Media Inventory!

Which family member uses it the most?

TV – Scott
Telephone – Mom
Cell Phone – Lauren
Computer – Scott

Which family member uses it the least?

TV – Dad
Telephone – Dad
Cell Phone – Dad
Computer – Dad

Use is restricted?

TV – No
Telephone – Yes, no calling anyone after 10pm unless it is an emergency.
Cell Phone – No
Computer – Yes, 30 minutes of “free time” at once, then switch with another family member.

Used for mostly entertainment?

TV – Yes
Telephone – Yes
Cell Phone – Yes
Computer – Yes

Expensive to keep running?

TV – No
Telephone – No
Cell phone – No
Computer – No

Cheap to keep running?

TV – Yes
Telephone – Yes
Cell phone – Yes
Computer – Yes

List the names of your family members and indicate which is their favourite media tool.

Mom – Computer
Dad – Computer
Kristen – Computer
Geoff – Computer
Lauren – Computer
Scott –Computer

Which is the least favourite?

The cell phone is the least favourite. Although Kristen, Geoff and I have our own, my parents and Scott share one and only use it for emergencies. I rarely use my cell phone to just “chat” with friends.

Do children of different ages or sexes prefer different items? Why?

I do believe sex and age play a part in media item preferences. My parents use the phone the most since it was the only thing available to them when they grew up.

My siblings and I use the computer the most since we find it the “eastiest” tool to use because we have grown up with it.

3 Day Media Survery!

Below are examples of media I experienced over a three-day period.

1. Walking to math class – heard a random student singing Soulja Boy’s “Crank That”.

2. Coming home after school – saw my brother wearing a Brock University sweatshirt and Champion pants.

3. Driving to Work – heard Chum FM’s entertainment update on Britney’s Spears and Christina Agulliera.

4. Working – changed into Stoney Creek Furniture uniform.
- placed signs throughout the store advertising SCF’s scratch and save event.

5. Driving home – Bus stop advertising Mohawk college and real estate realtors.

6. Watching Grey’s Anatomy – watched commercials advertising car insurance, Bailey’s, Colgate toothpaste Papa John’s pizza, Kleenex, McCain frozen drinks, Astro yogurt, House, Future Shop, Ford.

7. On the computer – Used MSN and Facebook to communicate with friends.
- Pop up on “Love Fortune Teller”

8. Watching TV – CH new reporting local events and issues.

9. Reading People Magazine – Entertainment scoop section listing details of current star’s actions.
- Advertisements for Always, Milk, Adidas, etc.

10. Looked at fridge – Magnets advertising Flower’s by Diane and Pizza Pizza.

I am not surprised at all when I reflect on my media interactions. Although I was exposed to it a lot over the last three days, it did not seem unusual.

I never noticed how many people wear brand names and logo’s on their clothing. When I saw my brother with a Brock hoodie and Champion pants, I analyzed my own closet. The majority of my shirts had American Eagle, Hollister or Campus Crew on the front. I believe that we are exposed to so much media today in 2008 that we have become immune to it and no longer pay attention. Through television, the radio, posters and signs, we are constantly surrounded by the media and as technology improves it will only become more popular. While watching TV, a media source in itself, I also watched a TON of commercials. Everywhere you look, including the small town of Stoney Creek, you can see at least one type of media. Nonetheless, I believe the amount of technology in the world right now is “just right” because everyone is used to it!

Dixie Sluts!

The Dixie Chicks are the number one country group in North America. With hits such as Landslide, Long Way Around and Traveling Soldier, the Dixie Chicks have a strong following. However, it hasn’t always been that way.

In April 2003, Natalie Maines made a controversial comment at Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London, England. Between song performances and completely unrehearsed, Natalie said, “We are ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas”, referring to the decision to go to war in Iraq. The media immediately took this comment and blew it over the top, jeopardizing the band’s reputation and music career all together.

Although the Dixie Chicks were not the first musical artists to speak their mind in front of an audience, the timing of their comment lead to harsher criticism. In 2003, the decision to send soldiers to Iraq was fresh and seemed like a good idea. A strong and brave country such as the United States was going to protect and fight for “the good guys”. What’s wrong with that? Unfortunately, due to “manufacturing consent”, the public was being brainwashed with this positive attitude towards war and questioned the Dixie Chick’s patriotism. "Travelin' Soldier," a number one song at the time, vanished from the charts within two weeks and was banned from several radio stations.

Click here to view "Traveling Soldier" lyrics by the Dixie Chicks!

Dixie Chick's singing "Traveling Soldier" Live in Las Vagas!

In this particular case, manufacturing consent was used by the government to persuade people to support the war via media sources. With a high success rate, manufacturing consent is primarily used to promote an image, alter public opinion and direct people’s actions. With media playing such a large part in people’s lives, it is easy to fall under the influence of what is believed through television, radio, posters, etc. Black Hawk Down was movie made and supported by the U.S. government to promote and encourage war in Somalia.

It wasn’t until numerous deaths and a few years later did people finally realize the rationality of Natalie Maine’s comment. The novelty of war wore off and people were coming to their senses. The public’s fury towards them lessened and the Dixie Chick’s were able to get back on their feet. After the release of their album “Taking the Long Way”, inspired by their fans’ negative reaction to the comment, the band won a total of three Grammy Awards. Martie Mguire told Der Speigel magazine in Germany: "We don't feel a part of the country scene any longer, it can't be our home any more. We now consider ourselves part of the big rock 'n' roll family".

Shut Up and Sing Preview

The Dixie Chick’s weren’t the only celebrities to speak out about their negative views on the government. Pink released “Dear Mr. President”, a controversial song thought to be an open letter to George W. Bush, in the beginning of April 2006. Although it was banned from certain radio stations in the U.S., there wasn’t nearly as much “uproar” than there was with the Dixie Chick’s.

Click here to view "Dear Mr. President" lyrics by Pink!

Kanye West also used media to get his message across about the president. Live on NBC’s Hurricane Katrina Fundraiser, Kanye spoke out about his feeling’s of inequality towards African Americans stating, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people”.

Kanye West -- NBC's Hurricane Katrina Fundraiser

I believe that both Pink and Kanye West sent much more controversial messages than the Dixie Chicks. Kayne point blank accused George W. Bush of not caring about black people. Pink also insisted on blaming the president for several of the problems in the United States. The Dixie Chicks; however, stated their opinion in a fashion much more vague and innocent than the other two. Unfortunately, the country band received much more criticism and had to suffer through years of disapproval from the public. I had heard “Dear Mr. President” played on the radio before but did not hear any controversy around it. I had also seen Kanye West’s remarks on YouTube, however the media coverage died down after a few days and I had not heard of it since.

It is sad to know that the government can play such a negative role in the lives’ of performers. Although we are given the right to free speech, these cases of protest prove that it is not as wonderful and easy as it sounds.

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Artist not available. “Dixie Chick Lyrics” azlyrics.com. No Date. 29 May 2008. http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/dixiechicks/travelinsoldier.html


Artist not available. “Dixie Chicks” MTVN Direct Inc. No Date. 29 May 2008. http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/dixie_chicks/bio.jhtml


Artist not available. “Dixie Chick’s Traveling Soldier” YouTube. No Date. 29 May 2008. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxB02IK1ujc>


Artist not available. “Kanye - Don’t Care About Black People” YouTube. No Date. 29 May 2008.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIUzLpO1kxI

Artist not available. “Pink Lyrics” azlyrics.com. No Date. 29 May 2008. http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/pink/dearmrpresident.html


Artist not available. “Shut Up and Sing Preview” YouTube. No Date. 29 May 2008. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_at-y9M2kC0

The City of Toronto....YUCK!

The overall “stickiness” of Toronto was clearly visible from the bus as ripped, faded and vandalized posters hung throughout the streets.

Everywhere you turn, you can see garbage and trash blowing aimlessly on the ground. It is not uncommon to see Toronto pedestrians drop their “unwanted” items without a second thought.

Abandoned buildings occupy Toronto with broken windows, trashed properties and dirty surroundings.

The public washroom offered in the Art Gallery is small and filthy. Due to lack of cleanliness, revolting “feminine products” lie about and produce a nauseating odor.

Junk and debris is commonly seen while walking the streets of Toronto. Piled high, residents choose to horde their useless belongings for others to see.

The main streets are lathered in bags full of garbage thrown on the curb. Garbage bags are often left untied, ready to spill and blow throughout the city.

Damage caused to retail buildings is left untaken care of to create a messy and uninviting environment like this convenience store.

The upkeep to apartment buildings is lacking in Toronto, leaving chipped and worn paint, cracking porches and rusting railings.

Graffiti and vandalism is a major issue in Toronto, including this apartment door. The exterior of buildings are hidden by repulsive images and phrases.

Although garbage cans are available throughout the city of Toronto, they are regularly overflowing with trash and covered with spilled wastes and bird feces.

Advertisements are posted on almost every street light in Toronto using inappropriate subject matter and profanity, available for people of every age to read.

MEDIA REFLECTION!

My experience at MOD was a lot of fun! Not only did we get to see “behind-the-scenes” action, we also got to participate in a live studio audience; something I had never done before. I found that the show ran very smoothly and happened the way I imagined it would.

Once we entered the studio, we all found a place where we could sit or stand. Staff members from MOD where moving people around so no visible gaps could be seen on TV. Fortunately for me, I found a spot on the bleachers right in front of the camera and was never asked to move. We went through a practice run where the hosts went over their lines and the camera operators could practice their shots. Being as excited as I was, I didn’t realize it was just a run-through and was confused when they stopped half way through.

Once the show actually came on the air, I found myself watching the video cameras. I realized that a red light would appear at the top of the camera that was filming so the hosts would know where to look. I also found the staff members holding the cue cards very amusing. During a live interview, you never know how long it will take for a performer to answer a question. At one particular time, Farrell was talking A LOT more than the producers expected and the staff member with the cue card was waving it like crazy, cueing Matt to move on to a music video. I could see the anxiety in Matt’s face trying to get Farrell to stop talking so he could go to a break. It made me realize how many things can go wrong on live television.

MOD also taught me how important the director of a show really is. Everyone working at the studio, including hosts, camera men, computer operators, etc., must all work together in order for the show to be successful. The director of the show is the one in charge of almost everything. He decides the order of events on the show, the dialogue, where people stand, etc. It is very important that everyone is on the same page and there are no miscommunications or confusions between anyone.

During commercials breaks the studio becomes much more relaxed. The hosts talk to audience members and take pictures with them. Stylists will come and fix hair and make-up so it looks just right, while producers and other staff members crack jokes at one another. I think MOD would be an awesome place to work and experience everyday. The live television aspect would make the job very interesting and you would get to meet a variety of celebrities!

EXTRA! EXTRA! Photo Manipulation in News!

According to dictionary.com, news is supposed to be “a report of a recent event; intelligence; information”, created to inform the public of local and international stories. People listen to the news in anticipation of receiving truthful facts about reported cases. However, when photojournalists manipulate photographs and portray them as reality, the stories automatically change and some of the truth is hidden.

Pictures are often used in news cases as evidence to support reported facts. They are shown in magazines, newspapers and news programs on TV to give the audience a sense of what exactly happened at a particular time. If viewers are not notified of certain altars made to photographs, they are ultimately being deceived and lead to believe aspects of a story that are not necessarily true.

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Unfortunately, anyone who has access to a computer with the right software can easily manipulate an image. As technology becomes more sophisticated, the number of photographs being modified increases.

A classic example of photo manipulation was OJ Simpson’s mug shot on the cover of Time Magazine. James Gaines, the editor of Time magazine during the scandal, described the photo manipulation as “defensible” and “subtly smoothed” while others were outraged by the changes made. When compared to OJ’s unaltered mug shot shown in News Week Magazine, it is obvious to see Time edited their version of the photo making his skin appear darker. The intent: to portray OJ as a “murderous” and “guilty” man.

Some, like James Gaines, believe the changes made to the cover were “simple and non-judgmental” and appropriate with the headline “An American Tragedy”. Several others however, believe the photo manipulation was racist, stereotyping all black people as criminals.

I personally believe this was a very racist move by Time Magazine. Not only did they mislead readers into believing the edited photo of OJ was real, they modified his natural skin colour, a topic very sensitive in today’s society, to make him seem more guilty. Although I believe this was a very bad judgment call by Time, the modification did make the photo appear more intriguing. Since his skin tone was made much darker, more attention was drawn to his eyes making them “pop”. Nonetheless, that is no reason to change a picture, especially in a news story.

Below is an example of how easy it is to manipulate an image


Ethics, “the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc”, is what make this, or any other topic for that matter, so debatable.

Several ethical questions arise around photo manipulation. Is it right? Should it be allowed? Should their be rules surrounding the alterations of photographs?

Trevor Rose, a second-year law student at American University’s Washington College of Law, stated, “Photojournalists have a commitment to report the news truthfully. If there is one clearly ethical standard of journalism, it is that journalists should not intentionally deceive their audience”.

In the case of Time magazine, the manipulation was unethical. Without a doubt, the photojournalists’ intentions were to deceive their audience and create more profit for themselves.

In order to change the confusion and dishonesty of photo manipulation, it should be mandatory by the Canadian Government to state all alterations to a published photograph below it. This way, minor changes such as background lighting can still occur, however audiences will be clearly aware of any physical changes to people shown in the photo, etc.

Below is a commerical created by DOVE -- another example of photo manipulation seen in media.

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Artist not available. “Photoshop Photo Manipulation with Photoshop Makeover” YouTube. No Date. 25 May 2008. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afZRl8UNizY>

Artist not available. “Evolution of Beauty by Dove” YouTube. No Date. 25 May 2008. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFX9Aa1RP8Y>

Artist not available. “OJ and Wife” Dailymail.com. No Date. 25 May 2008. <http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/07_01/nicolebrownREX_468x630.jpg>

Artist not available. “Motorcycle Manipulation” tc.umn.edu. No Date. 25 May 2008. <http://www.tc.umn.edu/~hick0088/classes/csci_2101/false.html>

Gwen Stefani and her Harajuku Girls!

Since her debut in 1992 with the band No Doubt, Gwen Stefani has been high on the music charts. However, it’s not just her musical talent that keeps Gwen in the spotlight, it’s her fashion sense as well.

At one quick glance you can see that Stefani does not follow the typical North American style. Admiring “wild hair colours” and “dead on accessories”, Gwen is influenced by Harajuku fashion trends. As a way to incorporate more Harajuku culture into her career, Gwen hired four Asian actresses to play the part of harajuku backup dancers in her first solo album, L.A.M.B.

The conflict: Is Gwen Stefani showcasing sub-culture or reinforcing ethnic stereotypes?

Let’s first determine the definition of “a Harajuku girl”. According to japanesselifestyle.com, a Harajuku girl is a term used to describe young teen girls in Harajuku, Tokyo who wear a style of clothing that originated in the street culture of major cities in Japan. This description leaves the impression that girls living in Harajuku are primarily focused on fashion trends and styles and nothing more. Not much different from saying, “A Canadian girl is a term used to describe a young Canadian teen who plays hockey and eats a diet of maple syrup”. We all know that this is a stereotypical idea of a Canadian teen and would be frustrated to see it displayed as a reality in other countries. However, Gwen Stefani’s portrayal of Harjuku girl’s in North America is very much like their definition above: fashion crazy. As a result, Gwen Stefani may be bringing other cultures into North American media but only by a clichéd representation.

On MTV’s TRL, Gwen stated that the Harajuku girls where in fact “a manifestation of her imagination” and asked the interviewer to pretend like they were not present. This comment, along with the girl’s blank expressions, zombie like poses, extreme giggling and knowingness to bow down to Gwen, proves that the Harajuku girls are not being treated with equality or respect. Although Harjuku culture has become more popular since Gwen Stefani introduced them, they are not being represented fairly. I believe REAL harajuku girls would benefit Gwen’s career as backup dancers. Not only are they familiar with the culture, they can accurately portray the lives of real harjuku girls in Tokyo.

In addition, complaints were made to Gwen about mispronouncing “harajuku” and “cho kawaii” in her music lyrics, saying she sings them like a typical Caucasian. If Gwen respected the Harajuku culture and embraced their language in her music, she would go out of her way to pronounce each word properly. However, Gwen would rather exploit the Harajuku culture to benefit herself and her own commercial gain!

llllllllllllllllllllllHarajuku -- Japanesse Pop Culture Fashion!

llllllllllllllll Gwen Stefani -- Harajuku Girls

Click HERE to view Harajuku Girl Lyrics by Gwen Stefani!

All this talk about Harjuku Girls..what about the boys!?

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Artist not available. “Japanese Pop Culture Fashion.” Fashion Head. No Date. 25 May 2008. <http://fashion.3yen.com/2008-03-12/harajuku-japanese-pop-culture-fashion/>

Artist not available. “Harajuku.” Japanese Lifestyle. No Date. 25 May 2008. <http://www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/tokyo/harajuku.htm>

Artist not available. “Japan Teen Culture.” About.com. No Date. 25 May 2008. <http://goasia.about.com/od/countriesaz/ig/Harajuku--Japan/Harajuku--Japan-Teen-Culture.-2NV.htm>

Artist not available. “D-mentes.” Blogspot.com. No Date. 25 May 2008. <dDentes.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html>

Artist not available. “Do You Like Japan?” Soda Head. No Date. 25 May 2008. <http://www.sodahead.com/question/29027/>