The Kite Runner
After reading The Kite Runner during my Senior year of high school, I realized that one decision can potentially alter the rest of one's life. If Amir had told someone about Hassan being raped by the neighborhood bully or if he hadn't of framed Hassan of stealing, then his life wouldn't have been filled with so much regret and sadness. Amir's journey back to Kabul to set things right decades after making a cowardly mistake taught me how to be a more moral and ethical person.
The Five People You Meet In Heaven
TFPYMIH opened my mind to the thought that all people are linked somehow and affect each other's life, even if we realize it or not. Though Eddie saw his place in the world as worthless and unimportant, the book taught me that everyone is loved and cared about.
Go Ask Alice
This book heavily influenced my take on drug abuse and family. I promised myself I would never indulge in illegal substances, although I have been made fun of because of it. The nameless narrator's disatisfaction with her family taught me to never take my own family for granted and appreciate their influence on my life.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Week 2: Technological Determinism
I chose to apply Marshall McLuhan’s theory of Technological Determinism on the beloved television remote.
Enhances: Convenience and Access
Rather than constantly getting up to change the channel or adjust the volume, you can simply press a button on the remote from the comfort of your favorite chair.
Reverses: Laziness
People become huge couch potatoes since they don’t have to move much anymore. In fact, when my dad watches tv sometimes, he calls me from the other room just to change the channel for him!
Obsolesces: Television Buttons
There is no need for television buttons since everything you need is on the remote; the on button might be the only exception.
Retrieves: The Need for Simplicity
With everyone's busy schedules, it's hard to spend time just kicking back and relaxing. But when there is some leisure time, people can just simply pick up the remote, sit down, and watch some tube with the family.
Enhances: Convenience and Access
Rather than constantly getting up to change the channel or adjust the volume, you can simply press a button on the remote from the comfort of your favorite chair.
Reverses: Laziness
People become huge couch potatoes since they don’t have to move much anymore. In fact, when my dad watches tv sometimes, he calls me from the other room just to change the channel for him!
Obsolesces: Television Buttons
There is no need for television buttons since everything you need is on the remote; the on button might be the only exception.
Retrieves: The Need for Simplicity
With everyone's busy schedules, it's hard to spend time just kicking back and relaxing. But when there is some leisure time, people can just simply pick up the remote, sit down, and watch some tube with the family.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Week 1: Media Autobiography
Unless you live on a remote Third World area of the globe, it’s hard to argue with the fact that the media has an immense control over the audience‘s views and perspectives. Mass media roams all around us, especially since we live in California, home to Hollywood, major newspapers, and Silicon Valley, just to name a few. Majoring in fine arts and planning to transfer to UC Berkeley or UCLA, my work will soon have its place in bustling areas of an already media-influenced state.
Since I am interested in a career in the media, magazines, movies, internet, and television are the most important to me now.
Growing up, I only read video game magazines to attain cheat codes and tips to defeating the evil villains in Zelda and Bomberman. Now, I usually pick up a copy of GQ, Vogue, or Nylon to see the latest fashion trends and tips for men. I always felt that magazines had too many advertisements and not enough articles concerning relative material.
I wouldn’t call myself a movie buff, even to the lightest degree, but I do enjoy kicking back, munching on some popcorn, and watching a story other than my own. As a child, I was addicted to Disney movies like Mulan and The Lion King, but now, I have grown more fond of movies full of black comedy. I love the fact that movies become portals into another world, grabbing you by the mind and not letting go until usually an hour and a half later.
When it comes to the internet, let’s face it, it will turn all other media obsolete. I grew up surfing the web, even if I was only allowed to play the AOL games and Nickelodeon.com. There is an infinite amount of things to do online, from watching videos on Hulu and YouTube to using Google to research famous painters. Besides variant internet speeds, there is virtually nothing wrong with it.
I hate to say it, but I spend too much time watching television. Even as a kid, I was hooked on children’s favorites like Doug, Rugrats, and Power Rangers. Now, I’ve realized that I have become a reality junkie. I like the variety of shows constantly on, but absolutely hate interrupting commercials.
When I was younger, I read tons of Arthur and Bernstein Bears books. When I entered middle school, I stopped reading for fun because I consistently had to read for my reading classes. This continued on to high school, until I made a resolution to read ten leisurely books a year. Like movies and television, they bring you to another world, but take relatively longer to finish.
I always thought newspapers were for adults. While I would read my Little Bear books, my dad would be sitting at the dinner table reading the Filipino newspaper. I rarely read the paper; only during my Senior year in high school did I actually read it almost daily because it was required in my government class. Although each newspaper has a very limited amount of articles, they are easy to get a hold of and are very inexpensive.
Recordings are used for anything. I listen to music recordings all the time, and in class, we watch news recordings to gain insight on the subject we would be currently discussing. I like the minimal amount of space that recordings take up on your laptop.
Every time I’m in my car, the radio is on. It is a great way to get a hold of current events and traffic updates while on the road. To be honest, I’d rather listen to the radio than compact discs in the car, but there is only mainstream music always on.
Since I am interested in a career in the media, magazines, movies, internet, and television are the most important to me now.
Growing up, I only read video game magazines to attain cheat codes and tips to defeating the evil villains in Zelda and Bomberman. Now, I usually pick up a copy of GQ, Vogue, or Nylon to see the latest fashion trends and tips for men. I always felt that magazines had too many advertisements and not enough articles concerning relative material.
I wouldn’t call myself a movie buff, even to the lightest degree, but I do enjoy kicking back, munching on some popcorn, and watching a story other than my own. As a child, I was addicted to Disney movies like Mulan and The Lion King, but now, I have grown more fond of movies full of black comedy. I love the fact that movies become portals into another world, grabbing you by the mind and not letting go until usually an hour and a half later.
When it comes to the internet, let’s face it, it will turn all other media obsolete. I grew up surfing the web, even if I was only allowed to play the AOL games and Nickelodeon.com. There is an infinite amount of things to do online, from watching videos on Hulu and YouTube to using Google to research famous painters. Besides variant internet speeds, there is virtually nothing wrong with it.
I hate to say it, but I spend too much time watching television. Even as a kid, I was hooked on children’s favorites like Doug, Rugrats, and Power Rangers. Now, I’ve realized that I have become a reality junkie. I like the variety of shows constantly on, but absolutely hate interrupting commercials.
When I was younger, I read tons of Arthur and Bernstein Bears books. When I entered middle school, I stopped reading for fun because I consistently had to read for my reading classes. This continued on to high school, until I made a resolution to read ten leisurely books a year. Like movies and television, they bring you to another world, but take relatively longer to finish.
I always thought newspapers were for adults. While I would read my Little Bear books, my dad would be sitting at the dinner table reading the Filipino newspaper. I rarely read the paper; only during my Senior year in high school did I actually read it almost daily because it was required in my government class. Although each newspaper has a very limited amount of articles, they are easy to get a hold of and are very inexpensive.
Recordings are used for anything. I listen to music recordings all the time, and in class, we watch news recordings to gain insight on the subject we would be currently discussing. I like the minimal amount of space that recordings take up on your laptop.
Every time I’m in my car, the radio is on. It is a great way to get a hold of current events and traffic updates while on the road. To be honest, I’d rather listen to the radio than compact discs in the car, but there is only mainstream music always on.
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