After taking this course, I feel very strongly about a few things. I am even more aware of the pictures in my head than I was before the term. I realize that there are pre-conceived stereotypes in everyone's minds, but I will continue to actively work to suppress them.
I realize that it is important to respect others and listen to everyone's opinion, even thought it may not be the same as yours. I think that it is important to work toward equality (among race, gender, religion, etc.), to stand up for what you believe in, and to be an ally.
I will not tolerate inappropriate jokes about race, gender, religion, etc. and will explain why if necessary. I now know that I am in both dominant and subordinate groups. I believe that I will speak out and try to be the voice of change among those with whom I interact daily.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Monday, May 7, 2007
Goodbye Lippmann
Walter Lippmann explores stereotypes (i.e. the pictures in our heads), the role of the media, and democracy in “Public Opinion.” Lippmann has a dark attitude toward our government and believes that we are controlled by the media. In other words, the mass media makes decisions for us.
Lippmann thinks that we can avoid this dilemma by calling upon an “intellegencia” to manage public opinion. This would be an independent group of experts to tell us what we should think or who we should vote for. But what if this elite group already exists? If we are greatly influenced by the media, are they the elite group?
Lippmann believes that while democracy gives us the right to vote, the media sets the agenda and this can affect public opinion. Lippmann’s idea goes along with “Agenda-Setting Theory” in that voters vote based on the way the media portrays each candidate. The media may deem certain issues more important than others. In this way, we are influenced by the media because they may sway our decisions.
A little connection for my PR friends:
Walter Lippmann could easily be called the “father of stereotypes,” just as Edward L. Bernays is known as the “father of public relations.” Bernays firmly believed that propaganda was a good thing. Walter Lippmann, on the other hand, worked closely with propaganda during World War I. This era of propaganda generally has a negative connotation. This could be why Lippmann has such a depressing outlook on democracy and our society compared to Bernays’ attitude. Bernays believes that democracy is a positive thing because every individual’s opinion counts. I think I agree with Bernays, even though democracy is far from perfect.
Lippmann thinks that we can avoid this dilemma by calling upon an “intellegencia” to manage public opinion. This would be an independent group of experts to tell us what we should think or who we should vote for. But what if this elite group already exists? If we are greatly influenced by the media, are they the elite group?
Lippmann believes that while democracy gives us the right to vote, the media sets the agenda and this can affect public opinion. Lippmann’s idea goes along with “Agenda-Setting Theory” in that voters vote based on the way the media portrays each candidate. The media may deem certain issues more important than others. In this way, we are influenced by the media because they may sway our decisions.
A little connection for my PR friends:
Walter Lippmann could easily be called the “father of stereotypes,” just as Edward L. Bernays is known as the “father of public relations.” Bernays firmly believed that propaganda was a good thing. Walter Lippmann, on the other hand, worked closely with propaganda during World War I. This era of propaganda generally has a negative connotation. This could be why Lippmann has such a depressing outlook on democracy and our society compared to Bernays’ attitude. Bernays believes that democracy is a positive thing because every individual’s opinion counts. I think I agree with Bernays, even though democracy is far from perfect.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Student Documentary Showcase
Come experience a documentary that is sure to open your eyes and make you want to learn more. Our documentary features a Jewish husband and wife as well as a Christian husband and wife. The two couples have been close friends for many years, but do they understand each other's religions?Our participants are fascinating, and you won’t want to miss this FREE screening. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show on May 8th at 12:45 PM. Four documentaries will be shown; each roughly 15 minutes long. Shalom.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Documentary Update
Even though our group had to change our original documentary topic, I am happy with the new direction we took and think that our message is a meaningful one.
We interviewed a Jewish couple who are friends with my grandparents, who are Christians. We also interviewed my grandparents about their interfaith friendship/relationship with the Jewish couple. We finished filming before Easter break and have almost 2 hours of footage. Based on this, I do not think that we will have any trouble meeting the required 10-12 minute time limit.
Our participants were really excited to help with our project in any way possible. We have a plethora of old photographs and it was easy to talk with all 4 of our participants. Our documentary group is ready to start editing footage. We plan to put our footage on an external hard drive and will start editing this week so we can have a rough cut done by the April 24 deadline.
We interviewed a Jewish couple who are friends with my grandparents, who are Christians. We also interviewed my grandparents about their interfaith friendship/relationship with the Jewish couple. We finished filming before Easter break and have almost 2 hours of footage. Based on this, I do not think that we will have any trouble meeting the required 10-12 minute time limit.
Our participants were really excited to help with our project in any way possible. We have a plethora of old photographs and it was easy to talk with all 4 of our participants. Our documentary group is ready to start editing footage. We plan to put our footage on an external hard drive and will start editing this week so we can have a rough cut done by the April 24 deadline.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
What's With Reality TV?
“Does television expose us to a diversity of people from all sorts of places with different lifestyles from our own? Or has TV replaced reality with “simulacra” as Baudrillard wrote?” I believe that the answer to that question varies, depending on what you choose to watch on television. However, after watching an evening of Monday night prime time television, I’d have to say I agree more with Jean Baudrillard’s theory.
Before this assignment and taking a Mass Communications course, I didn’t give as much thought to the reality that television presents to the world… or should I say the “reality TV” that is presented to the world. When I was asked to watch an entire evening of prime time television, I found myself gravitating to the same type of shows. Reality television has practically taken over the spotlight and you can almost always find some sort of reality program airing throughout the day.
At 8:00 PM last Monday evening, I began flipping through the channels and came across “Deal or No Deal” on NBC. I can’t help but leave this show on when I see it. I watched the show until it ended at 9:00 PM, and it was the same as always. It’s hard to watch this show and not think that if you were a contestant, you wouldn’t be greedy and would quit after winning a certain amount of money; however, it seems like the contestants can’t get enough and risk it all every time.
After the show ended, I knew I had to browse for thirty minutes before “The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman” came on at 9:30 PM. I stumbled across ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” I feel like this show is just an American Idol “wannabe,” and it doesn’t really interest me. However, if the show is still on after a few seasons, it must be doing well. Viewers can text or call-in to vote for their favorite couple. I can only imagine how many people spend their money on this…
Finally, the one show I was actually looking forward to watching came on ABC. On Easter, my mom asked me if I was going to watch the new season of “The Bachelor,” and I probably wouldn’t have known about it if it wasn’t for her! I can’t explain why this show is addicting, but I enjoyed every minute of it.
Before this assignment and taking a Mass Communications course, I didn’t give as much thought to the reality that television presents to the world… or should I say the “reality TV” that is presented to the world. When I was asked to watch an entire evening of prime time television, I found myself gravitating to the same type of shows. Reality television has practically taken over the spotlight and you can almost always find some sort of reality program airing throughout the day.
At 8:00 PM last Monday evening, I began flipping through the channels and came across “Deal or No Deal” on NBC. I can’t help but leave this show on when I see it. I watched the show until it ended at 9:00 PM, and it was the same as always. It’s hard to watch this show and not think that if you were a contestant, you wouldn’t be greedy and would quit after winning a certain amount of money; however, it seems like the contestants can’t get enough and risk it all every time.
After the show ended, I knew I had to browse for thirty minutes before “The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman” came on at 9:30 PM. I stumbled across ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” I feel like this show is just an American Idol “wannabe,” and it doesn’t really interest me. However, if the show is still on after a few seasons, it must be doing well. Viewers can text or call-in to vote for their favorite couple. I can only imagine how many people spend their money on this…
Finally, the one show I was actually looking forward to watching came on ABC. On Easter, my mom asked me if I was going to watch the new season of “The Bachelor,” and I probably wouldn’t have known about it if it wasn’t for her! I can’t explain why this show is addicting, but I enjoyed every minute of it.
Our society fixates on what we see on television, but when you evaluate the prime time television I watched on Monday, you have to ask yourself if the world we are living in is really the way it’s presented on TV. I don’t think it is. How many people do you know who have won millions on a game show, danced with a celebrity, or married someone they met on a reality show? The world doesn’t work that way. It’s odd that we base so much of our lives on what we see on television: hairstyles, fashion, and even the way we talk, when reality television isn’t an ac
curate representation of the world.
“Media scholar Joshua Meyrowitz argues that the very existence of television is an influence on society because it breaks down the physical barriers that separate people,” according to Hanson's "Mass Communication: Living in a Media World." Meyrowitz believes that television gives everyone the same, equal view of the world, but if we are watching reality TV, our view of the world is very different than if we are watching CNN. I think that it’s important to realize that reality TV is fun for entertainment, but we must not live our lives based on what we see on these shows.
curate representation of the world.“Media scholar Joshua Meyrowitz argues that the very existence of television is an influence on society because it breaks down the physical barriers that separate people,” according to Hanson's "Mass Communication: Living in a Media World." Meyrowitz believes that television gives everyone the same, equal view of the world, but if we are watching reality TV, our view of the world is very different than if we are watching CNN. I think that it’s important to realize that reality TV is fun for entertainment, but we must not live our lives based on what we see on these shows.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Anatomy Schmatomy
When I am asked about my favorite TV show, nothing in particular pops into my head. It’s not that I don’t like TV… in fact; it is usually on when I am cooking lunch or while I’m doing schoolwork. I just honestly don’t have time to watch the same show every week.
So for this blog, I decided to research statistics concerning “Grey’s Anatomy” because it seems like every person I know is obsessed with the show. I have NEVER seen a single episode because I was always at practice when it was on television, and I’ve never had the urge to watch it online.
According to the Nielson ratings at USAToday, "Grey’s Anatomy" averages #5 on the top 20 list for broadcast programs. According to this site, 25.8 million viewers tune into ABC every Thursday at 9 PM.
The Nielson ratings at Zap2It rank "Grey’s Anatomy" #6 on the top 20 list of Network Primetime Series. This is the average for the 2006 – 2007 season through April 1, 2007.
The biggest news for "Grey’s Anatomy" was that the show drew its second-largest audience ever during the concluding episode of the season. According to TVGuide, an amazing 27.29 million people tuned in. This was a jump of 1.7 million people from the previous week. “That was also ABC’s largest audience in the Thursday 9 pm hour with series programming in more than six and a half years (since a May 2000 millionaire).”
Other shows during the same time-slot include "Deal or No Deal" and "CSI." I would most likely watch one of these shows instead of "Grey’s Anatomy" because I’m not a fan of “hospital shows.” Maybe I’m just being stereotypical, because I haven’t seen an episode, but anything involving death, blood, pain, or hospitals is not appealing to me. I’d much rather watch something happy, but obviously I’m unlike 27 million viewers in the United States!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Love Actually
"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow airport. General opinion makes out that we live in a world of hatred and greed - but I don't see that - seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there: fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, none of the phone calls from people on board were messages of hate or revenge; they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love, actually, is all around.”- Hugh Grant
The opening line of “Love Actually” is powerful, and so true. Often, we see so many negative things in today’s world that we simply forget to look around and realize how much happiness, comfort, and love there is all around us. Directed by Richard Curtis, “Love Actually” is actually my favorite movie. While most people select a classic as their “number one” film, I’m hooked on “Love Actually” and continue to watch this film over and over and laugh, cry, smile, and get goose bumps.
Curtis is credited with films such as “Bridget Jones’s Diary” & “Notting Hill.” “Love Actually” was nominated for two Golden Globes and won the title of “Best British Film” at the UK’s Empire Awards. The film features Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightley, Rowan Atkinson and Bill Nighy to only name a few!
Released in time for the Christmas season is 2003, the stories of different couples unfold and intertwine throughout the film. I think I love it so much because all of the different stories seem very close to reality. The film examines some relationships that are working and some that are not working. Curtis does an excellent job developing each character and explaining their story.
“Love Actually” isn’t your typical “romantic comedy” as some might think. The story appeals to both men and women and isn’t just “happy-sappy” the entire time. Young couples, older
couples, and single friends face death, love affairs, and happy endings.
The film is set primarily in England and follows the lives of the new Prime Minister and bachelor (Hugh Grant), a writer, a married couple facing hard times, a man who has just lost his wife, a little boy finding himself in love for the first time, a newly married couple, young single men hoping to find love, etc. etc. etc.
No matter what you're situation in life, especially regarding relationships, you will connect with a character in this film. You need to see it for yourself and I promise you won’t be disappointed.
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