Television Inovasion

Through out the years there have been several interesting television shows aired. While some shows ruled the critic ratings then quickly died off, others clung on to the high ratings and lasted an eternal amount of time providing the same boring drama season after season. Some viewers enjoy the excitement, drama, suspense, emotions and reality of the shows aired. Now it is those series producers trying to figure out what really makes us, as the viewer, not change the remote and tune in day after day. Only a few programs have gotten loyalty out of me. Those shows are True Life , Beverly Hills 90210, and 30 days.


True Life is a show aired on MTV. It is a documentary with think mtv to try totakcle real issues. The program follows people around that all have the same 'issue' or problem in common. It shows how they live and the obstacles they have to overcome here in America. There is such a sincerity to the stories I enjoy. What the people are just like you and I. The program just shows the reality and gravity of life but always has a positive message to give to help those of us who are viewers and may face similar situations. Some of the shows themes have been, "I'm addicted to Methaphenamies" "I'm getting plastic surgery," and "I have an eating disorder." These problems are dealing with people today, they are relevant of today's society, from being gay to cheating spouses, it really covers a lot.

One of the programs I grew up on was Beverly Hills 90210. This program was targeted at teens and the problems they faced. It was very entertaining but at the same time it dealed with problems such as drugs, teen pregnancy, and friendship. It truly was a huge success making the cast overnight stars. I love it because it yelling out "Wake Up" to people like me, the youth by showing true situations.

Thirty Days is a new very smart program dealing with social and political issues in the headlines today. It's by Morgan Spurlock the same director of "Supersize Me" This show is also completely relevant and very controversial. It usually makes two families or people with clashing views interact to see weather their beliefs will change. Some of the programs themes were gay marriages, immigration,and living on minimum wage.

Howard Raises the Bar

Howard Stern was born on January 12 1954. Who would have thought that out of Boston University a media icon would emerge. Constantlly pushing the envelope since college he has pushed censorship in mass media to a new level. He outraged people with his thoughts since Boston University when he was fired from the radio station up until straining relations with CBS executives. Howard Stern was ranked number seven on Forbes salary listing, proving his genius. He has become a self made millionaire for simply speaking his mind. Known for his rude remarks, racial jokes, sexual reference, and most importantly his battle on censorship he has made a mark on the mass media. Today the media is filled by influence on television and radio from political and special interest power houses. Howard Stern has provided a refreshing new approach that threw the mold out the window! I remember watching the show on T.V one late night, Nicole Richie was a guest that night and the way he expressed himself made me think, "Should I be Watching this?" At the same time I could not get my self to change the channel. With T.V filled with censorship and fines for every slip up Howard Stern makes people wonder whats liberty and what's obscene. He took the path less taken many times jeopardizing his career. Wouldn't it be inspiring to not have to conforn to a norm and conform to others. I believe what makes Howard Stern appealing is that he breaks the unwritten rules made by society. How many times do we think something and don't have the nerve to speak our thoughts. Howard Stern is an innovator in the mass media, first of all everyone knows him. everyone may not like him in fact they may hate him, others absolutely love him but no mater what they know who Howard Stern is. He knows he is pushing peoples buttons in fact he has made a career out of it. We need people who think outside the box like that. A piece of advise for the average conforming person is go against society's norm and you may very well earn some fame. If fame or money don't come your way at least you've been you own true person for once!

Is the American Crowd ready for Kazan Once More?

Oct.2006- A classic film revived, first released in 1957 and now the DVD release in 2006 has people talking. Directed by Elia Kazan(1909-2003) the innovative film then produces a better effect today, building fame through out the years. The American public may now be ready to appreciate this film. Writing credits by Budd Schulberg. The film is released once more to remind us of the irrational fanatics Americans tend to become. The story shows the steps taken for an icon to form part of a manipulative market and his fall from the top. Andy Griffith's film debut proved him to be an actor with depth, playing the character of Larry 'Lonesome' Rhodes and making his personality come to life. Also staring in the film is academy award winning Patricia Neal, playing the paper of Marcia Jeffries. She represents women who are manipulated by lies and who work hard for these mobiles who cheat and do not appreciate hard work and loyalty. This film introduces a negative view of America presenting 'the people' like sheep that are willing to follow a megastar. The people who become victims of 'Lonesome' and his carelessness about the whole thing. Taking place in a segregated America we may think it is a story of the past but it could very easily be placed in Hollywood today! Coming from Arkansas Lonesome has nothing,a hobo, while making his money his head grows along with his wallet, simply an overnight media sensation. He has a double face the one presented to the audience and the manipulative one capable of controlling the consumers minds. Lonesome Rhodes how ever may not be a thing of the past a scary thought is he may be lurking on our television radio and political party's today represented by those attempting to persuade our thoughts. We may just be all those people being fooled, the film comes at a time when America can appreciate the message screamed in the film, "Don't be a sheep think for yourself."

What is it about Harpers Bazaar?

When asked about my favorite magazine I really didn't know how to pick one. I enjoy the Times because of it's current events. But as far as a recreational magazine I have always enjoyed reading Harper's Bazaar. All through high school I enjoyed this magazine because of their cover on fashion. I enjoy fashion and it's changing trends. I guess I use the magazine as a reference to see the new trends and purchase fashionable clothes. One of the parts I most enjoyed in the magazine was the part were the people ask questions and the editor answers them. A lot of the questions asked were the same concerns I had. I guess because the magazine specifically targets people who are interested in fashion it would be common for the consumers to have the same questions. I actually find that it is a good thing that magazines are so specific that way the consumer is satisfied with what they purchase. Another great feature that the magazine has is they also say where you could find some of the clothes that they are displaying. Like the new look of the moment and exactly where to get it. Now that's specific and very helpful for those who are not non-stop shoppers. It makes it easy for people to quickly find what their looking for. At the same time the magazine is advertising certain stores and the consumer is more likely to also purchase the clothes in the stores provided. I also enjoy the layout of most of the pages, they are focused on the models and what they are wearing. The first thing that catches your eye is the look that is being advertised making it easier to picture if the certain style of the look is one that would suit you. Now for people who could care less about fashion the magazine is useless but I enjoyed it through high school and still purchase it from time to time.
Find out more about it @ http://www.harpersbazaar.com/fnn/

New Media? Old Media?

At the Wikipedia website I found this article about the classification of new media and old media (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_media). At first I was puzzled, but soon after I realized it ties in to what we have been talking about in class. It goes into stating that books, newspapers, magazines and television, to an extent, all fall into this category. How can the things that I was used to while growing up be old, I mean, I feel young right? But it goes so much deeper than that; it is a form of media that has been surpassed. The new forms of media are essential to my every day life. I use them and could not imagine the world with out them.
Then they also say the forms of new media are easier for marketing and advertising. They also engage the public in two way conversations trough the Internet, instead of being one dimensional. New media included web sites, email, CD/DVD, electronic kiosks, mobile and there are much more. The development of this new media, to me, is astonishing. It just shows how our world is developing into a technology oriented market. The fact that there are actual classifications that state what old media is, is a bit frightening, but at the same time it is exciting and convenient to use them. I really feel that before I was exposed to material such as this I had no notion of how much the world was changing. Now that I have an understanding of my surroundings, I feel as if we are part of a changing world. Just like in the past, when things were used and then discarded, we are doing the same today.

The Kite Runner

Under the Wikipedia encyclopedia there is a definition of what exactly is propaganda, and it also states that there are many different scales of it.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda) In fact it states that a form of propaganda is to appeal to one's emotions to change the state of peoples opinions. In my opinion after reading Kite Runner as far as this definition goes I am sure that this book is a minor stage of propaganda. The kite runner changed the view of how I view Afghanistan, I should be a book read nation wide, and I believe certain interest groups may use it to their advantage. The honor of the book made me relate the story to myself and so much more. I understand that many may be objective to my response as this book used as propaganda, but I will explain my reasoning.
I usually viewed propaganda as a negative thing but after my research I see it is only used to change peoples opinions. I my self had a distant cold view of Afghanistan. The was it has been portrayed and by sure using propaganda we have been told a different story of Afghanistan. After the heart breaking attacks on September 11 we were geared to view Afghanistan as our enemy filled with terrorism. Since then my mind has a different picture of life in Afghanistan and the way people are from there, as if there had been a wall put between them and us. This book has changed my mind completely by the Wikipedia definition I believe that means the book preformed the act of propaganda on my beliefs. You see this book made Afghanistan a place that sounded familiar, a place that could happen every where and a place that has gone through a lot of violence. With the story of Amir and the things he goes through it made it seem a familiar story, the events which he goes through change him forever! The social classes formed by difference of ancestry and bias. The violence encountered, and the search of Amir for approval from his Baba. The most emotional moving piece was Hassan and when he was rapped and latter killed by the Taliban. It just shows the suffering of the people and by Amir coming to America and starting from the bottom to later succeed. The whole story is moving and shows the determination they had to go through. It reminded me of the struggle my parents had to make to come here to America. Amir and his father came to avoid the invasion of their country my parents came to find a better life. The came from Mexico, the government was being run by corrupt official and my father worked as an accountant when the fishing press he worked for went out of business. My family was used to our big house by the sea side to arrive here in California to a small apartment like Amir and his Baba. I believe it changed my thoughts because it made the story familiar to me in a way and I see the struggle of the people.
I can definitely view why certain groups would want to use the book at their convenience. The United States might use certain parts of the book to associate it with justifying the invasion of the U.S to save the people of this oppression like the soon of Hassan, Sohrab. They would justify their attacks but in actuality to the Afghanistan people it may seem as another countries invasion and more violence. The way things are told lies in the way the person views the events. I could see how people here in America that are from the Middle East can use this book to show all others judging them their story. Many of those who live here now are running from the type of persecution taking place in Afghanistan. The may work at gas stations, and liquor stores by they are here like many others trying to find a better life for their offspring. It is a book string enough to portray many sides and that's why I believe it can be used to tell the stories of so many.
The change this book has had on myself is astonishing. I never thought I could get such a clear view of what is going on through a book. The book takes place in the 1970's yet the story relates to today 2006! I changed my mind of how I view things it cleared my foggy picture of how people live in Afghanistan. They are just one of the many country's being oppressed by ill willed rulers on their search for power. I think the change I made should be campus wide it should be read by all people. Not only campus wide but nation wide. This book adresses the feeling and emotions taking place in America as we speak. Every time I turn on a form of media their is something of the war, Afghanistan's, even talk shows of how Middle Eastern's are being discriminated in America today. People should have an open mind and view the world instead of thinking that America is it, there is more out there and we are so fortunate to live the way we do.
So I believe the book is propaganda because it changed my views. It was propaganda to me it touched my emotions and the way I think. I changed the book due to the book about Afghanistan and it's people. I relate it to the struggle of immigrants and discrimination. I feel fortunate to live in America. I feel fortunate to be a student trying to make something of my life and be able to accomplish things for my family. I am against invasion and war and oppression more than before. By the story of Amir and the things he endured he and Hassan represented so many others making the story come to life. Some may say it isn't good some may say it is great but the story is real and it should be told. I found out that the book is being made into a movie in 2007 and I think it is a great thing. The Kite Runner is a book of this era and the problems of today.

Business and Blogs

As I was surfing the net I came along a really interesting press release it said how the world of business wanted to be involved in the world of blogging. Their point was that if everyone else was so involved in this new way of media that they wanted to join so that they can even control their own comments about their large corporations. If they blogged it would be a positive thing. They even created a website to help corporations let the word out and let people know about it, basically to generate a buzz it is halvorsonnewmedia.com.
I found it really interesting that this evolution in the way of business mobiles is evolving. Christine Halvorson is actually the pioneer of this movement. The whole situation sort of reminded me of the record company executives being stuck in their old ways. Unlike them the business world sees a world of possibilities in the world of blogging. I think it is people like that that are on top of new technology and use it to their advantage. In a changing world adaptation is important. I believe that the business corporations that participate will benefit, I'm sure of it. To view the release click herehttp://www.emediawire.com/releases/2006/9/emw438447.htm