Marinating on Some Media!

The big bad wolf of media has taken over society. With Netflix, Xbox 360s, Ebook readers and the iPhone 4G, media has begun to completely dominate.. This epidemic is most common for the younger generation, because personally, besides my Media & Society teacher, the adults I know still use old school flip phones and use internet for email only. Now, there are so many fancy, new contraptions that you can have email, YouTube, and even Facebook on your smart phone itself. It is the “technological merging of content in different mass media – for example, magazine articles and radio programs are also accesible on the Internet and songs, TV shows, and movies are now available on iPods and cell phones” (Media & Culture, 9). Media has converged into one giant super power.

(iPhone 4 commercial showing off the updated "FaceTime" option.)

I use the internet every day. Whether that means checking Facebook off my phone, or checking Tumblr (which is a blog, a “site that contains articles in chronological, journal-like form, often with reader comments and links to other sites” (Media & Culture, 52)) in between classes, there is not a day that I do not open up Safari and go to town. Internet is also used for so many of my classes; checking Angel for assignments, signing onto my personal mymail account, or reading articles online for Concepts of the Self or Rhetoric. And of course using Blogger for Media & Society. The other main purpose of my personal internet use is Gmail, which allows me to be in constant contact with my father via email.

(The creator of my favorite blog, Tumblr, David Karp. Image courtesy of Tumblr media.)

The internet also allows me to be always in contact with the latest and greatest music. Reading current blog posts, or seeing the newest music videos is easy thanks to YouTube, Blogger, and personal sites of bands. My music intake usually does not take place over the internet however. I usually only listen to the radio when I am in the car with my roommate, or when I'd like to hear something that is not on my iTunes. If that is the case, I resort to listening to Pandora. What's fantastic about Pandora is that I can type in something like “Elton John” and spending my homework time listening to everything similar to Sir Elton John, like John Lennon and Billy Joel. And if I find something that I must have on my iPod, so I can listen to it at any time, I can skip on over to iTunes, and buy it right up! Apple opened iTunes in 2003, and since it has flourished, becoming “the number 1 music retailer, and digital sales now account for almost 30 percent of the music market in the United States” (Media & Culture, 96).

(The newest Pierce the Veil video, I was able to find immediately when released thanks to the internet!)

I would venture to say that sound recording itself really plays no part in my everyday life, however. I am a huge music fan, and I frequent shows and live concerts, I play no part in “the relationship between music's business and artistic elements” (Media & Culture, 95). I would have to say that overall, the sound recording business does that a large toll on me, considering how much I enjoying seeing live bands, and getting actual hard copy CDs. Over the years, I have seen a lot of bands struggle to get their music out on CDs anymore, and have them sell thanks to iTunes and illegal downloading.

(Recent iTunes/iPod commercial, featuring music by The Ting Tings.)

The same thing goes for television. Since I am at college, I no longer watch television on an every day basis. It was decided between my roommate and I that we would not have a TV in our room. Now, whenever I would like to watch any television series, I have to revert to Netflix. The existence of online television sites like Hulu, and Netflix have to be doing the same amount of damage to the television networks as iTunes is doing to the music industry. The capacity of “ordering or streaming DVDs through online services like Netflix and downloading movies to iPods...threaten to end the era of the local video store” (Media & Culture, 200). Hulu offers interviews, and inside previews of shows like “Glee” that make watching it online more enjoyable than watching it on the TV. There are also considerably less commercials.

(A special clip from the "Special Education" episode of Glee, featuring the song "Hey Soul Sister.)

The same goes for the ability to watch movies of Netflix, instant stream. Netflix allows me to go beyond just watching the same old movies that I have laying around, in DVD form. Watching movies online has allowed to me to non-mainstream films like “The Edge of Love” and “Pollock.” I do enjoying going to the actual movie theater for big time event films, like the opening of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.” Movies that are not big ticket items like this usually end up being projected on “two or three screens at the same time; films that do not debut well are relegated to the smallest theaters or bumped quickly for a new release” (Media & Culture, 240).

(The trailer for "The Edge of Love," a movie I discovered thanks to Netflix.)

Something I do touch and work with every single day is books. Ever since I was very young, I was an avid reader and once I began reading a book, I could never put it down. I especially got into the “Harry Potter” series, and those seven books were the reason I was incredibly devoted to become getting into the book world and becoming a author of young adult novels. Harry Potter “in terms of commercial success...has broken all records: more than 375 million copies of the books in sixty five languages had been sold in 2008” (Media & Culture, 314). Books are yet another aspect of culture that have been taking over by the internet. Ebooks, like the Nook, and Kindle, make it possible to no longer purchase hard copy books.

(The first of Kindle's stop motion commercials.)

Newspapers have been undergoing the same sort of makeover. Because sales have been going down for daily newspapers, many have began building up their websites, and making sure there are applications available for phones to use. Today, “rather than subscribing to a traditional paper, many readers begin their day by logging onto the Internet and scanning a wide variety of news sources” (Media & Culture, 261). I do not even touch the newspaper on a day to day basis. If I do, it's on Sunday, and it's only for the comics.

(CNN coverage of the decline of newspaper sales in the United States.)

Another form of media I only use occasionally, is magazines. There is only one magazine I subscribe to, which is Alternative Press. It keeps me updated on what is going on in the alternative music scene, and is full of band interviews and articles that I find interesting. But even such an anti-mainstream magazine like Alternative Press is forced to focus on their website to stay afloat with subscriptions. What is nice about magazines is that there is such a large “diversity in magazine content and ownership” (Media & Culture, 303). You are able to find magazines about the direct topic you're looking for, like GQ being directed at middle class, middle aged men, or Cosmopolitan being directed at women aged 18 and up.

(Alternative Press coverage of the last night of "The AP Tour." Alternative Press was celebrating 25 years.)

Media has become more and more a focus of every day life. Thanks to convergence, it is easy to check email, your Netflix account, and your Facebook account all on your train ride into work on your smart phone. As media becomes more of a pinocle in everyday life, it has become clear that “the arbitrary lines between information and entertainment have become more and more blurred” (Media & Culture, 27). The use of technology has now overtaken the lives of some of the younger generation, and some of the older too (here's looking at you Doctor Dubs!). However, in some cases, the technology is all for the better; at least the newspapers, and E-readers are keeping our neocortex working.

(And something fun to send you off with. Charlie McDonnell reading "Twilight." That's some convergence. A boy on YouTube, reading out loud from a book, that was turned into multi-million dollar movies and a multi-billion dollar franchise!)

60 Seconds: Champlain Edition.

A. The specific contributions I made to the Rubber Duck Parade Productions making of "Champlain in 60 Seconds" were: sign making, uploading to video, and gathering a collection of people for the group shots that round out the end of our video.

B. Definitely an A. Together, we all worked really hard, but we collaborated so well. There was a lot of time spent together and many emails and text messages that went back and forth. We all pulled our own weight.

C. The hardest aspect of making this video was getting everyone together. It hard to maneuver around schedules and get people together. It was also hard to do outdoor shots with the weather!

D. Seeing it on YouTube! It was nice to have a crisp, clean product up on YouTube, where not just Doctor Dub and my production team can look at it - anyone can watch a 60 second clip about Champlain!

Dear J.K Rowling, I am still waiting for my ticket to Platform 9 & 3/4 [Media Meditation #04]

With November 19th drawing near, Harry Potter fanatics everywhere are biting their nails to see the first half of the final movie. The screenwriter, Steve Kloves, was the one who decided splitting the final book "The Deathly Hallows" into two separate films.

"And, personally," says Kloves, "I feel we owe it to Jo [Rowling] — in order to preserve the integrity of the work — and the fans — for their loyalty all these years — to give them the best and most complete experience possible." With this established, Part 1 will premiere in a mere 20 days. Part 2 will be showcased on July 15th of next year. Now here is the real big question.

Even with splitting the 759 page novel into two movies, will it still satisfy fans?

(Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Theatrical Poster [Part 1] - Image courtesy of Wikipedia.)

According to Media & Society, Harry Potter is one of the "most successful original book series of this generation." However, it ranks number one on the list of "Ten Most Challenged Books of the 21st Series!" The Harry Potter series has also "generated some of the highest-grossing movies of the past decade." Despite the large sum of money these movies pull in, are they really satisfying the fan base? For example, every time I watch "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" I die a little inside. There is a scene where the characters take place in the 'Yule Bale', a holiday dance. In the book, it specifies that Hermione Granger is wear a blue dress. She is way hot in her blue dress! J.K Rowling says so! But in the movie, Emma Watson wears a light pink/magenta dress. Come on, Mike Newell and David Heyman! You are the director and producer for the movies. I'm sure you've read the books. It doesn't take much to stick to little tidbits of information like that. If J.K. Rowling specified a blue dress, why is Emma Watson in a blue dress! Absolute poppycock.

Harry Potter is a series that has really branched out from one medium to the next. From books, to movies, to movies playing on TV, to movies being played on TV, to fan-made parodies and spin offs. For example, take A Very Potter Musical, a fan-made musical parody of the Harry Potter series put together by students from the University of Michigan.

So, will "The Deathly Hallows" spark more anger from me on costume choices and editing? Will it spark more spin-offs? Will Harry Potter fans be halfway satisfied come November 19th?

Sup world of fancy phones, nice to meet you! [Media Meditation #03]

My first cell phone was a birthday present when I turned 15. I kept it for two years, before finally getting a replacement. The next phone I got, was the Sprint Rumor. It looked like this.

(LG Rumor, image courtesy of LGRumorReview)

It was a brick of a phone. No touch screen - simply texting and phone calls. There was a calendar option and I was able to write myself memos. It also played media files, but I never found that too important because that's what my iPod is for! But for two whole years I struggled through using my Rumor. On the plus side, it was a tank. I could drop in on concrete, and not a thing would happen. The paint had chipped a bit on the corners of the phone and some of the writing on the buttons had worn off, but it was perfectly usable until about two months ago. It began powering off all the time, even when I had full battery! I would be right in the middle of a text and all of a sudden, black screen. It was time for an upgrade. Behold, the Samsung Intercept.

It has a touchscreen and Google! Oh, and QWERTY slide out keyboard so I can text to my heart's content. It also has downloadable apps, just like Tumblr and Facebook, and has visual voicemail! It came with Youtube preloaded onto the phone. I can text, call, sync my phone with my Gmail and Google calendar, surf the internet, watch Sprint TV, and record videos.

(Image courtesy of Sprint.)

Here is a review of the Intercept.

So far, I am pretty satisfied with the phone. I've had a few struggles with lagging, and not being able to unlock the screen or drag down my notifications page. It freezes sometimes, and I can be hearing my phone ring but it won't unlock and show me who is calling. But the Intercept is such an upgrade from my old phone! I can take video off this new phone, and upload it to Facebook, Youtube, and Tumblr with three clicks. It's that world of convergent media!

I find the phone a little difficult getting used to, after having such a simple one for years. It's like using slip on shoes for years and then learning how to use laces. You have to try, and fumble, and tie things in knots and get help from your mommy for a few weeks before you really get the hang of it!

Celebrating 25 Years of Alternative Press.

(AP 25th Anniversary Collectors edition, image courtesy of limewire blog.)

Thesis: To inform and give the inside scoop on all aspects of the alternative/pop-punk/hardcore music scene.

Five Facts: - Chris Lombardi is the founder of Matador Records.

- The top single in 1997 was Elton John's Cand In The Wind"

- The guitar heros of 2010, are: Shawn Milke, JB Brubaker, Christ McPeters, Eric Lambert, Jason Hale, Ben Weinman, Jordan Buckley, Laura Nichol, Nick Diener, and Jamie Rhoden.

- Attack Attack! is a mix of screamo signifiers and rave-core programming, earning the bad both devoted fans and massive disdain.

- The Fearless Friends tour showcased near Burlington on the 17th of October.

8 Trends: AP Magazine uses not only traditional printed word, relying heavily on it's magazine to spread news, but also runs a website, Twitter, Facebook and street team. Look at all the ways you can connect with AP magazine online! Oh, digital media.

7 Principles - AP Magazine relies heavily on production techniques, using certain fonts and colors to portray a certain image. You can see when talking about different genres of music how this plays out - brighter, poppy colors used for the indie or powerpop bands, with black backgrounds with dark images used for heavier music.

Persuasive - AP Magazine uses a lot of humor (when doing music reviews) and testimonials. When talking about political topics (they feature "The AP Poll" every month, which is a hot issue topic like "Is Capitalism the most Democratic Economy?") they always feature what they call "Rockers Respond" where members of your favorite band pitch in to the conversation!

Bazinga! - Midterm Reflection

Alright, Media & Society! You want me to evaluate you? I'll evaluate you so good. As I typed that, this popped into my head.

So back to this reflection. During the first eight weeks, I have honestly learned a lot in Media & Society. The foundations of newspapers, television, radio, movies, and music. Something else I've learned that I find to be of extreme value is persuasive techniques. It would come in handy no matter the career field you wanted to pursue - politics or advertising or publishing, knowing that audiences respond to humor and warm fuzzies will give you the upper hand.

As a thinker, I've learned it takes me a little while to piece things together. When we do our grid quizzes in class, I can remember the power tools, but it always takes me a little time to connect the material to the video. As a reader and a writer, I am at ease with the material.

If I were to take Media & Society a second time, and get a mulligan on this semester, I think I would spend a little more time with the power tools. Just because I can remember the persuasive techniques no problem, I do struggle a little with the 8 shift and 7 perspectives.

Your class be rocking Dr. Dubs. 101 percent honest, I really enjoy your teaching style, the videos you show, your set up, all that jazz.

Usefulness of power tools, course blog, personal blog, class quizzes, films and books, come on down! You get to contend on the Price is Right!

I give the power tools, course blog, personal blog and films 5 whole stars! All fantastic. Make me critically think, work hard for information, examine what I'm learning. There is no regurgitation of facts, it is long term knowledge. All of these make me really examine media and what it says.

However, the in-class quizzes and text book get like, a good three stars. The book is good information but it's boring. It's like a hit and miss, occasionally it's really interesting, and other times chapters feel as boring and as dry and my grandmother's turkey. The problem I have with in-class quizzes is not that the text or media is boring; I really like the videos that we analyze. It's just that I feel like I just repeat the exact same power tools on every single quiz.

(Bob Barker, long time host of the game

show, The Price is Right.

Image courtesy of Fanpop Images.)

Camp Champ Radio Spot: The Rubber Duck Parade Production

St: Welcome!

L: Bienvenue!

Sa: Willkommen!

M: Benvenuto!

St: Once upon a time, at Champlain College, freshman frolicked on our sprawling Aiken lawn. Whether you know it or not, this is the place where dreams come true.

L: Champlain College is right out of a fairy tale, with a picturesque campus located in the heart of Burlington’s residential neighborhood.

Sa: Your escorts to and from each class can be cheerful squirrels and chirping birds!

M: Multiply the 7 dwarves by 3 and you have the average class size for Champlain College!

St: Champlain offers you an intimate community where we appreciate you for the prince or princess that you are. Let’s hear from one of our prospective students, Cinderella.

L: I just couldn’t wait to take part in the Equestrian club and Muggle Quidditch! It’s much more fun to ride a broom then to clean with one! And the possibility of living in one of Champlain’s renovated Victorian era mansion would be just like living in Prince Charming’s castle!

Sa: But life on campus never gets boring! There is lots of adventure waiting for you at Church Street and the waterfront, both a short stroll from campus!

M: You don’t have to be a prince or princess to attend Champlain College! We can help you go from rags to riches or pumpkin to carriage with our BYOBiz program or study abroad opportunities!

St: 96.7 % of Champlain alum enjoyed this broadcast!

L: So come find your happily ever after at Champlain College!