Laura Curran @potatonottomato-blog - Tumblr Blog

Dear Mr. Carter

When I first heard we were doing this assignment, I was like "Is Mr. Carter crazy? Nobody will get their posts done because they'll have discovered the distracting properties of tumblr!" (or something along those lines.) But as my portfolio grew, I realized that I was completely right! I found myself sucked in by the dashboard, carried into its never ending vortex of fan pages and art.

Now, I did manage to get my posts done, and I think I was fairly creative with (most of) them. But the distraction was definitely there.

After getting over the initial hump, I actually started to enjoy writing the entries.

One problem I had with this assignment was the lack of feedback. I found it very difficult to know how I was doing, or if I was even doing things right, when I didn't get any feedback during the process.

That is all,

Potatonottomato

aka Laura Curran

#Reflecting on media forms #adieu

"Justifies armed robbery, manslaughter and drunk driving as exercises in consciousness raising." I believe this statement is not true at all. Thelma and Louise die at the end by driving off a cliff. This obviously means that, while they were happy at the end, they did not make the best decisions. This movie is not a promotion for their kind of behaviour; it’s a feminist movie. The point is to make you feel empowered. It was a statement against the way women were treated at the time, not a display of how women should be! The movie does not make the viewer want to repeat the actions of the characters at the end. The genre type doesn’t have the assumption to change people’s views on what is morally right. Unless, of course, the viewer thinks rape is ok, or thinks men can treat women however they like. Feminist movies like Thelma and Louise try to send the message that women are being treated badly and that they can have power. It does not have to be through violence in real life, but it does make a great movie.

#narrative in film #thelma and louise

This is the End is a 2013 comedy film. The comedy genre has a wide array of characters. They always have a protagonist, in This is the End that is Jay. They have the friend(s) of the protagonist (Seth) and the antagonist (Andy). They can have a new friend of the protagonist's friend that is splitting them apart (James). The characters are also often goofy and are often played by celebrities. All the actors in this movie are famous and they play themselves, which in a way challenges the fact that comedies always have celebrities in them. The story is set in typical normal places, like a house or a bar or a store. However, there can be twists in the setting to make the movie funnier, in this case the apocalypse at James Franco's house. The plot can vary, but it often has to do with love or friendship and tests to those relationships. In This is the End, the plot is a group of friends trying to stay alive during the apocalypse, and Jay and Seth testing their friendship. Comedies often have a happy ending as we'll, but I won't spoil the movie. Common themes in comedies are friendship/love, bromance, and loyalty. The trailer shows clear friendship and bromance between the different characters. Comedies hold the values that loyalty to friends is more important than money and fame, and that it is god to be lighthearted about tough situations. This is the End shows this very well, as the characters all try to survive at the end of the world. This movie is quite hilarious and I would recommend watching it.

#Genre Conventions #this is the end

Indie88 is a radio station owned by Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). It is broadcast on 88.1fm and on the internet on a streaming website. CRTC regulates the broadcasting of all radio stations in Canada. One of the rules says that each station must have a certain percentage of content that is made by Canadians or is Canadian in nature. This means they have to feature some Canadian artists.

#Institutions and Ownership #broadcast

Facebook is a website essentially meant to connect people on a grand scale. Facebook was created (and CEOed) by Marc Zuckerberg. People have to sign up to be a member and use the website. Ads are bought so that the website can make money, and people can buy shares in it. Though facebook cannot control a lot of what people post on it, facebook does limit what people say. For instance, people cannot post pornographic images on facebook, because facebook does not want to be linked to that type of thing.

#Institutions and Ownership #internet

I really like the band Arctic Monkeys. They signed a record deal with Epic Records, owned by Sony Music Entertainment, so that is who produces them. They are distributed by various forms including iTunes. Sony Music Entertainment wants to sign bands that show a variety of styles, that is why they signed Arctic Monkeys.

#Institutions and Ownership #music #extremely interesting post

I sometimes like to read bits of the Toronto Star newspaper. It is owned and produced by TorStar, a Canadian broadly-based media company. It seems like it is distributed by the same company, because you can order subscriptions to the Star on their website. TorStar is a large company that owns Star Media Group, Metroland Media Group, and Harlequin Enterprises. It primarily focuses on media involving news, but the Harlequin section is produces romance novels. TorStar wants to reach as many people as possible. This is why they focus on large-scale printing for larger audiences, such as newspapers like the Toronto Star.

#Institutions and Ownership #print media

Tangled is a movie about a girl following her dream and going on an adventure. It is a Disney movie, and it is distributed by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Disney follows traditional values, often having the damsel-in-distress and a charming prince to save her. However, they are starting to have stronger female characters, Rapunzel in Tangled being one of them. This movie follows Disney's values, fitting with the family-friendly stories they often produce.

#Institutions and Ownership #film

#Assessing McLuhan

Why does the media show Valentine's Day as this important holiday for relationships and love? Why does it make people who are not in relationships feel like they should be?

One could say Valentine's Day is a way to celebrate love and show someone you care about them by giving gifts and spending time with them. However, companies commercialize Valentine's Day so that people will buy their product, be it in movie sales or expensive jewelry.

The hype about V-Day is all caused by the hegemonic belief that being in a relationship is better than being single.

#investigating representations and ideology

Sitcoms often have episodes based around Valentine's Day. They feature the husband forgetting it's Valentine's Day, the wife getting her hopes up for a big night out, or many variations of that. Movies like Valentine's Day, also stress the importance of the holiday for women. It is shown as the one chance to prove your love.

#investigating representations and ideology

One of the nicest parts of being in a relationship is having routines that you share together and love. But becoming too comfortable in your routines can put your relationship at risk of falling into complacency and even boredom, which isn’t so great…

Another way Valentine’s day is portrayed by media as the important, relationship-saving day.

#investigating representations and ideology

The consumer's pressure to buy buy buy for Valentine’s Day (and eat tons of sweets.)

#investigating representations and ideology

Remember Lloyd Robertson? I barely watch the news but I remember him. Weird how much of an authority he was in the news. No one questions Lloyd, if he says something, it's news. (He's not dead, if that's what you were thinking. He just retired.)

#two-step flow #audience theory #respect Lloyd

Hmm, watching Pretty Little Liars has become so boring. It's so cheesy and dramatic and NOTHING happens in it.

It must be in their contract to give dramatic looks off into the distance every 2 minutes.

#oppositional reading #audience theory #don't judge me for still watching it

I listen to jazz fm in the morning for background music while I eat breakfast. It's a nice start to my day. I think this is what jazz fm wants to be: a lovely way to start your day. The radio station wants you to feel happy while listening to the music they play so that you listen to their station often.

#preferred reading #audience theory

Almost every morning, I check the weather on my iPod. It’s pretty convenient because it lets me figure out what to wear before I even get out of bed.

#surveillance #audience theory #so snowy

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Laura Curran