Censoring

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/jul2008/cens-j31.shtml


In An Ordinary Person's Guide to Empire, Roy talks about how in the Iraq war the truth isn't really being told. That the Media outlets have been holding things from us. I believe this is from the military censorship. The American people believe this The War Terror is about terror, which it isn't. It is about not only oil but also about self-destructive, impulse toward supremacy, stranglehold and global hegemony. However Roy hits it right on point when he saids we stay late hours of all nights to watch the media outlets such as CNN. I had no idea that the Iraq war was also consider a racist war in other countries. We had an average president in office that need to feel power, in return we have this messy war.

I think that this all has to do with censoring what we hear on TV, radios and see in the magazines. I know this really has not much to do with this section of the book, I realize how much is censored even just with factual information. I think its sad and Americanized how much the government has control a war, even though we have family and friends who are fighting.

A Global Community

            The rising technological advancements in this day and age have allowed our world to be characterized as a global community.  The project of corporate globalization has found its way to success.  In order “to control a democracy,” it is has become more and more crucial to control the media (Roy 3).  The primary media outlets in America are owned by six major companies (Roy 3).  In fact, “the six largest cable companies have eighty percent of cable television subscribers.  Even Internet websites are being colonized by giant media corporations” (Roy 3).  But how does corporate globalization affect Americans? 

American companies have transferred most of their manufacturing jobs to foreign countries because it is almost always a less expensive way to do business.  In addition, service and technical jobs are presently suffering a large migration to foreign labor as well.  Apparently, this "liberates" Americans to be leaders, up-marketers, and graspers of the latest technologies.  However, in reality, this doesn’t seem to be the case.  “These jobs are also being done by qualified professionals in other countries”.  President George W. Bush has said to countless Americans who are looking for jobs, that the answer to getting a better career is to get a better education.  However, many Americans realize that even if they do receive a higher education, “jobs such as medicine and research and development are successfully being done in other countries,” so the work is simply decreasing.  Increasingly, Americans with college degrees are unable to find work, while the same degrees in other countries are in demand.

Us vs. Them

In An Ordinary Person's Guide to Empire, Roy discusses the ways in which crises are used to control the masses. When a crisis occurs, like for instance on 9/11, the government and media can use the images and stories about the deaths and bravery during this time to manipulate the way in which Americans view other countries. During 9/11, former President Bush used the attacks on the World Trade Center to help gain acceptance for the war in the Middle East. One way in which he did this, as Roy points out, is through polarization. Bush used the term good versus evil quite often and continued to remind Americans that we are the good guys, and Sadaam Hussein, Osama bin Laden, and their followers are the bad guys. Furthermore, the people in the Middle East are being bullied by these evil doers, and it is our job to save them.

So, what did the Americans do to save the Middle East? Ambushed these countries and murdered their people. However, this is not the way it was portrayed in the media. We were liberating the Iraqis and a few people were accidentally killed. This manipulation of Americans through the government and media is a biased and misleading tactic used to garner support for our illegal actions. The following video is very similar to the tactics used by these groups to make Americans feel that we're doing the right thing.

Radical Activists Today

Today, radical activists use various methods to get their message out into the public.  As Miranda suggested, pins and bumper stickers are popular.  In addition to these tactics, radical activist websites are on the rise.  A webpage helps spread word about a cause and helps to portray specific messages that want to be expressed.  An example of one of these websites is http://www.radicalactivist.net/ .  

On the homepage, it states that during 2009, the Radical Activist Network will be organizing monthly Activist Forums in the Studio @ 22 Betterton Street, London WC2.   In addition, it states that “each forum will be around a specific topic, feature a speaker to kick us off, and be open to all” (Radical Activist Network).  This shows the openness of the website and how involved these radical activists are in their communities.  

They also are very inviting to the opinion of others: “We want to create a regular space where we can discuss the politics of social and ecological justice, make links between issues we're involved in and find the most effective ways to contribute to the wider movement. If this sounds like a good idea to you, why not come along?” (Radical Activist Network).  This is a great way to grab people’s attention and motivates people to want to participate in these activist events.  Some of the feature news on the site includes events such as “Hands off Iraqi Oil” and “Climate Camp.”  The news feature shows the involvement that these radical activists have in a variety of campaigns.  It also shows how they make a difference and get others to participate as well. 

Radical Activism by Bumper Stickers and Pins

In Radical Media, John Downing explains that using bumper stickers and pins/buttons, among other means, was a popular means of expanding the message of radical activists. Not only are they inexpensive, easy to produce and distribute, but they are also an easy way to get a message to numerous people without having to go door to door or hold meetings which may or may not have interested parties attending. Downing says that these forms of publication were more popular in the late 20th century. I think buttons and bumper stickers are still widely popular, but they have lost their significance in the radical activism sphere.

There's been a recent trend, especially in the last 20-30 years, of teenagers and adolescents using pins to promote popular culture rather than any radical message. Musical acts and movies are now advertised on buttons and proudly displayed on denim jackets and backpacks in schools across the nation. Hot Topics has made this fad hip again with their line of humorous or popular pins, including most recently, the Twilight phenomenon. Additionally, bumper stickers have also become an activist message of the past. While some stickers do have a political message, such as the "Kick the son of a Bush out," they aren't quite the radical activist message that they could be. While these modes of publication are both economically friendly, they don't seem to have the same impact as Downing describes in years past.

Radical Media Shift in Technology

Young adults are stirring away from traditional media, which is being called a radical media shift in our culture.  Young adults between the age of 16 and 24 are repelling TV, radio and newspapers and replacing the old media with online services.  Today, the generation of young adults has been named the “networked generation.”  Research has shown that they are embracing new technologies a lot faster than the general public.  It has been reported that on average they are spending at least three hours a week online.  “Seventy percent (compared to 41% of the general population) have used some kind of social networking site, such as My Space, and one in five have their own website or blog. Half of the group owns a games console and/or an MP3 player” (BBC News).  Ofcom's study proposes this online lifestyle may have played a role to the plummet in television viewing; young adults today watch seven hours less TV per week than the average person.

The decreased utilization of “old” media amongst young adults has been powered by the advances of online networking.  Kay Withers, a research fellow at the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR), said: “There have been lots of studies showing the younger generation are shifting away from traditional to new media, but at IPPR we are seeking to understand why this is and what this means.  We want to find out what it means to turn away from newspapers and public service broadcasting and to find out the types of news sources they are now favoring”.  This radical media shift has had a significant effect on media regulation, public policy and in politics.

Radical Media Groups

In Downing's book, he talks about radical media groups who focus on getting to the root of legitimate problems in their societies. These groups are progressive in their views, yet are small and underfunded. One must have a passion for the cause to stay totally committed to these groups.

The Chicago Independent Media Center is a group of independent journalists who cover the news in an unbiased manner (unlike typical media outlets) for the Chicago area. By reporting on protests, the group is able to spread the message of smaller groups throughout the area without the biased news coverage associating peaceful protests with out of control riots in the streets. Additionally, the center offers alternative news reporting, most recently an article featuring the economic pitfalls the city will face if chosen as the site of the next Olympics.

Additionally, with the invention of the Internet, these radical media groups are able to easily communicate with other members of the mission. As a relatively free service, the Internet allows groups to create web pages that explain their mission, which can reach numerous people at once, and can also seek funds by the way of donation in an easy-to-use format. Downing says that, though grassroots organizations are typically fighting against mainstream media, they can utilize mass media outlets (such as the Internet) to further their cause (p. 33).


The Chicago Independent Media Center

Fantasies

Top 10 Sex Fantasies for Men and Women Posted June 17, 2008 9:38 AM Posted in fantasies, sex, sexual fantasies Fantasy is a normal, healthy part of sex for men and women. In fact, many specialists claim that a rich fantasy life leads to better sex. One of the attractions of fantasy lovers--even when your fantasy lover is actually your current partner, as often happens--is that they're right beside you, and they know just what to do to make you feel good. Another benefit is that you can enjoy fantasy sex with someone other than your partner without repercussions, because it occurs solely in your mind. Fantasy gives you an outlet for all of the wild, lustful things that you've always wanted to do. You might be really turned on, for example, by the thought of doing it with your spouse in a convertible in the mall parking lot on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Chances are you're not going to try this one out for real, but you can go full speed ahead in your fantasies. The following tips are excerpted from "Hot Sex: How to Do It," by Tracey Cox. c. 1998 by Tracey Cox. Used by permission of Bantam Books, a division of Random House, Inc. What's She Thinking? 1. Fantasizing About Your Current Partner As with men, this is the number one sex fantasy for most women: things you've done, or would like to do, to your partner. It seems that the available flesh-and-blood is often more of a turn-on than the unattainable. 2. Sex with a Man Other Than Your Partner For women, this is most often a past lover. Some women feel adulterous or guilty reliving a particularly hot session from the past: don't. It's normal. If it's someone new you're fantasizing about, it's the old want-what-you-can't-have-syndrome. Being involved with a partner doesn't mean all other desirable men go away. So those adulterous feelings have to be dealt with in one way or another. The safest outlet of all is our imagination--and it's remarkably fertile. 3. Sex with Another Woman We're more likely to have same-sex fantasies than he is, probably because it's seen as more acceptable. We're also far less likely to get hung up on homophobic fears that we're gay. The woman featured isn't usually someone we know but she always knows exactly what to do to turn us on because she's got what we've got. 4. Something You've Never Tried Before These fantasies can include being tied up, threesomes, group sex, and watching others, among other things. While many women are outrageously experimental and imaginative in their fantasies, they often don't admit a desire for anything "kinky" to a partner for fear of being judged. Playing out the scenario in your head is the next best thing. For those who are open, fantasizing is also a form of rehearsal, upping the anticipation of experiencing it in reality. 5. Receiving Oral Sex It's the quickest, most effective (sometimes the only) way we orgasm, so it's not surprising it features heavily in our fantasies. The guy of our dreams doesn't just like giving oral sex, he's so enthusiastic he'd actually like to climb inside and stay there for days. Often he's a sex slave: tall, drop-dead gorgeous, and musclebound. 6. Fantasies Involving Romantic Sex This is the one most women readily admit to, probably because it's the most acceptable. Romantic fantasies are sex with emotional attachment and most read like a Harlequin plot: gorgeous man, incapable of loving one woman, meets us, is knocked over by our looks and headstrong personality, then ravishes us on a moonlit beach. 7. Sexual Ravaging "Sexual ravaging" is a very common female fantasy. Passionate and forceful but rarely violent and painful, the "ravagings" in our head differ dramatically because we're always in control. On the opposite end of the spectrum are fantasies where we force him to have sex with us, often in typically male-dominated situations like a courtroom or a business meeting. Being the aggressor or having physical power over him appeals because in real life it's usually the opposite. 8. Being Found Irresistible by a Man If you're so gorgeous/sexy/long-legged/stunning he can't help himself, you're absolved of responsibility once more. This is a favorite with women who still need permission to let go, but it's also a pleasant daydream for most of us. After all, who wouldn't want to be so beautiful they have men drooling at their feet. 9. Working as a Prostitute or Stripper This one's also popular with women who may be inhibited sexually in real life. In the fantasy, they indulge their true sexual selves under the guise of being paid for it. For men to pay to have sex with you is also reassurance that you're attractive: you have something men want so badly, that they'll hand over cash for it. Stripping is a more common variation on this theme: you tease the men mercilessly, and they're popping their zippers they're so turned-on by your body. 10. Sex with a Stranger In reality, this sort of sex usually works out rather badly. In our fantasies, it's tremendously rewarding. This is sex for the sake of sex and the reward is pure, unadulterated pleasure. You can be as wicked as you like because you'll never see him again. Sex with a "faceless" man is a variation that's even more of a turn-on. He comes up behind you, you feel rather than see him, and you can experience the sensations of sex without the intimacy of eye contact. What's He Thinking?


This article was taken from a seemingly respectable site?

http://www.thirdage.com/sex/top-10-fantasies-for-men-and-women

I found it to be rather interesting because it talks about "top 10 fantasies" that men and women have. Although the article seems to stay pretty water down, it does discuss a few of the fantasies in "Bound and Gagged". But it leaves many, many out. I wonder what Kipnis would say about these variations? Anyway it was kinda cool to read about these and see how a site that attempts to appeal to a large amount of people talks about fantasies that many times would or are frowned upon.

Bound and Gagged Chapters 3&4

Chapter 3 really has a lot of points about the way people and the media take on someone who they consider to be fat. After the Jerry Springer stint the book talks about pornography of fat woman and average men, in such things as magainzes. But what about in movies that hit theaters, such as Big Momma's house and Norbit just to name a few has left this image of people who are over weight. I think that says a lot of about our society, because we have this idea of what our idea of normal average people are, but in reality it isn't at all. Even though it isn't porn these movies give off this image of what we should think about someone who is over weight.

The book talks about Dimensions that is out purposely for fat admires as the book says. Then continues to say that it is in a way like homosexuality because they dare not to speak of it. People are so quick to judge anyone who is over weight, but they forget that ok yeah lets poke fun at them because we can. How can you compare someone who finds a person who may be heavier attractive to someone who is homosexual, there is no need to put two and two together.

Jer-ry!! Jer-ry!!

Kipnis later goes on to talk about an episode of Jerry Springer which was called "Fat Greeting Cards." There was a debate on this episode which featured Jerry and his audience versus overweight women featured in comical greeting cards. While the women said they thought the photos were empowering and made them feel sexy, Jerry and his crowd thought the women were making jokes out of themselves and their weight.

The main issue that I found with this segment of the chapter was the total attack on the women by the audience and even Jerry himself. While these greeting cards are found humorous by some people that give/receive them, these photos made these women feel beautiful. If they could get a sense of good self-esteem from starring in these cards, then I don't see why this would be a show segment at all. Eventually, the audience began attacking the women, calling them fat and a poor representation of overweight people. Isn't this the real societal problem? Not that women are appearing half-naked on a birthday card (as quite a few thin women have as well), but that a whole audience is putting them down because they feel good about themselves. We've talked in the past about television reflecting American society, and if this is how Americans are truly viewed, we have a major problem.

Bound and Gagged Chapters 3 & 4

Kipnis writes about how pornography confronts the public with ideas that disgust them, such as fat porn and gay porn.  She writes about how porn persuades people to venture outside of their comfort bubbles and conservative views.  Pornography is full of things that surprise people such as porn that shows the sexuality of the elderly.  Porn videos of aged people are surprising to our culture because we associate sexuality with youth.  This shows our culture’s norms and values, such as being thin means you’re attractive.

She writes that “this cult of bodily thinness and obsession with banishing fat is, of course, historically recent, and in sharp contrast to bodily aesthetics for the past four hundred years or so” (Kipnis 99).  Between 1500 and 1900, a bulky body was visually attractive to both men and women.  “And clothes themselves were bulky and designed to add volume to the body rather than emphasize a svelte profile” (Kipnis 99).  Thinness back then meant that you were poor and underprivileged.  People who were larger were seen as wealthy and fortunate. 

This shows the clear connection between body type and social class.  Today, the connection between body type and social class still exists, but the tables have turned (at least in American culture) and thinness now represents upper-class.  However, this has become quite problematic, contributing to the up rise in diseases such as anorexia and bulimia.  Who knows how long America will remain obsessed with being fat-free, but it will continually contribute to the social changes of America’s culture.    

Bound and Gagged

As I was reading I felt torn between the topics in the book. The first chapter stood out to me the most, because I never really understood or even knew about how they catched predators. Undercover cops are used as decoys to attracted possible predators, however I believe that it is entrapment. Yes, these men are getting online and searching, but how do you we know that this isn't just a fantasy and what if it never leads to having sex with someone who is underage.
The example in the book, just left me confused and didn't understand how someone can be charged with a crime that was never really committed. This man had his life going, basically who cares what goes on behind bedroom doors. This man was having consentual sex with adults, but like to role play; however
To Catch a Pedator is taking what needs to be serious and putting into this crazy reality show, but people love watching stuff like that and forget the seriousness of what is actually happening. These people were contact and had conversations where mainly the decoy would bring up the topic before the person they were going after. We do the bounderies end? How far is to far, when there are dozens of other things seriously happening, but yet police officers are worried about what if.

Pornography as Cultural Expression

According to Bound and Gagged, by Laura Kipnis, "pornography is a form of cultural expression, and though it's transgressive, disruptive, and hits below the belt-- in more ways than one-- it's an essential form of contemporary national culture" (Kipnis viii).  Kipnis feels that pornography should appeal to people, because it's about the deepness of one’s self.  She also feels that it grips the origins of our culture.  Most people see porn strictly as obscene and offending, but Kipnis’ thesis is that it is simply a form of human expression.  “It has meaning, it has ideas. It even has redeeming ideas. So why all the distress?” (The Eloquence of Pornography).  She would like people to look at pornography more creatively and with an open mind.

In support of Kipnis’ thesis, there are people who believe that porn is healthy for both men and women, such as the FFE Inc, which stands for Feminists for Free Expression.   “Half the adult videos in the U.S. are bought or rented by women alone or women in couples.  Sexual health professionals recommend pornography as entertainment and information for women and men” (FFE Inc.).  This is probably surprising information for most Americans, but pornography is known for improving weakening marriages and has helped couples talk about sex, which has been shown to improve their sex lives.  Some women are against porn because they feel that it puts them in harm’s way because of the “violent” behavior displayed in pornography.  However, studies have been shown that porn does not increase violent behavior against woman.  Also, banning women in/from pornography is actually censoring women’s sexuality.

Pornography in the States

Study Links Porn to Politics

A new study by a professor at Harvard found that subscriptions to pornography websites are actually more common in conservative Republican states than in the more liberal Democratic states. This may indicate that states which would normally have stricter laws on pornography viewing and production are actually more likely to view the sites themselves. Benjamin Edelman, who designed the study, said that these results could have multiple meanings. For instance, perhaps the rigid laws against pornography stores in the conservative states have forced the liberals of the state to turn to the Internet. Additionally, Edelman said these results may show that pornography isn't such a bad habit, that really everyone dabbles in it once in a while.

I found the results of this study to be quite interesting. It seems that people with the strongest convictions of what is right and wrong are usually those who fall astray. It seems similar to the tribulations occurring in the Catholic church -- those who are supposed to have the love of God within them are actually mistreating and psychologically harming the young boys who trust them. It also seems that the hate mongers in the world, those against homosexuals, transgenders, bisexuals, etc., have chosen these causes because of some sense of confusion they may have within themselves. Perhaps protesters aren't mad because two men are getting married, but because they have had those same urges. It seems that recently there have been more ironic cases like these. And most often, these are the people on juries across the nation sentencing people to life in prison for being different.

Progressive gets Progressive

Saw this on TV, thought it was interesting. To me these guys are clearly gay. First real "gay" ad I have ever seen.

Week 9: Constant Change in American Culture

          In Manufacturing Desire, in “What Teva Means: Technological Warfare among Everyday Products,” Berger talks about the “constant change in American culture” (Berger 213).  He states that “in some cases the changes are quite minor, though corporations may rise and fall on something as trivial as the invention of Velcro or the development of new kinds of aluminum frying pans” (Berger 213).  He also talks about how advancements in computers and the development of CD-ROMS and Moderns have created opportunities for infinite businesses to expand and for countless businesses to arise.  These businesses have changed Americans lives for forever and have kept us on the continual and everlasting path of change.

          Microsoft has not only changed American culture, but it has changed the technology world worldwide.  “The whole 'information at your fingertips' thing” — a proposal that Bill Gates initially introduced in a 1990 industry speech — has changed the way that Americans receive and put out information.  According to BBC News’ Charles Miller, Bill Gates “has all but accomplished his famous mission statement, to put ‘a computer on every desk and in every home’ - at least in developed countries”.  For those who think that the “computer revolution” would have happened without Bill Gates, they need to realize that 90% of computers run Microsoft’s Windows.  The “computer revolution” has connected people that are states and countries away from each other through cyberspace.  This revolution and Microsoft’s technological advances have changed how people communicate, consume merchandise, advertise, work, and construct their daily lives.

Eating in America

In Manufacturing Desire, Chapter 14 talks about the different types of eating habits on the everyday Americans. Berger talks about how socioeconomic class plays a role. I found this film that dates back into the 1950's and gives eating 101. It shows a the average Americans, a mother, father, sister and brother all eating at the table. Today that is hardly seen. I can remember growing up and just a regular everyday meal we would seat where ever we would like. It was rare that we would all sit together; had to be a special occasion. This was way before fast food chains, such as McDonald's had start, which people had a lot more control of the things they ate.
Today we are surrounded by fast food chains, regardless if we eat them or not. There are been tons of coverage on the way Americans eat, because of the health risk that follows. This movie call Big One
puts people behind the scenes of a Fast Food Chain. There are to many fast food chains and Americans eating habits are horrible. But in the same right, there are so many health stories that come out and you have them saying eating an over amount of red meat is bad, but you do need to eat it(whatever the new portion is) The book says that the average American Breakfast is orange juice, cereal and milk, bacon, eggs, hash browns, coffee, toast and jam, marmalade and ketchup (for hasbrowns) The bacon and eggs is the standard American Breakfast. Looking back at the first video you can see that pattern. The little boy drinks orange juice, cereal and milk, then dives into a plate of eggs and bacon. I couldn't image eating that meal every morning.
I think we are doing a great job of making people aware of eating healthier with movies, radio ads, commercials etc.

Video Games as Playbacks of War

In Manufacturing Desire, Berger discusses a number of different ways the media covered the Gulf War. He says that the graphic and violent images of the war shown on television were similar to that of a video game, wherein the player (or viewer in this case) shoots the "bad guys" who have no back story or family that will miss them, and achieves victory when all of them are dead. Ironically, some of the most popular video games today have this same storyline.

Call of Duty 4 Named Top Video Game

Call of Duty 4, a shoot 'em up game set in modern times, was named the top video game at the Interactive Achievement Awards last month. The video game's concept sets the player as a soldier fighting enemies in Russia and the Middle East. The object of the game is simple: kill the enemy, halting any mayhem they may have intended. Now, why would the government allow such graphic images and ideas to be produced and marketed towards adolescents in their mid to late teens? It could possibly be because that's who is targeted for soldier recruitment. As the war was raging in the Middle East, Call of Duty 1, 2, and 3 were being played by teenage boys looking for something to do. Once those boys went on to graduate and had no idea what to do with their lives, they may have been enticed by the promises of money and pride advertised by the armed services. The armed services are even considering using this same technology to train their soldiers. These popular video games may have helped create a violent desire in some teens.

Week 8: Tobacco Advertising Tactics

According to the American Heart Association, “the National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimates that each day more than 4,000 people under 18 try their first cigarette,” which means that there is “more than 730,000 new smokers every year” due to tobacco industries targeting the youth.  Similar to alcohol advertising, tobacco companies use specific tactics and media campaigns to attract new, young smokers.  “Internal industry documents show that the tobacco companies have perceived kids as young as 13 years of age as a key market, studied the smoking habits of kids, and developed products and marketing campaigns aimed directly at them” (2008 Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids).  

Tobacco companies advertise their products at sports events, which falsely advertises that great athletes and cigarettes go hand in hand.  Sporting events are also seen as “cool” and “fun” by young people, which makes the product placement of tobacco products at sporting events an ideal marketing campaign in attracting new, young consumers.  “Non-tobacco products, such as clothing or toys, affixed with tobacco brand names promote the tobacco product and increase brand recognition, allowing tobacco companies to circumvent traditional tobacco marketing bans” (2008 Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids).  

Industry Sponsored Youth Prevention Programs are highly ineffective and have actually encouraged young people to smoke more.  The reason why the tobacco industry has these youth prevention programs is to gain more profit by appearing to be an industry that doesn’t support youth smoking and supports youth health.  However, “industry-sponsored youth prevention programs are created to improve the tobacco industry’s public image and discourage further tobacco control legislation” (2008 Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids).  How are these hidden marketing tactics effecting our culture?

Advertising in Alcohol

In this week’s reading, Berger discusses alcohol advertising and the ways advertisers use different tactics to create enticing commercials. Berger states that advertisers use humor and a sense of fun to create advertisements that manufacture desire of alcoholic products. For example, video #1 employs humor to sell beer. The premise is very simple: a meeting in which office members are discussing cutting costs in the company. A man suggests not serving Budweiser at every meeting and is subsequently thrown out the window. Video #2 uses the idea of having fun. It’s a mock campaign for Captain Morgan as President. The commercial is littered with images of people lounging by the pool and partying in clubs.

Video #1


Video #2


Similarly, anti-alcohol groups have attempted to employ the same advertising techniques in their public service announcements (PSAs). As shown in the first video, the main character is having a great time at a barbecue, drinking and making people laugh. Though this commercial ends in misfortune, the beginning of the video tries to emulate alcohol advertisements by showing how fun drinking can be for a minute. The next video uses humor to sell the idea of drinking responsibly. This man’s story also ends in tragedy. Though PSAs have tried to utilize the same tactics that have made alcohol advertisements successful, they seem to fall short due to lack of funds and inability to reach a national audience. While Budweiser can show multiple commercials throughout the Superbowl, advocacy groups do not have the same financial means to do so.


Video #1


Video #2

Carefull With Alcohol - More bloopers are a click away

U.S Corporate Community

http://www.monthlyreview.org/mrzine/labotz081008.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhwhMXOxHTg



This economic crisis is not only hurting big business, but for some reason we hear more and more on the news about those companies folding. Could it be that maybe we need to start from the root of the problem, rather than those people who are many the big bucks. The book talks about U.S Corporate Community and relates it to politics, uses the NAFTA and the Mexican Financial crisis for an example. The media covered this telling everyone that this agreement would be help the Mexican communities to get out of the slump, but where they wrong. They are still struggling and trying to make ends meet. Most people couldn't image working for less than a dollar a day or even an hour. To them that is second nature. Even though this was a bigger issue in 1993, it seems it keep lingering with our country and theirs.
"Media Editorials, news coverage, and a selections of "experts" in opinion columns were heavily skewed towards the elite perference; their judgment was that benefits of NAFTA were obvious, were agreed to by all qualified authorities and that only demagogues and "special ineterest opposed." This bothers me, but the special interest are women, minorities and the work force. The media tired to cover the best of what they thought would help, however the polls don't live and people weren't sure about this aggreement. The fact is that the U.S Corporate Community has power that sometimes the public cannot control. The media could play a big outlet for this issue and for some reason they have put it in a book and put it on the shelves.

            

          Corporate influence and power is continually growing each day.  “The world’s 200 largest corporations have combined sales greater than the combined GDP of all countries except the world’s 10 largest economies, and 18 times greater than the combined annual income of the roughly 25% of the world’s population living on less than $1 per day” (Lobe).  These large, extremely profitable corporations are known not to give comparative benefits to their business’ employees.  82 of the 200 most expanding businesses are U.S. based.  The business’ earnings expanded 362.4% from 1983 through 1999.  However, there were no new, known workers benefits established.  According to the Institute, while the company’s profits skyrocketed, the quantity of workers that the companies had employed rose by merely 14.4%.  This has raised public awareness of corporate power and has frightened many.  According to Business Week, some refer to this time as the “New Economy.”

            This “New Economy” of technology based companies is “leaving workers and their families ‘feeling overworked and stressed out… and about three out of four respondents agreed that big companies have too much influence over ‘government policy, politicians and policy-makers in Washington” (Lobe).  In addition, the enlargement of private power has massive economic effects.  The result of privatization is overpoweringly harmful.  It results in a large decrease of “public controls over an increasing number of living conditions which were hitherto regarded as public responsibilities, and the consequences are irresponsible behavior of private providers and deterioration of living conditions” (Prof. Dr. Jörg Huffschmid).  This is predominantly relevant for those who do not have the funds to purchase the privatized merchandise on the markets.

Corporate Influence in Television Broadcasting

Proctor and Gamble Threaten to Pull Their Advertisements Due to CBS Program's Content
In August 2001, Proctor and Gambel (P&G) forced CBS to pull a re-run episode of "Family Law" because they felt the content of that episode was inappropriate. The episode focused on a child abuse case in which the main focus was that the mother owned a handgun. Once P&G made their threats, however, CBS pulled the episode and replaced it with one of spousal abuse. P&G, being one of CBS' biggest advertisers, showed their major influence on the television station. Since the company typically purchases four 30-second commercial spots during the show, CBS could not risk losing the company as an advertiser. When the episode originally ran, P&G pulled their advertising, but CBS was able to find replacement commercials; this run, however, they weren't so lucky.

This example of corporate influence on television broadcasting shows how much corporations actually control the media. If the advertiser doesn't like the content, they can force media to censor broadcasts or risk losing advertising bucks. This influence can make for a scary world. Corporations are making it so that viewers may never see a controversial topic again. Who's to say that the viewing public wouldn't want to see a story about a woman carrying her handgun? How does a board of elderly men sitting around a conference table know what America wants? As Chomsky talks about in his book, companies get flak from their advertisers about content deemed inappropriate. This influence is so great, that broadcasters don't really choose what we watch; advertisers do.

Library resources for your papers

Here's a great set of tutorials and resources put together for your papers from Maryville's digital resource librarian, Ying. It should REALLY help!

http://teach.maryville.edu/library/com121/main.htm

The Internet Expansion and the Media

Rupert Murdoch's View on Internet Expansion

In an article that was published in March 2006, Rupert Murdoch was quoted saying that businesses should beware of the booming industry of technology and the Internet. He warns that the worldwide web is such a powerful, ever-expanding media tool that it could easily put many companies in danger of being taken over or forced out of business. In heeding his own warning, Murdoch, the chief executive of News Corp, strategically began purchasing large units of Internet, setting a budget of $2 billion towards his web buyout. One of his main purchases included MySpace, a booming web site in 2005 when Murdoch acquired it, even more lucrative and popular now. This newsworthy takeover made some MySpace users weary that News Corp would begin censoring members’ expressions of themselves and charging for a once free service.

As McChesney writes in his chapter on media activism, recently the guys in Washington have started taking notice of the public’s opinion on media reform. What was once an unheard of argument has now become a defining campaign hot button issue. With News Corp’s reportedly bias views, one could understand how Internet users could become concerned with Murdoch’s recent purchase. What if MySpace becomes a mainstream advertising site (as it mostly is now), littered with advertisements geared specifically towards Fox News? Would it still be a simple space for old friends to reunite and new friends to meet? Or would it become a flood of pop-ups and banners advertising the latest at Fox’s news desk? Luckily, politicians and those in office are beginning to take note that the people want media reform and it could be a deal breaker for those running for office.

Week 4: Technology and the Internet: Social Change

            In the book, The Problem of the Media, it states that “Media and technology are so closely wed that media sectors are defined by the differing technologies they employ.  It is clear, too, that differing media technologies have distinct effects” (McChesney 211).  These media technologies cause extreme social transformation.  An example of one of these technologies would be the World Wide Web.  “The Web is a layer of system upon system, an amazing array of technologies that all work together to deliver a world of communication to the user”.  These technologies are a part of our everyday lives: You Tube, e-mail, banking, shopping and so on.

The internet has had such an enormous impact on society that people can't seem to remember how to live their lives without it.  Today, the internet is so widespread that it touches every part of our daily lives.  It has changed how societies communicate, distribute information, earn money and even fall in love.  Even though the internet has created fascinating opportunities and advances, one might stop and wonder if it is corrupting our society. 

Technology defiantly has its benefits such e-mail, but also has its costs such as loss of jobs.  “As the world becomes smaller, and technology replaces manual labor, an entire sector of jobs has disappeared, creating a new underclass in our society”.  Before the technologies of today, people did manual labor, which guaranteed jobs.  How technologically advanced is our society going to get?  Are we, as a civilization, making an effort to fill the holes left by hi-tech expansions?  We need to think about the downside of technology and not just pay attention to the obvious benefits. 

Ditgal TV

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIIjT3xotHU

Digital Television has been a big uproar, which has been all over the news, radios and even on the Internet, but is American ready for the switch? The date that has been set for Feb 17 has been moved back, but why? The converter boxes are available and everyone could apply for two $40 coupons to buy the box. It seems to the average person not be to costly, but actually this great deal for us. But people are aren't ready!

In the book Senator McCain states, "One of the great rip-offs in American History. They used to rob trains in the old days, and now we rob spectrum." If it available is will enhance our viewing pleasure, why shouldn't we go with the technologies. This country is always developing and figuring out new ways to enhance the media. Whether it is HD radio, Fiber optic Internet or digital television, most of us embrace this, but many still don't take the time to understand what the change with do for them. I think the DTV will eventually make everyone happy and once it takes off I think it will allow Television Technology to grow and people will be happy. It is just like when DVD's came out, my parents were not really sure to give in to that kind of technology, because VHS have been apart of their lives so much. But my father broke down bought a DVD player and now he has embraced the technologies that are out or coming out.

The FCC needs to come up with regulations that go along with the new technologies that are being developed, maybe redoing the 1996 Telecommunications Act. We need to take into consideration that things are developing not only with Television,but the Internet. I think technology is wonder and we need to embrace it but its hard to regulate it when it comes to technology because there is so much gray area. So do we just leave it in the FCC hands?

New Beer Marketing Strategy

The previous video shows Beck's t.v. marketing strategy, but HERE Becks tries something new. Interestingly enough, Beck's main site has now joined the "Blogging Scene". The "Daily Different" is their themed blog, that is led by a comedian from London that is the voice of the brand. This idea is building off Miller's Beerblog.com that hit the internet in 2006, but instead of sticking to only beer topics, Beck's is allowing the comedian to come up with his own material, in hopes of keeping it engaging.

I don't think it is the best idea, but I suppose it is better than nothing..I mean what can a beer company really have on their site anyway?