Blog #4 Internet: Multitasking

Today in lecture, we watched a documentary that included multitasking as a form of everyday life. It's true that multitasking is something that everyone does such as being on their cellphones or computers and being in the internet while being in class. Yet on the documentary, it is a bad thing. Many students think they are doing fine in class, but it's nothing more than good. With multitasking, it's not excellent work, because the wonderful world of the internet has so much more to offer that students get easily distracted. The distraction of popular sites such as Facebook and Twitter puts anyone into becoming an informative person about other people. They would rather know what people are doing instead of doing homework such as reading. In my opinion, I feel that multitasking is a good thing, but also a bad thing. The good thing about multitasking is that if I have something to look for I can find it while chatting online. The bad thing is if I have to write a paper I would do it at the last minute, because there are other things I would rather do. I feel that I am not motivated to do something, because I have higher needs and wants that pushes my responsibilities out of the way. When I go on the internet, the first thing I do is to go on Facebook to see who commented me or what other people are doing. Yet, if I have to read a book, I would rather go on the internet, because I feel comfortable to read what other people are doing or thinking. It is so hard to multitask when I have to read a book, write a paper, and be talking online or watching tv. If I turn off the tv and do not go online, I still have this urge to watch and talk, because it seriously feels like a drug that I cannot just give up on. I feel that since I multitask my grades suffer, which is really not good if I want to have a good job. The reason I believe that the internet was made is for everyone in the world to be informed about everything. I do feel that the internet was good thing, because everyone is connected, but the problem is people do not choose it wisely. With google, you have a search engine that can find the meaning of the word that you are looking for in mere seconds, but in a dictionary, you have to look through the book and try to find the word. People want faster answers instead of just waiting for them. I feel that people would go crazy if they do not know what is going on with the world. For instance, when I go home I rarely go on the computer, because I'm with my family and friends. When I get back to school and I am in my apartment, I have to go on the internet to see what I missed or what is new that people are talking about right now. I see my friends who are on Facebook and on their cell phones saying that they want to see The Last Airbender. No matter where I am or what I am doing, I feel that I need and want to know about everything.

My Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1042410111

My Twitter: http://twitter.com/PDPBLACKSTAR

Blog #3 Cable Success: MTV

MTV (Music Television Network) is one of the most successful cable networks in television. One of the reasons for its success is music videos. In the 1980's, music videos were becoming popular towards the viewers who regularly watch. With MTV, I think that without music videos many fans would not have ever seen how they looked like unless they go to concerts to watch them. In Media and Culture, it says that African Americans did not have any music videos being played. Since the people who can afford cable were mostly white, I think that the network were pushing for white videos only, because they did not want to get into trouble with whites. With the success of Michael Jackson' Thriller album, African Americans were able to make videos seen in every household, which many whites were able to see how African Americans lived. I feel that if it wasn't for Michael Jackson's success, we would still have barriers in what we see on television. With Hip-Hop and R&B, I think no one would know about it and the only way to hear it is through word of mouth. Today, the music of Hip-Hop and R&B is popular and everyone knows about it. The other reason for its success is in the 1990's where the network pushed for original programming such as The Real World. Today, they show the Hills and MADE, which are reality shows about people's lives. This brings the viewers with more of an intimate setting to watch these kinds of shows. In class, we talked about that television brings more intimate setting with the people watching, because that person or thing we are watching is right there in front of us. These reality shows give the viewers a real soap opera. I feel that reality shows are pushing away music videos on MTV. Now, MTV is filled with these reality shows, which I do not like. The only way to watch music videos are during six in the morning or different MTV stations such as MTV Hits (Popular Music Videos) and MTV Jams (Hip-Hop and R&B Music Videos). Before, there was TRL (Total Request Live) on MTV. This is where the viewers watch celebrities and the top 10 music videos in America in one hour. After school, I would watch TRL, because it would show at 4 and thats the time many teenagers get out of school. Since the cancellation of TRL, I feel that there is no hope for music videos on MTV. Yet on the internet, MTV still show recent and upcoming music videos of many artist that people still get their music out there. I'm still wondering why they don't leave music videos on MTV. I believe the reason why is the network wants to have a regular audience with these reality shows on a specific time. Thus MTV is trying to get ratings by broadening the viewer's sights. I feel that MTV is going to be a popular network, because the viewer's today are into whatever they show.

MTV: www.mtv.com

Blog #2 Situation Comedy

Most television shows are situation comedies, or sitcoms. Situation comedy "features a recurring cast, and each episode establishes a situation, complicates it, develops increasing confusion among its characters, and then resolves the complications" (Media and Culture pg. 157-158). When I read this, I thought of one television show that was popular in the 2000s', which was That 70's Show. In an episode called Parents Find Out, the main character, Eric Foreman, gets caught having sex with his girlfriend, Donna Pinciotti, which causes his mom to have a nervous breakdown. By presenting situations that are relevant to both a teenagers and a parents’ life, it tries to attract and target these types of viewers. This show shows the errors of parenting and also some good parenting techniques, which allows the real life parents to set guidelines of what to do and what not to do while raising an adolescence. The topic of sex is one that is hard to bring up between a parent and a child because of its sensitivity, tension, and awkwardness it creates; the show presents sex in a comedic manner which opens a doorway for parents to discuss the topic of sex with their child. On reviewstream.com, Steve says, “This is a great episode I feel every parent should take the time to watch. After all, your kids are getting older and this is something you may find yourself having to deal with some day.” By presenting sex in one of the sitcom’s episodes, it shows that sex is normal and that children do grown up and will want to experiment with things, such as sex. Not only does it allow for parents to talk about activities, which the child engages in, but it also allows the child to get their questions and concerns to be answered by their parents, such as birth control and safe sex.

With the mother in the show, she has stress over the fact that her son is having sex. The mother puts her maternal role in play by calling her son “baby” and calls Donna a “slut,” because no mother wants to admit that her child has grown up and is engaging in “adult” activities. In Media and Culture, “stress, more often the result of external confusion rather than emotional anxiety, ‘is always funny’” (Media and Culture pg. 158). In reality, stress is not that “funny.” Stress is a very serious issue that may cause people to develop depression. Though the show makes Eric’s mother’s stress a laughing matter, if a mother were to experience this situation, most people would not be laughing because they themselves would not want to be placed in that situation.

Thus, "character development is downplayed in favor of zany plots" (Media and Culture pg. 158). Among the cast, there is Kelso (the dumb good-looking character), Jackie (the snobby rich character), Hyde (the cool rocker character), and Fez (the uneducated foreign character) who gets the main character, Eric into comedic troubles or hi-jinks. These characters are unique in their own way, but have one thing in common. They are all best friends. This gives a more intimate view with the viewers, because many viewers can relate to each character.

Media and Culture

Steve :http://www.reviewstream.com/reviews/?p=62365

Blog #1 Selective Exposure

In class, we talked a lot about selective exposure. Selective exposure means people typically seek messages and produce meanings that correspond to their own cultural beliefs, values, and interests. In the book, it talks about Michael Jackson's death. People had different views about him. They either liked him or disliked him. People liked him, because he "[broke] down racial barriers and [raised] music videos to an art form" (Media and Culture, pg. 12). The others "recalled the child molestation accusations brought against him or his unusual physical transformation and behavior over the years" (Media and Culture, pg. 12). In my opinion, his music was loved. My favorite song and video is Thriller, because it is an original and different from videos today that don't have choreographed dances. It played a story with Michael Jackson as the main character, who turns into a monster himself. With selective exposure, the people watch, listen, or read about Michael Jackson to what they like about him. Some even watch, listen, or read about things they do not like about him. The people select to their interest about everything they like such as movies, music, and television. Media is their gateway to all these things. This is a cultural approach to mass communication, because "people made meaning of his life based chiefly on their own values, history, age, race, education, and musical tastes" (Media and Culture, pg. 12). I feel that many people go online to look up stuff, but only things they like. For me right now, it would have to be Toy Story 3. On a popular site called Yahoo, the popular new story today is about Toy Story 3's hidden "Easter eggs" (the cinematic term for meaningful images or references buried in a movie). When I saw this, I had to go look at this, because I loved the movie and I like to see what I missed when I watched the movie. I was interested in Toy Story 3, because it had interest of mine such as toys and animation. Also, the movies before such as Toy Story and Toy Story 2 made the third movie a movie I had to see. When I watched it, I had different feelings that a Disney movie would not have. I was happy, sad, scared, and overwhelmed by the movie that I wanted to see it again. Let's just say, after I watched that movie, I wanted to play with my old toys such as Beast Wars Transformers and the Power Rangers megazord. All these were childhood toys that I haven't played in a very long time. It brings you back as a kid and seeing your self now as an adult. When I was growing up, the selective exposure that I was raised up was because of television. The media put what I wanted to see in my hands and it brought out me buying toys, watching movies, and reading comics. To this day, I collect DC Universe action figures, watch movies anywhere I can such as the internet, and I still read comic books.

Toy Story 3:http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/movie-talk-toy-story-3-easter-eggs.html

Michael Jackson's Death: http://www.tmz.com/2009/06/25/michael-jackson-dies-death-dead-cardiac-arrest/