Day: January 28, 2019

Advantages of New Media

“Buddha watching TV” by Nam June Paik
vmfa.museum/mlit/looking-buddha-watching-tv/

Do you ever sit and think about the fact that we live in a digital era? Sometimes, when philosophical thoughts hit me in my occiput, I wonder about the capacity of possibilities we have on our hands right now!

The era of new media really made our lives much easier. Instead of discussing all of the disadvantages, let’s count on the advantages new media gave us because I’m kind of person who sees a glass half full.

New media gave us ALL things our parents, their parents and parents of their parents have always dreamt of. Of course, we still don’t have flying cars and a cure against cancer, but we have media that connects humans around the world.

If you had told my grandparents fifty years ago that in the future they would be able to contact their loved ones very far away, and in addition they could see their face, you would be in a mental hospital by the end of that day. I still remember the year of 2005. I see this picture: my grandpa and grandma sitting in front of my old computer (which was purchased during the Jurassic era), by their side is standing my mom trying to figure out how to plug in the web camera. At that time my sister was studying in England, city of Manchester and my family was “skyping” with her every single day. Horrific and shocking, in a good way of course!

So new media, the Internet, virtual space, blogs, social media, and different platforms completely changed life on Earth.

I recently watched an interview with Kylie Minogue. She was talking about how media changed the game in show business. When she was just starting off her PR agency arranged the development of her personal site. At that time it was a big deal to break out to the Internet! And she compared past to the time we live in, saying that anyone who has access to Wifi, a computer, camera, and some talent, can post a video of what they do online and maybe become a new star. That’s true. If you can sing or dance – just post a video on YouTube! Or you an artist and want to sell your artworks and make a living out of it? Go to Instagram or Tumblr and promote yourself. We have access to an enormous amount of information and opportunities. All we have to do is click buttons on the screen.

Think about that again, you’ll see how new media paves the path to so many talents and that is truly inspiring! If you were a struggling writer in the past and could not publish even one single book of yours, nowadays you shouldn’t worry about it, instead, start a blog of your own.  

We can’t ignore that social media platforms can turn human beings into some kind of zombies wandering around with smartphones or smartwatches if you will grow into their hands. But let’s face it – progress is here and we can not live without it. New media changed the face of the world and writes new rules to the game called “life”. Maybe we all in virtual space right now? (The Sims?)

¯\_(ツ)_/¯



Woman (exclamation mark).

My name is Aidana, as you already know. I am a kazakh. From my mother language “Aidana” stands for two things. The first syllable “ai” translates as the moon, second “dana” means wise or smart. Also, from the Arabic language, if I’m not mistaken, it means “pearl”.


The correct pronunciation of my name.

My name was given by my older sister. She actually proposed a list of names and my mother picked “Aidana”. So, my name truly describes me.

I was a very shy, quiet, short-spoken child. But, what I want to point out, is that I was born and raised by the generation of women in my family. Women in my family are the strongest, phenomenal, marvelous, smartest and simply irreplaceable human beings I’ve ever seen in my life.

Yes, I want to talk about women today!

Woman. What a beautiful word. I am amazed and inspired by women every single second of my life.

As I was saying, I’m raised by the generation of women. Matriarchat always reigned in our household, represented by my grandmother, mother, aunt, and sister. This is the four figures that I always look up to this day.

My mother’s name is Saule. She is indescribable in words. Powerful is the word for her. Why powerful? Because she is a human representation of the power of the mind. Everything she puts her mind into comes to life immediately. Every day I learn vital lessons from her. My favorite is about trusting to yourself and do the work by yourself, for yourself only. Of course, we have friends and people in our lives we can count on, but they won’t build your life and dreams for you. If you like something and want it, then get it.

Our first selfie with my mom, back in ’06

And my mother always followed this advice that she gave to me. She is a strong and outstanding businesswoman. I am brave enough to state this: my mother is an image of a modern woman. I am looking forward to becoming, at least, a part of her in the future.

I can’t describe how proud I am of my aunt and sister. My aunt is a physicist and natural philosopher. How cool is that?! I mean, I always tell people that if I had the ability to understand science and calculations, I would become a nuclear physicist or something else. In school, I always had problems with algebra, geometry, and physics, and I would be jealous (in a good way) of people who could easily understand trigonometry or what isotopes are!

My sister is an economist, who is currently getting a degree in microeconomics while raising her 2-year-old son! I don’t know what this is, but I am extremely inspired by her.

And of course, the queen of our kingdom – my grandmother. She is among the people that are called “tough cookie”. She was born during the World War II, lost her family, parents, home, property, but managed to raise her two little brothers and become a wonderful, sweet and loving person, despite all the difficulties. I was always amazed by the fact of how people born and raised during the war, who witnessed all the horror, caused by human race itself, still grown as happy, cheerful and hardworking people we know today.

Winter of 2001. Grandma holding me.

These women are all still with me and I love them with all my heart. I’m sure anyone could point out to the phenomenal woman in their life and that’s wonderful. Shout out to all the mothers, sisters, aunts, daughters, girlfriends, wives, because they are killing it every single day! Here’s to generations of physicists, astronauts, economists, artists, writers, models, university graduates. Here’s to generations of strong and independent women across the globe.