Extra Credit Blog Evaluation

I had never used a blog before this, although I had always wished I had. I feel like it would be a really fun way to express myself.
Using a blog for this course really allowed me to get a better handle on the material we learned in class. It helped me to explore lecture concepts further, which aided me tremendously when studying for the tests, as I already understood most of the material.
The only real trouble I ran into when using the blog was adding pictures and other multimedia at first. Because I had never used a blog before, I didn't know what to expect, but once I got used to adding multimedia, it got really easy (and made me feel really technologically savvy!)
My favorite blog prompts were the more interactive ones. The ones I considered in this category was the one when we analyzed the shots of one of our favorite scenes in a movie and what they meant, and the one when we analyzed the dramatic structure of one of our favorite movies. This allowed us to add a personal touch to our blogging, which I think is an essential aspect of a good blog. The blog prompts that were more difficult were probably the ones when we had to find an advertisement or some kind of example of advertising. I didn't really know where to look for that and had a harder time finding the material to write about. It got easier later on when I started paying special attention to advertisements and recognizing certain features that connected them to the lecture, even before I knew what the blog prompt was.
I think this method is very valuable for any course. It allows students to work hard to understand the concepts they're learning about in class rather than just mindlessly taking notes.
To improve the blogging experience in the future, I would recommend giving a tutoring session before the first blog on: what language is expected (casual tone versus formal tone) as I was confused by this throughout the process, how to insert multimedia (particularly videos), and other helpful blogging tips and tricks.

Yes, you may use my blog in a paper or report

Globalization

Globalization is the act of increasing connectivity between people who live in various locations throughout the world with different cultures, customs, and languages. This is often done through technology such as telephones and the internet.
However, some cultures don't have access to the same amount of globalizing technologies, and those who do tend to dominate the global power structure. This idea is known as cultural imperialism. This is seen through the domination of Western ideas, as Western countries are more wealthy and typically dominate through their technological and economical strengths. This domination often leads to the assimilation of other cultures to the same, Western form, causing their own cultural diversity to be lost.
The U.S. is the dominant force in this Western cultural overload. The most well-known example of the phenomenon is the constant appearance of McDonald's no matter where you are in the world. McDonald's is a well-knwon American staple, and has grown to become a worldwide staple, as other cultures adopt the American principles.

photo from: http://www.thingsihateaboutbackpacking.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/mcdonalds-russia.jpg

$20 dinner for 2!

This Chili's advertisement is very persuasive in promoting a new special. It begins by showing a guy going up to a random (but attractive) girl at the park and asking her if she will go to Chili's with him. The girl then asks, "Do I know you?" followed by a negative response from the guy. "Okay!" she says nonchalantly, and they leave together. This ideal, and slightly unrealistic, situation is portrayed to promote Chili's "$20 dinner for 2" special by pointing out the confidence this great deal has given the male character in this scene. The idea of this situation being presented as possible because the deal at Chili's is so "great" makes the idea of going to Chili's much more appealing, persuading many people to go.

One of the most prominent advertising appeals discussed by Professor Straubhaar is achievement. By exemplifying human achievement based on the product being promoted, advertisements are able to persuade people the product makes that achievement possible. The Chili's ad shows the advertising appeal of achievement because it shows the guy not only being able to secure the girl and a date, but for a "very good price." By infusing the male character with confidence and displaying his success, the Chili's ad exemplifies the "power" of their special which is a strong incentive for people to give them their business.

Image from: http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f287/ctermors/ChilisDinnerfor2.jpg

Classical 3 Act Hollywood Structure: Mean Girls

The movie Mean Girls follows the 3 Act Hollywood structure Professor Ramirez-Berg described in his lecture.
The first part, the Introduction, takes place when we are introduced to Cady Heron, as the protagonist. The film takes us through her first few days at a real high school, after being home schooled in Africa her whole life. After a few rough days of trying and failing to make friends, Cady finally befriends some other outcasts, Janice and Damien, who teach her the dynamics of high school. The first plot point, or mini-climax, takes place when Cady, Janice, and Damien plot to sabotage the school's popular clique of girls, the Plastics.

This begins the Complication section of the movie, in which Cady becomes a part of the Plastics and reports all of her findings to Janice and Damien, as they plot their next move. Slowly, Cady gets wrapped up in living the life of a Plastic, and starts turning into the Queen Bee. After the group succeeds in taking down the original Queen Bee, Regina George, Cady herself becomes the new "Mean Girl." Plot Point number two takes place when Cady has a party at her house and skips Janice's art show. Janice and Damien then show up at her house, proclaiming her a "mean girl."

The Climax of the movie occurs when the Plastics' "Burn Book," full of mean things bashing the other girls, boys, and even teachers at their school, is turned into the Principal. Of course, this is after Regina has posted copies all around the building for everyone to read. The school then goes wild as girls fight with each other and accuse each other of writing the pages from the book. All of the girls are then called to an emergency assembly in which they discuss their feelings and try to work through the drama. Cady and Regina get in a fight and Regina ends up getting hit by a bus. People then spread rumors that Cady was the one who pushed her in front of the bus, and the whole school turns against her. 

The third act, or Resolution, occurs when Cady starts to come back to her senses. She takes all the blame for the "Burn Book" and joins the Mathletes as her punishment, where she actually ends up winning the competition. She goes to the Spring Fling dance and wins Spring Fling Queen and gives a nice speech trying to make it up to everyone. She dances with and kisses the "hottie" she had a crush on, and everyone learned their lesson about cliques and mean girls. 

photos from: 

http://images1.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/Janice-Ian-lizzy-caplan-881369_1400_916.jpg

http://static.reelmovienews.com/images/gallery/cady-heron.jpg

http://l.yimg.com/eb/ymv/us/img/hv/photo/movie_pix/paramount_pictures/mean_girls/tina_fey/burnbook.jpg

http://img.listal.com/image/1341996/500.jpg

The Episodic Format of the Typical Sitcom

Last class, Colin Tait showed us the many different aspects of television shows, particularly sitcoms. I feel that the episodic format of the sitcom is a defining characteristic which sets it apart from other TV shows. Mr. Tait described this format as non-continuous from episode to episode, with each episode leaving the viewer with a particular message or lesson. This format is very attractive to many television watchers who don't have the time or the patience to keep up with a serial formatted show. This unique aspect allows the sitcom to gain a sporadic, but large, following based on convenience and simplicity. 

One of my favorite shows, Modern Family, is a sitcom which uses the episodic format. Each episode is different, and doesn't require information gained from previous episodes to be understood. Only the characters remain constant, but the situation constantly changes. This show also often ends with a lesson based on the characters' experiences within that particular episode. For instance, in one episode, two of the characters, Claire and Mitchell, learn the importance of being brutally honest to their loved ones as the struggle to reveal possibly hurtful, but helpful, truths. Through the episodic method, Modern Family has exhibited a variety of comedic situations, earning it not only awards, but the attention of the American public. 

Photo from: http://static.tvfanatic.com/images/gallery/modern-family-poster.jpg

The Notebook Camera Shots

Directors utilize different camera shots to convey different messages about the scene and character relationships. The Long shot usually shows isolation or sadness, the Medium shot gives information about characters and their relationships, and the Close up gives us an intimate look into the characters feelings and is usually used during an intense moment in a scene.
In the movie, The Notebook, all of these shots are used to better highlight the intense feelings going on throughout the movie. In the infamous scene where Noah and Allie take the boat out on the lake, we see all of these shots at work.
The scene begins with a series of long shots, establishing the setting and showing Noah and Allie's isolation from the rest of the world and their problems.

The shots then progress to medium shots as Allie and Noah begin to talk. The conversation is casual and lighthearted, showing the stiffness of their relationship and foreshadowing the explosion of feeling that is to come.

The shots then switch to close-ups as the conversation gets more emotional. The director uses these shots so that the viewers can better understand the intensity of the moment and connect to the character's feelings.

This is just one of many examples of the significance of shot variety. Each shot is chosen by the director to ensure that the audience is able to connect with and understand the story that the film is telling. 

The Star System in Classical Hollywood Studios

The Classical Hollywood Studios utilized the audience's captivation with movie stars to promote their films, and even certain products, making it a key aspect to the studios' success. This method, known as the "Star System" involved associating stars with specific genres or talents, giving the audience a consistency to expect and look forward to. The studios would use the stars as marketing tools, highlighting their presence in films in order to gain viewers.
Because this method was so successful in creating loyal fans and viewers, it led the studios to focus their films on the stars, rather than the plot or character development.  Also, because the stars we such successful marketing tools, the studios would often insert advertisements into their films, using the stars as endorsers. The example of Judy Garland used in class shows her endorsing another MGM actor, Clark Gable, in the middle of a film she was starring in. In this way, MGM was using the popularity of one star to increase the popularity of another. This was important, as the studios competed over how many stars they had under contract; the more stars they had, the more films they could produce using the successful "Star System."
In the following movie posters, it is apparent that the stars are the entire focus of the film. Not only is the illustration a close-up of their faces, but, in some of them, the names of the stars are larger than the title of the film. Highlighting the faces of the stars rather than including an illustration more relevant to the plot shows the "Star System" in action, as it promotes the stars over the picture itself.

Photos from: 

http://www.threemoviebuffs.com/review/postmanalwaysringstwice

http://filmjournal.net/clydefro/category/blogroll/1930s/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20348545@N05/3132505701/

http://baldmtpress.com/posters/movie_posters_hollywood_posters.htm

The Emmy award winning sitcom, "Modern Family," is the latest family-based television sensation. It's similarities and differences with "All in the Family" show how shows like this have evolved over the decades based on issues that are important at the time.

"Modern Family" shows a variety of different family types all within one family. This difference from "All in the Family" shows the acceptance of the intermix of cultures and beliefs that have become part of today's society. Both shows bring out controversial issues like being gay. They also both use comedy to better deal with these issues so that the audience feels less tension when they are confronted. These differences show how issues in America have become more prominent as they are displayed more openly in "Modern Family"; however, both sitcoms show how America utilizes entertainment media to convey the importance of certain issues to the public. While "All in the Family" used the character interaction to express issues, "Modern Family" addresses the issues of the family itself, thus displays them directly showing how the issue has grown from being talked about, to being put into action. 

Technological Change and the Radio

Technological changes shaped the radio into the power force it became in the 1920's. As the technology evolved, so did the radio and its significance in everyday life.

Technological changes have historically been the catalyst of developing powerhouse industries. From the airplane to the cell phone, to the iPod, technological innovations change our society completely as we become dependent on new technology, making it necessary for proper participation in society. Through this effect, the industries behind the new technology hold a great amount of power until new technological changes come about and replace them.

Beginning with Marconi's "wireless telegraph," and evolving into Sarnoff's "radio music box," it is evident that the technological evolution of radio embedded it into society and turned the radio industry into the tycoon it became. Marconi's original innovation was the birth of radio. Its technological relevance became apparent through its cruciality during the Titanic crisis. This inspired David Sarnoff to further develop the radio into personal "radio music boxes," which was a major part of shaping the radio industry. This development allowed radio to turn into a part of everyday life, whether it was bringing families together to listen to programs or keeping the public informed. The technological innovation of personal radios unified the country, making them an essential aspect of society and thus strengthening the radio industry.

Social Learning Through the Media

Through television series and advertisements catered at young teenagers, the media often instigates the social learning of certain activities, making them seem "normal" when they actually are not.

Social learning takes place when people begin to imitate actions they are constantly exposed to. This was proven through Albert Bandura's experiment with the Bobo Doll. Children who watched violent actions were likely to repeat them, simply because they had seen them. Similarly, in the documentaries Killing Us Softly and Tough Guise, the effects of stereotypical images of men and women constantly reinforced through advertising were proven to have a lasting effect on how people see themselves and, thus, behave. The media plays a key role in social learning because its mass communication ability allows it to strongly influence cultural changes.

Television shows like Gossip Girl, 90210, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager are just a few shows catered toward young audiences that promote adult behavior in young, high school age kids. Shows like these with young followers cause social learning to occur, making it seem okay to be promiscuous, pregnant at sixteen, drink alcohol or do drugs. Many shows like these show young teenagers living the lives of adults, and make it seem "normal." Social learning from media like this
influences young culture in the United States because when teens see other teens doing something, they feel it's something they should also be doing. Below are some advertisements for these shows, highlighting the mature content presented.

Photos from: http://dellasays.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/omfg/ and http://therealchrislee.com/?p=45

Agenda Setting in the Media

 Although we may not realize it, we are all victims of agenda setting in the media. Gatekeepers will often tailor media to fit a certain audience's preference, promoting the agenda of a "typical" member of those being targeted so that the media, whether it be advertising, television or news, can be the most successful.

Agenda setting occurs when an owner or producer of a certain type of media wishes to promote certain ideals, and therefore picks and chooses what the audience will see. Oftentimes, in order to keep their audience and/or customers interested in their product, the media has to cater their advertising and even the news itself towards the audience members being targeted. This can be noted in news stations, such as the notorious Fox and MSNBC, that highlight more conservative and more liberal ideas, respectively, based on their target audience. This turns into agenda setting when these companies rely on the stereotypes of their target audience to decide what news or advertisements they will see.

As I was uploading some pictures on my Facebook, I happened to look at the advertisements on the side of the page. I noticed a strange coincidence about all of the ads: they all catered to my interests. Facebook had used information I put in my profile about my activities, school and location and used it to promote advertisements about cheerleading, UT, and places to shop around Austin. This is a perfect example of agenda setting in the media, as Facebook decides what kind of advertisements would be more likely to get a response from people based on their own personal interests as indicated in their profile. The images below are of a few ads from my Facebook. These advertisements draw from my interest in art, my attendance at UT, my hometown, Dallas, and my recent trip to Puerto Rico. Next time you're on Facebook, see what kind of advertisements are on your agenda!

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON

Why I started RTF305!

Hi My name is Susan Wheat and I am a freshman. I chose to take RTF305 because I am interested in Broadcast Journalism. Because this class focuses in the media, I feel it will greatly help me understand the entire Journalism field, and confirm my interest in it as my major. I am also interested in radio, TV, and film and was excited to try a class in that area of the Communications school. I am very very intrigued by this course and am looking forward to this semester!

My favorite blog is Perez Hilton!


My neighbor down the hall showed me this video yesterday and I thought it was really funny! Enjoy!