Today was our last class. I have mixed feelings about today. In terms of the blogs, I'm just annoyed. I'm annoyed by the fact that people have apparently been using my blog as a resource. I'm annoyed by the fact that if someone searches blog search for the name 'Mark Lipton,' my blog is one at the top of the page. I'm annoyed that I've been made fun of countless times because I have so many blog posts. Honestly, the quantity of the posts isn't what matters, and I frankly don't care about the total number. I did what I thought would have been natural, and that just so happened to be over the expected amount.
When we had the final exam today, I was a bit skeptical. As much as I want a grade in this class that reflects the amount of effort, initiative and planning that I put into it, I feel that I still could have done better. I mean there's always room for improvement. I feel that I deserve a final grade of 82%. This is how I'm working it out:
Media Autobiography: 6.5/10
Semiotic Essay: 21/30
Blog: 44/50 (This isn't because of the number of posts, that is completely coincidental haha)
Last Word: 9/10
Yes, this adds up to 80.5%, but for what I've had to go through according to group projects the like, I think I deserve an 82% when all aspects are put into account. But obviously professors can't always be aware of all the circumstances, so one will almost never get the mark that they think they deserve.
I'm sort of sad that since Mark Lipton is known to be a hard marker, I will not achieve this grade. Class average of 35% last year? Are you joking? If I got lower than 35% I would probably cry. On anything I've put effort into (And I'm an all-or-nothing kinda gal, usually ALL) I've never received lower than 80%. Man, if I don't do well..
I really try not to compare myself to other people, this is rooted with the fact that I have a sibling who I used to always compare to myself. Since she had more of a slender body type, I always thought my parents liked her better. I mean of course they didn't care about that stuff, but you know, I was young, I didn't know any better. Anyways, it just kills me to see that people are always going to be given second chances. It feels like people aren't getting weeded out early, and all I can think is, am I still going to have to deal with these people for another three and a half years? I can't believe how...how lenient and push-over-like the world can be.
Well I guess this is it. This is farewell to the worst and best semester of my life. After having to endure this class I have learned a lot about myself. I am definitely a very sensitive person, and I've always known this, but it's more than I thought. I'm kind of a woos (I'm assuming that's how you spell it, spell check doesn't object). I take things a little too personal and yes, sometimes criticism or rudeness may be directed at me, but I guess I need to learn to get over it. And that's what I think I learned to do this class. Whenever I thought that Mark was cutting me off or being rude, I was SO mad. Why is he doing this to me? Is he just trying to test me? And I don't mean in a malicious way, I mean in a way that would make me realize how I react, and how I may need to change. Well, he did it.
From the day that I walked out of the class, (and returned) I've had this theory. I am almost certain that I'm wrong, but I might as well express it. I think that everything in this class including the professor, the course, the way in which the course was taught, and even the group tasks are just a HUGE, sort of stressful test of our critical analysis and integrity. And I don't mean surface critical analysis, I mean like..thinking so hard that it drives you crazy. Because that's basically what has happened to me. I'm so used to already over-analyzing everything, that this course has literally blown my mind. I now have so many more thoughts that just crowd and hurt my brain. I've found that lately I always have this feeling in my throat that I am about to vomit...maybe it's symbolism for the overflow of thoughts in my brain. What's scary to think is that I'm probably not even analyzing as much as I could. Just think if I was critically analyzing to the fullest! I'd probably be dead.
I think if students are intimidated my Mark Lipton, they don't get his point. And I'm not sure if this claim is way off, but maybe, on the contrary, I've pinpointed the point of the class. I think from critically analyzing everything about the course, I've discovered the mystery of mass communication. Or maybe I'm just like Seinfeld, the show about nothing, except it's Cara's Blog About Nothing.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Timeline of Media Social History
"'Doc are you telling me you built a time machine . . . out of a Delorean?'" (1)
Going back in time to see what cultural implications were linked to various technologies is pretty interesting. Since I have always been fascinated with history, this group task looked like it would be really cool to dig deep and find connections between technologies for media and culture. We started off with our theme sort of broad, and later realized that it was hard to start because it was hard to make links with the technologies we had chosen. Recently we started to think deep into what we could do as a practical and interesting theme, and we came up with technologies for audio recorded media. So our five technologies are cave men, the phonograph, the LP record, the cassette tape, and the Compact Disc. This theme is easily relatable to most individuals. Here is what we came up with, I did the part about the cassette tape, as well as put the poster together from construction paper, string from my Hallowe'en costume, and the pictures that Adam, Lisa and I found when we met up.
I think these links are important to take note of because I've always thought that history is important because situations that were overcome in the past can be knowledge for the future. This whole 'cause and effect' deal has a lot to do with the ecology of media actually, fancy that!
The theory that there are environments that media forms is the root of media ecology, the study of these media environments. Ecology of these environments (the environment being its structure, content, and impact. So, in a way, we have just conducted media ecology case study on audio recording and communication!
The fast-forwarded version of what I’ve learned from all the pieces of the timeline:
Cavemen, usually noted for their cave drawings, actually had some audio of their own that came from having portable records of pictographs (on pieces of clay), to using these portable pieces for shipping and trading materials, to using sounds (abstract figures and grunts). The progression is amazing, them neanderthals (and humans too, I guess) are sum-art.
The phonograph was invented by Thomas Edison in 1877. It recorded voice or sound, and then could play back the audio. When a noise was picked up by the recording needle the sound vibrations would get indented onto the cylinder and would later be able to be played back. The social aspect that the phonograph created was the notion of elitism. Because the phonograph was expensive, only the richest people could buy them, and therefore it made categories for which people could be classified.
The vinyl record was instrumental in the hippie, rock and psychedelic era of the 60s and 70s. The sounds that were recorded could be played back, not only forwards, but also backwards. This sometimes had demonic sounds or secret messages that the people heard at that time.
The cassette tape was responsible for many social phenomena since its creation in 1963 by Philips Electronics. But there is one main connection that the cassette tape has to culture of the 1970s-90s, and it is that of the hip-hop culture. Small and compact, the cassette tape was the first portable piece of audio equipment with recording on the piece. With the help of the Sony Walkman in 1979, this was made possible for individuals to mobility with audio recordings. This is where one can see the start of hip-hop culture becoming more popular, because MCs and Breakdancers were provided with the mobility to spread the idea of hip-hop culture. This culture would be blown away with what would come next. The highly anticipated, large-and-loud style boombox, or ghetto blaster, was created in 1981, further advancing the Breakdancing scene, because now, breakers could make an entire style out of carrying around this huge music playing device. Relating back to the cassette tape, these two aspects of hip hop culture were a result of the cassette tape, and essentially, pushed the hip hop movement to a great start.
CD? The CD = technological kick-start.
Bibliography
Bellis, Mary. “The History of Sound Recording.” About.com. 2007. About Inc. November 25, 2007.
Bellis, Mary. “The History of The Cassette Tape.” About.com. 2007. About Inc. November 25, 2007.
“Boombox Birth.” Pocket Calculator Show. 2007. Boombox Museum. November 25, 2007.
"Cave Drawing." National Wildlife Federation. 2007. National Wildlife Federation. 19 Nov. 2007 .
Combs, S. "Letter to Mom and Dad." 2007. 19 Nov. 2007.
Donna Yankowitz , The Turn Of The Century, The Phonograph. 2007
Dr. James H. Billington,The Library of Congress, Inventing Entertainment: The History of the Edison Cylinder Phonograph, 2007
<>
"Inventors; a Brief History of Writing Instruments." About.Com. 2007. About Inc. 19 Nov. 2007
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>The CD part of the poster? It is now there just for show.
It amazes me that one person will mess up once and it will do bad for everyone. One member of the group decided not to do their part, and, as much as I would be determined to get the information from everyone, or follow up on the person who was collecting all of it, I am completely fed up. I now know that there are some individuals that I absolutely cannot work with.
(1) "Back To the Future." Useless Movie Quotes. November 2005. D.C. Douglas. November 25, 2007.
http://www.uselessmoviequotes.com/umq_b019.htm
Going back in time to see what cultural implications were linked to various technologies is pretty interesting. Since I have always been fascinated with history, this group task looked like it would be really cool to dig deep and find connections between technologies for media and culture. We started off with our theme sort of broad, and later realized that it was hard to start because it was hard to make links with the technologies we had chosen. Recently we started to think deep into what we could do as a practical and interesting theme, and we came up with technologies for audio recorded media. So our five technologies are cave men, the phonograph, the LP record, the cassette tape, and the Compact Disc. This theme is easily relatable to most individuals. Here is what we came up with, I did the part about the cassette tape, as well as put the poster together from construction paper, string from my Hallowe'en costume, and the pictures that Adam, Lisa and I found when we met up.
I think these links are important to take note of because I've always thought that history is important because situations that were overcome in the past can be knowledge for the future. This whole 'cause and effect' deal has a lot to do with the ecology of media actually, fancy that!
The theory that there are environments that media forms is the root of media ecology, the study of these media environments. Ecology of these environments (the environment being its structure, content, and impact. So, in a way, we have just conducted media ecology case study on audio recording and communication!
The fast-forwarded version of what I’ve learned from all the pieces of the timeline:
Cavemen, usually noted for their cave drawings, actually had some audio of their own that came from having portable records of pictographs (on pieces of clay), to using these portable pieces for shipping and trading materials, to using sounds (abstract figures and grunts). The progression is amazing, them neanderthals (and humans too, I guess) are sum-art.
The phonograph was invented by Thomas Edison in 1877. It recorded voice or sound, and then could play back the audio. When a noise was picked up by the recording needle the sound vibrations would get indented onto the cylinder and would later be able to be played back. The social aspect that the phonograph created was the notion of elitism. Because the phonograph was expensive, only the richest people could buy them, and therefore it made categories for which people could be classified.
The vinyl record was instrumental in the hippie, rock and psychedelic era of the 60s and 70s. The sounds that were recorded could be played back, not only forwards, but also backwards. This sometimes had demonic sounds or secret messages that the people heard at that time.
The cassette tape was responsible for many social phenomena since its creation in 1963 by Philips Electronics. But there is one main connection that the cassette tape has to culture of the 1970s-90s, and it is that of the hip-hop culture. Small and compact, the cassette tape was the first portable piece of audio equipment with recording on the piece. With the help of the Sony Walkman in 1979, this was made possible for individuals to mobility with audio recordings. This is where one can see the start of hip-hop culture becoming more popular, because MCs and Breakdancers were provided with the mobility to spread the idea of hip-hop culture. This culture would be blown away with what would come next. The highly anticipated, large-and-loud style boombox, or ghetto blaster, was created in 1981, further advancing the Breakdancing scene, because now, breakers could make an entire style out of carrying around this huge music playing device. Relating back to the cassette tape, these two aspects of hip hop culture were a result of the cassette tape, and essentially, pushed the hip hop movement to a great start.
CD? The CD = technological kick-start.
Bibliography
Bellis, Mary. “The History of Sound Recording.” About.com. 2007. About Inc. November 25, 2007.
Bellis, Mary. “The History of The Cassette Tape.” About.com. 2007. About Inc. November 25, 2007.
“Boombox Birth.” Pocket Calculator Show. 2007. Boombox Museum. November 25, 2007.
"Cave Drawing." National Wildlife Federation. 2007. National Wildlife Federation. 19 Nov. 2007 .
Combs, S. "Letter to Mom and Dad." 2007. 19 Nov. 2007.
Donna Yankowitz , The Turn Of The Century, The Phonograph. 2007
Dr. James H. Billington,The Library of Congress, Inventing Entertainment: The History of the Edison Cylinder Phonograph, 2007
<>
"Inventors; a Brief History of Writing Instruments." About.Com. 2007. About Inc. 19 Nov. 2007
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>The CD part of the poster? It is now there just for show.
It amazes me that one person will mess up once and it will do bad for everyone. One member of the group decided not to do their part, and, as much as I would be determined to get the information from everyone, or follow up on the person who was collecting all of it, I am completely fed up. I now know that there are some individuals that I absolutely cannot work with.
(1) "Back To the Future." Useless Movie Quotes. November 2005. D.C. Douglas. November 25, 2007.
http://www.uselessmoviequotes.com/umq_b019.htm
<3 Le Petit Prince
I don't know if I mentioned this already in a previous post, but I have to express how much I adore the book 'The Little Prince' originally in French called 'Le Petit Prince' by Antoine St. Exupery. Since I read this book about two years ago, I find my way of thinking has changed slightly. Although a child could read this book, an adult could read the book, looking for a certain theme or message. Let me tell you, it would be impossible to find. The book tells the story of the author of the book. He is a pilot (in real life and in the book) who's plane crashes in the desert. It is there where he meets the little prince, who then tells him stories about his travels to other countries. If one were to look closely, he or she would be able to understand that the individuals that the little prince symbolically describe are types of people in the world. The plot later goes on to demonstrate the essential element for life. I don't want to go too far into it otherwise I will start to ramble, but I just really love this book.
Picture From: http://krysalide.canalblog.com/archives/litterature_/index.html
Monday, November 26, 2007
Group Work...in general.
So as a whole, I screwed myself over with the group work. I went back to my old habits of ALWAYS taking the leadership role. Except for one project, well, sort of.
I have a lot of leadership training and group work experience. And I mean:
- Promotion Head of Student Council one year, then Spirit Head for the next, and then I was Co Prez. I also was a minister for the Eastern North Secondary School Students Association, that organises leadership conferences and my additional job was to get sponsorships and funding. I was also on my school's leadership planning committee for two years, planning a leadership camp and leading groups th develop leadership skills and develop ways to work in groups and, well, in general. I also was part of the Harmony Bridges Plenary Committee three years in a row, planning and leading groups in a full day, anti-racism workshop. I've also attended various leadership camps, ran Leadership programs at the YMCA, have gotten MVP awards for soccer, and was even captain at one point. I've also done a bunch of speeches, including keynote speaking for the Launch of Black History Month in Ottawa, advocating for Angel Hair For Kids, and I was joint-Valedictorian with one of my best friends, Peter.
By this extensive list of my activities I'm really not trying to brag. I'm not trying to say anything like 'wow, I did a lot of ish so you should respect me and my experience.' All I'm trying to get at is the fact that I obviously am not terrible at working in a group, and yes, I do usually end up taking a leadership role if it calls for it, because that's hows I've been trained. And if it calls for it, I know what kind of leadership to use, or how to approach the task(s) at hand.
So it really annoys me when someone claims that I don't know how to work in a group, or that I think everything should revolve around my schedule. I make myself available, and I just make it known that I am prepared to progress re: the task at hand. All that means is that I am ready whenever the rest of the group is. I'm not pushing us into anything unwanted, so I don't see the problem there.
In my opinion and from my experience, there are a lot of keys to good group work, such as focus, organization, time management and the dynamics of the group; how they interact with one another, and as a whole.
But the two that I find are the most important and the most influential to how a group works together are prioritizing and initiative. If everyone is on the same page with their priorities, as well as the group is aware of each other's priorities and where the groups tasks lie within the priorities, it is easier to choose meeting times, and figure out how to get the work DONE.
As for initiative, I think it's important for everyone to want to start. So what if there are roadblocks or obstacles; at least the group is generally in good mindset. But for my group though, it felt like no one had initiative to say 'alright let's get started...' Yes, when there is a week of class left, that's when everyone is willing to work. Earlier in the semester I tried to initiate progress. I even made a little schedule for when we should try to have each project finished by. But I guess it all fell through because certain people weren't willing to start work. I really didn't want to push too hard, but when stuff doesn't get going and time starts eating in other responsibilities, action seriously needs to be taken.
Depending on how the marks turn out, I think I liked the fact that we didn't have exact deadlines for everything. It made everyone see how to time manage properly. It forced us to be organized, well some of us I guess. It still amazes me that there are people in the class who really haven't learned anything in the class, and don't want to. The course has so much potential to open everyone's minds and broaden ways of thinking, but people just aren't appreciative of it. Those rich kids and their abundance of money...
And I'm not the best at organizing my time, or organizing my life. I thrive on being busy and scattered, but there is "method to my madness"(1) (usually).
The thing with me is that I truly love working with people, but for some reason, these seven group tasks were a huge hassle. Even though all the group members lived all in close proximity with each other (VERY CLOSE, as in a few steps or floors away), no one would ever want to get stuff done. Taking a directive leadership approach, I tried to organize the group in a way they were comfortable and everyone was doing at least close to the same amount of work. So I figured if the work was delegated for one or two people to 'head up' each task, it would be easier on everyone, and everyone would have the chance to be the one who everyone turned to/answered to. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out this way. I ended up being the one that everyone turned to, ultimately, for all of the tasks. It backfired of course, but I think it's notable that I put effort into collaborating with these individuals, even though, after first attempting start it out, I knew it most likely wouldn't work out as smoothly as I'd hoped.
(1) Yes. this is a Hamlet reference, I just don't know how to reference it properly. Hey, at least good Billy (William Shakespeare) got attribution.
I have a lot of leadership training and group work experience. And I mean:
- Promotion Head of Student Council one year, then Spirit Head for the next, and then I was Co Prez. I also was a minister for the Eastern North Secondary School Students Association, that organises leadership conferences and my additional job was to get sponsorships and funding. I was also on my school's leadership planning committee for two years, planning a leadership camp and leading groups th develop leadership skills and develop ways to work in groups and, well, in general. I also was part of the Harmony Bridges Plenary Committee three years in a row, planning and leading groups in a full day, anti-racism workshop. I've also attended various leadership camps, ran Leadership programs at the YMCA, have gotten MVP awards for soccer, and was even captain at one point. I've also done a bunch of speeches, including keynote speaking for the Launch of Black History Month in Ottawa, advocating for Angel Hair For Kids, and I was joint-Valedictorian with one of my best friends, Peter.
By this extensive list of my activities I'm really not trying to brag. I'm not trying to say anything like 'wow, I did a lot of ish so you should respect me and my experience.' All I'm trying to get at is the fact that I obviously am not terrible at working in a group, and yes, I do usually end up taking a leadership role if it calls for it, because that's hows I've been trained. And if it calls for it, I know what kind of leadership to use, or how to approach the task(s) at hand.
So it really annoys me when someone claims that I don't know how to work in a group, or that I think everything should revolve around my schedule. I make myself available, and I just make it known that I am prepared to progress re: the task at hand. All that means is that I am ready whenever the rest of the group is. I'm not pushing us into anything unwanted, so I don't see the problem there.
In my opinion and from my experience, there are a lot of keys to good group work, such as focus, organization, time management and the dynamics of the group; how they interact with one another, and as a whole.
But the two that I find are the most important and the most influential to how a group works together are prioritizing and initiative. If everyone is on the same page with their priorities, as well as the group is aware of each other's priorities and where the groups tasks lie within the priorities, it is easier to choose meeting times, and figure out how to get the work DONE.
As for initiative, I think it's important for everyone to want to start. So what if there are roadblocks or obstacles; at least the group is generally in good mindset. But for my group though, it felt like no one had initiative to say 'alright let's get started...' Yes, when there is a week of class left, that's when everyone is willing to work. Earlier in the semester I tried to initiate progress. I even made a little schedule for when we should try to have each project finished by. But I guess it all fell through because certain people weren't willing to start work. I really didn't want to push too hard, but when stuff doesn't get going and time starts eating in other responsibilities, action seriously needs to be taken.
Depending on how the marks turn out, I think I liked the fact that we didn't have exact deadlines for everything. It made everyone see how to time manage properly. It forced us to be organized, well some of us I guess. It still amazes me that there are people in the class who really haven't learned anything in the class, and don't want to. The course has so much potential to open everyone's minds and broaden ways of thinking, but people just aren't appreciative of it. Those rich kids and their abundance of money...
And I'm not the best at organizing my time, or organizing my life. I thrive on being busy and scattered, but there is "method to my madness"(1) (usually).
The thing with me is that I truly love working with people, but for some reason, these seven group tasks were a huge hassle. Even though all the group members lived all in close proximity with each other (VERY CLOSE, as in a few steps or floors away), no one would ever want to get stuff done. Taking a directive leadership approach, I tried to organize the group in a way they were comfortable and everyone was doing at least close to the same amount of work. So I figured if the work was delegated for one or two people to 'head up' each task, it would be easier on everyone, and everyone would have the chance to be the one who everyone turned to/answered to. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out this way. I ended up being the one that everyone turned to, ultimately, for all of the tasks. It backfired of course, but I think it's notable that I put effort into collaborating with these individuals, even though, after first attempting start it out, I knew it most likely wouldn't work out as smoothly as I'd hoped.
(1) Yes. this is a Hamlet reference, I just don't know how to reference it properly. Hey, at least good Billy (William Shakespeare) got attribution.
The Essential Guide to Natural Healing
Have you heard of Doctor Andrew Weil? Apparently he's America's best known doctor, and he's a naturalist!
When I go to Chapters bookstore I have three magazines that I pick up on a pretty regular, bi-monthly basis: Photolife, Discover, and Snowboarder. I'll admit, I do have one or two CosmoGirl and Ebony, but I mostly use them for projects and collages and whatnot.
Photolife just has a lot of amazing pictures, and I love photography so I'm never let down when I get my Photolife mag. Some of the articles in there are interesting as well. Discover is a magazine that I definitely buy to enhance my knowledge and generally become aware of what's going on in the world. And Snowboarder? Well, I am a snowboarder, but not a very good one at that, so I like looking at pictures of the pros doing what they do, hoping that eventually I'll get that good. And some of the articles are pretty good.
The last time I did a magazine pick up I got those three, as well as Dr. Andrew Weil's Essential Guide to Natural Healing. This interested me because I was introduced to naturopathy and other alternative health methods at an early age. Since I had atopic dermatitis which connects to the fact that I just have a terrible immune system, I went through many so-called remedies. This included a bunch of chemical creams, cortisone (My dad used to tell me that I could get kicked out of soccer because I was using a steroid, I thought I was so bad-ass), as well as homeopathy, and other natural/organic foods and health products. So I really just wanted to express my interest and enthusiasm that I feel when I realize what's waiting for me in my magazine bin. I peeked at some of the articles today and they look verrrry interesting. They range from articles about acupuncture and other physical remedies, to recipes for very healthy meals. Considering it was a VERY expensive magazine (thirteen bucks!) I am pretty impressed.
Good buy. Plus, dude's beard is poppin!
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When I go to Chapters bookstore I have three magazines that I pick up on a pretty regular, bi-monthly basis: Photolife, Discover, and Snowboarder. I'll admit, I do have one or two CosmoGirl and Ebony, but I mostly use them for projects and collages and whatnot.
Photolife just has a lot of amazing pictures, and I love photography so I'm never let down when I get my Photolife mag. Some of the articles in there are interesting as well. Discover is a magazine that I definitely buy to enhance my knowledge and generally become aware of what's going on in the world. And Snowboarder? Well, I am a snowboarder, but not a very good one at that, so I like looking at pictures of the pros doing what they do, hoping that eventually I'll get that good. And some of the articles are pretty good.
The last time I did a magazine pick up I got those three, as well as Dr. Andrew Weil's Essential Guide to Natural Healing. This interested me because I was introduced to naturopathy and other alternative health methods at an early age. Since I had atopic dermatitis which connects to the fact that I just have a terrible immune system, I went through many so-called remedies. This included a bunch of chemical creams, cortisone (My dad used to tell me that I could get kicked out of soccer because I was using a steroid, I thought I was so bad-ass), as well as homeopathy, and other natural/organic foods and health products. So I really just wanted to express my interest and enthusiasm that I feel when I realize what's waiting for me in my magazine bin. I peeked at some of the articles today and they look verrrry interesting. They range from articles about acupuncture and other physical remedies, to recipes for very healthy meals. Considering it was a VERY expensive magazine (thirteen bucks!) I am pretty impressed.
Good buy. Plus, dude's beard is poppin!
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Chuck
An Album by Sum 41 is named Chuck. But the Chuck that I'm talking about is Chuck Palahniuk, the author, actually author of famous books/movies such as Stranger Than Fiction and Fight Club. I really would like to read some of his books, especially the one called Choke. My best friends were reading it and told me that I would like it, but I just never got around to reading it myself. Apparently it's about this guy who scams fancy restaurants by pretending to choke on their food. Then the restaurants feel bad and send him financial compensation. It looks like a book that I would like to read, and not just because I would have to read it, for recreational reading.
The one thing I think that's cool about mainstream, Oprah-recommended books is that it gets youth to start reading again. I remember when A Million Little Pieces by James Frey came out, EVERYONE was reading again. The people that I least expected were reading. I remember wanting to read James Frey's other book called My Friend Leonard, instead. I think it was because one of my best friends Andrew, was friends with one of the Special Education kids at our school, and his name was Leonard. I've always liked working with people with special needs, but Andrew just liked being friends with him. So I guess the title of the book reminded me of Andrew. Also, this was the first (and, well, only) book I had ever seen Andrew read. So I really wanted to read it that year (I believe it was two years ago) I still haven't gotten around to it...so I guess this is yet another book that I want to read.
Picture From: http://vivisect.org/
The one thing I think that's cool about mainstream, Oprah-recommended books is that it gets youth to start reading again. I remember when A Million Little Pieces by James Frey came out, EVERYONE was reading again. The people that I least expected were reading. I remember wanting to read James Frey's other book called My Friend Leonard, instead. I think it was because one of my best friends Andrew, was friends with one of the Special Education kids at our school, and his name was Leonard. I've always liked working with people with special needs, but Andrew just liked being friends with him. So I guess the title of the book reminded me of Andrew. Also, this was the first (and, well, only) book I had ever seen Andrew read. So I really wanted to read it that year (I believe it was two years ago) I still haven't gotten around to it...so I guess this is yet another book that I want to read.
Picture From: http://vivisect.org/
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Make way for the professionals...
Today I helped out my friend, who's in film, with his chase scene for one of his classes. He needed a girl for one scene, summing up to be about 4 takes. I think it's the first time his group is getting to use the equipment, so they were a little iffy about lighting and what not. After working on a film production with Lisa, it was amazing to see what a difference equipment makes. They made really good use of lighting, as well as set and placement within frames. And, for this project, they had restrictions: there could be no use of sound, AND there couldn't be any editing. I thought it was pretty cool, and made me want to be a bit more involved in film making, in general. Even the storyline, for TWO minutes of film, was highly developed. We spent basically the whole day, from 10am till.. well they're probably still filming. I just thought it was pretty cool to have a whole 'production day' like that, and the students were so grateful that I could help them out (I guess they needed actors/actresses BAD...).
I'm already one of those people that wants to talk throughout an entire movie. Some camera angles are just SO brilliant, that I can't bear for them to go unnoticed. For example in Trainspotting they have some really good, and trippy shots. Also in We Own the Night with Mark Whalberg and Joaquin Pheonix, the camera angles were impressive because they were so realistic. I think another reason why I feel the need to talk during a movie is because I want to know what's coming next, and I really can't wait for the movie to just run its course. Perhaps that's why I enjoy movies that I can't predict as much, unpredictable movies are my favourites because the catch me completely off guard. For example, last night I watched the Boondock Saints, and I was just not expecting a lot of it. And a movie like The Departed. Most of the find-outs in that movie I could NOT predict. Hmmm, I think I just like not knowing who's going to die next. I guess it's a really gross thing to think about, but if I'm not amused by superficial drama, what would you expect me to be amused by?
Anyways, today was just a fun, but obviously stressing and grueling experience that will enhance my outlook even more on movies.
I'm already one of those people that wants to talk throughout an entire movie. Some camera angles are just SO brilliant, that I can't bear for them to go unnoticed. For example in Trainspotting they have some really good, and trippy shots. Also in We Own the Night with Mark Whalberg and Joaquin Pheonix, the camera angles were impressive because they were so realistic. I think another reason why I feel the need to talk during a movie is because I want to know what's coming next, and I really can't wait for the movie to just run its course. Perhaps that's why I enjoy movies that I can't predict as much, unpredictable movies are my favourites because the catch me completely off guard. For example, last night I watched the Boondock Saints, and I was just not expecting a lot of it. And a movie like The Departed. Most of the find-outs in that movie I could NOT predict. Hmmm, I think I just like not knowing who's going to die next. I guess it's a really gross thing to think about, but if I'm not amused by superficial drama, what would you expect me to be amused by?
Anyways, today was just a fun, but obviously stressing and grueling experience that will enhance my outlook even more on movies.
Meth, The Home-Cooked Menace
Two summers ago I read a book called 'Meth, The Home-Cooked Menace.' It was just a bunch of stories about what happened to individuals who used the drug methamphetamine. My mom suggested it to me, although I didn't know why at the time. I remember reading it pretty avidly because I brought it to Kingston one day because my soccer team had a championship game there. All the parents looked at me weird sort of saying "Why does the coach's daughter have a book about meth...these girls are 16!" But really, at least I'm just reading about it and not doing the drug. Reading that book made me NEVER want to do that drug. Or any drug that changes your perception of reality THAT much.
Since those kind of drugs, like meth and ecstasy and shrooms, etc. are harmful in the long run, I realized that to steer me away from them, I should read books about them! So I found a book about E that I would like to read, called "Ecstasy Reconsidered" by Nicholas Saunders. It has different uses of E, medical studies, therapist use, dangers, etc. I also want to read "Howard Marks' Book of Dope Stories" and "Drugs and the Party Line" by Kevin Williamson. The "Book of Dope Stories" is by Howard Marks, who was a top drug smuggler who was sentenced to 25 years in jail, but only served 7. This book looks interesting because it has to do with a drug that is SO common among people, especially students. "Drugs and the Party Line" has a political approach, discussing a version of the truth about recreational drug use.
The website page that I got these books from is actually closely connected to the Green Party. The site is an advocate for safe drug use. But is there even really such thing as 'safe drug use?' If you think about it, it's sort of naive to think that nothing will ever go wrong, just as long as you use drugs properly and safely. I'm pretty sure drugs are illegal for a reason. I just find it fascinating that people think that they're safe as long as they read up on the drug.
I just know that I'm prone to becoming addicted to stuff (I have a maaaaassive sweet tooth) so I honestly would never want to risk the chance of becoming addicted to a harmful, or detrimental-to-health-at-all type drug.
The movies are right, mothers DO know everything.
Site: http://drugs.greenparty.org.uk/books/books.htm
Since those kind of drugs, like meth and ecstasy and shrooms, etc. are harmful in the long run, I realized that to steer me away from them, I should read books about them! So I found a book about E that I would like to read, called "Ecstasy Reconsidered" by Nicholas Saunders. It has different uses of E, medical studies, therapist use, dangers, etc. I also want to read "Howard Marks' Book of Dope Stories" and "Drugs and the Party Line" by Kevin Williamson. The "Book of Dope Stories" is by Howard Marks, who was a top drug smuggler who was sentenced to 25 years in jail, but only served 7. This book looks interesting because it has to do with a drug that is SO common among people, especially students. "Drugs and the Party Line" has a political approach, discussing a version of the truth about recreational drug use.
The website page that I got these books from is actually closely connected to the Green Party. The site is an advocate for safe drug use. But is there even really such thing as 'safe drug use?' If you think about it, it's sort of naive to think that nothing will ever go wrong, just as long as you use drugs properly and safely. I'm pretty sure drugs are illegal for a reason. I just find it fascinating that people think that they're safe as long as they read up on the drug.
I just know that I'm prone to becoming addicted to stuff (I have a maaaaassive sweet tooth) so I honestly would never want to risk the chance of becoming addicted to a harmful, or detrimental-to-health-at-all type drug.
The movies are right, mothers DO know everything.
Site: http://drugs.greenparty.org.uk/books/books.htm
Friday, November 23, 2007
Director's CUT!
Why am I up this early may you ask? Well, I never really went to bed. I had a nap at 10pm, then woke up at 1:30am for some reason. Ever since then I've been editing, working, and eating. And of course now I'm writing this blog post. Surprisingly, in general I'm also progressing...
The film/video project raised some underlying, and perhaps constant problems that we were having with the group as a whole. Essentially, some group members were ready to work, and some were not. I think it just sucked that we weren't all honest with each other from the start, with our priorities, ways of working, and approachability in general. I've worked in so many different groups, whether it's for school work or for event planning. If everyone has the same goals and can connect in some way, then it's easy to get stuff done. It's when group members are concentrating on other things when its crunch time. It also has to do with everyone's time management skills, and how individuals in the group use their time. Yes, working in a group can be really hard, but there are ways to make it easy and fun for everyone. Unfortunately this isn't how it worked out for this project in particular.
Anyways, Lisa, Adam, Katherine and I ended up making our own video. Since we still have other work to do for many other classes, we decided that we would make a music video. This could show our editing talents as well as script writing and continuity of a storyline. I'm glad the four of us were on the same page for this project because it made up for lost time! Basically we first chose a song. And I'm not kidding...
"How about 'Look At Me I'm A Winner?'"
"But don't we want something a little more jumpy and quirky? How about a song by Motion City Soundtrack..?"
"I love Motion City Soundtrack!"
"'The Future Freaks Me Out?'"
"Ahaha yes!"
"Okay, it's decided!"
It was literally that easy. After choosing the song, from the CD that I owned, we listened to it a few times to get an idea for the script. We quickly thought about how we could relate it to media somehow... so we incorporated oncoming, new, and an overload of technology as the theme of the video. We carefully planned out the scenes, did a bunch of takes, and then edited for a few hours. The editing was definitely the best part. Tedious and precise, it was pretty hard to match up the audio (I put the song as a separate track over the track of recording the visuals) to the video, but eventually it was done. We're pretty proud of it, it took a good amount of brainpower. Although it's obviously not the best editing job, or done with the best equipment, but I think its a realistic concept for a music video. I enjoyed working on this with the other three group members because we were able to get things done. We finished filming, the core of the operation, in a good hour. We got about 30 minutes of footage, and the rest was edited. It was a good experience, and I liked editing so much that I began editing other videos that I have from various other occasions. There is one that I have of the Executive of my Student Government group (The Eastern North Ontario Secondary School Students Association) doing a dance at a Leadership Conference that we planned, and I have to say that the editing, quite frankly, is amazing. I asked for everyone's permission in the group and uploaded it to YouTube. It's called Exec Dance @ MayCon. Man, it brings back good times. The group loved it and they can't wait until we all go back as a little 'reunion' to this year's Executive of the Association.
I'm really glad we decided to make this a fun video instead of an extremely serious one. I am so used to making everything serious, and with so much meaning, that I think it was, for lack of a better word, healthy to do something random and fun for once. I think that's another reason why I wanted to make a music video. And...
The music in this video is Motion City Soundtrack's 'The Future Freaks Me Out,' from the album 'I Am The Movie' released in 2003.
That's a Wrap!
The film/video project raised some underlying, and perhaps constant problems that we were having with the group as a whole. Essentially, some group members were ready to work, and some were not. I think it just sucked that we weren't all honest with each other from the start, with our priorities, ways of working, and approachability in general. I've worked in so many different groups, whether it's for school work or for event planning. If everyone has the same goals and can connect in some way, then it's easy to get stuff done. It's when group members are concentrating on other things when its crunch time. It also has to do with everyone's time management skills, and how individuals in the group use their time. Yes, working in a group can be really hard, but there are ways to make it easy and fun for everyone. Unfortunately this isn't how it worked out for this project in particular.
Anyways, Lisa, Adam, Katherine and I ended up making our own video. Since we still have other work to do for many other classes, we decided that we would make a music video. This could show our editing talents as well as script writing and continuity of a storyline. I'm glad the four of us were on the same page for this project because it made up for lost time! Basically we first chose a song. And I'm not kidding...
"How about 'Look At Me I'm A Winner?'"
"But don't we want something a little more jumpy and quirky? How about a song by Motion City Soundtrack..?"
"I love Motion City Soundtrack!"
"'The Future Freaks Me Out?'"
"Ahaha yes!"
"Okay, it's decided!"
It was literally that easy. After choosing the song, from the CD that I owned, we listened to it a few times to get an idea for the script. We quickly thought about how we could relate it to media somehow... so we incorporated oncoming, new, and an overload of technology as the theme of the video. We carefully planned out the scenes, did a bunch of takes, and then edited for a few hours. The editing was definitely the best part. Tedious and precise, it was pretty hard to match up the audio (I put the song as a separate track over the track of recording the visuals) to the video, but eventually it was done. We're pretty proud of it, it took a good amount of brainpower. Although it's obviously not the best editing job, or done with the best equipment, but I think its a realistic concept for a music video. I enjoyed working on this with the other three group members because we were able to get things done. We finished filming, the core of the operation, in a good hour. We got about 30 minutes of footage, and the rest was edited. It was a good experience, and I liked editing so much that I began editing other videos that I have from various other occasions. There is one that I have of the Executive of my Student Government group (The Eastern North Ontario Secondary School Students Association) doing a dance at a Leadership Conference that we planned, and I have to say that the editing, quite frankly, is amazing. I asked for everyone's permission in the group and uploaded it to YouTube. It's called Exec Dance @ MayCon. Man, it brings back good times. The group loved it and they can't wait until we all go back as a little 'reunion' to this year's Executive of the Association.
I'm really glad we decided to make this a fun video instead of an extremely serious one. I am so used to making everything serious, and with so much meaning, that I think it was, for lack of a better word, healthy to do something random and fun for once. I think that's another reason why I wanted to make a music video. And...
The music in this video is Motion City Soundtrack's 'The Future Freaks Me Out,' from the album 'I Am The Movie' released in 2003.
That's a Wrap!
Thursday, November 22, 2007
November Twenty One.
Well, that was it. Sixty-nine per cent on my semiotics paper. Before we got our papers back, Mark stated that the average was 69% which was the highest average over the years of classes doing this assignment. I started to worry when a good amount of people were saying 'man, I got 84%!, I got 93%!' I thought, could I be one of group that made the average go down? I mean I knew I could have done better, as one can do with anything. There's always room for improvement, and it just sucks that you only realize it after the fact. In hindsight. Kind of like what Marshall McLuhan says about the rear-view mirror effect. Anyways, eventually I got my paper, but I waited until I was back at home before seeing what I got. I knew I couldn't handle it if I had failed, or even, got a 50%...so I held up a bit for myself.
I'm pretty happy with my grade. Usually I wouldn't be satisfied about it, but I totally see where I was at fault and where I should have changed something. I am, however, disappointed with the fact that the effort I put into it wasn't seen through the paper. Obviously that's completely my fault, but I'm still annoyed that my writing, in fact, does cloud my ideas.
I received another writing assignment back in another class and I got 72%. I'll admit, I didn't put that much effort into it. But at the same time I guess I am a poor writer, so I also understood that mark. Then I got back ANOTHER writing assignment, and I got 80%. Now I think this was because the course wasn't centered around writing or the ability to write, and this is why I got a half-decent grade. Still, I'm definitely going to the writing center at some point soon, because I do indeed need some guidance for that kind of stuff.
So in class we didn't actually discuss much, except for the final stage of the class i.e. the blogs and the last word letter. I got a good gist of what Mark wants from us with our blogs...I honestly think that I'm on the right track. Knock on wood...
I think that one idea that I will never be able to wrap my head around is the notion of people getting a second chance. I don't mean from jail or life&death, I just mean...in general. Ever since.. grade five or six maybe? Ever since then when this kid threw a snowball at my face and got a warning, I didn't understand how someone can justify giving second chances. If someone does something right the first time, why should they be treated the same as someone else who has to be given second, or third, or even fourth chances? I guess it's all relative, and I guess you shouldn't compare yourself to other people, and you shouldn't think that people are going to be comparing you with someone else. But isn't that exactly what everyone does?
P.S. Nice Haircut.
I'm pretty happy with my grade. Usually I wouldn't be satisfied about it, but I totally see where I was at fault and where I should have changed something. I am, however, disappointed with the fact that the effort I put into it wasn't seen through the paper. Obviously that's completely my fault, but I'm still annoyed that my writing, in fact, does cloud my ideas.
I received another writing assignment back in another class and I got 72%. I'll admit, I didn't put that much effort into it. But at the same time I guess I am a poor writer, so I also understood that mark. Then I got back ANOTHER writing assignment, and I got 80%. Now I think this was because the course wasn't centered around writing or the ability to write, and this is why I got a half-decent grade. Still, I'm definitely going to the writing center at some point soon, because I do indeed need some guidance for that kind of stuff.
So in class we didn't actually discuss much, except for the final stage of the class i.e. the blogs and the last word letter. I got a good gist of what Mark wants from us with our blogs...I honestly think that I'm on the right track. Knock on wood...
I think that one idea that I will never be able to wrap my head around is the notion of people getting a second chance. I don't mean from jail or life&death, I just mean...in general. Ever since.. grade five or six maybe? Ever since then when this kid threw a snowball at my face and got a warning, I didn't understand how someone can justify giving second chances. If someone does something right the first time, why should they be treated the same as someone else who has to be given second, or third, or even fourth chances? I guess it's all relative, and I guess you shouldn't compare yourself to other people, and you shouldn't think that people are going to be comparing you with someone else. But isn't that exactly what everyone does?
P.S. Nice Haircut.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
It's All Downhill From Here...
Since I am just so unimpressed with society, I figure I should start reading books about it so that I am completely aware of I'm criticizing.
This book, that I randomly stumbled upon, just looks at everything in pop culture, and culture in general. Klosterman seems to analyze THIS Generation, my generation, including "reality television, tribute bands, Internet porn, serial killers, and the Dixie Chicks." (1)
Works Cited:
Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto
by Chuck KlostermanThis book, that I randomly stumbled upon, just looks at everything in pop culture, and culture in general. Klosterman seems to analyze THIS Generation, my generation, including "reality television, tribute bands, Internet porn, serial killers, and the Dixie Chicks." (1)
"Chuck will make you think, he'll make you laugh, and he'll drive you insane — usually all at once." (2) This makes me think that I will love and hate this book. Wow, kind of reminds me of this class! I love and hate it, but in the end it deepens my knowledge, thinking skills, and, my favourite, critical analysis. It also will probably make me crazy after I read it because the ideas will literally blow my mind. My head will most likely explode. This book is essentially about people in our culture and how elements of pop culture like TV shows, music, and sports influence not only our behaviour, but our everything. That's what I think will be so crazy. Postman only looked at the television, really, and look what he cranked out of that! Imagine what this book has. I'm not even going to lie, I really want to read this book.
Some of the Titles of Chapters, that just make me want to read the book even more...
1) "This is Emo
11) Being Zack Morris
13) The Awe-Inspiring Beauty of Tom Cruise's Shattered, Troll-like Face
14) Toby over Moby
16) All I Know Is What I Read in the Papers
18) How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found." (3)
Works Cited:
(1), (2), (3) "Sex Drugs and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto." 2007. Powell's Books. November 20, 2007.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
"Why don't we just kill off all the babies?" "That sounds like a fabulous idea!" "Wait, why don't we eat them, too?" "Even better!"
I think A Modest Proposal is one of my favourite readings EVER. For something that I got to read in class, it's hilarious! Man, I remember reading this the first time in class, it was supposed to be silent reading. Now in this class, grade 12 English, I was the only grade 11. I took a lot of classes with the year ahead of me. Anyways, my reaction to the reading made it obvious that I was sort of out of place.
I remember the classroom quiet. Then all I read was "A young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout..." I BURST out laughing. I literally think the guy in front of me, Thomas, got some spit on his neck because I literally BURST. Man.
Jonathan Swift is also the author of Gulliver's Travels, a movie that I have adored ever since I would watch it every time I went to my Uncle Mike's house (he wasn't my real Uncle, he was just my dad's friend who he ended up having a fight with at one point, I was around nine, and basically what it was to me was no more Gulliver's Travels). Who knew I would later read A Modest Proposal from the same author, and love it.
I read it to my camp kids (the older camp kids, obviously) this summer, and it rekindled how much I love this essay. Unfortunately it was the only thing I got to read this summer, apart from the occasional Bernstein Bears story. If you're in for a good, short read by Jonathan Swift... a Modest Proposal is the way to go.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Do you remember? When it was last september?
Subtitle One.
On Wednesday I arrived at exactly 1:35, so I missed the first snippet video. Ohhhhh well, what can you do? Then we watched the first bit of Zeitgeist. Vanessa has been telling me about this movie for so long and yeah, I totally want to watch it. The ideas in it, about religion and perceptions of the truth, etc. I can definitely understand. And in some respects I can even agree. I have yet to watch the full film though, so I'll reserve my comments for afterwards.
Exercise! As In, a group exercise.
Mark put us into groups to brainstorm/discuss important technological advancements. I guess this was to get us thinking about the timeline of media and social correlation. It's interesting to note that thereare so many themes that the timeline could be centered around. For example. take the idea of audio recording. First came the phonograph, then the magnetic wire recorder, then the tape recorder and LP record, then the portable cassette tape, and finally, the compact disc in 1983. As these technologies progressed, various music types emerged coinciding with the technologies. Since I am abig fan of history and origins of people and things, this project looks really fun and educational. I'm looking forward to getting together with my group and planning everything out!
Coping? Whatchu talkin' 'bout Willis?
Mark told us that drugs and alcohol are not an effective way of dealing with stress. Hallelujah, thank you for letting us know. People my age are SO used to just shoving off their problems with abusing stuff like that, and it's not only not right because they aren't learning coping strategies, it can also be damaging to their health.
Since I have had severe atopic dermatitis (super bad eczema) since I was a baby, was the fat kid, had anger problems, then had depression problems, problems with my mom, lost my hair when I was fourteen, among other things, I think I have experimented and know my ways of coping. Through all the extra stuff I've done through the years, school, student council, student government groups, dance classes, piano lessons, leadership conferences, anti-racism conferences, volunteer work, a job, and competitive soccer.. I look back on it now and seriously don't understand how I rarely stressed out. I used to have this theory that I didn't believe in getting stressed out. I think it's because I don't get stressed out and yell or cry or anything like that, I stress out physically: I get sick, my eczema comes back, etc. Truly though, I think that all my activities were my way of coping with the stress. Well guess what, it worked.
I went to a counsellor last summer because my mom had this theory that I was always wearing a mask, not physical, but she felt that because I was constantly busy and so outgoing, that I was really just so unhappy with my life. And part of it was true, but at the same time I am an outgoing person and I love being around people. I don't love my love, but I don't absolutely hate it. I mean I'm a pretty privileged person and I am completely aware of that. I hardly have anything to complain about, yet I still obviously do. Anyways, all this counsellor helped with was realizing that my mom and I had completely different personalities, so we're basically always going to have difficulties understanding each other. AND, coping strategies and tips. Like exercising, eating right, etc. Well.. I guess those activities I was doing kept me busy, as well as forced me to complete these coping strategies. Now that I'm not as crazily involved, I don't know if I will end up cracking sometime soon. I mean I'm not at all close, but I wonder if maybe next semester I will. I really thought that Mass Comm would do it to me, but apparently I have better automatic coping strategies than I thought.
Haven't we had enough confessions for the time-being?
Media confessions.. I really don't know if I have one. Maybe..
I confess that I love reading 'Discover' magazine? Is that really a confession? I'm actually proud of it, regardless of whether it makes me seem strange and overly-academic. Or something lame like that.
Being an Interesting Person as a Skill
I don't think that being an interesting person is a skill, because that could be the same as acting like an interesting person as a skill. I'd rather just be my regular self and hope I become an interesting person. I also hope that being weird and unique is a start to being an interesting person.
And now for something completely different!
The Achordants - An Capella Choir. I sooo wish we had a club like this at GH... I'm usually up for being crazy busy, but I think for my first year of University I should take it easy-ish.
On Wednesday I arrived at exactly 1:35, so I missed the first snippet video. Ohhhhh well, what can you do? Then we watched the first bit of Zeitgeist. Vanessa has been telling me about this movie for so long and yeah, I totally want to watch it. The ideas in it, about religion and perceptions of the truth, etc. I can definitely understand. And in some respects I can even agree. I have yet to watch the full film though, so I'll reserve my comments for afterwards.
Exercise! As In, a group exercise.
Mark put us into groups to brainstorm/discuss important technological advancements. I guess this was to get us thinking about the timeline of media and social correlation. It's interesting to note that thereare so many themes that the timeline could be centered around. For example. take the idea of audio recording. First came the phonograph, then the magnetic wire recorder, then the tape recorder and LP record, then the portable cassette tape, and finally, the compact disc in 1983. As these technologies progressed, various music types emerged coinciding with the technologies. Since I am abig fan of history and origins of people and things, this project looks really fun and educational. I'm looking forward to getting together with my group and planning everything out!
Coping? Whatchu talkin' 'bout Willis?
Mark told us that drugs and alcohol are not an effective way of dealing with stress. Hallelujah, thank you for letting us know. People my age are SO used to just shoving off their problems with abusing stuff like that, and it's not only not right because they aren't learning coping strategies, it can also be damaging to their health.
Since I have had severe atopic dermatitis (super bad eczema) since I was a baby, was the fat kid, had anger problems, then had depression problems, problems with my mom, lost my hair when I was fourteen, among other things, I think I have experimented and know my ways of coping. Through all the extra stuff I've done through the years, school, student council, student government groups, dance classes, piano lessons, leadership conferences, anti-racism conferences, volunteer work, a job, and competitive soccer.. I look back on it now and seriously don't understand how I rarely stressed out. I used to have this theory that I didn't believe in getting stressed out. I think it's because I don't get stressed out and yell or cry or anything like that, I stress out physically: I get sick, my eczema comes back, etc. Truly though, I think that all my activities were my way of coping with the stress. Well guess what, it worked.
I went to a counsellor last summer because my mom had this theory that I was always wearing a mask, not physical, but she felt that because I was constantly busy and so outgoing, that I was really just so unhappy with my life. And part of it was true, but at the same time I am an outgoing person and I love being around people. I don't love my love, but I don't absolutely hate it. I mean I'm a pretty privileged person and I am completely aware of that. I hardly have anything to complain about, yet I still obviously do. Anyways, all this counsellor helped with was realizing that my mom and I had completely different personalities, so we're basically always going to have difficulties understanding each other. AND, coping strategies and tips. Like exercising, eating right, etc. Well.. I guess those activities I was doing kept me busy, as well as forced me to complete these coping strategies. Now that I'm not as crazily involved, I don't know if I will end up cracking sometime soon. I mean I'm not at all close, but I wonder if maybe next semester I will. I really thought that Mass Comm would do it to me, but apparently I have better automatic coping strategies than I thought.
Haven't we had enough confessions for the time-being?
Media confessions.. I really don't know if I have one. Maybe..
I confess that I love reading 'Discover' magazine? Is that really a confession? I'm actually proud of it, regardless of whether it makes me seem strange and overly-academic. Or something lame like that.
Being an Interesting Person as a Skill
I don't think that being an interesting person is a skill, because that could be the same as acting like an interesting person as a skill. I'd rather just be my regular self and hope I become an interesting person. I also hope that being weird and unique is a start to being an interesting person.
And now for something completely different!
The Achordants - An Capella Choir. I sooo wish we had a club like this at GH... I'm usually up for being crazy busy, but I think for my first year of University I should take it easy-ish.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Toxic Sludge is Oh So Good For You
Obviously toxic sludge isn't good for you, you mindless tools. PR Specialists have just mislead you to believe that it is so that they can profit off you're ignorance.
This book discusses corporate systems, specifically the Public Relations component. Since a PR practitioner deals with the corporation's public, he or she may have to sway the public's opinion on a topic or issue. And herein lie the lies.
“… Lying under oath in front of a congressional committee is a crime; lying from under the cover of anonymity to a caucus is merely public relations.” (1)
I don’t know, it’s not so much the lying that I’m personally concerned about. It’s more the fact that we are constantly being mislead so that someone can benefit with power and finances.
PR firms and practitioners are so stealth. For example, with the strict veggie diet book by John Robbins, PR Firm Morgan & Myers PR used their connections to counteract the book. Since their clients include Kraft, as well as other cheese and livestock companies, it was their duty to go against this vegetarian book. But instead of coming out with it, just saying ‘Okay we need business so please keep your book to yourself,’ Morgan & Myers sent out memos saying that they were monitoring coverage of the publicity tour. This resulted in less exposure for the book, leading to worse sales. It’s sad that it had to be done this way, but unfortunately the Mean, Dirty Public Relations way is the way to go!
This book makes me think that a lot of the activist campaigns that have occurred have some scary, corporation behind it. It sort of scares me just thinking at how many causes that people have been involved in, not knowing the grassroots of the idea. It could be a big company just trying to brainwash you, watch out!
I didn’t like the format of the book as much as I thought I would. The content was interesting, but I found that because it was not in the type of book format that I am used to (it was more many anecdotes of PR experiences), it took away from the content of the book. Regardless, It was good to know the truth about PR Practitioners and all the deceit that goes on behind that scene.
No matter they are good or bad, there will always be one word for a PR practitioner: Sketchy. Great, and that's what I am aiming to become.
Works Cited:
(1) Rampton, Sheldon, Stauber, John. "Toxic Sludge is Good For You!" Maine: Common Courage Press, 1995.
This book discusses corporate systems, specifically the Public Relations component. Since a PR practitioner deals with the corporation's public, he or she may have to sway the public's opinion on a topic or issue. And herein lie the lies.
“… Lying under oath in front of a congressional committee is a crime; lying from under the cover of anonymity to a caucus is merely public relations.” (1)
I don’t know, it’s not so much the lying that I’m personally concerned about. It’s more the fact that we are constantly being mislead so that someone can benefit with power and finances.
PR firms and practitioners are so stealth. For example, with the strict veggie diet book by John Robbins, PR Firm Morgan & Myers PR used their connections to counteract the book. Since their clients include Kraft, as well as other cheese and livestock companies, it was their duty to go against this vegetarian book. But instead of coming out with it, just saying ‘Okay we need business so please keep your book to yourself,’ Morgan & Myers sent out memos saying that they were monitoring coverage of the publicity tour. This resulted in less exposure for the book, leading to worse sales. It’s sad that it had to be done this way, but unfortunately the Mean, Dirty Public Relations way is the way to go!
This book makes me think that a lot of the activist campaigns that have occurred have some scary, corporation behind it. It sort of scares me just thinking at how many causes that people have been involved in, not knowing the grassroots of the idea. It could be a big company just trying to brainwash you, watch out!
I didn’t like the format of the book as much as I thought I would. The content was interesting, but I found that because it was not in the type of book format that I am used to (it was more many anecdotes of PR experiences), it took away from the content of the book. Regardless, It was good to know the truth about PR Practitioners and all the deceit that goes on behind that scene.
No matter they are good or bad, there will always be one word for a PR practitioner: Sketchy. Great, and that's what I am aiming to become.
Works Cited:
(1) Rampton, Sheldon, Stauber, John. "Toxic Sludge is Good For You!" Maine: Common Courage Press, 1995.
I can't get no satisfaction
It's truly amazing how people can cheat out systems and basically cheat life, and yet they still appear to succeed where I do not.
I got a bunch of midterm marks back from three classes this week. As much as I can say that I put more than the expected time and effort into them, projects, studying, essays, etc, I was not impressed with the marks that I got back. Now, I'm not so diappointed with myself, considering I believe I did my best. But when I go to ask a teacher 'What could I have done to make it better?' or 'What would you suggest for next time?' And he replies with 'Well, no one cares about your marks, except for you!' with no explanation, it just goes to show how arbitrary people can be. It was as if he said 'Well no one is perfect, so I'm going to give you a C.' That kind of thinking just doesn't make sense to me.
Now I completely understand the fact that some profs or teachers just will NOT give 100%. That makes complete sense to me, because no matter what, there is always something to be improved on in any task or situation. But the fact that there was no rubric, no guideline to help me understand what I could improve on..that angered me.
I guess after all the unfairness I've endured and seen, I just can't accept the fact that life isn't fair. People ALWAYS say that, and I totally agree, I just haven't been able to accept it in my life yet, I guess.
I got a bunch of midterm marks back from three classes this week. As much as I can say that I put more than the expected time and effort into them, projects, studying, essays, etc, I was not impressed with the marks that I got back. Now, I'm not so diappointed with myself, considering I believe I did my best. But when I go to ask a teacher 'What could I have done to make it better?' or 'What would you suggest for next time?' And he replies with 'Well, no one cares about your marks, except for you!' with no explanation, it just goes to show how arbitrary people can be. It was as if he said 'Well no one is perfect, so I'm going to give you a C.' That kind of thinking just doesn't make sense to me.
Now I completely understand the fact that some profs or teachers just will NOT give 100%. That makes complete sense to me, because no matter what, there is always something to be improved on in any task or situation. But the fact that there was no rubric, no guideline to help me understand what I could improve on..that angered me.
I guess after all the unfairness I've endured and seen, I just can't accept the fact that life isn't fair. People ALWAYS say that, and I totally agree, I just haven't been able to accept it in my life yet, I guess.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Activism: We tried, We really did.
Initially, we were going to show our documentary in a conference or common room at residence, but it was hard to organize a group showing since we were unable to get sponsors for incentives to students to come. So we decided to use an innovative approach for turning apathy into activism.
Our idea was for everyone to make a copy of the DVD and then show it to a friend or someone else that they knew. Then, to create the domino effect, the group member encouraged to get the friend to show the film to someone else. This sort of mirrors the pay-it forward approach to spreading something, and in this case, it was awareness about the children of Uganda that, well, people are unaware of. Each member of the group made a copy of the DVD and showed it to one individual. Then that secondary group shows the video to one person of their own. We think that it is a unique way of spreading the word because it isn’t mass media, but in a way it is. Importance is discussed in documentary.
The idea was there, but for some of us, the person we chose might not have been ideal for the goal that we wanted to accomplish.
For my ‘victim’ that I showed the film to, I think I chose the wrong person. From this experience I learned that I am an over-expectant person. I wanted to show the film to someone that would be benefited by it, someone that has generally acted self-centered and very self-involved. Unfortunately, the person I showed it to had a negative approach to watching it, even from the beginning. I guess it just shows that not everyone is going to be as accepting as I think they are. People aren’t going to be selfless or helpful. I guess I just expect a lot-well, too much- from people.
For other people in the group that showed the film to others, I have heard great results. There are Invisible Children DVDs circulating Residence, not only in one building but in all three. I think it's kind of cool that a group project for school started all of it.
Our idea was for everyone to make a copy of the DVD and then show it to a friend or someone else that they knew. Then, to create the domino effect, the group member encouraged to get the friend to show the film to someone else. This sort of mirrors the pay-it forward approach to spreading something, and in this case, it was awareness about the children of Uganda that, well, people are unaware of. Each member of the group made a copy of the DVD and showed it to one individual. Then that secondary group shows the video to one person of their own. We think that it is a unique way of spreading the word because it isn’t mass media, but in a way it is. Importance is discussed in documentary.
The idea was there, but for some of us, the person we chose might not have been ideal for the goal that we wanted to accomplish.
For my ‘victim’ that I showed the film to, I think I chose the wrong person. From this experience I learned that I am an over-expectant person. I wanted to show the film to someone that would be benefited by it, someone that has generally acted self-centered and very self-involved. Unfortunately, the person I showed it to had a negative approach to watching it, even from the beginning. I guess it just shows that not everyone is going to be as accepting as I think they are. People aren’t going to be selfless or helpful. I guess I just expect a lot-well, too much- from people.
For other people in the group that showed the film to others, I have heard great results. There are Invisible Children DVDs circulating Residence, not only in one building but in all three. I think it's kind of cool that a group project for school started all of it.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
iPodcast - As in, I podcast!
I just realized that I probably have the LAMEST titles for my blog posts that a person could possibly have. Anyways, here are my thoughts and reflections about one of three projects that my group completed this weekend.
Podcasting: For our podcast, we decided to write about something that we knew about, and give it a twist. So we wrote the script for a tour of one of the residence buildings, and turned it into a haunting story. We each took a place in residence and wrote about it; I chose the roof because I thought it would be interesting as a story. Here is the script in full, as well as the .mp3 file that is the actual Podcast. We did that part just for fun.:D
Our intention was to make sort of a myth about the residence building. When I told a few students the story and let them listen to the podcast, they started to further question the history of the building.. coming to think of it, I guess my group sort of played a prank. We had fun making up the story though, so I’m happy that we chose that topic.
For my contribution, I wrote about the roof. I thought it would be one that could have a short story about it that was scandalous and shameful. I thought it was pretty good, and I thought it was cool that we went on the roof to record the podcast (I mean, we didn’t go on the roof...)
I definitely didn’t know that a podcast was actually in .mp3 format of an audio file. I didn’t have an iPod until this year, and I always wondered why it was called an iPod. For this group project I also learned that it is somewhat difficult to write a script when it is sectioned off. As much as we were trying to get everyone involved in an equal way, I think the flow of the script suffered because we had written it separately and then joined everything together, adding transitional sentences and editing together.
We just wanted to record it for our own fun. To record, I got a program called Audacity. The sound is SO clear that it records! Since my dad has his own music business, I am sort of accustomed to certain music and video editing programs, but I had never dealt with Audacity before. It was really simple to use and pretty convenient, the only downfall was that it was on my computer so the practical thing to do was bring my computer around to all the locations were we recorded. It was really cool though because it picked up all the sound effects that were needed..walking steps, the washing machine, etc.
For editing I also used Audacity, and it was very simple. I essentially cut and paste all the parts that were out of sync. Then I added music effects: by importing songs like 'Don't Lie' by the Black Eyed Peas, I was able to cut the beginning and use it as a 'thriller' type sound effect. I learned basic, and perhaps a bit of advanced, sound editing.
In the end, I think our topic was a good idea with a lot of potential, but we didn’t pay as much attention to detail as we should have. The audio was too loud and could not be offset by normalizing, and there are spoken mistakes, etc. However, it was a good experience, a good project to be done as a group, and now I know what recording program to use that is simple and easy.
Script:
Podcast Tour of Humber College Residence, formerly the Rexdale School for Boys
Vanessa: There is one recorded fatality at the Rexdale School for Boys. His name was Earnest, and he was 13 years old. He lived in Room 666, and he was liked by all his peers. He was discovered in his room slumped over his bureau with his history textbooks open. Cause of death: Homework Overload.
Cara: We’re here now at the Rexdale School for Boys today, now known as Humber North College Residence, where we are going to be leading a tour. Please stay with us as we venture through the tunnel that has an unknown history to the students who live here now.
Vanessa: The tunnel, which connects S building to the rest of the residence, was built over a fire pitt which students would use to burn all of their work at the end of the school year. To this day, some students say that they can feel what they can only describe as a hot spot as they pass through the tunnel.
The laundry room was used as the detention room back when it was a board school. Rumor has it that sometimes kids were made to stay in the detention room for over 24 hours. Some students would smuggle in small games to play to help pass the time. Ghosts are said to be seen in the laundry room and jacks have been found in the corner of the room.
Cara: Back when the building was for the Rexdale School for boys, the elevator was only supposed to be used by the cleaning maids and teachers. Some boys that were risky enough snuck into it regularly, just for the thrill of breaking the rules. Often they would ride up to the roof and look out over the landscape, usually a sunset or sunrise. Lets take a look up there now and find out what we can see.
Currently from the roof you can see the other residence buildings, the daycare centre, Hwy 27, and the Humber and Guelph-Humber buildings. At the time of the Rexdale School, most of this area wasn’t developed, so there was really nothing to see except a dirt path and a few trees. But the view wasn’t the only reason to go up to the roof. Professors used the roof as an illegal zone...they smoked and drank like there was no tomorrow. They assumed that no students would see them. However, Earnest and some friends went up to the roof one night, and they found their three teachers drunk, dancing to salsa music. They were horrified, so they ran back downstairs. It is still unknown if the teachers were aware of how their secret was exposed.
That's all for today, please join us next week when we discuss the new technology of iPhones.
Podcasting: For our podcast, we decided to write about something that we knew about, and give it a twist. So we wrote the script for a tour of one of the residence buildings, and turned it into a haunting story. We each took a place in residence and wrote about it; I chose the roof because I thought it would be interesting as a story. Here is the script in full, as well as the .mp3 file that is the actual Podcast. We did that part just for fun.:D
Our intention was to make sort of a myth about the residence building. When I told a few students the story and let them listen to the podcast, they started to further question the history of the building.. coming to think of it, I guess my group sort of played a prank. We had fun making up the story though, so I’m happy that we chose that topic.
For my contribution, I wrote about the roof. I thought it would be one that could have a short story about it that was scandalous and shameful. I thought it was pretty good, and I thought it was cool that we went on the roof to record the podcast (I mean, we didn’t go on the roof...)
I definitely didn’t know that a podcast was actually in .mp3 format of an audio file. I didn’t have an iPod until this year, and I always wondered why it was called an iPod. For this group project I also learned that it is somewhat difficult to write a script when it is sectioned off. As much as we were trying to get everyone involved in an equal way, I think the flow of the script suffered because we had written it separately and then joined everything together, adding transitional sentences and editing together.
We just wanted to record it for our own fun. To record, I got a program called Audacity. The sound is SO clear that it records! Since my dad has his own music business, I am sort of accustomed to certain music and video editing programs, but I had never dealt with Audacity before. It was really simple to use and pretty convenient, the only downfall was that it was on my computer so the practical thing to do was bring my computer around to all the locations were we recorded. It was really cool though because it picked up all the sound effects that were needed..walking steps, the washing machine, etc.
For editing I also used Audacity, and it was very simple. I essentially cut and paste all the parts that were out of sync. Then I added music effects: by importing songs like 'Don't Lie' by the Black Eyed Peas, I was able to cut the beginning and use it as a 'thriller' type sound effect. I learned basic, and perhaps a bit of advanced, sound editing.
In the end, I think our topic was a good idea with a lot of potential, but we didn’t pay as much attention to detail as we should have. The audio was too loud and could not be offset by normalizing, and there are spoken mistakes, etc. However, it was a good experience, a good project to be done as a group, and now I know what recording program to use that is simple and easy.
The information shown in this video is completely fictional.
Script:
Podcast Tour of Humber College Residence, formerly the Rexdale School for Boys
Vanessa: There is one recorded fatality at the Rexdale School for Boys. His name was Earnest, and he was 13 years old. He lived in Room 666, and he was liked by all his peers. He was discovered in his room slumped over his bureau with his history textbooks open. Cause of death: Homework Overload.
Cara: We’re here now at the Rexdale School for Boys today, now known as Humber North College Residence, where we are going to be leading a tour. Please stay with us as we venture through the tunnel that has an unknown history to the students who live here now.
Vanessa: The tunnel, which connects S building to the rest of the residence, was built over a fire pitt which students would use to burn all of their work at the end of the school year. To this day, some students say that they can feel what they can only describe as a hot spot as they pass through the tunnel.
The laundry room was used as the detention room back when it was a board school. Rumor has it that sometimes kids were made to stay in the detention room for over 24 hours. Some students would smuggle in small games to play to help pass the time. Ghosts are said to be seen in the laundry room and jacks have been found in the corner of the room.
Cara: Back when the building was for the Rexdale School for boys, the elevator was only supposed to be used by the cleaning maids and teachers. Some boys that were risky enough snuck into it regularly, just for the thrill of breaking the rules. Often they would ride up to the roof and look out over the landscape, usually a sunset or sunrise. Lets take a look up there now and find out what we can see.
Currently from the roof you can see the other residence buildings, the daycare centre, Hwy 27, and the Humber and Guelph-Humber buildings. At the time of the Rexdale School, most of this area wasn’t developed, so there was really nothing to see except a dirt path and a few trees. But the view wasn’t the only reason to go up to the roof. Professors used the roof as an illegal zone...they smoked and drank like there was no tomorrow. They assumed that no students would see them. However, Earnest and some friends went up to the roof one night, and they found their three teachers drunk, dancing to salsa music. They were horrified, so they ran back downstairs. It is still unknown if the teachers were aware of how their secret was exposed.
That's all for today, please join us next week when we discuss the new technology of iPhones.
-30-
Feel Like Rain = We the Media and Media Hegemony Map
After reading ‘We the Media,’ my views about major corporations were solidified. Six major companies control, well, to put it mildly, influence what we see, hear, and know in media and the media. By having alliances amongst them and creating indestructible ideas to thrust upon society, these companies each profit from this mass take-over of the world.
It amazes me that some people still don’t think that media influences their lives. I mean at least accept it. “Anyone who believes their thinking isn’t shaped by media has got his or her head stuck in the sand. Stop for a moment and take this simple test. Imagine the following: a manager of a 7-11 store, an urban teenager, and a suburban mother of two. Be honest with yourself about the pictures that come to your mind.”(1) Yes, I pictured a brown guy (East Indian), a black teenager, and then I think I just pictured a white lady with red hair. I don’t know why? Actually I do! It is because of media!
Although there are those who don’t believe that media influenced them or their way of thinking, there are also those who blame the media for everything in their lives. For some, media is just an excuse.
The book was cool to read because it wasn’t a conventional book; the articles presented were varied in focus, but all added to the whole idea of the book - fighting media democracy. Taking in this information was beneficial to me, now I have a complete understanding of what culture jammers do, as well as adbusters, people who fight for media democracy, etc. This book was read in perfect timing because I finished it a few hours before we started the project.
For ‘Mapping Who Owns What?’ it was a lot easier to understand the whole media ownership deal. The group, with the newest ingredient, Adam Mirani, began our research by first looking at albumoftheday.com/facebook. This was suggested to us because it was a reference from our Internet Survey and Research class. We discussed and made...well basically a connection map for the Facebook corporation. Facebook is relatively new to the internet, so there isn’t a lot of info about its hegemony. However, we discovered that Facebook is still its own but releases information to other corporations. It’s pretty much a goldmine for the advertising industry because there is a lot of information about what appeals to the public. This connects so much with the book we the media, because the companies share information for each company to profit.
We also did further research on, Dr. Anita Jones, Gilman Louie, James Breyer, Accel, InQTel, BBN Technologies, and the NVCA. Stuff is messed UP! Basically, these individuals and companies are paid millions of dollars to collect as much information as possible about everyone. But why? We also discovered an upcoming issue about Microsoft. Microsoft may be indeed buying some of Facebook. Once again, a big company take-over. Or at least that’s what I believe it will become. (UPDATE: Microsoft has ALREADY bought a part, the number is not solid but it's around 30% according to Bernie Monette)
A Close- Up of our poster, the actual connection-map part
It’s amazing how quickly they will slip in ‘Oh yeah, and we’re giving your information out to other companies, well if we feel like it,’ in their terms of use and ‘Oh yeah we’re actually not-so-private’ privacy policy. That’s why I was so skeptical about using Facebook. And I mean that I was so skeptical that when nearly everyone I knew had a facebook and would pressure me into registering, I still didn’t do it. My friends had to make me one in order for me to even begin to accept it. Now I use it, but only to keep track of people back home. Now I only provide limited details about myself. And now Facebook and God only knows who else has access to my life.
What a sick, manipulative world we live in.
I find that my view of We the Media and the Hegemony Map reminds me of the song that I'm currently listening to, Feel Like Rain by Motion City Soundtrack. The fact that it's like feeling let down, among other things that the song and the notions of hegemony have in similar. Well look for yourself:D
And we feel like rain,
When the words all sound the same,
In the lifeless corners of this empty frame.
Though we feel let down,
by the same old autumn breathing,
winter's curse is just around the bend.
With our hands all tied,
to the blades of their design
we are armed and ready to commit this crime.
We love that game but we never play
'cause we will lose and we wanna stay
the way we are
the way we've been for far too long.
From the falsest smile
to the fear of death is why
the pain reminds us that we're still alive.
With our hopes on hold,
and our lack of interest exposed,
all hands damage our determined eyes.
But the lines are drawn,
and the red begins to creep
its way from boredom toward apathy.
We love that game but we never play
'cause we will lose and we wanna stay
the way we are
the way we've been for far too long.
We love that game but we never play
'cause we will lose and we wanna stay
the way we are
the way we've been for far too long.
Say something finally we're alone.
alright is there anyone out there at all?
say something finally we're alone.
how 'bout a phone call now?
We love that game but we never play
'cause we will lose and we wanna stay
the way we are
the way we've been for far too long.
We love that game but we never play
'cause we will lose and we wanna stay
the way we are
the way we've been for far too long.
We love that game but we never play
'cause we will lose and we wanna stay
the way we are
And we feel like rain,
when the words all sound the same
as the curtain closes on another day. (2)
It fascinates me how almost everything in my life will relate to a song. I blame the media!
Works Cited:
(1) Themba, Makani. "To Tell the Truth." We the Media. Ed. Don Hazen and Julie Winokur. New York: The New Press, 1997. 202.
(2) "Feel Like Rain Lyrics." Lyrics. January 2007. Sing 365. November 10, 2007.
It amazes me that some people still don’t think that media influences their lives. I mean at least accept it. “Anyone who believes their thinking isn’t shaped by media has got his or her head stuck in the sand. Stop for a moment and take this simple test. Imagine the following: a manager of a 7-11 store, an urban teenager, and a suburban mother of two. Be honest with yourself about the pictures that come to your mind.”(1) Yes, I pictured a brown guy (East Indian), a black teenager, and then I think I just pictured a white lady with red hair. I don’t know why? Actually I do! It is because of media!
Although there are those who don’t believe that media influenced them or their way of thinking, there are also those who blame the media for everything in their lives. For some, media is just an excuse.
The book was cool to read because it wasn’t a conventional book; the articles presented were varied in focus, but all added to the whole idea of the book - fighting media democracy. Taking in this information was beneficial to me, now I have a complete understanding of what culture jammers do, as well as adbusters, people who fight for media democracy, etc. This book was read in perfect timing because I finished it a few hours before we started the project.
For ‘Mapping Who Owns What?’ it was a lot easier to understand the whole media ownership deal. The group, with the newest ingredient, Adam Mirani, began our research by first looking at albumoftheday.com/facebook. This was suggested to us because it was a reference from our Internet Survey and Research class. We discussed and made...well basically a connection map for the Facebook corporation. Facebook is relatively new to the internet, so there isn’t a lot of info about its hegemony. However, we discovered that Facebook is still its own but releases information to other corporations. It’s pretty much a goldmine for the advertising industry because there is a lot of information about what appeals to the public. This connects so much with the book we the media, because the companies share information for each company to profit.We also did further research on, Dr. Anita Jones, Gilman Louie, James Breyer, Accel, InQTel, BBN Technologies, and the NVCA. Stuff is messed UP! Basically, these individuals and companies are paid millions of dollars to collect as much information as possible about everyone. But why? We also discovered an upcoming issue about Microsoft. Microsoft may be indeed buying some of Facebook. Once again, a big company take-over. Or at least that’s what I believe it will become. (UPDATE: Microsoft has ALREADY bought a part, the number is not solid but it's around 30% according to Bernie Monette)
A Close- Up of our poster, the actual connection-map partIt’s amazing how quickly they will slip in ‘Oh yeah, and we’re giving your information out to other companies, well if we feel like it,’ in their terms of use and ‘Oh yeah we’re actually not-so-private’ privacy policy. That’s why I was so skeptical about using Facebook. And I mean that I was so skeptical that when nearly everyone I knew had a facebook and would pressure me into registering, I still didn’t do it. My friends had to make me one in order for me to even begin to accept it. Now I use it, but only to keep track of people back home. Now I only provide limited details about myself. And now Facebook and God only knows who else has access to my life.
What a sick, manipulative world we live in.
I find that my view of We the Media and the Hegemony Map reminds me of the song that I'm currently listening to, Feel Like Rain by Motion City Soundtrack. The fact that it's like feeling let down, among other things that the song and the notions of hegemony have in similar. Well look for yourself:D
And we feel like rain,
When the words all sound the same,
In the lifeless corners of this empty frame.
Though we feel let down,
by the same old autumn breathing,
winter's curse is just around the bend.
With our hands all tied,
to the blades of their design
we are armed and ready to commit this crime.
We love that game but we never play
'cause we will lose and we wanna stay
the way we are
the way we've been for far too long.
From the falsest smile
to the fear of death is why
the pain reminds us that we're still alive.
With our hopes on hold,
and our lack of interest exposed,
all hands damage our determined eyes.
But the lines are drawn,
and the red begins to creep
its way from boredom toward apathy.
We love that game but we never play
'cause we will lose and we wanna stay
the way we are
the way we've been for far too long.
We love that game but we never play
'cause we will lose and we wanna stay
the way we are
the way we've been for far too long.
Say something finally we're alone.
alright is there anyone out there at all?
say something finally we're alone.
how 'bout a phone call now?
We love that game but we never play
'cause we will lose and we wanna stay
the way we are
the way we've been for far too long.
We love that game but we never play
'cause we will lose and we wanna stay
the way we are
the way we've been for far too long.
We love that game but we never play
'cause we will lose and we wanna stay
the way we are
And we feel like rain,
when the words all sound the same
as the curtain closes on another day. (2)
It fascinates me how almost everything in my life will relate to a song. I blame the media!
Works Cited:
(1) Themba, Makani. "To Tell the Truth." We the Media. Ed. Don Hazen and Julie Winokur. New York: The New Press, 1997. 202.
(2) "Feel Like Rain Lyrics." Lyrics. January 2007. Sing 365. November 10, 2007.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
All in one - class on nov 7 and culture jamming... by mark dery. Wow this is a terribly long title.
Je voulais ecrire mon page de mon journal en Francais, mais je ne sais pas si les personnes ici peuvent comprendre. Ca fait rien!
So it was said yesterday in class that our last word should consist of our honest feedback about the class and could include parts of our blog. I am actually so excited to write it because I think I will be able to answer a lot of my own questions about myself while writing it. Still...
Mise En Abyme - this literally translates to 'to put into abyss.' In visual theories it means using a mirror to reflect an image.. this is basically what Mark wants us to do with our last word letter, as it connects to Maslow's pyramid of human needs...self-actualization. I expect I will be expressing my opinion about the actual class, the projects, the groups, everything like that.. and then I will also be talking about how I learned about myself, WHAT I learned about myself, and what else I have to learn about myself. I am excited to write it. This is one of the few papers I will be able to write without having an outline, but seriously, after the semiotics essay without an outline, I think I can just about do anything.
Mark let us know that if he gave us a precise outline for everything, he would be like all the other teachers. This epitomized my view about him: Yes, an outline is super scripted, but it's what we're very used to. But at the end of it all, after stressing about what were supposed to do and how we were supposed to do it, it will be for our own good. Mark knows all along that he's giving us a different experience which adds to our range of experiences, which makes us more knowledgeable, and more importantly, more experienced people. With these various experiences, we are able to see different views points to an argument/decision. And that is what education is all about. I love how everything just loops together and connects!
When we talked about voting and politics and activism for about the 479th time, I actually found it funny because whenever we talk about it I'm so into it, even though I just keep hearing the same thing over and over again. This time, I was looking at a powerade bottle while Mark was talking about politics, and I happened to see the slogan = Powerade: Sport it what you make it. That's like politics..it's on YOU to do stuff about something that affects you. And then I started thinking (and angering myself) about how we are so ego-centric. Even now thinking about it makes me annoyed. I don't even want to go into it indepth because it just makes me so angry, but I will say this..The worst people for me to deal with are hypocrites. I think that if you don't understand what you stand for by now, truly you need to figure it out. Don't say something and then do exactly the opposite. Puh-lease...
Wow anyways, to reiterate, I read the Culture Jamming reading by Mark Dery on Monday night and I found all that stuff pretty cool. The first thing I think of when I see subvertisements is that I wish I could be that clever. I definitely admire people that can make up clever slogans and use them publicly.. I think it's soooo cool. We saw subvertisements by Ron English in class and learned about Reverend Billy. The idea of it being 'semiotic guerilla warfare' is cool too, because it just shows that it's supposed to be a text with a meaning. Just in this field the meaning is ironic or a parody. I just think it's really cool to think of stuff so creative like that, and in some regards I could probably seen as a culture jammer. I definitely do this and have done it since I started usign the internet.."The culture jammer's question, as always, is: Who will have access to this cornucopia of information, and on what terms?" (1) Man, I always say that. That's why I didn't have Facebook until this September. Wow there were so many people I had to explain to before about why I didn't want to get it. It's just the fact that 'you never know' scares me. You never know who could have your information right in front of them. For all you know, right now someone could be watching you reading this. OR they could be tapped into your computer and they can even see you typing a comment. It's MESSED up. That's just my reasoning to be careful about what information you provide to anything. I also really think that when we talked about counterhegemony, I find that there are definitely some people who can manage to be completely counterhegemony, as in they are totally NOT a tool to the whole big corporation deally. I really do admire that. As much as I'm not all up in celebrities lives and I don't care about the Hills and stuff like that, I still am a little bit of a tool I guess. I think I'm going to bring my sewing machine so I can start making my own clothes...pfft that would be so sick.
I also want to brush up on my French skills. I actually miss speaking French SO bad. I love it! And math! Today in one of my classes I started making up equations for myself to do. They were so fun ...
Wow. I can't believe we only have about 2.5 weeks of class left. I am definitely going to miss it. As much as I sometimes cannot stand Mark, he is definitely one of my favourite teachers I have ever had. And I'm pretty critical of my teachers. The only other teacher that I've ever said was one of my favourite teachers was for grade 9 Gifted English, Mr. Brodribb. He always overused words like notion and epitome. And he was SO smart and wayyy enthusiastic. His armpits were always super sweaty when he 'taught with his hands' and everyone could see. But I guess it really didn't matter, since he was such an amazing teacher. I guess I've always compared my high school teachers from that point on, as well as my university professors.
The thing about Mark is that I find he has basically has ruined my life. Everything that I already analyze and already agonize over (which is almost everything that comes across me in the course of my life) I just think about more. I find that I completely love and hate mass communications, but I realize that hating it is making me love it. I'm just wondering if there's an easier way to make us think instead of angering it out of us. I always feel like we're just playing a game, and there are secret codes that only some of us find out. It's crazy weird.
I am pretty excited tomorrow because I'm doing something that I like to call my Mass Comm Project BLITZ. From 10-3 tomorrow I, along with whoever decides to, will finish four of the projects for the class. I'm just so tired of having everything half-done and half-assed, I just want to finish assignments that are given to us and do them well and learn how to work with other people. It's already been a good experience because I know that there are some people that I would never want to work with again. Regardless, the four projects that we work on tomorrow will be serious, still. We're going to do the image curation, podcast, media hegemony poster and complete the final stage of our activist project. It will be hard work for a solid while, but I'm happy to do them. And I don't mean that I will be happy to be done with them, I am actually excited to do the work. And with people that I enjoy working with...Excellent.
Work Cited:
(1) Dery, Mark. Culture Jamming: Hacking, Slashing and Sniping in the Empire of Signs. Mark Dery's Pyrotechnic Insanitarium. September 29, 2007. Shovelware. October 31, 2007.
http://www.levity.com/markdery/culturjam.html
So it was said yesterday in class that our last word should consist of our honest feedback about the class and could include parts of our blog. I am actually so excited to write it because I think I will be able to answer a lot of my own questions about myself while writing it. Still...
Mise En Abyme - this literally translates to 'to put into abyss.' In visual theories it means using a mirror to reflect an image.. this is basically what Mark wants us to do with our last word letter, as it connects to Maslow's pyramid of human needs...self-actualization. I expect I will be expressing my opinion about the actual class, the projects, the groups, everything like that.. and then I will also be talking about how I learned about myself, WHAT I learned about myself, and what else I have to learn about myself. I am excited to write it. This is one of the few papers I will be able to write without having an outline, but seriously, after the semiotics essay without an outline, I think I can just about do anything.
Mark let us know that if he gave us a precise outline for everything, he would be like all the other teachers. This epitomized my view about him: Yes, an outline is super scripted, but it's what we're very used to. But at the end of it all, after stressing about what were supposed to do and how we were supposed to do it, it will be for our own good. Mark knows all along that he's giving us a different experience which adds to our range of experiences, which makes us more knowledgeable, and more importantly, more experienced people. With these various experiences, we are able to see different views points to an argument/decision. And that is what education is all about. I love how everything just loops together and connects!
When we talked about voting and politics and activism for about the 479th time, I actually found it funny because whenever we talk about it I'm so into it, even though I just keep hearing the same thing over and over again. This time, I was looking at a powerade bottle while Mark was talking about politics, and I happened to see the slogan = Powerade: Sport it what you make it. That's like politics..it's on YOU to do stuff about something that affects you. And then I started thinking (and angering myself) about how we are so ego-centric. Even now thinking about it makes me annoyed. I don't even want to go into it indepth because it just makes me so angry, but I will say this..The worst people for me to deal with are hypocrites. I think that if you don't understand what you stand for by now, truly you need to figure it out. Don't say something and then do exactly the opposite. Puh-lease...
Wow anyways, to reiterate, I read the Culture Jamming reading by Mark Dery on Monday night and I found all that stuff pretty cool. The first thing I think of when I see subvertisements is that I wish I could be that clever. I definitely admire people that can make up clever slogans and use them publicly.. I think it's soooo cool. We saw subvertisements by Ron English in class and learned about Reverend Billy. The idea of it being 'semiotic guerilla warfare' is cool too, because it just shows that it's supposed to be a text with a meaning. Just in this field the meaning is ironic or a parody. I just think it's really cool to think of stuff so creative like that, and in some regards I could probably seen as a culture jammer. I definitely do this and have done it since I started usign the internet.."The culture jammer's question, as always, is: Who will have access to this cornucopia of information, and on what terms?" (1) Man, I always say that. That's why I didn't have Facebook until this September. Wow there were so many people I had to explain to before about why I didn't want to get it. It's just the fact that 'you never know' scares me. You never know who could have your information right in front of them. For all you know, right now someone could be watching you reading this. OR they could be tapped into your computer and they can even see you typing a comment. It's MESSED up. That's just my reasoning to be careful about what information you provide to anything. I also really think that when we talked about counterhegemony, I find that there are definitely some people who can manage to be completely counterhegemony, as in they are totally NOT a tool to the whole big corporation deally. I really do admire that. As much as I'm not all up in celebrities lives and I don't care about the Hills and stuff like that, I still am a little bit of a tool I guess. I think I'm going to bring my sewing machine so I can start making my own clothes...pfft that would be so sick.
I also want to brush up on my French skills. I actually miss speaking French SO bad. I love it! And math! Today in one of my classes I started making up equations for myself to do. They were so fun ...
Wow. I can't believe we only have about 2.5 weeks of class left. I am definitely going to miss it. As much as I sometimes cannot stand Mark, he is definitely one of my favourite teachers I have ever had. And I'm pretty critical of my teachers. The only other teacher that I've ever said was one of my favourite teachers was for grade 9 Gifted English, Mr. Brodribb. He always overused words like notion and epitome. And he was SO smart and wayyy enthusiastic. His armpits were always super sweaty when he 'taught with his hands' and everyone could see. But I guess it really didn't matter, since he was such an amazing teacher. I guess I've always compared my high school teachers from that point on, as well as my university professors.
The thing about Mark is that I find he has basically has ruined my life. Everything that I already analyze and already agonize over (which is almost everything that comes across me in the course of my life) I just think about more. I find that I completely love and hate mass communications, but I realize that hating it is making me love it. I'm just wondering if there's an easier way to make us think instead of angering it out of us. I always feel like we're just playing a game, and there are secret codes that only some of us find out. It's crazy weird.
I am pretty excited tomorrow because I'm doing something that I like to call my Mass Comm Project BLITZ. From 10-3 tomorrow I, along with whoever decides to, will finish four of the projects for the class. I'm just so tired of having everything half-done and half-assed, I just want to finish assignments that are given to us and do them well and learn how to work with other people. It's already been a good experience because I know that there are some people that I would never want to work with again. Regardless, the four projects that we work on tomorrow will be serious, still. We're going to do the image curation, podcast, media hegemony poster and complete the final stage of our activist project. It will be hard work for a solid while, but I'm happy to do them. And I don't mean that I will be happy to be done with them, I am actually excited to do the work. And with people that I enjoy working with...Excellent.
Work Cited:
(1) Dery, Mark. Culture Jamming: Hacking, Slashing and Sniping in the Empire of Signs. Mark Dery's Pyrotechnic Insanitarium. September 29, 2007. Shovelware. October 31, 2007.
http://www.levity.com/markdery/culturjam.html
Monday, November 5, 2007
Poop Culture
Even I deceive myself at times.
Here I am, thinking that I am very mature for my age. People always tell me that they think I'm 20-22 years of age because of how I present myself and how I speak. But yet, while I was writing my Christmas book list (I usually don't ask for presents, but this year I decided to 'shake it up') and one of the books on it is Running With Scissors. I think this may be one of my favourite books after Catcher in the Rye. Running With Scissors is filled with just such strange situations, but they're so strange that it makes it pretty much realistic. There are so many random things in that book that are just so..funny and sometimes even personable. For instance, the part about Bible dipping (the act of asking a question, and then randomly selecting a page and a sentence and relate it to the question) was hilarious since I sometimes randomly picked a part of the Bible to read, but I didn't think anyone actually named it anything. Then of course I started thinking about how in the book, the Doctor (sorry I forget his name) says that his poop tells of the financial future. I'm not explaining why because I don't know if people can take it in, but let me just finish my point. Basically I realised that I thought it was interesting that the Doctor believed he could predict the future from his poop. Now, I have once seen a book called 'What's your poo telling you?' at one of my favourite stores called Urban Outfitters. After I related the two, I wondered if poop could also tell of othe aspects of life, sort of like palm readings. So I decided to Google 'bowel movement psych analysis' and similar phrases. I didn't really find anything except...
Another book to put on my reading list! It's called Poop Culture: How America is Shaped by its Grossest National Product. I think it would be an interesting cultural theory to explore, especially since it's the act is a similarity among most people and animals, except apparently this guy...
"Having never once defecated or urinated in my life, this book opened a fascinating, if not disturbing, new world for me." -- Patton Oswalt, Comedian
Here's the link to the page about this book: www.poopthebook.com
So my reading list currently consists of:
1) Brave New World : Referred to other posts for explanation
2) 1984 : Refer to other posts for explanation
3) The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer: After hearing these stories in different grade school classes and then once in high school, I would sometime like to actually read the stories/poems on my own. It puts together history and reading..my two nerdy indulgences.:D
4) A Midsummer Night's Dream : I've never read a Shakespearean play that I didn't like. Seriously. I've read Hamlet, Othello, Julius Caesar, The Taming of the Shrew and Romeo and Juliet. A Midsummer Nights Dream seems like the one that I wouldn't like, but I definitely want to give it a chance. Other plays I want to read by Shakespeare are As You Like It and the Tempest. I also really want to reread Twelfth Night because that was by far my favourite play. HilariOUS.
5) Poop Culture : An interesting study!
Here I am, thinking that I am very mature for my age. People always tell me that they think I'm 20-22 years of age because of how I present myself and how I speak. But yet, while I was writing my Christmas book list (I usually don't ask for presents, but this year I decided to 'shake it up') and one of the books on it is Running With Scissors. I think this may be one of my favourite books after Catcher in the Rye. Running With Scissors is filled with just such strange situations, but they're so strange that it makes it pretty much realistic. There are so many random things in that book that are just so..funny and sometimes even personable. For instance, the part about Bible dipping (the act of asking a question, and then randomly selecting a page and a sentence and relate it to the question) was hilarious since I sometimes randomly picked a part of the Bible to read, but I didn't think anyone actually named it anything. Then of course I started thinking about how in the book, the Doctor (sorry I forget his name) says that his poop tells of the financial future. I'm not explaining why because I don't know if people can take it in, but let me just finish my point. Basically I realised that I thought it was interesting that the Doctor believed he could predict the future from his poop. Now, I have once seen a book called 'What's your poo telling you?' at one of my favourite stores called Urban Outfitters. After I related the two, I wondered if poop could also tell of othe aspects of life, sort of like palm readings. So I decided to Google 'bowel movement psych analysis' and similar phrases. I didn't really find anything except...
Another book to put on my reading list! It's called Poop Culture: How America is Shaped by its Grossest National Product. I think it would be an interesting cultural theory to explore, especially since it's the act is a similarity among most people and animals, except apparently this guy..."Having never once defecated or urinated in my life, this book opened a fascinating, if not disturbing, new world for me." -- Patton Oswalt, Comedian
Here's the link to the page about this book: www.poopthebook.com
So my reading list currently consists of:
1) Brave New World : Referred to other posts for explanation
2) 1984 : Refer to other posts for explanation
3) The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer: After hearing these stories in different grade school classes and then once in high school, I would sometime like to actually read the stories/poems on my own. It puts together history and reading..my two nerdy indulgences.:D
4) A Midsummer Night's Dream : I've never read a Shakespearean play that I didn't like. Seriously. I've read Hamlet, Othello, Julius Caesar, The Taming of the Shrew and Romeo and Juliet. A Midsummer Nights Dream seems like the one that I wouldn't like, but I definitely want to give it a chance. Other plays I want to read by Shakespeare are As You Like It and the Tempest. I also really want to reread Twelfth Night because that was by far my favourite play. HilariOUS.
5) Poop Culture : An interesting study!
It's Not Unusual
Alright, so I am definitely getting somewhere with my semiotic analysis.
It took me so long to get an idea that I could work with and that I wanted to do. At first I wanted to take a look at Beatles album covers and show how they add up to Paul being dead, OR that the group just wanted to play with the idea, but that has been done so many times before and I don't think it would have been that interesting coming from me. Then I toyed with the idea of analyzing emoticons and online communication, my thesis being that online communication distorts our perception of emotions. I don't know how far I would have gotten with that idea though, I mean it is obviously good because there are so many examples..but I wouldn't be working with a specific 'text' as described by most semiotics specialists.
In the end, I decided to analyze the characters in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, showing that they enforce stereotypes labeled throughout our society. Watching it ALLLLL the time as a kid and teenager, I can think of tons of reasons why three characters, Will, Hilary and Carlton, represent specific Black stereotypes, and were designed that way. I just wanted to post about the clips that I used as research for my paper. I watch a lot of compilations and revisited episodes, but this was the best to use for analysis. Enjoy!
It took me so long to get an idea that I could work with and that I wanted to do. At first I wanted to take a look at Beatles album covers and show how they add up to Paul being dead, OR that the group just wanted to play with the idea, but that has been done so many times before and I don't think it would have been that interesting coming from me. Then I toyed with the idea of analyzing emoticons and online communication, my thesis being that online communication distorts our perception of emotions. I don't know how far I would have gotten with that idea though, I mean it is obviously good because there are so many examples..but I wouldn't be working with a specific 'text' as described by most semiotics specialists.
In the end, I decided to analyze the characters in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, showing that they enforce stereotypes labeled throughout our society. Watching it ALLLLL the time as a kid and teenager, I can think of tons of reasons why three characters, Will, Hilary and Carlton, represent specific Black stereotypes, and were designed that way. I just wanted to post about the clips that I used as research for my paper. I watch a lot of compilations and revisited episodes, but this was the best to use for analysis. Enjoy!
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Chicka Chicka Yea Yea
Mark Dery, a cultural critic, decided to plague me with a long reading in the same week that I am working on my semiotics essay, which isn't coming together as well as planned. But then again, I do have a back-up, so I think I'll be fine. The arguments are semi-strong...ahaha get it? Like semiotically strong? Get it? No? Okay.
So Dery's text proved to be a half-decent read. The beginning had many heavy ideas about the "effects of television and about the information 'explosion.' "(1) The text also provides an in depth look at media hacking, which, well from what I got from the text, is a revolt invloving many, against various sources of information, or, well, media. These could be advertisements, newscasters, and the like. It is about how everything has subtle meanings that the viewer may not notice at first. From what I know, Dery's point is to beat the media with their own game. It serves as an interesting concept for those who are always searching for something wrong with the media. I think a lot of the points in this article could be very beneficial to my semiotics essay. Definitely will read the article over so that I can catch any useful points.
Oh yeah, and from now on I'm going to try to get to the point as quickly as possible in these blogs. My time is too precious to waste on me always rambling on and on, usually meaningless phrases. See?
Works Cited:
(1) Dery, Mark. "Culture Jamming: Hacking, Slashing and Sniping in the Empire of Signs." Mark Dery's Pyrotechnic Insanitarium. September 29, 2007. Shovelware. November 4, 2007.
http://www.levity.com/markdery/culturjam.html
So Dery's text proved to be a half-decent read. The beginning had many heavy ideas about the "effects of television and about the information 'explosion.' "(1) The text also provides an in depth look at media hacking, which, well from what I got from the text, is a revolt invloving many, against various sources of information, or, well, media. These could be advertisements, newscasters, and the like. It is about how everything has subtle meanings that the viewer may not notice at first. From what I know, Dery's point is to beat the media with their own game. It serves as an interesting concept for those who are always searching for something wrong with the media. I think a lot of the points in this article could be very beneficial to my semiotics essay. Definitely will read the article over so that I can catch any useful points.
Oh yeah, and from now on I'm going to try to get to the point as quickly as possible in these blogs. My time is too precious to waste on me always rambling on and on, usually meaningless phrases. See?
Works Cited:
(1) Dery, Mark. "Culture Jamming: Hacking, Slashing and Sniping in the Empire of Signs." Mark Dery's Pyrotechnic Insanitarium. September 29, 2007. Shovelware. November 4, 2007.
http://www.levity.com/markdery/culturjam.html
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head
So lately I've been subjected to a few situations that have got me thinking, and quite frankly, sort of annoyed. In general, people want to be liked by as many people as possible. And this would entice them to attract attention. So why is it that attention is so desired? Because people want to be liked? I guess it's just a vicious circle that eats up those who are unaware of what's happening to them.
I was just really annoyed tonight at how phony some people can be. They will tell you things about themselves and then you will see them do the exact opposite. Or they just won't be a half-decent, courteous person. Why I am I going to associate myself with these people when they don't even care about me?
I can't stand the fact that girls are treated based on their appearance. And it's basically black and white, except it's the 3/4-and-lower-get-screwed effect. If you're a really pretty girl (4/4), you get treated amazingly by all the boys. If you're okay pretty (3/4), somewhat pretty (2/4), or only a little pretty (1/4) then you pretty much have to fend for yourself and let yourself be heard. But why put all this effort to force a friendship that the others don't even care about because you don't look like a super model or someone on a venus razor ad?
And then they wonder why I walk away. Well plain and simple, they're just being assholes. And don't talk about me behind my back when I am literally 4 metres away from you, just because I've made it clear that I don't want to be a part of your excuse of a party, when you already make me not want to be there.
People are also just really dense and tend not to use common sense. It's what I've noticed about many individuals. I mean, there are somethings that others do that may be obviously and blatently simple, yet the individual has trouble. Of course because I can't say no, I end up heping the suckers and taking time out of my day, when those individuals are usually rude to me and copy off my tests and notes. I don't mind helping you out, just at least be nice to me on a regular basis instead of yelling at me like a crazy lady. And yes, sometimes I can be an idiot. Sometimes I'll act like an idiot and sometimes I'll actually be an idiot. At least I can be aware of it.
I'm so tired of the 'let's-get-drunk-and-high-and-annoying-and-loud-because-we-have-nothing-better-to-do' scene. I mean, I understand that yes, that is what teenagers do, but we're not teenagers anymore! Well, for the most part. Actually, the kids that are still 17 are actually way cooler than the older ones. But anyways, I just think its stupid how we are told to just be ourselves, regular, etc., when everyone is SO phony. Phony, incompetent, and bored. It's just...sad.
I was just really annoyed tonight at how phony some people can be. They will tell you things about themselves and then you will see them do the exact opposite. Or they just won't be a half-decent, courteous person. Why I am I going to associate myself with these people when they don't even care about me?
I can't stand the fact that girls are treated based on their appearance. And it's basically black and white, except it's the 3/4-and-lower-get-screwed effect. If you're a really pretty girl (4/4), you get treated amazingly by all the boys. If you're okay pretty (3/4), somewhat pretty (2/4), or only a little pretty (1/4) then you pretty much have to fend for yourself and let yourself be heard. But why put all this effort to force a friendship that the others don't even care about because you don't look like a super model or someone on a venus razor ad?
And then they wonder why I walk away. Well plain and simple, they're just being assholes. And don't talk about me behind my back when I am literally 4 metres away from you, just because I've made it clear that I don't want to be a part of your excuse of a party, when you already make me not want to be there.
People are also just really dense and tend not to use common sense. It's what I've noticed about many individuals. I mean, there are somethings that others do that may be obviously and blatently simple, yet the individual has trouble. Of course because I can't say no, I end up heping the suckers and taking time out of my day, when those individuals are usually rude to me and copy off my tests and notes. I don't mind helping you out, just at least be nice to me on a regular basis instead of yelling at me like a crazy lady. And yes, sometimes I can be an idiot. Sometimes I'll act like an idiot and sometimes I'll actually be an idiot. At least I can be aware of it.
I'm so tired of the 'let's-get-drunk-and-high-and-annoying-and-loud-because-we-have-nothing-better-to-do' scene. I mean, I understand that yes, that is what teenagers do, but we're not teenagers anymore! Well, for the most part. Actually, the kids that are still 17 are actually way cooler than the older ones. But anyways, I just think its stupid how we are told to just be ourselves, regular, etc., when everyone is SO phony. Phony, incompetent, and bored. It's just...sad.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
C'est L'Hallowe'en...boo!
Sometimes I wake up and I feel so great. I don't know why this is happening today because I feel so gross, but at the same time I feel good. Does that make sense?
I was thinking about the discussion we had in class yesterday about being as aware of your sexual health and drug use as you are of your political views. It makes so much sense actually. Youth always blame our apathy on the fact that the government doesn't pull us in enough to vote, and etc. What we don't realize is that we should approach voting as we do alcohol, illegal drugs and sexual activity - we should be exploring. Well, in order to make a proper judgment, one should be exploring all aspects of life, including politics. Youth have NO excuse for why we're not involved in politics..saying that the government doesn't advertise to youth enough to vote = a bogus excuse.
I checked out www.yourmedia.ca and www.thenation.com earlier this week. On Your Media, I found that my opinion was just confirmed: everything is owned by big businesses. Internet, advertisements, products, places, movies...all are owned or supported by corporations that own other things. One could compare media ownership to a messed up, super-extended family: There's the mom and dad, there are divorces, there are marriages or remarriages, there are adoptions, and there are births. But no matter what, the father is always at the top of the chain a.k.a. the man of the house. I thought it was a pretty accurate analogy.
I don't want to go over all the stats that we learned in class, the ones I wrote down, the ones I didn't write down...all I have to know is that the world is messed up. Everyone is a tool to mega-conglomerates. Actually, everyone is a tool to..well, everything. Hallowe'en is a perfect example.
Raised in a Christian family where my mom was VERY against the devil's day, I was never allowed to go out for hallowe'en. Besides dressing up, (only during my high school years since I was on Student council and lead by example) I have actually only celebrated it once, last year, and only because I went to a party. This one costume that I had worn was made out of clothes that I already had. It was pretty sweet, I was a queen bee. I wore a bright yellow sweatshirt and put black electrical tape on it for the stripes, a black skirt (It was actually my sister's) legwarmers and some little antennae. Everyone LOVED it, and what I liked about it was that I wasn't contributing to the girl world Hallowe'en (In the movie Mean Girls, Hallowe'en is defined as the 'one night of the year that a girl can dress like a total slut and get away with it')
I was always annoyed by the fact that my parents wouldn't let me engage in this classic kids paradise. The one night where there was loads of candy, running around at night, and staying up past 7 p.m. ...that was the life that I never had. But when I look back on all the money and time that my parents saved by not participating in this commercial event, I'm actually sort of proud. For whatever reason, they weren't tools to that tradition that is enforced by the 'man of the house,' which one could also refer to as 'the man.' So in a way, my parents stuck it to the man. Sick.
I was thinking about the discussion we had in class yesterday about being as aware of your sexual health and drug use as you are of your political views. It makes so much sense actually. Youth always blame our apathy on the fact that the government doesn't pull us in enough to vote, and etc. What we don't realize is that we should approach voting as we do alcohol, illegal drugs and sexual activity - we should be exploring. Well, in order to make a proper judgment, one should be exploring all aspects of life, including politics. Youth have NO excuse for why we're not involved in politics..saying that the government doesn't advertise to youth enough to vote = a bogus excuse.
I checked out www.yourmedia.ca and www.thenation.com earlier this week. On Your Media, I found that my opinion was just confirmed: everything is owned by big businesses. Internet, advertisements, products, places, movies...all are owned or supported by corporations that own other things. One could compare media ownership to a messed up, super-extended family: There's the mom and dad, there are divorces, there are marriages or remarriages, there are adoptions, and there are births. But no matter what, the father is always at the top of the chain a.k.a. the man of the house. I thought it was a pretty accurate analogy.
I don't want to go over all the stats that we learned in class, the ones I wrote down, the ones I didn't write down...all I have to know is that the world is messed up. Everyone is a tool to mega-conglomerates. Actually, everyone is a tool to..well, everything. Hallowe'en is a perfect example.
Raised in a Christian family where my mom was VERY against the devil's day, I was never allowed to go out for hallowe'en. Besides dressing up, (only during my high school years since I was on Student council and lead by example) I have actually only celebrated it once, last year, and only because I went to a party. This one costume that I had worn was made out of clothes that I already had. It was pretty sweet, I was a queen bee. I wore a bright yellow sweatshirt and put black electrical tape on it for the stripes, a black skirt (It was actually my sister's) legwarmers and some little antennae. Everyone LOVED it, and what I liked about it was that I wasn't contributing to the girl world Hallowe'en (In the movie Mean Girls, Hallowe'en is defined as the 'one night of the year that a girl can dress like a total slut and get away with it')
I was always annoyed by the fact that my parents wouldn't let me engage in this classic kids paradise. The one night where there was loads of candy, running around at night, and staying up past 7 p.m. ...that was the life that I never had. But when I look back on all the money and time that my parents saved by not participating in this commercial event, I'm actually sort of proud. For whatever reason, they weren't tools to that tradition that is enforced by the 'man of the house,' which one could also refer to as 'the man.' So in a way, my parents stuck it to the man. Sick.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Semiotics For Beginners: Well I guess that's me!
Semiotics..okay let’s see if I’ve got this straight.
I reread the 'Semiotics for Beginners' page, and now I think I'm good for my understanding of semiotics, hopefully this expresses my understanding well. Writing my semiotics paper will be so much easier now...
Semiotics is the study of signs with implicit and explicit meanings. Since it isn’t actually an academic study, it’s more of a theoretical study or analysis. It also is the study of distinguishing between :
"- semantics: the relationship of signs to what they stand for;
- syntactics (or syntax): the formal or structural relations between signs;
- pragmatics: the relation of signs to interpreters (Morris 1938, 6-7)." (1)
Also there is the notion of having a connotation, which is different from a denotation, which is also different from a myth about the certain text, so a tv show, image, literature, etc.
“Semiotics is important because it can help us not to take 'reality' for granted as something having a purely objective existence which is independent of human interpretation. It teaches us that reality is a system of signs. Studying semiotics can assist us to become more aware of reality as a construction and of the roles played by ourselves and others in constructing it. It can help us to realize that information or meaning is not 'contained' in the world or in books, computers or audio-visual media. Meaning is not 'transmitted' to us - we actively create it according to a complex interplay of codes or conventions of which we are normally unaware. Becoming aware of such codes is both inherently fascinating and intellectually empowering.” (2)
This is so true. It reminds me of when Britain claimed parts of Africa and imposed indirect rule. Africans thought they had control over the decisions made, but in reality Britain controlled and oppressed them. Soon, some Africans started to study literature and history. With this newfound knowledge, they understood their oppression and eventually realised they were being controlled. Britain is sort of like technology, signs and texts. Semiotics is the way that we, the Africans, can understand our oppression and how these texts influence or affect our social life.
Work Cited:
(1), (2) Chandler, Daniel. Semiotics for Beginners. Media and Communication Studies. April 3, 2005. Aberystwyth University. November 3, 2007.
I reread the 'Semiotics for Beginners' page, and now I think I'm good for my understanding of semiotics, hopefully this expresses my understanding well. Writing my semiotics paper will be so much easier now...
Semiotics is the study of signs with implicit and explicit meanings. Since it isn’t actually an academic study, it’s more of a theoretical study or analysis. It also is the study of distinguishing between :
"- semantics: the relationship of signs to what they stand for;
- syntactics (or syntax): the formal or structural relations between signs;
- pragmatics: the relation of signs to interpreters (Morris 1938, 6-7)." (1)
Also there is the notion of having a connotation, which is different from a denotation, which is also different from a myth about the certain text, so a tv show, image, literature, etc.
“Semiotics is important because it can help us not to take 'reality' for granted as something having a purely objective existence which is independent of human interpretation. It teaches us that reality is a system of signs. Studying semiotics can assist us to become more aware of reality as a construction and of the roles played by ourselves and others in constructing it. It can help us to realize that information or meaning is not 'contained' in the world or in books, computers or audio-visual media. Meaning is not 'transmitted' to us - we actively create it according to a complex interplay of codes or conventions of which we are normally unaware. Becoming aware of such codes is both inherently fascinating and intellectually empowering.” (2)
This is so true. It reminds me of when Britain claimed parts of Africa and imposed indirect rule. Africans thought they had control over the decisions made, but in reality Britain controlled and oppressed them. Soon, some Africans started to study literature and history. With this newfound knowledge, they understood their oppression and eventually realised they were being controlled. Britain is sort of like technology, signs and texts. Semiotics is the way that we, the Africans, can understand our oppression and how these texts influence or affect our social life.
Work Cited:
(1), (2) Chandler, Daniel. Semiotics for Beginners. Media and Communication Studies. April 3, 2005. Aberystwyth University. November 3, 2007.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
P is for Porno
Okay, so obviously I am a little over sensitive, in regards to my last post. So after I left the class abruptly because I was frustrated (and I needed to change my shirt, is that such a crime?) I decided that there was no point in staying away from class and missing out on a lecture. So I reluctantly dragged myself back into class, and I'm glad that I came back, because now I get to post on our class discussion. Yipee!
By the way, I tried SOOOO hard to act like a badass because I was just so bitter. I tried not looking at Mark while he was talking (which I usually do, look at the speaker, because it's just a sign of respect), I text messaged in class (but had to stop because I felt bad) and not writing notes..but I couldn't do it. It's not even because it was super interesting (in the end, it was) but it was just because I felt so bad, and there was really no point of it. Silly, silly me.
When I returned we were talking about the definition of power and hegemonies; about the Pope and how propaganda first started with trying to 'civilize' people from outer nations and essentially, the beginning of evangelism.
notes:(n.b. I'm just being a bitch from here on in because I'm bitter, please don't hold it against me)
We spoke about ideologically based institutions (i.e. school) and how people of power are the ones who influence what means giving an individual culture. That point made me think. Just because someone has a Master's degree of a PhD, does that mean they can tell us virtually whatever they wish because those letters at the endof their name create this status as a powerful person? It was mentioned that these powerful people can influence thinking, so could one say that with these letters, the powerful person can use it for good or evil; fact or theory? That's just my thinking.
Then we talked about how we are always being watched, and the penopticon from Orwell's 1984 was mentioned-one person watching everyone/everything. That makes me want to read 1984 even MORE!
We spoke also about the reasons that school is free for individuals under the age of 18. Among other comments, Adam contributed the point about citizen participation: schools are made so that young people learn not to question authority. That made sense to me, since it's around the end of that free schooling that some children begin to question authority, and some even rebel against it.
We started talking about the point of education. Everyone was totally thinking that it was to get smart and be able to land a job. Then Mark schooled us all (no pun intended) telling us that the point to education is to see something from multiple points of views. Not necessarily to know things, not necessarily to have an opinion, but for that main purpose. But riddle me this: What if we already consider all the views of looking at a situation? Growing up in groups of different types of friends, having mild health conditions as a child, etc. made me a pretty considerate person, even at a young age. I try understanding all the views of others, and I think that it's the reason why I get along well with so many different types of people; I am a person a lot of people can relate to one way or another. So yeah, obviously there is always room for improvement with anything, but I feel that if that's what the point of education is, those of us who have come far in that 'skill' should be challenged. And I don't think that thinking about even MORE points of view would be beneficial to me, only because I already overanalyze everything and have too many thoughts in my mind at once. And I mean that as it is a curse to me. I can't even get through a decision without going crazy and agonizing over every little detail about it. What a nightmare.
Sex Sells (see, your eye was most likely drawn to that while scrolling down the page)
I definitely did not know that sexual industries are the largest underground economy. It really doesn't surprise me though, and it also doesn't surprise me that its success is because of the internet. Mark mentioned that algorithms are made by pronographers, so that they scout out what people want. I am just thinking now, isn't it ironic how algorithms are formulted by looking at things such as blogs, and yet I'm writing about them in one?! Trippyyyy...
After talking about Little Red Riding Hood, which started out as a morality tale in France, [There is a 16th century version and 18th century version] I really want to read The Great Cat Massacre. That book is now added to my book list...is it by Robert Dartin or Martin? Anyways I really want to read it. It seems like it combines a history lesson with nursery time fun. Sick.
I liked the literacy point about how 50% can read directions on a perscription bottle, 25% who can't and there is another percentage that is a literate who can read but choose not to. Before we linked it to politics and the apathetic individuals who can vote but don't, I was thinking that this showed apathy. I didn't know what we were about to link to, but I knew something was coming about that.
Then after Mark explained how being able to read and choosing not to read is the same thing as not contributing to society, not participating in public discourse, which results in consenting others to make decisions for you. That's how hegemony works, to get you to consent to someone ELSE.
I was going to vote regardless of our discussion in class the other day about the importance of voting, but I wondered, how is it that people push push push this talk about when you don't vote, you let others make the decisions for you, when you might not even get your way. It's pretty messed up.
When we ended the class with Mark letting us know that we have to ask ourselves if we want to make money or if we want to 'change the world,' it made me think a lot. I think there's a spectrum, it's not black and white. I don't want to make loads of money (I wouldn't mind) but I don't want to set a goal like 'changing the world' and then get disappointed when stuff doesn't work out. I understand thinking about priorities, I just think that it's hard to think about that stuff now when it still takes me 10 minutes to decide what cereal to have in the morning. That's all.
By the way, I tried SOOOO hard to act like a badass because I was just so bitter. I tried not looking at Mark while he was talking (which I usually do, look at the speaker, because it's just a sign of respect), I text messaged in class (but had to stop because I felt bad) and not writing notes..but I couldn't do it. It's not even because it was super interesting (in the end, it was) but it was just because I felt so bad, and there was really no point of it. Silly, silly me.
When I returned we were talking about the definition of power and hegemonies; about the Pope and how propaganda first started with trying to 'civilize' people from outer nations and essentially, the beginning of evangelism.
notes:(n.b. I'm just being a bitch from here on in because I'm bitter, please don't hold it against me)
We spoke about ideologically based institutions (i.e. school) and how people of power are the ones who influence what means giving an individual culture. That point made me think. Just because someone has a Master's degree of a PhD, does that mean they can tell us virtually whatever they wish because those letters at the endof their name create this status as a powerful person? It was mentioned that these powerful people can influence thinking, so could one say that with these letters, the powerful person can use it for good or evil; fact or theory? That's just my thinking.
Then we talked about how we are always being watched, and the penopticon from Orwell's 1984 was mentioned-one person watching everyone/everything. That makes me want to read 1984 even MORE!
We spoke also about the reasons that school is free for individuals under the age of 18. Among other comments, Adam contributed the point about citizen participation: schools are made so that young people learn not to question authority. That made sense to me, since it's around the end of that free schooling that some children begin to question authority, and some even rebel against it.
We started talking about the point of education. Everyone was totally thinking that it was to get smart and be able to land a job. Then Mark schooled us all (no pun intended) telling us that the point to education is to see something from multiple points of views. Not necessarily to know things, not necessarily to have an opinion, but for that main purpose. But riddle me this: What if we already consider all the views of looking at a situation? Growing up in groups of different types of friends, having mild health conditions as a child, etc. made me a pretty considerate person, even at a young age. I try understanding all the views of others, and I think that it's the reason why I get along well with so many different types of people; I am a person a lot of people can relate to one way or another. So yeah, obviously there is always room for improvement with anything, but I feel that if that's what the point of education is, those of us who have come far in that 'skill' should be challenged. And I don't think that thinking about even MORE points of view would be beneficial to me, only because I already overanalyze everything and have too many thoughts in my mind at once. And I mean that as it is a curse to me. I can't even get through a decision without going crazy and agonizing over every little detail about it. What a nightmare.
Sex Sells (see, your eye was most likely drawn to that while scrolling down the page)
I definitely did not know that sexual industries are the largest underground economy. It really doesn't surprise me though, and it also doesn't surprise me that its success is because of the internet. Mark mentioned that algorithms are made by pronographers, so that they scout out what people want. I am just thinking now, isn't it ironic how algorithms are formulted by looking at things such as blogs, and yet I'm writing about them in one?! Trippyyyy...
After talking about Little Red Riding Hood, which started out as a morality tale in France, [There is a 16th century version and 18th century version] I really want to read The Great Cat Massacre. That book is now added to my book list...is it by Robert Dartin or Martin? Anyways I really want to read it. It seems like it combines a history lesson with nursery time fun. Sick.
I liked the literacy point about how 50% can read directions on a perscription bottle, 25% who can't and there is another percentage that is a literate who can read but choose not to. Before we linked it to politics and the apathetic individuals who can vote but don't, I was thinking that this showed apathy. I didn't know what we were about to link to, but I knew something was coming about that.
Then after Mark explained how being able to read and choosing not to read is the same thing as not contributing to society, not participating in public discourse, which results in consenting others to make decisions for you. That's how hegemony works, to get you to consent to someone ELSE.
I was going to vote regardless of our discussion in class the other day about the importance of voting, but I wondered, how is it that people push push push this talk about when you don't vote, you let others make the decisions for you, when you might not even get your way. It's pretty messed up.
When we ended the class with Mark letting us know that we have to ask ourselves if we want to make money or if we want to 'change the world,' it made me think a lot. I think there's a spectrum, it's not black and white. I don't want to make loads of money (I wouldn't mind) but I don't want to set a goal like 'changing the world' and then get disappointed when stuff doesn't work out. I understand thinking about priorities, I just think that it's hard to think about that stuff now when it still takes me 10 minutes to decide what cereal to have in the morning. That's all.
Blogging on Lined Paper. In class. While Mark Lipton is talking.
Please note the hostility and frustration demonstrated in my frantic writing...click on the pictures to enlarge.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Lesotho, Basotho, Sesotho
Oh man. I cannot wait to start figuring out the documentary and activist project. My group, Katherine, Lisa and Vanessa and I decided to sort of put the two projects together from a documentary I showed them. It is called the Invisible Children, and it's about displaced children in Northern Uganda. When I was shown it for the first time, I cried for the first time I have ever cried for a movie. And I remember I watched it again that same weekend, and cried again. And I have always wanted to go to Africa, I actually wanted to go to Lesotho (pronounced le-su-tu) because my sponsored child lives there, Morepeli. Such a cool kid. He and I are so alike! It's weird that it just so happens that I get to sponsor a smart, leadership-oriented kid when I'm like that too. And I am actually so against charity organizations because I know a lot of the funding goes to administration costs. Not through Help Lesotho or Invisible Children.
As a group at first we were skeptical to watch the documentary about the Invisible Children for two reasons:
- We thought, "this is just a typical ‘children in Africa’ movie"
- How would they get this footage, a lot of shots look professionally done
But after much scrutiny, we realized that it documented the literal ‘unbelievable’ truth about these young children in Northern Uganda.
We commented on how it was ironic how this documentary was actually intended to show three friends’ friendly trip to Africa, and it showed the real, heartbreaking facts about these children. We learned that not only are they living in poverty and sickness, but also with fear. Children as young as eight years old are trained as killers or live in fear, those are essentially their choices. We also learned all the history of the war and how the Rebel movement started, and we did some further research and concluded that it’s basically a terrible sacrifice of these children’s freedom for some eccentric leaders ways of thinking.
We were wondering why it says ‘rough cut’ when it shows up on the desktop of my computer. Then we realized that it was the subtitle of the film and thought that it was very fitting-the film shows the rough, raw, accurate portrayal of these children’s lives. It was pretty weird when we started to think about how this film was not made by professionals but by regular young adult-aged college students.
We also recognized the connection to media and why the documentary is relevant to watching in class-the way that children are portrayed on Television commercials for charities is not how they are. Children, as an age group, are generally pretty resilient, according to the film as well as according to people I know that have been to Africa.
The Invisible Children reminds me of HelpLesotho because it is another charity that I am involved with. You see, Help Lesotho is a non-profit organization created by two family friends, Dr. Peg Herbert and Carolyn Kennedy. Among other helpers and volunteers, these two ladies go to my church in Ottawa. They informed everyone of Lesotho and the dangers for the residents there. Completely surrounded by South Africa, Lesotho is the country projected to have the most AIDS victims in the world if their lives aren't intervened by other countries. Only 8% of the students graduate from high school, and the Basotho (residents of Lesotho) are forced to live with very little water. After hearing of this, and sponsoring a child there, I decided that I would really want to go to Lesotho to volunteer and help out.
It is for that reason why I first wanted to get a degree in International Development (ID). There are so many problems in the global community that individuals fail to recognize. After I learned that the program of International Development at Guelph could include going to another country to study, I was sold. I was so excited to go to Guelph, go to another country during my studies, and then later on work for an organization that visited countries in need each year.
But what was more practical? Going through ID and pretty much only ever being able to the same type of work? Or going through the Media Studies program at GH and being able to travel the world, helping out where I can, and have a pretty concrete background because of the PR..? My family and I regarded the outweighing factors between Guelph and GH, and then in the end decided that it was in my best interest to do up GH. It made the most sense, and I am continuously glad with the decision that I made. There are so many opportunities that could be available to me through Media Studies and PR, including going to Lesotho and Uganda.
Anyways, back to me talking about the documentary...
My friend Nick was a fellow co-prez of a different school, as well on the Eastern North Ontario Secondary School Students Association (If you remember Corbin Smith from Media Studies last year, this association is how I came to know Corbin and essentially, how I came to know GH) with me. Every May we have a Conference for high school students who wish to acquire leadership skills, held at a campground. I have attended 'May Conference (MayCon)' once and planned it once. Now this MayCon was really special for me because it was here where I was first introduced to the Invisible Children.
Now we decided to have sign-ups for interest sessions at MayCon. This meant that there were 4 or 5 different things for students to do around the camp site, such as capture the flag, yoga, arts and crafts, etc. Since I was head of all the events, I decided to sit in on Nick's documentary session where he had decided to screen the Invisible Children.
I didn't think anything of the movie as I watched it for a few minutes while preparing materials for a game during dinner. Then I remember hearing a little boys voice speaking about his brother being killed when the two of them were abducted by rebels in their town. He said that he couldn't cry because if he did, he would be killed, too. I immediately stopped what I was doing and began watching the movie. Then I remember watching a part in the movie where the camera pans over a hospital village and there are SO MANY children sleeping there who had commuted from their homes to sleep together, so that they would be safe from the abducting rebels. I literally burst into tears and had to leave the room. All I could think of was 'How could things be THIS bad somewhere and I didn't know about it? How is there nothing going on for these kids?' I didn't even exactly know what I was crying about, I just remember thinking I had to do two things 1. watch the rest of the documentary, and 2. do something about these children. Later on, in the cabin for the executive (the planners of the conference) we watched the documentary together. I cried again for the second time, except it was pretty much for a good half of the movie. I was just blown away by the fact that there was no fancy camera work or gimmicks. This was just real stuff. These were just some amateur documentary-makers who had no idea what they were doing. And I think that was why I was so drawn in.
I already did a quick summary of the film, but I just wanted to give a background about my relationship with this film, and the impact it has had on my life. In fact it's a good reason why I'm even in this program at school. I hope our activist project can raise the awareness that can help these children. Through all the different things I've gone through in my life, I always wondered why I was still existing today. There had to be a reason, after all, I believe that everything happens for a reason. After watching this documentary for the third or fourth time I thought about the idea of a global community, and how we are supposed to help each other around the world. I think that this is the reason I'm still around. I love helping people and that's what drives me to help internationally, whether it will end up being with the World Health Organization, United Nations, or an organization I could possibly start up on my own. I really hope everyone wants to be informed of this!
P.S. Here are the links for HelpLesotho and the Invisible Children, please take a look and allow yourself to be inspired.
HelpLesotho
Invisible Children
As a group at first we were skeptical to watch the documentary about the Invisible Children for two reasons:
- We thought, "this is just a typical ‘children in Africa’ movie"
- How would they get this footage, a lot of shots look professionally done
But after much scrutiny, we realized that it documented the literal ‘unbelievable’ truth about these young children in Northern Uganda.
We commented on how it was ironic how this documentary was actually intended to show three friends’ friendly trip to Africa, and it showed the real, heartbreaking facts about these children. We learned that not only are they living in poverty and sickness, but also with fear. Children as young as eight years old are trained as killers or live in fear, those are essentially their choices. We also learned all the history of the war and how the Rebel movement started, and we did some further research and concluded that it’s basically a terrible sacrifice of these children’s freedom for some eccentric leaders ways of thinking.
We were wondering why it says ‘rough cut’ when it shows up on the desktop of my computer. Then we realized that it was the subtitle of the film and thought that it was very fitting-the film shows the rough, raw, accurate portrayal of these children’s lives. It was pretty weird when we started to think about how this film was not made by professionals but by regular young adult-aged college students.
We also recognized the connection to media and why the documentary is relevant to watching in class-the way that children are portrayed on Television commercials for charities is not how they are. Children, as an age group, are generally pretty resilient, according to the film as well as according to people I know that have been to Africa.
The Invisible Children reminds me of HelpLesotho because it is another charity that I am involved with. You see, Help Lesotho is a non-profit organization created by two family friends, Dr. Peg Herbert and Carolyn Kennedy. Among other helpers and volunteers, these two ladies go to my church in Ottawa. They informed everyone of Lesotho and the dangers for the residents there. Completely surrounded by South Africa, Lesotho is the country projected to have the most AIDS victims in the world if their lives aren't intervened by other countries. Only 8% of the students graduate from high school, and the Basotho (residents of Lesotho) are forced to live with very little water. After hearing of this, and sponsoring a child there, I decided that I would really want to go to Lesotho to volunteer and help out.
It is for that reason why I first wanted to get a degree in International Development (ID). There are so many problems in the global community that individuals fail to recognize. After I learned that the program of International Development at Guelph could include going to another country to study, I was sold. I was so excited to go to Guelph, go to another country during my studies, and then later on work for an organization that visited countries in need each year.
But what was more practical? Going through ID and pretty much only ever being able to the same type of work? Or going through the Media Studies program at GH and being able to travel the world, helping out where I can, and have a pretty concrete background because of the PR..? My family and I regarded the outweighing factors between Guelph and GH, and then in the end decided that it was in my best interest to do up GH. It made the most sense, and I am continuously glad with the decision that I made. There are so many opportunities that could be available to me through Media Studies and PR, including going to Lesotho and Uganda.
Anyways, back to me talking about the documentary...
My friend Nick was a fellow co-prez of a different school, as well on the Eastern North Ontario Secondary School Students Association (If you remember Corbin Smith from Media Studies last year, this association is how I came to know Corbin and essentially, how I came to know GH) with me. Every May we have a Conference for high school students who wish to acquire leadership skills, held at a campground. I have attended 'May Conference (MayCon)' once and planned it once. Now this MayCon was really special for me because it was here where I was first introduced to the Invisible Children.
Now we decided to have sign-ups for interest sessions at MayCon. This meant that there were 4 or 5 different things for students to do around the camp site, such as capture the flag, yoga, arts and crafts, etc. Since I was head of all the events, I decided to sit in on Nick's documentary session where he had decided to screen the Invisible Children.
I didn't think anything of the movie as I watched it for a few minutes while preparing materials for a game during dinner. Then I remember hearing a little boys voice speaking about his brother being killed when the two of them were abducted by rebels in their town. He said that he couldn't cry because if he did, he would be killed, too. I immediately stopped what I was doing and began watching the movie. Then I remember watching a part in the movie where the camera pans over a hospital village and there are SO MANY children sleeping there who had commuted from their homes to sleep together, so that they would be safe from the abducting rebels. I literally burst into tears and had to leave the room. All I could think of was 'How could things be THIS bad somewhere and I didn't know about it? How is there nothing going on for these kids?' I didn't even exactly know what I was crying about, I just remember thinking I had to do two things 1. watch the rest of the documentary, and 2. do something about these children. Later on, in the cabin for the executive (the planners of the conference) we watched the documentary together. I cried again for the second time, except it was pretty much for a good half of the movie. I was just blown away by the fact that there was no fancy camera work or gimmicks. This was just real stuff. These were just some amateur documentary-makers who had no idea what they were doing. And I think that was why I was so drawn in.
I already did a quick summary of the film, but I just wanted to give a background about my relationship with this film, and the impact it has had on my life. In fact it's a good reason why I'm even in this program at school. I hope our activist project can raise the awareness that can help these children. Through all the different things I've gone through in my life, I always wondered why I was still existing today. There had to be a reason, after all, I believe that everything happens for a reason. After watching this documentary for the third or fourth time I thought about the idea of a global community, and how we are supposed to help each other around the world. I think that this is the reason I'm still around. I love helping people and that's what drives me to help internationally, whether it will end up being with the World Health Organization, United Nations, or an organization I could possibly start up on my own. I really hope everyone wants to be informed of this!
P.S. Here are the links for HelpLesotho and the Invisible Children, please take a look and allow yourself to be inspired.
HelpLesotho
Invisible Children
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