2a). This story titled, “Jen and John’s Twisted Romance,” is definitely not considered real news. It does not affect the general public in any way. There are no readers in America whose lives will be altered by this proclaimed twisted romance. The news of Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer’s romantic interests only captures the attention of their devoted fans. This article can only be classified as pure gossip because the claims of the article are all from mysterious insiders. There is no interview of Jen or John Mayer to confirm the information of the flighty relationship. For all the public knows, the magazine could simply be making up the story to sell more magazines. Star magazine could be taking advantage of the vast amount of fans that both individuals involved in the so-called relationship have amassed during their careers. Also, the pictures within the article do not picture Jen and John as a couple. Instead, the pictures depict individual close ups of the two individuals.
2b). The title, Jen and John’s Twisted Romance,” does not accurately depict the contents of the article. The article discusses a lack of a romance between the two individuals and does not even display a picture of the so-called couple. It discusses a “relationship” that involves John leading Jen on towards his intention of being with her and Jen waiting and waiting for him in numerous locations, only to find out, she has been stood up. And who is to say that she was not waiting for somebody else? There is no interview of Jen, but yet the Star magazine claims that Jen is, “bound by her heartstrings to John,” and is, “broken-hearted,” when he does not come to her. The headline of this article was composed simply to amass an audience and sell more magazines. Star magazine is playing off the emotions of the loyal fans of Jen and John. After Jen’s very public break-up with her ex-husband, Brad Pitt, many people would love to see her happy again. And so Star magazine hopes to play off the emotions of these people and thus, give them a mysterious, nameless, insider’s point of view of the situation.
2c). Star magazine’s story, “Jen and John’s Twisted Romance,” does not include any verifiable facts. It gives sources that are un-identifiable. There is no way to find the “insiders,” or “Jen’s friends” that Star magazine utilized for quotes within the article. This means that there is no way to question the sources of his/her means of achieving the information on Jen and John. It also allows for all the information within the article to be completely fictitious.
2d). In the structure of the article, there is definitely faulty logic. The article claims that Jen flew to New York to visit John. And when John wouldn’t answer her calls, she just stayed in the hotel room. What is to say that Jen didn’t go to New York just to see the sights or meet up with an old friend who was also staying at that hotel? And who is to say that John was even in New York? Can’t a man travel? As a prominent celebrity/singer, he definitely must take several trips during the year to various locations. There isn’t even a source to validate the fact that John was in New York when Jen was.
Also, the magazine states that Jen sent John photo emails of herself in a bikini, claiming that she was too good for him. This inadvertently suggests to readers that Jen is a desperate woman, who will resort to sending pictures of herself to entice men to be with her. It puts a bad light on Jen’s character and is a good way to stir up controversy. By simply putting Jen in an action that is unfavorable in today’s society, Star magazine has naïve readers questioning the otherwise angelic presence of Jen. It results in the creations of even more rumors and soon Jen is seen as the “bad girl” of Hollywood.
2e). The photographs within the article do not at all relate to the contents of the story. The images are individual shots of Jen and John and don’t even depict the two as a couple! Also, the shots are from angles in which the subject is oblivious to the photographer. The pictures are obviously from paparazzi. However, the images promote the claimed emotions of Jen and John. The article states that Jen is lonely and depressed because John will not commit to her. And the photo of Jen is a close up of a glum faced, almost worried individual. On the other hand, John is seen proudly strutting down the street as the happily single man that the article describes. The story even suggests that John Mayer’s new lyrics, “I’m perfectly lonely. Caus’ I don’t belong to anyone,” is a reference to the so-called twisted romance between himself and Jen.
2f). The average reader could fall for the information within this article because the sources are claimed to be friends of Jen. Why would friends of Jen lie? And of course the magazine would not want to reveal the names of Jen’s friends. If this were done, these friends would be ambushed by the paparazzi. Thus, when Jen’s friends state that John Mayer, “drives her crazy, but she says she’s addicted. She just can’t give him up,” it must be true.
3). Star magazine includes stories like, “Jen and John’s Twisted Romance,” to amass the audience of Jen and John’s fans. Truly dedicated fans enjoy having a para- social relationship with their celebrity friends. This relationship relies heavily on the information provided by tabloid magazines. Without these magazines, fans are not updated on important love potentials, such as Jen and John’s. It comes to a point that the story doesn’t even have to be true. All that is required is for the face of a known celebrity to be on a cover and fans of the celebrity will purchase the magazine.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Simpsons "Bart Gets a Z" Questions
1. In the Simpson episode, “Bart Gets a Z”, the situation comedy value of honesty and family is presented to the viewers. When the children in a situation comedy come across a predicament, they turn to their parents for advise. This is seen in the episode when Bart asks Homer for guidance of how to fix his wrongdoing. Bart causes his teacher to become drunk by mixing her coffee with alcohol and consequently results in her being fired. After committing the act, he feels guilty and asks his father if repeating the same act to the substitute teacher would be a good idea. Homer gives his advice, but in the end, Bart turns himself admits the truth to the principal. The concept of a child admitting he/she is the wrongdoer is promoted in situation comedies because it is hoped that when children watch such a situation, they will be persuaded to do the same in a related circumstance.
2. The ideal cartoon displays destruction in which no character is really harmed. In a traditional cartoon, such as Wile E Coyote, an anvil drops on a character’s head, but yet the character walks away from it, completely unharmed. This concept is of course, un-imaginable in real life, but yet cartoons pull through with the concept successfully. The Simpsons cartoon also displays small quantities of this traditional cartoon idea. In the episode, “Bart Gets a Z”, Bart’s teacher throws The Answer Book into a blender. In real life, a book would not be disposed of in a blender, but because the Simpsons is cartoon based, it can get away with the action.
Also, when Bart causes his teacher to become drunk, she exhibits cartoon-like qualities. She balances herself on a giant globe and roles around the auditorium. Despite the fact that her judgment and vision is impaired because she is drunk, she skillfully controls an exaggerated sized globe. This action would be impossible in real life. Even if Bart’s teacher could find such a large globe, and somehow half hazard control it, there is no way that anyone would not be harmed. She would eventually fall off and break several bones of not only her own, but that of others that she would crash into.
3. In the Simpsons episode, which we watched in class, numerous examples of subject matter that might not be feasible in a conventional family situation comedy are presented. When Bart’s class starts, every child in the classroom is playing with his/her cell phone. The situation is exaggerated and the sound of cell phone beeps and chirps are heard throughout the classroom. Bart’s teacher asks the class why they all need their cell phones at such a young age and many respond “for safety reasons.” This exaggeration displays a real world classroom problem. Electronics are readily assessable in today’s world and consequently become entangled into the classroom life, where they are tremendous disturbances towards the learning process. However, because the majority of parents in today’s world believe that children need cell phones for “safety reasons,” the problem has not been addressed, as it should be.
The traditional sitcom has a fully functional family that appears to have no flaws. Families are presented as happy go lucky people who share the same house, such as the family situation comedy, Full House. However, the Simpson family displays the life of a true family. When Homer visits Bart’s school for Back to School Night, the substitute teacher shows Homer one of Bart’s drawings. It depicts Homer strangling Bart on Bart’s last Birthday. Live actors on a sitcom would never present this dysfunctional family because it would be considered too scandalous. The idea that a family could ever be so vicious is absurd to sitcom writers. However, because the Simpons is an animation, the show can be excused for exposing a family flaw. Viewers can easily view the action as a form of entertainment, such as when an anvil is dropped on Wile E Coyote. Bart’s eye bulge out of his head, unthinkable in real life, and is a funny sight in itself. How can viewers possibly take it seriously?
When Bart’s teacher is deemed by her class to be too strict, the class sets on a mission to “loosen her up.” Bart amasses a plan to loosen the teacher through alcohol. Its easiest part, as described by Bart, is getting the alcohol. This presents the real world problem that alcohol is too easily available to children. The children in the show are displayed opening cabinets with no locks and even ordering alcohol online with no restrictions. The subject of alcohol accessibility is not feasible in a conventional family situation comedy. Children shown on these shows would never even think of touching a bottle of alcohol until the proper age. But the Simpsons children characters already have worldly knowledge of alcohol. Thus, exposing the truth to alcohol availability.
4. The Simpsons is a more “real” sitcom than that of a live-action family situation because it does not cover up the truths of society, but instead boldly exposes them. In the episode, “Bart Gets a Z,” the teacher puts an educational floppy disc into the computer. This disc-storing device is obsolete, but yet the school still utilizes it despite the fact that better technologies are readily available. This is demonstrated through the fact that every student in the classroom has a cell phone. However, this sad fact is a true real-world problem. Many schools do not update their technologies, despite the fact that there are funds to do so.
A more comical exposure of the truths of society is demonstrated when the children of Bart and Lisa’s school are singing goodbye to the exchange students. The students sing that they will write to the leaving exchange students, but then contradict themselves by singing that that’s a lie. However sad it may be, when a promise to write someone is made, especially miles and miles away, it almost never is kept in today’s society. On a rare occasion, a few letters may be sent, but then the pen pal relationship is eventually forgotten as lives become too hectic. In a live-action family situation comedy, the children are presented as perfect angels that will definitely keep their promises, but the camera never shows a follow-up. The Simpsons cuts to the chase and reveals the truth.
2. The ideal cartoon displays destruction in which no character is really harmed. In a traditional cartoon, such as Wile E Coyote, an anvil drops on a character’s head, but yet the character walks away from it, completely unharmed. This concept is of course, un-imaginable in real life, but yet cartoons pull through with the concept successfully. The Simpsons cartoon also displays small quantities of this traditional cartoon idea. In the episode, “Bart Gets a Z”, Bart’s teacher throws The Answer Book into a blender. In real life, a book would not be disposed of in a blender, but because the Simpsons is cartoon based, it can get away with the action.
Also, when Bart causes his teacher to become drunk, she exhibits cartoon-like qualities. She balances herself on a giant globe and roles around the auditorium. Despite the fact that her judgment and vision is impaired because she is drunk, she skillfully controls an exaggerated sized globe. This action would be impossible in real life. Even if Bart’s teacher could find such a large globe, and somehow half hazard control it, there is no way that anyone would not be harmed. She would eventually fall off and break several bones of not only her own, but that of others that she would crash into.
3. In the Simpsons episode, which we watched in class, numerous examples of subject matter that might not be feasible in a conventional family situation comedy are presented. When Bart’s class starts, every child in the classroom is playing with his/her cell phone. The situation is exaggerated and the sound of cell phone beeps and chirps are heard throughout the classroom. Bart’s teacher asks the class why they all need their cell phones at such a young age and many respond “for safety reasons.” This exaggeration displays a real world classroom problem. Electronics are readily assessable in today’s world and consequently become entangled into the classroom life, where they are tremendous disturbances towards the learning process. However, because the majority of parents in today’s world believe that children need cell phones for “safety reasons,” the problem has not been addressed, as it should be.
The traditional sitcom has a fully functional family that appears to have no flaws. Families are presented as happy go lucky people who share the same house, such as the family situation comedy, Full House. However, the Simpson family displays the life of a true family. When Homer visits Bart’s school for Back to School Night, the substitute teacher shows Homer one of Bart’s drawings. It depicts Homer strangling Bart on Bart’s last Birthday. Live actors on a sitcom would never present this dysfunctional family because it would be considered too scandalous. The idea that a family could ever be so vicious is absurd to sitcom writers. However, because the Simpons is an animation, the show can be excused for exposing a family flaw. Viewers can easily view the action as a form of entertainment, such as when an anvil is dropped on Wile E Coyote. Bart’s eye bulge out of his head, unthinkable in real life, and is a funny sight in itself. How can viewers possibly take it seriously?
When Bart’s teacher is deemed by her class to be too strict, the class sets on a mission to “loosen her up.” Bart amasses a plan to loosen the teacher through alcohol. Its easiest part, as described by Bart, is getting the alcohol. This presents the real world problem that alcohol is too easily available to children. The children in the show are displayed opening cabinets with no locks and even ordering alcohol online with no restrictions. The subject of alcohol accessibility is not feasible in a conventional family situation comedy. Children shown on these shows would never even think of touching a bottle of alcohol until the proper age. But the Simpsons children characters already have worldly knowledge of alcohol. Thus, exposing the truth to alcohol availability.
4. The Simpsons is a more “real” sitcom than that of a live-action family situation because it does not cover up the truths of society, but instead boldly exposes them. In the episode, “Bart Gets a Z,” the teacher puts an educational floppy disc into the computer. This disc-storing device is obsolete, but yet the school still utilizes it despite the fact that better technologies are readily available. This is demonstrated through the fact that every student in the classroom has a cell phone. However, this sad fact is a true real-world problem. Many schools do not update their technologies, despite the fact that there are funds to do so.
A more comical exposure of the truths of society is demonstrated when the children of Bart and Lisa’s school are singing goodbye to the exchange students. The students sing that they will write to the leaving exchange students, but then contradict themselves by singing that that’s a lie. However sad it may be, when a promise to write someone is made, especially miles and miles away, it almost never is kept in today’s society. On a rare occasion, a few letters may be sent, but then the pen pal relationship is eventually forgotten as lives become too hectic. In a live-action family situation comedy, the children are presented as perfect angels that will definitely keep their promises, but the camera never shows a follow-up. The Simpsons cuts to the chase and reveals the truth.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Scary Movies: Why Bother??
I do not like scary movies. In fact, I stay away from them at all costs. When my friends decide to go out on a friday night to see a scary movie, I choose to stay at home, rather than go out with my friends. Watching re-runs on tv, while folding my laundry, is better than going to a dark movie theatre and watching a scary movie. I do not find a point to spending my hard earned babysitting and sculpture teaching money on giving myself nightmares for god knows how long. It is like the parenting elective class in High School, which requires all students to take home a screaming baby of doom for a few days. Why knowingly sign up for a class that I know will result in little to no sleep? Or in the case of scary movies, why torture myself on purpose?
I have only seen tops maybe three films that would be considered scary (well at least to me, I'm sure there are some people who will think I am a complete chicken after reading my list, but I am fine with that!). The first scary movie I can remember seeing was the Sixth Sense. I saw this movie when I was in seventh grade. My best friend and I decided to watch it during a sleepover at my house. It must have been 12 am when we started watching it, so I wasn't really a fully functional twelve year old when I was watching it. I haven't watched it since that day, but I can remember clearly the scene when the little boy is in his bedroom seeing dead people. That scene alone stuck with me all these years...I think it was becasue I have a little brother (he isn't really so little now, he is 13) who was around the age of the boy in the movie and so it hit home. It really isn't the scariest moment in the film, so I am not sure why it stuck with me...maybe it is becasue it is the only non-scary part?
The second scary movie I saw is The Ring. I saw it right after it came out on dvd... in my best friend's dark den during a thunderstorm. Smart for someone who doesn't like scary movies, right? Once again my best friend and I started watching it during the wee hours of the morning. I had ate at least two bags of pixie stix, sour patch kids and god only knows what else! Needless to say, we had a lot of sugar that night! Maybe that is why I agreed to watching a scary movie in the first place! Anyways, I remember that the movie keep stopping and going back to the main menu, and I joked that the Ring girl didn't want me watching her movie, but my best friend eventually got the movie to play from start to finnish...unfortunately for me. During the entire film i had my eyes covered by my hands... I was terrified, but refused to show my best friend that I was. I promised I would watch the entire thing, so i did through my hands on my eyes. I wanted to keep my promise so badly that I tortured myself with the most gross movie I had ever seen! However, I did survive the entire movie and when it was finally over, I picked a comedy to watch and wash my mind of all the images from The Ring. It must have worked becasue I don't remember having any bad dreams. But I have not seen that movie since, nor will I ever want to!
Disturbia is the last scary movie I can recall watching. Before watching the movie with my ex-boyfriend, I had my parents watch it first. I had to know it was safe to watch! After my mom watched it, she told me it wasn't too scary and that I could totally handle it! She was right... I did handle it fine. But was it simply because my boyfriend of the time was sitting next to me and I didn't want to show him I was scared? I am a strong feminst and I remember wanting to prove that girls were strong and we don't all scream girly when something scares us. I remember being disturbed but I knew my mom would never of told me it was safe to watch if it ended badly, so I bravely kept watching the movie. What I can't understand though is why/how people can enjoy watching complete mutilations. Even if they are acted and even if these films serve as a rush of excitement, why can't someone enjoy a good action film instead?
Even though I can not watch scary movies happily, I can watch the tv shows Bones and Ghost Whisperer. Bones is a crime solving show that displays extremely mutilated bodies at the beggining of the show. Gorey things creep me out (one of the reasons to stay away from scary movies), but yet I have no problem watching the show. I think I enjoy the show because of the potential love story between the two main characters. Love stories are my favorite type of movie to watch! Ghost Whisperer depicts its main character as a woman who can see and talk to ghosts. She helps them cross over "into the light" and along the way faces many perils. The peril in scary movies is another factor that keeps me away from them. Getting/being scared is by no means a form of entertainment to me. But I know from watching Ghost Whisperer that every show ends happily and so I keep watching for the happy ending.
I have only seen tops maybe three films that would be considered scary (well at least to me, I'm sure there are some people who will think I am a complete chicken after reading my list, but I am fine with that!). The first scary movie I can remember seeing was the Sixth Sense. I saw this movie when I was in seventh grade. My best friend and I decided to watch it during a sleepover at my house. It must have been 12 am when we started watching it, so I wasn't really a fully functional twelve year old when I was watching it. I haven't watched it since that day, but I can remember clearly the scene when the little boy is in his bedroom seeing dead people. That scene alone stuck with me all these years...I think it was becasue I have a little brother (he isn't really so little now, he is 13) who was around the age of the boy in the movie and so it hit home. It really isn't the scariest moment in the film, so I am not sure why it stuck with me...maybe it is becasue it is the only non-scary part?
The second scary movie I saw is The Ring. I saw it right after it came out on dvd... in my best friend's dark den during a thunderstorm. Smart for someone who doesn't like scary movies, right? Once again my best friend and I started watching it during the wee hours of the morning. I had ate at least two bags of pixie stix, sour patch kids and god only knows what else! Needless to say, we had a lot of sugar that night! Maybe that is why I agreed to watching a scary movie in the first place! Anyways, I remember that the movie keep stopping and going back to the main menu, and I joked that the Ring girl didn't want me watching her movie, but my best friend eventually got the movie to play from start to finnish...unfortunately for me. During the entire film i had my eyes covered by my hands... I was terrified, but refused to show my best friend that I was. I promised I would watch the entire thing, so i did through my hands on my eyes. I wanted to keep my promise so badly that I tortured myself with the most gross movie I had ever seen! However, I did survive the entire movie and when it was finally over, I picked a comedy to watch and wash my mind of all the images from The Ring. It must have worked becasue I don't remember having any bad dreams. But I have not seen that movie since, nor will I ever want to!
Disturbia is the last scary movie I can recall watching. Before watching the movie with my ex-boyfriend, I had my parents watch it first. I had to know it was safe to watch! After my mom watched it, she told me it wasn't too scary and that I could totally handle it! She was right... I did handle it fine. But was it simply because my boyfriend of the time was sitting next to me and I didn't want to show him I was scared? I am a strong feminst and I remember wanting to prove that girls were strong and we don't all scream girly when something scares us. I remember being disturbed but I knew my mom would never of told me it was safe to watch if it ended badly, so I bravely kept watching the movie. What I can't understand though is why/how people can enjoy watching complete mutilations. Even if they are acted and even if these films serve as a rush of excitement, why can't someone enjoy a good action film instead?
Even though I can not watch scary movies happily, I can watch the tv shows Bones and Ghost Whisperer. Bones is a crime solving show that displays extremely mutilated bodies at the beggining of the show. Gorey things creep me out (one of the reasons to stay away from scary movies), but yet I have no problem watching the show. I think I enjoy the show because of the potential love story between the two main characters. Love stories are my favorite type of movie to watch! Ghost Whisperer depicts its main character as a woman who can see and talk to ghosts. She helps them cross over "into the light" and along the way faces many perils. The peril in scary movies is another factor that keeps me away from them. Getting/being scared is by no means a form of entertainment to me. But I know from watching Ghost Whisperer that every show ends happily and so I keep watching for the happy ending.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
It's 10pm... Do you know where your child is twittering?
Im used to my parents asking me to let them know around about what time I will be home via a cellphone call. If it ever comes to this, I don't know what the world will become! But then again did people think that back when cellphones were first invented?? I wonder.....
Reaction to David Brooks' Article: Cellphones, Texts and Lovers
Before reading David Brooks' article, I had no idea that there was such a thing as online sex diaries. The fact that the individuals involved in the online diaries, “use their cellphones to disaggregate, slice up, and repackage their emotional and physical needs, servicing each with a different partner, and hoping to come out ahead,” is really insane. David Brook describes the interaction between individuals of the online self-serve escort service as, "fluid, like an eBay auction. This leads to a series of marketing strategies. You don’t want to appear too enthusiastic. You want to invent detached nicknames for partners." There is strategy involved in the relationships, like an adult rated game. Individuals who participate in online sex blogs "are free agents in a competitive arena marked by ambiguous relationships. Social life comes to resemble economics, with people enmeshed in blizzards of supply and demand signals amidst a universe of potential partners." There are no longer social restrictions placed upon meeting up with another individual. For example, the ideal of being with one person and commiting to the one individual is thrown out of the door. "The opportunity to contact many people at once seems to encourage compartmentalization, as people try to establish different kinds of romantic attachments with different people at the same time."
This is becasue texting makes communication impersonal.You can not see or hear the individual that is conversing with you. How much can really be said about a person in 140-160 characters? There is no way that someone can really know a person through texting!! David Brooks continues the idea of numerous relationships at once by relating it to comparison shopping. The people who use the online sex diaries can compare and contrast potential mates and select his/her favorite. But what I would like to know is whatever happened to meeting potential mates at a social gathering? The whole idea of online sex diaries is completely repulsive! It takes away the fun of getting to know a person! I will close with the most interesting quote of David Brooks' article:
"Today’s technology seems to threaten the sort of recurring and stable reciprocity that is the building block of trust."
This is becasue texting makes communication impersonal.You can not see or hear the individual that is conversing with you. How much can really be said about a person in 140-160 characters? There is no way that someone can really know a person through texting!! David Brooks continues the idea of numerous relationships at once by relating it to comparison shopping. The people who use the online sex diaries can compare and contrast potential mates and select his/her favorite. But what I would like to know is whatever happened to meeting potential mates at a social gathering? The whole idea of online sex diaries is completely repulsive! It takes away the fun of getting to know a person! I will close with the most interesting quote of David Brooks' article:
"Today’s technology seems to threaten the sort of recurring and stable reciprocity that is the building block of trust."
Do we need to be constantly reminded about the life/death of celebrities???
This cartton reminded me of the hype revolving around Micheal Jackson's death. I understand that he is a legend, but does society really need to be reminded every day that he is dead? Isn't it getting old? He is STILL dead, how can there be any updates on his life?
Twitter Cartoon
This is how I feel about Twitter...Doesn't it get annoying to get a million beeps a day just to notify you that you are involved in the 200+ friends' daily routines???
Winston Spotteed in Youtube Clip
This quick video depicts it all...It displays how much the media is a part of our lives. IN the first half of the clip, the media is shown updating the lives of listeners of huge events in America. The second half proves how much media has become embedded into the fabric of the American life. Americans feel a sense of connection with the lives of American Idol contestants and are entertained through Youtube's bountiful video collection.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwPxAbhY7ZY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwPxAbhY7ZY
Nacirema (what does it spell backwards??)
11/10/09
http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~thompsoc/Body.html
Meyrwoitz once again, SPOTTED!!!
I read this article back in my junior year of High School. The assignment was to read the article and respond to the society being described. During my initial reading of the article I remember being completely clueless to the message. My reaction was one of horror. I could not understand the twisted society that the people of Nacirema lived in. We were not given any hints about the article (like I give in the title of this blog), but in case the title does not help, I will give you another clue, the society being described is one that we all know very well. The article stuck with me all these years. Well two years isn't that many, but the fact that I remembered it, when I have trouble remembering what I ate for breakfast, shows how interesting the article was and still is to me. It reminds me of Meyrowitz’s idea, borrowed from Erving Goffman, that each social situation has a set of specific rules for our behavior. This includes limits placed on individuals by society, much like the Nacirema article describes the process of women getting breast reductions or implants to meet the society’s standard of beauty. I find it interesting that when one begins to think about the amount of restrictions society places upon individuals, it becomes overwhelming. How many women pause and reflect that society controls how we look? We follow the latest fashions, no matter how uncomfortable they are! Men should try walking an entire day in the city with high heels on! Also our society places an unwritten rule of keeping itself reserved. In other societies, such as in England, sex is discussed openly, but in America it is kept hush hush. However, because we live in the American society, we do not view our customs as restraining. But we do acknowledge other restricting religious sects, such as when women are separated from men in temples. We point at those religions and are quick to distinguish its flaws, but fail to recognize our society’s social regulations
http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~thompsoc/Body.html
Meyrwoitz once again, SPOTTED!!!
I read this article back in my junior year of High School. The assignment was to read the article and respond to the society being described. During my initial reading of the article I remember being completely clueless to the message. My reaction was one of horror. I could not understand the twisted society that the people of Nacirema lived in. We were not given any hints about the article (like I give in the title of this blog), but in case the title does not help, I will give you another clue, the society being described is one that we all know very well. The article stuck with me all these years. Well two years isn't that many, but the fact that I remembered it, when I have trouble remembering what I ate for breakfast, shows how interesting the article was and still is to me. It reminds me of Meyrowitz’s idea, borrowed from Erving Goffman, that each social situation has a set of specific rules for our behavior. This includes limits placed on individuals by society, much like the Nacirema article describes the process of women getting breast reductions or implants to meet the society’s standard of beauty. I find it interesting that when one begins to think about the amount of restrictions society places upon individuals, it becomes overwhelming. How many women pause and reflect that society controls how we look? We follow the latest fashions, no matter how uncomfortable they are! Men should try walking an entire day in the city with high heels on! Also our society places an unwritten rule of keeping itself reserved. In other societies, such as in England, sex is discussed openly, but in America it is kept hush hush. However, because we live in the American society, we do not view our customs as restraining. But we do acknowledge other restricting religious sects, such as when women are separated from men in temples. We point at those religions and are quick to distinguish its flaws, but fail to recognize our society’s social regulations
Monday, November 9, 2009
Media evolution...
I thought this pic was tooo funny!! How can society go from writing novels of depth and substance..... to thinking 140 characters is more than enough to convey a message??!!!
Meyrowitz SPOTTED
11/9/09
So a couple of days ago, before the blogging adventure began, everyone entered media class and wished Jake a Happy Birthday. I felt terrible for not knowing it was his birthday (and everyone else did)! I then discovered that facebook had alerted the others in my class of the occasion. I didn’t have enough time to check facebook that day and so I missed saying Happy Birthday to Jake. However, since that day, I find myself checking my Facebook more often, in hopes to make sure I do not miss any other occasions. While I am on Facebook, I find myself more likely to talk to friends that are away at college. When I talk to one of them, I feel as if I only live around the block from him/her. I am involved in their lives through facebook. This became clear when I bumped into my friend’s mom in the library near my house. My friend is away at the University of Rhode Island. The logical thing to talk about with my friend’s mom would be her daughter because that is what we have in common. But I already knew that my friend was having the time of her life at college, she couldn’t go home by bus because it was too expensive and that she has a massive amount of pharmacy homework to complete by the end of the week, which means that she will be spending her entire Sunday in her university’s library. What was left to talk about with her mom? There was nothing that I didn’t know that was going on in her daughter’s life. In fact, I had a feeling after talking to her mom, that I knew more about my friend’s college life than her mother. This is because facebook allows me to keep a constant conversation with her. We do not have to find a convenient time for the both of us to talk on the phone. Whenever one of us has a spare moment, all that is necessary is a quick message on facebook. That is when I came to the realization that I had spotted Meyrowitz’s idea that media allows us to communicate in a whole new level. I can be a part of my friends’ life even though she does not live near me right now. Thus, Meyrowitz’s idea that media changes access by allowing individuals to be there for each other, even though he/she is not physically there, is illustrated through my always-in-touch electronic communication.
So a couple of days ago, before the blogging adventure began, everyone entered media class and wished Jake a Happy Birthday. I felt terrible for not knowing it was his birthday (and everyone else did)! I then discovered that facebook had alerted the others in my class of the occasion. I didn’t have enough time to check facebook that day and so I missed saying Happy Birthday to Jake. However, since that day, I find myself checking my Facebook more often, in hopes to make sure I do not miss any other occasions. While I am on Facebook, I find myself more likely to talk to friends that are away at college. When I talk to one of them, I feel as if I only live around the block from him/her. I am involved in their lives through facebook. This became clear when I bumped into my friend’s mom in the library near my house. My friend is away at the University of Rhode Island. The logical thing to talk about with my friend’s mom would be her daughter because that is what we have in common. But I already knew that my friend was having the time of her life at college, she couldn’t go home by bus because it was too expensive and that she has a massive amount of pharmacy homework to complete by the end of the week, which means that she will be spending her entire Sunday in her university’s library. What was left to talk about with her mom? There was nothing that I didn’t know that was going on in her daughter’s life. In fact, I had a feeling after talking to her mom, that I knew more about my friend’s college life than her mother. This is because facebook allows me to keep a constant conversation with her. We do not have to find a convenient time for the both of us to talk on the phone. Whenever one of us has a spare moment, all that is necessary is a quick message on facebook. That is when I came to the realization that I had spotted Meyrowitz’s idea that media allows us to communicate in a whole new level. I can be a part of my friends’ life even though she does not live near me right now. Thus, Meyrowitz’s idea that media changes access by allowing individuals to be there for each other, even though he/she is not physically there, is illustrated through my always-in-touch electronic communication.
SPOTTED.... MACLUHAN in a musuem
11/8/09
Yesterday I spotted MacLuhan in the Hillwood Art Museum of C.W Post. In most art museums, there are audios available for each work. The audios are heard using headphones that the museum provides. However, the Hillwood Art Museum placed a new spin on artwork audio. It makes use of what MacLuhan would refer to as a hot technology. This is a concept within his theory of Technological determinism: the idea that innovations themselves alter people and society. More specifically, it is the focus on the technology itself and not the social/cultural factors surrounding the innovation. In the case of the Hillwood Art Museum, the cell phone is the technology of focus. The audios are accessed through a phone number. Museum goers simply use his/her cell phone to dial the number and access the audio for a particular work. MacLuhan focuses on the way the technology itself changes individuals and society. In this instance, the cell phone technology alters the society involved in visiting museums. After viewing a piece of art, a viewer no longer has to endure the hassle of putting the clunky headphones on. All that is required is pulling out his/her cell phone. Also, the number can be called from outside the museum (for those who really enjoyed the audio or like me, have an art history paper to complete). I found this concept particularly interesting. The museum assumes that individuals entering the museum will all have a cell phone. I know it is very rare in today’s society, but what if an individual visiting the museum has no cell phone or forgot his/hers and wishes to listen to the audio? Do they copy the number down and then listen at home? But then the issue of having a pen and paper comes into play. Unless you are an art student or have a paper to write on the works within the museum, who would bring pen and paper to a museum? This brings the question of, is updating museums with new innovations a practical and wise decision?
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Interesting Article
So my fish are still alive!!! Haha. While composing my super secret blog of the day, I found this interesting article about parasocial relationships. It discusses how psychologists believe that depression patients can be assisted through parasocial relationships with TV characters. The characters on the shows allow for a relationship to be established for the depressed patient. I find this idea pretty disturbing, it is as if real person to person relationships are no longer needed!! Read the article and let me know what you think!!!
Here's the link:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2049239/flickering_friends_a_far_cry_from_a.html?cat=47
Here's the link:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2049239/flickering_friends_a_far_cry_from_a.html?cat=47
The Day My Blog Changed.... Winston spotted in society
Today is the day my blog changes from an iPod free zone, to a place where I record my spotting of the theories of MacLuhan, Meyrowitz, Winston, Hilmes and Starr. I am attempting a spoof of Gossip Girl's famous line: spotted in.... I will be spotting and recording my realization of these men's theories in the society around myself. Earlier this week I spotted Winston's theory in the honors lounge. HIs idea that society and individuals incorporate media technologies into the fabric of a daily life bluntly appeared before my very eyes. This encounter/realization occurred after waiting....and waiting....and waiting for my group members to show up at the honors lounge to work on a college 101 project. We had discussed earlier that week on facebook the time and place of our meeting, but no one besides myself showed. Finally, I grew frustrated and left the lounge, then drove home. When I got home, I checked my facebook, sure enough, there was a message canceling our meeting. Too many group members could no longer make it because of being sick, car troubles or too much work. I addressed the group leader about my predicament and she replied that she had sent out a mobile facebook alert and couldn't understand why I hadn't received the message. She never thought to ask if I had internet access on my cell. Well, I have a Virgin Mobile phone, a pre-paid cell, with no internet service. So I definitely did not get the message. In today's society we all rely heavily on our cell phones. My group member's assumption that everyone would check his or her cell's connection to facebook and instantly be alerted is not farfetched. Facebook and cell phones have become a deep part of the fabric of a daily life. Both are heavily relied on for communication and thus are huge pieces of our lives.When I personally forget my cellphone, I find myself lost throughout the day. Cut off from society. It is as if a piece of me is missing. And when I drop my cell, I find myself saying, darn I dropped it on its head! My cell definitely does not have a head, but yet I refer to it as if it is a person....and I know Im not the only person who does this because I hear cell phones drop every day in my drawing class, and the same reactions are heard. Thus, facebook has seeped into the fabric of my daily life, as now I must check not only my numerous email accounts, but also my facebook for important school related alerts.
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