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home page of their own Michelangelo, da Vinci, van Gogh. These men lived hundreds of years ago and are often considered masters of the art world. Sculpting and painting have survived, but man has created new artistic outlets: computers and Internet design. Austin Lingerfelt, a sophomore honors English and religion major, has mastered this new art form through designing his personal Web site (www.austinlingerfelt.com). “I wanted something very nice and classy looking,” Lingerfelt said. “High-tech is fine, but that was not the message I was trying to convey. I am greatly interested in conveying a classical character that is fitting of both me and my work.” Lingerfelt said
he created the site mainly to let people know about him and to provide
an outlet to show his work to the world. “It was a very easy decision to put my pictures, sermons and links to any Web site that I have designed,” he said. “I have also provided a link to my online journal.” Lingerfelt mentioned that his journal is his favorite part of his site. “First, it provides me with an outlet whenever I need one,” he said. “Second, it gives me the space I need to express myself. I think if people want to know more about me, then they will learn a lot simply by reading my journal.”
“I just got an e-mail last week from a Russian graduate student who will be coming to TCU in the fall,” Lingerfelt said. “Mostly I get responses from people interested in my design work, and from students from TCU and other universities.” Minh Phan, a senior computer science major, agrees on the potential a personal Web site can provide for global communication. “The personal home page is an excellent way to open yourself to the rest of the world,” Phan said. “You can learn more about the culture, heritage and values of students from other parts of the world by reading the information readily available on their Web site.” The TCU student Web site link acts as a starting point for some students to make their personal Web site. Phan, who spent three weeks designing and composing for his site (www.stu.tcu.edu/~mnphan/) looked to other student sites to know what to put on his site. “I looked at other students’ home pages to get an idea,” Phan said. “Then I listed out what I wanted my viewers to see (and) to know.” Phan said, though, to make sure you don’t always believe what you read. “Writing some fake information about myself was my favorite part of making my Web site,” he said. On a Web site, the layout, graphics and format are also important, he said. “I am drawn to a visually attractive Web site,” Phan said. “I’m a visual kind of person, so anything flashy and beautiful will draw me to it.” Once there, Phan said, he stays at the site “to figure out how exactly they did all the beautiful effects and images.” Though creating a Web site can be like painting or sculpting, its purpose can be entirely different. Heather Morgan, a senior radio-TV-film major, uses her Web site (www.heathermorgan.net) to promote her music career. “Web sites are one of the best and least expensive marketing tools there (are) and (they) allow a person to reach people all over the world,” Morgan said. “The Web site is a vital part of being in the music business because it keeps you connected with people in the business as well as people who want to learn more about you after they have heard of you or been to a show.” Morgan said
the information regarding her career is vital to her Web site. Morgan’s
Web site includes a biography, pictures, sound clips and a calendar
of her scheduled events. Morgan also put a links page as a networking tool. “I have music guides and performers ask me to add a link to my site and then they add a link to their site,” she said. “That is where networking comes in.” Though a good networking tool, Morgan said the scrapbook was her favorite part of her site because it shows pictures from great experiences she has had as a performer. “The first picture is one of my favorites because I got to sing at Gruene Hall, which is one of the most famous dance halls and many famous names have played there in the past,” she said. “I also got to share the experience with my family and friends.” Morgan mostly receives responses from family, friends and people just telling her that they liked her music. However, since the Web site is globally accessed, she has received some interesting responses. “I think some of the coolest responses I have gotten are ones from overseas in Holland, Switzerland and Austria,” she said. “There are radio stations over there who have country programs on their stations, and they wanted to play my CD. I thought this shows how powerful a Web site can be.” In the information age, accessing another culture or set of ideas is as easy as the click of a mouse. “It is such a great way to break down global barriers,” Morgan said. “I went to Europe this summer and the Internet cafes were always filled with college-aged kids. That just proves the point that the Internet is something so many of us have in common. It’s really fascinating and I think it is really cool to get to experience another culture and place, even if it is through contact over the Internet.” Sarah
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personal Web site can be a great way to reach people around the
world.