#jwuden

[ayitsmolly-blog]

I Hate Saying Bye, So Let’s Just Say See You Later

It is safe to say that the few months I had in this class were not long enough at all. This class has taught me many things about the media that I would have ever learned on my own. Learning new things is one of my favorite things in this world and this classes did exactly that, opened my mind and gave me more knowledge.

My relationship with the media I use has changed. Now when I log onto Facebook and see friends posting things about the news. I look into that source and see if it is reliable before I trust it and bring it to someone else’s attention. Most of the time these posts are from news channels but I find myself looking into that more and try and find out where that news channel is from and how did my friend who posted it come across it and why does that certain news channel talk about that certain subject. In a way, this class has taught me to question everything. I question where every news source comes from and what larger media conglomerate is it connected to. I find that to be such an eye opening experience because almost everything is tied to the big three media broadcasting stations. Even when I listen to music (which is almost 24/7) I want to do research and know who owns it, who worked on it, and why? Why would that company want to own the rights to that song. This class has definitely helped me in gaining more knowledge and I absolutely love that.  I can only hope to be able to pass this on to my friends and family, which I already have a little bit, and help them see and realize how all the media we consume is connected in one way or another.

As a media consumer I take away from this class the ability to research any media I encounter and wonder where and who it came from. This class has left a huge impression on me and that will not be going away anytime soon. All the theories we were taught, the big three, vertical and horizontal integration, new media and public media even the discussion on feminism, it will leave with me and I will continue to think about all of it when I encounter the media. From movies to books and everything in between, I will always apply what I have learned in this class and see where the research leads me. I will continue to question and research all media I come across for as long as my fingers will keep typing. The lasting impression from this class is one of academic means but also of what I learned of myself.

Even though this class had some rough patches, I think it is safe to say that we have all built a relationship as classmates and with our professor as well. Reading everyones Tumblr posts and seeing their presentations was such a pleasure, I enjoyed it very much so. I want to see where everyone goes and see how they end up with the media. This class not only helped me understand the media more but also understand myself more and how I can use the media for my future career and professional life. I now understand that my writing is good and I can only improve it more and use as a tool to help me get to me dream: working at Kate Spade New York headquarters in New York. Media will forever be used as a tool for me now and I thank the amazing professor I had for helping me identify this and helping me set my future in motion. I will not only leave as a media consumer but maybe I will seek to write my own media. A fashion blog is in the works and if it does not happen anytime soon it will be up and running by the time I graduate (I hope).

Thank You Professor Sugar.

[ayitsmolly-blog]

Print Books...Will They Last The Next 5 Years?

Print books. A thing of the past? Possibly so. As kids most of us began by reading short paper books that included lots of pictures and short sentences. The physical act of holding a book has been instilled into our brains since we were children. Nowadays, children are still receiving that physical act but holding Ipads or some sort of tablet in place of real physical books. The age of e-readers and ebooks is here and is here to stay. The question is will it wipe out books completely? Here is a short analysis and prediction as to what will become of books in the next 5 years.

Let’s begin with one of the biggest indicators of the downfall of books. The bankruptcy filed by Borders, the widely known bookstore.  The news of their bankruptcy had publishers worried that they would not be paid, which was the case. Borders could not pay their publishers and that led to the beginning of distrusting book stores. The ultimate reason for Borders downfall was that they over expanded themselves but also because once e-readers became a thing of the future, they could not compete. When Amazon created their Kindle, Barnes & Noble created their Nook. Borders tried to compete with that by introducing six new devices, none of which gained the popularity they expected from consumers. The end of Borders marked a subtle change in the book store game. This is one of the main reasons as to why books may be a thing of the past soon. Book stores are seen as a stop along the way where customers enter, browse the shelves, and then go home and order books online for what they think is cheaper. On the publishing side, this makes publishers skeptical is book stores will be able to compete with ebooks. Publishers will go where the money is, it is more and more likely now that the money is all through e-readers and ebooks.

According to the book But What If We’re Wrong? by Chuck Klosterman, he touches on the subject of books and literature in the introduction section. He explains how Moby-Dick is “ a transformative literary innovation that helps define how novels are supposed to be viewed” (Klosterman, 8). This is what books are all about, not every book will be a winner to every person out there but they are to be viewed differently by everyone and yet viewed in the same way. Books are often viewed as the “gateway to knowledge” and although that may be true, the way books are read (whether through a physical book or on a screen) does not diminish the quality of what is being read by the individual. Klosterman also seeks to explain this notion of “objective and subjective wrongness” (Klosterman, 9). This is how the future of books can possibly be determined. “Subjective wrongness” is explained as knowing something to be true but not caring enough about it until many years later on. This is what could be happening to books. Yes, we all know books help us gain knowledge and expand our vocabulary but we may have forgotten just how important physical book are and will not realize it until years down the road. Again, this is why the importance of books is dying down, because we know the same content can be read through ebooks. The form of passing knowledge through print has been dated back to the days of Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the movable printing press. Is this method so outdated that mankind feels it is time for an upgrade?

Generation theory could have something to do with the downfall of books. As mentioned in the beginning, the children of today are taught more through tablets and looking at a screen almost all day. This would lead them to always rely and turn to those tablets and e-readers. They are so used to the idea of being connected online and reading everything on a screen that they will not even realize just how much they depend on it. The generation of today will continue their use of tablets and will see little to no need for physical books anymore. How do highschool and college students do their research nowadays? Online. How do they access books they read for pleasure and textbooks used for class? Online. This generation is connected through online sources and when and if they turn to reading, it will be looking through a screen.

Through SWOT analysis it is easy to see that print books have more weaknesses and threats than strengths and opportunities. Weaknesses and threats include: outdated methods, expensive process, dying bookstores, environmental impact (paper printing), hard to access, not very durable, e-readers and ebooks. Strengths and opportunities include: licensing and copyright is easier to achieve with print books, content is the same, textbooks, and so many are already printed that it will be hard to get rid of them all together. More weaknesses and threats to print books is not a good sign for their future. Their future ahead is certainly threatened but will print books become fully extinct?

The future of books in the next five years looks a little something like this: digital books will continue to thrive and at an increasing rate, print books will see difficulties in competing with ebooks, and ultimately print books will not cease to exist in the next 5 years. The reason being that there are so many print books already that there is no way all of them will be gone in 5 years. Especially the old and historical books we all rely on. Actually printing books may slow down or even stop in the next 5 years but print books will always be around. There are too many libraries around the world for them to disappear and all the print books to vanish. Within the next 5 years, print books will still be alive and well but will see a decrease in sales and in publishing itself. E-readers and ebooks do offer faster and easier access to reading but will not disrupt the use of print books altogether. Owners of bookstores will also fight to keep the nostalgia alive of walking through and bookstore and finding that perfect book to read. People go to bookstores to feel the experience and the community of literature culture around them. That feeling will always be sought out by those who have experienced it and continue to want it. Overall, print books are here to stay and will be here for at least the next 5 years.

[ayitsmolly-blog]

Women Empowerment In Music: Beyoncé Style

Girl power. This phrase has been defined as the idea that women and girls should be confident, sure of themselves, and independent. It is also referred to the social and political movement that is based on this idea. Is it feminism? Yes and no. Feminism is defined as the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social and economic equality to men. Girl power does pride itself on those same core values but is less focused on being on the same level as men, and is solely focused on simply just empowering women. Now, when we talk about girl power in the music sense, we think of girl power anthems. Songs by women like Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Madonna, and many more. Girl power anthems are songs that empower women and basically say “you go girl” (Hains, 34). Since there is a massive variety of these anthems out there, choosing just one to write about was difficult. However, it was done. The song and music video chosen has been the ever so catchy “Who Run the World (Girls)” by the very famous and talented Beyonce. The target audience for this song and almost every girl power anthem is of course women, to empower them and lift them up. The audience is also including pre-adolescent girls, these anthems seek to support their self esteems (Hains, 34). The audience can also include men, to remind them that women are here to be equals.

Let’s start with the production of this song and music video. With over 331 million views on YouTube, this song has proven to be a hit. The song was produced by none other than the queen herself, Beyonce Knowles alongside with Switch, The Dream, and Shea Taylor. It was produced under the label Columbia Records which is owned by Sony Music Entertainment which is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment.

Since the beginning of time women have always been the ones who depended on the men to provide, and protect them. Or rather, were told that is the way it is. Then, women decided it does not have to be that way, and women can be independent. Women have been advancing more and more every year and with today’s technology and media presence, spreading those ideals has become easier. Especially with music. Celebrities are those who we look up to and follow, so when women celebrities begin to sing about women empowerment, women listen. A revolution can be started, and in a way it already has. Song after song, women begin to take note and realize times are changing. That is what Beyonce is proving to be true in this song.

Beyonce seeks to dismantle the typical gender roles society has laid out for us all. Beyonce begins the song with “Girls, we run this motha” a strong and powerful start, yet very simplistic. The music video portrays her as a goddess riding in on a horse and spreading her arms out as if to say “I rule the world.” There is also a black, beat up car that has the word “Revolution spray painted on it in big, red letters, adds a little extra flare. It sets the tone for the rest of the song. One iconic moment in this music video is when a women is seen down in a cage and rises up out of it. A metaphor for women rising up and no longer accepting society's roles? I think yes! Next up is an army of men who are seen pointing and pretty much telling the women to back down and return to order but Beyonce and her army of women begin the famous chant from her song. Her first verse begins and it includes lines like “disrespect us no they won’t/this goes out to all my girls/who will buy it for themselves and get more money later.” These lines stand out because they remind women and men that women can and will do it on their own and they deserve respect for that. There is also another little verse that goes right after each verse and it basically sums up how women possess this power to persuade men and almost anyone they want. Here Beyonce seeks to explain how women are not fragile little things who always need a man, she switches it to explain how women are the one’s who can change a man and persuade him to do whatever they want. This is portrayed in the music video by Beyonce going up to the individual men and putting her hands on them and they look entranced as if they cannot push her away or even turn their face away.

Within the second verse Beyonce touches on the importance of girls getting their education which in turn states how knowledge is power. The line goes “I’m reppin’ for the girls who taking over the world help me raise a glass for the college grads.” This is one of my favorite lines since back in the day women were not even able to even dream about going to college, that was a man’s idea only. Now women are going to college, getting degrees, and building their careers. A great accomplishment and it is amazing that Beyonce included that. A few more lines after that Beyonce then goes on to remind us all that not all men are bad and against us. She sings “to other men that respect what I do please accept my shine” this means that some men out there do still respect women as equals. One line to remind us of that is great and definitely reinforces the idea that men and women can live in a happy, equalized world. During this verse throughout the video Beyonce and her women are simply just dancing. The men seem to be scared of that, possibly because the entire time the women are making direct eye contact with the men and that is intimidating. It is a show of power and saying they are not willing to back down. The next and final line that will be discussed goes like this “ how we’re smart enough to make these millions strong enough to bear the children then get back to business.” Here is my one true favorite line. Why? It explains how women can make money just like men, be able to have children, and return to their business. This basically says how the femininity of a women cannot be taken from here and she can do what a man does and even more. This is truly an amazing line and reminds men and women that women can in fact do it all and then some. The video then consists of more dancing by the women and then the men are seen wearing riot gear, preparing to settle the women down. All they are doing is dancing, no violence being shown, no need for the riot gear but it is there. The men still look entranced and the leader of the men seems to look a little confused maybe anticipating and trying to figure out if all hell is going to break loose. Then the women march up to the men and say one last time “who run the world? Girls!” Beyonce rips the man’s badge off and they salute them. What does that ending mean exactly? My interpretation was that it is time for men to let go of that power and give the women a turn now. It could also mean that the women will not abide by their rules anymore and have stripped them of that power they hold over them. The interpretation will vary based on each individual who watches the video.

Long examination of this song, I know. There was so much to analyze and talk about that it was difficult to pick and choose and leave some things out. Overall, Beyonce is always referred to as queen and has a huge impact on society. When this song came out it was the summer song of the year. Girls were singing it and some boys too. It was truly a girl power anthem and served as a reminder to everyone that gender roles are set by society but accepting them is on us. Beyonce decided not to accept them and that creates a chain reaction with women all over.

References:

Hains, R. C. (2014). The Significance of Chronology in Commodity Feminism: Audience Interpretations of Girl Power Music. Popular Music & Society, 37(1), 33-47. doi:10.1080/03007766.2012.726033

[ayitsmolly-blog]

Get To Know Me A Little Bit

1. Where do you get the majority of your news? Why do you choose the source and medium you do? How do you use it and how often? Do you share this news with others? If so, with whom and how? If not, why not?

I would say the majority of my news comes from ABC news, mostly Good Morning America. When I am home in California I wake up and watch that show and also Live with Kelly. Also our local news station for Santa Barbara KEYT news channel. Although I usually only keep up to date with these when I am home, I do like to check in when I am here in Denver. I will go online to their websites and see what is new in the world. I also use facebook as a media source, usually it is friends who re-post videos or articles from news pages. Coincidentally a lot of those posts are from ABC news, they just have that local news station attached to it. I choose these sources and mediums because they are easily accessible. All I do is turn on the tv or go on the facebook app on my phone and I can keep myself updated. When I am home I tend to watch those news shows at least 5 times a week, the weekend is when I tend to slack off on keeping up with the news. The only people I share news with would be my parents when we are at the dinner table. We have conversations about what we all saw on the news. Other than that, I never really share news with anyone else. The reason to that would be because I assume everyone else already knows about it as well.

2. What is your favorite source of media entertainment (television show, radio program, podcast, films (theater? streaming online? Netflix?), etc.)? Why do you choose this program/source? How do you use it and how often? Do you use it alone or with others? If so, with whom and how? If not, why not?

My favorite source of media entertainment would definitely be tv shows and movies. When I am home I re-watch a lot of movies with my dad or my friends. With my dad we watch a lot of older movies like The Godfather, Scarface, etc. We also enjoy action movies and spy movies, one of our most recent favorites is Kingsman: The Secret Service. With my friends we tend to watch mostly comedies or dramas. This past summer we re-watched Straight Outta Compton many times, I would say because we grew up listening to that music and wanted to re-live it in a way. With my mother we watch all the “chick flicks” like The Devil Wears Prada, Titanic and The Intern. It is safe to say that I enjoy to watch movies with other people. When I am by myself I tend to watch lots of shows on netflix; One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl, New Girl, and The Carrie Diaries. On cable television I absolutely LOVE to watch The Big Bang Theory. I prefer to watch tv shows on my own because I can go at my own speed and do not get distracted by talking over the show.

3. Tell me about the most significant media event you have experienced (via the media, not in person). Where did you see/hear/otherwise experience it? What was the experience like? Were you alone or with others? Why is it the significant to you? What is its lasting impression on you?

The most significant media event that I have experienced was very sad and unfortunate more so because it was not just one event but two. The first happened like this,  I remember I was in high school during my junior year of highschool. I do not remember what class I was in, possibly my Spanish class when an announcement came over the intercom, a school shooting had occurred in Connecticut. Right away our teacher turned on the television and the news channel was showing coverage of the school shooting at Sandy Hook. Children were dead as well as teachers and staff. The part that hit me the most was the children. Nobody really said anything, we all just kind of looked at eachother in shock and with sad eyes. At the moment it was sad but it also did not feel real, I was reading the headlines on the tv, big, bold, letters. Shooting, school, children, but even as I was reading those words I could not believe it, the shock had taken over and it did not feel real. The day went on and once I got to the girls locker room for cheer practice, it hit. One teammate broke down and cried her eyes out. She could not believe that those children would not get to celebrate Christmas with their families. As I started to think about it I began to cry and so did more teammates and he hugged and held each other. We decided we could not go on with practice and instead called it a day and we all called our parents just to hear their voices and to hear them say “everything will be okay” even though at the time we knew it was not okay. The experience was extremely sad and heartbreaking but being able to be with a team and hear my parents made it feel the tiniest bit better. The lasting impression stayed with me for a long time, the captains of the cheer team decided to do a fundraiser and make cards to send to Sandy Hook. We also wore green bows for the rest of the school year to honor the victims. The event made me more paranoid than usual after that, I worried when my niece and nephew went off to school, and checked our local new website more often to make sure there were no headlines similar to that day.

The second event was one that hit close to home, literally. The summer after my high school graduation and before my first year of college. I was home alone when the news channel switched over to “breaking news” and I see the headline again, shooting. Except it wasn’t across the country it was in my hometown. In the college town of Isla Vista, a man shot six people dead and injured 14. Right away I called my cousins and friends to make sure they were alive and okay since we all go there to eat and walk around. It was scary but more sad to know that it could have easily been my friends and I who were killed. A sad thought that has stayed with me till this day. I think it left a lasting impression more on my parents than myself because sending their only daughter off to college in another state was now scarier than ever. For me, I wanted to leave right away because I no longer felt safe in my own home town. I only went to Isla Vista to leave flowers for the victims and pay my respects. After that, I did not go to Isla Vista for a little over half a year. Now, I am not so scared as I am paranoid, always a little hesitant when going to Isla Vista. Scary stuff that has happened but I am thankful that I had the media to keep me informed.