides a very useful guide to what an idea that is new to you is about. If you don't know what "semiotics", "social justice" or "Plato's cave" mean, then Wikipedia can be very helpful. Wikipedia often appears at the top of your search results. This is because of the way Google ranks its search results - it looks for pages which have a lot of links going to and from it (amongst other things).

Wikipedia is edited by a group of volunteers, so anyone can be an editor. Sometimes it is someone who is a world expert, but it may be just someone who has a strong personal opinion. Wikipedia can be a great starting point for your research, but, because you can't be sure that what you see on any particular day has been written by an expert, it should not usually be used in your reference list. Instead look for the references and external links in the Wikipedia entry that will take your research further, e.g. "Plato's cave" wil lead you to read the original in Plato's Republic and you will cite that.

It's not usually necessary to reference the dictionary or Wikipedia if you just used it to find out what a word or concept meant. Quoting the dictionary is likely to be misleading as the dictionary definition is seldom looking at the Ideas you are using in the context in which you are using them. Once you have worked out what your target words or ideas mean in the context you are working in you can form your own definition.

When searching for a group, piece or artwork, you will encounter many fan sites; remember to evaluate these - they are written from the perspective of supporting the group's image.

Tips for searching:

Use Advanced Search to set out your search - this can help you limit your search to only certain sites, e.g. .edu or .ac for pages from academic sites
Use quotation marks around words you want to appear as you've typed them, e.g. "Queens of the Stone Age"
Be as precise with your keywords as possible - that is, know what you are looking for
Keep your eyes open for other keywords that you could use in your search

Website evaluation

Anyone can publish on the Internet, this means that you have to evaluate the information you find and where it comes from.

Web page address - look at the top level domain, e.g. .com, .govt, .org, .edu. But remember that bias could well play a part in the content of a domain, e.g. what the American government reports on their usa.gov or cia.gov website about the events in the Middle East could be different from a government within the Middle East reports on the same event.
Author - who wrote the article? What is their P.O.V.? Google them.
Date - when was the article written? Is it timely? Remember that some works are classics or seminal works, and of enduring value, e.g. Plato's cave is an idea that is more than 2000 years old, but it is still considered to be of current value when considering the nature of perception and reality, whereas an app may be outdated within a year or even within weeks.
Style - is it written in an academic style? Is something more lively more appropriate to your purpose? Are there references? Spelling mistakes? Check contentious facts.
Content - why does the website exist? What is its purpose?

Not sure why? Check out these sites, and determine which ones are fake - POP! The First Human Male Pregnancy, Feline reactions to bearded men, Havidol, Crestor and Meet Yoda the cat with FOUR ears.

The way around being duped by a fake site, or uncovering misleading information, is to check the information you find against other sources - we call this triangulation. It allows you to build up a picture about the subject and ensure that you're not getting incorrect information.

Web Resources for Media Arts

RAMP GALLERY http://www.rampgallery.co.nz/

HCC Clubs and Organisations Register - Music Groups http://www.hamilton.govt.nz/our-city/about-hamilton/Documents/ClubsAndOrganisations/Clubs%20and%20Organisations%20-%20Music%20Groups.pdf

Waikato Youth Symphonic Band http://wysbnz.org/

New Zealand's best graphic design http://bestawards.co.nz/entries/graphic/

Ministry for Culture & Heritage
"Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, works to enrich the lives of all New Zealanders by supporting our dynamic culture and preserving our heritage.
We support many of New Zealand’s arts, media, heritage and sports organisations; advise government on cultural matters and provide research and resources for everyone to access. The organisations we fund deliver a wide range of cultural experiences for all to enjoy."
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Waikato Society of Arts
Waikato Society of Arts is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to serving the art needs of the visual artist and art lovers at every stage of their development.
WSA works to enrich the community by supporting growth and development of the visual arts through classes, exhibitions, forums and fellowship.
WSA holds several exhibitions each year and we are especially proud of hosting the National Youth Art Award and the New Zealand Paint and Printmaking Award both attracting entries from all over New Zealand.
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Creative New Zealand
Creative New Zealand encourages, promotes and supports the arts in New Zealand for the benefit of all New Zealanders through funding, capability building, our international programme and advocacy.
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auckland art gallery
"History, heritage and culture are brought to life at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Founded in 1888, it remains New Zealand’s largest visual arts experience."
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New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is New Zealand's national orchestra.
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
"Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra is Auckland’s leading performing arts organisation, and the city’s resident full-time professional symphony orchestra."
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Opus Orchestra
"Opus Orchestra was founded in 1991 and has since experienced a dramatic rise in musical standards and public support. Its vision is to provide the highest possible standard of musical performance for audiences in the Waikato/Bay of Plenty region and the wider Central North Island through a programme of 12-15 concerts annually."
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Hamilton Civic Choir
"Since beginning in 1946, the Hamilton Civic Choir has enjoyed a reputation as one of New Zealand’s finest Choirs.
Being a fully auditioned choir, we are able to perform works outside the scope of many community-based choirs. In addition to the large choral works of the great composers, usually performed with organ or orchestral accompaniment and the best national and international soloists, the choir’s repertoire includes chamber music and other shorter and more modern works.
Currently we comprise about 40 singers, some of whom travel from other Waikato towns to sing with us. The choir has a wide and varied repertoire, presenting masterpieces of western musical culture under the direction of both local and international conductors."
Waikato Museum
"For an inspirational experience, visit us on the banks of the Waikato River in the heart of Hamilton's cultural precinct.
Our exhibitions and activities tell the stories of this region and include visual art, social history, tangata whenua and science."
"Waikato Museum in its current building was opened in 1987. Situated back from the road and near the banks of the Waikato River the building has five levels and 13 galleries."
Auckland Memorial Museum
"Auckland War Memorial Museum is New Zealand's first Museum.
The Museum tells the story of New Zealand, its place in the Pacific and its people. The Museum is a war memorial for the province of Auckland and holds one of New Zealand's top three heritage libraries.
It has pre-eminent Māori and Pacific collections, significant natural history resources and major social and military history collections, as well as decorative arts and pictorial collections."
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Te Papa Tongarewa: Museum of New Zealand
"Te Papa is New Zealand’s national museum, renowned for being bicultural, scholarly, innovative, and fun. Our success is built on our relationships with and ability to represent our community.
Our collections span five areas: Art, History, Pacific, Māori, and Natural Environment. Our exhibitions are interdisciplinary and interactive, and we have dynamic events and education programmes. We also have thriving commercial enterprises, including a publishing division, conference and function operations, cafes, a car park and retail stores."
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Te Ara
"Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand is a comprehensive guide to our peoples, natural environment, history, culture, economy and society.
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World of Wearable Art
"The World of WearableArt®, known as WOW®, is a renowned international design competition that attracts hundreds of entries from all over the world.
Finalists compete for over $165,000 in prize money plus internships with leading creative companies such as Weta Workshop.