So I was browsing Current when I come across the absolutley hilarious video series entitled "Target Women" with Sarah Haskins. The first one I watched was all about the crazy yogurt ads that always seem to feature women dancing. I ended up watching literally all of the videos, ranging from chick flicks to botox .
They are definitely something to check out, because while you're laughing along to Haskins humour, you'll also find yourself realizing how true it all is!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
TIFF 101
So it has been so busy, what with my second year of school starting and volunteering for the Toronto International Film Festival, that I haven’t even been able to post about it all!
So last year in my Public Relations class, my prof mentioned how important volunteering is for us newcomers. Of course finding a job in PR would prove difficult with my lack of experience, so volunteering was my best bet at getting my foot through the door. I instantly thought of TIFF and followed its progress for 2008, anxiously waiting when they would be looking for volunteers.
Two information meetings later, I was working my first shift at the Varsity Theatre (first year volunteers are limited to one venue only) on the first day of the festival, September 4th. Although I didn’t really get to see any big-time celebrities, Varsity Theatre is known as the “Press & Industry” venue, so there were definitely a lot of critics who would only need to watch ten minutes of a film to decide if it was worthy of more than one star.
My tasks as a volunteer ranged from line control, providing information at the front desk, and various theatre entry positions. I must admit, when it got slow and I was sitting outside of a theatre doing nothing for a good thirty minutes, it was pretty dull. Although everything flowed quite smoothly and it was interesting watching it all play out from an insider’s position.
What I was really craving, after three days of volunteering and racking up free vouchers, was to actually sit down and experience viewing a festival film. I got my chance on Friday night when my friend and went to watch Sexykiller at Ryerson Theatre. It was part of Midnight Madness, so the energy was high and the theatre was packed.
The director, Miguel Martí, and the “Sexykiller” herself, Macarena Gómez, were both there to introduce the film. It was exciting knowing I was watching a World Primiers of a film, and the crowd continued to cheer loudly well into the credits.
The film was Spanish (with English subtitles of course), and centered on a college student named Barbara who happens to enjoy killing people in her spare time. I wasn’t really sure what to expect when the film began, but soon I was completely enjoying the action comedy. There were plenty of laughs out loud parts; some even rendering applause from the audience.
Unfortunely, I wasn’t able to catch the last ten minutes or so due to the subway shutting down at 2:00am, but from what I saw, it was a great film. It was definitely a good way to end the festival for me, and even though I wasn’t able to watch all the films that looked interesting, I was able to view one that won’t be in theatres in the upcoming weeks.
So last year in my Public Relations class, my prof mentioned how important volunteering is for us newcomers. Of course finding a job in PR would prove difficult with my lack of experience, so volunteering was my best bet at getting my foot through the door. I instantly thought of TIFF and followed its progress for 2008, anxiously waiting when they would be looking for volunteers.
Two information meetings later, I was working my first shift at the Varsity Theatre (first year volunteers are limited to one venue only) on the first day of the festival, September 4th. Although I didn’t really get to see any big-time celebrities, Varsity Theatre is known as the “Press & Industry” venue, so there were definitely a lot of critics who would only need to watch ten minutes of a film to decide if it was worthy of more than one star.
My tasks as a volunteer ranged from line control, providing information at the front desk, and various theatre entry positions. I must admit, when it got slow and I was sitting outside of a theatre doing nothing for a good thirty minutes, it was pretty dull. Although everything flowed quite smoothly and it was interesting watching it all play out from an insider’s position.
What I was really craving, after three days of volunteering and racking up free vouchers, was to actually sit down and experience viewing a festival film. I got my chance on Friday night when my friend and went to watch Sexykiller at Ryerson Theatre. It was part of Midnight Madness, so the energy was high and the theatre was packed.
The director, Miguel Martí, and the “Sexykiller” herself, Macarena Gómez, were both there to introduce the film. It was exciting knowing I was watching a World Primiers of a film, and the crowd continued to cheer loudly well into the credits.
The film was Spanish (with English subtitles of course), and centered on a college student named Barbara who happens to enjoy killing people in her spare time. I wasn’t really sure what to expect when the film began, but soon I was completely enjoying the action comedy. There were plenty of laughs out loud parts; some even rendering applause from the audience.
Unfortunely, I wasn’t able to catch the last ten minutes or so due to the subway shutting down at 2:00am, but from what I saw, it was a great film. It was definitely a good way to end the festival for me, and even though I wasn’t able to watch all the films that looked interesting, I was able to view one that won’t be in theatres in the upcoming weeks.
Monday, November 26, 2007
What Could Have Been..and Could Be
So through the chaos that was mass communication, I wasn't able to complete the activism project or the film/video curation. I was a bit disappointed, because I was interested in both. So I decided I would write a blog about what I would have liked to do, my ideas, my hopes, etc.
I have always had an interest in screenwriting and video production. In Media Studies in high school, we were asked to make a video following a popular television genre. Our group had chosen to do a sitcom, and it ended up being very similar to a Friends episode. I was able to experiment with video editing, as well as adding in effects and playing with the sound. I learned making a 20-minute show takes a lot of effort. The amount of times we yelled, "cut" was ridiculous. I would have enjoyed making a soap opera or something in the horror genre, just so we could emphasize the use of stereotypes that go along with these genres. Not to mention both of them involve a lot of dramatic effect, which would have been enjoyable to create. Now that we learned the effect of shot types and camerawork with regards to semiotics, it would have been fun to try and put hidden messages in our video.
I was not able to take part in any extravagant activist projects this semester. I think I have always had this idea that being an activist means taking huge steps for the greater good. Although I may have not held any interventions or meetings, I took part in Buy Nothing Day last Friday, November 23rd. It felt nice knowing I was one of the many who took part in something that leads the public closer to media democracy.
I strongly believe writing letters and having your voice heard is a great thing. I had a close friend who began writing letters to animal testers when she was very young. Being an animal lover myself, I was greatly inspired by her actions. PETA provides a great article about writing to legislators, businesses, and local newspapers or broadcasts. Along with caring for animals, I also care about what we have done to our planet. Global warming cannot be helped unless people start making an effort to changes things now. David Suzuki also provides a great resource on his website in order to make a difference. He talks about the importance of contacting government representatives and writing letters to voice concerns about the environment.
There are so many organizations out there that need people’s support in order to receive recognition. I think a person can always find one that affects them directly. You don’t have to be a “tree hugger” to make a difference, just do what you can to get your voice heard in some way.
I have always had an interest in screenwriting and video production. In Media Studies in high school, we were asked to make a video following a popular television genre. Our group had chosen to do a sitcom, and it ended up being very similar to a Friends episode. I was able to experiment with video editing, as well as adding in effects and playing with the sound. I learned making a 20-minute show takes a lot of effort. The amount of times we yelled, "cut" was ridiculous. I would have enjoyed making a soap opera or something in the horror genre, just so we could emphasize the use of stereotypes that go along with these genres. Not to mention both of them involve a lot of dramatic effect, which would have been enjoyable to create. Now that we learned the effect of shot types and camerawork with regards to semiotics, it would have been fun to try and put hidden messages in our video.
I was not able to take part in any extravagant activist projects this semester. I think I have always had this idea that being an activist means taking huge steps for the greater good. Although I may have not held any interventions or meetings, I took part in Buy Nothing Day last Friday, November 23rd. It felt nice knowing I was one of the many who took part in something that leads the public closer to media democracy.
I strongly believe writing letters and having your voice heard is a great thing. I had a close friend who began writing letters to animal testers when she was very young. Being an animal lover myself, I was greatly inspired by her actions. PETA provides a great article about writing to legislators, businesses, and local newspapers or broadcasts. Along with caring for animals, I also care about what we have done to our planet. Global warming cannot be helped unless people start making an effort to changes things now. David Suzuki also provides a great resource on his website in order to make a difference. He talks about the importance of contacting government representatives and writing letters to voice concerns about the environment.
There are so many organizations out there that need people’s support in order to receive recognition. I think a person can always find one that affects them directly. You don’t have to be a “tree hugger” to make a difference, just do what you can to get your voice heard in some way.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Books, Books, & more Books
Considering this semester has been pretty hectic, I haven’t been able to do my usual reading. The other day when I was in Chapters, I walked by the Media/Pop Culture section and was amazed at all the exciting titles. I even saw some other works by the authors of the books we had to read for this class.
Here are some of the books that I found interesting:
Reinventing Comics by Scott McCloud
Mediated: How the Media Shapes Your World and the Way You Live in It by Thomas De Zengotita
Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide by Henry Jenkins
The Wow Climax: Tracing the Emotional Impact of Popular Culture by Henry Jenkins
The Disappearance of Childhood by Neil Postman
The End of Education: Redefining The Value Of School by Neil Postman
How to Watch TV News by Neil Postman
Girls Make Media by Mary Kearney
Media/Society: Industries, Images and Audiences by David R Croteau, William Hoynes
Culture Jam: How to Reverse America's Suicidal Consumer Binge - And Why We Must by Kaile Lasn
Everything Bad Is Good For You: How Today's Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter by Steven Johnson
[this is quite a different look compared to a lot of the other books]
Cell Phone Culture by Gerard Goggin
Most of the books are to better understand media and its affect on culture, but there are also ones that pertain to me directly. If I ever find the time, I definitely want to read these books in the near future.
Here are some of the books that I found interesting:
Reinventing Comics by Scott McCloud
Mediated: How the Media Shapes Your World and the Way You Live in It by Thomas De Zengotita
Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide by Henry Jenkins
The Wow Climax: Tracing the Emotional Impact of Popular Culture by Henry Jenkins
The Disappearance of Childhood by Neil Postman
The End of Education: Redefining The Value Of School by Neil Postman
How to Watch TV News by Neil Postman
Girls Make Media by Mary Kearney
Media/Society: Industries, Images and Audiences by David R Croteau, William Hoynes
Culture Jam: How to Reverse America's Suicidal Consumer Binge - And Why We Must by Kaile Lasn
Everything Bad Is Good For You: How Today's Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter by Steven Johnson
[this is quite a different look compared to a lot of the other books]
Cell Phone Culture by Gerard Goggin
Most of the books are to better understand media and its affect on culture, but there are also ones that pertain to me directly. If I ever find the time, I definitely want to read these books in the near future.
One Thing Leads To Another [Timeline of Social/Media/History]
In my group, I decided to focus on the invention of the automobile. I feel as though the birth of the automobile, or car for short, led to a large degree of social movements. Positive things have come out of the invention of the car, but many negative things have resulted from this invention as well.
It was difficult finding early information about the true inventor of the car, mainly because many different men contributed to the final invention. Early attempts used a steam-powered vehicle, such as the first self-propelled car built by Nicolas Cugnot in 1769. The first internal combustion engine allowed a vehicle to run on a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen, and was designed by Francois Isaac de Rivaz in 1807. Many designs were created based on the Rivaz combustion engine, but it wasn’t until the 1860’s when Jean Joseph Etienne Lenoir built the first two-stroke gas driven engine. This lead to the creation of the four-stroke engine in 1885, by Gottlileb Damlier and Nicolas Otto. The pair didn’t work well together, however, and their partnership fell apart.
It was Karl Benz, in 1886, who created an advanced tri-cycle, which is said to be the first true car. Over in the United States, Henry Ford was busy experimenting with a horseless carriage in 1890. Through many stages, the Model T Ford was created. It was powered by a two-cylinder gasoline engine, and was release in 1908. Ford produced his vehicles on a moving assembly line, and this was the introduction to mass production in the automobile industry.
Although it took time, people began buying cars. Eventually, a strong need for public transit disappeared because people had their own means of getting places. The suburbs were created because people were able to drive long distances, so it wasn’t a concern if things were placed further apart. A lifestyle in itself, the “suburban life”, was created from the invention of the car.
In today’s society, it is easy to see what the invention of the car has led to. First of all, global warming is a huge concern. With the rise in the world’s population, and the mass production of cars, there are seemingly too many cars on the road. These cars emit poisonous gases, which harm our atmosphere. Not to mention the growing concern of obesity, which has greatly stemmed from lack of exercise. Suburban lifestyles have made walking places difficult, especially compared to a city where everything is in walking distance. Why walk somewhere when you can hop in your car and drive? This seems to be the common mentality.
I was thinking about what else cars imply, and I realized something. Cars were invented by men, and it is no surprise that cars are a topic many men enjoying talking about. I’m not saying that women can’t enjoy cars, because I definitely enjoy vintage vehicles, but I’ve come to realize that cars seem to be an invention that encourages stereotypes. It’s similar to the concept that baby boys receive blue blankets and baby girls receive pink blankets. Why is it that toy cars are advertised for boys, while dolls are advertised for girls? Cars are just another invention that makes gender equality harder to achieve.
My studies relate to the ecology of media because cars, a technology, have had a direct affect on people's behaviors and habits. Each new technology leads to so many changes. An invention may seem so minuscule, but it can pack a heavy punch on society. I strongly believe the reason people change is due to the technology around them.
Works Cited:
"Birth of Cars." Car Channel. 17 Nov. 2007.
It was difficult finding early information about the true inventor of the car, mainly because many different men contributed to the final invention. Early attempts used a steam-powered vehicle, such as the first self-propelled car built by Nicolas Cugnot in 1769. The first internal combustion engine allowed a vehicle to run on a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen, and was designed by Francois Isaac de Rivaz in 1807. Many designs were created based on the Rivaz combustion engine, but it wasn’t until the 1860’s when Jean Joseph Etienne Lenoir built the first two-stroke gas driven engine. This lead to the creation of the four-stroke engine in 1885, by Gottlileb Damlier and Nicolas Otto. The pair didn’t work well together, however, and their partnership fell apart.
It was Karl Benz, in 1886, who created an advanced tri-cycle, which is said to be the first true car. Over in the United States, Henry Ford was busy experimenting with a horseless carriage in 1890. Through many stages, the Model T Ford was created. It was powered by a two-cylinder gasoline engine, and was release in 1908. Ford produced his vehicles on a moving assembly line, and this was the introduction to mass production in the automobile industry.
Although it took time, people began buying cars. Eventually, a strong need for public transit disappeared because people had their own means of getting places. The suburbs were created because people were able to drive long distances, so it wasn’t a concern if things were placed further apart. A lifestyle in itself, the “suburban life”, was created from the invention of the car.
In today’s society, it is easy to see what the invention of the car has led to. First of all, global warming is a huge concern. With the rise in the world’s population, and the mass production of cars, there are seemingly too many cars on the road. These cars emit poisonous gases, which harm our atmosphere. Not to mention the growing concern of obesity, which has greatly stemmed from lack of exercise. Suburban lifestyles have made walking places difficult, especially compared to a city where everything is in walking distance. Why walk somewhere when you can hop in your car and drive? This seems to be the common mentality.
I was thinking about what else cars imply, and I realized something. Cars were invented by men, and it is no surprise that cars are a topic many men enjoying talking about. I’m not saying that women can’t enjoy cars, because I definitely enjoy vintage vehicles, but I’ve come to realize that cars seem to be an invention that encourages stereotypes. It’s similar to the concept that baby boys receive blue blankets and baby girls receive pink blankets. Why is it that toy cars are advertised for boys, while dolls are advertised for girls? Cars are just another invention that makes gender equality harder to achieve.
My studies relate to the ecology of media because cars, a technology, have had a direct affect on people's behaviors and habits. Each new technology leads to so many changes. An invention may seem so minuscule, but it can pack a heavy punch on society. I strongly believe the reason people change is due to the technology around them.
Works Cited:
"Birth of Cars." Car Channel. 17 Nov. 2007
The Results Are In
I don’t even think I could describe how nervous I was yesterday. Mark had said last week that he was going to hand out our semiotics papers the next week, which was yesterday. I tried to focus on what he was saying through the majority of the class, but all I kept looking at were the papers on his desk. Mine was somewhere in there, finally free from the scrutiny it had endured.
Mark finally talked about the papers. He said the class average was 69%, which was the highest a Mass Communication class had ever reached with him. I was a tad bit proud, having always though we had a very bright class, but the revelation did nothing to my nerves. When he finally let us at them, I was hesitant. I was hoping for anything over a 60, and a 70 would be the cause of a celebration. When I grabbed mine from the mess of papers on the floor, I searched for the grade. When I finally found it, I think I took three double takes to make sure I was reading correctly. A mark in the 80s?!
I don’t think I have ever been so proud of a mark in my life. This one meant a lot more than any other ones for sure. Now that I think back, I wish I had been more confident in my work. I was worried about receiving a 60, when I was looking past the fact that I had actually worked hard on this paper. I had taken Mark’s advice and went to the Writing Center, and I have to admit, they helped in a lot of ways. At first I thought writing about something as random as chocolate advertisements might be weird, but I knew that I had learned enough in the course to prove my ideas. Usually it is hard to see how much you learn from a course, and how much you improve, but I think it is quite evident in this class. I went from hardly thinking about my first assignment and receiving a barely passing mark, to working hard to show how much I had taken out of the course and putting it into a well-thought out paper.
This mark definitely helps me believe that I am in the right place.
Mark finally talked about the papers. He said the class average was 69%, which was the highest a Mass Communication class had ever reached with him. I was a tad bit proud, having always though we had a very bright class, but the revelation did nothing to my nerves. When he finally let us at them, I was hesitant. I was hoping for anything over a 60, and a 70 would be the cause of a celebration. When I grabbed mine from the mess of papers on the floor, I searched for the grade. When I finally found it, I think I took three double takes to make sure I was reading correctly. A mark in the 80s?!
I don’t think I have ever been so proud of a mark in my life. This one meant a lot more than any other ones for sure. Now that I think back, I wish I had been more confident in my work. I was worried about receiving a 60, when I was looking past the fact that I had actually worked hard on this paper. I had taken Mark’s advice and went to the Writing Center, and I have to admit, they helped in a lot of ways. At first I thought writing about something as random as chocolate advertisements might be weird, but I knew that I had learned enough in the course to prove my ideas. Usually it is hard to see how much you learn from a course, and how much you improve, but I think it is quite evident in this class. I went from hardly thinking about my first assignment and receiving a barely passing mark, to working hard to show how much I had taken out of the course and putting it into a well-thought out paper.
This mark definitely helps me believe that I am in the right place.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Not Just A Phone Company Anymore [Media Hegemonies]
Christina and I worked together on this project, and we were both pretty confused at where to start. It’s not that I don’t understand the concept of hegemony and media ownership, there just seems to be so much information that it’s difficult to begin. I’m glad that I’ve worked with her for most of these projects, mainly because we bounce ideas off each other really well.
We visited yourmedia.ca and found ten major companies that own a lot of the media Canadians hear, read, and see daily. We decided to pick a Canadian company, Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE), instead of one of the big American companies. I was surprised to find that so many of the print I read and television I watch is owned by Bell.
As the map above depicts, BCE owns the Globe and Mail, CTV Network, and The Comedy Network, just to name a few. Last year, BCE bought CHUM Ltd. for $1.4 billion. Allan Waters created CHUM in 1954, with one lone radio station. The company grew to have 33 radio stations, 12 television outlets, and 21 specialty channels. It is interesting to find out such a well-known pioneering company, such as CHUM, was bought by BCE.
It is obvious that these huge companies are always striving to become bigger and receive more, especially with regards to money. The more media an enterprise is able to control, the better. The main problem, however, is that these huge companies are taking over all sorts of media and taking away the voice of smaller companies. How are independent magazines, newspapers, and broadcast channels supposed to survive? A lot of money is going to large companies, which are able to buy out smaller companies. This concept is similar to what happened with BCE buying out CHUM.
The scary fact is that BCE owns so many media outlets, that they are basically deciding what the public is being informed about. If the BCE is doing some wrong, they could make sure their media outlets are keeping it quiet or spinning the story to make it something positive. Suddenly, all their media outlets are seemingly PR representatives. It is also interesting to note that BCE could use product placement and advertising in any television show, newspaper, or Internet site they want. It is no surprise that I frequently see Bell commercials and advertising, probobably more than any other service provider.
A concentrated amount of companies own the media in Canada. All of these companies have too much money for their own good. We, as the public and consumers, are being told what to think and believe by a small group of people who own much of the information we receive daily. I think it is important to recognize hegemony, and try our best to receive information from all types of sources, especially those who are not owned by one single company.
Works Cited:
Robertson, Grant, and Jacquie McNish. "BGM Grabs CHUM for $1.4 Billion." Your Media. 19 Nov. 2007.
We visited yourmedia.ca and found ten major companies that own a lot of the media Canadians hear, read, and see daily. We decided to pick a Canadian company, Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE), instead of one of the big American companies. I was surprised to find that so many of the print I read and television I watch is owned by Bell.
As the map above depicts, BCE owns the Globe and Mail, CTV Network, and The Comedy Network, just to name a few. Last year, BCE bought CHUM Ltd. for $1.4 billion. Allan Waters created CHUM in 1954, with one lone radio station. The company grew to have 33 radio stations, 12 television outlets, and 21 specialty channels. It is interesting to find out such a well-known pioneering company, such as CHUM, was bought by BCE.
It is obvious that these huge companies are always striving to become bigger and receive more, especially with regards to money. The more media an enterprise is able to control, the better. The main problem, however, is that these huge companies are taking over all sorts of media and taking away the voice of smaller companies. How are independent magazines, newspapers, and broadcast channels supposed to survive? A lot of money is going to large companies, which are able to buy out smaller companies. This concept is similar to what happened with BCE buying out CHUM.
The scary fact is that BCE owns so many media outlets, that they are basically deciding what the public is being informed about. If the BCE is doing some wrong, they could make sure their media outlets are keeping it quiet or spinning the story to make it something positive. Suddenly, all their media outlets are seemingly PR representatives. It is also interesting to note that BCE could use product placement and advertising in any television show, newspaper, or Internet site they want. It is no surprise that I frequently see Bell commercials and advertising, probobably more than any other service provider.
A concentrated amount of companies own the media in Canada. All of these companies have too much money for their own good. We, as the public and consumers, are being told what to think and believe by a small group of people who own much of the information we receive daily. I think it is important to recognize hegemony, and try our best to receive information from all types of sources, especially those who are not owned by one single company.
Works Cited:
Robertson, Grant, and Jacquie McNish. "BGM Grabs CHUM for $1.4 Billion." Your Media. 19 Nov. 2007
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