AHA!

AHA MOMENTSSSSSS!!

1. I didn't realize the many types of media. When I think of the term, I usually think of tv and radio. Basically, any source that offers news. But then I read up about books and recordings, and they too are considered part of the media! It might've been my obliviousness, but hey, Now I know!

2. I've never seen This Film Is Not Yet Rated before this class, but after, I realized how deceiving and unfair the MPAA rating system is. The fact that some MPAA information cannot be obtained by the public totally goes against our rights. The rating system is out of whack! To be honest, if I had kids, I'd rather have them watch a sex scene (of good taste, of course) instead of heads and limbs being chopped off any day!

3. McLuhan's theory of Technological Determinism definitely helped me put things into perspective. Every single thing I own can be analyzed and determined what it retrieves, obsolesces, enhances, and reverses. The theory can be applied to anything, even the simplest things like paper and a paper clip.

This class was very enjoyable and the atmosphere definitely helped all of us engaged. I enjoyed this class so much, I recommended it to my brother, who in fact, is taking it online next quarter! Thanks Mrs. Deck!

Media Ethics Case 2009

In 2009, a Domino's employee in Conover, North Carolina, was recorded preparing a sandwich in the most unsanitary way. He sprayed snot on them, put cheese up his nose, and farted on the salami, while another employee jokingly announced that this food would son be delivered and eaten without the consumer ever knowing what happened. The video was uploaded onto YouTube, and in a matter of days, received more than a million hits. Although the two former employees had said the video was a prank and that the food was never delivered, Domino's suffered the consequences.

The video destroyed Domino's reputation, causing defamation to the company. And since the event was broadcasted and spread through YouTube, Twitter, and other social medias, it is a case of libel.

Propaganda Techniques

Common Man / Plain Folk
- This technique attempts to convince the audience that the propagandist's positions reflect the common sense of the people. In the video, Edwards states that the real heroes are the regular, everyday people of our country and that his voice represents all of them. He uses these folks in order to become more relatable and likeable.

Flag-Waving
- This technique is an attempt to justify an action on the grounds that doing so will make one more patriotic, or in some way benefit a group, country, or ideas. The shots of everyday Americans, the American flag waving proudly, and presidential rally add a sense of patriotism; by voting for Edwards, you're doing your part as a proud American.

Academic Research Project

The paparazzi have always been known for their notoriety and aggressive, dog-eat-dog ways of capturing celebrities, politicians and other prominent people at their most candid moments. These pictures become their source of income, but sometimes they cross a hundred miles over the line of privacy to shoot a buck. So the question is, How far should the paparazzi be allowed to go when shooting the famous?


Let's be real for a quick second: Britney Spears went crazy for a long while. After her breakup with K-Fed, it was all downhill. She had to fight for the custody of her kids, she tried to escape being a regular on TMZ. But it didn't help her situation when all of a sudden she came under the public eye with an interesting new do - BALD! Here, Britney goes apesh!t on smothering "photojournalists."

BLOG 7: Internet

There are 179 social networking websites listed.

I have only heard of twenty of these websites listed.

Looking through the list, I didn’t see HitRECord.org, a collaborative, social networking site where members (RECorders) submit original pictures, texts, videos, songs, etc. (RECords) and combine them into larger RECords with money-making potential. I also didn’t see PosttheLove.com, Channing Tatum’s site that lets members post up anything that they feel is inspiring and heartfelt - a vehicle to spread the love to others in a creative way.

One site I have never heard of is VampireFreaks.com. It’s is an online community for the gothic/industrial subcultures, and surrounding topics. It was created by site owner, Jethro Berelson (Jet) in 1999. It began with a small number of forums dedicated to gothic/industrial music but has gained high popularity in recent years in the gothic community circle and the site eventually grew (Wikipedia.org).

I use social networking sites to stay in touch with my friends, and blog about anything I feel needs to be addressed. I use mainly Facebook.com, Blogger.com, and HitRECord.org. I have never had an incident in which social networking got me in trouble. But Blogger.com helps me so much with organizing my thoughts and venting about little things stressing me out.

BLOG Week 6: Television

length: 3 minutes 5 seconds
description: Michael Bay's The Island presents the audience with a huge amount of promotional tie-ins.
chapters: Ch 6. Movies
question: The specific type of promotional tie-ins that includes certain brands and products in movies (ex: Puma athletic wear, Nokia, and Budweiser in The Island) is called ___________ or ________________.
answer: product placement, brand integration

Week 5: Movies or Recordings

My favorite song of 2009 is The Fray's "Absolute" from their sophomore album,The Fray. The band, who is known for their deep, heartfelt power-ballads, hits us with another one with such lyrics like this: "It's a kiss that sits upon her lips, That waits for planes and battleships," and "All we are and all we want, Forty years come and gone, All we are in photographs, Will never be taken." What I really love about this song is the lyrics. They give off visuals and references to times of war. In fact, the lyrics bring me back to World War II and the famous photograph of a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square when the Navy returned (here). The first time I heard this song was on their CD.

Bonus:

This performance was actually a free livestream concert on their website from Webster Hall In New York City.

I would define "oldies" as anything before I was born, especially music that came from the peers of my parents' generation. That being said, my favorite oldie of all time would have to be "Let It Be" by, of course, The Beatles. I first heard the song on an audiocassette my parents had, who are big fans of The Beatles. Like "Absolute," the lyrics are what caught my attention. The song has an anthemic vibe of optimism and sheds light to all dark times. No matter what Hell is thrown at you, everything will be alright, "There will be an answer, Let it be."

Bonus:

Brooke White performs "Let It Be" On American Idol. This is probably my favorite non-Beatles performance of the song. You can definitely hear and feel the emotions and the utter sincerity the song brings to everyone who sings it.