A) Specifically, I helped with the directing and scouting of the locations for the final product of the video. I collaborated with the team and we all decided that we wanted the “sped up” look, so we took my Flip video camera and circled the campus. I decided where exactly we should go on campus and in what order so that we could get the most coverage of the campus in one long video. I also assisted in some of the early script writing, and then the reading of the script as well.
B) I feel like I deserve around a B+ for my work. I think I helped the group a lot, I tried to do the best I could with locations and direction. Though I was of no technical help at all, I did assist with the camera work and the script. I was always trying to ask what needed to be done and what our next step was, just so I was sure that we would not fall behind.
C) The hardest part was finding out how to put it all together and then onto Youtube. I have absolutely no technology skills, so I knew from the very beginning that this was going to be the hardest part for me. I have no idea how to put a video together, let alone put it on Youtube, so I think that this was definitely the groups biggest challenge overrall.
D) I felt accomplished that I completed the assignment. It sounded like a near impossible task for me, for I know how horrible I am with technology. Simply the fact that I helped produce a video that was effective and is now on Youtube for all the world to see impresses me, so I feel almost proud of my group and of myself for what we have accomplished.
Technology runs rampant in everyone’s lives these days; cell phones, computers, and MP3 players are all the rage. Each day, I use lots of different technology to help me accomplish tasks such as homework, or to keep me from going insane with boredom. I have been influenced by companies like Apple and Dell, and so have many other teenagers and adults alike. “Many viewers and social critics disapprove of how media, particularly TV and cable, seem to hurtle from one event to another,” but people in our modern society thrive off of such media and love to hear the latest gossip from their various technologies (Media & Society, 5). During my day, I know I experience loads of media, whether it is simply from reading a magazine or going to a concert.
Every day, I use all different types of technology. In order to wake up in the morning, I use my cell phone as my alarm clock, and I set it to the most annoying ringtone possible. After hitting the snooze button a few times, I then check the time and the weather on my phone to prepare for the day. I get out of my bed, unplug my phone charger, and then go straight to my laptop to listen to music as I get dressed. My iTunes automatically opens with my one thousand-plus songs, and by 2008, iTunes had “sold more than four billion songs and had become the No. 1 music retailer in the United States” (Media & Society, 79). I click on my mellow music to start my day; I allow the wonderful sound of The Decemberists to flood my room.
Colin Meloy from The Decemberists Singing "June Hymn"
I then go to class, bringing my laptop with me to Rhetoric so I can pull up a paper or two if need be. As I take out my new Dell laptop from my bag, I also bring up my latest Word document which contains my new work-in-progress for the class. Hardly anyone in the class even has a real piece of paper; everyone has their laptop screens up as we delve into our papers to reread what we have written at 2 AM the night before. Because “the book industry has met and survived many social and cultural challenges,” we still utilize a textbook for the class for short story readings (Media & Society, 315). I forgot my book that day- lucky for me the internet is ready and available, and I Google the story straight away so I can keep up with the class.
Image courtesy of blog.searchenginewatch.com
After class, I immediately go back to my room to relax and grab a magazine to read. I run through my collection of Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazines before deciding on my favorite- Paste magazine. To learn about all new independent films and upcoming music artists, I always consult Paste, for the writers really know that the reader reads magazines to “learn something about [the] community, [the] nation, [the] world, and [them]selves” (Media & Society, 283). I pick up an old issue and find a CD inside; I realize that it is actually a DVD containing fun short films from new directors. I absolutely love a good short film, so I take ten minutes out of my day to watch the short film Spider written by Nash Edgerton and David Michod. I think it is a wonderful short film with a bit of a comical-yet-gruesome twist, and I am immediately engaged as I begin watching.
Spider, a short film written by Nash Edgerton and David Michod.
After watching my short film, I decide to find some friends and see what they would like to do for the rest of the day; because it is raining outside, the answer is quite simple. Everyone decides that they would like to watch a movie, and I agree that it is a wonderful idea for such weather. After heating up the hot chocolate and sitting with many blankets, we put in The Lion King, a Disney classic that everyone loved when they were kids and still loves today. Though it may seem silly, this movie really brings back thoughts of “coming of age, family relations, growing old, and coping with death,” and these are qualities that many movies have in order to “distract us from our daily struggles” (Media & Society, 213). Even as the weather goes from rainy to clear, we are all stuck in our nostalgic past, watching the movies we used to watch as children.
Image courtesy of celebritywonder.com
While watching the movie, I go onto my laptop and realize that I should really check my email in case I have any assignments due that my teacher has sent me recently. Of course, whenever I go on the internet, I also have to check Facebook, and so I do. I realize that I use the internet for a number of things- I use it for social and work purposes. I find it useful throughout all parts of my day, for it is used for both “information and entertainment” for most everyone I know, and this goes for all ages as well (Media & Society, 45). I know the internet is definitely here to stay, the only question is: can it possible become any greater?
Image courtesy of verbotomy.com
Our movie comes to an end, and I decide that music is appropriate for the moment once again. I flip up my laptop and decide to listen to one of my favorite radio stations from Philadelphia. I have listened to Radio 104.5 for years, and I love the fun, alternative music that the station produces. From the station’s website, I was able to stream the wonderful sounds into my dorm room; the old sounds of Oasis came from my small, inexpensive speakers. I have always liked this radio station because it is one of the few radio stations that do not have the Top 40 format, which contains the “most popular hits in a given week as measured by record sales” (Media & Society, 126). This station actually gives its listeners music that is popular yet unconventional and more rock and alternative-based, and all of my friends back home love it too.
Image courtesy of arcusepito.com
After I listen to some great radio, my friend Jake asks me if I would like to go to a friend’s house in South Burlington and listen to some live folk music. I love folk shows, so of course I say I would love to go, and together we venture out to see some talented artists. My favorite from the night was a man named Jeremy Quentin, and he plays in band named Small Houses. He was fantastic, and I couldn’t wait to go home and look up his music on the internet in the form of MP3’s, which can be “uploaded or downloaded in a fraction of the time it took to exchange noncompressed music” (Media & Society, 77). Though I love owning CD’s, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on some more of his music.
Jeremy Quentin from Small Houses plays "Country Flowers"
As I come back from the concert. I immediately run into my dorm room and get onto my computer. I log onto Facebook to post a status about how awesome the concert was before hopping on the internet and downloading a few songs. With the music on my computer, I now have the ability to put the “music on my hard drive and use my “computer as [a] stereo system” (Media and Society, 77). I then hook my Ipod up to my computer so that I can transfer the files from my computer into my MP3 device. After a couple of minutes, I grab my Ipod, climb into bed, and plug my earphones in so that I can listen to my new music without disturbing my roommate. Image courtesy of ipresents.co.uk Overall, I realize that I use a ton of different types of technology and media each day. I utilize the internet to check my email and also connect with friends. I also use my laptop to listen to music on the daily, and I can watch videos of my favorite artists. Because I love reading and writing, I really try to read every day as well, for I still love the feeling of a good book or magazine in my hands. And of course, I also love movies; even the ones from my childhood are still really enjoyable to my eighteen-year-old mind. The media has really changed society forever, and we have to make sure that we are consumers who “learn from the past, care about the present, and map mass media’s future” (Media & Society, 521). Image courtesy of frenchlessonsonline.wordpress.com
In light of it being almost Halloween weekend, I thought I would comment on one of my favorite Halloween experiences- watching horror movies!
A scene from [REC], courtesy of thecja.com
I have watched many-a horror movie in my day, and I find time and time again that I really love foreign horror. This is not only because I am a foreign movie junky, but also because the films are generally much, much scarier. One of my favorite scary flicks, [REC], is a Spanish film that completely scared the pants off of me when I first saw it about a year ago. I am willing to say that I do not get scared easily, but this movie made me jump and want to hide under layers and layers of blankets. My 20-year-old brother could not even watch it without proper headgear (a pillow) to block his sight from most of the events that occur in the film.
The film is a first-person account of a virus gone horribly wrong. A young woman news reporter is at a firehouse with her cameraman when the firehouse receives a call from a woman who is trapped in her apartment. Once the crew reaches the building, the firemen, the young woman, and the cameraman find that they have been quarantined inside of the building, for a deadly virus has struck the apartment and gone completely airborne. No one realizes the extent of the virus until the normal apartment-goers begin turning into raging, flesh-eating zombies, and there is no escape. All the while, the woman believes the whole thing will make a fantastic news story, so she orders her cameraman to just keep filming.
Image of zombie-woman from [REC], courtesy of indiegeniusprod.com
I find this movie terrifying for a couple of reasons. First off, fast-moving infected people are extremely scary to look at, especially when they run unexpectedly at the screen at random moments in the film. I know that many American movies have taken to making this the new "it" thing to do with horror films, but often times, the American movies are still not scary. For whatever reason, the cinematography, images, and chaotic atmosphere make the film completely insane, and of course, completely scary.
The American's attempted to remake this movie in 2009 under the name Quarantine, but unfortunately, it was not nearly as good as the original. I was trying to figure out why the original was so much better when the remake is a shot-for-shot copy of what the Spanish already made. Then I realized something- the acting is much more authentic in [REC] than Quarantine. After looking into the films a little, I read that the actors and actresses in [REC] were told very little about what was actually going to happen on set. They were basically told to walk through a building and say their lines at certain times, but in terms of knowing when and where certain zombified actors will jump out, the actors were left in the dark. Their reactions are much more authentic this way, and it in turn makes the movie much more believable and scary. The American remake did not use this tactic, making the film appear hokey and laughable.
Trailer for [REC]
Though I love a lot of horror movies, I am a big fan of this one in particular. I would love for American's to try and match the beauty and wonderful aspects of foreign horror, but it seems that thus far, I have yet to see an American movie nearly as scary as anything other countries have produced. However, I do have faith in you, America! Keep plugging.
When it comes to depressing, end-of-the-world type movies and books, there are a million of them. The end of time is usually caused by some strange natural disaster, alien attack, or perhaps nuclear weapons. Usually, the story is all the same, the action sequences are fake and predictable, and the end of the world doesn't quite look like what I would have predicted. Most Hollywood movies make the end of the Earth look hokey and lame, and so I was on a mission to find some sort of media that would make me feel like I was actually experiencing the tragedy and devestation of the world ending. This is about the time I watched The Road.
Cannibal packs from The Road, courtesy of screenrant.com
I was aware that The Road was a very well-known book at the time by Cormac McCarthy, but I really was interested in the film so I could not resist watching before reading.
I knew the film was supposed to be dark and depressing, but I did not realize just how dark and depressing. The plot is simple: a man and his son are alive during a post-apocalyptic stage of Earth, and they are just trying to survive. They are freezing and they are simply trying to find a way to get to the southern part of the United States just to stay alive. All the while, they struggle with a lack of food, water, and an abundance of cannibal packs that hunt down other humans. There is nothing uplifting about this story; it is bleak, dark, and hopeless.
A photo of the Father and Son from The Road, courtesy of oregonlive.com
Though many movie-goers may be upset to find that there really is no happy ending or end to the tragedy, I kind of love that it is that way. When I picture the end of the world, I picture people scavanging for food. I see everyone fending for themselves and creating fake destinations just to keep themselves occupied. I picture chaos. Though this is not the perfect Hollywood ending to a magical story of overcoming adversity, The Road seems very close to what I actually believe would happen. For that, I am happy that this movie decided to go out on a limb and change the pace of regular end-of-the-world type dramas.
One of the reasons I find this movie so effective is the slow pacing and the monotonous tone of the narrator. The voice of the father never really changes tone throughout the entirety of the story as he is narrating their days, and the majority of the film is the father and the son roaming around, trying to find a place to sleep or food to eat. Because the movie is generally slow, the tiny moments of happiness or terror are amplified simply because they are so unexpected. The scene with the humans trapped in the basement is extremely terrifiying and disturbing, for it shows the lowest points of humanity. On the other hand, the scene where they find cans of canned peaches that are still edible along with a nice place to sleep is heartwarming.
Movie Trailer for The Road
I am currently reading Cormac McCarthy's novel, and so far, I must say, this film has been extremely loyal to the book. I feel a dark atmosphere in the book that I felt in the movie, and knowing myself, I will probably like the book even more than the movie once I finish. It is definitely an interesting take on a fairly unoriginal plotline, and I am glad that this novel-to-film story is treated with much respect all across different forms of media.
Entertainment Weekly's Batman cover, courtesy of justjared.buzznet.com
Thesis:
"Entertainment Weekly" is a magazine designed to show readers all across the United States the latest in the Hollywood stars, new movies, and the best and worst that pop culture has to offer.
Five Facts:
1) Nicole Kidman and Nicholas Cage are in a new movie titled "Trespass," and they are playing a wealthy couple who are living in a lakefront house that gets broken into.
2) For season 10 of "American Idol," the new judges will be Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, and Randy Jackson.
3) Parents of children watching "Sesame Street" were shocked and appauled at Katy Perry's outfit choice for the episode; she was supposed to be singing with Elmo.
4) Gloria Stuart, the old woman who threw the blue diamond into the sea in the 1997 blockbuster "Titanic" recently died of lung cancer on September 26, 2010.
5) "The Social Network," a movie drama about the creation of Facebook from the many different perspectives of the people that were involved in the process, is getting lots of praise from viewers and critics alike.
Triune Brain:
"Entertainment Weekly" is heavy on the Neocortex because there are many magazine articles that talk about upcoming movies and television shows. There are bits of the Limbic brain involved too, for the reader may become emotional when reading about the death of Gloria Stuart or the change of the "American Idol" judges. The Limbic brain is also used throughout with the large advertisements for film, especially in the article about "The Social Network."
Entertainment Weekly's Cover for "The Social Network," courtesy of erickwithnok.com
8 Trends:
Epistemological Shift- There are many images throughout the magazine representing different scenes of movies to make the reader want to go out and see what is coming up in theatres.
Personal Shift- This magazine shows the lives of celebs and how they have exploited themselves for everyone to see. It is no longer a personal life they hold; they now live in a world where their lives have become the entertainment for everyone in America.
7 Principles:
Reality Construction- "Entertainment Weekly" constructs a reality in which the newest and greatest upcoming celebs in Hollywood are the biggest talk in America. Also, they advertise and describe the perks of new movies and television shows because the reader just has to watch.
Value Messages: This magazine is targeting those who love to keep up with the current status of movies and actors/actresses, and it is sending the message that everyone should be keeping up with the hottest shows and movies in order to be on top of pop culture.
Emotional Transfer: Some images and passages tap into emotion, such as the one about Gloria Stuart and her death and the article about the reissue of John Lennon's albums that were recorded under his name. There are also funny bits, such as the map of Justin Timberlake's previous roles in movies and music.
Photo of Gloria Stuart from "The Titanic", courtesy of bluemarvine.blogspot.com
29 Persuasive Techniques:
Symbols- Giant poster about how the "Geeks Inherit the Earth" regarding "The Social Network" grabs the reader's attention.
Bandwagon- When discussing the new film "Let Me In," the magazine claimed that "nearly everyone who saw it loved it" even though people were skeptical of the remake.
Humor- Using the Justin Timberlake montage/map to show funny moments in movies that he has been in, and thus supporting why he makes the perfect "geek" for "The Social Network."
Beautiful People- The entire magazine is in support of Hollywood actors and actresses, making the reader want to go see these movies that they advertise.
Technology is crazy these days, and this is my reflection about our culture, the current media, and how easily I am persuaded by commercials.
1) After Studying 21st Century Media for eight weeks in this class, what have you learned?
I have a learned a lot, especially the way different advertisements appeal to audiences and the techniques that are used in nearly every ad. I never realized how many commercials use the same exact techniques to get people to buy a product, and as a person who is always looking for a good deal, I am now going to watch out for ways I could possibly be persuaded. I also liked learning about the beginnings of radio, television, and magazines through the text book. I never really knew the origins of these types of media before now.
2) What is the most important thing you have learned about yourself as a critical reader, a writer, and a thinker in this class so far?
I have learned that when watching infomercials or daily advertisements, I need to be more critical of the content. I used to watch infomercials all of the time and want everything they would show me, but now I have learned that I need to be more careful. In the past, I have fallen victim to buying the Snuggie because the infomercial made it seem like I just had to have it. Now I am stuck with a strange blanket that resembles a backwards bathrobe.
The Snuggie Commercial
I have also learned that I quite enjoy blogging. Though I am more apt to say I like old-fashioned pencil and paper more, it is a useful 21st century skill to know.
3) What's one thing you would do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?
I would read the textbook more thoroughly, I believe. Though the information is quite interesting a lot of the time, I would end up leaving the reading until the last minute. This would cause me to then rush and try to get the reading finished just so I can finish the blog at a reasonable hour. I would like to have done my reading more immediately so I was not always so rushed, because I feel like I probably missed out on some good information that was in the details of the text. Again, this comes down to my own procrastination.
4) What's one thing you would like me to do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?
Perhaps blogging about the text book could be less mundane. I feel like if every week or so the questions could be altered slightly or something along those lines, that would probably keep me more interested in thoroughly reading the text and ultimately getting more out of the reading. Also, showing more films like Reel Bad Arabs- I found that video to be quite interesting.
5) Please comment on the usefulness of the power tools, our course blog, your personal blog, our in-class quizzes, our films, and our books as learning tools.
Power Tools- These actually helped me a lot. I feel like I can watch an advertisement and now realize exactly how it is persuading people to buy a product or do a certain act. Without the power tools, I would not be as critical of ads in general.
Course Blog- I find the course blog to be very useful; I like not having to hand in pieces of paper for my assignments. I also like that the assignments are always on the blog in case I forget what I am supposed to do, and there are always helpful videos and such all the time as well. It is much better than an entire typed syllabus.
Personal Blog- I really like writing on my own blog about my thoughts on media experiences I have had. I really love music and movies, so if I can write about these along with other media experiences and then get class credit for it, then I am all for it. It is a cool way to get students involved and participating in media and the class.
Quizzes- Though I do not really like being tested in general, I really don't mind the everyday quiz. They force me to study and know my power tools, and this really helps me with knowing the material for bigger tests such as the midterm and final. I like having a lot of little quizzes rather than only a few bigger tests.
Films- I really like the use of the short youtube films, especially the Kfee ad. I feel like they really help explain what we talk about in class. I also found Reel Bad Arabs to be very interesting because it showed me to look at our film culture in a new way. The one radio movie didn't quite keep my attention as much, but it was still interesting to see the local radio in Burlington.
Books- As far as textbooks go, I never really enjoyed them. However, I really do like our textbook that we use; I feel that I learn a lot of interesting information about our culture rather than just straight history. I wish that we could read excerpts from other books that are mentioned in class. The one about the internet taking over our brains sounded very intriguing to me and probably many others in the class, so I think it would be cool if we were able to read passages from that book as well.
If there is one movie that absolutely lights up my life, it is American Beauty. From the amazing acting to the wonderful music, watching this movie is definitely one of my all-time favorite media experiences. The movie revolves around the image of the perfect suburban family. However, at the heart of every family is a mess of unresolved issues and complete dysfunction, and this film exemplifies this perfectly. The film begins with the narrative of the father, telling the viewer that he will be dead in exactly one year from when the story starts. From there, the viewer meets the crazy, career-driven mother and the sad, sixteen-year-old daughter who finds love in the new neighbor. The movie may seem dull and ordinary just from the synopsis, but the film in itself definitely has taught me to look at life from a completely new perspective.
First of all, anything with Kevin Spacey is bound to be a awesome from the start. His narration from start to finish is wonderful; his voice really fits his character. He plays the perfect image of the average suburban father who is having a mid-life crisis. Throughout the film, he lusts after his daughter's best friend. Though this may seem slightly creepy for the viewer, it is actually very comical the way he dreams of her in his sleep and even during the day. The entire cast is spot-on; the mother and the daughter play the average, happy family on the surface, but later, it is clear that even the happiest-looking family has its issues.
In terms of life lessons, this film really makes me look at every single day of my life in a slightly different light. My favorite scene in the movie involves a video recording of a plastic bag floating around in the wind. Ricky Fitz, the neighbor of the suburban family, talks of how this plastic bag was simply floating through the air, and how such a small gesture represented how beautiful even the simplest events can be. I personally believe that there is beauty all around us, and people often forget to take a second and look around them. Simplicity itself can even be beautiful, and with the fast-paced world we live in, people often forget to simplify their lives.
The infamous plastic bag scene in American Beauty
This media-experience is just plain incredible- from the hypnotic music that stimulates the limbic brain, to the funny moments and thought-provoking narrative that make my neocortex ache (in a good way), everyone should see this movie at least once. As for me, I could watch it all the time!
Let's face it- I like a lot of obscure music. When people ask me about my favorite bands, I tend to get a lot of face-cringing or blank stares as I list rolls off my tongue. So, when I saw that one of my favorite bands, Broken Social Scene, was to perform on September 22nd at Higher Ground, a music venue only a few miles from my dorm, I was completely ecstatic! Finally, a haven for indie-hipsters such as myself to find refuge in the music that no one else on this planet has ever listened to. It was a dream come true.
I dragged my friend Rob to the concert with me, and as we entered, we immediately ran to the front of the stage. It did not look as if there were many concert-goers ready to get their groove on, so it was easy to find the perfect spot to stand. The opening band, The Sea & Cake, performed their music while more people were filing in. I did not even want to hear the opening band at that point; I simply wanted to hear Broken Social Scene. I waited in anticipation while watching more and more people enter the venue. After a matter of thirty minutes, the entire venue was filled! I secured my spot by grasping onto the metal bar in front of me, but I was still being jostled by the overflowing crowd. My reptilian brain was ready to tell me to leave immediately, for I hate crowded spaces. However, I overpowered that portion of my brain with the reasoning that I was about to witness a fantastic concert!
About an hour later, Broken Social Scene entered the stage, and everyone in the crowd went wild! With about eight members of their band at the concert to play, they sounded absolutely amazing. Total, they had about four guitars, two banjos, four keyboards/synthesizers, two sets of drums, and a few other instruments that I have never actually seen before. Everyone in the group was amazing at singing as well, and their music ranged from ambient and hypnotic to loud and out-of-control.
My favorite part of the concert was definitely when the lead singer, Kevin Drew, decided to jump into the crowd and crowd-surf. Because I was so close to the stage, he ended up jumping right over me! It was exciting, slightly scary, and the most fun I've had all year. At the end of the night, Rob thanked me profusely for taking him to "the greatest concert he has been to in years."
I've been to many concerts, especially in the last three years or so, but this concert completely blew my mind. My brother, who lives in Philadelphia, saw Broken Social Scene at a local concert venue in that city too, so it was cool to be able to talk about the concert together even though we actually went to different shows. When this band comes back to Burlington, you know I'll be back in line!
Greetings. My name is Lauren Weiler and I am from Downingtown, Pennsylvania.
My favorite media experience of the summer was definitely attending an awesome concert featuring Silversun Pickups and Metric. I attended the concert right on the waterfront in Philadelphia, and I was able to nearly touch all of the performers. I wish I could have known ahead of time that I was going to get knocked to the ground while in a giant mosh pit, but hey- it was nonetheless a great experience.
Here is a photo I took of Emily Haines from Metric.
Technology is an interesting phenomenon; it definitely has it's ups and downs. I really like that I can easily keep in touch with friends and family that are physically distant from me. While at college, I can easily see my mom via skype, or I can talk to my friends with facebook chat. However, I really dislike how social networks are beginning to cheapen the value of face-to-face relationships. No one even feels like they need to talk in person anymore because it is so easy to contact others through other means. I also believe that penmanship is becoming a lost art; everyone would rather text or email rather than write actual letters. As a future writer, this deeply saddens me.
In my future, I really hope to write a book of short stories or write a screenplay and have it filmed. I would love to collaborate with film directors and producers at some point, so I really have high hopes that I can achieve this.
Anyways, in the interest of media, here is a video of the band Peter, Bjorn, and John at the Xponential Music Festival a year ago. I was right in the front row of this concert when I attended, and in the middle of the concert, Peter asks a girl to whistle the lyrics. That girl was my brother's girlfriend, and I was right next to her! I thought it was neat.
Next weekend I will be attending the Burlington Book Festival, so that will definitely be a fun event to attend.
