After seeing Triumph of the Will on YouTube, I can see why Leni Riefenstahl won so many awards for the making of the film. Her technique of moving cameras and telephoto lenses was legendary and first of its kind to be used in films. The massive troops used in the film was to reiterate the importance of Hitler, while in the World cup video, the sounds of the crowd was used to conjure up the excitement of the spectators and bring them to watch the games.
I agree with Henry that the propaganda film Triumph of the Will showed that the people had no choice but to obey the government, in the same way that Beijing spend billions of dollars building the Birds Nest for the Olympics while millions of people couldn’t even afford to eat.
I thought the clip for the World cup was well done. They used many clips of the most exciting and winning moments of the games in the past with loud sounds of cheering to appeal to the spectators. It gave the audience the message that this was something that you can’t miss out on. “Everyone in the world will be watching this and talking about the game”, it appears to shout. Even though I’m not a soccer fan, I know everyone will be talking about it, so I’ll be watching just so I can add my two-cents!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Violence in the Media and Its Influences on Children
Television, movies, interactive games and music are powerful learning tools, as well as highly influential media. In the article Media Violence, children between the ages of 2 and 18 spend an average of 6 hours and 32 minutes each day using media, including television, video games, movies, and internet (Committee on Public Education 1222). Although TV, internet and other forms of media can be a great way to encourage learning, their increased use of violence can lead to detrimental results for our nation’s youth.
Media tends to glamorize and trivialize death to a point where viewers will eventually be desensitized toward violence in real life. Most of the studies I reviewed found that negative effects of violence in the media on children fit into one or more of these categories:
· Children who see a lot of violence will most likely see violence as an effective way to settle conflicts. They will also more likely to see violence as acceptable behavior (Bushman 349).
· Viewing violent programming can lead to emotional desensitization toward violence in real life. It’ll also be less likely for a person to take action or help a victim when violence occurs.
· The showcasing of violence in the media can also bring a message that the world is a dark and cruel place. This will likely bring on feelings of mistrust of others, and increased self-protective behaviors for fear of being a victim of violence (Strasburger 1430).
· Exposure to violence can also lead to more violence in real life. Children who watch a lot of violence on TV will have a higher tendency to be more aggressive and violent later in life than children who do not watch so much (Bushman 349).
Violence has always played a role in entertainment, but it has steadily become the driving force of movies, television and many other sub-forms of media in today’s society. First of all, there’s been an increase in the quantity of violence shown in the media in the last few years. In the US, there’s an average of 20-25 acts of violence shown in children’s programming each hour (Committee on Public Education 1224). The study in this article also showed that 61% of children’s programming contains violence and only 4% have an anti-violence theme. In programs with violence, only 16% showed long-term consequences, 45% of the offenders went unpunished, 71% of the offenders showed no remorse, 42% of the violence was associated with humor and lethal violence was shown in 54% of programs (Committee on Public Education 1224).
It’s not surprising that studies correlate increased exposure to violence on TV to a higher tendency to become more aggressive and violent later in life. From a very young age, children sit in front of the TV, watch cartoon characters such as Wile E Coyote and the Roadrunner in “Zipping Along” try to kill each other or run each other over with their cars, and laugh about it. It is recorded that the cartoon mentioned contains 22 separate acts of violence, and it is only 7 minutes in length (Strasburger 1428). Zipping Along, among countless others, such as Looney Tunes, Power Rangers, and many other Japanese anime series are teaching our children that violence is amusing and doesn’t have any consequences. Children see and accept this violence because they don’t truly recognize the violent content as real. Because these characters execute violence within the world of ‘make-believe’, their acts are not considered to be heinous or deviant (Bushman 348). In normalizing the violent acts of Bugs Bunny, Sylvester, and the Roadrunner, children are being desensitized to violence in real life at a very early age.
In many popular video games, such as Grand Theft Auto 3, which is the best-selling game ever for Playstation 2, players earn points for high jacking cars, and stealing drugs from street people. Postal, another popular game, lets players earn points by randomly shooting people and has the main character programmed to say “Only my gun understands me” (Nikken et al 316-318). The level of violence in the gaming habits of young people is disturbingly high. In Mnet’s 2001 study, Young Canadians in a Wired World, 32% of kids ages 9-17 are playing video games every day or almost every day. Studies also found that 60% reported action/combat as their favorite genre, and when asked for a favorite game, gamers reported that their choices were “overwhelming” (Nikken et al 316-319). Researchers believe that violence in video games are so appealing to youngsters because it is like living inside a fantasy world, where you can act out your criminal fantasies without any real consequences. Even though many video games are rated M for mature, it’s no secret that kids still find a way to get them.
Violence in media entertainment has not only risen in quantity, but it has been becoming more and more graphic, sadistic and sexual in nature. Mainstream movies show explicit acts of stabbing, victims being cut from the throat and lying in pools of blood, and bullets piercing through bodies and exploding in slow motion. Shows like Law & Order: SVU and CSI Miami are famous for their sexually related crimes, and are constantly getting away with very explicitly sexual images and graphics that are not usually essential for following the storyline. Movie ratings are no longer reliable in providing guidance to parents for determining whether a movie is suitable for children. PG-13 movies tend to make more revenue than “R” movies, so the movie industry has been experiencing a “ratings creep”. Movies that were once deemed “R” movies are now rated “PG-13” by The Motion Pictures Association in order to increase box-office profits and rental sales (Freed 1259).
It is becoming tougher for parents to control their children’s TV habits, since inappropriate movies are now made easily available through specialty channels and Netflix. Mature video games are also accessible at local video stores. The Center for Media and Public Affairs (CMPA) found that violence appeared on all network and cable channels, making it impossible for viewers to avoid. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission reported that in December 2001, retailers allowed 78% of unaccompanied minors, ages 13-16, to purchase video games rated “mature” (Freed 1260). To make supervision even more challenging, many children have their own TVs and video game equipment. According to Brady, 57% of kids aged 8-16 have TVs in their bedrooms, and 39% have gaming equipment (341).
News coverage has also changed direction. With so many different mediums where people can get their news, news channels are trying to outdo its competitors by
reporting on stories that sell- violent crime stories filled with disturbing images. Even though crime rates have fallen, the number of stories on violent crimes continues to dominate the news. News producers say that good news doesn’t bring in viewers. They are now relying on death and violent stories to keep their ratings up, or “If it bleeds, it leads” (Research on the Effects of Media Violence).
There has been so much research done on the negative effects of media violence on children. Children are influenced by media-they learn by observing, imitating, and making behaviors their own. Research shows that children younger than 8 cannot tell the difference between fantasy and reality, therefore they are most vulnerable to the behaviors shown in the media (Bushman 352). Most of the research that I analyzed failed to come up with solutions to the problem of media violence. Instead of doing more research to prove the detrimental effects of violence shown in the media, we should be conducting studies on how to strike back- such as having media awareness programs in schools, where educators can teach parents, students and teachers about how the media can influence in a harmful way. These programs should cover topics such as how media works, how media can influence the way that we perceive reality, how to determine whether messages are appropriate, and how to reject messages that are not healthy.
I believe that in order to change behavior and attitudes, education is important. Other ways include collaboration between parents, educators, pediatricians, and the government to advocate for child-positive media messages, and encourage more child-friendly movies and less-violent video games. Children and their parents should also be educated about the health risks of too much television and sedentary behaviors. Kids should be encouraged to lead more active lives, and take part in activities and hobbies other than playing video-games or interests centered around media.
I failed to see any of these recommendations being mentioned in the research papers that I read, and it gave me a bleak outlook on the future of our youth. I believe that a lot can be done to turn thing around, both on a local and national level. The most important thing is to get parents involved, and shun the association of glamour with weapons, violence, and death. If violence is used, it should always be shown with sadness and loss, not pleasure or revenge. I would like to see more research done on children who have gone through media-awareness education programs with their parents compared with other kids who have not.
Works Cited
Brady, Sonya S., Matthews, Karen A. “Effects of Media Violence on Health-Related Outcomes Among Young Men.” Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. Vol.160 No 4 (April 2006): 341-347. Print
Bushman, Brad J. “Short-term and Long-term Effects of Violent Media on Aggression in Children and Adults.” Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. Vol. 160 No 4 (April 2006): 348-352. Web. 12 April. 2010.
Committee on Public Education. “Media Violence.” American Academy of Pediatrics. Vol. 108 No 5 (Nov 2001): 1222-1226. Print
Council on Communications and Media. “Media Violence.” American Academy of Pediatrics. Vol. 124 No 5 (Nov 2009): 1495-1503. Print
Freed, Richard. “Pulling the Plug on Entertainment Industry Ratings.” American Academy of Pediatrics. Vol 119 No 6 (2007): 1259-1261. Print
J.E. Tongren, A. Sites, K.Zwicker, and A. Pelletier. “Firearm Use in G- and PG-Rated Movies, 2003-2007.” Journal of the American Medical Association. Vol. 301 No 21 (June 2009). Web. 12 April. 2010.
Nikken et al. “Parents’ Interest in Videogame Ratings and Content Descriptors in Relation to Game Mediation.” European Journal of Communication. Vol 22 No 3 (2007): 315-336. Print
“Research on the Effects of Media Violence.” Media Issues. Media Awareness Network, n.d. Web. 13 April. 2010.
Romer, D., Jamieson KH. “Television News and the Cultivation of Fear of Crime.” Journal of Communication. Vol 53 Issue 1 (March 2003): 88-104.
Strasburger, Victor. “Clueless: Why Do Pediatricians Underestimate the Media’s Influence on Children and Adolescents?” American Academy of Pediatrics. Vol 117 No 4 (April 2006): 1427-1431. Print
Van der Molen, J.H.W. “Violence and Suffering in Television News: Toward a Broader Conception of Harmful Television Content for Children.” American Academy of Pediatrics. Vol 113 No 6 (June 2004): 1771-1775. Print
Walsh, David A., Gentile, Douglas A. “A Validity Test of Movie, Television, and Video-Game Ratings.” American Academy of Pediatrics. Vol 107 No 6 (June 2001): 1302-1308.
Media tends to glamorize and trivialize death to a point where viewers will eventually be desensitized toward violence in real life. Most of the studies I reviewed found that negative effects of violence in the media on children fit into one or more of these categories:
· Children who see a lot of violence will most likely see violence as an effective way to settle conflicts. They will also more likely to see violence as acceptable behavior (Bushman 349).
· Viewing violent programming can lead to emotional desensitization toward violence in real life. It’ll also be less likely for a person to take action or help a victim when violence occurs.
· The showcasing of violence in the media can also bring a message that the world is a dark and cruel place. This will likely bring on feelings of mistrust of others, and increased self-protective behaviors for fear of being a victim of violence (Strasburger 1430).
· Exposure to violence can also lead to more violence in real life. Children who watch a lot of violence on TV will have a higher tendency to be more aggressive and violent later in life than children who do not watch so much (Bushman 349).
Violence has always played a role in entertainment, but it has steadily become the driving force of movies, television and many other sub-forms of media in today’s society. First of all, there’s been an increase in the quantity of violence shown in the media in the last few years. In the US, there’s an average of 20-25 acts of violence shown in children’s programming each hour (Committee on Public Education 1224). The study in this article also showed that 61% of children’s programming contains violence and only 4% have an anti-violence theme. In programs with violence, only 16% showed long-term consequences, 45% of the offenders went unpunished, 71% of the offenders showed no remorse, 42% of the violence was associated with humor and lethal violence was shown in 54% of programs (Committee on Public Education 1224).
It’s not surprising that studies correlate increased exposure to violence on TV to a higher tendency to become more aggressive and violent later in life. From a very young age, children sit in front of the TV, watch cartoon characters such as Wile E Coyote and the Roadrunner in “Zipping Along” try to kill each other or run each other over with their cars, and laugh about it. It is recorded that the cartoon mentioned contains 22 separate acts of violence, and it is only 7 minutes in length (Strasburger 1428). Zipping Along, among countless others, such as Looney Tunes, Power Rangers, and many other Japanese anime series are teaching our children that violence is amusing and doesn’t have any consequences. Children see and accept this violence because they don’t truly recognize the violent content as real. Because these characters execute violence within the world of ‘make-believe’, their acts are not considered to be heinous or deviant (Bushman 348). In normalizing the violent acts of Bugs Bunny, Sylvester, and the Roadrunner, children are being desensitized to violence in real life at a very early age.
In many popular video games, such as Grand Theft Auto 3, which is the best-selling game ever for Playstation 2, players earn points for high jacking cars, and stealing drugs from street people. Postal, another popular game, lets players earn points by randomly shooting people and has the main character programmed to say “Only my gun understands me” (Nikken et al 316-318). The level of violence in the gaming habits of young people is disturbingly high. In Mnet’s 2001 study, Young Canadians in a Wired World, 32% of kids ages 9-17 are playing video games every day or almost every day. Studies also found that 60% reported action/combat as their favorite genre, and when asked for a favorite game, gamers reported that their choices were “overwhelming” (Nikken et al 316-319). Researchers believe that violence in video games are so appealing to youngsters because it is like living inside a fantasy world, where you can act out your criminal fantasies without any real consequences. Even though many video games are rated M for mature, it’s no secret that kids still find a way to get them.
Violence in media entertainment has not only risen in quantity, but it has been becoming more and more graphic, sadistic and sexual in nature. Mainstream movies show explicit acts of stabbing, victims being cut from the throat and lying in pools of blood, and bullets piercing through bodies and exploding in slow motion. Shows like Law & Order: SVU and CSI Miami are famous for their sexually related crimes, and are constantly getting away with very explicitly sexual images and graphics that are not usually essential for following the storyline. Movie ratings are no longer reliable in providing guidance to parents for determining whether a movie is suitable for children. PG-13 movies tend to make more revenue than “R” movies, so the movie industry has been experiencing a “ratings creep”. Movies that were once deemed “R” movies are now rated “PG-13” by The Motion Pictures Association in order to increase box-office profits and rental sales (Freed 1259).
It is becoming tougher for parents to control their children’s TV habits, since inappropriate movies are now made easily available through specialty channels and Netflix. Mature video games are also accessible at local video stores. The Center for Media and Public Affairs (CMPA) found that violence appeared on all network and cable channels, making it impossible for viewers to avoid. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission reported that in December 2001, retailers allowed 78% of unaccompanied minors, ages 13-16, to purchase video games rated “mature” (Freed 1260). To make supervision even more challenging, many children have their own TVs and video game equipment. According to Brady, 57% of kids aged 8-16 have TVs in their bedrooms, and 39% have gaming equipment (341).
News coverage has also changed direction. With so many different mediums where people can get their news, news channels are trying to outdo its competitors by
reporting on stories that sell- violent crime stories filled with disturbing images. Even though crime rates have fallen, the number of stories on violent crimes continues to dominate the news. News producers say that good news doesn’t bring in viewers. They are now relying on death and violent stories to keep their ratings up, or “If it bleeds, it leads” (Research on the Effects of Media Violence).
There has been so much research done on the negative effects of media violence on children. Children are influenced by media-they learn by observing, imitating, and making behaviors their own. Research shows that children younger than 8 cannot tell the difference between fantasy and reality, therefore they are most vulnerable to the behaviors shown in the media (Bushman 352). Most of the research that I analyzed failed to come up with solutions to the problem of media violence. Instead of doing more research to prove the detrimental effects of violence shown in the media, we should be conducting studies on how to strike back- such as having media awareness programs in schools, where educators can teach parents, students and teachers about how the media can influence in a harmful way. These programs should cover topics such as how media works, how media can influence the way that we perceive reality, how to determine whether messages are appropriate, and how to reject messages that are not healthy.
I believe that in order to change behavior and attitudes, education is important. Other ways include collaboration between parents, educators, pediatricians, and the government to advocate for child-positive media messages, and encourage more child-friendly movies and less-violent video games. Children and their parents should also be educated about the health risks of too much television and sedentary behaviors. Kids should be encouraged to lead more active lives, and take part in activities and hobbies other than playing video-games or interests centered around media.
I failed to see any of these recommendations being mentioned in the research papers that I read, and it gave me a bleak outlook on the future of our youth. I believe that a lot can be done to turn thing around, both on a local and national level. The most important thing is to get parents involved, and shun the association of glamour with weapons, violence, and death. If violence is used, it should always be shown with sadness and loss, not pleasure or revenge. I would like to see more research done on children who have gone through media-awareness education programs with their parents compared with other kids who have not.
Works Cited
Brady, Sonya S., Matthews, Karen A. “Effects of Media Violence on Health-Related Outcomes Among Young Men.” Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. Vol.160 No 4 (April 2006): 341-347. Print
Bushman, Brad J. “Short-term and Long-term Effects of Violent Media on Aggression in Children and Adults.” Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. Vol. 160 No 4 (April 2006): 348-352. Web. 12 April. 2010.
Committee on Public Education. “Media Violence.” American Academy of Pediatrics. Vol. 108 No 5 (Nov 2001): 1222-1226. Print
Council on Communications and Media. “Media Violence.” American Academy of Pediatrics. Vol. 124 No 5 (Nov 2009): 1495-1503. Print
Freed, Richard. “Pulling the Plug on Entertainment Industry Ratings.” American Academy of Pediatrics. Vol 119 No 6 (2007): 1259-1261. Print
J.E. Tongren, A. Sites, K.Zwicker, and A. Pelletier. “Firearm Use in G- and PG-Rated Movies, 2003-2007.” Journal of the American Medical Association. Vol. 301 No 21 (June 2009). Web. 12 April. 2010.
Nikken et al. “Parents’ Interest in Videogame Ratings and Content Descriptors in Relation to Game Mediation.” European Journal of Communication. Vol 22 No 3 (2007): 315-336. Print
“Research on the Effects of Media Violence.” Media Issues. Media Awareness Network, n.d. Web. 13 April. 2010.
Romer, D., Jamieson KH. “Television News and the Cultivation of Fear of Crime.” Journal of Communication. Vol 53 Issue 1 (March 2003): 88-104.
Strasburger, Victor. “Clueless: Why Do Pediatricians Underestimate the Media’s Influence on Children and Adolescents?” American Academy of Pediatrics. Vol 117 No 4 (April 2006): 1427-1431. Print
Van der Molen, J.H.W. “Violence and Suffering in Television News: Toward a Broader Conception of Harmful Television Content for Children.” American Academy of Pediatrics. Vol 113 No 6 (June 2004): 1771-1775. Print
Walsh, David A., Gentile, Douglas A. “A Validity Test of Movie, Television, and Video-Game Ratings.” American Academy of Pediatrics. Vol 107 No 6 (June 2001): 1302-1308.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
RUN FROM AFFILIATED MANGEMENT! GREED and LAZINESS IS THEIR MOTTO
Affiliated Management, located in Livingston, NJ is the most unprofessional management company I’ve ever encountered. I lived at the Mayflower on Engle st, Englewood, for three years, and was an excellent tenant, always paying my rent on time and never causing any trouble. The super Robert, lives in the building next door, but you can never get a hold of him. A broken cabinet hinge that needs to be fixed takes SIX MONTHS for him to fix. You can call the superintendent and management office as many times as you’d like, but you won’t get a response or a return call. The property managers are too busy to speak with tenants, and neither return calls or care about your well-being. After giving notice to move out, I haven’t heard from either a property manager or the super after calling and leaving messages for more than two weeks to try to schedule an inspection. They will deliberately screw you over in every way that they can- greed and laziness is their motto here. You’re better off ANYWHERE else.
http://www.affiliatedmgmt.com/
http://www.affiliatedmgmt.com/
Monday, April 26, 2010
Appropriation Controversy
Every writer’s worst nightmare is being branded as a Plagiarist. When Harry Potter fans found the children’s book, The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson, to contain details that seemed suspiciously similar to the later written Harry Potter series, they began to question the originality of author J.K Rowling’s ideas. What constitutes as plagiarism when radical writers like David Shields, who believes “borrowing” from other thinkers and writers has been the foundation of culture since man first learned to read and write? (qtd. in Kennedy) I feel that the boundaries for appropriation should be based on whether an author, artist or creator is able to express a similar idea in a meaningful, thought-proving and inspirational way. The rules for musical and artistic pieces shouldn’t be as rigid because it is so difficult to define, but there should be appropriation rules for literary works. I believe that when appropriation problems arise, there should be a panel of judges from various backgrounds, such as literary scholars, famous artists or musicians, educators, etc to deliberate whether or not the author has overstepped his boundaries.
In Ibbotson’s book, which was published three years before Philosopher’s Stone, an orphaned boy with unknown magical powers lived with a family that treats him like a servant. The family spoiled their own overweight and intolerable son, and later the orphan boy discovers a doorway to the magical world through platform 13 at the London Station. Without a doubt, it seems very likely that Ibbotson’s book may have inspired Rowling’s Harry Potter series. I believe that although Rowling may have lifted some background details as a starting point for her books from another author, she has mastered the art of story telling by creating an entirely different and imaginary world with her words. Rowling’s in-depth development of the main character, Harry Potter, her captivating writing style, and her conception of all the magical characters and plot twists in her seven book series was entirely her own. Rowling had taken an idea and made it come alive. In the end, after carefully analyzation, it’s obvious that there are many more differences than similarities.
One of the authors mentioned in the Free Appropriation writer, David Shields, strongly believes that originality does not exist anymore. He supports his theory by quoting Terence, a famous playwright in second century B.C.: “there’s nothing to say that hasn’t been said before” (qtd. in Kennedy). I disagree with him, and feel that even though some ideas may not be original, the expression of these ideas can still have personal meaning and be innovative. A panel of literary and field experts would be a great way to shed some light on the subject. A few things the panel should consider when appropriation issues for literary works come up are: Is the work in question substantial enough to stand on it’s own without the borrowed ideas or materials? Does the author differentiate himself from the borrowed work in a meaningful way, whether it’s with his own writing style, strong personal opinions or views?
Some artists may have gone to the same art school, learned the same fundamental concepts, or been taught by teachers with the same school of thought, but real innovation is how they apply this skill in expressing themselves through art. For instance, I was listening to Lady GaGa’s The Fame Monster the other day, and came across the song Alejandro. I immediately recognized the melody in the chorus- it sounded a little too similar to Ace of Base’s early 90’s hit Don’t Turn Around. The beats in Alejandro’s chorus sound like it was taken straight from the beats that plays thoughout the entire Ace of Base song. Lady GaGa sings “Don’t call my name, don’t call my name Alejandro,” instead of the “Don’t turn around, or you’ll see my heart breaking,” as is the chorus in Ace of Base’s song.
I realized that this was exactly what the assignment was about. Although the beats and parts of the melody of the two songs are quite indistinguishable, the similarities end there. Lady Gaga has managed to embody an entirely different character in her song. She is the Spanish girl with a heavy accent who is breaking up with her lover Alejandro. Lady Gaga’s dramatic attitude and juvenile lyrics has almost a humorous effect-something that Ace of Base lacks. Therefore, I’ve concluded that Lady Gaga has not violated any copyrite laws and shouldn’t be branded a “copycat”.
Everyday, we are exposed to all different sorts of ideas, messages, people, and movements. Every book that we read, every bit of dialogue overheard, every conversation spoken, every message read on an ad or billboard is like water that goes into a pool inside our minds. The only way to continuously grow, improve and flourish is to add as much water as possible (Kern). The boundaries of appropriation will always have gray areas, and will never be black and white. What we can do is set guidelines, and ask experts in all areas to offer their opinions on whether some credit should be given to another fellow author or creator. I believe that sharing ideas and drawing inspiration from one another will help the cultural and creative world continue to flourish.
Works Cited
Kennedy, Randy. “The Free Appropriation Writer.” Nytimes.com. The New York Times. 26. Feb. 2010. Web. 21 March 2010.
Kerns, Michelle. “The Plagiarism paradox and 10 Famous Authors Accused of Plagiarism.” Examiner.com. The Examiner. 21 April 2009. Web. 20 March 2010.
In Ibbotson’s book, which was published three years before Philosopher’s Stone, an orphaned boy with unknown magical powers lived with a family that treats him like a servant. The family spoiled their own overweight and intolerable son, and later the orphan boy discovers a doorway to the magical world through platform 13 at the London Station. Without a doubt, it seems very likely that Ibbotson’s book may have inspired Rowling’s Harry Potter series. I believe that although Rowling may have lifted some background details as a starting point for her books from another author, she has mastered the art of story telling by creating an entirely different and imaginary world with her words. Rowling’s in-depth development of the main character, Harry Potter, her captivating writing style, and her conception of all the magical characters and plot twists in her seven book series was entirely her own. Rowling had taken an idea and made it come alive. In the end, after carefully analyzation, it’s obvious that there are many more differences than similarities.
One of the authors mentioned in the Free Appropriation writer, David Shields, strongly believes that originality does not exist anymore. He supports his theory by quoting Terence, a famous playwright in second century B.C.: “there’s nothing to say that hasn’t been said before” (qtd. in Kennedy). I disagree with him, and feel that even though some ideas may not be original, the expression of these ideas can still have personal meaning and be innovative. A panel of literary and field experts would be a great way to shed some light on the subject. A few things the panel should consider when appropriation issues for literary works come up are: Is the work in question substantial enough to stand on it’s own without the borrowed ideas or materials? Does the author differentiate himself from the borrowed work in a meaningful way, whether it’s with his own writing style, strong personal opinions or views?
Some artists may have gone to the same art school, learned the same fundamental concepts, or been taught by teachers with the same school of thought, but real innovation is how they apply this skill in expressing themselves through art. For instance, I was listening to Lady GaGa’s The Fame Monster the other day, and came across the song Alejandro. I immediately recognized the melody in the chorus- it sounded a little too similar to Ace of Base’s early 90’s hit Don’t Turn Around. The beats in Alejandro’s chorus sound like it was taken straight from the beats that plays thoughout the entire Ace of Base song. Lady GaGa sings “Don’t call my name, don’t call my name Alejandro,” instead of the “Don’t turn around, or you’ll see my heart breaking,” as is the chorus in Ace of Base’s song.
I realized that this was exactly what the assignment was about. Although the beats and parts of the melody of the two songs are quite indistinguishable, the similarities end there. Lady Gaga has managed to embody an entirely different character in her song. She is the Spanish girl with a heavy accent who is breaking up with her lover Alejandro. Lady Gaga’s dramatic attitude and juvenile lyrics has almost a humorous effect-something that Ace of Base lacks. Therefore, I’ve concluded that Lady Gaga has not violated any copyrite laws and shouldn’t be branded a “copycat”.
Everyday, we are exposed to all different sorts of ideas, messages, people, and movements. Every book that we read, every bit of dialogue overheard, every conversation spoken, every message read on an ad or billboard is like water that goes into a pool inside our minds. The only way to continuously grow, improve and flourish is to add as much water as possible (Kern). The boundaries of appropriation will always have gray areas, and will never be black and white. What we can do is set guidelines, and ask experts in all areas to offer their opinions on whether some credit should be given to another fellow author or creator. I believe that sharing ideas and drawing inspiration from one another will help the cultural and creative world continue to flourish.
Works Cited
Kennedy, Randy. “The Free Appropriation Writer.” Nytimes.com. The New York Times. 26. Feb. 2010. Web. 21 March 2010.
Kerns, Michelle. “The Plagiarism paradox and 10 Famous Authors Accused of Plagiarism.” Examiner.com. The Examiner. 21 April 2009. Web. 20 March 2010.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Discussion 7- Week of 4/ 5 Sam Gonzales
I didn’t understand Astruc’s “The birth or a new avant-garde: La camera-stylo,” until I heard Sam’s lecture. The clips that he showed of David Lynch’s films, and the examples that he used made the article a bit clearer for me. The only Lynch film I had seen was Mulholland Drive, and found it to be captivating and stimulating. The plot does not seem to run in a linear fashion, and some of the scenes appear to be surreal and the imagination of the main character, Betty. Sam’s lecture on the importance of the camera pen, or writing directly on film without bothering with the separation of the script-writer, director and producer, reminds me of the movie Memento, which I believe fits in this genre. This cleverly made film is one of my favorites, and is told in two different narratives- one that is in chronological order, and the other in reverse-chronological order. Nolan is one of the few Hollywood writers and directors to think outside the box and make films that are not the typical “Hollywood blockbusters”. His style is dramatic and raw, and really takes you inside the skin of his characters.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Discussion Week of 3/29- Paul Ryan Lecture
I found Professor Paul Ryan’s theories and thinking to be very interesting. Reading his findings on “threeing” and relationships were a bit confusing at first, but after reading through a few times, I found them to be universally applicable to any situation that involves collaboration with people. I was particularly intrigued by Chapter One: The Three Way Solution. I agree with him that a relationship between two people does not address the differences between them, and that understanding can only be achieved with a third person. Many couples often can’t see the conflicts in their relationship because they are relating only to one another. Only when a third person is brought into the mix, can comparisons be made and conflicts resolved.
I read through Professor Ryan’s Threeing lessons, like the listening exercise that he proposed. I think it’s a very clever way to give each member a different role, and encourage each member to address a different part of the story being told.In this way, each member listens for something different within the story, feelings, patterns, etc, and will be able to offer a different perspective for the storyteller. Ryan’s idea of shifting roles will also help to avoid conflict which occurs when power or roles are unevenly distributed. I’m definitely interested in taking a class with Professor Ryan in the near future.
I read through Professor Ryan’s Threeing lessons, like the listening exercise that he proposed. I think it’s a very clever way to give each member a different role, and encourage each member to address a different part of the story being told.In this way, each member listens for something different within the story, feelings, patterns, etc, and will be able to offer a different perspective for the storyteller. Ryan’s idea of shifting roles will also help to avoid conflict which occurs when power or roles are unevenly distributed. I’m definitely interested in taking a class with Professor Ryan in the near future.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Abstract 2- Celebrity Twitter: Strategies of Intrusion and Disclosure in the Age of Technoculture
This article explains how and why celebrities use Twitter as the newest form of image control in our media obsessed society. In our society today, anyone, from gossip magazines, the paparazzi, to a fan on a discussion board can sabotage a celebrity’s image or create an unfavorable persona. In the 1920’s, the movie studios and agencies tightly controlled a star’s image, but the rise of Television quickly gave way to new outlets of intrusion, such as the gossip magazine Confidential, where scandalous stories about celebrities were printed.
In our society today, it is tougher than ever before for a public figure to maintain a good image, especially with the popularity of picture/video phones, social networking sites and YouTube, where tons of information can be received almost instantaneously. Celebrities are counteracting these new mediums of intrusion by Tweeting. In other words, Twitter poses as a real voice to validate rumors and stories that may be floating in cyber space.
This article is well argued with logical reasoning, quotes from image experts and strong knowledge of the history of image in Hollywood. It offers a more thought-provoking and reasonable explanation for the rise of Twitter use in celebrities. I’ve always wondered why they would voluntarily sign up for another medium where people will be able to track their whereabouts-as if the paparazzi and entertainment shows weren’t enough. This article puts this question to rest. However, this article fails to give any examples where a celebrity has actually used Twitter to squash rumors. I believe this would have given the article more authenticity.
Muntean, Nick, and Anne Helen Petersen. “Celebrity Twitter: Strategies of Intrusion and Disclosure in the Age of Technoculture.” A Journal of Media and Culture. Vol. 12. Issue. 5. Dec 2009: 1-13. Print
In our society today, it is tougher than ever before for a public figure to maintain a good image, especially with the popularity of picture/video phones, social networking sites and YouTube, where tons of information can be received almost instantaneously. Celebrities are counteracting these new mediums of intrusion by Tweeting. In other words, Twitter poses as a real voice to validate rumors and stories that may be floating in cyber space.
This article is well argued with logical reasoning, quotes from image experts and strong knowledge of the history of image in Hollywood. It offers a more thought-provoking and reasonable explanation for the rise of Twitter use in celebrities. I’ve always wondered why they would voluntarily sign up for another medium where people will be able to track their whereabouts-as if the paparazzi and entertainment shows weren’t enough. This article puts this question to rest. However, this article fails to give any examples where a celebrity has actually used Twitter to squash rumors. I believe this would have given the article more authenticity.
Muntean, Nick, and Anne Helen Petersen. “Celebrity Twitter: Strategies of Intrusion and Disclosure in the Age of Technoculture.” A Journal of Media and Culture. Vol. 12. Issue. 5. Dec 2009: 1-13. Print
Abstract 1- Women and the Media
The article Women And The Media, addresses the on-going struggle with the media to break out of the stereotypical gender roles assigned to women at home, in workplace and society in Poland. In all aspects of Polish media, such as commercials, soap operas, news programs, etc, women are typically shown in traditional or socially accepted roles happily performing duties that are considered gender appropriate. There is also a lack of coverage of women’s issues, such as gender discrimination in the press. Images of women in the media reinforce the old cultural stereotypes that we have been taught at a young age, and continue to hinder the progress for women’s rights.
The authors provide some insight of possible solutions to this inequality in the media. They recommend increasing women’s participation on all levels of decision making in the media, revising existing laws to encourage gender equality, and educating everyone in the media business about gender bias.
I feel that this is a well-defended article about the portrayal of women in the media. The article included many different quotes from various books and experts, and included many different aspects of media to defend its position. One of the major shortcomings of the article is that it does not talk about how the images of women in the media are affecting the lifestyles and behaviors of women in the Polish society, as inferred in the beginning of the article. This article reinforces my belief that the media’s portrayal of women is a problem here in the U.S. as well, and not just in Poland.
Olczyk, Eliza, and Anna Twardowska. “Women and the Media.” Polish women in the 90’s-report of Women’s Rights Center. Women’s Rights Center. N.d. Web. 5 March 2010.
http://www.cpk.org.pl/images/artykuly/attach_166.pdf
The authors provide some insight of possible solutions to this inequality in the media. They recommend increasing women’s participation on all levels of decision making in the media, revising existing laws to encourage gender equality, and educating everyone in the media business about gender bias.
I feel that this is a well-defended article about the portrayal of women in the media. The article included many different quotes from various books and experts, and included many different aspects of media to defend its position. One of the major shortcomings of the article is that it does not talk about how the images of women in the media are affecting the lifestyles and behaviors of women in the Polish society, as inferred in the beginning of the article. This article reinforces my belief that the media’s portrayal of women is a problem here in the U.S. as well, and not just in Poland.
Olczyk, Eliza, and Anna Twardowska. “Women and the Media.” Polish women in the 90’s-report of Women’s Rights Center. Women’s Rights Center. N.d. Web. 5 March 2010.
http://www.cpk.org.pl/images/artykuly/attach_166.pdf
Discussion: Rushkoff & Ellsworth
I found both Rushkoff and Ellsworth's video's to be very interesting and thought-provoking.
For a while now, I have been feeling very unhappy at work, because the slow realization that I am nothing more than just a robot that helps advance a corporation is something that I've been unable to ignore. It's true, we are given benefits, like a nice paycheck, medical plans and a 401K, but at what costs? I feel like I work hard everyday at manipulating data just so I can land more clients to advertise with NBC, but what have I really gained? Self-satisfaction? Self-worth? At the end of my life, is this going to matter at all? That I landed the Victoria secret account and we celebrated with champagne & strawberries? I don't think so.
I agree with Rushkoff that our lives are operating more like a corporation- we are living less life, with less real human interactions. We compete with one another to see who makes the highest sales, or who gets promoted faster. Who benefits from all this? The corporation ofcourse. The harder we work and the harder we compete, the more money the corporation makes. It's something we just can't escape from.
We're always playing by someone else's rules.
Rushkoff's theory about always being one step behind our technology also intrigued me. It's true that computers used to require a lot more programming skills. I've always viewed the new "user-friendly interface" as a positive thing, but his reasoning has made me re-evaluate my views. His idea that we are now being defined by media (ie selecting from drop-down boxes in facebook) so that advertisers can better target us, makes me really angry that I haven't realized this before. It makes me feel like we are being used, and there's nothing much we can do about it.
As for Ellsworth, her theory that we can be "monitorial citizens" has already taken affect, as seen on various sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc or different modes of technology (cell phone cameras, ipod video features). Our advanced technology that allows us to get information instantly has changed the way we see the world. For instance,there has been cases where a thief on a subway has been captured thanks to a quick-thinking person who snapped his picture on their cell phone before he got away. When the thief's picture gets on the evening news, everyone will be warned to be aware of him. In this way, people are protecting their own neighborhoods and using technology and the media to spread the word.
For a while now, I have been feeling very unhappy at work, because the slow realization that I am nothing more than just a robot that helps advance a corporation is something that I've been unable to ignore. It's true, we are given benefits, like a nice paycheck, medical plans and a 401K, but at what costs? I feel like I work hard everyday at manipulating data just so I can land more clients to advertise with NBC, but what have I really gained? Self-satisfaction? Self-worth? At the end of my life, is this going to matter at all? That I landed the Victoria secret account and we celebrated with champagne & strawberries? I don't think so.
I agree with Rushkoff that our lives are operating more like a corporation- we are living less life, with less real human interactions. We compete with one another to see who makes the highest sales, or who gets promoted faster. Who benefits from all this? The corporation ofcourse. The harder we work and the harder we compete, the more money the corporation makes. It's something we just can't escape from.
We're always playing by someone else's rules.
Rushkoff's theory about always being one step behind our technology also intrigued me. It's true that computers used to require a lot more programming skills. I've always viewed the new "user-friendly interface" as a positive thing, but his reasoning has made me re-evaluate my views. His idea that we are now being defined by media (ie selecting from drop-down boxes in facebook) so that advertisers can better target us, makes me really angry that I haven't realized this before. It makes me feel like we are being used, and there's nothing much we can do about it.
As for Ellsworth, her theory that we can be "monitorial citizens" has already taken affect, as seen on various sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc or different modes of technology (cell phone cameras, ipod video features). Our advanced technology that allows us to get information instantly has changed the way we see the world. For instance,there has been cases where a thief on a subway has been captured thanks to a quick-thinking person who snapped his picture on their cell phone before he got away. When the thief's picture gets on the evening news, everyone will be warned to be aware of him. In this way, people are protecting their own neighborhoods and using technology and the media to spread the word.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Intellectual Autobiography
My decision to pursue a Master of Arts in media studies stems from my interest in the ever-evolving media world, desire to increase visibility of real women and positive role models in the media, and passion to learn effective campaign strategies to promote healthy lifestyles and positive self-esteem in young women. We are bombarded with sexy and suggestive images of women everywhere-their bodies are used to sell products on TV, older actresses are overlooked to make room for younger ones in movies, and celebrity bodies are airbrushed until they don’t even look human anymore (“Beauty and Body Image in the Media”).
According to the Media Awareness Network, advertisers reason that they don’t use real women because only thin models spur the sales of beauty products (“Beauty and Body Image in the Media”). In a society where unrealistic standards of beauty have been set, many young women feel they have fallen short of these distorted expectations and turn to unhealthy eating behaviors and other drastic measures to compensate, resulting in depression, eating disorders, and self-esteem issues.
I grew up in a conservative and well-educated Chinese household, where I was taught at an early age the importance of ability and personal character. Moving to the United States with my parents was a huge adjustment for me. I attended a Manhattan private school, and though I learned the language quickly, I always felt somewhat different from my schoolmates. While growing up, I compared myself to the beautiful models that I saw in magazines, and wished that I were taller, had a straighter nose, and deep-set eyes. Everywhere I looked, the messages were the same: if we only lost ten pounds, had the perfect hair, less wrinkles, or bigger breasts, then our lives would be perfect (“Beauty and Body Image in the Media”). I feel fortunate that I wasn’t sucked into this warped reality, and didn’t develop an eating disorder or any emotional damage, but I can understand why many teens would feel the pressure to change their physical appearances be feel beautiful and accepted. I am thankful for the caring and supportive environment that my parents created for me growing up because it was fundamental in my intellectual and emotional development.
Another person who has inspired my intellectual growth is my grandfather. My grandfather was a brilliant writer- a journalist for a well-respected newspaper in Shanghai. When I was a young girl, he took me to many book signings and press conferences. Our favorite past time was spent in the libraries researching facts for his upcoming stories. My grandfather wrote stories revealing the corruption of the Chinese government, the struggles of the poor, and discrimination against the elderly. He became the voice for the victims who could not speak up for themselves. He fought tirelessly for what he believed in and dedicated his life to improving the lives of others. His courage and perseverance in bringing change to a world of injustice has motivated me to enter this field of study as an advocate and take charge of a rising problem that I believe is poisoning today’s youth. My grandfather continues to be one of my greatest inspirations.
While pursuing my Communication degree, I was fortunate enough to study with many passionate and dedicated professors, who encouraged and guided me through out my years at Rutgers and beyond. One of my favorite classes there was Health Communication, a course taught by Professor Yanovitzky. He instructed about many different techniques that can be used to design and deliver a successful campaign with health-related messages. His class inspired my thesis in college, which was on different ways we can use the media to improve children’s eating habits. My research on the topic led me to some disturbing facts about girls as young as 8 starting to diet, and sparked my interest in the influence of media on young girls and ways to prevent unhealthy behaviors.
I also studied Nutrition at Rutgers, and worked with Dr. Watford in many research projects designed to change the unhealthy eating habits among college students, especially females. One of the most memorable projects was one that I did on the nutrition IQ and eating habits of freshmen. After conducting surveys, I was alarmed by the high number of females who admitted they rarely ate three proper meals a day that included the recommended daily servings of protein, vegetables and fruits. Most of the women reported that they lived on cereal and milk, sandwiches or nutrition bars. They were also clueless about which foods contained protein, fiber, etc. I realized there was a high need for an intervention- we needed to find out why these students were living on such meager diets and how to change their unhealthy behaviors.
Along with the nutrition team at Rutgers, we created a campaign that aimed to educate freshmen about the importance of eating right and basic nutrition. For a year, we spoke at various dining halls and residence halls, and even had interactive games the students could play to win prices. By the end of the year, we conducted another round of interviews, and found that there was a 32% increase in nutrition knowledge (which foods had the most protein, iron, etc). I was thrilled by the difference that we had made in just one year, and realized how much I love working in health communication.
The media gives us the impression that the female body constantly needs to be improved and is a work in progress. We are made to believe that we are not good enough the way we are, and need to be thinner, taller, and sexier. Popular reality shows like “The Girls Next Door” portray these plastic Barbie-like women who frolic around half-naked and spend their boyfriend’s money. It seems more and more celebrities are rising in fame because of sex scandals, plastic surgeries or risqué behaviors. It bothers me to see young girls admiring insecure women like Heidi Montag or wanting to spend their life partying away like Paris Hilton. Too many young women are disillusioned and made to believe that beauty and desirability are the keys to success and happiness (Jayson). We are in need of better role models in the media-women who are recognized for their contributions, strength, and character instead of the size of their dress.
My future goals consist of creating and executing effective campaigns targeted toward teens and young women that promote healthier eating habits, healthier lifestyles and body confidence. I’d love to work for a prominent organization, like the United States Department of Agriculture as an advocate or spokesperson for young women’s health, and travel to middle schools, high schools and colleges to educate females about proper nutrition and building body confidence.
In order to get there, I will need to take a few methodology classes, so that I can learn proper ways to conduct surveys, interviews and analyze the data that I will collect for future research. I’d also like to take production and design classes, so that I would have the experience necessary to produce commercials or perhaps my own show featuring real women of all shapes, sizes and ethnicities that exhibit characteristics worthy of admiration. Further down the road, pursuing a masters in Nutritional Sciences or Health Communication would also be a great addition to my credibility and credentials. I intend to change the way women view themselves and hope for a day in the near future when women of all ages can look inside themselves for confidence and validation.
Works Cited
“Beauty and Body Image in the Media.” Media Issues. Media Awareness Network, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2010.
Jayson, Sharon. “Media Cited for Showing Girls as Sex Objects.” USAtoday.com. USA Today, 20 Feb. 2007. Web. 22 Feb. 2010.
According to the Media Awareness Network, advertisers reason that they don’t use real women because only thin models spur the sales of beauty products (“Beauty and Body Image in the Media”). In a society where unrealistic standards of beauty have been set, many young women feel they have fallen short of these distorted expectations and turn to unhealthy eating behaviors and other drastic measures to compensate, resulting in depression, eating disorders, and self-esteem issues.
I grew up in a conservative and well-educated Chinese household, where I was taught at an early age the importance of ability and personal character. Moving to the United States with my parents was a huge adjustment for me. I attended a Manhattan private school, and though I learned the language quickly, I always felt somewhat different from my schoolmates. While growing up, I compared myself to the beautiful models that I saw in magazines, and wished that I were taller, had a straighter nose, and deep-set eyes. Everywhere I looked, the messages were the same: if we only lost ten pounds, had the perfect hair, less wrinkles, or bigger breasts, then our lives would be perfect (“Beauty and Body Image in the Media”). I feel fortunate that I wasn’t sucked into this warped reality, and didn’t develop an eating disorder or any emotional damage, but I can understand why many teens would feel the pressure to change their physical appearances be feel beautiful and accepted. I am thankful for the caring and supportive environment that my parents created for me growing up because it was fundamental in my intellectual and emotional development.
Another person who has inspired my intellectual growth is my grandfather. My grandfather was a brilliant writer- a journalist for a well-respected newspaper in Shanghai. When I was a young girl, he took me to many book signings and press conferences. Our favorite past time was spent in the libraries researching facts for his upcoming stories. My grandfather wrote stories revealing the corruption of the Chinese government, the struggles of the poor, and discrimination against the elderly. He became the voice for the victims who could not speak up for themselves. He fought tirelessly for what he believed in and dedicated his life to improving the lives of others. His courage and perseverance in bringing change to a world of injustice has motivated me to enter this field of study as an advocate and take charge of a rising problem that I believe is poisoning today’s youth. My grandfather continues to be one of my greatest inspirations.
While pursuing my Communication degree, I was fortunate enough to study with many passionate and dedicated professors, who encouraged and guided me through out my years at Rutgers and beyond. One of my favorite classes there was Health Communication, a course taught by Professor Yanovitzky. He instructed about many different techniques that can be used to design and deliver a successful campaign with health-related messages. His class inspired my thesis in college, which was on different ways we can use the media to improve children’s eating habits. My research on the topic led me to some disturbing facts about girls as young as 8 starting to diet, and sparked my interest in the influence of media on young girls and ways to prevent unhealthy behaviors.
I also studied Nutrition at Rutgers, and worked with Dr. Watford in many research projects designed to change the unhealthy eating habits among college students, especially females. One of the most memorable projects was one that I did on the nutrition IQ and eating habits of freshmen. After conducting surveys, I was alarmed by the high number of females who admitted they rarely ate three proper meals a day that included the recommended daily servings of protein, vegetables and fruits. Most of the women reported that they lived on cereal and milk, sandwiches or nutrition bars. They were also clueless about which foods contained protein, fiber, etc. I realized there was a high need for an intervention- we needed to find out why these students were living on such meager diets and how to change their unhealthy behaviors.
Along with the nutrition team at Rutgers, we created a campaign that aimed to educate freshmen about the importance of eating right and basic nutrition. For a year, we spoke at various dining halls and residence halls, and even had interactive games the students could play to win prices. By the end of the year, we conducted another round of interviews, and found that there was a 32% increase in nutrition knowledge (which foods had the most protein, iron, etc). I was thrilled by the difference that we had made in just one year, and realized how much I love working in health communication.
The media gives us the impression that the female body constantly needs to be improved and is a work in progress. We are made to believe that we are not good enough the way we are, and need to be thinner, taller, and sexier. Popular reality shows like “The Girls Next Door” portray these plastic Barbie-like women who frolic around half-naked and spend their boyfriend’s money. It seems more and more celebrities are rising in fame because of sex scandals, plastic surgeries or risqué behaviors. It bothers me to see young girls admiring insecure women like Heidi Montag or wanting to spend their life partying away like Paris Hilton. Too many young women are disillusioned and made to believe that beauty and desirability are the keys to success and happiness (Jayson). We are in need of better role models in the media-women who are recognized for their contributions, strength, and character instead of the size of their dress.
My future goals consist of creating and executing effective campaigns targeted toward teens and young women that promote healthier eating habits, healthier lifestyles and body confidence. I’d love to work for a prominent organization, like the United States Department of Agriculture as an advocate or spokesperson for young women’s health, and travel to middle schools, high schools and colleges to educate females about proper nutrition and building body confidence.
In order to get there, I will need to take a few methodology classes, so that I can learn proper ways to conduct surveys, interviews and analyze the data that I will collect for future research. I’d also like to take production and design classes, so that I would have the experience necessary to produce commercials or perhaps my own show featuring real women of all shapes, sizes and ethnicities that exhibit characteristics worthy of admiration. Further down the road, pursuing a masters in Nutritional Sciences or Health Communication would also be a great addition to my credibility and credentials. I intend to change the way women view themselves and hope for a day in the near future when women of all ages can look inside themselves for confidence and validation.
Works Cited
“Beauty and Body Image in the Media.” Media Issues. Media Awareness Network, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2010.
Jayson, Sharon. “Media Cited for Showing Girls as Sex Objects.” USAtoday.com. USA Today, 20 Feb. 2007. Web. 22 Feb. 2010.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Discussions for class
My posts haven't been showing up on the discussion board even after I hit submit, so I'm going to put all my previous discussions for class on my blog, along with all future discussions.
INTRODUCTION-posted 1/29
Hi everyone
My name is Cui Wang (pronounced Sway) and I'm currently working in ad sales research for NBC in midtown. I graduated from Rutgers with a B.A in Communication and I'm really excited to be back in school again. At the moment, I'm undecided about my concentration, but would like to take classes in media management and try my hands at production.
I hope you all have a great semester! ;)
DISCUSSION 1-posted 2/6
I enjoyed Carol's presentation a great deal. It gave me a better picture of the origins of many of the theories, concepts, and ideas that continue to shape what media and communication are today.
I was struck by her slide on the Buddha, and have been doing some research on Buddhism and it's origins and teachings. The basic principles of living a honest life, being truthful, doing our best at all times, and treating others with respect are qualities that we should all strive toward, and can still be applied to the world today, especially the media and journalism realms.
I was also fascinated with video art- can't wait to check out the links that Heather provided! Thanks Heather!
DISCUSSION 2-MEDIA & HEALTH posted 2/16
I found the Mills and Mattern readings to be very helpful in terms of organizing my ideas and thoughts for my autobiography paper. For a while, I was feeling very frustrated, not knowing where to begin or how to narrow the focus of my thoughts to a meaningful topic worth researching.
I’m in the habit of making lists, and scribbling down thoughtful notes when new ideas hit me, so I was happy to see that I was taking a step in the right direction, according to both Mills and Mattern. Mills’ suggestion of keeping a journal in order to encourage intellectual growth really appeals to me. It makes a lot of sense for me because thoughts tend to get jumbled inside my head and then they sort of scatter if I don’t make the effort to catch them at the right time. I think keeping a small portable journal would be a good idea for me- this way, I can capture feelings, experiences, and ideas while they are fresh in my mind.
I also highlighted Mills’ paragraph on the three questions that we should consider when putting together our research paper- 1. How difficult and complex after all is my subject? 2. When I write, what status am I claiming for myself? 3. For whom am I trying to write?
Too often, we forget who our audience is, and our argument or ideas fall on deaf ears. We need to think about who we are trying to convince and understand where they’re coming from before we can formulate our own arguments.
As for my research paper, I’d like to concentrate on the effects of Media on the emotional development and the health of teen girls. I feel that in our society, the media has flooded our minds with unhealthy and unattainable images of beauty, with shows like The Girls Next Door and Gossip Girl. Teens are at an age where they are most vulnerable and eager to be accepted. While I was a student at Rutgers, I worked with many teens with self-esteem problems and eating disorders. They believed that molding themselves to fit our society’s idea of beauty was their only ticket to popularity, acceptance and success in life.
I’d like to find possible solutions to these problems, such as ways to promote more real, healthy and intelligent women as role models in the Media, build a higher number of appealing health advocacy campaigns and programs (similar to the Milk campaigns and controversial anti-smoking ads) on TV and in schools. With a background in Communication and Nutritional Sciences, I’ve always been interested in health advocacy and believe this is where my passion lies. I was lucky to have studied with some brilliant and passionate professors who inspired me to follow my interests and to pursue a Master’s degree.
That’s it for now…more to come…
OPERA-posted wed 2/24
Hi everyone! Hope you're all warm and dry on this crappy day.
My boyfriend and I went to the Opera for the first time last week and saw Ariadne auf Naxos. It was an extremely eye-opening experience for me- I had always imagined the Opera to be slow and boring, without being able to understand any of the lyrics or plot. I was pleasantly surprised to see that there's a small screen in the front of each seat, where you can choose subtitles in either English or German, since the Opera was sung in German.
The Opera was neither dry or slow- it was humorous, raunchy, and passionate. Audriadne was composed of two parts- the Prologue and the Opera. It's a play within a play, in which the prologue shows two very different theatre groups (a burlesque troupe, and the other an Opera company) backstage in the house of "the richest man in Vienna", getting ready to perform. The two groups are stunned to find out that the master of the house wants them to put on a performance at the same time, and then the Opera begins.
As you can imagine, there were a lot of funny moments, since the Opera group was putting on a very serious and melancholy play about Adriadne being left on an island and abandoned by her lover, while the burlesque group was trying to cheer her up with clown like dances and songs.
I have to admit that I enjoyed the show very much-all three hours of it. The costumes were beautiful and the singing was something out of a dream. I am a big fan of broadway and never thought I would like Opera, but I'm definitely happy to be wrong in this case. I would highly recommend it to all!
Here's the link if anyone's interested:
http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/season/production.aspx?id=10440
INTRODUCTION-posted 1/29
Hi everyone
My name is Cui Wang (pronounced Sway) and I'm currently working in ad sales research for NBC in midtown. I graduated from Rutgers with a B.A in Communication and I'm really excited to be back in school again. At the moment, I'm undecided about my concentration, but would like to take classes in media management and try my hands at production.
I hope you all have a great semester! ;)
DISCUSSION 1-posted 2/6
I enjoyed Carol's presentation a great deal. It gave me a better picture of the origins of many of the theories, concepts, and ideas that continue to shape what media and communication are today.
I was struck by her slide on the Buddha, and have been doing some research on Buddhism and it's origins and teachings. The basic principles of living a honest life, being truthful, doing our best at all times, and treating others with respect are qualities that we should all strive toward, and can still be applied to the world today, especially the media and journalism realms.
I was also fascinated with video art- can't wait to check out the links that Heather provided! Thanks Heather!
DISCUSSION 2-MEDIA & HEALTH posted 2/16
I found the Mills and Mattern readings to be very helpful in terms of organizing my ideas and thoughts for my autobiography paper. For a while, I was feeling very frustrated, not knowing where to begin or how to narrow the focus of my thoughts to a meaningful topic worth researching.
I’m in the habit of making lists, and scribbling down thoughtful notes when new ideas hit me, so I was happy to see that I was taking a step in the right direction, according to both Mills and Mattern. Mills’ suggestion of keeping a journal in order to encourage intellectual growth really appeals to me. It makes a lot of sense for me because thoughts tend to get jumbled inside my head and then they sort of scatter if I don’t make the effort to catch them at the right time. I think keeping a small portable journal would be a good idea for me- this way, I can capture feelings, experiences, and ideas while they are fresh in my mind.
I also highlighted Mills’ paragraph on the three questions that we should consider when putting together our research paper- 1. How difficult and complex after all is my subject? 2. When I write, what status am I claiming for myself? 3. For whom am I trying to write?
Too often, we forget who our audience is, and our argument or ideas fall on deaf ears. We need to think about who we are trying to convince and understand where they’re coming from before we can formulate our own arguments.
As for my research paper, I’d like to concentrate on the effects of Media on the emotional development and the health of teen girls. I feel that in our society, the media has flooded our minds with unhealthy and unattainable images of beauty, with shows like The Girls Next Door and Gossip Girl. Teens are at an age where they are most vulnerable and eager to be accepted. While I was a student at Rutgers, I worked with many teens with self-esteem problems and eating disorders. They believed that molding themselves to fit our society’s idea of beauty was their only ticket to popularity, acceptance and success in life.
I’d like to find possible solutions to these problems, such as ways to promote more real, healthy and intelligent women as role models in the Media, build a higher number of appealing health advocacy campaigns and programs (similar to the Milk campaigns and controversial anti-smoking ads) on TV and in schools. With a background in Communication and Nutritional Sciences, I’ve always been interested in health advocacy and believe this is where my passion lies. I was lucky to have studied with some brilliant and passionate professors who inspired me to follow my interests and to pursue a Master’s degree.
That’s it for now…more to come…
OPERA-posted wed 2/24
Hi everyone! Hope you're all warm and dry on this crappy day.
My boyfriend and I went to the Opera for the first time last week and saw Ariadne auf Naxos. It was an extremely eye-opening experience for me- I had always imagined the Opera to be slow and boring, without being able to understand any of the lyrics or plot. I was pleasantly surprised to see that there's a small screen in the front of each seat, where you can choose subtitles in either English or German, since the Opera was sung in German.
The Opera was neither dry or slow- it was humorous, raunchy, and passionate. Audriadne was composed of two parts- the Prologue and the Opera. It's a play within a play, in which the prologue shows two very different theatre groups (a burlesque troupe, and the other an Opera company) backstage in the house of "the richest man in Vienna", getting ready to perform. The two groups are stunned to find out that the master of the house wants them to put on a performance at the same time, and then the Opera begins.
As you can imagine, there were a lot of funny moments, since the Opera group was putting on a very serious and melancholy play about Adriadne being left on an island and abandoned by her lover, while the burlesque group was trying to cheer her up with clown like dances and songs.
I have to admit that I enjoyed the show very much-all three hours of it. The costumes were beautiful and the singing was something out of a dream. I am a big fan of broadway and never thought I would like Opera, but I'm definitely happy to be wrong in this case. I would highly recommend it to all!
Here's the link if anyone's interested:
http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/season/production.aspx?id=10440
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
It's an 8...at most
I've been very frustrated with my hair lately, and have been looking for a leave in conditioner that will give me some shine and texture to my dull long black locks. Well, I did some research on the web (I'm a researcher...it's my job!)and found a numerous amount of positive reviews for a conditioner called "It's a 10 miracle Hair mask". It promises to strengthen, soften, add shine, de-tangle, de-frizz (basically turn your hair into Isla Fisher's)...so I decided to buy it and give it a try. Well, after one use, I have to say I'm pleased with the results. My hair did look shinier, more jet black, and had a nice textured glow. Unfortunately, I also thought it looked a bit greasy, and it didn't seem to help with the knots. The shine wore off after I washed my hair again, so I guess in order to get the same results you have to use it everytime you shampoo. Like I said, at most I give it an 8, but then again, you might already have Isla Fisher's hair and not need any miracles...
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