FLASH: The Jack/ Master Dynamic

[James Kozick]

I've recently signed up again with the Flasher list after seeing the

possibilities of Flash 3.  The timing also seems rather synchronistic with the

recent "Jack" thread.


I've been wrestling with some of these same issues myself.  This thread has

helped to broaden the complexity of the issues for me.  Some things I'd like

to throw into the pot are:


1) One of the things that I remember most from my studies in a Communications

degree is "...to question either/or arguments."  The idea being that there are

normally more than two possibilities of answers; the world is more complex

than to be restricted to just two.  What this helps bring to mind is the

duality underlying much of Western thought.  Western thought reinforces black

and white answers - when we know that much of the beauty and complexity of the

world is to be found between the extremes of these two palette elements. 


The Japanese have a word for this - which escapes me at the moment.  When

asked to pick between two alternatives, this word is provided suggesting that

neither alternative is completely right and that more answers are available.


What I'm suggesting is that we are all probably to one degree or another

struggling with the dynamic of being masters and jacks - and that this is an

ongoing dynamic struggle for us all.  Never before has technology presented us

with such a rapid onslaught of change.  Attempting to keep up with any one

technology/software is tough enough.  Trying to juggle them all is maddening.



2) I recently wrote a note to the business manager of a predominant multimedia

support site about this topic.  His reply was to not identify yourself with

the tools that you use.  "Your true skills are in producing, managing and

communicating a message."


This brings to mind the importance of recognizing that our clients don't

really care about our tools.  They just want us to do an effective job of

communicating their message.  When you take your car in for a repair, do you

really care if your mechanic just got her hands on the latest XR40SUPERDUPER

tool.  Probably not.  You just want her to either fix the car herself or find

someone who can fix it so that when you drive away, all is well with your machine.


What this suggests is perhaps another definition of a master - one who

effectively  "produces, manages and communicates a message." 



3)  One of the fascinating thing about the Internet and lists like this is

that we are communicating with each other on a global scale.  And yet, much of

the World Wide Web is dominated by the U.S.


In this context, I find it fascinating that this thread was apparently begun

in Indonesia.  I also find it fascinating that one of the recognized masters

of Flash referred to in this list is from Latin America (although I know

Puerto Rico is technically a part of the U.S.)



James Kozick

Pacific Media Marketing

Olympia, WA USA

jamespacificmm [dot] com

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