Sexual Objectification

This Arby's ad is clearly showing viewers that the burgers represent a women's breasts. The caption says, "We're about to reveal something you'll really drool over." "Reveal something," refers to revealing the woman's breast and "something you'll really drool over" is aimed at men as in they will be drooling over the burgers like they do with women's breasts. Arby's is clearly treating women's breasts as an object.

This ad for American Apparel is really kind of horrifying. The women has her legs spread wide open, indicating sex. Also, by the look on her face, she looks terrified! So, to a point, this ad could almost represents rape. If her legs open indicates sex, and then the scared look on her face shows that she doesn't want what is about to happen. So I don't know if this clothing brand is trying to address that these clothes make you so sexy that men would want to rape you, but her facial expression and her legs wide open almost horrifies me and confuses me as to what their real message is that they are trying to get across. 

Blog Post #11

In both The Rise of the Lavish Wedding and Say Yes to the Dress, they talk about how weddings are becoming money-oriented and materialistic. The reading talks about how industries are making weddings a market. In the video it talks about how the women are only choosing one certain dress designer that they want to wear which goes along with being materialistic because they are stuck on wearing only the best. Another connection between the two is the connection of the white dress tradition. In the reading it talks about how Queen Victoria wore a white dress which established purity and wealth. Since then white dresses have become the new tradition which is shown in the video when all three women choose white dresses to wear. Many people like Kelly's mother in the video don't like breaking away from the tradition and anyone that does is looked at differently like Kelly was when she wanted to wear black.

Fashion

In both "Secrets of the Superbrands: Fashion" and "Fashion's Free Culture," they talk about how the fashion industry creates the need for new clothes and how they make money. "Fashion's Free Culture" shows us how copyrighting in the clothing industry isn't eligible and how clothes are trademarked. The trademark protection helps people make money by giving them the right to make know-off brands without taking the trademark. In "Secrets of the Superbrands," it discusses how brand names/identities are a huge influence when it comes to customers buying products. People like to buy "top brand" items because it gives them an identity and people know that they will be judged based on the brands they have. Along with the "top brand" concept, the study with how brands connects with our emotions shows us that people have more excitement in their pleasure centers when seeing top brand named items rather than a cheap brand.

Porn in the News

During "The Young Turks" news report, they were more focused on how the Duke student was being criticized by other students for doing porn. They said that it is obvious that her porn got exposed and she somewhat get what she deserves, because that's what always happens. The reporters also say that is is very wrong of the other students to be bullying her for doing something that she enjoys. I believe that these reporters bring this information up about their views of porn because they want society to see that yeah, porn can be something that not everyone approves of, but everyone has their right to enjoy certain things that shouldn't be criticized.

The other news report I observed was "Take Part." Like "The Young Turks," "Take Part" had more good comments about this than bad. One reporter states that if porn pays for debt, maybe we should get into porn. Another reporter stated that there are obvious risks in this industry of porn, but wonders why this is even a story when she is an adult who made her own decision. The only negative comment I heard during this report was that they said that porn is possibly a factor in influencing other students to do the same, and is that really the path we want people going? I feel like this news report is showing us viewers and making a point that we all have our personal preferences and there is nothing wrong with doing what you want to do.

Mansome & Boys Will Be Boys

In the documentary "Mansome," they talk about a guy who is meterosexual. A meterosexual is a man who spends a lot of time on his physical appearance. This guy that they show us in the documentary spends his time getting groomed, getting his eyebrows and nail done, and even buts some make up on, describing the definition of a meterosexual. In "Boys Will Be Boys," Guy Garcia talks about the average guy in today's society and tells us about the different archetypes. A quote from this reading says, "I have trimmed for years" and goes to explain how he bathes 1-2 times a week in baby oil, herbs, and oatmeal to keep his skin hydrated and smooth. Both of these are good examples of meterosexuals.

Cultivation Theory

After watching the video, the Cultivation theory created by George Gerbner shows how Americans believe what they see and hear about torture because TV represents it that way. John Oliver tells us that torture represents a dramatic action to move the plot along and 57% of people are confident that torture works. He also says that we believe torture works because it does on TV, which goes along with the Cultivation Theory idea, and there is no proof in real life that torture actually does work. Oliver gives the example of Obama's 9/11 speech where he said, "we tortured some folks," making people believe in what he said because of the fact that he said it on TV so it must be true. Another example that makes us think that torture works in in the Mel Gibson movies where there is tons and tons of torture going on.

TED Talk

There were many motivations that Jane McGonigal gave to us as to how we are helped by video games that also connect to Rusel de Maria's article,"Why We Play." One example is the idea of skill practice used in both pieces. Skill practice represents doing other activities in order to better yourself at a certain skill. Another example is the idea of epic meaning, or feeling. Gamers do whatever it takes to get past challenges no matter how hard it is, even if they don't think they'll be able to do it. The feeling that gamers get after accomplishes this kind of challenge is an epic feeling, also talked about in "Why We Play" (the challenges.) The last example is the idea of urgent optimism. This is basically when games have the mindset of not giving up until they finish what they're trying to accomplish. In the gaming world, the ability to have multiple lives/chances teachers games problem solving and how to have that mindset of never giving up.

BIRG & CORF

In the video "Football High," many examples of BIRGing and CORFing were used. An example of of BIRGing is when while watching the video and looking up into Shiloh's football stands, you see that they are jam packed and everyone is wearing their school colors and team apparel. An example of CORFing you see in this video is when the coaches are so focused on success rather than failure that they risks killing their players practicing in the 100+ degree heat. Also, risking their players well-being and physical state by putting players back into the game with concussions just so that they can win the game. Another example of CORFing is when the quaterback's family moved to a different school so that their son could be on a more successful football team. The quaterback, as well as his family especially, didn't want to feel like a failure just because their old team was one.

Media Phobia

    Karen Sternheimer explained in the reading "Media Phobia" that people (parents to be more specific) are becoming more and more afraid of popular culture. One fear was that technology destroys our kids, and brings them places so dangerous that our parents can't do anything about it. When I think of this, I also think about the video we watched where the Korean kid didn't interact with her mother, he only played video games, and then was sent to a camp to help with this problem. In both, children are becoming addicted and too reliant on these technologies, which scares parents.
   
    An example of a fear coming from parents not mentioned in the reading is the use of birth control in teens. Parents fear this because they see how social media influences sex and think that this influences their children to have sex as well. They think their kids are too young and are scared if they do put their kids on birth control, that they will start having sex.

Pros and Cons of Social Media

One of the pros of social networking is that social networking sites facilitate face-to-face interaction. People use social media at in-network events and get to know people before personal business or other meetings. (1) I can agree with this statement because more times than likely, the first way of communicating that goes on between me and someone I'm interested in but never met before happens on social networking firsthand. A con of social networking is that social media causes people to spend less time interacting face-to-face. The percentage of people reporting less face-to-face time with family in their homes rose from 8% in 2000 to 34% in 2011. (2) I see more and more of this in my home as well. Most of the time when my both my sister and I are home, we spend more time on our phones then actually socializing with each other or our parents. I also see a lot of social media usage at the dinner table, and my parents are guilty of this as well.

My second source connecting to the con of social networking, in my opinion, is the most reliable of the two. I believe this because it is coming straight from a schools website.This means that the data was probably student based and tested, not just random numbers thrown out. My first source seems like its reliable based on how well I can relate to it, but I am not for sure how good of a source it actually is.

1. Morgan, "5 Ways Social Media Can Facilitate Offline Networking," www.sociableboost.com, May 8, 2012.
2. USC Annenburg School Center for the Digital Future, "Special Report: America at the Digital Turning Point," www. annenburg.usc.edu, January, 2012.

Celebrity Culture

What is celebrity culture? Celebrity culture is when you make someone popular based on events or their immoral behavior or the way they self promote themselves. Some people even try to get famous just by dating famous people. Benefits of celebrity culture includes all of the nice gestures that some celebrities for for the less fortunate. For example, Ellen is a great example of showing this. The amount of money and presents she donates to people of lesser fortune is unbelievable. Another Benefit of celebrity culture is that is provides us with entertainment, like with reality show stars such as Jon and Kate Gosselin. With benefits of celebrity culture also comes its obstacles. Some of these obstacles include celebrities who encourage drugs, alcohol, and any other illegal substances to their audiences or any one who follows them. For example, Lindsay Lohan, who is only famous now a days for the amount of drugs and alcohol she abuses.

Blog Post #1

Nike Shoes: Feel like an insider
Nike shoes are a HUGE hit in todays world, especially to the youth and young adults. From young kids, to teenagers, to professional sports players, to celebrities, everyone is wearing them. Everywhere you go, you see people wearing these shoes. Kid's want to be like everyone else (ex. like celebrities) and wear these "cool" shoes and if you don't have them them you aren't "cool." People like being comfortable and fitting in, feeling like an insider.

Birchbox: Find remarkability
 Birchboxes are becoming the new thing to have. The excitement of getting a box each month with new samples of top brand products keeps drawing people in. The suspense of not knowing what is coming in each box is also a key factor to bringing in customers. This makes the product remarkable because it's worthy of attention and makes people talk about it, like what they got in the box and how interesting and cool it is.

Kylie Cosmetics: Feel like an insider
Because of the fact that Kylie Jenner is a celebrity and everyone knows her, it makes it easier for her to sell her products. Kylie advertises her make up by wearing it, which makes her look "beautiful." She also makes is so her products are rare, only coming out once a month and selling only so many. So many girls are buying this product now so they can feel as beautiful as Kylie. It makes them feel like an insider.