Class Highlights!!!!! : ))))))

This quarter in JOUR 2 mass media class I have learned multiple things that have made me either question a previous opinion I had or have made me say " wow".  For example in chapter two an "Aha!" moment I had was when desensitization was talked about.  As stated in the text book, desensitization is when viewers who continuously view media violence and later develop emotional neutrality when put face to face with a real life act of violence. There are multiple movies and video games that portray and depict real life violence and even have unheard of or seemingly unimaginable violent scenes and scenarios.  Games like Grand theft Auto and Call of Duty are games that many people both young and old play regularly and show extreme violence.  Also movies such as those in the Saw sequences are extremely violent and gruesome however have great ratings and box office numbers.  These games and movies are making real life tragedies and violent events seem like just another occurance on a regular day.  This however is not normal and the violence on a daily bases in my opinion shouldn't be taken lightly by anyone.  Violent video games

Also, another "Aha!" moment I had was when the class was talking about chapter fourteen and media law and understanding freedom of expression.  The chapter shows a large picture of a women marching while burning the American Flag.  This I thought was highly illegal and unheard of and I was shocked to learn that it is in fact legal.

Last but not least somethings I learned and read about in the chapter thirteen about advertising really made me think about the things that I buy and the products I support. I admit that i am guilty of buying a product that is supported by my favorite celebrity or going to a local fast food joint because i saw a commercial for it that same day and it looked great.  However what some of these advertisers and advertisements are doing are not things that i should be supportive of.  For example, the fast food chains and quick meal fixes that they offer to families throughout the country and world are contributing to an overweight society with numerous health problems that could be prevented by simply eating healthier food.  Overweight adults have turned into overweight children thus the chain of an unhealthy society begins and I do not want to be included in those statistics.  Also,  advertisers who promote certain products like those in the cigarette industry target certain people at certain age groups that they think they can easily manipulate into purchasing their product. I do not believe that is right especially when the product harms the life of the individual and lives of innocent people around them.  All and all the entire chapter really magnified and made me think about what I purchase and whom and why the advertisements are the way they are or portray the messages they do.

Media Ethics and Media Law!!!!

A media law or media ethics case that is continuous and has been present for multiple years is the one about movie and music piracy.  Movie and music piracy is illegal and those who commit the crime of copy write infringement should be penalize or reap the consequences for their actions similar to others that steal and break the law.  However some people do not view downloading music or movies for free as breaking the law and believe that if it is there for the taking, why should they have to pay for it.  The truth be told it is stealing and has been since day one.  The people who put fourth time and effort into producing the desired product are losing out on pay, and in a time of financial disparity every bit of incoming income in necessary to survive.  The question I ask those who are committing copy right infringement and disobeying the law is, would you like to work for free?  Would you like to produce something that took numerous amounts of time and effort that multiple people love and desire and not get paid for it?  I sure wouldn't and I know the people whom are losing money do not either.

Movie and Music Piracy

Propaganda !!!!

Today when someone turns on the television they often see adds varying from acne control medications to cereal brands.  Most often these advertisements are trying to manipulate the public into buying their product so that they can in turn make money.  Some ads even use propaganda to sell their products.  But what exactly is propaganda?  Well, propaganda is communication that is geared towards influencing people into buying or agreeing with a certain cause or product. For example a product that is most commonly seen when one turns on the television is a Cheerios commercial.  Often these Cheerio commercials, like the one I have linked are telling about how their product can lead to better health. They are also promoting a loving message of, " if you want your loved ones to live longer and healthier with lower cholesterol and a better heart, make sure they eat Cheerios!" In the Cheerios commercial below two propaganda techniques they used were that they presented information to primarily influence their audience and they used loaded messages to promote an emotion.  Enjoy the commercial !!!
Cheerios propaganda commercial !!!

INTERNET OBSESSION !!!

.Today the internet is a crucial part of everyday life for most people.  It is used for school, for work, for shopping, health issues and to keep in contact with people we otherwise would never get to talk to on a daily bases.  Due to the convenience of the internet it has led many people to be overly obsessed with it.  Sites such as facebook, twitter, and myspace, amazon and multiple others are being said to be ruining the lives of many people.  They have trouble focusing on school and work with all the many distractions that the internet offers and find themselves falling behind in school, getting fired from their jobs and slowly loosing their lives to these sites.  
 I have used the internet for shopping but never for dating or gaming.  I know multiple people who have and continue to play games on the internet and who are actively using the internet to date.  I do not know anyone who has developed an obsession for one of these activities, however not too long ago I saw a television program that's daily topic was internet obsessions. 
Tyra Show

Addicted To The Internet - Tyra (Part 1)

MOVIES!!!!!!

MOVIES!!!! This weeks blog is
to talk about movies and although I am by no means a movie fanatic, I do enjoy the occasional comedy.  My favorite movie in the last year has been the movie titled, Little Fockers .  It is a movie I have most recently seen in theatres and saw it due to my love for the first two movies.  Ben Stiller is one of my favorite actors and is also a main character is one of my all time favorite movies titled, Heavyweights.  I like this particular movie because it is a comedy that keeps me laughing beginning to end and also has an important friendship and all around life well being message embedded into it.  I first saw Heavyweights on VHS with my grandparents.  They had rented it because of Ben stiller's presents in it and because they thought we would like it.  It is a movie about a boys journey to fat camp and his encounter with new people.  He demonstrates growth as a person as he develops a sense of self and a voice to stand up for himself and others while getting picked on and tormented at camp. 
View a preview of the movie!!!

Little Fockers trailer

TELEVISION!

This weeks blog topic is to choose an online video that explains or explores a topic that is mentioned in the textbook. A topic I have become interested in during the course so far is censorship.  I went on you tube to find something depicting censorship and media and came across a short video titled," Project Censored".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfwtgVex1
Length:  7:54
Description:  The effects of media censorship and how news in censored so the public is only capable of viewing certain controversies.  Also the effect that censorship can have on journalism and journalist jobs.  How exploiting a provocative yet true story can damage ones career for life.  Whats right and whats wrong...? Can and will the truth ever be told?
Quiz Questions: Why were certain journalist fired for the stories that they composed?
Answer: The stories they mentioned were either to controversial and in depth, or depicted a truth that the mass media didn't want told.