For all you young women who think it's fun to drink alcohol:
(Maybe this might change your mind next time you want to go out and party.)
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Response to "The Merchants of Cool"
What do you think is cool? Well, honestly, from past experience, “cool” is what everyone else is into and likes. You “cool” only if your “in with the crowd” and basically fit in with the popular group. I know, it sounds a lot like those years called high school, but for the most part, they are almost dead on. By definition, cool means of a colder temperature, but the times have changed since that was invented and cool now means, “the want to be like or look up to someone or something that is awesome.” Confusing, maybe, but I think with the youth intelligence in our class, this is already engraved in our minds. Teenagers, especially, live by this definition 24/7 in order to function and make friends. The video “The Merchants of Cool” dramatically depicts these intertwining meanings.
In this film, the merchants are trying to find what is “cool” to the head boy or girl of the popular group in order to try and sell that product or idea to them so their interest with spark other interests as well and create a downward spiral of money profit to this merchant. This plot becomes rather interesting because this idea doesn’t really come out they way these workers hypothesized it to be. The kids, first off, don’t tell them exactly what’s “cool” or what’s “in”, and whenever these workers do figure out what is “cool,” it’s too late and the ship of popularity on that product has sailed. I found this very entertaining and funny because it just seemed like a big rat race and these merchants ended up just running around in circles. The “cool” factor in society is forever rapidly changing, and I can back this fact up personally. For example, I don’t know how many songs I go through on my ipod just because I get sick of them or hear something new that has come along that sounds more appealing. I guess this is just how we kids are, short enjoyment characteristics or something.
I personally liked this film because it used our country’s youth’s likes to shape the future of everyone. They way the producers use this appeal to tell the story made the documentary way more aggressive and appealing to a wider audience. The people or kids that they chose to use for the film couldn’t have been better. I liked the variety of different kinds of kids they used, such as the cool “gangster-ish” boys in the beginning or the girl that would do anything to look good so that she can become a model. In addition to all of this, the commentating provided an easier medium for the audience to comprehend all of the material together. This film could easily be used in a classroom setting for students to appreciate the evolution of “cool” from our societies past, present and future. I would recommend this film to any teacher who might be struggling to Memetics to their students, no doubt.
In this film, the merchants are trying to find what is “cool” to the head boy or girl of the popular group in order to try and sell that product or idea to them so their interest with spark other interests as well and create a downward spiral of money profit to this merchant. This plot becomes rather interesting because this idea doesn’t really come out they way these workers hypothesized it to be. The kids, first off, don’t tell them exactly what’s “cool” or what’s “in”, and whenever these workers do figure out what is “cool,” it’s too late and the ship of popularity on that product has sailed. I found this very entertaining and funny because it just seemed like a big rat race and these merchants ended up just running around in circles. The “cool” factor in society is forever rapidly changing, and I can back this fact up personally. For example, I don’t know how many songs I go through on my ipod just because I get sick of them or hear something new that has come along that sounds more appealing. I guess this is just how we kids are, short enjoyment characteristics or something.
I personally liked this film because it used our country’s youth’s likes to shape the future of everyone. They way the producers use this appeal to tell the story made the documentary way more aggressive and appealing to a wider audience. The people or kids that they chose to use for the film couldn’t have been better. I liked the variety of different kinds of kids they used, such as the cool “gangster-ish” boys in the beginning or the girl that would do anything to look good so that she can become a model. In addition to all of this, the commentating provided an easier medium for the audience to comprehend all of the material together. This film could easily be used in a classroom setting for students to appreciate the evolution of “cool” from our societies past, present and future. I would recommend this film to any teacher who might be struggling to Memetics to their students, no doubt.
Response to "The Corporation"
Although this film had depicted a very real and unrelenting side to our television media, it scared me half to death. I began to worry deeply throughout the film about what I should and shouldn’t believe anymore. I no longer have a tight grasp on the fact on whether if a story being presented to me on the television screen is honestly truthful or not. This utterly frightens me because I do not feel as if I can’t even trust anyone to describe real life facts and stories to me anymore. After viewing this documentary, questioning every piece of evidence that backs up each individual story is the first precaution I feel I must take. I, personally, cannot just leisurely watch the news to get my information now; everything has to go through a filter because of the case presented in The Corporation.
To my previous knowledge of corporation, I knew very little of how such businesses worked. I thought that a corporation was just the “top dogs” of every company who does nothing at all but still makes the most money out of every employee even though they do nothing to earn it. However, my assumptions have been proved dead wrong. A corporation is more of the “head of the household” who dictates completely what is said when, how that thing is said, and who it is said by in what tone of voice, etc. For example, like the story we were exposed to in this film, the story about the hormone-using cows and how those chemicals were getting into our milk supply and potential hurting us humans as well as animals that drank it. These facts came up on the table but because the big corporation was paid by that hormone company to keep quiet about these harmful facts, the two broadcasters had to immensely water down the story and were even secretly offered money to keep “hush hush” about the whole thing and burn it entirely. This is ultimately wrong and frightening. What other kinds of stories are out there similar to this that could be negatively effecting our health yet are not being published just so a company can make money? I have no idea and don’t think I even want to know.
These kinds of instances just make you wonder why? Or to what extent so corporations can keep making the big fat paycheck? Our lives? Possibly, I just do not know. This whole film kind of goes towards the whole childhood rule, “Do as a say, not as I do,” where a task is put at hand but there are maneuvers and detours that must be taken in order to fit the rules of the owners, bosses, businesses, etc. Corporations are forcing people, like broadcasters for instance, to come up with stories to sell their pieces to the public which in turn gets put into that “big bosses” pocket, yet they, the broadcasters, are limited to what they are able to publish. I just, for the life of me, cannot wrap my head around this concept. It seriously appalls me to no end and even brings out anger in me to here of problems like this film documents about.
To my previous knowledge of corporation, I knew very little of how such businesses worked. I thought that a corporation was just the “top dogs” of every company who does nothing at all but still makes the most money out of every employee even though they do nothing to earn it. However, my assumptions have been proved dead wrong. A corporation is more of the “head of the household” who dictates completely what is said when, how that thing is said, and who it is said by in what tone of voice, etc. For example, like the story we were exposed to in this film, the story about the hormone-using cows and how those chemicals were getting into our milk supply and potential hurting us humans as well as animals that drank it. These facts came up on the table but because the big corporation was paid by that hormone company to keep quiet about these harmful facts, the two broadcasters had to immensely water down the story and were even secretly offered money to keep “hush hush” about the whole thing and burn it entirely. This is ultimately wrong and frightening. What other kinds of stories are out there similar to this that could be negatively effecting our health yet are not being published just so a company can make money? I have no idea and don’t think I even want to know.
These kinds of instances just make you wonder why? Or to what extent so corporations can keep making the big fat paycheck? Our lives? Possibly, I just do not know. This whole film kind of goes towards the whole childhood rule, “Do as a say, not as I do,” where a task is put at hand but there are maneuvers and detours that must be taken in order to fit the rules of the owners, bosses, businesses, etc. Corporations are forcing people, like broadcasters for instance, to come up with stories to sell their pieces to the public which in turn gets put into that “big bosses” pocket, yet they, the broadcasters, are limited to what they are able to publish. I just, for the life of me, cannot wrap my head around this concept. It seriously appalls me to no end and even brings out anger in me to here of problems like this film documents about.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Week Post #5
So you think you're a bad spelling, think again. How embarrassing would it be to design a video game cover and misspell one of the World's most popular rock bands of their time? Well, according to Yahoo! news, the Rolling Stone caught a major spelling error on the new Guitar Hero video game cover of the famous band, Lynyrd Skynyrd. How stupid could you be? I just found this story very funny and entertaining. This just shows you that, although many of us might think it, media isn't perfect!!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Reading Response to Simulacra and Simulation
The article on Simulacra and Simulation was, put lightly, mind boggling. Throughout the whole article I felt as if my mind was disappearing and being mixed up both at the same time. In other words, I was utterly confused and really didn’t know what to think these two subjects. It’s as if they were just concepts on this Earth that were meant to thoroughly baffle any human being who decided to try and understand them. It’s so hard to explain Simulacra and Simulation; I don’t even know where to begin.
Primarily, Simulacra and Simulation go very deeply into the idea of reality and the signs in which are embedded inside that idea. The definition of reality is “the state of things as they actually exist.” This is saying that everything in this World that humans classify as “real” or “true” is seen as reality, as opposed to something that is imaginary. Everything that we can prove with unquestionable evidence to be factual is defined as reality. However, Jean Baudrillard took this concept and stretched it and expanded in order to prove the “realness” of “reality.” He believed that reality was just a simulation of reality expressed through symbols and signs, meaning that there is really no such thing as reality. What? Can this subject get any more confusing? Jean would rather look too hard into one complex subject than just let it be what it is and let it go. In my opinion, he was just a weird, lonely man with a lot of time on his hands and nothing to do but think.
In my frame of mind on this subject, I just think that reality is what us humans think of as everything that is “authentic” and “true” around us. We have to have one word for everything we want to describe because that is just how human beings have found language. If you really wanted to, you could break down every single word in the English dictionary and make up or pretend it is of something from a different realm. I find it as a waste of time and rather preposterous, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Simulacra and Simulation just seems like a bogus subject that was produced to contract realism itself. I honestly do not agree with this whole article, hence the utter confusion and bewilderment.
Although many intellects may think this intense subject is one that should be elaborated on more often in society, I would have to disagree. Some things are just better left on a simple playing field, and Simulacra and Simulation is one of them. My full reaction after reading this article included, as I said before, complete confusion, obsessive focus on the beyond, and a rude awakening to over thinking. I guess I just can’t wrap this idea around my mind but, in a positive way, I see no reason that I should have to. I will, however, give major props to this deep thinking author for his profound thinking on reality in addition to symbols and signs.
Primarily, Simulacra and Simulation go very deeply into the idea of reality and the signs in which are embedded inside that idea. The definition of reality is “the state of things as they actually exist.” This is saying that everything in this World that humans classify as “real” or “true” is seen as reality, as opposed to something that is imaginary. Everything that we can prove with unquestionable evidence to be factual is defined as reality. However, Jean Baudrillard took this concept and stretched it and expanded in order to prove the “realness” of “reality.” He believed that reality was just a simulation of reality expressed through symbols and signs, meaning that there is really no such thing as reality. What? Can this subject get any more confusing? Jean would rather look too hard into one complex subject than just let it be what it is and let it go. In my opinion, he was just a weird, lonely man with a lot of time on his hands and nothing to do but think.
In my frame of mind on this subject, I just think that reality is what us humans think of as everything that is “authentic” and “true” around us. We have to have one word for everything we want to describe because that is just how human beings have found language. If you really wanted to, you could break down every single word in the English dictionary and make up or pretend it is of something from a different realm. I find it as a waste of time and rather preposterous, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Simulacra and Simulation just seems like a bogus subject that was produced to contract realism itself. I honestly do not agree with this whole article, hence the utter confusion and bewilderment.
Although many intellects may think this intense subject is one that should be elaborated on more often in society, I would have to disagree. Some things are just better left on a simple playing field, and Simulacra and Simulation is one of them. My full reaction after reading this article included, as I said before, complete confusion, obsessive focus on the beyond, and a rude awakening to over thinking. I guess I just can’t wrap this idea around my mind but, in a positive way, I see no reason that I should have to. I will, however, give major props to this deep thinking author for his profound thinking on reality in addition to symbols and signs.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Media Consumption Log Assignment
Time of Day /Type of Media /Time Spent /Affect on me
6:00 am TV 1 hour Start to my day
7:00 am Ipod 30 minutes Brings out my mood for the morning
8:00 FLC posters About a minute Just advertisements for the school
Biology textbook 1.5 hours Boring but important for my education
9:00 am Cell phone 5 minutes Text to catch up on gossip during class break
FLC posters About a minute Just walking to class, doesn’t really affect me
10:00 am Women’s Literature textbook 1.25 hours Makes me think about authors, also my writing goals
Cell phone 5 minutes Call friends to meet up for lunch
11:00 am Food label 30 minutes Advertising for brand, makes me hungry
Drink label 30 minutes Quenches my thirst
12:00 pm Internet 1 hour Aides my homework, exposes me to the real world
Cell phone 1 minute Texting is a necessity to me
Drink label 15 minutes Advertising for Starbucks, my weakness
Ipod 10 minutes A pass time in my car
1:00 pm Novel 30 minutes Just mandatory reading for class
2:00 pm American Literature Textbook 1.25 hours Bores me but opens my eyes to our nation’s history
3:00 pm Movie 20 minutes Watched in class, not too important
Cell phone 1 minute Just checking in between classes
FLC posters 1 minutes Again, just passing by
4:00 pm Internet 1 hour You Tube videos for class, conjures up questions
Drink label 1 minute Green Tea label
Cell Phone 1 minute Text a friend
Ipod 5 minutes Riding in the car, readies me for workout
Clothing brand 2 minutes Nike shoes, brings back soccer memories
5:00 pm Novel 1 hour Read during workout, class work
Ipod 1 hour Listen to music while working out, motivates me
Television 1 hour Watch every so often during workout, distraction
6:00 pm Cell phone 5 minutes Check messages
Ipod 20 minutes Listen driving home, passes the time
7:00 pm Television 2 hours Used to wind me down, an escape from reality
8:00 pm Text books 3 hours Homework for the night, bores me
9:00 pm Cell Phone 15 minutes Talk to dad, catch up
10:00 pm Television 3 hours Background noise to homework and getting ready for bed
*Times are an estimate and more than one type of medium were used at the same time; in other words overlapping was constant.*
*Hours of the day are also not exact but are as close as they could have been.*
This media consumption log was a very, very eye opening experience for me, personally. After writing everything down on paper and looking over all the types of media, how much was consumed, and the total amount of time media exposure occurs to me on a usual day, I was appalled. I’m sure this is rather normal for a college student similar to myself, but still, I can’t believe how affective media is on our world’s daily lives. Television seem to be my main source of media exposure, but that can be explained by my off-campus living life and seclusion from other student’s due to my distance gap from town. It’s not like all I do is watch TV, but whenever I’m home, doing homework, cleaning, etc. my television is on just simple for the company of a familiar noise. Nothing too terrible, but I was again, very surprised by the results.
Looking back on my chart of my personal media consumption, it’s weird to think that these mediums are, for the most part, the only subjects in which I receive and analyze my culture. Using any of these mediums is not the best way to locate and learn about my community and the world news around me. In saying this, you can conclude that I do not get enough of my cultural knowledge at all. I’m not complaining when I say this but if you were to assume I am a “typical” college student, what does that say to the cultural intelligence of every college student across the US? Not a whole lot, that’s for sure. This just goes to show you that our generation has other priorities in our lives and get what we call “news” from other, younger sources. You could also say that we particularly don’t care about our culture today and would rather steal tracks off of lime wire on the internet. I’m sorry, that’s harsh, but it’s so true.
On another hand, I did enjoy doing this assignment immensely. I found myself looking harder into the consumption of daily media and over analyzing every aspect of it. This, normally, was never the case before this log. Before this I would have never looked this hard into what I watch, listen, or see and how much, when, and where I utilize it all. In addition to that with the same frame of mind, it was kind of funny to do this project because instead of just absorbing the media itself, I started focusing on the type of media I was influenced by and the source it came from. Never would I have guessed at how deep one can truly look into the foundation of their daily knowledge and intelligence. I can honestly say that this media consumption log journal has changed my perspective on media today!
6:00 am TV 1 hour Start to my day
7:00 am Ipod 30 minutes Brings out my mood for the morning
8:00 FLC posters About a minute Just advertisements for the school
Biology textbook 1.5 hours Boring but important for my education
9:00 am Cell phone 5 minutes Text to catch up on gossip during class break
FLC posters About a minute Just walking to class, doesn’t really affect me
10:00 am Women’s Literature textbook 1.25 hours Makes me think about authors, also my writing goals
Cell phone 5 minutes Call friends to meet up for lunch
11:00 am Food label 30 minutes Advertising for brand, makes me hungry
Drink label 30 minutes Quenches my thirst
12:00 pm Internet 1 hour Aides my homework, exposes me to the real world
Cell phone 1 minute Texting is a necessity to me
Drink label 15 minutes Advertising for Starbucks, my weakness
Ipod 10 minutes A pass time in my car
1:00 pm Novel 30 minutes Just mandatory reading for class
2:00 pm American Literature Textbook 1.25 hours Bores me but opens my eyes to our nation’s history
3:00 pm Movie 20 minutes Watched in class, not too important
Cell phone 1 minute Just checking in between classes
FLC posters 1 minutes Again, just passing by
4:00 pm Internet 1 hour You Tube videos for class, conjures up questions
Drink label 1 minute Green Tea label
Cell Phone 1 minute Text a friend
Ipod 5 minutes Riding in the car, readies me for workout
Clothing brand 2 minutes Nike shoes, brings back soccer memories
5:00 pm Novel 1 hour Read during workout, class work
Ipod 1 hour Listen to music while working out, motivates me
Television 1 hour Watch every so often during workout, distraction
6:00 pm Cell phone 5 minutes Check messages
Ipod 20 minutes Listen driving home, passes the time
7:00 pm Television 2 hours Used to wind me down, an escape from reality
8:00 pm Text books 3 hours Homework for the night, bores me
9:00 pm Cell Phone 15 minutes Talk to dad, catch up
10:00 pm Television 3 hours Background noise to homework and getting ready for bed
*Times are an estimate and more than one type of medium were used at the same time; in other words overlapping was constant.*
*Hours of the day are also not exact but are as close as they could have been.*
This media consumption log was a very, very eye opening experience for me, personally. After writing everything down on paper and looking over all the types of media, how much was consumed, and the total amount of time media exposure occurs to me on a usual day, I was appalled. I’m sure this is rather normal for a college student similar to myself, but still, I can’t believe how affective media is on our world’s daily lives. Television seem to be my main source of media exposure, but that can be explained by my off-campus living life and seclusion from other student’s due to my distance gap from town. It’s not like all I do is watch TV, but whenever I’m home, doing homework, cleaning, etc. my television is on just simple for the company of a familiar noise. Nothing too terrible, but I was again, very surprised by the results.
Looking back on my chart of my personal media consumption, it’s weird to think that these mediums are, for the most part, the only subjects in which I receive and analyze my culture. Using any of these mediums is not the best way to locate and learn about my community and the world news around me. In saying this, you can conclude that I do not get enough of my cultural knowledge at all. I’m not complaining when I say this but if you were to assume I am a “typical” college student, what does that say to the cultural intelligence of every college student across the US? Not a whole lot, that’s for sure. This just goes to show you that our generation has other priorities in our lives and get what we call “news” from other, younger sources. You could also say that we particularly don’t care about our culture today and would rather steal tracks off of lime wire on the internet. I’m sorry, that’s harsh, but it’s so true.
On another hand, I did enjoy doing this assignment immensely. I found myself looking harder into the consumption of daily media and over analyzing every aspect of it. This, normally, was never the case before this log. Before this I would have never looked this hard into what I watch, listen, or see and how much, when, and where I utilize it all. In addition to that with the same frame of mind, it was kind of funny to do this project because instead of just absorbing the media itself, I started focusing on the type of media I was influenced by and the source it came from. Never would I have guessed at how deep one can truly look into the foundation of their daily knowledge and intelligence. I can honestly say that this media consumption log journal has changed my perspective on media today!
Week Post #4
Is your loved one on your mind this Valentine's Day? Show your affection to this special person by treating them to an educational, entertaining, and overall interesting presentation of The Vagina Monologues showing at The Fort this weekend. Guys, treat your girl to a one-of-a-kind show about the her own gender, and girls, convince your man to come see these monologues to possible better understand you as a female! I, personally, have not seen this show myself but have heard that is is definitely worth your time! For more information, just check out the Fort Lewis Website, as well as show times and ticket sales. Cupid is watching!!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Week Post #3
"Of course, Mr. Ledger died more than a year ago, so one may be inclined to ask where the photo came from.
The answer: 2005. The shot of Ledger was apparently taken while he was promoting "Brokeback Mountain." Editors digitally added Mr. Nolan and voilá. Some might say the digital redux is in questionable taste, but magazine reps insist they took great care and worked "with permission." We're a little fuzzy as to who, exactly, gave the OK. A Ouija board, perhaps?"
-Excerpt from Yahoo! Buzz Log by Vanity Fair's Digital Reduxby Mike Krumboltz
I came across this story while checking my email the other day and though it was very appropriate for this week's post. I was just thinking how protective some people are about their media. Something as simple as an old picture that has already been published, such as Heath Ledger's, becomes such a controversy. Do you think it;s really that big of a deal? I certainly don't. I personally think they went too far with this media medium but who am I to judge!
The answer: 2005. The shot of Ledger was apparently taken while he was promoting "Brokeback Mountain." Editors digitally added Mr. Nolan and voilá. Some might say the digital redux is in questionable taste, but magazine reps insist they took great care and worked "with permission." We're a little fuzzy as to who, exactly, gave the OK. A Ouija board, perhaps?"
-Excerpt from Yahoo! Buzz Log by Vanity Fair's Digital Reduxby Mike Krumboltz
I came across this story while checking my email the other day and though it was very appropriate for this week's post. I was just thinking how protective some people are about their media. Something as simple as an old picture that has already been published, such as Heath Ledger's, becomes such a controversy. Do you think it;s really that big of a deal? I certainly don't. I personally think they went too far with this media medium but who am I to judge!
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