This document summarizes Anne Helmond's presentation at the Super PowerPoint Cinema Conference on October 1, 2008. The presentation discussed software studies, software culture, and template culture. Specifically, it examined how software mediates content production, distribution and reception; how default settings, themes and templates shape media; and how widgets, plugins and databases impact aesthetics and the self.

1. Blogging, software standards
and template culture
Anne Helmond, University of Amsterdam
Super PowerPoint Cinema Conference - re:visie, Dutch Film Festival - Utrecht, October 1, 2008.

2. The “new” media effect
• Software Studies
• Software Culture
• Template Culture

3. Software Studies

4. Software Culture
“We live in a software culture - that is, a
culture where the production, distribution,
and reception of most content is mediated
by software.” Manovich

5. Template Culture
Default settings: Themes and templates

6. Default

7. h4ck3r

8. Database aesthetics

9. Widgets and plugins

10. The Widgetized Self

11. Thank you, questions?
anne@annehelmond.nl
Anne Helmond, University of Amsterdam
Super PowerPoint Cinema Conference - re:visie, Dutch Film Festival - Utrecht, October 1, 2008.