"Now They Tell Us"..nottttt

Michael Massing's "Now They Tell Us" is a cohesive look into the corrupt way in which media is tainted and never truly non-fictional. In some respects, I understand it is a very risky position to be in as a reporter, but I don't think people like Judith Miller should so quickly assume their facts are correct and not further investigate the details of the story. In a sense, I feel it is difficult in some ways for me to comment on this text due to the alienation I feel while reading about the war in Iraq. We don't see it. We don't experience it. We don't really know anything that's going on, and I feel like I never will unless I were to join the forces and partake in such a catastrophic event. When I think about it, it's almost like we're all victims of the war because we have no voice, no way to change anything. The information we receive is skewed, and I feel everything that is related to news media is just a big fat lie in one way or the other, whether it be trying to cover up the harsh truths or just being a biased information. Yes, of course, there are facts within texts, especially those commenting on foreign policy, but it's still out of reach in my mind. I sometimes don't understand how people can read all of the articles on Iraq and feel as though they understand and are informed. I cannot say that I can create a comprehensive dialogue in which to speak of this event. 

    

            

      

maxim/cosmo

First off, reading either one of these magazines is probably equivalent to making your mind into a garbage dump and filling it half way. That is, depending on how much you let it effect you and the way you choose to have sex or tilt your head. Talk about falsity. I guess it works for a number of people and thats fine, I'm just quite glad I'm not a victim of being imposed upon by people who create right and wrong ways of doing things that are completely subjective. Yes, everyone has an opinion surrounding what looks good etc., but really, there are potentially more stylish dresses then the ones they choose as 'have to have'. Also, I don't think men look much more desirable if they carry a bottle and drive a hot rod. I mean, is that what turns people on these days? It may be for the women that they place in maxim...talk about creating stereotypes. It's quite interesting how these magazines obviously cater to a specific gender, although they both seem to demean women a bit. In maxim women seem objectified, and in cosmo women seem to be told how to cater to men as if that is the only desire women have in life. It's basically all about how to look better, act better, and know just what to do that'll drive him/her wild. I mean, is this for real? Sex and consumerism are what keep these magazines going, and it sells oh so well.

11.12.13

What is most interesting to me is the overabundance of advertisements that we're bombarded with on a daily basis and contemplating how effective they are. Considering the history behind advertising and all of the statistics I've come across in these chapters, it seems that they have served their purpose- to make people want, desire & need products. One of the most perplexing products that seems to have gotten a higher number of sales due to T.V. advertisement is prescription drugs. To me, it just seems wrong to have an advertisement influence someone to go on a certain medication, although I suppose it can be beneficial to their health.  I wonder..... does it really take an advertisement for someone to finally get help in an arena as serious as mental health? If so, I think it's a bit concerning.
Another concerning topic is advertising to children. As they banned it in Europe, they should do so here as well, even just limiting it a bit more if not banning completely. In a way, advertising to children is manipulation for the reason that children don't have the funds to buy all of these exciting toys, so once again, it is actually directed to the adult consumer. At the same time, it is creating children to become consumers of mass production. It makes them want, and upsets them because they can't get what they want/see, and children are especially expectant of instant gratification.
As advertisements are created to make people want products, I think it's an entire new ballpark when they create image issues in people. Most advertisements have models selling products, giving off the idea that 'This is what You'll look like if you use our products,' which is false manipulation. It makes people that his or her skin is perfect due to this product, although it's not true- they most likely came to the photo shoot looking like that without ever using the product. People are paid to make a product look like it's worth purchasing and many people, myself included, fall for it and have a burning desire to buy buy buy. They have indeed succeeded.

Chapters 8 & 10

Something that grabs my attention while reading these two chapters about the decline of printed media is that it is still widely used by older generations as a form of news. Though my generation may get news and books via digital sources, many people over the age of 60 are not very computer savvy and may very well become uninformed if newspapers become obsolete. Or, they'll have to become computer savvy enough to attain the information they used to read in printed forms. I understand that it is that much more convenient to read a book on a kindle and read the new york times online, but it is quite sad to think about not having the ability to read a nice hard copy of something, which thankfully we still have. When reading a book, the physical book itself aside from the content within makes the experience a bit more rewarding and personalized. At least for me. I enjoy having an old copy of something that has a bit of a history and has been in public circulation for years, opposed to the kindle which seems to offer a sterile reading experience. Though at the same time, you can have multiple different books on a kindle which is convenient and saves space if traveling. Online news sites do the same, they make it convenient in many ways. Online sources also have the ability to update news stories almost immediately, whereas the physical newspaper has to be printed and distributed which is a much more laborious process.
This laborious process is one that requires a large number of employees to take on the many different tasks, and with the decline of printed matter many people in this industry have lost their jobs. As saddening as it is  to think about books/newspapers becoming close to obsolete, it is also very concerning to think about the business side of things. Huge corporations such as Time Warner end up buying smaller news/publishing corporations that can no longer afford to stay alive on their own. Not only can the bigger publishing houses/ newspaper corporations not afford to carry on, retail book stores are also shutting down. Why would most people go to a book store when you can quickly, easily, order a book from Amazon while still in bed? The thing you can't do while ordering books from bed is physically browse, and become informed, which you can also do online, probably at a quicker rate. So who knows whether or not the decline of printed matter is a negative or a positive, because it seems everything available in these forms is more available for you in some sort of digital medium.
I prefer printed matter, just saying.

Female Robot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFVlzUAZkHY&feature=player_embedded

Female Robot

5.6.7

The first two chapters were quintessential examples of semi-boring, overly technical textbook chapters. But, nonetheless, had interesting points- If they were bulleted it would have been just greeeattttt.
Anyway, the development of T.V. and cable is the most significant technical development that has brought us to where we are today, media wise, besides internet. It was the most revolutionary introduction to the ever-expansive media whirlwind that our culture is stuck in today.At the time it was new, and most likely extremely mesmerizing- as it still is today. It is a form of acquiring information, being entertained, and is also an escapists perfect vacation.... momentarily indulging in a life/situation that is not the one you are living. It is a fantastic way to keep distracted from the realities of life. It is also a way for corporations to make billions of dollars, and a perfect space for advertisement, although we are so advanced now that some have the choice to skip all advertisements, focusing only on what they want to see. It is a space where you can choose who to listen to and what to see, which is what some people can't wait to do after a long hard day at work with a boring, pissy boss to listen to. Talk about being addicted to freedom..
Film, what a great medium (Thank You to all that have taken part in the development of movie making!). I found chapter 7 to be much more interesting then the first two. What is most interesting is thinking about how things were, compared to how they are today. The novelty factor on everything has dissipated into space, making it rare for anything to seem all that new and exciting. Maybe I'm just hard to please.
I found it really nice to not only read about one or two aspects of films and filmmaking, but all elements during the progression of what is now the highest grossing industry...(Hollywood). Everything from the development of a narrative to the way in which a film is shown was illustrated in this chapter. This is one of the reasons films can cause a sense of solidarity in our culture- there are so many elements, and when they are put together well it becomes a very moving work of art. Or, a really "entertaining" depiction of popular culture and how icons can become icons, which can be just as interesting as a great film. It is all relative and under certain terms neither one can be held higher then the other. They exist independently of each other and serve different purposes as forms of entertainment.I'd say lets just hope for more great movies/ T.v. shows and for artists not to become suckers for money, indulging in what is popular, not what they truly want to create.

interesting

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-08/27/and-vinyly

Chapters 1&2

The rate at which Media has expanded and reached the masses is extraordinary, and concerning. It has infiltrated every aspect of our waking life, and has become practically inescapable, resulting in an inability to not be influenced by it. Whether or not we choose to indulge in popular culture, we are, on some level, effected by it. The amount of images alone make us desire to have a certain look, a certain object, or just a certain "lifestyle" etc. Along with images comes sounds, jingles, and stories which all compliment images and work with them to make the viewer more drawn in, and maybe even convinced. This is where the comparison of high and low culture can come into play. "Artifacts" of high culture can most likely stand on their own, allowing the viewer to devote more of his/her intellectual interaction whereas in low culture, much of the time information is given to you and needs no further contemplation. It can be analyzed further in terms of how popular culture attempts to suck you in, but isn't usually too deep in content.
Seems to be that many great works of art are recycled in an attempt to inform the general public, but aren't fully understood, rather appreciated on a surface level as an icon of pop culture. What a bummer.
It seems there is a popularity among things that will momentarily distract you from life, or, allow you to indulge in a life outside of the one your living, e.g. virtual. Just being on the internet, watching TV, or playing video games would do the trick. You can learn, be entertained, be distracted, meet people, and become a part of something you may not feel so much a part of in real life. All of these options seem to make things a bit confusing, and makes it hard for the recipients of this information to sort through it and find what they really want to find. It seems that rather, many people accept and believe the information that is given to them via TV or radio, because its what they hear and not what they try to find. It is readily available to be eaten up and lived by which is much easier than rejecting it and trying to formulate a philosophical path by which to live.

Malcolm Gladwell

Interesting article in relation to our conversation in class last week. Being I am not part of any social media site yet, I cannot say if I would or would not feel deeply connected to a cause through internet participation- I doubt it. I feel facebook/twitter etc are good tools for spreading the word on a specific issue, but not so much for anything beyond that. As was said in the article, "The things that King needed in Birmingham—discipline and strategy—were things that online social media cannot provide."
I agree very much with this. Perhaps a seed can be planted on a social media network, but if you really want change it has to sprout outside of the parameters of a computer screen and really become something. Yes, great for bringing attention to an issue, finding people with the same concerns, but then if you want to take action, meet up and speak in real life. It seems it can be a lazy attempt to be part of something. If you are truly devoted to a cause, there are ways to seek out organizations apart from online groups.
Another great example of what the computer is capable of is the case of the stolen cell phone. In real life, opposed to virtual, you couldn't get that many people to watch a video or become aware of something so trivial if you tried for a week. But, online, thousands are informed. The speed that information travels is incomparable to word of mouth spreading of information which is why social media networks can be a starting point for a small revolution of sorts, or just a tool to inform the public of a certain issue. That doesn't mean most people are the least bit interested, perhaps more of a superficial "Have you heard of so and so? WOWW." I think today anything is worth a try even if it is superficial, as most things seem to be.

kind of virtual

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/25/world/asia/25iht-thai.html

TOD

Where is there to start with this topic? First, there is a certain sense of solidarity in media. I can be watching the same show as you, reading the same blog, finding out the same news at the SAME time as you. The result of this can be a wonderful conversation about the newest episode of _ , or the  complex interior workings of the newest _ . It can give us something in common, at least momentarily. Thats another one of the biggest issues surrounding media, everything is ever changing and rarely new and exciting for more than 5 minutes.  It becomes old news the next day and has been replaced with 100 images, sounds, stories, etc. that are all attempting to surpass the original. Original? Where is there room for anything original when information on a single topic is constantly being disputed and proven wrong? Lets say I start following celebrity gossip tomorrow. I can go to the store to pick up a copy of OK! and find that in 6 other magazine there is a different story surrounding the SAME topic. What are people supposed to believe? It happens everywhere, we listen to the fictional writing of what one considers to be chock-full of facts. So where can we find a happy medium? Maybe anywhere that media doesn't infiltrate, so where is that? Nowhere. So what do we do? Become advocates.