Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Lauren Zalaznick: The Conscience of Television

Operation Redlight: Star Power Data

After you all finished up your presentations for Operation Redlight, we looked at some data about the actors that you chose to play the role of the protagonist. Here's a recap of the data we observed:

8 out of 10 protagonists were white
1 out of 10 protagonists was black
1 out of 10 protagonists was Hispanic

8 out of 10 protagonists were male
2 out of 10 protagonists were female

This week, we'll be reading several articles surrounding the topic of Casting & Fate. This theory, discussed thoroughly by George Gerbner, will guide our discussions for the rest of the semester. Remember the IMDB scavenger hunt from today? Who was frustrated looking for some of the items? Ladies, how do you feel about Bella representing you TWICE on this list? Keep a careful eye out, as always, and please post or email me real life examples of the theories we are studying in class.

Hasta la pasta,
Cordes

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Final Discussions

Topics:
These links will take you to a topic of interest. Jump in and read, watch, or listen to these new topics. Make sure your ideas are thoughtful and not shallow. Can your see the difference?

I can't believe how much Call of Duty my cousin plays. I think he is addicted and that is just they way it is I guess.

Pretty weak. How about this?

Call of Duty is highly addictive for several reasons. Clearly the orienting response is being constantly activated as the gunfire, explosions, and perpetual violence will keep the brain triggered. This also is layered on top of the other "reptilian hot buttons" on display. That boys have the added bonus of trash talking each other creates a unique bonding experience. You don't even have to be a jock to join in too. In many ways, it is a much more democratic experience for the players as they can accomplish a social standing without physical

Take Home Final for Wednesday:
Pick one of the issues previously listed.

Establish an original thesis based upon your observations of the issue.
Directly connect your observations to any of the five core principles of media literacy that apply.
Counter argue with a position of a classmate or with an opinion from a source.
As this is a take home essay, you have over 48 hours to consider the issue, develop a stance, collect evidence for support, seek opposing views and counter-argue, and conclude. Do not come in empty handed on Wednesday.
Please type and double space the final. My preference but not required.

Final Discussion- Social Media and its issues

Prosecution:
Facebook Issue #1
Facebook Issue #2
Facebook Issue #3
Issue #4

Defense:

Are Distractible People More Creative?

Can Twitter Lead People to the Streets?

Learning by Playing: Video Games in the Classroom

Final Discussion- Arnold - Censorship/Private Lives/ Politics

In response this week's media bombshell:
From Daily Beast

For many years, Schwarzenegger employed pit-bull attorney Marty Singer—whose legal threats to journalists are the stuff of legend—to stamp out negative stories and discredit women who claimed he'd misbehaved in front of them. Even Anthony Pellicano, the disgraced private investigator currently serving a 15-year sentence for wiretapping, racketeering, and wire fraud, reportedly worked on Schwarzenegger's behalf for a time, sifting through his client's own trash to suss out potential enemies.
But perhaps the greatest coup came in 2002, shortly before Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy for Governor. That year, David Pecker's American Media, which publishes supermarket tabloids like The National Enquirer and Star, purchased a slew of fitness magazines from Schwarzenegger's mentor Joe Weider in a transaction valued at around $350 million. Soon after, AMI signed up the Terminator himself in a multi-year contract that made him the executive editor of a number of its publications.
AMI got a PR boost from the publicity, and Schwarzenegger got a certain amount of immunity from the company’s tireless attack dogs. As one longtime AMI staffer put it to Los Angeles Magazine in a 2004 article by Ann Louise Bardach, “When Weider was being bought, the edict came down: No more Arnold stories.”

Should politicians be fair game? What is the ethical fallout that his behavior was purposely shielded by a corporate sponsor?