Ummm....

So, I have noticed that suddenly, with not formal announcements, everyone is going green. I haven't seen An Inconvenient Truth being forced on us by all the local cable channels, the president hasn't been holding any press conferences on the issue (as far as I know) and there haven't been in major protest in the name of clean air.

I have, however, been witnessing commercial after commercial on going green and what companies are doing to make less of an impact on the environment. And you know what? I think that this strategy is going to work a lot better than Al Gore ranting on about the Aral Sea and how everything is melting and how the polar bears are drowning. Not to say that those things aren't important, because they are. But I think as a society, we like to make our own decisions when there are options. Telling us about global warming and how bad it is, well we got worried, but not enough to really want to do anything about it. But it's an important topic, and I feel as though we finally are listening and are doing something about it. And society is finally starting to recognize the cause and hop on board.

The other day I was cleaning my room when a commercial for Windex came on. At first I wasn't really paying attention because, well, it's Windex. But about 1/3 into the commercial I realized that the man who had been talking, was still talking. So I started listening to the commercial and I was surprised (and proud) to hear that the guy was a CEO for Windex and was discussing the various renewable energy sources Windex factories uses around the globe. Then, just three days ago, Reynolds Wrap had a commercial about them going green as well, and are now using recycles aluminum. And all I could think about, was how amazing I thought it was, and what an interesting way to get the public involved. So many people buy and use the products. Not only was it an amazing marketing scheme to get people concerned about the environment to buy their products over their competitors, but it also informed the world about their sustainable efforts. It's a win-win situation.

Haha. Marketing yourself in such a light will help boost sales without a doubt!

I Want to See an NC-17

So in watching This Film is Not Yet Rated, the second time around, I have realized that the ratings are a piece of shit and they don't mean anything. I was more outraged at the fact that it seems as though raters in the MPAA are homophobic and sexually repressed.

Pubic hair, orgasms, masturbation, cum. Sorry to be inappropriate, but it seems as though these are the big sexual acts raters are having a hard time dealing with. Especially if these acts are eing performed by gays or lesbians. And that really annoys me. I've seen movies like But I'm A Cheerleader and Boys Don't Cry. And I saw these movies when I was fairly young too. And yeah I'm pretty sure I did not become disturbed and sick. So raters can go suck a lemon for that.

PUBIC HAIR. By a certain age we all have pubic hair, and those of us that are lucky have seen someone else's pubic hair. It's not really a mystery. But, I'm not quite sure how many of us have seen people get their heads chopped off, or have watched someone get murdered every five minutes. You know, that's not really a situation we come across too often. With Maria Bello in The Cooler and even in A History of Violence we see her pubic hair. Why is that NC-17. Make it "R" and convey to the public that there is frontal nudity. Let parents decide if they're 17 is old enough to see pubic hair. Don't decide for them.

My big question is why is sex so much of a taboo for America. We all experience it. Whether or not we were 16 or 60, we all have had sex. Save a few priests and nuns and religious folk, but other than that, I'm sure we all have had sex. Violence? Not so much. And perhaps that's their problem. Sex is too real. It's universal. Violence is something people hear about a lot, but it may not be something we experience firsthand. So maybe raters are trying to "save the youth" I don't fucking know. I just think sex needs to stop being taking so seriously. It's sex. It's not the freaking Apocalypse.

The Purple Elephant...

I'm just going to go ahead and say this and put it out there and see what happens.

I am attempting to figure out, why in the fucking Jesus. H. Christ, Rhianna is going back to Chris Brown. I think she is setting a horrible example for young girls and I am shocked that I have not read more negative comments about her choice. When Britney Spears damn near had a nervous breakdown and was doing crazy shit, the tabloids, magazines and shows were all over her. But for some reason I am sensing a very concerned and sympathetic public response from the crowd and I can not understand what the difference is.

Is it because Britney has been in the public eye for so long we felt it was okay for us to criticize and antagonize the poor girl until she got really fat, didn't use a car-seat and shaved her head? I think it's important for the girls who look up to these celebs understand that their choices are not always right. I think it's important they understand that they are human and can make bad choices as well. And going back to an abusive boyfriend/husband/etc is always a bad idea. Even if they never hit you again (which is rare) having to live in that fear is unnecessary.

Perhaps Rhianna's decision has to deal with how females are viewed. We're always seen as these delicate creatures who need looking after. Well, I think she should step out and speak out against all this bullshit because she'll be considered a fool if she doesn't.

not to mention what this will do to both their careers.

Calling On East/Hollywood

So, I hear some movie theaters have raised their ticket prices to $11. Pretty intense, right? That much money for an hour and a half, and if you didn't like it, you don't even get to complain to anyone who actually cares. But the sad thing is, people will still pay out of the ass to be able to spend some time relaxing. And that's exactly what we're (people all over) are doing. We are paying an industry to entertain us. Stupid when you think about it right? But where else are you going to find that amount of peace (unless you have a screaming baby with irresponsible parents in your theater) where absolutely nothing can bother you? You turn your phone off (something we seem to have a hard time doing at any other time), you really can't talk (unless you are those people) and your surrounded by people who apparently you have something in common with.

You might know this, but during the Great Depression, movie theaters became extremely popular. This was mainly because people needed something to get their minds off their financial situations. Hollywood capitalized big time! "Depression films took on the responsibility of reinstating the mythical American values of individualism, classlessness, and progress. Americans might have come to these films in search of escape from their arduous and hopeless lives," When you think about, given what I just explained in the paragraph preceding this one, it only makes sense. So, I'm wondering if Hollywood is going to be tempted to start making movie not for profit only, but to help out those of us who need 2 hours a week away from the house and away from the bill collectors' calls, and just be taken somewhere else.

I imagine the movies they made had to be something because people were so poor,, but still managing to take in a flick every now and again. 42ND Street was actually filmed and shown during the Depression as well as a musical called Gold Diggers (yikes!). Actors Judy Garland, Shirley Temple, Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney were very popular during the 30's mainly because of the characters they portrayed on film. They were courageous, they made people laugh, and most importantly they gave people hope. I think filmmakers rarely make movies anymore with the intent to move the audiences who watch them. It's about profit and storyline. And yeah, both are important, but back then...it was about connecting head-on with whoever was watching the film. People were down on their luck so they made movies about people dancing and singing, people who were off as bad as they were. Filmmakers stood back and said, "This is what Americans need. Let's give it to them." And the public responded. And it was a great relationship between producers and the fans that paid to go see their films.

I know it's a little cheesy, but honestly, we're losing our connection with the media industry and how are producers and directors and writers supposed to make movies we'll actually pay out of the ass for unless we feel compelled to do so. I find myself saying all the time, "I'll just download it" (legally) or, "I can wait 'till it comes out on DVD."

I'm just really hoping something good happens somewhere and Americans can once again find something to lose themselves in to escape a trying time. Perhaps the media will bail us out of this economic funk. Besides, if we don't go see their movies, how are they going to get paid?

Please Don't Stop The Music

So I don't know how many of you had RUCKUS player, I'm sure you're aware that we a re no longer able to use its services. Now, I don't why it went out of business, or whatever you call it, but I'm a little upset by it. Mainly because I don't really use iTunes because I don't buy CD's anymore and because I don't want to pay every time I want to listen to a new song. So, imagine how upset I am when I realzed that the most basic, free and legal RUCKUS player is down. And at the current moment, I haven't heard anything about the college possibly investing in another server.

Hello? Napster? I just think it's truly unfortunate the the saerver no longer exists and we (Bridgewater State College) currently do not have an approved site where students can access free legal music. It's such a rare thing: free and legal. And I hope people took advantage while it was available.

Are You Mad At Me?

I don't know what to say. Stephen Glass, WTF were you thinking? I wish I could sit down with him and just pick his brain for about an hour to see what in God's name made him think that writing the best story The New Republic had seen in awhile, would not be looked at by other magazines and that they wouldn't have questions. That someone reading that piece would look at it and say,"well that can't be right." Fabricating stories? Just completely making up everything? When does that ever seem like a good idea?

Shattered Glass was very interesting the second time coming. I saw this movie two years ago, and still, I'm like why would someone ever do that? It makes me wonder if the journalism is that cut-throat and that competetive that people just start making shit up in the hopes that their readers are informed as well as entertained. For those of you reading this who have not done your homework and watched the movie let me paint Glass for you.

Stephen Glass is sweet, good looking, funny, and supportive. He is also the most manipulative son of a bitch to walk this planet. He's a kiss-ass suck up brown noser who might be a good writer, but at this point who the hell knows. Everytime someone asks him if they can speak to him he immediately asks, "Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?" At the staff meetings when they let everyone know what it is their working on, he tells these dramatic stories that has everyone laughing and smiling. He waits until they've all calmed down and then says, "I know. It's silly. I probably won't even finish it." Next thing you know it's in the next issue. He knows how to make people feel sorry for him if he's messed up so much to the point that they don't want to punish him. It's absurd.

So back to me being worried. I think this movie depicts a really scary part about being in the journalism business. It's a hard industry. Running ragged under deadlines, needing to get things right 100% of the time. There is no room for errors. I'm not surprised people get scared and start making things up. I'm just annoyed he thought he could continue to get away with it.

The Ring, Second Time Around

"You see the ring before you die." That's cool. Thank for letting me know. Having read the case study for The Ring and J-Horror I realized that a lot of thought goes into making these horror movies, and to be honest, it makes me a tad bit nervous. I've always fantasized about being a producer or writing for movies and now I'm just like, who has the freaking time to sit down and remember all these little rules and accuracies and formats and coloring images and blah blah blah. Kudos to those out there who do this for a living and enjoy it. Me personally? I'll stick with the whole news things.

So, watching RINGU was boring. Sorry to J-Horror movie buffs out there. But it didn't inspire the same nervousness and 'need to know' that The Ring still does for me. Perhaps the digitizing got in the way for me to be able to visually enjoy it, and the subtitles always are hard to pay attention to when your eyes need to be able to focus on the screen. I also felt a serious lacking in...suspense. It might be because I've seen the American version a number of times, but for some reason I don't think that has that much to do with it. I still get a little excited and a little scared watching The Ring. I don't jump out of my seat the way I did when I first saw the movie, but I can still feel my heart start to race and I can feel the anticipation building. Nothing about RINGU excited me. Even the differences in the movies were boring.

Perhaps I'm a sucker for bad horror movies (I've been told I am) or perhaps I need to experience some more J-horror films to really understand their methods. It was lost on me.

Commercials

I must say, this year I am slightly disappointed. Superbowls commercials are suppose to make you laugh, make you want to buy something shiny, inspire dirty thoughts (!). However, I feel as though marketing executives and public relation coordinators are severely lacking. Perhaps the slump in interesting commercials has something to do with the failing economy (I wouldn't be surprised), but still, people come on! Give me something good!!

I will say my two favorites were the talking babies and the High Life commercial. For those of you who were unavailable (or hiding under a rock) the babies commercial is a newer take on the baby ordering items offline. This time he was accompanied by another baby who could care less about the internet and just started singing a song (I don't know the name, comment if you do please). Wasn't the funniest commerical I have ever seen, but I laughed. I was amused. Second favorite commercial of the night was the two seconds of a man in a warehouse who screamed "High Life" and then it was over. Clever, witty. I mean, I still don't know what high life is (??) but it might inspire me to google it.

So, that is my sort but sweet take on our Superbowl 43 commercials. I'll give it a C+.

FOX....uh....FAIL

Watching Outfoxed really made me realize how much I do not like FOX News. For years I've always said, "no, no, I'm a channel 7 girl." I recall one night that Paris Hilton's dogs dying was in their top stories section. Really? Is nothing else going on that we need to know about her stupid little accessory?

And Bill O'Riley? I could write a book about the things that are wrong with that man. I thought broadcast journalism was about speaking the truth to America, letting them know what's going on in the world. I understand that every newscaster has their own opinion in situation and that;s fine. But when you start getting into arguments with guest speakers, political experts, and victims of tragedies, something isn't right. You should be able to ask question that the public wants to know the answers to. Plain and simple. You are there to educate, not judge. And that documentary is a little off-putting for people I believe wanting to go into that field. You want to work for a station that is truly "fair and balanced." They cover both sides of politics honestly and without any sort of reservations. Telling your guest to "shut up" over and over again is so disrespectful. I could not believe that the producers would allow such a thing. For the public to see you, a professional at work, speak to someone like that is outrageous. But the one thing FOX has done right is appealing to their audience: right-wing Conservatives. They don't mind you telling the liberal man to be quiet because they would have done the same thing. It's a really sick game their playing and I think it's unfair to other stations and to the public who have to flip past FOX and listen to that insane babbling garbage. If you want opinionated news read the editorials, visit a blog, take one of them out to lunch and get their opinion that way. I do not watch the news to learn how Bill O'Reily feels about 9/11 personally, I watch the news to learn what's been going on since yesterday.

Outfoxed has really opened my eyes to the situation that not all news stations report news equally. Some actually pretty much suck at it. It actually makes me a little nervous to know that some people lost their jobs because of differences with the reports and how producers use manipulation as motivation. It's sickening.

What Is Media?

I mean, in this day and age, I can see how media can get looped in with mass communication. I've taken this course before and after reading through the first chapter, I'm a little confused about exactly media/mass comm and what exactly their differences are. I thought they were the same thing, but apparently I was really very truly wrong. Which is okay. But now that I'm thinking about it and really trying to decide how I view media, I have to wonder what media truly is. What does it consist of? Why does it have to be different from mass communication? Aren't they using the same outlets to get to the public?

What's Your Poison?

It's the 21st century.Which means that in a few years, not having the internet will be a mortal sin, and people with flip phones will be the outcasts. So, I'm here to ask you, are you a media junkie? What type of media do you use the most? Why? There are so many ways for people to get in touch nowadays, it's hard to keep up. With things like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter (which I still dont' quite know what it is) you can talk to people in other towns, states, even countries like they were sitting right beside us. I experienced this when I got to video chat with a friend of mine who was living in Barcelona for 6 months. It's amazing how much we've accomplished in the last twenty years. Text messaging. It was amazing, but at the time not necessary. It was like, why would I type to someone I can just call? But now, in 2009 not having text messaging on your phone is unspeakable. Instant messaging. What is that? It blew me away the first time I heard about it. Now that it's available on phones, as well as e-mail, schedules, and all the jazz, even computers are becoming obsolete. The moment people can type a term paper on their blackberry's, Apple and Toshiba need to come up with something good or they are going to be in some serious trouble.

For me, text messaging is my weakness. I no longer feel the need to call people. It's not that I don't want to talk to people (well, most of the time) but sometimes it's just...easier. Literally, when it comes down to the time it makes no sense why text messaging is easier, but I don't know. Perhaps the jury is still out on that one. But, I mean, we live in the world of multi-tasking, and perhaps that may be what's wrong with the world. But, still, media rules our lives. There really is almost no way to avoid it. I mean, you'd have to be a Morman and believe technology is evil. Not that I'm dissing Mormons or anything. To each his own.

In the 21st century it's hard to pretend like these things don't exist. Whether you spend hours Facebooking or all day without calling a single person (but you've texted everyone in your contact list), media is ruling your life. Not that it's a bad thing. I mean, come on. I did write this blog.