The Media’s Economy
Throughout our country’s history, the media has had an influential role in most historic events. The media has always been there to give their opinion, and suggest what they feel the public should know. While media coverage is necessary for us to understand the events taking place in the world, media can also have a negative affect. The current economic crisis was not caused by media coverage, though has greatly influenced the current economic crisis.
The media, which is to this day still run by the wealthier individuals of this country, used a variety of techniques to suggest that we are in a current economic crisis. Through use of articles, news stories, and commercials, the media first created a sense of fear towards the public suggesting the economic crisis. Though, creating fear of loss of jobs, money, and possessions may have only worsened the economic crisis. This fear resulted in people taking their money out of banks and withdrawing from the stock market. These actions, could only influence the economic crisis into a greater crisis as the banks and stock market rely on the public’s money in order to function. While the current economic crisis did not evolve because of the media, it was greatly influenced. Techniques that the media often uses can negatively influence events of crisis.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Super Bowl Commercial Hype
Super Bowl commercials are known to be the best, most exciting, and most expensive commercials. Ridiculous amounts of money are often spent on producing commercials played during the Super Bowl. The price of a single slot for a commercial to be played only once is outrageous. So, why do companies spend millions on advertising during the Super Bowl? Much of this may have to do with the hype the media has created over the years regarding the Super Bowl commercials.
The media has always suggested the Super Bowl commercials to be the best. They are always expected to meet certain expectations. Companies may possibly be willing to spend so much money on these advertisements because of the anticipation that has been created for viewers to have for these commercials. It is this hype that media creates before the Super Bowl, that makes these advertisements successful, and worth the price of the slot. It is almost as the media has advertised for advertisements.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Change?
Bored at a doctor’s appointment I attended today, I began to look around at the posters in the room. As much of the focus of this course has included race and gender, these posters really stood out to me. The room had two of the same poster. One in Spanish, one in English. Both had a male on them. Though, the Spanish poster had a man with darker skin, hair, and eyes. The English poster had a lighter skinned man with a little lighter hair and green eyes.
I found this to be interesting. Not everyone who speaks English is white, and not everyone who speaks Spanish is darker( even natives from Spanish-speaking countries). With this being known the companies who produced these posters obviously chose to go along with the stereotypes. While it is believed that we have come such a long way in accepting that these stereotypes are not real, I find it very interesting that recently I keep finding examples where corporate companies are continuing to influence these stereotypes of race and gender.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Stereotypes And Higher Power
Since the early to mid 1900′s, society has come a long way. Perceptions of stereotypes have become more accepted than they have been previously. Ideas about race and gender roles have changed. Women are more accepted in the work force, and there is now less discrimination towards different races. But has this really changed or does society still not fully accept women and different races?
A recent cover of “Vanity Fair” features the actresses they feel will become the next most successful actresses throughout the year. This cover has stirred some controversy because all of the featured women happen to be clearly white. Not that these women are not talent actresses, but it again brings up the situation about why the featured women are only Caucasian? While this very well could just be chance, chances are that it is not. This situation, allows us to reflect on the subject of how society views different genders and races. It makes us wonder if views of society have really improved as much as we might believe.
Picture:http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/vanity-fairs-quot-new-hollywood-quot-issue-completely-lacks-diversity-578862/
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Focus on Haiti?
A few weeks later, the earthquake in Haiti is no longer the head news story in the media. We have seen this often throughout the history of the media. It seems that there is always a new news story taking over the limelight. It is still so important that the news focuses on this event. Newspapers have put articles about this situation further away from cover stories, but Haitians still need our help.
In a crisis such as this recent event, it is important that the media continues to seriously cover updates on the situation. Lack of news coverage on the situation will decrease awareness that help in Haiti is still needed. It is important for the public to remember, this crisis does not end when the media coverage dies down, thats only when the crisis is just beginning. We must continue to help support the people of Haiti after this situation is no longer in the news media.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
While some could argue that social networking is unnecessary, a waste of time, or an invasion of privacy, it has lead to social advancements. Websites like facebook and twitter, had made it easier to keep in touch with people, as well as has allowed information to be received more quickly. These sites have really changed how we can keep updated with our surroundings.
This past weekend, I received devastating news that my friend Marissa Urbina from first grade, who’s family is very close friends of my family past away. In this circumstance I would have thought that I would have learned this to be true by receiving a phone call from her Mother (as our Mother’s had even been in touch the day before). Though, to my surprise I found out through facebook, and her lack of twitter use, as she would usually update her status plenty of times throughout the day. While this was hard news to receive in such a way it created a sense of comfort as her friends and family immediately staring writing on her facebook wall about their memories with her, what an inspiration and impression she left on people as she was always happy, and how loved she was by everyone she came in contact with.
Even though this event was hurtful and shocking, it allowed a way for her family to easily announce their loss, and create a comforting environment for friends and family to share their emotions of the situation. With this technology of social networking we are becoming able to notify the public of events or news taking place at the time. Through this we may be able to immediately warn the public about natural disasters, political news, war, or even terrorist attacks.
Filed under: Uncategorized | 2 Comments
Heidi Montag=Plastic Controversy
Recently reality television star Heidi Montag underwent an extremely dangerous amount of plastic surgery. At just age twenty-three she has had a total of ten plastic surgery procedures. Wether or not this was a healthy decision to make is pretty clear, but this decision also portrays negative acceptance of one’s self to her fans. While some have plastic surgery because of an emotional or self conscious reason, Montag’s reason was to make “an improved version of herself.” Her reason promotes plastic surgery as a positive normal thing to do at such a young age.
Montag’s reason suggests that she may not accept or be emotional satisfied with natural herself, which lead her to seeking plastic surgery to “improve” herself. Young girls watching ‘The Hills’ who look up to her, now are looking up to an emotionally unstable and dangerous promotion of plastic surgery. It is important for Montag’s fans to to see a positive and confident image from her. Young girls need to look up to celebrities who are proud of themselves for who they are and who do not feel they need to improve themselves. All young girls need to have self confidence and look up to role models who do too.
Picture: http://www.popeater.com/2010/01/20/heidi-montag-plastic-surgery/?icid=main|main|dl2|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.popeater.com%2F2010%2F01%2F20%2Fheidi-montag-plastic-surgery%2F
Filed under: Uncategorized | 1 Comment
All For Show?
We have often heard about the things celebrities will do for the attention. At last nights Golden Globe Awards, Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler seemed to be very close. Though critic’s are suggesting that this relationship may just be all for show and publicity. It is believed that they are dating to promote their upcoming movie ‘The Bounty Hunter.’ Though this is not the first time its has been suspected that Jennifer Aniston is dating someone for the publicity. It was also believed that her relationship with John Mayer was for similar reasons.
It is unfortunate that this is what is done to get celebrities into the limelight. Publicizing them through creating “fake” personal lives creates confusion of their success. We should be looking up to celebrities for their work, art, or accomplishments. Our focus should not be on their personal lives, when we have our own personal lives to worry about. These situations create confusion and controversy about what we are looking up to. We need to focus more on the reasons a celebrity is a celebrity, and focus more on their accomplishments and works, rather than what they are doing on a day to day basis.
Picture: http://www.popeater.com/2010/01/18/jennifer-aniston-gerard-butler-dating-w-magazine/?icid=main|search3|dl2|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.popeater.com%2F2010%2F01%2F18%2Fjennifer-aniston-gerard-butler-dating-w-magazine%2F
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
No Future?
That is what it seems like for today’s average college student. It seems as it is becoming almost impossible for some students to continue and finish their college careers. Recent budget costs are creating this difficulty. The government is relying on the students to help relieve the economic crisis.
Due to the budget cuts public colleges and universities are denying admittance to more students, in addition to cutting class schedules in half. This is stopping students from continuing their college education, not by choice but simply because the classes needed to graduate are not available to them. For those students who are still able to to find classes necessary for graduation, they are expected to pay higher prices for their education than ever before.
Is this whole plan of budget cuts and higher college prices really going to help our economy, or is it just another way for the government to keep the “elite” within? We as a community of students need to fight to make our education possible.
Picture: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/09/28/18623694.php
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Jay-Z the Devil Worshipper?
Apparently some commentators are convinced so. Rap/ hip hop music is so often mistaken as unimportant nonsense. Many have found Jay-Z to be a prime example of this “inappropriate” nonsense music. On New Years day his latest single and new music video was premiered, “On To the Next One.” The lyrics and graphics in this music video has created more controversy, and led to more youtube.com comments suggesting that Jay-Z is a “devil worshipper.” Music is often mistakenly viewed as violent or money obsessed, when there may be greater meaning behind certain graphics and/ or lyrics.
While “On to the Next One” may use few crude words or somewhat “devilish” images, and may focus on excees greed for money, this song does not necessarily suggest nor prize these subjects. Rather, if you listen closer we find lyrics for example:
“I move onward the only direction
Can’t be scared to fail
Searchin perfection.”
These lyrics can suggest life’s goals, and positive influence of commitment and dedication, when times are difficult. As for the perceived “devilish” images shown in music video, they may resemble the challenges, temptations, or failure when he raps “can’t be scared to fail.” In fact this music video is so symbolic of today’s “times of crisis” as is something we can all relate to when looking for something deeper than the surface. With all this controversy we find, that music can be portrayed and twisted by media. Whether or not Jay-Z is a devil worshipper is not business of public concern, though is a proficient example of how music can be wrongly perceived and suggested through the media.
Lyrics: http://www.directlyrics.com/jayz-on-to-the-next-one-lyrics.html
Music Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV3uGGFDnUo
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Search
-
Blogroll
