Hello Blogspot people...

Okay, so now that my blog isn't just for an assignment, I thought I'd spruce it up some. I browsed through the templates and was very disturbed by the limited choices. Most are versions of the same blan background/fonts/colors. Hellooo blogspot...where's the creativity? I guess I'll have to learn to create my own. I'll get back to you in a year. Or two. Or several...

No Longer an Assignment!!!

I don't have to keep up this blog for a Lit assignment anymore, so now I'm more free to express my thoughts on all things media.

I just bought a Bad Lieutenant CD simply because the sticker on the cover said, "From members of Joy Division & New Order" - I asked the owner at CD Addict (NEVER BUY MUSIC FROM WAL-MART PLEASE: SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL MUSIC STORE!!!)and he said it was mellow. I'm finding that mellow is truly the best way to describe it so far. It might be just a bit too mellow for me, but there are some lovely songs. It would be a great CD to put on while reading, or hanging out on a rainy day. I accidently played it on shuffle, so I didn't experience the CD the way it was meant to be heard. A lot of thought usually goes into the order of songs. Overall, this is a nice reprieve from the Lady Gaga, etc. that has recently dominated my listening experience.

More McLuhan-inspired Insight

Mike Wesch's video on Web 2.0 / Media Ecology

This is really interesting and correlates with what we've discussed in class. Check out the link below!

http://www.youtube.com/user/mwesch

File under...totally useless

Go to google (you know how)

Type in "find Chuck Norris"

Click "I'm feeling Lucky"

You get this:

Identizine

The overall theme for my mag - women are expected to do it all! I chose a mom that was a bit off-beat, successful, and loving toward her family for the cover. The bat at her shoulder? -a nod to Ozzy's escapades that she helped him overcome to renew his career. Vampires? -because they're just cool. Happy Halloween!!!

http://perezhilton.com/2009-10-26-metallica-offers-reward-for-missing-fan

A young woman and Virginia Tech student attending a Metallica concert was separated from her friends and hasn't been seen since. You can find this story on most websites, and Metallica is offering a reward worth about $50,ooo on theirs. What I found disturbing with this particular posting of the story was the comments people were leaving with it. Granted, Perez Hilton's site might not attract the brightest followers, but I cannot believe how many people were so quick to blame the victim. There are numerous comments stating that the missing girl was dressed "like a slut" and deserved to be picked up/taken.

This attitude toward the missing woman reminded me of the movie Dreamworlds. Many people are objectifying this woman and acting as though her life has no worth beyond that of a sex toy. She dressed up the way that our culture dictates a young woman would dress for a hard rock concert and now there are people that believe she deserves to be attacked for it? Shame on all of them!

Dreamworlds 3: Desire, Sex, & Power in Music Video

The Use of Perspective by Incongruity in Dreamworlds III

Music videos objectify women, and to a certain extent – men. That fact is not really in question. However, even those who acknowledge the blatant sexualization, objectification, and commoditization of women in music videos cannot help but feel shocked, disgusted, or shaken by the bombardment of music video images presented in Sut Jhally’s film Dreamworlds III. In the film, several techniques are utilized to achieve perspective by incongruity, in which the connection between music videos and real-life effects such as sexual violence are brought to the viewer’s attention.

One technique used in Dreamworlds III that encourages viewers to consider the music videos in a new way is to strip them of their audio tracks. This focuses attention on the images alone. Jhally’s voice is the only soundtrack through most of the film, drawing attention to the images contained in the video segments. Only short bursts of lyrics are incorporated into the film as it becomes necessary to show examples of violent attitudes and verbal abuse toward women. A Limp Bizkit video in which a woman who has declined the singer’s advances is bound to a chair and verbally threatened and degraded by him serves as the example. However, this is a rarity in a film that primarily relies on strong imagery. This isolation of images without their accompanying sound creates a feeling of image over-saturation. Viewers cannot help but feel bombarded with female body parts. While this might seem alright at first, it quickly becomes disturbing and eerie.

The compilation of many videos, interwoven among music genres, highlights the widespread use of certain filming tactics used throughout the music video genre. By demonstrating numerous video clips from all music genres that use the same filming techniques, patterns are made clear that might have remained subconscious for many viewers prior to Dreamworlds III. Common imagery is explored such as women touching themselves and the fragmentation of female body parts. The transformation from young innocent female artist to highly sexualized young woman is also highlighted through images of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Mariah Carey. By offering several video examples from across genres for each film tactic, repetition is reinforced that heightens awareness of the video maker’s agenda and increases discomfort in the viewer.

Jhally returns to the theme of fantasy throughout his narration of the film. He describes the idea of the “male dreamworld,” in which women undress, are wet, and occupy roles such as cheerleader, horny teacher, repressed librarian waiting to be seduced, or naughty school-girl. The “compliant stripper” is named as the ultimate male fantasy. In the music videos, the compliant stripper is barely more than a living sex doll – there to serve the alpha male happily in any way he wants. Examples are shown of how more often than not, women in music videos are reduced to fantasy sex toys that can be bought. Jhally also asks the question, and encourages viewers to ask as well, who controls the media? Whose fantasy is this? It is certainly not the fantasy of most women to have a credit card swiped through their genitals while males laugh about it. While showing footage from the video “Stacy’s Mom,” in which a teenage boy ignores his girlfriend while lusting over her mother who seems to have nothing better to do than undress around him, Jhally argues that the fantasies of white young males are what music videos primarily exhibit. He further argues that even videos from black males are subversive to their culture, showing racist imagery that serves the white males who dominate the corporate media industry. It is important to ask questions about whose agenda is being advanced through music videos. As this film points out, it is most certainly not that of females or minority groups.

In perhaps the most profound and disturbing technique utilized in Dreamworlds III, music videos are spliced in with real-world events to show just how disturbing the content of music videos should be and how willingly we accept it until the same events happen to real women. A Justin Timberlake video is featured in which he stalks his ex-girlfriend after she has an affair. He watches her undress and shower while hiding in her home. It is simply not entertaining when real women are stalked and murdered by ex-boyfriends, so why are viewers largely okay with the same act in a music video? In even more disturbing parallels, video segments showing women being doused with liquids, groped, and stripped are compared with the tragic real-world incident during the 2000 Puerto Rican Pride Parade in Central Park in which the same acts occurred. Another tragic assault during the 2001 Modern Rock Festival in Seattle is also shown. In this case, a woman was undressed and raped in a crowd of cheering men. The entire incident was caught on video, and like the Central Park incident, was indistinguishable from the music videos except for one thing; In the music videos the women were willing or passive, while in real life they were in serious distress.

The strategies that Jhally uses to explore the “dream world” of the music video ultimately combine to show that these videos require active consideration on the part of the viewer. When women are represented in exaggerated sexualized roles constructed by society and repeatedly reinforced through music videos, that representation becomes the “norm” which real women are supposed to emulate. This creates the atmosphere in which incidents such as the one in Central Park take place. Women allow themselves to be groupies that bend over and allow rock stars to throw lunch meat at their genitals. Girls bare all for the Girls Gone Wild videos, because they think that to act in a promiscuous manner is the way to assert their femininity. Equally as tragic, men believe they must act like an aggressive alpha-male who uses women as if they are disposable commodities. To underscore the link between the imagery in music videos and our culture, the film ends with rape statistics. At that point, two things are almost certain: Our society needs to think about how gender roles are portrayed in media, and viewers of Dreamworlds III will never view a music video in the same passive manner again.

Slap Chop Rap

This is like an accident you can't look away from. "You're gonna love [his] nuts..."

Choose Your Side!!!

This is one of my favorite marketing strategies in a long time. My 10 year-old son was in shock when he received a phone call earlier today from Optimus Prime, who knew where he lived, the name of his best friend, and his dad's name. Any of you with kids, or any of you who are nerds at heart like me, should check this out. It is awesome!

Choose Your Side - send a friend a customized phone call from Optimus Prime or Starscream!

http://www.transformersmovie.com/choose/

Human...or a Ghost in the Shell?

The film Ghost in the Shell, directed by Mamoru Oshii and based on the manga by the same title, is a narrative that is both highly complex and representative of many of the questions humans pose about their existence. The film utilizes advanced technology and a futuristic setting to explore definitions of humanity. If computer programs become self-aware, retain memories, and replicate themselves, are they essentially human? On the other hand, if a human being has undergone modifications and exists within a cyborg body, or “shell,” are they still human? These and other questions posed by the film invite viewers to ponder their own existence and inclusion within humanity.

Ghost in the Shell contains many themes to explore. Gender roles are prominently featured, the separation between mind and body is explored, sentience and free will are displayed in the character of Project 2501, and methods for valid reproduction of life are discussed. Any of these or numerous other topics have enough merit for an independent narrative criticism on the topic. However, most of these themes fall under the umbrella of human nature. In fact, to define what constitutes human nature, one must discuss many of these themes. Sentience, independent thought, free will, a sense of mortality, and the ability to reproduce (not withstanding physical limitations), are some of the items that would be found on a list of what comprises a human. It should be noted that absent from this list is any physical characteristic as specific as biological limbs or original body parts. To this point, are people with artificial limbs or transplanted organs any less human than their all-natural peers? Would a cybernetic body, or shell, be any less human? From there, it does not take a huge leap to entertain the idea that a consciousness that began as a software program could grow to possess all of the characteristics of a human being, other than the biological body. In a futuristic world where even humans are not in completely biological bodies, the lines of distinction become blurred.

The Ghost in the Shell explores humanity by equating several human themes to their cybernetic counterparts. DNA code is compared to lines of computer code, just as computer memory is compared to human memory. While human memory is prone to mistakes, errors in cyber-code can also result in faulty software. Reproduction of software is compared with human reproduction, and it is noted that human reproduction offers an advantage because the unique blending of two sets of DNA code decreases the chance of errors in code being replicated. This idea is reinforced when Kusanagi compares a copied cyborg body with a biological one and says that when you “overspecialize…you breed in weakness. It’s slow death.” In another comparison between humanity and artificial life, human intuition is set against logic. The character with only a slight artificial enhancement, Togusa, is respected for this distinctly human insight. He takes a different and sometimes unorthodox approach to detective work that produces unpredictable and unique results. The film promotes intuition and dual-parent reproduction as human benefits over artificial intelligence in answer to the question of humanity.

As these examples demonstrate, the Ghost in the Shell seeks to expound the value of humanity. It succeeds in doing so by pushing the boundaries of the human form and human experience. This film not only succeeds in urging people to question the meaning of their humanity, but provides cues toward seeking answers to that question.

Junior Detournment

When my daughter was in middle school a couple of years ago, I happened to notice something odd about the school's marquee when we drove by. Some of the students decided to alter the message on the sign. I thought it was brilliant (yes, even though I plan on teaching I think it is hilarious and a good outlet for stress) so I took a picture with my phone. We still laugh about it - I hope you can see the humor in it as well.

If you're gonna do a cover...

I have heard some REALLY bad covers lately, and although I'm not opposed at all to bands paying homage to songs they like, it is nice when it is pulled off successfully instead of making you want to climb into the radio and strangle someone. If done well, the cover should offer an updated perspective on a song that the new band respects. It can even serve the original band by reminding people about the song. I'm posting a cover that I think was successful. Both versions are old now, but goodies...the original by New Order & the cover by Orgy: please enjoy these versions of "Blue Monday."

VMA's this Sunday!!!

Compare to MTV's VMA website at http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2009/
I find it ironic that a channel that only shows music videos in the early morning hours still feigns to respect them.

I Want my MTV! Project Proposal

I Want my MTV: A Proposal for the Validity of Research on the Cable Music Channel

I want my MTV! Unfortunately, my MTV no longer exists. When my generation tuned in for the first broadcast from the music channel in 1981 and saw a music video for “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles, we were instantly hooked on the new medium. MTV combined music, visual art, and theatricality to produce memorable videos that reflected and in turn influenced popular culture. Much has changed since the early days, when viewers could call 1-800-DIAL MTV to request a video from a VJ, or “Video Jockey,” 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. MTV rarely airs music videos any longer, but instead a string of insipid reality shows that are distinctly low-culture. Perhaps the airing of the first season of The Real World in 1992 led to the channel’s musical demise. While music videos can still be found on other cable channels such as VH1, VH1 Classic, Fuse, and MTV2, among others, even these channels are increasingly relying on non-video programming. If video killed the radio star, what is killing the video?

MTV still holds great influence over younger generations through a wide range of media outlets. MTV is online, where users can access videos and information about MTV shows. MTV channels are broadcast in several languages and countries. The annual Video Music Awards celebrate artists and their video contributions. Fans can receive updates via Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, or mobile phone from MTV. With the development of the internet and wider access to cable channels, more people can obtain content from MTV than in the early 1980’s. Clearly, even though the content of MTV has changed, its ability to reach young people has only increased over the years.

MTV’s appeal to tweens, teens, and young adults proves its relevance to our culture and makes it worthy of study. Countless topics could be explored through the MTV phenomena. The evolution of music videos and how they depict the race and gender issues of the time they are created is worth study. The fact that the music videos on MTV imitate society, although in exaggerated forms, and that society in turn mimics what it sees in music videos is an interesting cycle that should be considered. The evolution of the channel from an art showcase of music videos to a platform for reality TV shows could be explored. What was the cultural driving force(s) for the change? MTV strongly affected the careers of many artists, both positively (as in the case of Madonna), and adversely when an artist’s videos were not aired on the station. The question of just how much those video selections shaped the musical tastes of the nation could be explored. Music videos leveled the talent field in the sense that an artist who was not particularly talented or a good singer (I will use the example of Madonna again here) could become a superstar based on good video production and appearing cool, beautiful, or sexy. Clearly there are numerous research options available on the subject of MTV, and its cultural significance cannot be denied.

With these examples in mind, I propose to write about how the female gender has been depicted since the creation of MTV, using the channel as the artifact that has helped to create and reflect society’s expectations of women. These gender depictions range from female empowerment to exploitation to empowerment through self-exploitation. The transition of MTV programming from music videos to a focus on reality TV is a prime example of the changing expectations of women in the entertainment field. Therefore, this line of research will help to explain much of the evolution, or devolution, of MTV.

My favorites...for this minute, at least...

Someone who loves music/art/TV/movies as much as I do can hate being asked for a favorite of any of these. For instance, my favorite song completely depends on my mood. I might be in the mood for techno, punk, pop, rap, or metal. It just depends. As far as movies go, how can I pick one favorite? I love almost all genres, and have several favorites in each. With that being said, here are some works that I come back to often for inspiration, comfort, or fun:

Movie - The Shawshank Redemption
What can I say? This movie has a great script, excellent acting, irony, the importance of friendship, strength of character, and a sense of justice that lies outside what misguided authority figures would call "justice."

Music - while my CD collection has everything from Mozart to Metallica to Morrissey to Madonna, and I love too many bands to list, there are 3 songs that seem to speak to my soul. They are in a tie, so I refuse to narrow it down further to one.
"Under the Milky Way" by The Church
"Everlong" by the Foo Fighters
"The Interview" by AFI
Clearly, my favorite genre is "alternative."

TV Show - ditto on the picking one item from a broad category, so I will list some of my favorites and look for a trend:
Lost, The Tudors, Design Star, Grey's Anatomy, Medium, Biography (of anyone, really), Big Love, Queer as Folk, The Colbert Report, The Twilight Zone, Star Trek & Star Trek TNG
Okay, that's far from a complete list, but enough of a start to look for some common ground. What could these have in common? Clearly I am not shy about sexual topics. I am very comfortable with supernatural or sci-fi storylines, and in fact think that they can explain the human experience better in some cases than traditional story modes. I love exploring mystery, the human condition, the arts, and social issues.

Ads - hands down, my favorite commercial ever aired when I was a little girl. It was the coca-cola commercial where world peace seems possible through bying coke and harmonizing. The music is what made it work for me. Well, that and the free love going on. I remember a little bit different version more clearly, but this was one version I remember:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mOEU87SBTU&feature=related

Comic - Wonder Woman, hands down. She rocks! She was beautiful, smart, brave, tough, and still loving. Girl power. Enough said.

So, I'm supposed to come up with a common thread through all of these things. Well, I like equality in general. This is apparent in my love for Star Trek, Wonder Woman, and even Grey's Anatomy. Race/species/sex isn't necessarily a limitation in any of these, or at least they have been a bit ahead of some other areas of our society. I'm very comfortable with people/characters who are different than me. I guess I can begin to self-analyze by stating this:
I am a little alternative, and therefore gravitate toward other works/people/ideas that are too.

New 2 blogging...

While I like to think of myself as very tech-savvy, I have never believed that anyone would really care to read about whatever weird stuff is floating around in my brain. Therefore, I've never blogged. Those who know me, even a little, always know what I'm thinking. I'm pretty straight-forward and opinionated about most topics.

Now I find myself blogging out of necessity for a class on Punk/Cyberspace/pop culture. How cool is that? I always thought I would love to teach a pop culture course if they existed. Now I know that they do, in fact, exist - and I will have to learn to embrace the blog.

Consider this my practice blog. I am trying (very nervously) to get used to the idea that complete strangers might read the inner and very strange workings of my mind.

Enjoy!
I hope.