TV rules?

In my English class we had to read a short story called “Thin Gruel”. One of the main points in this story is how to be able for books to be published they have to follow certain roles. These different rules included things like showing girls as peaceful, emotional and warm. It also said having women as stay home mothers, cooking, and cleaning was not aloud. These all were considered to be stereotypical of women. It also talked about boys being per traded as brave, strong, rough, competitive, and easy going. This is just a small part of the guild lines that have to be fallowed. This list continues with how racism is also shown in different ways like, having people of color as universally athletic, as gangsters, criminals, or being angry.
So, then during our mass media class on Wednesday I was wondering if this could be related to what we talked about. We learned about light viewers and heavy viewers. How heavy viewers took what they watched and portrayed it as the truth. One of the examples that Mr.Rudd gave us in class was that the heavy viewers that see (for example) Latinos on TV see them as- people with no jobs, and less populated. When in truth we know this is not always necessarily correct.
Putting my points together it comes down to a question. If for children books there are such streaked roles to fallow. How come TV doesn’t have to follow any such rules? Or does it? If there is what are the rules and how do they work?

Harry Potter

Since the beginning of our classes when we talk about media I always think of TV and movies. I forget that another form of media is books! So I thought I would write about my all time favorite book series Harry Potter. In class we always talk about how society influences media. I was thinking of how a type of media can also affect media. The book series of Harry Potter written by JK Rowling is a form of media. After the first couple of books were written they began to also make a series of Harry Potter movies. So in this case because of the books the more popular known form of media (movies) is made!

Media's veiw of college

What is college like? Study, study, study! Truly college is more than just studying and school work. At the same time that school work is a very important part of college. College also teaches teens to grow and learn to live on there own. You learn to make decisions for yourself. All these things are what make up college life. This is not how media perceives college life. Not all but most TV shows and movies falsely show you what college is really about. So many times when the college life is shown in media its all about “partying”. In movies what you see happening in college is drinking and having sex in dorm rooms. Media seems to always leave out the real college life.

This situation is also put into a media loop. High school students going to college see how media has portrayed how college life is. Seeing this they try mimicking what that see on TV. With the change of each college generation, media continues to watch and go on with the never ending loop.

lights, camera, action

Last year I go to be partly apart of a documentary. This documentary was called “American teen”. Some how my high school was picked for this film and about to of my peers were picked as the “main” followed people as we liked to call them. The documentary caused a lot of controversy through out the school year but what I want to write about is the different shots that’s I saw them taking. The most used shot was the shoulder shot. Where the camera man carried the camera on his shoulder and fallowed the people around. I saw this being used at all kinds of different places like, at football games in the stands, in the hallways at school, and in the cafeteria. The other type is mounted. This meaning the camera is on a stand. This was also used a great deal during basketball games, classes, and interviews. Because two of my very close friends were one of the “people that they fallowed” they asked me to do an interview. They did this with a mounted camera. Also the interview was a close up. I learned a lot about camera and video production from the camera crew (as we liked to call them). It was a very cool experience and I’m excited for it to come out so we can watch it.

medias mind

As I have talked about before is that Golfing is one of my semiotic domains. Over spring break I went with my schools golf team to play the Robert Trent Jones golf trail in Dothens, Alabama. We played 18 holes of golf everyday. Media portrays golf in many ways. Sometimes I disagree with the ways that media portrays golf. Medias biggest and most well known figure to golf is Tiger Woods. Although , I do like Tiger Woods and I do know he is a great golfer but sometimes I wish Media would talk about more than just Tiger. Also, another image that media gives golf is that it is an easy, laid back, not athletic sport to play. Yes, a great thing about golf is that you can play it until you are old. But, competition golf is a lot different than just playing 9 holes on a cart with some friends. Golf can be very hard and exhausting just like basketball and football and other sports. You have to practice just as hard and put in just as many or even more hours than other sports. Playing in the heat walking and carrying a golf bag is hard work. You need to be in good shape to play golf. I think that sometimes media does a disservice to the sport in showing how much hard work it can be.

the mooks

We learned about the Mooks and the midriffs. These are the names of how media describes a type of guys and girls. The best example I thought of for a mook is Johnny Knoxsville who is the face of jackass. Knoxsville is an obnoxious, loud, spur of the moment kind of guy. He is famous for filming himself and friends doing ridiculous and dangerous stunts. Although I am guilty of watching his show and movies, I realize that there really isn’t anything great about Knoxsville. He doesn’t have any special talents and some might say you are stupider for watching this type of shows. I am not really sure why teens and people find this kind of thing so entertaining. Its amazing to me what is defined as cool, when you really think about it.

merchants of cool

The movie we had to watch for class, “Merchants of cool” was very interesting to me. I thought I should write a blog telling my thoughts of the movie. I actually found the movie relatively interesting. What I found interesting was how kids “wants” change so often. How it’s a never ending task to find what is cool and what people want to get out of what they watch. This is what we called the feedback loop. What media does is they watch kids and see what they do and like. Then they take what they find and sell that back to them. Then kids imitate what they watch. This making it a never ending and never changing loop.

media's spring break 07

Media’s Spring Break 2007

Being on spring break this week and also trying to think about what I should write about for blogs I decided I could write a blog on how media affects what people should do on spring break. The best example that I believe media uses to tell us whats “cool” for spring break is in TV shows and movies. One of my favorite shows they have the main characters go to Florida and find themselves on an MTV show licking whip cream off girls belly’s. Media gives people the idea that you should spend your spring break at the ocean, drinking beer, and dancing to music. Also media gives this idea through billboards. I just say a billboard that said something about “how are you spending your spring break”. It then had a picture of cans of beer on the beach with the sun setting in the back ground. Media doesn’t give you a choice on what is cool to do on spring break. Media wants us to think what is supposed to be involved during spring break and so we go with that instead of making up our own minds.

Esablishing a shot!!

Establishing a shot is when you see the outside shot of the scene before going into the scene. This is to introduce the scene and so you can see the environment of the scene. You will notice this method in used in many TV shows and movies. It is also used very often in the news. One example of the news using establishing a shot would be when there is a news story about something happening in a school. They may first show the outside of the school where it may have the schools name. Then go into the school where the interview or the rest of the news story is carried out. Establishing a shot is also used very often in TV shows. A classic example is the TV show Full House. At the beginning of many scenes the big white house is often shown before going in to the house and then the action begins. Establishing a shot is very useful so that the people watching can know what the outside of scenes look like. If you ever only saw the inside of the house scene you would wonder what the outside was like. With this method you can show more and understand more about the scene.

Big time hollywood

I really enjoyed the activity we did in class on Wednesday. The class room was set into the Hollywood mood. It was the “real thing” with the class being divided into actors/actresses, writers, and studios. I was apart of Big Time Studios. We were the wealthiest studio and everyone wanted to work with us. We started out by figuring out what our budget was and figuring out how much we could afford to spend. My groups other job was hiring writers. Once we had the story we wanted we needed to find actors. That’s a lot easier said than done. Even though we had the most money in the industry we had some difficultly getting the actors we wanted. We had to be careful in how much we paid for our actors. This activity really showed the intensity and competition of Hollywood.

American Idol- back stage to front stage

American Idol

Back stage to Front stage


When in class we talking about the differences between front stage and back stage I thought of the much loved show American Idol. American Idol is a television show featured on the Fox, based on the popular British show Pop Idol. The show is a competition in which viewers can call in and vote on contestants to determine the best "undiscovered" young singer in the United States, with the winner receiving a major record deal, although some runners-up have achieved enough fame to get record deals for themselves.

The process of selecting the finalist is done by three judges Simon, Paula, and Randy. As they travel all around the United States and hold try outs on a search for the new star. During this part of the show the contestants are in their “backstage” clothes. They are wearing their regular every day clothes. At this point their “costumes” are not what’s important, what’s important is how well they can sing. The people that manage to get through the first stages with their talented singing move on and continue for their dream. Once the “top 24” is chosen is when the singers are put onto the front stage. At this point they really start to feel the fame-light. This is when you see a real change in the singers. They all start looking more like real idols. With all new hairstyles and clothes, some even start losing weight. The singer’s loss that normal everyday look, to a much more famous look. They really put on the “front stage” appearance. With fancier clothes they look more the role. If they didn’t take on this appearance change they wouldn’t make it far, while in the “front stage. Looking their best is a key in success for the show. You wouldn’t see the singers just wearing sweats or jeans like they used to wear. When the cameras are on they always look their finest.

Blog 21-thinking about genres

Genres-music-
Country
Classical
R&B
Hip-hop
Spiritual
Rap
Kids bop
Jazz
Bluegrass
Rock and roll
Folk
Polka
Blues
Heavy metal
Salsa
Gospel
Techno
Acoustic
Gregorian chant
Disney songs

Age categories-

Birth- 10 years old
Disney songs
Kids bop

10-12 years old
Country
Hip-hop
Spiritual

13-19 years old
Country
Hip-hop
Rap
Rock and roll
Heavy metal
Techno
Acoustic

20-29 years old
Country
Classical
R&B
Gospel
Rock and roll

30-39 years old
Country
Classical
Acoustic
Jazz
Bluegrass
Rock and roll
Spiritual

40-50 years old
Country
Classical
Spiritual
Jazz
Folk
Polka
Blues
Gospel
Gregory chant

51 years old- loss of hearing (ha-ha)
Classical
Jazz
Gospel
Gregory chant
Spiritual


** note** Each person has his or her own preference of music. Ages may vary from person to person because everyone has a different personality and their goals to what they want to get out of music are very different. The list that I have made many could protest and disagree with. As a 19 year old college student this is just simply my opinion and others surely may disagree with how I have categorized these genres.

Be Mine Media

First of all HAPPY VALENTINES DAY to everyone! <3>

Genres

My type of Genres I would have to say is “soup operas”. Mostly because my all time favorite TV show is the OC. As you might have already notices, hint I like to write about the OC a lot. The OC would have to be put into the Genres category of soup operas. People say that The OC is like a teenage soup opera. I can agree with those people. The show is full of drama and unrealistic happenings to the characters. Other soup operas that are on during the day like “Time of Our Lives and As the World Turns” are also full of drama but these shows are aimed toward an older audience. Unlike The OC that is aimed toward teenagers. This is why I think I am so “hooked” to the show and not any other soup operas. Although these shows can all be put into the same genres I don’t like all the shows, just the particular shows that are more my type of show. So even though soup operas are my favorite type of shows, I don’t like all soups.

Semiotic Domains

While just hanging out and talking with my friends this evening something hit me. I realized that I am in outsider to a semiotic domain that almost all of my friend and people around me are in. I am not from Ohio. Coming here to Malone is my very first time living in a new state. I was born and raised in the same town, Winona Lake IN. So coming here to Canton Ohio was a pretty big change in my life. I had to meet all new people, make new friends, learn how to get places, and all kinds of other new things.

My domain is being from Indiana. I’m a Colts fan not a Browns fan. I DON’T like OSU football and I don’t care to watch every game and wear Ohio State sweatshirts. I would say sports are a pretty big part of my life. Being here and not liking many of the same teams as other people stinks sometimes. Having the Colts win the superbowl was awesome. I was sad that I couldn’t be in Indiana to watch the game though. When I went to visit my boyfriend last weekend I could feel moving to a new domain. Just seeing all the colts’ signs and knowing almost everyone around you are also colts fans. It was just a lot different than being here in Canton. Another thing is in my Domain we have Hacienda (best Mexican restaurant ever). I can’t seem to find them any where in Ohio. This makes me very upset. Also for the first time in my life I have been told that I have an accent.

Sometimes I feel like such an outsider to the “Ohio Domain” when I don’t know small towns. When people talk about what high school they went to, I never really know where they are talking about. Just living in a new town brings all kinds of new things. It makes it hard sometimes but I new it would be a big change coming here.

superbowl

I was watching the superbowl to cheer on my favorite team. Being from Indiana my family and I have always been big Colts fans. I was so excited that the Colts won the game. I wanted to blog about the different camera shots through out the game and the half time show that I noticed. I realized that the things we talked about in class were used through out the game. I loved that they showed far away shots. With these you could see all the people and how incredible big the stadiums was. Also during the half time show they had a far away camera shot. With this far out angle it enabled us to be able to see all the fireworks and lights going off and see how awesome it looked. But, it would have been frustrating to have to watch the game and show from that far out the whole game. That’s the nice part about watching on TV. You get to see close up as well. You even get to see more than the most expensive seats in the whole stadium can. Camera shots are very important to TV and really affect the quality.

Gilmore Girls

I have a lot of favorite TV shows. One of my new favorites to watch is Gilmore Girls that shows every Tuesday night on the CW. I started watching Gilmore girl’s last Christmas break when my sister got the 5th season on DVD. I quickly became addicted and watched all of the 5th season and then went back and started watching the rest of the seasons starting with the first one. The show is full of friendship, family, and ties that bind. The shows revolve around Lorelai Gilmore and her beautiful daughter Rory. One big thing that bothers me about the show is how un-realistic it can be. Even though Lorelai and Rory go through a lot of hard times...life always seems to turn out pretty nicely for them. Realistically when a young girl at the age of 16 gets pregnant things are very hard. Not that the show does deny that Lorelai but it never shows how hard life had to of been. At times the show makes the relationship between the mother and daughter so perfect and so fun that its makes you want to have the same at them. I know I am guilty of thinking how amazing it would be to have a daughter like Rory and have a relationship grow like there’s. But in reality life doesn’t always have happy endings. The show doesn’t show Lorelai as the young mother and the hard obstacles she had to go through of having a young baby. I think the biggest problem of a lot of TV shows is that they make things seem so much better than they really are. Its good to have hope and inspiration but reality is sometimes the hardest thing to face.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoYAsv4Ryy8


One of my favorite commercials is with Peyton Manning. It’s a master card commercial talking about supporting your team.

The most important signs:

In the commercial when the waitress drops her tray Peyton says “Hey that’s okay Wendy that was a good carry, you’re the man, you’re the man.” This is a sign meaning Peyton saying “good carry” in football terms.

The next part is the guy working the latte machine. When the steam hits his face and he falls to the ground Peyton says “shake it off Johnny rub some dirt on it.” This too is related to football in when a guy gets hurt Peyton might tell them to just shake it off.

In the next screen with the guys who drop the piano. Payton says “they arnt saying boo, they are saying moooovers. In this sign Payton is also relating to football.

The little boy throws the football throw the window Peyton says “don’t worry about it bobby you still have the best arm in the neighborhood” Again, football and QB’s throwing passes.

Some important codes:

The main codes in the commercial is the four different parts all being “football terms”. Why it is great to support your football team.

If I was explaining this commercial to someone from outside the United States I would start with explaining who the famous Peyton Manning was. With out knowing who Peyton Manning is the commercial wouldn’t be nearly as clever or enjoyable. I explain to the person that Peyton is a Pro NFL QB for the Indianapolis Colts. That he hold many records and is famous and loved for what he does. Having Peyton in this commercial is what makes it witty and fun. He makes this a truly great master card commercial.


-GO COLTS-

Some more OC connections with Myths...

**Inside Trey's hospital room, Julie makes him an offer he can't refuse. He tells the D.A.'s office that Ryan shot him, not Marissa, and in exchange he gets $20,000 and the opportunity not to be suffocated by the pillow Julie's holding in her hand.**

In this episode of the OC (Season three) the third myth, presents of a conspiracy is used. Julie who is married to one of the richest men in Orange County uses her power and money to make up a lie to help out her daughter. She pays Tray to tell the lie and make up a conspiracy against Ryan. Her hope is that Ryan will have to go to jail and not Marissa. Since Ryan already had a criminal record it would be easy to make Ryan take the fall.


**Julie drops a file on the bed. It seems that after Marissa’s death, Julie hired a private investigator to find out where Volchok ran off to. And he found out. All the information on it is in the file. But instead of giving it to the cops, she’s giving it Ryan, along with subtle instructions to enact revenge. **

Another clear example of presents of a conspiracy happens at the beginning of the 4th season. Everyone lives changed after the death of Marissa. You could say the two that took it the hardest was Ryan Marissa’s off and on boyfriend through out the years and Julie, Marissa’s mom. Julie being able to use her wealth to hire a private investigator and then is able to take down Volchok in revenge instead of doing the right thing.

Ryan...the rustic...

Identify myths in contemporary media

The OC can be applied to the first myth “Wisdom of the rustic”.
1.) Summarize the plot lines (or the relevant elements) of the popular culture text you're analyzing.
The O.C. - also known as Orange County, California - a wealthy, community where everything and everyone appears to be perfect. 'The O.C.' tells the story of the Cohen, Cooper, and Nichol families, and Ryan Atwood, a troubled teen from the wrong side of the tracks, who is thrust into this world, and who will forever change the lives of the residents of The O.C.
2.) Briefly summarize the myth(s) you'll be applying,
-Wisdom of the rustic is the myth that is about a person that might learn from another person that might be lower than the person that was taught. Even though the rustic person might not be the most educated or well looked at person, but they teach the higher up person.
3.) and then make clear connections to the popular culture text that you're analyzing.
-I believe that in The OC Ryan is the rustic person. When he comes into everyone’s lives everyone is changed. Even though a lot of drama is caused, Ryan being the person he is truly what everyone living in the OC needed in their lives.

GET RICH OR DIE TRYING

Identify myths in contemporary media

Myth #2
Possibility of success- holding true to your path.

50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die Trying

This example may seem a bit unorthodox, however, it is the first example that came to mind and I believe it precisely fits the definition of myth number two. Recently, I read that the structure of a gang selling crack cocaine parallels that of major corporations such as McDonald’s or Wal-Mart. This being true because a vast majority of the workers at the bottom of the ladder barely squeak by above the poverty level working for minimum wage prices while the corporate giants take in most of the profits. 50 Cent’s movie Get Rich or Die Trying portrays the life of a young black child living a poverty-striken life. He is living in a divided family and all odds seem to be against him. He becomes involved in gang activity at a young age and quickly climbs up the ladder to an executive position where he is then recognized as a stand out rapper and is given a shot at making a living legally. This may be a negative example of the possibility of success, but I believe it gains justice by being an excellent example of how if one is persistent and holds true to one’s path in life they may eventually gain success.

Swimmers A Semiotic Domain

Swimmers A Semiotic Domain - THAT I AM NOT!!

A competitive group of swimmers description:


You know you are a swimmer IF:

>If whenever you hear an electronic beep, and you instinctively jump, you might be a swimmer.
>If you have rings around your eyes unrelated to the amount of sleep you got, you might be a swimmer.
>If waking up before dawn to exercise seems normal, you might be a swimmer. (You might also be crazy)
>If you sport long, curling hair with split ends on your legs, you might be a swimmer.
>If the phrase "This set with fins" is better than hearing "You just won $1000," you might be a swimmer.
>If you answer, "I don't need to" when someone asks when you showered last, you might be a swimmer.
>If you love a good lightning storm when you have outdoor practice, you might be a swimmer. >When you learn how to squirt water 15 different ways, you might be a swimmer.
>When your long term goal is to slap your bicep on your lat, you might be a swimmer.
>When you go through so much latex in one season you could wallpaper your room, you might be a swimmer.
>If the first place you go when you're stressed out is a swimming pool, you might be a swimmer.
>If among your heroes are Janet, Jenny, or Amanda, or you know who I'm talking about, you might be a swimmer.
>If your daily apparel is held together by knots or is torn and see through, you might be a swimmer.
>If the phrase, "50 double armed backstroke with a breast stroke kick makes you happier than anything, you might be a swimmer.
>If being fish-like is a compliment, you might be a swimmer.
>If your nightmares consist of a series of numbers ending in 0 or 5, you might be a swimmer. >If you have hickeys on your neck, you might be a swimmer or you might be lucky.
>If you sweat chlorine even after showering, you might be a swimmer.
>If you just don't understand the charm of the swim suit edition, you might be a swimmer.
>If getting smacked on the butt doesn't bother you at all, you might be a swimmer.
>If you cut yourself every time you shave, because you only do it 3 or 4 times a year and are out of practice, you might be a female swimmer.
> If you are determined, strong, smart and tough, you might be a swimmer.
*If you shamelessly walk around the hallways at school in your bathing suit, you might be a swimmer.
*If you think bald heads are hot, you might be a female swimmer.
*If the person who sits behind you in you're math class always tells you that you reak of chlorine, you might be a swimmer.
* If land is your second home, you might be a swimmer.
* If you sometimes have trouble walking because you aren't use to it, you might be a swimmer. * If you suck at running, you might be a swimmer.
* If your stronger than many of the guys and all the girls in your grade, you might be a female swimmer.
* If you have to try on 30 shirts just to find one that fits your shoulders, you might be a female swimmer.
* If your hair remains in a wet ponytail throughout the day, you might be a swimmer.
* If when the life guard tryouts say you have to swim a 500 in less than 9 minutes you laugh, you might be a swimmer.
* If you have a permanent suit, goggle, and cap tan, you might be a swimmer.
* If all you ever do is eat and sleep during school, you might be a swimmer.
* If all your Saturday and Friday nights are spent around water, you might be a swimmer.
* If the first thing you look at in a guy is abs, you might be a female (maybe even a male) swimmer.
* If you are at the school so early in the morning for practice that you beat the janitors there and the lights in the parking lot are off, you might be a swimmer.
*If a practice of only 5000 yards sounds like heaven to you, you might be a swimmer.
*If you practice 3 or more times a day during the summer, you might be a swimmer.
*If your used to takin a 2 miinute shower and rushing to get dressed just to make it to class a minute after the tardy bell rings, you might be a female swimmer.
* And finally, If every time someone complains about how early they got up to get ready for school, you turn around and bite their head off and almost beat the living crap out of them, you might be a swimmer.
*If your shoes always squeak when you walk down the hall, you might be a swimmer.
*If you pee on the pooldeck then walk around barefoot, you might be a male swimmer.
*If there are wet towels over every door in your house, you might be a swimmer
If your siblings call you beefstick, man-shoulders, Amazon, or Behemoth (emphasis on the HE), you might be a swimmer


How do you become part of the Semiotic Domain “Swimmer Group?”
-Your parents could possible get you involved in swimming at a young age. There are different types of swimming clubs like YMCA swimming and school teams.
What makes some swimmers better than others?
-Proper technique and the amount of practice you put in. Genetics could also be a big part of how good or bad you are. Some people are natural born swimmers.

media log Jan. 10-11

Here is a log that i have kept for the last 2 days of the different types of media that effected me.


Wednesday Jan. 10

Time: 3:00-4:00
Type: (TV) Friends
Motive: I was bored and it is one of my all time favorite shows.

Time: 6:45
Type: (radio) music
Motive: I like listening to music while I'm driving in my car.

Time: 10:00
Type: (Internet) The OC.com
Motive: To find out information on why they they are ending the show after this season.


Thursday Jan. 11th

Time: (all the time)
Type (Internet) facebook
Motive: I get on facebook because i love writing to my friends and looking at pictures. Its a great way for me to talk to my friends and family that are far away from me. I also seem to get on whenever i am bored and sometimes i think I'm a little bit addicted to it.

Time: This afternoon
Type: (Music) Mix CD one of my friends made me.
Motive: Again i like listening to music whenever I'm bored. It aways makes things a lot better.

Time: 9:00-10:00
Type (TV) The OC
Motive: I watch the OC every Thursday night with girls on my hall. It a great source of entertainment.

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