Blog #8

TV has changed over the years. There is more graphic content floating through network channels than there ever was twenty years ago. Now, in everyday TV shows, there are sexual innuendos laced in every comment. Swear words have become common-place and women have been established as sexual beings. Commercials before had a lot of effect on the consumers. Now, with DVR and TiVo commercials can be skipped or fast forwarded through. The best way for networks to draw in the consumers who do not have DVR is to have specials and shows with limited commercial interruption. Personally, as a consumer, that would draw me in.

Internet has become another option for watching favorite TV shows. Logging onto the Internet can allow the opportunity for watching any episode at any time. It is a matter of convenience now. Being able to have your favorite shows at your finger tips with few commercials has given the viewers more power. I think that the Internet casting of shows may be the way for networks to stay relevant in the new millenium.

Blog #7

This entire semester has been designed to make us informed consumers of the media. I personally never realized just how much influence the media have on our everyday lives. This class has opened my eyes. I now see the strategic product placements in my favorite TV shows that I before had missed. I can tell that the amount of sexualized violence and images on TV have changed the way that teens act. As an American teenager, I realize just how media saturated my life is.

Gender roles in our society are created and enforced by the media. In the past a vast majority of TV series show a mom who may have a job, but somehow is always home to cook dinner and make snacks for their children. In TV shows now, there are completely non-existent mothers. It is also odd to look back on my favorite Disney movies and realize that a large portion of them have mothers that passed away or just made no mention of mothers at all. Fathers in shows still appear to have the power jobs and make the most money.

Stereotypes often play off the gender roles that the media create. The fact that people associate any blonde girl with being dumb, and any Asian with being smart proves that stereotypes are ever-present in our society. There are humorous stereotypes, like cops always eating donuts and drinking coffee. Most stereotypes are harmless, such as a "dumb blonde," but there are many that actually cause harm. These stereotypes accuse any Muslim of being a terrorist just because of the actions of a select few. These stereotypes hurt and should not even be formed in the first place.

Because of this class, I have realized how my mind spins a stereotypical web around almost everyone I meet. I assume certain things about a person simply by the clothes they wear, the people they associate with, the way they talk, and so many other trivial things. These assumptions are not fair to the person that I make them about and are even unfair to myself. If I make an assumption that someone is a bad person, then I may have missed out on a friendship with this person just because of my prejudgements. Also, it is not fair to the person because I never truly gave them a chance to show me who they really are. People can't be defined by the clothes they wear, the way they talk, and the people they associate with. Reputation doesn't matter, character does.

Blog #6

When thinking of product placement, a specific movie scene comes to mind. This scene is found in the movie Wayne's World. They are discussing Wayne's contract with a sponsor, Wayne replies that "that is where I draw the line. Contract or no contract, I will not bow to any sponsor." The scene takes a turn for funny when there are several blatant and intentional product placements. Even shown in a teasing manner, product placement still holds its purpose. Product placement is an extremely efficient way of advertising.

Even the most blatant and obvious product placement does its job: it makes the viewer think of the product. The thought still happens and recognition still occurs. A lot of teenagers will find these blatant product placements funny and may even find themselves smart for recognizing them, either way they are still acknowledging the brand or the product. On TV shows such as American Idol, everyone notices the coke glasses found on the judges' tables.

Subconsciously, our brain associates product placements with brand names and products when we shop. Even if we think that we are immune to product placement, it still finds a way to corrupt our minds. It is a very efficient way of reaching teens since teens are so impressionable and watch TV and movies on a regular basis. If they see a new bag on their favorite TV show, then they will want to got purchase a bag for themselves. TV sets the trends that teens follow, so product placement is very effective.

Blog #5

Media is all around us. Media is fueled by advertising. Naturally, then, advertisements find their way into our lives. While observing radio and billboard ads, I came to many conclusions. First, the majority of radio ads attempt to attract certain target markets specific to the people that listen to the stations. This makes sense, since it would be a waste of money to place an ad for power chairs on a station such as 101.3. Billboards, however can not as easily identify the greatest demographic exposed to their ad. On my trip to my grandma's house, I found that the amount of snob appeal used in ads decreased significantly as the drive continued out of the major metro area. Here, billboards were more about the common man and more common man testimonials were made. Many billboards have direct orders, such as "BUY NOW" or "COME RIGHT IN."

Radio uses a number of devices to make us remember certain advertisements. Of course, there are jingles that are unfortunately simple to get caught in our heads. There are also advertisements such as the Shane Company commercials, with the same voice on each one. Immediately I can tell that it is a Shane Co. commercial, simply by the voice. Target market is extremely important to radio and most ads that I heard on my favorite stations related directly to me or people my age.

I observed in radio and billboard ads that there were a lot of Advertising Claims and Propaganda Devices such as:
Scientific or Statistical Claim: There were quite a few commercials that used numbers and statistics
Unfinished Claim: Many commercials held phrases that weren't complete
We're Different and Unique Claim: There were a lot of similar products that all claimed to be unique
Testimonials: Many billboards and radio ads had famous representatives for their advertisements

Blog #4

Option 1:
Women and men both suffer from the stereotypes that are attached to their gender. Women in the workplace may not be respected as men would. They are often passed up for promotions simply due to their gender. This is because of the stereotype established so long ago that women belonged at home and not in the workplace. Women are also not expected to hold certain jobs that often involve mathematics mostly because women aren't expected to thrive in the subject. A lot of times in politics, people don't think that women can hold the positions that men can because they tie everything into their emotions.


On the other side of the spectrum, men sometimes are questioned when they hold positions such as nurses and other jobs that are predominately female. Men are supposed to be tough and able to act without emotion, so when a man is in touch with his emotions, his ideas are discredited. At school, some male athletes change to fit the mold of the dumb jock. Even if they are smart, they may not do their homework or skip class just to keep up the facade.


Both men and women suffer from stereotypes. They limit every one's potential by forcing people into preconceived notions of what they're supposed to be.

Blog #3

Show Watched: The Office
Episode 515: Lecture Circuit

The Office portrays the following American Core Values in no specific order:

Achievement and Success: Micheal is able to go on the lecture circuit because of his office's success with sales. Also, everyone in the show has a job which ultimately deems them successful.

Activity and Work: The setting of the show is in an office. It shows the everyday work that average people do. It also shows the busyness of the office and portrays all the action that takes place within its walls.

Efficiency and Practicality: Michael uses a mnemonic device in order to remember people's names. It is absurd, but it makes him more efficient at remembering names. He does lack practicality which is why Karen stops his presentation.

Progress: After the basic failure that Michael is completely oblivious to he just continues to think about the rest of the tour. He is putting the first office out of the way and looking to the future.

Material Comfort: Kelly is upset that the office forgot about her birthday. Jim and Dwight start to put together a party for her with balloons and a cake feeding off her comfort for material comfort. Also, the car and luggage used in the beginning is common with luxury and high end at that too.

Individualism: Michael and Dwight are both characters that are valued for their odd ways of working. Michael uses his individualism to "teach" everyone at the lecture circuit. It doesn't work, but he still tries.

Freedom: Micheal and Pam decide in the end of the episode to not go on the rest of the tour and just skip off to see Holly. They exercise their freedom to branch off on their own.

Humanitarianism: Pam is the most humanitarian character in the show. She hates the idea of Karen hating her. She even hates the idea of Al Qaeda hating her. Pam is also humanitarian because she puts up with Michael's ridiculous ideas constantly.

Youthfulness: Michael Scott represents a child in this show. He even brings a toboggan with on his business trip. The beginning scene with him imitating different sayings over the phone PA shows his juvenile tendencies.

Blog #2

Option 1:

The video presented many ideas that I hardly have ever taken the time to consider before, which in a way just further proves the point that our lives are completely media saturated. It is ridiculous, the amount of advertisements that are targeted toward children. Of course, it is quite logical to target the most impressionable part of our population. The part that I don't understand is how people are okay with basically corrupting the innocent. Today the amount of advertisement made specifically for children greatly outnumbers what was found in our grandparents' and even our parents' time. This may be simply because the sheer number of advertisements has greatly expanded, but I believe that the companies are trying to place their logos into minds at the earliest possible ages.

Kids are being targeted in everything they do. Video games they play have advertisements everywhere. Comics they read have discreet symbols plastered in random places. TV shows such as American Idol, blatantly place their products in easy to see places (Coca-Cola glasses on the judges table). There is no escaping the advertisements.

These days, every place we look is plastered with some form of media. I don't like the fact that media is placing so much value on outer appearance because this directly reflects back on the impressionable minds of children. Making dolls such as the Bratz dolls only add to the idea that you have to look and act a certain way in order to make friends and be successful. TV shows that feature twenty or thirty-something-year-olds as high school students once again form false images and misconceptions for children. Through media saturation as a whole, including advertisements, children are being targeted and being presented with ideas about the way life ought to be. As a culture, I think that we are taking a nosedive if we continue to allow the corruption of our youth. Our youth are our future and their desensitization to advertisement may lead to our generation's downfall.