Social Media

Every day from your computer, phone, or other electronic device, you can keep up with your friends no matter where they are.  Anyone from your neighbor to a friend 7,000 miles away from home, can update their status from pretty much anything that is getting an internet signal, so you can catch up on what is going on in their lives. You know what I am talking about, Social Networking or Social Media.  You can hook up to the internet and follow your favorite celebrity, the kid next door with the freckles, or your choice of news channels.  You can stay in contact with people that are living in a completely different country.  Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter all offer you an option that has changed our world.  It can have it’s positive and negative effects, but we all know that it does affect all of us.  Social Media has changed how we communicate to everyone.  This truly has affected the whole world!

Advice Columns

I think that some letters in magazine advice columns are real but I also think that some are fake.  I’m sure that magazines like to spice it up a bit here and there and use fake letters to get readers reeled in.  Whether they are real or not does not hurt anyone, it actually might help someone.  What if someone was too ashamed to send in for advice, but as they were looking through a magazine, found a similar story as theirs?  They may be able to take on some of the advice that they read.  Although this sounds nice the reality is most advice columns are just drama.  I think it is just fine for magazines to run unsigned letters because what is it hurting?  It can either help someone that may need it or get the drama queens excited to read it.  They are just trying to sell more magazines.  Isn’t that what this world is obsessed with now, more popularity, more money, more fame, more attention?  Magazines are just more companies trying to keep up with the Jones’.    

The Fishbowl

Celebrity gossip is one of the most common things that spin out of control over a picture or a sighting.  Our imaginations can lead us on so many scenarios just by one thought or idea.  I believe that celebrities should be left alone.  Whether we want to hear it or not, the celebrities did not put themselves in the fishbowl, we did.  We put them on a pedestal and make their stories so much more significant than the average Joe.  If a celebrity sneezes, we immediately hear about it and every detail.  “I saw it coming from a distance.  Jennifer Aniston squint her eyes and drew her head back when all of a sudden… she sneezed.  She then reached into her purse and pulled out a tissue and blotted her nose five times.”  I know this is a little over exaggerated, but in all reality the things that are reported are everyday happenstances for most of us.  Michael Douglas was diagnosed with cancer some time ago now.  He was wanted for interviews with many television stations and was talked about constantly for a while.  He was in magazines, on talk shows, and of course in the news.  They followed his treatment and talked to his wife about their suffering.  In working in a salon, most of the gossip surprisingly, was about celebrities.  While Michael Douglas is on television speaking of how his treatments are going, my cousin is in the clinic getting Chemo Therapy for his cancer.  We are a world, absorbed in everyone else’s life,  putting others in a fishbowl so that we can be entertained. 

Michael Douglas

Rumor Mill

Rumors are like a wildfire, once it starts, it spreads.  Just as individuals, companies also have to deal with vicious rumors.  I believe that companies should respond with swift, short explanations to rumors on the internet.  Let’s bring this into perspective using an example of an individual.  There is a rumor that you got fired for drinking on the job when in reality, you were fired for a reason you do not know, but you know you have never drank on the job.  You are approached weeks later about the abrupt absence from work.  In hearing the rumor, I believe the best defense for this is a simple answer that you do not drink on the job.  If you get too defensive it will appear as if you are desperately trying to get people off your tail and trying to hide something.  If it is not true a simple defense is all that is needed.  This is how it would be for a company as well.  The more you talk and explain your way out, the more desperate it sounds.  Rumors are so common, they are just part of life.  In order to defend a company in the best way possible is to not get too wordy and just accept that some will continue to believe otherwise.  Do what you can do and then leave it alone.          

Brand Name

There are many people that select a particular brand for many different reasons.  Some may like the quality of the product while others believe it is the best value.  There are not many things I buy because of the brand.  I do enjoy buying Tide for my laundry detergent.  It is a little pricy, but it seems to be of great quality.  Tide is great on stains, keeps my colors vibrant, as well as making them feel and smell incredible.  Above all it is gentle on fabric, therefore allowing me to keep things longer with less wear.  I believe a good technique would be offering to donate something to people in need, maybe clothes or washing machines.  With the purchase of every bottle we donate $2 to homeless shelters.  There is a big difference on buying a certain brand because of its quality and buying something just to have the brand on it.  I have a friend that buys a certain brand of clothes.  She refuses to put her babies in anything but this certain brand and I would never see her walking around with anything from Walmart.  This to me is foolish.  Especially when you have babies that grow so fast, they don’t have a chance to wear things down.  So you can spend ten dollars on a cute off brand outfit that they will grow out of in less than three months or you can spend eighty dollars on a similar outfit that has a name brand tag on it.  For me it is an easy choice, be wise with my money!     

The Googler

I believe that the Google may or may not make us stupid.  Yes, I am an avid “googler.”  I look everything up from how to cook something to how to write a letter.  I know it is crazy, but sometimes I need a little extra help.  I guess the question is, are we learning from it or are we depending on it?  There is a big difference.  Depending on the person and their own learning skills, one may be able to “google” something and catch on right away, learning and taking something away from it.  Next time they attempt the same task they needed help with, they automatically have it.  On the other hand some may not be as fortunate.  Some may struggle and “google” something and accomplishes it, only to turn around and depend on “Google” time and time again to be able to accomplish a task.  The internet is such a great tool, but I guess we all need to tone it down and try not to depend on it so much.

What's on TV?

Television has become so diverse and continues steadily.  When you turn on the television who knows what will be on.  I think that one of the most obvious changes in television has been the popularity of Reality television shows.  These shows have completely exploded.  You can watch anything from the birth of a baby to an argumentative family to people making cakes.  Networks probably find it more viewer friendly the more variety they have.  History Channel is no longer for history buffs.  They have so many shows on that channel that appeal to many different people.  They have shows like Top Shot and Pawn Stars for the brawny men, Ancient Aliens for the paranormal viewers, American eats for the food coinsure, as well as some of the basic shows like Modern Marvels for those who just want to know more.  The more ratings the better and that is what these networks are striving for.  

Twilight

I looked up the movie Twilight on Dark Horizons.  Now I know this movie is a couple years old, but I have strong opinions about it, so I thought this would be a good movie to look up.  I believe that this movie wouldn’t be where it is now if it wasn’t for the books.  The movie critics are ruthless, if a movie is bad it’s bad.  With the negative comments I think that most that have read the books would think twice before seeing the movie, but overall would see it and make their own analysis of it.  The critic mostly complains about the director blaming her for a failed film, although this film grossed some hefty dollars.  He also criticizes the actors and there lack to successfully portray the chosen characters.  He says that the movie is almost an unintentional joke.  Now, in reading this, I probably would have thought twice about going to see it.  I actually waited for it to come out on dvd, for the fact that I had read other reviews and figured I would save the couple bucks.  All in all, we know that it was a pretty successful movie for what it is.  They have definitely improved with the next two.  The diehard fans probably went to see it regardless of the reviews.  The ones that read the book probably thought about it, but with persuasion went and saw it.  The others, such as myself, opted to wait for a home viewing of the movie.  

Never Alone

I chose to watch and blog about the song “Never Alone” by Barlow Girl.  This song has a great message.  They talk about in tough times when we really need someone we cry out for help.  God hears but sometimes we tend not to acknowledge the help he has given us because we are so focused on our problem.  Everybody has struggles in life.  We can choose to sit and focus or stop and wait for the help we need.  The guy in this video is struggling and struggling to get free but he can’t seem to.  The girls sing about trusting in what they cannot see, as in God.  It is so true that even people that don’t have a relationship with God at some point in their life they may cry out to him.  At the end of the video this guy that is restrained finally stops struggling.  He kneels down and stops focusing on the problem and starts focusing on the solution, asking God for help.  He then notices a way to get out of his predicament.  He was provided with a quick solution.  This video is portraying just that, to face our problems knowing there is help here if we need it.  We just need to have faith and ask.  We truly are never alone!

Mainstreaming

A newspaper should not have to disclose the source’s gender or race.  I think that they should be more focused on getting accurate information.  They should concern themselves with the research, effort, and time that is put into an article.  If we were reading a recipe, would we have to know the gender or race of the author of a particular dish?  It wouldn’t make a bit of difference no matter who it came from.  If we were going to begin asking for the race of who put together the headline for a particular newspaper, what good would that do us?  A man and a woman may have their own spin on words, but other than that, the story will be about the same.  The base idea does not change because of demographics.  I wonder if you knew the race of an author of a particular article, would that change your view of the article?  We are all the same, no matter what others may think.  Race and gender aside, we are human, and those that contribute to media got where they are for a reason.

Magazines

· Is there any harm in magazines featuring extremely thin (in the case of women) or very muscular (in the case of men) models in their photos and advertisements?  I believe there is harm in featuring thin or muscular models in advertisement.  It seems that this is where everyone looks for guidance, magazines.  From teens to women to men, we have all fallen into looking for perfection by looking at the standards the magazines portray.

· Do you think the images in fashion magazines contribute to the problem of eating disorders or steroid/supplement abuse? Why?  I do believe that fashion magazines contribute to eating disorders and supplement abuse.  We are all so focused on what the “status quo” is and tend to look to magazines.  I think young girls see these thin models and say to themselves, “If I just don’t eat for a week and make myself throw up, then maybe I can be thin like this.”  Then two months later their stomach can’t handle food and they end up having major problems they didn’t even think about.  What about a male that sees this muscular model and decides I’ll do steroids for a few months and see how that goes.  He then sees good results and continues until it is out of control.

· What about the opposite―Ought magazines feature “realistically sized” models? Does this help or harm things? Why?  I think that having realistic sized models would be a good thing.  I think that it would be good to have many different sized people in a magazine showing that we are all different.  The reality is a slim person and a plump person can eat the same thing and have the same level of active lifestyle, but because of heredity they don’t have the same body.  I think having realistic sized models would help people see that we are all individual and different.  Don’t be ashamed of who you are.  Being healthy is more important than looking a certain way.  A person would feel more accepting of themselves. 

· Should magazines Photoshop models to make them look thinner? How do you feel about the comments made by the editor of Self magazine in your chapter?  Magazines should not Photoshop models to make them look thinner.  It is setting a definite unrealistic standard and it is wrong.  I think what the editor said is ridiculous.  Even though she thinks it is best to make the cover model look their “best” it is not realistic.  Teens are then under even more pressure thinking that these stars are perfect.

Hide in Plain Sight.

The most recent book I’ve read is called, “Hide in Plain Sight” by Marta Perry.  This book is part of a company called Love Inspired and they publish wonderful fictional books that are clean and great to read.  I chose this book first of all for the publisher.  I have a hard time picking out books that I like because some get so filthy.  I stuck with the publisher, because I have read many books by them before and judging by the back cover this had some suspense in it.  A book with love and suspense, yes this is my kind of book.  I ended up absolutely loving the book and recommending it to many of my friends.  This book kept me glued to each page.  The balance of romance and suspense was perfect.  I really couldn’t put the book down.  This book was not a bestseller and I am thinking that it is because this company is not well known and neither are most of the authors.  I was searching for reviews online, but I couldn’t find any for this book.  I think if more people knew about Love Inspired and the authors it would be a best seller.

Media Choice

We are in the middle of a media epidemic.  Everywhere you turn there is some type of media staring you in the face.  Even though these outlets are owned by a small number of corporations, I believe we have more choices.  Yes, I think that they put a lot of research into media trends and find out what everyone wants.  We are not limited to few choices.  If you want to watch a reality show, just tune in a couple of channels from where you are at.  If you want music, cartoons, adult cartoons, oldies but goodies, news, sports, celebrity news, shopping, reality, horror, or pretty much anything you can think of, our satellite providers promise it.  It all comes back to money.  These corporations will do whatever it takes to make sure the viewers are following, whether it be one channel or another.  A company may own twelve channels, but they did think this through, they have news on one, celebrity gossip on another, funny cartoons for the kids, and so on.  They know how to capture their audience, to get the whole family involved.  

No More Rabbit Ears!

Media Bias

Spiral of Silence

                To me this subject is so true.  If you are a minority you tend to hold your opinion back and tend to be less willing to express thoughts.  Think about even in high school.  The most popular kid in school thinks that a certain movie is the best movie in the world and others say the same thing.  As you notice that this movie is very popular and many people like it you would step back and feel that you should agree or just keep your own opinion to yourself.  This happens in media as well especially as adults.  Things that I have a political opinion on whether I know much about the subject or not if I see that I am the minority I feel inclined to silence myself.    

Mean World Syndrome

                A teen plays the video game “Grand Theft Auto” every day after school.  If you don’t know this game, it is very violent from the language to stealing to killing.  Is the reality of life seen by this teen?  Does he know the real world or does he live in this video game world.  He may use the excuse that the real world is just the same, violence and ciaos!  Well, when it comes down to it, there is violence and ciaos in this world, but his idea of reality is clouded by the video games and movies he sees.  Although I truly believe this, I also know that we have to be in tune and aware of the real level of violence that is in this world. We can’t shade our eyes from seeing reality.