Commercial

Here is another commercial you could examine in terms of Emotional Appeal. Good luck on the exam tomorrow!

Last Post: Mixed Emotions

These two pics represent my feelings about this last day of school. I loved this class! Thank you for being my guinea pigs with blogging. Please take a moment to comment on the blogging experience, and give me any advice for the future in blogging. Also, please let me know if I should delete your link or if I could use your blog as an example in the future. Let me know ... and READ THE EXAM REVIEW POSTS, PEOPLE! I WILL HELP YOU OUT OF PITY. (Where is that line from?)

Thanks again, have a great summer and a great life and think about this:

“If, as Aristotle said, "The unexamined life is not worth living," so, in today's life, "the unexamined culture is not worth living in." George Gerbner

You must have 20 Posts to Pass

JUST A REMINDER! HERE IS WHAT A LEVEL 4 BLOG WILL LOOK LIKE:

-posts reveal a thorough understanding of terms and ideas
-blog reflects a solid understanding of practices and policies
-blog demonstrates a thorough understanding of blogging conventions
-posts include all varieties of topics


-layout reflects personality, creativity and an individual style (experiments with features: hyperlinking, video, extra features, music, etc)
-most posts extend analysis to include personal impact
-most posts are written in such a way as to invite comments and discussion

-has commented regularly on all blogs; most comments add an interesting perspective or opinion to topic
-has more than 20 posts that are related to an examination of media
-posts are thoroughly edited

The OFFICIAL RUBRIC IS AVAILABLE ON THE SHARED FILE.

Exam Review #5

Now that you have reviewed BIAS TECHNIQUES, have a practice!

Try filling in the following chart:

BIAS TECHNIQUE HOW IT CREATES BIAS IN THIS ARTICLE
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.



Should Loud Mouth be Silenced?by Bill O'Reilly, Fox News




One of the biggest Bush haters in the media is Rosie O'Donnell, a fanatical lesbian leftist who has been given a daily platform by the American Broadcasting Company.Ms. O'Donnell is now actively supporting Iran against her own country and Britain. On her Web site Ms. O'Donnell posted this quote about the British hostages.

According to Rosie O'Donnell the British set up their own people to be kidnapped to incite another war. This nutty theory goes along with O'Donnell's contention that 9/11 was a conspiracy and that terrorists mean us no harm and are nice people.

The question is what should ABC do? Remember ABC fired Bill Maher after he said the 9/11 killers had courage. She has a platform, a big platform. She is using for purposes that are irresponsible in my opinion. How do you see it?

The same people who bring us Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck are bringing us this orgy of left-wing nonsense five days a week in the middle of the morning aimed at the most unsophisticated, politically unsophisticated, viewers in all of America. That's why we should be concerned about this.

Exam Review #4

Bias. Know the definition of bias! You will need to remember how to detect a bias in a newspaper story. Remember the article about the school searching for drugs that we read? The article was written in two different ways, each showing a bias.

Remember the handout on bias? Here's a recap of the different ways you can spot BIAS:


Bias through selection and omission

An editor can express a bias by choosing to use or not to use a specific news item. Within a given story, some details can be ignored, and others included, to give readers or viewers a different opinion about the events reported.

Bias through omission is difficult to detect. Only by comparing news reports from a wide variety of outlets can the form of bias be observed.

Bias through placement

Readers of papers judge first page stories to be more significant than those buried in the back. Television and radio newscasts run the most important stories first and leave the less significant for later. Where a story is placed, therefore, influences what a reader or viewer thinks about its importance.

Bias by headline

Many people read only the headlines of a news item. Most people scan nearly all the headlines in a newspaper. Headlines are the most-read part of a paper. They can summarize as well as present carefully hidden bias and prejudices. They can convey excitement where little exists. They can express approval or condemnation.

Bias by photos, captions and camera angles

Some pictures flatter a person, others make the person look unpleasant. A paper can choose photos to influence opinion about, for example, a candidate for election. On television, the choice of which visual images to display is extremely important. The captions newspapers run below photos are also potential sources of bias.

Bias through use of names and titles

News media often use labels and titles to describe people, places, and events. A person can be called an "ex-con" or be referred to as someone who "served time twenty years ago for a minor offense." Whether a person is described as a "terrorist" or a "freedom fighter" is a clear indication of editorial bias.

Bias through statistics and crowd counts

To make a disaster seem more spectacular (and therefore worthy of reading about), numbers can be inflated. "A hundred injured in aircrash" can be the same as "only minor injuries in air crash," reflecting the opinion of the person doing the counting.

Bias by source control

To detect bias, always consider where the news item "comes from." Is the information supplied by a reporter, an eyewitness, police or fire officials, executives, or elected or appointed government officials? Each may have a particular bias that is introduced into the story. Companies and public relations directors supply news outlets with puffpieces through news releases, photos or videos. Often news outlets depend on pseudo-events (demonstrations, sit-ins, ribbon cuttings, speeches and ceremonies) that take place mainly to gain news coverage.

Word choice and tone

Showing the same kind of bias that appears in headlines, the use of positive or negative words or words with a particular connotation can strongly influence the reader or viewer.

Exam Review #3

Remember the videos we watched in our examination of how teens are portrayed in the movies and on television? Go through the following and ask yourself the following questions:

What kinds of character and plot conventions were used?
How does this fit into the genre?
What ideologies and values did this represent?
Were these ideologies and values ones that I share?

Exam Review #2

Don't forget about SUBVERSION. We have looked at several examples of subversion in class and on our blogs. When you combine subversion with advertising, you get subvertising, and the above is an example of this. Why is this an example of subversion and what is it being used to advertise?

Exam Review #1

One thing that you should review for the exam is how advertisements create an EMOTIONAL APPEAL. (Pg 77-79). Be prepared to analyse an ad based on the MODELS, the SETTING, the DETAILS, the STORY, the COPY, the POINT OF VIEW and the COLOUR. If the advertisement was a television commercial, you would want to discuss these elements by discussing camera angles, colour, actors used, lighting, etc. During exam review this week, we will be deconstructing this advertisement. Please get some ideas ready so we can brainstorm together.

The End of Class

Well, this class is almost over, and I have to admit, I'm a little verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic: the peanut is neither a pea nor a nut. Discuss.

Well, there is only a week left of class, and I have to admit, I am really sorry to see this class end. I have learned so much from all of you - and I have really started to see the world differently, and I hope that you all have too. I want to thank you all for bearing with me and buying into this class - I have thoroughly enjoyed each one of your blogs. It has been some of the most rewarding and thought provoking "marking" I have ever done!

While I know that we still have a lot to do in the next week, and it doesn't seem like the end, the blogging will be over soon. Your final blog marks are fast approaching, and hopefully you are all putting the final touches on your blogs, editing, adding hyperlinks, polishing, updating, etc. I am really interested to know what you plan to do with your blog when the class is over. Personally, I don't know what to do with my blog. I have become very used to thinking about it. I have put hours and hours of time into this, and it seems really wrong for that to all just be done. Perhaps I will adapt it into a more personal blog. I know quite a few people who keep blogs to keep all of their friends informed about their lives. But I think I actually like writing about the media. Hmmm... Is anyone planning on keeping theirs - or changing it to some other form? I am hoping to teach this class again and I will try this blogging out again. Are there any comments or suggestions about blogging in class? This was my first time, so please, leave some suggestions for me. I would like to have some comments about blogging, what you think about it, what you will do, what I should do, etc. Please comment!

Biased Coverage of Rosie Issue

look at this! Can you spot the bias at Fox News Station!

The Fight on The View

I personally don't watch The View, mostly because it is on during the day and I'm not really that into talkshows, but it caught my eye that Rosie O'Donnell quit "The View" last week after a fight with Elizabeth Hasselback over the war in Iraq. I watched the video, and I have to say, I found it fascinating that these women were so passionate about the war and Bush. I thought they were supposed to talk about celebrities and things that are more trivial. Unfortunately, they were unable to have a conversation, and resorted to yelling at each other and speaking over each other, which doesn't end up being productive. After watching it, I thought Elizabeth seemed very defensive about Bush from the beginning, and Rosie seemed to be just waiting to have her feelings hurt. The shocking thing was how the show exploited their two stars by refusing to go to commercial and instead showing a split screen so you could better see their cat fight. As Rosie said on her blog (www.rosie.com), it was like the show was suddenly reduced to a Jerry Springer show. I'm curious to see what you think about this.

The Girls - A Recommendation

Another book review for your reading pleasure! I recently picked up "The Girls" by Lori Lansens from our school library, and I have to admit, I wasn't expecting much. Conjoined twins? I thought the book would be a little too freak-show, perhaps glorifying what is a painful reality for some of the unfortunates in our world.

Lansen does not treat the topic in a freakish nature at all. Infact, it is quite the opposite. The reality of the girls' lives is never glorified or pitied. It has a strong sense of truthfulness. Lansen also goes much beyond the gimmick of writing from conjoined twins' perspectives. The story is about story telling, families, sisters, memory and loss. It really is a good read, and one that gives you a truly unique experience. Enjoy!

New Blog Mark

This weekend I will be giving your blog a progress mark to let you know how much work you need to do on your blog to get ready for your FINAL BLOG MARK.

YOUR BLOG NEEDS:

Over 12 posts that relate to the media

One post that includes the definition of "Bias"

At least one post that is about bias that you have noticed in the news

A post about an influential woman

Editing and Revising

Special Features: sound, video clips, hyperlinks, etc.

Comments on other blogs (a lot!)

The Pot and the Kettle Who Lived in a Glass House

Okay, what is wrong with this picture??

Did anyone see the news about "The Simpsons" this week? 20th Century Fox is angry and threatening to sue an independent online video broadcaster for parodying their hit TV show, "The Simpsons." An online article had more details:

"The studio is pressuring online video hub Broadcaster.com to remove "The O.J. Simpsons," three animated clips that re-imagine the Fox series starring the former football star. , The three "O.J. Simpsons" clips are titled "Black and White Christmas," "Warzone" and "If I Did It," which directly references Fox and its decision to withdraw publication of O.J. Simpson's proposed book about the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ron Goldman."

The Simpsons are suing someone for parody? PARODY????? Are you kidding me? The first three people to comment on this post with a story about an episode of The Simpsons that parodies something gets candy.

NEWS BIAS

1. Check out this activity about creating bias through word choice.

2. Next, head over to bias through headlines.

3. Then, complete on of the three activities looking at how bias can be created through images.

I would like everyone to post a definition and examples of bias on their blogs.

Also, please check out this media blog. Then respond to any post on it, and include a hyperlink to the article in your post. I will show you how!

Spruce it Up!

BlOGGER'S BLOCK

Some of you have been suffering from blogger's block. This is an attempt to help. You should be looking at how the media impacts your life - things YOU notice about how the media influences the world around you. This could be advertising, television, internet, movies, books, magazines,trends, etc.

1. Remember the categories of posts:
1. Pop Culture
2. Question?
3. I’m Outraged!
4. How Interesting….
5. Advertising
6. Hey! That’s subversive!

2. Look at other people's blogs., and websites online. Look for something that interests you. Reading other blogs will inspire you to write your own post about that topic or a similar topic. There are people examining the use of pregnant women for beer advertisements and examining the beauty of graffiti. We have movie reviews , song analysis and posting documentaries about 9/11 conspiracies. We are debating issues like whether or not athletes make too much money, and if musicians can make a difference in social issues like bullying.

3. You may want to scan the internet looking for issues or interesting topics. If you find an interesting article, then respond to it in a post and include a link to an article. Some interesting things I have found online have been a page devoted to the lastest news in arts and entertainment. Serena found a great page full of media issues at media-awareness. I found a fascinating media blog by typing in "media" in Google. (There is a fascinating article about a city in South America which has banned advertising). You may want to read about the dangers of facebook in an article I found on CBC's website.

Please comment to this post by giving an example of a controversial topic that could be a good topic for a post.

Thanks!
Happy Blogging!

This post will NOT include a picture or video

I am outraged.

This morning I was reading my newspaper and I was horrified to see various images of the Virginia Tech killer sprawled all over The Globe and Mail. The main article was about how the killer (who will remain nameless- I don't remember his name and I don't care to know it) sent a multi-media package to NBC in the mail between the first and second shootings. In this multi-media package he included text explaining his motivation and videos and pictures of him posing with various weapons- the way he wanted to be remembered. When I opened the newspaper, there was a two paged spread of pictures and images from this package.

I think it is disgusting that ANY media outlet would grant this killer's wishes by allowing these images to saturate the public. These images glorify the real horror he has produced, and give him the notoriety he was craving. Why why why would we grant him his dying wish, when his victim's weren't given the opportunity to think about their own dying wishes? This is a disgrace to the families of the victims. Not only that, but publishing his material could also be dangerous, as there is a risk his message could provide inspiration for other troubled people out there who may be considering putting their own names down in history.

There is no denying that the media needs to take some kind of responsibility for these kinds of school shootings. Many of these incidents are copycats of previous shootings, which means that the killers saw the coverage of one school shooting and used that coverage as encouragement. Now I am not suggesting that these events should not be reported on; an event so devastating should not be ignored; however, those who are reporting on the tragedy need to do so with some responsibility. We should be focusing on the acts of heroism and tributes to the young people who lost their lives.

I will end this post with a tribute to Liviu Librescu, an engineering professor who was just one of the 32 murdered during the rampage on Monday morning. Students said Librescu, 76, leaned against the door of his Virginia Tech classroom, blocking the path of the gunman. Librescu's actions gave his students enough time to climb out the window of his second-storey classroom. The gunman eventually got through the door and killed Librescu, but not before his students escaped.

His bravery and heroism is a story that we can look to for inspiration in our own lives. His story is worth telling, and his name is worth remembering.

Liviu Librescu.

Today's Special!

Okay Boys and Girls,

Today's special post activity is based on our class last week when we were discussing childhood favourite television shows and how television has affected your life. I would like your next post to be a reflection about your television timeline, including some fun details about a show you watched as a child, and how you think television has impacted your life. Also, ponder the question - what is good about television?

PS. Any of you old enough to recognise all 6 of these tv shows from my childhood? The first one to post a comment that identifies all 6 of these tv shows wins!

GO RAPTORS GO

Since the Leafs didn't make the playoffs (grrr), I am directing all of my sports energy to a team with an actual chance at glory for the 2007 season. Bring out the salami and cheese, because the Raptors are going all the way this year, led by the phenomenal Chris Bosh. I usually find basketball a little boring to watch, but Bosh plays with such intensity it's hard not to be excited. Go Raptors!

Post Assignment #2

So far, I have only assigned one other Post Assignment, and that was a response to the movie "Who Killed the Electric Car". Now that most of you have solid blogs set up, there will be more Post Assigments coming.

Last week we discussed famous men and women. Many of you were surprised to realise that the class wasn't able to come up with many women who were famous for their intelligence. Your assignment is to create a post dedicated to a woman who is famous for her intelligence. Be creative and be sure to explain why this woman is so important. You may also want to comment on why her name may not be famous or why she didn't get very much media attention or why you had never heard of her before.

Here is a list of some famous women. Try picking someone you have never heard of before. I'd like to have all the posts be about different people, so please comment to this post with your choice. If no one else has claimed that person, than you may claim her.

Benazir Bhutto
Jane Addams
Madeleine Albright
Mary McLeod Bethune
Marian Wright Edelman
Indira Gandhi
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Emma Goldman
Anita Hill
Dolores Huerta
Maggie Kuhn
Golda Meir
Rigoberta Menchu
Sandra Day O'Connor
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Rosa Parks
Alice Paul
Frances Perkins
Eva Peron
Jiang Qing
Eleanor Roosevelt
Phyllis Schlafly
Gloria Steinem
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
Maya Angelou
Hanna Arendt
Rachel Carson
Agatha Christie
Simone de Beauvoir
Anne Frank
Betty Friedan
Ann Landers
Margaret Mitchell
Toni Morrison
Dorothy Parker
Sylvia Plath
Gertrude Stein
Barbara Walters
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Virginia Woolf
Virginia Apgar
Helen Caldicott
Marie Curie
Rosalind Franklin
Jane Goodall
Grace Hopper
Melanie Klein
Mary Leakey
Barbara McClintock
Lise Meitner
Coco Chanel
Julia Child
Elsie de Wolfe
Katharine Graham
Ruth Handler
Estee Lauder
Mary Quant
Marian Anderson
Margaret Bourke-White
Maria Callas
Isadora Duncan
Ella Fitzgerald
Martha Graham
Billie Holiday
Janis Joplin
Frida Kahlo
Dorothea Lange
Georgia O'Keeffe
Mary Pickford
Leni Riefenstahl

BLOG MARKS

Hello, class.

Sorry that I am sick today. I just want to remind you that on Sunday I will be marking your blogs for your midterm report cards. Many of you NEED a good mark on this to boost your average for the class. I will be using a rubric which I will give you tomorrow, but essentially, this is what I am looking for:

• At least 8 posts that comment on an issue in the media
• Other posts (any amount) that give your post personality (about me, interesting pictures, etc - like my cactus post or Go Leafs Go post)
• Some links to other websites
• An attractive appearance
• Many comments on other blogs
• Comments on your blog
• Attempts to edit and revise spelling and grammar

(help each other out on that one. You get marks for commenting on other blogs, but you also get marks for the comments on your blog.)

(I am generally not taking marks off for the odd spelling or grammar error, but try to keep these errors to a minimum. You can always go back and edit any post - spellcheck is available.)

I will try to be commenting on your blogs during class if I don't fall asleep first. If you have a question for me, comment on this post, and I will try to answer it somehow.

See you tomorrow

Mzqbit

PS. Looking through your blogs, I noticed that many of you didn't post anything yesterday. Make sure you post to your blog today - it's the last day in class before you are marked.

Mzqbit's Random Blog Awards (First ever!)

mzqbit's random blog awards highlights some particularly interesting posts. The idea is to give everyone a chance to focus on some posts that could generate some good debate, and to celebrate a post well-posted.

There is also an assignment attached to the awards. Please comment on at least TWO of these posts. They are worth your while!

Congratulations to this week's winners!

1. Enigma's "Little Miss Sunshine" (Movie Review)

http://quietnessissofreakinloud.blogspot.com/2007/03/little-miss-sunshine.html

This was a good read, with lots of pictures and and a great review. She goes beyond just explaining why she liked the movie by explaining why it was different, worth taking about, etc.

2. Kise's "Double Standard?" (Question) "Cheap Advertising" (Advertising)A very interesting post about double standards in journalism between men and women. She brings up some very thoughtful points.

Kise also looks at a shocking advertising trend in a sleasy diet companies portfolio.

http://kise-myblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/double-standard.html

http://kise-myblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/this-tabloid-article-disturbs-me.html

3. Sensgirl's "Is Television Going too Far?" (Outraged)Read this for a commentary about where the line of appropriateness/censorship lies. I thought this post could lead to a really interesting debate, so voice your opinion on Sensgirl's comments.

http://sensgirl1512.blogspot.com/2007/03/are-cartoons-going-too-far.html

4. Spade's "Sunday, March 25th - about rap music"
I'd like everyone to have a look at this post because you can see that Spade is trying to generate a debate in his comments. The topic is quite controversial - is rap music glamorizing gangsta life? Notice how he ends his post with a question.

http://6town.blogspot.com/2007/03/okay-so-this-is-my-second-post-and-this.html

5. Sally Spaghetti's "The Search for the Next Pussy Cat Doll" (Outraged)This is a good example of how just watching television can lead you to a good post. Be on the look out for things that you think are wrong/ disturbing/ stupid on television.

http://sallyspaghetti.blogspot.com/2007/03/search-for-next-pussycat-doll-umm-what.html

Congrats to this week's winners. The next awards will be posted ... whenever ... as they are "mzqbit's random blog awards!"

April Fool's Day!!

During my first year teaching, I was always a little frantic. On April Fool's Day, I was so frantic that I didn't even realise that it WAS April Fool's Day. One of my colleagues had a student come to my classroom and knock on the door in the middle of my lesson. The student said that there was a grade assembly going on in the library, and everyone was waiting for our class before they could begin. She said there had been an email that I must not have received explaining the assembly. I was so annoyed, as I really needed to get on with my lesson. Grudgingly, we went down to the library, but about half way there I remembered that it was April Fool's Day and told my class to turn around and go back to class. When we got back, my colleague and her class were in the middle of "redecorating" my classroom!

I wondered if anyone else has any funny April Fool's Day stories, even though it doesn't have much to do with media.

By the way, follow this link to see the top ten April Fool's Pranks of all time (apparently)
http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/aprilfool

Go Leafs Go!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am following the recent trend of declaring my hockey feelings on my blog. I think you all should know that I am giving 110 percent in my cheering for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tonight, I'm going to get on that couch, and just watch a simple game of hockey. I know that we need to get together as a team of Leafs' fans, and get back to the basics. GO LEAFS GO!

A Must Read - The Time Traveler's Wife

There are few things I love more in this world than a good book. While I don't always have enough time to get into or even find a really great book, when I do, I am so excited I want to share it with EVERYBODY. I decided to write about the latest GREAT book that I have written here, since novels are just as much a part of the media that makes up our culture as our favourite tv shows and magazines are.

This book is called "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger. The novel tells the story of Clare, who meets the love of her life, Henry, when she is six years old. The only problem is that even though Henry is only 8 years older than she is, the version of him that she first meets is 36 as he has time travelled to the past to meet her. She awaits visits from his future self while waiting to meet him in real time. While this sounds confusing ... it is all beautifully and captivatingly told in a way that makes me deny the fact that it is science fiction. It is not science fiction, it is a.. dare I say timeless (?) love story with the kind of heart aching intensity of stories like "The Notebook." (Speaking of the Notebook, I 'IMDB'ed (www.imdb.com) the book to see if it was being developed into a movie, and it is - Rachel McAdams is set to star as the main character.)

I can't recommend this novel enough for anyone who loves a really good love story.

American Idol Subversion

So, apparently American Idol has become such a cliche that many people are rallying together to start a 'grass roots' protest against them, by SUBVERTING the entire premise of the show. According to the Globe and Mail, anti-fans of the show are so bored/tired/angry (?) about the show that they have rallied to ensure that Sanjaya Malakar wins Idol. Apparently Malakar is a terrible singer - if he won, his win would subvert the idea that the best singer wins the contest. There are many websites devoted to this Idol Revolution, including www.votefortheworst.com. While I find it mildly interesting that people are deliberately trying to have the worst singer win for the sake of having the worst singer win, I am still not sure why so many people are angry. If you don't like American Idol, think it is a silly popularity contest, find the songs annoying and the judges unbearable, why watch? Why create blogs and sites and grassroots protest strategies? Aren't there more important things to get riled up about?

The Blog Assignment

What Is Required?

At least 2 weekly entries
Every week you are to create at least 2 entries in your Media Blog. The entries must relate to media in some way, perhaps by voice your opinion about some kind of issue or controversy.

At least 4 weekly comments on other blogs
Every week you need to check out some of the blogs in the class and comment on different postings. You should have at least 4 comments a week, but quality is more important than quantity, so be sure to comment on issues that you are truly interested in.

Check in on my blog
Think of my blog as the class blog. I will be regularly contributing to my blog and perhaps posting points of interest about blogs in the class. Occasionally, I will have assignments posted on my blog that I feel are relevant to our study.

How Will This Be Marked?

The rubric will be coming, but basically, this will be a significant portion of your final mark since you will be working on it for the rest of the semester. There will be periodic due dates so that I can give you a progress mark on your blog. I will give you at least a week’s notice before any marking dates. You will be marked on your thoughtfulness, your mastery of the medium, your comments, your creativity.


What Should My Entries Be About?

Here are some of the types of entries that I will be looking for. You are not restricted to these categories, but this might help you if you have blogger’s block.

1. Pop Culture
In this category you will observe something new or strange about pop culture. This could be a new trend, a t.v. show, a movie, etc. You should explain what it is and why it is significant.

2. Question?
This should be something you have noticed and wondered about. Anything that puzzles you, perplexes you, something you find strange. You should have lots of questions … and perhaps no real answers.

3. I’m Outraged!
This should be something that you have noticed in the media that you do not agree with, you find offensive, insulting, etc. You should explain WHY you are so outraged. If it is possible, explain what you are going to do about it, and most importantly, RANT!

4. How Interesting….
This is a free for all category where you record things that you have found interesting. It may overlap a bit with the pop culture category, which is fine.

5. Advertising
Anything new or different in the world of advertising, an ad that you thought was interesting or controversial in some way, new trends, etc.

6. Hey! That’s a Subversion!
Hopefully we have talked about subversion enough in class that you have started to recognize it in your own travels. Look for something that seems to be different from what is expected … I will post some examples on my blog.

Thanks Everybody!

Well, I think the first two days of blogging were a success and I was thrilled to get some positive feedback from everybody. I really hope that everyone continues to be eager and enthusiastic. Please let me know if you have any ideas about the unit; I love feedback and suggestions. I think I am going to have "blog marking day" be Sunday, so please make sure that you have your internet safety assignment done by then (email it to me if necessary) and also be sure to have added your childhood story (I love them!) and two comments to my articles. I will give everyone some feedback on Monday, when we start blogging.

Also, there may be a problem with signing up for a blogger account at school, so this might need to be done at home. Let me know if that will be a problem for anyone.

Cheers!

Pop Culture - The Trendiness of Torture

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As some of you may or may not know, I am a huge fan of both 24 and Lost. I watch them religiously, and I think about them constantly. Recently, they have both been in the news as Human Rights Organisations have questioned the abundance of torture that is portrayed in these shows. I have never thought of myself as someone who would condone the use of torture or even as someone who would find entertainment in the depiction of it. But it is true; my two favourite shows use it quite a lot. In Lost, there is usually a lot of remorse surrounding the use of torture. Poor Sayid is tortured by his own use of torture. He feels really bad about it; and really seems like he will never torture someone again.

Now Jack Bauer, on the other hand, tortures an average of ten people per day ... at least. He is also tortured quite a lot. Heck, everyone is tortured on 24, that's just what happens. Sometimes I even find myself yelling "bring in Johnson!" to the television (Johnson is CTU's torture guy - although anyone can torture anyone). What is going on here and just how did torture get so trendy? How is all of this entertaining torture affecting the real world?

Martin Miller of the LA Times reported on this issue of increased torture and reported that "from 1996 to 2001, there were 102 scenes of torture, according to the Parents Television Council. But from 2002 to 2005, that figure had jumped to 624, they said. "24" has accounted for 67 such scenes during its first five seasons, making it No. 1 in torture depictions, according to the watchdog group.

The increase in quantity is not the only difference. During this uptick in violence, the torturer's identity was more likely to be an American hero such as "24's" Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) than the Nazis and drug dealers in pre-9/11 days. The action-packed show, which drew a hefty 13.6 million viewers last week, was among the first and certainly the most prominent to have its main character choke, stab, or electrocute — among other techniques — information out of villains.

"It's unthinkable that Capt. Kirk would torture someone," Danzig said.

While hardly alone in the entertainment universe of television and movies in portraying torture, shows such as "24" and later ABC's "Lost" were sought out by the human-rights activists because of their popularity, both here and around the world. Even in Iraq, such series can sometimes substitute for or trump military training, and transmit a dark message to soldiers.

"That's all people did in Iraq was watch DVDs of television shows and movies. What we learned in military schools didn't apply anymore."

EEK! 24 and Lost inspiring real soldiers and how they are really acting in the real war?

(Unfinished)

Candy for Criticism

Find a spelling or grammar mistake on my blog, write me a note about it in a comment (include the error and how I should fix it), and receive free candy immediately. It's that easy!

Happy editing!

A Thorny Heart

Ouch!

I'm Outraged! - Gossip Girls!

"'Welcome to New York's Upper East Side, where my friends and I all live in huge, fabulous apartments and go to exclusive private schools. It's a luxury life, but someone's got to live it.'

This is the eighth book in the internationally bestselling series. It's almost graduation and the lives of New York's private high school elite are really heating up. Everyone's got into college and it's clearly time to party - not that they haven't been doing plenty of that already! Blair and Nate's relationship has moved on to a new level - but will the love affair continue? Or will Nate's love affair with his bong get in the way? Only time can tell how everyone will end up, bit one thing's for sure: love is in the air, and it smells a lot like Gucci envy."

That is a sample of what you can expect in the series "Gossip Girl" by Cecily von Ziegasar. With a target audience ranging from girls aged 11-20, these books are the latest teen craze. Now, as an English teacher, my policy has always been, if a student is reading ANY book, that's great. Until I actually picked one of these books up!

-advertisements galore

(Unfinished)

Stranger Than Fiction

I watched Will Ferrell's new movie "Stranger Than Fiction" in theatre and on DVD this week. It is a charming and wonderfully weird movie that is about plot conventions without actually having any in it.

It follows the mundane daily routines of Howard Crick, a man who works for the IRS and is obsessed with numbers. (Warning: Will Ferrell plays the straight man.) He suddenly starts to hear his life being narrated by a mysterious voice. Meanwhile, Emma Thompson plays the author who is trying to figure out how to kill the main character in her latest novel.

Howard begins to realise that he is a character in a book, and sets out to advance the plot (his life is rather plotless). After ruling out many conventional plots, he decides that the plot convention he is to follow is unlikely love, when he sets out to make the woman he is auditing fall in love with him. This becomes apparent only after he realises that she absolutely detests him.

I love this movie for the superb acting and very clever script. The characters are unique, but do follow some stereotypes and conventions. Howard Crick is the boring, stuffy, numbers driven taxman and Emma Thompson is a "fantastically depressing" author suffering from writer's block. Oh, there is also a hilarious extra scene in the special features that includes two book interviews by this hilarious woman who does a great spoof of the typical ultra-cheery morning show host.

I definitely recommend this movie if you are up for something .... strange.

A Subversion of the Typical Female Pop Star

Just a quick recap on subversion: Subversion refers to an attempt to overthrow structures of authority or "the norm". It is an overturning or uprooting, usually of an unhealthy stereotype.

Recently I was listening to my iPod and the song "I am a Queen" by India Arie came on. The lyrics stand out as an uprooting of the "traditional" lyrics that 20 year old girls are usually singing about. Most female pop singers sell themselves through sex, both with their suggestive lyrics and mildly pornographic videos. Have a look at India's lyrics:

Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don't
Sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won't
Depend on how the wind blows I might even paint my toes
It really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul

(chorus)
I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be
India Arie

When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me
Every freckle on my face is where it's supposed to be
And I know my creator didn't make no mistakes on me
My feet, my thighs, my lips, my eyes; I'm lovin' what I see

(Chorus)

Am I less of a lady if I don't wear pantyhose?
My mama said a lady ain't what she wears but, what she knows
But, I've drawn a conclusion,
it's all an illusion, confusion's the name of the game
A misconception, a vast deception
Something's gotta change

Don't be offended this is all my opinion
ain't nothing that I'm sayin law
This is a true confession
of a life learned lesson
I was sent here to share with y'all
So get in where you fit in go on and shine
Clear your mind, now's the time
Put your salt on the shelfGo on and love yourself'
Cuz everything's gonna be all right

(chorus)

Keep your fancy drinks and your expensive minks
I don't need that to have a good time
Keep your expensive car and your caviar
All I need is my guitar
Keep your Kristal and your pistol
I'd rather have a pretty piece of crystal
Don't need your silicon I prefer my own
What God gave me is just fine

(Chorus)

Dove Evolutions

The Dove Evolution campaign shows us what goes into making those glossy, superhuman ads that we are bombarded with everyday. Now, I think we need to remember that Dove is still a company that is trying to profit, but it is refreshing to see an ad campaign that is also being socially conscious. It almost makes we want to go out and by a bar of Dove soap. (Isn't it funny that the simple act of me writing this entry is giving Dove free advertising? I guess that's why controversial ads work so well. )

I'm Outraged! - Mobile Billboards??!??

Last summer, I was visiting a friend in Montreal. We were sitting on a patio in the gorgeous downtown area, when all of the sudden a billboard drove by for Heineken beer. Now, I'm NOT talking about a truck that happened to have some advertising on the side of it, I'm talking about a thin billboard that was being pulled around town, for the sole purpose of advertising.

The billboard was even thinner than the one you see in this picture, which looks like it could be possible to put something inside the truck. I have to admit, I was OUTRAGED! In this day and age, where the polar icecaps are being melted by the CO2 we are emitting at a mad pace, how can any company hire people just to DRIVE around all day? We are in an environmental crisis, yet companies like HEINEKEN are being socially irresponsible enough to contribute so profoundly to this huge problem.

So what did I do? I ranted a lot, and when I got home, I checked out Heineken's website, which had a lot of babble in it about how much they cared for the environment. I decided to email the head of public relations, and tell him that I was upset. He emailed me back ... and unfortunately I didn't keep the email, but it was basically "oh, yes, we will look into this matter... blah.. blah."

Perhaps encouraging, I tried to find a picture online of a Heinekin mobile billboard and couldn't, so maybe they stopped. Also, I found a petition from Toronto demanding that mobile billboards be illegal and a company boycott for companies that advertise this way. Check out the link! http://www3.sympatico.ca/alwaysweb/mobile_billboards.html.

And that my friends, is why I am outraged.