Stop Smiling Burger King Dude!

Pictures of chaos, dead bodies abandoned in downtown streets emerged, we confronted our inability to cope with the immediate chaos, destruction. How is it that the U.S. was unprepared to cope with such a disaster. We see evidence, images of violent acts, drugs, and sex on television and news on a daily basis. How could we not be prepared to handle this difficult situation? Is it due to the actual severity of what crisis presents itself? It seems that a murder charge here, a rape there, another kidnapping somewhere else are all just to common these days. It seems that the people are only stimulated by the most grotesque, worse, terrifying acts of all. Whether it man-created or mother nature at its fiercest.

I saw that this well-written essay by Christine Rose was published in 2005. I wonder what her perspective would have been if it was written shortly after the horrific acts on September 11^th, 2001. Although Christine quickly mentions the everlasting images of the twin towers burning from the terrorist attacks.

The word “image,” can have so many different meanings if you think about it. Christine uses the example of love. It could mean an image of a couple united with a steamy embrace or parents hugging their child. The main argument is that with every image that we may have in our psyche, it can easily mean different things to different people. What I wonder about is the words that are most meaningful such as family or sex or body. I guess that your particular view depends on past experiences and perspective on its definition.

I just closed my eyes and rubbed my face. You know how you can see little sparkles, colors, and images, when you either squeeze you eyes tightly or blink in the dark black spots. I have no idea why, but I just witnessed Joseph Stalin’s face and moustache shape shift to Luigi’s good friend, Mario. It was creepy. I know that was completely random, but its images isn’t it?

I agree with her view on how the ease of replication makes images less magical and less shocking. For me, I have seen certain commercials or symbols so many times that it ultimately makes the material dry and boring. I lose all excitement after a while. This also goes with popular fast food chain mascots. Jack In the Box and Burger King were starting to freak me out big time. It was to the point where I had a nightmare of Burger King staring at me while I sleep. Ronald McDonald on the other hand has been obsolete from the repetitive world of images. He’s been out of the loop for a while which makes it more enjoyable to see his character re-visit from time to time.

Do you feel that it should be illegal to use one’s own digital camera or computer to produce or alter an original image? Christine declares that as a result, the power of the image may be diluted in one sense, but strengthened in another.

I have to admit that manipulating a photo to your own discretion can be highly entertaining, and boy to see it published is fantastic. In my senior at Novato High School, O took a computer design class. I have to admit it was very funny to put my parents heads and other bodies or Bob Marley and I smoking a true spliff stuffed with kaya.

Silence of the Lambs-

For my essay # 2, I chose to respond to ChaseTheMusical’s Vlog on his idea of “Self-Censorship.” He gets right to the point and asks the viewer what is it and why we do it? His definition of Self-Censorship is when you are in a certain situation whatever it may be and you hold back by not saying something that is on your mind. It may be that you are refraining from being “real,” because you are fearful of hurting the person’s feelings. Or maybe because you are afraid of the ramifications that may soon follow with what you have said to that person. The fact of the matter is that you do not let people know what you are thinking. My question is how does that make you feel? What existence do you have as a human-being on planet Earth if you always mind your P’s and Q’s as some would say. If you are always Mr. nice guy then people will eventually treat you like dirt and take advantage of you because they know that you won’t say anything back. I agree with Chase in that it would be extremely frustrating to never share your feelings and keep them locked up.
It’s not a game; it’s just having the pride in yourself and the willingness to be honest with people. I completely agree with Chase that we do not want to hurt other people’s feelings on purpose. This is not the case. But if you are striving to find something that bothers you and you must make a point by sharing it on Youtube, then to me it sounds like you are attempting to cause a stir. There is something that American’s have the right too which is the Freedom of Speech with good reasoning of course. I know that Chase is simply stating what it is, but I found his argument to be weak. It would have been much more effective if he had been able to share a personal experience as an example with his viewers. He simply just discussed the topic. For one, it would have interested me more, but I see what his message was for his vlog.
Another aspect about this vlog is that it sounded like he was just trying to recruit more subscribers like it’s a popularity contest or something. He says that he is afraid and he is telling the absolute truth. The reason why he declares to share his thoughts on certain “touchy” subjects is because he is protected by his surroundings in his home. You should be strong minded and stand up for yourself with good intentions of course.
Immediately after watching his vlog, I was interested in anything else that he may have discussed concerning touchy subjects. So, I followed up and found one that he did which discussed being 22 years old and still a virgin. To me I think that he is a virgin in a couple of ways. One because he has not yet had sex and two because he still hasn’t found himself and his purpose yet in this world. This may be why he is sharing his opinions to find himself. It all makes sense to me. I too am a virgin in one of these senses.
I agree with his view on how we all have flaws and that by sharing them with others then maybe we can put them out there and find an answer to solving them. I laughed when he said that he can’t dance or sing and then burped. He was being “real” for sure at those moments and throughout his vlog. What is even crazier about this whole thing is that my friend Chris, a student at SSU looks exactly and I mean exactly like him. Minus the longer hair. It is spooky how similar they are. My main thought on this entire touchy subject is that how does someone know who they are if they can never say what is on their mind. There is a time where you have to face your fears and just speak up. Many people did overtime and boy did they make a difference. Names such as Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., Frederick Douglass, and Marshall McLuhan all did it. Trust me; there is a list like this that will go on and on. You have to use common sense in your approach to sharing your views with others. There is no harm done by simply being honest with someone. It might hurt their feelings, but there is no shame on your part. The point is that you had the confidence within yourself to get whatever it was off your chest. This is the most important thing. It is better than lying in my opinion.

You Ain't Nothing But A Hound dog-

I will need to read this book once again. I enjoyed the majority of the material in this fascinating book yet I managed to struggle in comprehending some of Marshall McLuhan’s theories or concepts. This book and the messages within it are not by any means easy to grasp. There are pictures that relate to the information, but sometimes the pictures just looked odd. This randomness is why I liked the book. For example, I observed that when you look at the montage of noses from a distance on page 21 in the book they closely resemble the computer data chip on the previous page. I have no clue, just something that caught my eye. Due to its approach in being outrageously different compared to other ideological books, I found it to be quite interesting. I thought it was interesting when he asks if you have ever contemplated suicide and honestly, yes I have. But does everyone at least once in their lifetime? I would never do anything remotely close to harming myself on purpose, but it has crossed my mind for whatever reason I cannot explain.
McLuhan’s perspective on “your education,” especially the involvement of childhood is disturbingly true. The images and news that are presented to us via electronic media diminish the little time that we already have of “growing up.” We grow up so fast as it is, not to mention the years zooming by with the blink of an eye, yet with what is on TV, it forces children to become more aware of the truths.

that it even exists. I wish every detail of every concept could just be expressed for what it is and not how it can be altered to make sense for someone who does not appreciate it. I understand that it is best not to lie to our youth, but only guide them away from aspects of life that they are not ready to comprehend. An example of this for me would be my adjustment in learning the truth behind Christopher Columbus. During my entire childhood, Columbus was sought to be a hero and the man who discovered that the world was indeed not flat. It was only 3 years ago in my history course that I learned the revolting, destructible, and hard truths of how he treated the natives, especially women and children. I was quite disturbed and shocked when this entire time I felt that I had been given the truthful information.
Media research and its effects on society existed before television use became widespread in the mid 1950’s. It was the invention of television that prompted scholars to study its meanings. Behind every action, every word, there is something that can be criticized about it. Once television expanded, the people expanded. People have a tendency to emulate that which makes them feel more meaningful. New ways of behaving were being introduced which accumulated to a mass exodus towards change.

You are probably wondering why I have Elvis Presley, the one and only King of Rock and Roll on my blog. Well, this man changed how viewers could watch TV. When he appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, it was forbidden for the public to witness his gyrating bottom torso on screen. Remember the scene in Forrest Gump with little Forrest and his mother walking down the street? In the 50’s, this was very sexual and quite explicit for the era. Today in 2009, there is more violence, drugs, and sex than I could have ever imagined to see in my life. The question is, how and why do the regulations towards the viewing of these acts change overtime? Why do they have to change? What makes us able to see them now and not before? Another important factor that McLuhan discusses is the difference in mediums. I understand that “the medium is the massage,” but watching something on the tube, and reading something in the newspaper are quite different, yet you can interpret the exact same message into different meanings.
It is amazing when you realize that McLuhan’s theories were extremely ahead of his time. Television had already existed for more than 25 years, but in 1967 he had recognized its deeper messages. The most important paragraph in this entire book comes on page 26. The very profound and bold sentence that is simply stated is “All media work us over completely.” I just wanted to mention how strong of a statement that really is if you think about it for a second. On page 45, McLuhan discusses his views on how “Rationality” and logic came to depend on the presentation of connected and sequential facts or concepts. I think this closely relates to the presentation of connectiveness that we have on the internet. Well, let me think, hmm maybe something called AIM and vlogs?

The Postman has delivered the mail-

First, I would like to say that Neil Postman is one very intelligent human being. The arguments in his essay are compelling and definitely well researched. I am quite certain that Neil Postman has probably read this essay many times over the course of his career. It is quite revealing to the truths of modern day technology. His essay on “The Humanism of Media Ecology,” possesses all of the necessary tools to what a great essay should have. I enjoyed his use of examples that came from the words of some of the greatest literary writers, poets, and thinkers of human existence. He mentions Aristotle, Socrates, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, just to name a few.

Honestly, I was freaked out with his concept regarding the replacement of the word “substance” with the word “technology” and how it would still stand as a fundamental principle of media ecology. When I think of the word “substance,” it means everything put together that creates something. Sure, we can think of chemistry or physics classes and think of substances, but I am talking about the ingredients used for the creation of something whatever it may be. It was freaky to compare that word with today’s technology. All I can think of is man versus machine like in Terminator. One day, machines will take over. They are beginning too right this very minute, today. I am interning at ABC for a show, and there is one human being running with the studio camera. The remaining three cameras’ are robotic and move on their own. When I walk around campus, everyone is always on a computer, phone, iPod, etc. We resemble machines in the sense that I expect to see someone pull out their phone almost on cue.

Media has the absolute power over many things that exist within our everyday lives. It shapes the way we feel about ourselves, the way we think, the way we talk, the way we walk, and the way we comb our hair. Today’s technological advancement, breakthroughs, gadgets, whatever you want to call them is truly out of this world. The special effects in movies sometimes make me have to change my underwear. Sorry, joke!

In Postman’s essay, there is a brief glance at the most beautiful aspects in life to enjoy. He mentions the natural environment and includes things like air, trees, rivers, and caterpillars. After reading all of the horrifying truths and being tangled in its web of confusion, for a split second, I was memorized by the very thought of these images. I thought of the real trees, the real caterpillar on a tree stem, the real rivers and the sounds they make when flowing. Then, my mind fluttered with those images transforming into a different type of image, the one’s on a computer or television screen. The reality is that we can simply use a machine to record these aspects in their natural environment and place them onto a screen. It is sad but true that many people rely on the screen and not for the real experience. As a human, I feel that it is mandatory to discover, experience, and just live your lives. If you are so amazed with seeing the Great Sphinx on the Discovery Channel, then why don’t you try your very best to save up the money and travel to Egypt to see it in person. Words cannot express how much that little concept means to me.