The Stinky Cheese Man

By "Stinky Cheese Man" I really mean Walter Lippmann. I actually do not think he is that bad, but everytime we talk about him that is what I think of. That's all.

Lippmann, to me, has a strange solution for the success of media. He is frustrated that those in power control the media because he feels as if those who rule it are tainted by affiliation with a government or corporate organization. However, one solution he poses is to have a small group of people who are unbiased to anything rule the media. This is a paradox and basically is the same exact thing as he is trying to abolish. Oh, Lippmann, I do not see what you are trying to say! As part of the answer he says that we as media consumers must participate in media, contribute and go beyond our own interests so we learn more and are not jaded by another's view.

I think that the internet, online news sights and blogs are the answer to this. There is never going to be a small group of people who are not influenced by the government or another large company, so let's just get that idea of the way. So many people are online all the time, as Mike said during the Research Symposium, there is a new meaning to 9-5. With this said, media consumers browse tons of sights everyday. And then there are blogs! This is exactly what Lippmann wanted, he wanted us to participate and contribute to the media. Not all of us can be reporters or journalists, so this is the best solution, in my opinion. I also feel that this fits right along with us making documentaries. We choose (many of us) to go beyond or own pictures and comfort zone and get out there and interviewing. I think Lippmann would see us and be proud, but because he's so uptight sounding, he would not act like it - Whatever...

Peace Through Jewish Eyes

This documentary is a small tribute to a Jewish couple whom we interviewed and spent time with. They opened our eyes to how they live and some philosophies on life. As college students, we need to understand that there still is a struggle for anti-semitism, and we have the ability to change our actions. This film educates and challenges.

There is no better way to adverstise for our documentary than by presenting our poster! This sums it up to our target audience. In the meantime, I can give my own personal view - come see this movie! Our participants are wonderful and everyone will learn something by watching this. Although we just have the rough cut done, that on it's own is fantastic. Once everything is refined and perfected we are going to have a powerful mini-documentary.

Shalom!

That means 'peace' in Jewish. I learned this during our morning of filming. We had a wonderful time, actually. I didn't feel like we were filming at all, more like we were talking and learning.
As of now, we are in the process of transferring our film to a hard-drive where we can watch it and get an idea of what we need to do next for our rough-cut.
We are all very eager to begin editing (even me and I don't really know much about what I am doing!)

I <3 Grey's...

This is my favorite TV show, in fact, this is about the only hour of television I watch all week long. I get all worked up about, plan around it and talk about it with my Mom the next day. So now you know it all.

Since I have been reading the New York Times, I can keep up with the Neilson rating every Wednesday when they are reported in the "Life" section of the paper. Normally this would not interest me, but I pay attention due to Grey's Anatomy.

This week the ratings are a bit lower than the past week (I believe that is due to the fact that last week was a re-run). It still rates second for it's viewing slot, 9:00 on Thursday. CSI takes the cake for first place, and I have to say that CSI is tough competition. From week to week, the amount of viewers is very constant. We Grey's fans are hardcore.

If Grey's were moved to a different day, I think it would uphold very high ratings. I say this because it has changed times from season to season already and it only became more popular. Although, it would be important to keep the 8-11 time range. Most of the viewers are people work all day. Having the show at 9 is a great time because most everyone is assured to be off work and ready to relax.

Experiencing Pictures that are not in my Head

My primetime viewing experience (since I normally do not sit down and watch TV for 3 hours) involved, of course, Grey’s Anatomy. The shows which surround it are Ugly Betty and October Road. These shows are all very current – the characters are portrayed in settings that look as if I could be there with them. Although I am not familiar with the layout of a hospital, the doctors are showed relaxing at a bar, or cooking in their kitchen. I know about these places, I can almost relate! Ugly Betty, to me, is not as relatable. Although Betty is appealing to a wider audience of viewers than say, the desperate housewives, I cannot relate to her lifestyle. However, it is cute to watch and think of what it would be like to be hip in the fashion realm and wear cool clothes. I mean, I can still daydream. October Road…well I don’t particularly care for this show, so I didn’t spend that much time watching it. It seems a little too hokey and drawn out for me. Although the setting is a middle-class neighborhood – it does not show a lifestyle that is too far out of reach for many people.

Although the shows I watched have characters that I can relate to and take place in towns that I can envision, I do not think I can relate to all the events they experience. Of course primetime television is extremely dramatized; this is the part that does not fit with my life. The plot line of Grey’s Anatomy is very involved. If one of my roommates misses a week or two, I usually spend more time catching them up then I would telling them how my day was. I just do not have as much drama in my life. I also get to be in on the major surgeries that occur. In real life, there is no way I would be near an operating table when someone is coming off of bypass. (Now I really know what that means, I didn’t before Grey’s)

Certainly this creates a sense of hyper reality. This hyper reality is even stronger when I watch the show with my roommates because we get into it, talk about it during the commercials, decide which characters we like and which ones are acting like jerks. We make judgments on people and pull for other characters. It is like real life sometimes! When I student-taught I saw how large this hyper reality can become. On Friday morning, many of the teachers and aides would gather and talk about the episode of Grey’s that was aired the night before – just like it was real!

There is a factor of hyper reality, but I do not feel as if the shows I watched are creating pictures in my head that are totally bogus and monitored by gatekeepers. If I stayed interested enough in TV to watch the 11 o’clock news I am sure that I would feel differently.

I would like to comment on Joshua’s article. I like what he says. Being involved in school and in the lives of young children has really opened my eyes to what children learn from TV. In one school the things they learned were not positive. These children loved to watch MTV and they certainly learned more about Beyonce and Shakira than I could ever teach them. Because they were unmonitored at home, they had free choice over what to watch. Giving fourth graders this choice will not always lead to a positive television pick. It will lead them to a hyper reality which will then influence them to try and dress a certain way, say certain things or treat people differently.

Agree with your imagination!

I would like to recommend to everyone the film "Big Fish". This film was directed by Tim Burton in 2003, it was originally a book.
Will is one of the main characters. He goes to visit his father, who is dying and with whom he hasn't spoken with for several years. One the reasons for not speaking to him is because Will is easily irritated by the stories his father tells, which sound fictitious. During his visit home, Will sits with his father as urged by his mother and wife. During this time, he listens to the same stories he has heard all his life. However, during this visit, he begins to open up his mind to imagination and open up his heart to his father. Through flashbacks and memories we are able to piece together the wonderful life that Will's father has lived. There is a terrific sense of love and loyalty to family as the film progresses.
This film in entertaining and it leaves the audience in wonder. Many times I was not sure if what I was seeing was real or a structure of imagination. I enjoy watching this film over, it is humorous and emotional every time. Tim Burton really displays his creativity in the making of this film; the settings of the memories are all different and the lighting and filming techniques accentuate these facts.
This film is a great one to watch with your family because it rings true with young and old. It reminds us to appreciate those we love and not to take life too seriously.

Moving at the speed of life, we are bound to collide with each other.

"Crash", a film directed by Paul Haggis was chosen as the movie of the year and recieved 3 Oscars. This is a movie worth seeing, not only because it recieved Oscar recognition, but because it tackels issues of race and discrimination in a way that is very real to our world today. "Crash" is a flilm that anyone can watch, it worked especially well in our class because we had discussion. Even when the film is not presented in a classroom setting I feel that it will still promote discussion. I have watched this with my parents and friends and on both occasions discussion arose. Watching "Crash" could be the first time some individuals think about race relations and really start to talk about them.

The biggest and most obvious theme of the intertwined stories is that of race. There is hatred and racism alive in movie and we see that displayed in many of the characters. The movie begins with many snippits of stories, and as we watch we discover how everyone connects to one another. To be introduced to these characters, watch this trailer! It gives me goosebumps when the connections are made, it is an "Ah-ha" moment. This theme can be stated by this annoyomous scholar:

All of us are one. When you inflict suffering on others, you are
bringing suffering on yourself. When you weaken others, you are
weakening yourself, weakening the whole nation.

This is so obvious in "Crash" when an individual tries to mentally or physically hurt another. They really do not make themselves feel better, in fact they feel worse and negatively affect their neighbor. This happens until the individual crashes - literally or figuratively. This crash can be a revelation for them to turn around or start acting differently. This same theme can also be stated differently;

What goes around, comes back around.

This is a truism that we have all heard for years and recently it has been recieving more attention because of Justin Timberlake's poetic musicianship.

This movie attacks social issues head-on, which is one reason to watch it. There are other reasons as well, though. The soundtrack is amazing. The entire atmosphere of the film is dramatized and sobered through instrumental music which was composed specifically for "Crash". The only songs with vocals come at the end when the stories of the characters with whom we now identify are being concluded. To me, this adds a lot of power and emotion to the end of the film; we are listening to the vocals and left to think on our own about the truth we have just seen presented on film. "Crash" stars many big names actors and actresses, and it is worth it, because the acting is fantastic. The actors take on their roles and you often forget that you have seen these individuals in other films or in Hollywood.

To rate this film, I will use a crash-test rating, to go along with the title, "Crash". In Consumer Reports, cars are rated using circles. A red circle is highly recommended, a half-red circle is acceptable, a half-back circle is okay, and a black circle is not recommended. I would give "Crash" a red circle because I would suggest to anyone that they watch this movie. Especially when viewed with others, this film can increase our understanding of the world. It also gets a red circle because of how well Paul Haggis directed the film, the cast and the soundtrack - as a package, just like the Toyota Camry (one of the highest ranked cars in Consumer Reports) it rates high in every aspect!

Nothing is Impossible, it Just Takes Longer

Philo T. Farnsworth is a name that hardly any of us associate with genius. It is a name that should be printed in history books and talked about with the names of other fantastic inventors. Philo is the man who invented one of the devices that impacts most Americans daily – the electronic television. For an invention so great and legendary, why is his name not recognized for his success? During the time of his discoveries, others kept him out of power.

Philo was born a Mormon in rural farm country. He was a hard worker, but always fascinated by technology, which he saw little of. As he become more involved in his work, he moved to a city to further his electronic television research. Along with moving into the city came competition and rivalry. His competition, Vladimir, had the funds to spy on Philo through radio signals. He also had the funds to fight Philo’s patent decision and stall his success. Philo’s invention of electronic television was debuted in Philadelphia, but no one really acknowledged it until the same device was presented later in New York. New York welcomed all those with prestige and power – the media was also there. So this was the event that received attention and press. Because Philo wasn’t a celebrity, his achievements were sold short.

This is an example of how money can get some people the attention they are seeking. This was unfair to Philo. He was from a small, rural town and did not know how to handle himself in a competitive, cutthroat ordeal. It was not right to ignore Philo because of his gentle and peaceful disposition. Also, because he was not rich to begin with, he received less media attention. This is still so true today. The people who we see making a difference in this world are the stars. Angelina Jolie is doing great things across the world, and she is given much attention because of it. The fact we need to realize is that there are others who are doing the same exact thing; they are just not rich like Angelina.

Now that we know that there are inventors in the world who are not given credit for their genius, it is up to us to seek out this history that can be pushed aside by those who are perceived to be powerful. It will not be impossible to discover individuals who have gone unrecognized, it will just take us a little bit longer.

"So charged with pain and wonder that the novel becomes poetry" - New York Times

The Bluest Eye was written by Toni Morrison and published in 1970. Morrison uses Lorraine, Ohio as a backdrop to tackle serious issues, such as the media’s portrayal of beauty and self-hatred induced by internalized racism.

The story is told mainly from the viewpoint of an adolescent girl, Claudia. She is an interesting narrator because she does not go along with the ideals of the society, or her friend, Pecola. Claudia does not value the “beauty” of Shirley Temple’s porcelin skin. Pecola, on the other hand, is defined by structures set by those in authoritative positions. She has internalized the notion of white beauty so much that the only way she will be perceived as beautiful is by acquiring sky blue eyes. Morrison emphasizes this desire is what drives Pecola to ruin, and unfortunately is was because no one really complimented Pecola on her personally, they only focused on her race.

"We don't have the vocabulary to tell children what to value. We do say, "Oh, you're so beautiful. Oh, you're so pretty. Oh—that's not really what we really ought to be saying. What do you tell a child when you want to say, "You are good, and I like that. You are honest and I like that. [Y]ou are courageous. I really like that. I really like the way you behave. I like the way you do yourself. Now. The way you are.' That's the vocabulary we need." - Toni Morrison

One of the goals in writing this book was for the tender and fragile nature of adolescent girls to be exposed, and how some girls end up horribly scarred because there are no other chioces, so they do the best they think they can.

This novel is worth reading because it is written by a great author who has been overlooked too often. It is a tool to educate the youth of our world because it shows the reality of people's lives. If you are interested in thought provoking quetions, learning more, or discussing this book further, please follow this link.

Without Knowledge There is No Freedom

I was in the library and saw this quote (it is written on a stained-glass window in a stairwell, see if you can find it) and I was reminded of our discussion in class the other day concerning diversity and the symposium which was recently held. At the symposium, one issue that was brought up repeatedly was the notion of education ourselves so we are more knowledgeable and more accepting to others who are different from what we know.

When I saw this quote, “Without Knowledge There is No Freedom”, I thought how true that statement is. If we do not take steps to educate ourselves, our friends, and our family, then we will remain captive to our own small beliefs.

Just something to ponder at our liberal arts college!

What is a Documentary?

When some of us hear the word "documentary" we may first think of an episode on the history channel. A documentary is the presentation of true facts without embellishment from the producer. A documentary is not fictionalized, although sometimes the director may choose to recreate an event for the sake of accurate portrayal. Source

In our media world today, the scope of documentaries has increased vastly. Now, a documentary can be 3 minutes long and you can find it on YouTube, or you can go the theatre to see a documentary film based on a true event. Television is still a popular medium for documentaries, especially since reality shows, specials and series are all methods to present a documentary. Everyone who makes a documentary has a different agenda, therefore, we are always going to get a tainted view of the documentary topic. I believe that many producers recognize this fact and strive to eliminate personal beliefs, and I hope that if the producer feels passionately enough about their topic they would have the integrity not to impose their own views. It is almost as important that as the viewer we do our research to see if what we are watching is a reality show (such as 30 Days), a movie simulation (Supersize Me), a film based on a true event (Fahrenheit 911...a video clip with Quick time) or a ploy that appears to be real (Campus Ladies)

Documentaries are a special genre, and I find that I am beginning to appreciate them more as I get older. Before, I used to think that they were boring, slow-moving shows. Now, I am able to look that them critically - I try to understand whose story is being told and if the director is trying to influence me or merely inform me. One aspect that I know really affects how I perceive a documentary is how music is used. Music really triggers my emotions, and I am sure that is onereason why I can feel so impacted during certain documentaries. Which brings up the question of whether it takes a producer who is passionate to make a documentary, or a producer who is just very talented at making a show emotional.

As far as the documentaries we are about to embark on, I feel we should try to include a few important nuggets. We should strive to present the voice of someone else and not worry about hearing our voice. We should use music to convey the emotion of our subjects. We should recognize the value in simplicity and not try to make our film into something extra fancy, after all, we are only beginners. When viewers are done watching my group's documentary I hope that they are a bit more informed on the topic and have learned something that can increase thier understanding of the world. In other words, I hope that we can expand upon the pictures in thier schema just as other documentaries have done to me.

"No Human Being is Illegal"

Last week Morgan Spurlock expanded the simple pictures in our heads concering minutemen and illegal immigrants. He did this by presenting this controversial issue through an episode of his reality show 30 Days entitled "Living as an Illegal Immigrant". In case you haven't heard Spurlock's name before...he's the Supersize Me dude. Some critics say that Spurlock seeks to challenge the participants of his show "...in body and soul..." source

This show achieved what many documentaries set out to do - it informed it's audience of the facts that surround the immigrants of illegal aliens in our country. We learned by observing Frank (the minuteman, once a legal Cuban immigrant himself) live in the Gonzales home for a month. He was literally on the doorstep of enemy territory. I learned that the Gonzales' left their home in Mexico in hopes of finding a job and making a better life for their children. Many anti-immigration people find this distrubing because Mexicans are taking away jobs and opportunities from deserving Americans. The Gonzales family is not a mean group of people, nor do they seek out trouble, but they are still here illegally. (This also raises the point of how Armida, the eldest daughter was accepted into college without a social security number...curious.) At the end of the 30 days, Frank goes home and continues his work as a minuteman, but he did recognize that we can still "...love people for who they are - all politics aside...". I believe that is a main theme that many of us in the audience picked up on.

I was very interested in this show and it kept my attention the entire time. While it was very informative, Spurlock also added to the drama by adding sappy music and using strategic shotting angles. I would be inclined to watch 30 Days again based on this one episode. Although it may be reality TV, it is informative and not petty like many shows can be. I feel others could benefit by watching this show because we should try to strive to expand upon our pictures and stereotypes in our heads.

On my Soapbox for a Minute

Today in class I stated my opinion on how I feel minority groups should be addressed.

Because I have been in situations where I am the minority and have talked to individuals about their minority status, I feel very passionate about this topic. When we refer to others as “they”, “those people”, or say things like, “that’s what they do”, or “you know how those people are” we are doing nothing but perpetuating a stereotype.

Please be aware of the stereotypes in your head and consciously try to avoid using degrading and generalized terms. When we are aware of stereotypes we can change our schema and pictures in our minds! Address people for who they are – say their name, race, or ethnicity! When we do this we are appreciating a quality that minority groups deem important to their own lives.

Thank you for understanding that this is my personal view, which I am free to post in my own personal blog.

Time Warner...I guess you own me.

In a past blog, I stated that my favorite type of media was my cell phone. However, being that is not a form of mass media, I am going to alter my favorite type of mass media to books/magazines/newspapers – media in print. I like to touch what I read rather than have it on a screen or listen to it.

While I was reading Hanson, I discovered how much the 6 major companies own! I honestly had no idea of the scope of their influence. Two magazines that I enjoy reading are People and Time, both of which are owned by Time Warner. Time Warner also publishes many books that I enjoy reading for pleasure. As I read more, I realized that Time Warner owns the TV station that produced one of my favorite shows, Sex and the City. Even the cartoons I watched as a kid (and yeah, today too) are set out by Time Warner! The more I read, the more I realized that Time Warner is doing exactly what they set out to do – effectively using synergy to control every step I take in the media I enjoy using. Hmm, how’s that for agenda-setting.

Lippmann is my Mann

While reading Lippmann I took particular interest to a few points that stuck out in my head as concepts that I have experienced first hand. Lippmann spoke frequently about how we cannot help but have stereotypes, because we go into experiences with a vision already in my mind. This is a natural reflex, but as I thought about it I was angered by how frequently our visions are influenced by others. For instance, when I began my student teaching I was bombarded with negative attitudes about the school I was going to enter. Before I knew it, I was thinking negative thoughts that were unwarranted – just because other gatekeepers influenced me. But, if we are aware of stereotypes we have, as Bradley Gorham* points out in "Race/Gender/Media", we can work harder to enter situations with an open mind. Why not go into something with good pictures in our heads, rather than stereotypes which have been planted? If we do this, we are not creating great barriers between ourselves and others (Lippmann) before we have a chance to create our own picture. If we are trying to limit gatekeeper’s influence, I feel this is a good direction to go.

“For when a system of stereotypes is will fixed, our attention is called to
those facts which support it, and diverted from those which contradict. So
perhaps it is because they are attuned to find it, that kindly people discover
so much reason for kindness, malicious people so much malice” Lippmann Chapter 9, Section 2)

I chose this quote to analyze because I feel that I can really apply to my life and to other’s lives around me. What we do, based on the pictures in our minds, affects others and in turn, affects us. This is a ripple affect. If we go into a day with a positive stereotype of the world (because remember, stereotypes are not always negative), we are more likely to encounter positive people and positive situations. The same is true if we go into a day with a negative/angry/bitter stereotype of the world. My personal belief, and what I take from this quote is why not start with that kind stereotype and do ourselves a favor!

*Bradley Gorham is a professor at the University of Michigan. His particular interest is in the effects of mass communication and how stereotypes and media are affected.

How my Media affects my Reality

My media is limited because I do not use lots and lots of it. I do not watch the news or read the newspaper reguarly, so I do not know all the details. I get the main idea of the news from headlines and browsing on the internet. I prefer to read books (novels) and ocassionally magazines (Time, Newsweek). So that limits my reality and perceptions.

If I engage more media, depending on what it is, I am usually more informed. While I was student teaching I made a point to catch a little bit of some reality shows that I knew many of the other teachers watched, this way I could connect with them and engage in conversation. So, perhaps if I engage in more, I would feel more connected to other people in my world.

When I start to think about who filters, or mangages, the media I use to be informed I start to realize something. Usually the people doing the publishing or broadcasting are in the majority. So, already I am going to have a different view of "reality". Those who own companies are gonig to have a say in what is news. news. As my friend John Mayer says, "When they own the information, They can bend it all they want".

When I hear or read news I definatly get pictures in my head! I usually try to visualize the type of people the news is about (maybe make them up, or get a picture based on prior knowledge). I know that stereotypes (good or bad) that I have in my mind help me to create these images and attitudes. I usually let news wash over me. I take it in, but do not get too involved. Really, I do not enjoy the sorrow that composes much of the news, so if I do not absorb too much, then I do not get upset or sad. On the other hand, I love good news - that is something I take in and treasure.

Media Checklist!

1. I use my cell phone everyday, I don't even have a real phone in my room! I call my family and close friends the most often.
2. I believe the last time I listened to a speaker was at the summer church camp where I am a staff member. We have speakers everyday, sometimes they are pastors, sometimes not.
3. I am online a lot, but I don't always im lots. People who I frequently chat with are my sister and my best friend who goes to college in Virginia.
4. I use email everyday! I check it multiple times, try to reply quickly and just send some out for fun, I like email!
5. The last time I paid for music was in November (or around there) when I bought a CD at Wal-Mart. I would use Itunes, but the school doesn't let it download. I get a lot of music from my sister, and she uses Itunes frequently.
6. Grey's Anatomy on Thursday. It's really the only show I make a point to watch. And I catch the news occasionally.
7. Nah, I don't really do that.
8. I went to see "Casino Royale" over Christmas break. On DVD, my roommates and I recently watched "Catch Me if You Can".
9. When I'm up at school I rock out to TITAN RADIO - whooooo!
10. I finished Anita Diamante's "The Red Tent" and now am reading "Esperanza Rising" by Pam Munez Ryan". I like reading all types of books, it's relaxing for me.
11. I haven't read the newspaper in a while...oops. I read The Record Herald at home (local newspaper) because we get it everyday so I have a good excuse to read it - it's right there!
12. I bought "Real Simple" recently. Don't laugh...I really really like that one.
13. I just wrote and sent a letter on Friday, I'm a supporter of snail-mail, it's fun to recieve something in your mailbox : )
14. I use WC email and Facebook daily. I am also visiting and have bookmarked many school district websites as I'm applying for jobs.
15. I have a Facebook account because I think it is fun! I like to be connected with my friends, especially ones who do not go to school here - it helps me keep in touch with some people and it only takes about 15 minutes a day to send some messages and reply to others. Of course, now I have this bloggy!

Additionally...
My favorite type of media I believe would be my cell phone, and a close second would be my Ipod. My cell phone is my favorite because it is my lifeline to my family, who I really love. My cell number is the number I give out to friends, professors, and now, potential employeers. Also, it's nifty because I get to talk to for free to my family (on my plan) and other people who have Verizon. If I lost my cellphone or it got thrown in the lake or something, I would be mad at first, then frustrated! I would feel disconnected from my family and friends, and I would feel as if I was missing important calls from professors or my parents. I would probably resort to borrowing a friend's phone so I could make some calls. I would use email until everything was back to normal, I would make it through! My little Ipod is also a favorite because I love to use it when I work out and I plug it into my car stereo so I always have music I love to listen to. If it were taken away, I would be fine, but kinda bummed. I would miss my songs, but there are ways to replace them.

Hi! First post!

Holler!