Everyday Media

The Internet has become one of the most influential components of media in our everyday lives. It opens a giant window of information provided to its users globally, simplistically, creatively, and by all means, in a friendly fashion. Nowadays there is no need for physically sending out an envelope to mail a friend a letter. All you have to do is fire up your computer, type out the letter, and hit send. The speed of this communication proves to be much more convenient and timely as it takes only seconds to receive an email. The Internet is also a source for any type of news ones heart may desire. We now have sites like Myspace and Facebook that allows consumers to create infinite profiles allowing friends and family to see pictures, stay updated and so forth. I would say that the Internet is infinite, all access, all the time.

When we watch the news, we are forced to look upon politically edited media. Big conglomerates entertain us with their own politically powered motives control channels like CNN, Headline News, Fox...etc. When we see and hear stories of the war, we are only seeing and hearing the stories they want us to hear. Consider the fact that we don’t hear about 99.9999% of the news in the world. American society depends on the media in order for our democracy to work and we are only shown what executives and such people want us to see.

America has come a long way in the technological aspect. From the first camera to the first television and radio, our huge strides in technology have a direct effect on our media. It was a thing of the norm to listen to the radio for news, now with the Internet and digital television, we have the news at our very own fingertips. With mass media coming out of every direction in our lives, our society automatically benefits from easy accessible information of every kind. We only find more prosperity in the new inventions we meet everyday in technology and media.

Charged Images: Bob!

This world-renowned picture is of the most significantly charged figure in Jamaica’s history. Bob Marley not only represents his colorful country, but also stands as a representative for those who believe in love and peace ruling the world. One Love is one of his top songs…but it’s meaning does not end there. One Love is known by many to mean that humanity is one big happy family. We’re all “brothers and sisters” despite the many reasons people find to separate us; i.e. ethnicity, social class, religion. This picture also signifies hope for many Jamaican people. Hope that their words, thoughts, and opinions could reach the world in such a manner as Bob’s, though they come from such a poor country. While this picture holds such emotional value to some, others would disprove of it. How can this be? …Well, Bob Marley was also not ashamed of letting the world know that he smoked marijuana. When some people see this picture, they just think of him as another pot-smoking hippy and would probably not let their kids/future kids listen to his music in fear of his “bad” influence. And I’m also sure that some people even hate him….So, you tell me. How do you see Bob?

Super Mario 64!

This virtual technological video game is called Super Mario 64. It is played on the Nintendo 64. The game is older, but with some of the new technologies. It may have been one of the first with two different points of view. The perspective is geometrically linear because the trees, for instance, become smaller the further Mario runs away from them. Mario 64 does not only contain a subjective point of view, but also a 1st person point of view. This is a good video example because you can see that when Mario shoots out of the cannon, the point of view turns from subjective to first person. This also happens when the play pushes "up c" so Mario can look out around him to the places he cannot see from the subjective point of view. The virtual technologies used in this game require interaction from the user by watching the screen, using the controller, hearing the noises in the game, and reaction to the game by proper choice making to understand the game in order to beat it. Now the question is, just what will they come out with next?

norms and otherness ads

I chose this picture to share with everyone because it’s a rarity in itself. This ad’s purpose is to actually persuade viewers that smoking is ok to do and will make you cool. Unlike ads today, the norm in this picture is smoking extra cigarettes, while making the otherness of the photo, anti-smoking. Now how ironic is it that I found this ad right after the first one?! This is a modern picture involving the smoking theme, yet this time the norms and “others” are switched around. This picture interpellates to us that if you smoke, you will die. The gun being loaded with cigarettes can conclude no other output than death. The norms being anti-smoking, and the otherness lies within those who smoke.

I would say that this advertisement is more so directly comparing the norm, the real looking polar bear with the “other” kind of ad involving the stuffed toy looking polar bear. This ad is marketing a marketing company by comparing ads done by the “other” marketing company and the “normal” marketing company. Say that five times fast!!!

Not Your Grandma's Lemonade Stand

This specific image interpellates my interests automatically because it “talks to me” when my eyes meet its projection. Naturally, it invokes feelings of reminiscence to my childhood, and makes me think of the hope of freedom we have always had for this country because it brings the words, “independent owners” to my mind. The flowers in this picture make me believe that the lemons beside it are as beautiful or organic as they are The producers of this photo may have intended this picture as an ad scheme. “This kind of lemonade is the best kind.” I believe my viewing is unique because not everyone grew up selling lemonade in their neighborhood or have experienced it in general. This being said, others may view this image in a completely opposite way that I do. This happens with every picture posted and interpellated by individuals every day of our lives. What does this picture say to you?

Our president is an ideal figure

President Obama: An All American Man

This picture provokes many an emotion in a world schema. For most Americans, however, this picture of our president Obama ensures feelings of pride, nationality, “hope for change,” and an array of such parallel emotions. For other Americans, disgrace, negative, and like disapproval of Obama. This picture is not objective for that very point. Other individuals from different parts of the globe may not agree with the opinions of Americans and their feelings about the president of America. This picture may or may not be ideal to all. This picture of Obama holds strong social value to those who support him yet also lacks value for those who do not support him.

strong and weak news stories

STRONG AND WEAK STORIES IN THE NEWS

http://omg.yahoo.com/photos/week-in-photos-september-7-13-2009/3218?nc
As I was going to check my email, this news story was in the number one spot for viewers to read. This story was short but very conclusive in its few words. It said that a couple of Paris Hilton’s “quotes” would be inserted into the “Oxford Book of Quotations.” Some of the quotes would consist of her infamous sayings, “That’s hot,” and “Dress cute wherever you go, life is too short to blend in.” In my opinion, this sort of news is non-informative as well as unimportant. The purpose it serves does not seem to confront the necessary information regarded in a context that can be helpful by any means of everyday life. This is a story I wished I had not spent even the few moments checking into, yet we are lead and deceived by headlines that this story will present some type of significance.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/14/us/politics/14wilson.html This article is an update of the news of Joe Wilson’s outburst during a President Obama speech. It reminds viewers of his original break into the news, yelling, “You lie!” It is an update because it speaks of Joe Wilson not apologizing for a second time and that some people are supporting him because of his outburst. It is strong in my opinion because it is a very important story that deals with many an opinion of the American’s president and can lead to some significant changes in our very own legislations. This very story leads myself into emotions and criticism about our government, which makes me believe it is a strong news case.