Anyway, the video is a nice reminder what the POTEC  (that sounds quite cool – is there also an official short form?) actually does – arguably not that much. So no need to get overexicted by this new position. A video that should definitely be watched by journalists and governmental website editors:

For 28 years, a nearly insurmountable barrier kept people from fleeing East Germany. But then, the dramatic night of November 9, 1989, saw the fall of the Wall that divided Germany. Today, it is difficult to imagine what was bitter reality just a few decades ago.

For the first time, a realistic computer animation reveals the vast security system of Germany’s inner border and the Berlin Wall, both of which were recreated virtually in the greatest detail.

There is also an interesting “making of” video.

Although I fully support the campaign and the idea behind it I partly agree with Tony Barber who argues (among other things that are more debatable…)  that all these things come a bit late and indeed should have been done before the European elections as part of the campaigns:

Each (political party) should have rallied behind a candidate of their choice.  But they did not.  The socialists were too divided even to come up with a candidate of their own.  The opportunity was lost.  It was their own fault.

A couple of weeks ago Elmine also did a great video on Th!nkaboutit.eu pondering about the question: “How much influence does the European Parliament actually have? And therefore does my vote have influence?”  Worth watching:

Here my comment about the video (which also can be found in the comment thread):

Don’t know whether I would put a direct arrow between the European Council and the Commission in one of your first graphs. There is usually no direct link in legislative issues. Agenda-setting in EU policy making is only the responsibility of the Commission.

The Lisbon Treaty would actually remove the compulsory/non compulsory budget distinctions completely and increase the involvement of the EP. Would be an interesting point for the next video!

In many countries you cannot vote on individual candidates but only on party lists, so it is debatable whether individual candidates or rather political groups/parties have a bigger influence in the EP.

However, some great examples how to explain political processes with online videos…

Is it any good? Judge for yourself. If you like black humour give it a try! I think it is funny in a odd way but since it is quite annoying to listen to the screams I would not watch it again despite the rather funny ending. And of course somebody will start the debate whether there is a deeper meaning of “death” regarding the EU or how “scary” the EU really is…

The Teaser

Part 1/3

“Voting is for everyone. So if you’re running a polling station, just stay cool and make it happen.”

Update: The first remix video is already online. Watch it here.

Update: Part 2/3

Update: Part 3/3

While the idea to address the young generation through online media is good (and fashionable), one cannot help wondering whether the campaign, on which NATO spent around 500 000 €, would have the expected effect. How often will we see these videos on Facebook walls or on Twitter? (let alone the fact that there is no easy embed function…) And, even more important, will they spark a debate among young people?

“Basement”

“Run”

“Staircase”

The Short and Simple Story of the Credit Crisis.

The goal of giving form to a complex situation like the credit crisis is to quickly supply the essence of the situation to those unfamiliar and uninitiated. This project was completed as part of my thesis work in the Media Design Program, a graduate studio at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

This time the topic is even more complex than last time: It is about the conflict in the Middle East. The video was made by Axel Rudolph, a student of media design in Ravensburg/Germany. Here he explains the purpose of the video:

My dissertation, titled ‘Knowledge’ for my degree at Ravensburg College (subject: media design) deals with a virtual TV format that gives current important matters a more visually attractive shape.

It is especially attractive to younger people. One of my goals is to show that education and learning may also have a ‘cool look’. This new look often reminds the viewer more of a TV music video than that of a matter-of-fact history lesson. The sample – to be seen here – gives a 5-minute-explanation of the roots of the Middle-East conflict. It took about 3 ½ months to research this project, write the story book, and prepare the animation graphics.

I think it is a great piece of work that shows how political news can be presented. The combination of powerful visuals, clear explanations and a certain ‘MTV feel’ is both informative and attractive. It actually reminds me of a survey from a couple of months ago that showed that a majority of people that watch news on TV actually don’t understand them. Maybe a video like that one could help…

knowledge video

“Make complex ideas easy to understand” … sounds like the EU needs something like that. Although the EU started experimenting with online videos lately, it still lacks creativity and a certain “online buzz”. Most of the videos about the EU (not only EUtube!) are either pure news reports or have a political motivation. However, one of the greatest problems of the EU is that nobody understands what exactly it does and how it works (which can also explain low turnouts at European elections). Unfortunately EUtube as well as other video producers do not address these issues. Short simple online videos could help people to learn and think about the EU.  Maybe the video on US elections can turn into an inspiration to produce similar videos about the European elections or the EU decision making process …in plain 23 languages!