1. As we further studied media literacy, it occurred to me that I had not given much thought into the effects of media messages. Believing that I was impartial and somewhat aware of how media could influence my judgment, however I was wrong.
2. Learning that 5 major companies and conglomerates own the means to 80% of media distribution and production, blew my mind. "Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one"-A. J. Liebling
3. The MPAA has set a standard when it comes to rating films, naturally leaving an indelible print onto audiences. How we reason whats acceptable and whats not in movies is symptomatic of the mpaa's consistency in rating. The m.o. of the mpaa is completely suspect beyond reasonably doubt. For the sake of integrity in entertainment, the mpaa needs governement regulation and audits annually.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Media Ethics/Media Law
BitTorrent is an accelerated peer-to-peer file sharing program. Specifically, I use BitTorrents for downloading movies or large volumes of music such as discographies.
In October 2009, the FCC cited Comcast for interference with BitTorrent.
"For covertly interfering with BitTorrent peer-to-peer traffic," Comcast was in violation of the principles of which the FCC regulate, that of accessibility and openness.
In October 2009, the FCC cited Comcast for interference with BitTorrent.
"For covertly interfering with BitTorrent peer-to-peer traffic," Comcast was in violation of the principles of which the FCC regulate, that of accessibility and openness.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Propaganda Techniques
Headlining are the words "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil." Outlining the "Good American" are facts and figures which depict former president Bush as the heart of America's problems. The reiteration of Bush's name in every fact along with the jingle are examples of the repetition technique.
Down below are the words "Be a Good American, Don't Pay Attention to the Facts!"
An undercurrent of sarcasm instructs onlookers to do the exact opposite. With the command being simply stated, a misunderstanding would not be very likely; direct order being the operative technique.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Electronic News
KRON Channel 4 9-9:30.
9:00-9:02: Female anchor introducing which stories would be featured; ending with the bay bridge S-curve as the top story.
9:03-9:04: Weather Report, 7 day forecast: Chances of rain on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
9:05-9:07: Boreal Anniversary: First constructed ski resort in California. A successful opening weekend with lots of snow. KRON asked skiers and snowboarders the distances they came for just a weekend.
9:08-9:09: commercials: Maaco paint services for cars (20secs)
Mens Wearhouse (30secs)
BofA (30secs)
Yakult yogurt (30secs)
9:10-9:12: Closing of Guantanamo Prison. This story covered the concerns of where the remaining detainees would be relocated to. The governor of Illinois, gladly accepted the remaining detainees. Thomson, Illinois would be the prospective location; employing 2,000 people of the stagnated area.
9:13-9:14: Weather report: Frost alert 3am-7am. SF could reach low temperatures as 42 degrees, 31 in Napa and 35 in SJ.
9:15-9:16: Commercials: Motorolla "Droid" phone (30secs)
"Breathe right" strips (30secs)
Macys Holiday gift ideas (30secs)
Danmer Shutters (25secs)
9:17-9:19 Healthcare reform. Covered the rising cost of healthcare and how people are without any coverage. A women works 4 part-time jobs, all of which do not have plans to cover part-time. Her medical costs per month are $363, which is unreasonably high; She can only afford 1 of the 3 medications she is prescribed. She terminated her healthcare last month, for she feels she can't afford it with unsteady income.
9:20: Commercials: Maaco paint services (20secs)
Bath fitter remodeling (25secs)
9:21-9:22: News Features: Richmond shooting; 16 y/o involved in a car chase which ended in the teenager being shot by officers. (20secs)
Infant body found in Oakland, Marina. Linked to a 1997 story of mother abandoning her child. (20secs)
Long lines this week for Swine Flu Vaccines. (20secs)
9:23-9:24: Commercials: Culinary Academy Institute (20secs)
Sleeptrain (25secs)
Volunteers of America (30secs)
Nissan Altima (25secs)
9:25-9:27: New purposes for T.V.: Mediums are now converging. Habits for watching television have changed, people are often on the computer while simultaneously watching television. So, T.V. programs will now have adobe flash and other "web t.v." programs to fuse the two mediums. With social networking, you'll be able to chat with friends while watching shows, changing the idea of "water cooler" chat to "real-time.
9:28-9:30: The Bay Bridge S-Curve; 44 car accidents have happened since the curve was constructed on September 3rd. All of the accidents are speed related, addressing new methods to decline accidents, authorities have proposed more signage.
The same anchor women appeared throughout the 30 minute news segment. She was very matter of fact and monotone but her character was quite personable. Her facial expressions however were stoic. Out of the 30 minutes, 18 minutes were of actual news content.
9:00-9:02: Female anchor introducing which stories would be featured; ending with the bay bridge S-curve as the top story.
9:03-9:04: Weather Report, 7 day forecast: Chances of rain on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
9:05-9:07: Boreal Anniversary: First constructed ski resort in California. A successful opening weekend with lots of snow. KRON asked skiers and snowboarders the distances they came for just a weekend.
9:08-9:09: commercials: Maaco paint services for cars (20secs)
Mens Wearhouse (30secs)
BofA (30secs)
Yakult yogurt (30secs)
9:10-9:12: Closing of Guantanamo Prison. This story covered the concerns of where the remaining detainees would be relocated to. The governor of Illinois, gladly accepted the remaining detainees. Thomson, Illinois would be the prospective location; employing 2,000 people of the stagnated area.
9:13-9:14: Weather report: Frost alert 3am-7am. SF could reach low temperatures as 42 degrees, 31 in Napa and 35 in SJ.
9:15-9:16: Commercials: Motorolla "Droid" phone (30secs)
"Breathe right" strips (30secs)
Macys Holiday gift ideas (30secs)
Danmer Shutters (25secs)
9:17-9:19 Healthcare reform. Covered the rising cost of healthcare and how people are without any coverage. A women works 4 part-time jobs, all of which do not have plans to cover part-time. Her medical costs per month are $363, which is unreasonably high; She can only afford 1 of the 3 medications she is prescribed. She terminated her healthcare last month, for she feels she can't afford it with unsteady income.
9:20: Commercials: Maaco paint services (20secs)
Bath fitter remodeling (25secs)
9:21-9:22: News Features: Richmond shooting; 16 y/o involved in a car chase which ended in the teenager being shot by officers. (20secs)
Infant body found in Oakland, Marina. Linked to a 1997 story of mother abandoning her child. (20secs)
Long lines this week for Swine Flu Vaccines. (20secs)
9:23-9:24: Commercials: Culinary Academy Institute (20secs)
Sleeptrain (25secs)
Volunteers of America (30secs)
Nissan Altima (25secs)
9:25-9:27: New purposes for T.V.: Mediums are now converging. Habits for watching television have changed, people are often on the computer while simultaneously watching television. So, T.V. programs will now have adobe flash and other "web t.v." programs to fuse the two mediums. With social networking, you'll be able to chat with friends while watching shows, changing the idea of "water cooler" chat to "real-time.
9:28-9:30: The Bay Bridge S-Curve; 44 car accidents have happened since the curve was constructed on September 3rd. All of the accidents are speed related, addressing new methods to decline accidents, authorities have proposed more signage.
The same anchor women appeared throughout the 30 minute news segment. She was very matter of fact and monotone but her character was quite personable. Her facial expressions however were stoic. Out of the 30 minutes, 18 minutes were of actual news content.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Internet
192 Websites. Of the Social Networking sites listed, I'm most familiar with Friendster, Myspace, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
A Social networking website I've recently started using is Last.fm. It's a networking website geared specifically to music. As a member, you can look up an artists' discography, lyrics, videos, pictures, events, and tracks. You can even preview playlists bands create for their fans, giving the listeners insight into their influences. You outfit your profile with bands you like and specific songs. It's public, so people who might have the same taste in music can contact you and recommend other bands you might like. After a while, last.fm will get an idea of what kind of music your into and suggest similar artists.
A Friend who had called out sick to work for a few days got suspended from his job. He in fact went on a road trip to Portland and friends of his had posted comments on his wall about the trip. His boss, who had friended him the week before on Facebook saw the comments and later left him a message telling him he didn't have a job to come back to. An agreement was made and my friend got to keep his job at the cost of his boss' trust.
A Social networking website I've recently started using is Last.fm. It's a networking website geared specifically to music. As a member, you can look up an artists' discography, lyrics, videos, pictures, events, and tracks. You can even preview playlists bands create for their fans, giving the listeners insight into their influences. You outfit your profile with bands you like and specific songs. It's public, so people who might have the same taste in music can contact you and recommend other bands you might like. After a while, last.fm will get an idea of what kind of music your into and suggest similar artists.
A Friend who had called out sick to work for a few days got suspended from his job. He in fact went on a road trip to Portland and friends of his had posted comments on his wall about the trip. His boss, who had friended him the week before on Facebook saw the comments and later left him a message telling him he didn't have a job to come back to. An agreement was made and my friend got to keep his job at the cost of his boss' trust.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Social Media Revolution
note: I suggest turning off your sound before viewing, the music becomes bothersome after the first minute.
Length: 4:22
Description: Stats and facts concerning Social Media's accelerated assimilation into mainstream culture.
Chapter 2: Media Impact
Quiz Question: In comparison to Facebook, which reached 100 Million users in a matter of months, how many years did it take for Radio to reach 50 million users?
Answer: 38 years.
note: I suggest turning off your sound before viewing, the music becomes bothersome after the first minute.
Length: 4:22
Description: Stats and facts concerning Social Media's accelerated assimilation into mainstream culture.
Chapter 2: Media Impact
Quiz Question: In comparison to Facebook, which reached 100 Million users in a matter of months, how many years did it take for Radio to reach 50 million users?
Answer: 38 years.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Movies
Where the Wild Things Are
It's rather difficult to translate a beloved children's book onto the big screen. Spike Jonze, a noted director worked closely with the author, Maurice Sendak in bringing the book to life. I loved the film, however I do think the movie is not for kids, as much as its about being a kid.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Magazines
TYPO(graphy)
Concept: Expresses evolutionary elements in Type and Design; A magazine for Typophiles. A fun look at how type interacts with content to communicate a specific message; in context of entertainment, advertising, literature, magazine, photography, newspaper and art. It's different in that it covers all tenses and applications of type; the contents of the magazine would be very eclectic.
Readers: Ages 20-40, males and females, any ethnicity and any income range. Similar interests would be graphic design, crafts, art, adverting, academia, journalism and design.
Competition: Baseline, Juxtapoz and Tripwire magazine.
Five Advertisers: local venues such as galleries, music halls, craft fairs, independent boutiques, design firms and art supply shops. As well as Independent publishers maybe IFC and indiewire.
Five Articles: "the Printing Press" " Type in the Digital Age" "Type and Advertising" "Helvetica" "Type is Ubiquitous"
Cover: Minimal. The cover will have the first issue in a manila folder partially out, with only the heading of the magazine showing. Color highlights on the header and manila closure.
Concept: Expresses evolutionary elements in Type and Design; A magazine for Typophiles. A fun look at how type interacts with content to communicate a specific message; in context of entertainment, advertising, literature, magazine, photography, newspaper and art. It's different in that it covers all tenses and applications of type; the contents of the magazine would be very eclectic.
Readers: Ages 20-40, males and females, any ethnicity and any income range. Similar interests would be graphic design, crafts, art, adverting, academia, journalism and design.
Competition: Baseline, Juxtapoz and Tripwire magazine.
Five Advertisers: local venues such as galleries, music halls, craft fairs, independent boutiques, design firms and art supply shops. As well as Independent publishers maybe IFC and indiewire.
Five Articles: "the Printing Press" " Type in the Digital Age" "Type and Advertising" "Helvetica" "Type is Ubiquitous"
Cover: Minimal. The cover will have the first issue in a manila folder partially out, with only the heading of the magazine showing. Color highlights on the header and manila closure.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Libros
Touching From a Distance. A painstaking biography of the late Ian Curtis of Joy Division. Ian Curtis spearheaded the post-punk movement, introducing new wave to the Manchester scene in 76'. Performing was his all-consuming passion which eventually lead to his self destruction. Ian Curtis committed suicide before his first U.S. tour in 1980, leaving his wife and daughter of one year behind. This was insight into the lifestyle of how it is to live fast and die young. He struggled with the duality that is family life and the success of being a performer. One of my favorites indeed.
http://www.amazon.com/Touching-Distance-Ian-Curtis-Division/dp/0571239560
The Omnivore's Dilemma. A friend who is completing her dissertation on nutrition's involvement in mass media, recommended this book. It's a cursory glance of our unhealthy relationship with food and the rational consumers use. The author examines both macro and micro factors that involve our food production system. Categorically, as consumers we participate in either industrial, large-scale organic, local, and personal (hunted-gathered) food chains. Upon reading this book, I don't feel as powerless as before and to take it one step further, I do recommend watching FOOD INC. You'll be surprised of what kind of relationship you have with food.
http://www.amazon.com/Omnivores-Dilemma-Natural-History-Meals/dp/1594200823
Unaccustomed Earth. I found this book through The New Yorker. It's from the same author of The Namesake, which was adapted into a feature film in 2006. This book is a series of short stories by transplant families from India. There were many difficulties facing the new generation, most importantly integrating strong cultural values with their own distinctiveness. A shift in cultural values occurred, family unity became less important as education and personal success took lead. Most of the narrators in the book experienced isolation and a profound loneliness before finally acclimating. This book's great, it's an easy read and has strong narratives.
http://www.amazon.com/Unaccustomed-Earth-Jhumpa-Lahiri/dp/0676979343
http://www.amazon.com/Touching-Distance-Ian-Curtis-Division/dp/0571239560
The Omnivore's Dilemma. A friend who is completing her dissertation on nutrition's involvement in mass media, recommended this book. It's a cursory glance of our unhealthy relationship with food and the rational consumers use. The author examines both macro and micro factors that involve our food production system. Categorically, as consumers we participate in either industrial, large-scale organic, local, and personal (hunted-gathered) food chains. Upon reading this book, I don't feel as powerless as before and to take it one step further, I do recommend watching FOOD INC. You'll be surprised of what kind of relationship you have with food.
http://www.amazon.com/Omnivores-Dilemma-Natural-History-Meals/dp/1594200823
Unaccustomed Earth. I found this book through The New Yorker. It's from the same author of The Namesake, which was adapted into a feature film in 2006. This book is a series of short stories by transplant families from India. There were many difficulties facing the new generation, most importantly integrating strong cultural values with their own distinctiveness. A shift in cultural values occurred, family unity became less important as education and personal success took lead. Most of the narrators in the book experienced isolation and a profound loneliness before finally acclimating. This book's great, it's an easy read and has strong narratives.
http://www.amazon.com/Unaccustomed-Earth-Jhumpa-Lahiri/dp/0676979343
Friday, October 2, 2009
Media Impact
In the past year I must have seen dozens of magazines vanish off the shelves. Major publishing houses have experienced a record drop in sales figures and have been forced to shut down. Is print media on it's way out? Will it join the ranks of CD's, cassette tapes and records? Applied research and random sampling will help etch the way to better understanding this phenomenon. Random sampling would provide statistics and insight into the usage and consumption of print media per household. Furthermore, applied research would gauge the sales of magazines as well as new and existing publications. I predict that I would indeed find a rapid decline in print media as well as a shift in medium usage. However, as the market rebounds I would hope to find print media regain momentum and recover it's appeal through new marketing. Understanding the decline of print media is in correlation with the decline of the market, print media will remain a fixture amongst rivaling mediums.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Mash Media
I'm returning to Academia to reform the art of muckraking. With print media in decline, I have every intention of being instrumental in it's rediscovery. Anatomically, Sociology is the backbone of Journalism, which I hope to understand unequivocally through this adventure. Mediums I interact with most are magazines, books, recordings, movies and the Internet.
I find Magazines cater to many of my manic needs, serving as a conduit to interests of the like minded. It took quite a bit of time finding a suitable magazine for myself, but once I did I wanted renounce my subscription to Maxim.
Monocle. Which I've recently got into a few issues ago, conducts an annual survey of the top 25 cities with the best quality of life. The cities are ranked according to environmental issues, crime, medical care, difficulty level starting a business, education, public transport, flight connectivity, population and infrastructure developments. Zürich, Switzerland was ranked 01 in 2008, according to Monocle.
The New yorker. Very readable and makes for a great travel companion. Inside you'll find great commentary and critisisms on popular culture, fiction, satire and amazing cartoons.
Vice. Fun read. Raw, edgy, raunchy, ground-breaking, don't giva f*ck journalism. Inside you'll find a Do's and Don'ts spread of strangers photographed in compromising behavior, accompanied with absurd commentary!
Music plays such an integral part, I couldn't imagine life without it. I have several friends that share the same lust for music and coincidentally, we've fallen into a routine exchanging mixes every month. A new mix that I'm compiling has a track by Small Black, titled "Despicable Dogs". I listen to this track on the hour, every hour no joke.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwTWXxkZMBs
I find Magazines cater to many of my manic needs, serving as a conduit to interests of the like minded. It took quite a bit of time finding a suitable magazine for myself, but once I did I wanted renounce my subscription to Maxim.
Monocle. Which I've recently got into a few issues ago, conducts an annual survey of the top 25 cities with the best quality of life. The cities are ranked according to environmental issues, crime, medical care, difficulty level starting a business, education, public transport, flight connectivity, population and infrastructure developments. Zürich, Switzerland was ranked 01 in 2008, according to Monocle.
The New yorker. Very readable and makes for a great travel companion. Inside you'll find great commentary and critisisms on popular culture, fiction, satire and amazing cartoons.
Vice. Fun read. Raw, edgy, raunchy, ground-breaking, don't giva f*ck journalism. Inside you'll find a Do's and Don'ts spread of strangers photographed in compromising behavior, accompanied with absurd commentary!
Music plays such an integral part, I couldn't imagine life without it. I have several friends that share the same lust for music and coincidentally, we've fallen into a routine exchanging mixes every month. A new mix that I'm compiling has a track by Small Black, titled "Despicable Dogs". I listen to this track on the hour, every hour no joke.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwTWXxkZMBs
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