Final Blog :'(

I cannot choose a least favorite topic because every week we were assigned an interesting subject that I had never really considered.  However, I did have a least favorite author.  The readings by Surrete didn’t always appeal to me as much as reading about serial killers, for example.  I suppose it’s because we are taught by the media that we should be interested in sensational issues.  If I had to pick a least favorite topic, it would probably be news in comparison to the other topics.  I still found the topic intriguing, though. 

My favorite topic would have to be reading about the Smart, Ramsey, and Peterson cases.  The readings for that week (except for perhaps the Surrette reading) were so compelling in that they told more of the story instead of presenting bare facts.  Plus, they seemed to relate to current news stories, especially with the trial of Smart’s abductor. 

I think it would be useful to expand the music and film segments of the course.  The readings we covered were appropriate, but I would have enjoyed going beyond Marilyn Monroe and Blood Diamonds if we had more time.  As for limiting information, I’m not sure what I would do.  I cannot imagine limiting or eliminating any of the topics.  I suppose I would choose to expand music and film. 

Prior to this class, I would have advocated a course based mostly around music, film, and the Internet.  After taking it though, I would approach the material as we did in class.  We covered so much more useful and engrossing matters than what pure music, film, and Internet usage would have allowed.  I would never have considered themes such as drugs and media effects before this semester.  Now, I think I would structure the course similarly to the way Professor Castle did, at least using the same topics.  The only change I would probably make is to expand the film and music sections. 

Overall, I really loved this class!  I’ll definitely miss it!

The Lord of the Rings

My favorite movie ever is The Lord of the Rings.  I know, technically it’s a trilogy, but I like to consider them as one incredibly long movie. 

At its heart, the movie is about an unlikely hero braving a world-changing quest, a king seeking his throne, and good destroying evil, but it also touches on several justice issues including racial stereotypes and gender stereotypes. 

Within the movie, there are exactly three female title characters compared to the dozens of main actors who are male.  Males comprise the entire Fellowship of the Ring.  Only Galadriel serves as a female ruler, and she even performs that role with her husband alongside her.  Arwen’s main function is to support her fiancé; she never has a role in any of the battles.  Eowyn is the sole female character who goes to war, but she must do so in secret.  Although she is the one character capable of defeating the Witch King, a powerful enemy, her presence as the lone female on the battlefield seems detrimental to her cause.  Why is she the only female to experience the drive to fight for her beliefs?  It makes her participation seem almost abnormal.  At the same time, however, the movie conforms correctly to the times it loosely portrays.  There were not many female warriors in existence during medieval times.  Those who did dare to fight probably had to hide their identities. 

Racial stereotypes arise as well.  Initially, Legolas the elf and Gimli the dwarf hate each other because of ancient grudges between their people, but they eventually overcome those prejudices.  Their situation speaks to the stereotypes many Americans hold today which prevent them from creating lasting bonds across racial barriers. 

Although the point of The Lord of the Rings trilogy remains the hero quest, it does manage to advance modern day concerns, albeit in a fantastical setting.

Love The Way You Lie

Love The Way You Lie featuring Rihanna by Eminem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uelHwf8o7_U&ob=av2e

[Chorus - Rihanna]
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
That's all right because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
That's all right because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

[Eminem - Verse 1]
I can't tell you what it really is, I can only tell you what it feels like
And right now it's a steel knife in my windpipe
I can't breathe but I still fight while I can fight
As long as the wrong feels right it's like I'm in flight
High off her love, drunk from my hate, it's like I'm huffin' paint
And I love it the more I suffer, I suffocate
And right before I'm about to drown, she resuscitates me, she fuckin' hates me
And I love it, "wait, where you goin'?"
"I'm leavin' you," "no you ain't come back"
We're runnin' right back, here we go again
It's So insane, cause when it's goin' good it's goin' great
I'm superman with the wind at his back, she's Lois Lane
But when it's bad it's awful, I feel so ashamed I snap
Whose that dude? I don't even know his name
I laid hands on her
I'll never stoop so low again
I guess I don't know my own strength

[Chorus]
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
Well that's all right because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
Well that's all right because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

[Eminem - Verse 2]
You ever love somebody so much you can barely breathe
When you with em you meet and neither one of you even know what hit em
Got that warm fuzzy feeling
Yeah them chills used to get em
Now you're getting fuckin' sick of lookin' at em
You swore you'd never hit em, never do nothin' to hurt em
Now you're in each other's face spewin' venom in your words when you spit em
You push pull each other's hair
Scratch claw hit em throw em down pin em
So lost in the moments when you're in em
It's the rage that's the culprit, controls you both
So they say it's best to go your separate ways
Guess that they don't know ya
Cause today that was yesterday
Yesterday is over, it's a different day
Sound like broken records playin' over
But you promised her next time you'll show restraint
You don't get another chance
Life is no nintendo game, but you lied again
Now you get to watch her leave out the window
Guess that's why they call it window pane

[Chorus]
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
Well that's all right because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
Well that's all right because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

[Eminem - Verse 3]
Now I know we said things, did things, that we didn't mean
And we fall back into the same patterns, same routine
But your temper's just as bad as mine is, you're the same as me
When it comes to love you're just as blinded
Baby please come back, it wasn't you, baby it was me
Maybe our relationship isn't as crazy as it seems
Maybe that's what happens when a tornado meets a volcano
All I know is I love you too much to walk away though
Come inside, pick up the bags off the sidewalk
Don't you hear sincerity in my voice when I talk?
Told you this is my fault, look me in the eyeball
Next time I'm pissed I'll aim my fist at the drywall
Next time there won't be no next time
I apologize even though I know it's lies
I'm tired of the games I just want her back
I know I'm a liar if she ever tries to fuckin' leave again
I'ma tie her to the bed and set this house on fire
Just gonna

[Chorus]
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
Well that's all right because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
Well that's all right because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

[End]

This song reveals a case of interpersonal violence that is often concealed in the media.  When it is portrayed, the stereotype of a man abusing his wife for the sake of domination frequently comes to light.  Victims in domestic violence are often motivated to keep quiet about their abuse because of fear and shame.  

However, when domestic violence materializes in celebrity couples, it usually becomes scandalous.  Eminem’s video and song delve into and illuminate the intricacies of the issue, revealing that the male in a relationship is not always the only violent partner in the case of domestic violence.  The video portrays violence on the part of both members of the relationship.  It also showcases the conflicting desires that partners in a relationship feel to stay together despite knowledge of the continuing damage. 

Overall, I think the video is not only valuable, but it brings the more taboo truths of domestic violence to light. 

Suicide Lecture

Before the guest speaker came in to speak to us about suicide, I thought the subject was fairly straight forward.  I had no idea that there were so many intricacies, from statistics to methods of addressing someone considering suicide.  I suppose I visualized the act as this distant, horrible thing that could never have an effect on my life.  Yet, publicity on suicide is increasing in the media and for good reason.  The stress of the educational system makes suicide more and more prevalent in college, so the presentation we heard was definitely appropriate and necessary.

“The Cat Lady” seemed rather personable, probably because she is a graduate student and thus someone to whom we can relate.  Regardless, her knowledge was extensive, including personal anecdotes, statistical information, and strategies.  She walked us through every step of the process of stopping someone from committing suicide, including traits to recognize that someone is considering suicide, methods we can use to confront that person, and telephone numbers to call in order to obtain professional help.

What made her presentation so interesting was that she knew how to speak to our age group about a very uncomfortable topic.  Her statistics, especially the one about how 80% of the population considers suicide, were shocking, yet informative.  As a result of her presentation, I know never to use the “we need to talk” line, not just when talking to a partner, but in serious talks about drugs and suicide as well. 

Hopefully, I will never have to use the suggestions she presented in a real life situation, but I feel more prepared if I do encounter that reality. 

Pranking on Halloween

With Halloween approaching, I find myself thinking about previous Halloweens back home.  My neighbors stopped handing out candy when their kids decided they were too old for trick-or-treating, so they always turn out the lights on Halloween night.  Thus, their house has become Prank Central.  Something happens to their house pretty much every Halloween now.   

           

Last year, a few neighborhood kids decided to get some kicks by egging one of my neighbor’s cars and completely covering a tree in their front yard with toilet paper.  They also knocked over the street sign and the stop sign near their house.  Additionally, there were several broken beer bottles scattered along the street. 

I wonder what provoked them into action and if they’ll decide to do it again.  They must think that their actions are justified because my neighbors do not hand out candy.  With the addition of alcohol and the incentive of groupthink, they become more and more likely to lash out violently.  Plus, pranking is a tradition of Halloween.  The house stands out as the one that refused to observe candy hand-out.  That makes their house a viable target for retaliation, one that groupthink, alcohol, and tradition can justify. 

I guess my neighbors need to learn to pass out Halloween candy!   

THE EVENT

I have been watching a new show on NBC called The Event.  After glancing through the reading for next week, I found that the program definitely has some relevance to the discussion on African Americans and other minorities in television programming.

In the show, the President of the United States is African American and the the son of a native Cuban.  He seeks to close down a prison facility (in the show, the facility seems to house aliens) and free the inhabitants, much like Obama’s efforts with Guantanamo Bay.  The show is a prime example of a new change in characters by the media involving African Americans.  In order to reflect the political direction of our country, fictional presidents in television are portrayed as being black.  This trend is also evident in the now cancelled show, Heroes.  In the recent past, however, presidents were almost always white males; Harrison Ford in Air Force One and Bill Pullman in Independence Day come to mind.  Now, however, casting a white male in the role of president would not be in line with current trends and could indeed be considered an insult.

President’s Obama’s leadership has definitely made a difference in television programming.  I wonder if the president in new shows would have been a female had Hillary Clinton won the presidency.  It would have been interesting to see Glenn Close as president instead of Harrison Ford.

Copycat Reflection

It was enlightening to see the copycat effect of the movies on an actual screen instead of just reading about it.  I found myself struck by the gore in the movie version and horrified that someone could be sick enough to repeat those heinous acts in real life.  The case that alarmed me the most was that of a sixteen-year-old boy who decided to kill his mother for the money to buy masks and start a killing spree.  One guy said that he would do whatever he saw in the movies, including slicing open someone’s chest.  And then, of course, there were the Honeymoon Killers who killed their new partners for the life insurance payment. 

One thing that seemed to be useful with these copycat killer crimes was that police could recognize the similarities between the movie murders and the actual killings.  Yet, these copycat crimes were extremely violent and sickening.  I watch very few graphic movies because the blood and gore freak me out, but the ones I have seen horrify me.  It is sickening to think that people could be inspired by movies like Saw.

However, I don’t think we can deprive the public of these movies.  Some movies that can inspire violent acts may also have positive effects.  In the reading, one woman who watched a movie where an abused wife killed her husband decided to perform the same act in real life, but many other women sought help as a result of viewing the movie. 

Thus, every movie, even violent ones, can produce different impacts depending on the person.  Some reactions might be positive, some negative.  We cannot cut out violent films entirely for fear of what some people will do, although perhaps we can limit the gory content.   

Lost because of LOST!

I was watching Lost on TV one day, and I decided that hiking looked fun.  The characters on the show were always walking off to some place or another in pursuit of food or another person or they were seeking a distant destination in the middle of the jungle.  Inspired, I submitted myself to my own quest.  I was going on a hike.  Not one of those little one or two-mile treks on one of those paved trails, but a legit hike; a hike to the middle of nowhere and back. 

When I shared the idea with my friends, they were all too enthusiastic to join in being Lost fans themselves.  So, we decided we’d take a weekend and go on a seven-mile hike.  It was not too far, we reasoned.  We would not even have to make a camp on our first excursion. 

Yet, when we got there arrived at our destination, we found ourselves utterly unprepared.  Our brand new hiking boots bit into our heels.  We had not applied nearly enough mosquito spray.  Our legs trembled after four miles.  Plus, we hadn’t brought an adequate supply of water.  I am sure that our experience was far from a global phenomenon, but media’s glamorizing of Kate, often accompanied by the two hunks of the show, Jack and Sawyer, definitely hoodwinked us.  Without the distraction of two competing, utterly gorgeous guys, we were “lost.” 

Increased Police Patrols During Homecoming Weekend

http://www.whsv.com/news/headlines/Harrisonburg_Police_Increase_Patrols_for_Homecoming_Weekend_104899604.html

The Harrisonburg police have announced that they are going to increase their patrols this homecoming weekend in an effort to deter those drinkers who may decide to have a little too much fun.  Will this announcement discourage students from going out to party?  Maybe some students will stay in, especially since patrols have already been so stringent this year.  However, the majority of JMU students who were already planning to go out partying will not be deterred.  A media announcement would be unlikely to trigger a mass curtailment of parties.  The opinions of peers would be much more effective in changing behavior.  If someone’s friends are afraid of going out because of the dangers of getting caught, that would definitely be more of a deterrent than a distant announcement.  Personal stories from friends who have been caught participating in underage drinking would also be a valuable restraint. 

Basically, I think announcing that there will be more police on patrols is largely useless.  Students have to see this increased coverage for themselves before they will believe it. 

Honestly, I think that the most valuable deterrent to students going out this weekend will be the weather.  If it’s cold and windy, that will keep at least some students indoors. 

Bandwagon Trickery

Often when I think of biased information in the news, my immediate reaction is to blame the news media entirely.  Yet, the discussion on cognitive biases, the Bandwagon effect, confirmation bias, base rate fallacy, and cognitive dissonance remind me that bias in the media has two sides: the media itself and us as viewers and consumers.  Besides hungering for the sensational stories about death and sex, we hold innate biases which also affect the presentation of the news.  Reporters have to carefully shape stories that comply with the public’s internalized biases.  For example, I became a victim of the Bandwagon effect when we conducted an experiment in my psychology class.  After walking around the school, one girl confidently proclaimed that the flag was positioned at half-staff while another less persuasive boy contended that it had risen to full-staff.  Most of us joined the bandwagon and declared that we too had seen the flag and that it was flying at half-mast, even though it was actually flying at full-mast.  Until the teacher weighed in, we remained convinced that we were right, especially since there were so many people supporting each other.  Thus, this reaction is a good example of the Bandwagon effect.

The Department of Information concept freaked me out.  In no way, shape, or form should our government have anything to do with feeding us filtered information.  The most disturbing idea was that the government would be able to declare selected information as fact or fiction.  With the highly politicized and polarized government that we have today, this action would be a death sentence.  The government in power would never allow any information into fact that portrays the current system in a negative light.  It is significant that the three countries utilizing the department are North Korea, China, and Iran.  The fact that these particular countries with restrictive societies use this form of control to deliver information provides evidence that such a department is a disturbing and frightening idea. Sure, there may be biases in the information we read and hear today, but at least we can pick and choose our sources.  Having one source categorize fact paves the way for more bias all slanted in one direction.

Jaycee Dugard

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20018486-504083.html

Last week we were talking about how high profile cases, such as the Ramsey case and Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapping, frequently lose appeal to the public as time passes.  A more recent example is the Jaycee Lee Dugard kidnapping case, which has lost its prominence in the media. 

Held by Nancy and Philip Garrido, Dugard and the children that she later bore after Garrido raped her were not discovered by police for about twenty years.  Although parole officers visited Garrido, who had been convicted of a 1977 rape and kidnapping, the Garridos were able to keep Dugard hidden in their backyard. 

The media and public became fixated on the case after Dugard was found.  Her face dominated the Internet and the news, and the public always seemed to be hungry for updates.  However, fewer networks now cover the story.  It is difficult to find a prominent news source with current information.

After searching for a while, I discovered an article on CBS News that offered an update on the case.  The Garridos have been indicted on eighteen counts plus many special allegations, which will allow Dugard and her family to avoid testifying in open court for the time being.  Nancy Garrido has already pleaded not guilty, but the court awaits a mental competency evaluation for Philip Garrido before accepting his plea.  Additionally, Dugard is writing a memoir that will cover the events from her abduction to present day. 

It was interesting to see how the case has evolved.  The last time I remember hearing about Dugard, she had recently been found and the media had begun hyping that she had borne children with her kidnapper.  When the public grew tired of the repetitiveness and lack of twists in the case following Dugard’s initial recovery, the story faded out of the limelight. 

Whale Rider

Last Wednesday, I watched the movie entitled Whale Rider.  When I first learned of the film, I had no idea that it would make me cry.  In fact, I thought it was probably one of those documentary type films.  Instead, it was not only a beautiful film with impressive actors and actresses—most stunning of which was the young lead, Keisha Castle-Hughes—but it also provided an enlightening portrait of a young girl overcoming gender limitations.

The birth of Pai and her brother reveals an overt gender divide. When Pai’s mother and her twin brother die, her grandfather, Koro, sees her as worthless.  His condemnation continues throughout the film despite Pai’s obvious gifts.  She seems to exhibit the perfect aptitude to be the leader of the tribe, yet he only reacts with anger and blame.  I found myself crying along with Pai when her grandfather fails to appear at her concert.  The audience has no choice but to hope along with Pai for any hint of her grandfather’s acceptance.  It is only when Pai nearly drowns after her success in riding the whale back into the ocean that Koro accepts her as the future leader of the tribe. 

The movie relates to class in that it publicizes the true plight of many women around the world, not just the women in Pai’s specific tribe.  It shows that even movies that entertain can sometimes communicate greater meanings and be used to advertise injustices to the viewing public.

Watching this touching film was truly a treat.  I cannot wait to attend another one in the future!

Afghanistan Chopper Crash

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/09/21/nato-service-members-killed-chopper-crash/

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39282298/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/09/22/afghanistan.helicopter.deaths/

            I found news stories on the Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN websites on the recent deaths of nine NATO soldiers from America.  Although all three sources covered the same story, there were glaring differences. 

            The Fox News report includes the wounding of an Afghan national security force member during the crash.  According to the article, the Taliban claims to have shot down the helicopter, although NATO asserted that there was no hostile fire at the time of the crash.  The Taliban are apparently prone to exaggeration.  Additionally, Fox News points out that this is the deadliest year for international forces in Afghanistan since 2001.  There is a definite slant within the article toward the idea that mechanical problems caused the crash since maintenance difficulties and dust have often been responsible for helicopter crashes in the past.  The article goes into depth about the severity of certain past crashes before discussing a missile strike that occurred on the same day along with brief mentions of roadside bombs and the recent election.  It appears as though Fox News is trying to provide a comprehensive look at recent violence in Afghanistan as compared to past acts.  Although the focus is on the September 21st chopper crash, the report is used mainly to show the escalation of violence.

            The MSNBC article is much like the Fox News report.  It too reveals that the death of the nine NATO soldiers brings the annual death count of NATO forces to the highest number since 2001.  It also leans toward the NATO claims concerning the cause of the crash, asserting that the Taliban often claims responsibility when not involved.  After discussing other NATO injuries and deaths for that day, the article appears to try to make a connection between the escalation of violence and the recent elections in Afghanistan.  The article also mentions details about the missile strike and the increase in foreign and United States troops in the country.  MSNBC also seems to be providing a comprehensive look at recent violence in Afghanistan and trying to attribute this escalation of death and injury to the election. 

            The CNN article, written a few days later, takes a different approach.  It focuses solely on the revelation of the identities of the soldiers killed and the flying of the bodies to Dover, Delaware.  There is no comprehensive discussion of violence in Afghanistan.  Neither is there mention of the election.  The purpose of the article is to compile the deaths of the NATO soldiers.

            The deaths of the nine soldiers are definitely something we should be concerned about.  Even though their deaths are most likely attributable to maintenance issues rather than attacks from the Taliban, the escalation of injuries and deaths of foreign troops points to an overall rise of violence in the country.  This increase in causalities is a concern we should be aware of, but I know I haven’t been paying attention for a while.  News on the economy and our own elections seem to eclipse Afghanistan in the news.  I have certainly been focused on those issues instead, but reading such articles will hopefully make me aware and willing to keep track of our military pursuits in Afghanistan.  

"CULT" Comparison

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/09/20/missing_sect_members_found_safe_in_calif/

http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/09/20/cult-like-group-found-alive-no-plans-of-group-suicide/

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/cult-leader-held-for-mental-evaluation/story-e6frf7jx-1225926615351

Since we have been talking so much about cults and satanic behavior, I decided to compare three articles about the recent cult scare in California using the sources: The Boston Globe, Time, and The Herald Sun. 

When comparing all three sources offering information about the 13 recently found members of a so-called religious sect, the accounts were noticeably different. 

The title of The Boston Globe article proclaimed that the missing “sect members” were found safe.  Details about the leader, Reyna Marisol Chicas, made her sound mentally unstable.  She gave a fake name and apparently rambled during questioning.  Sheriff officials described the group as “cult-like.”  Additionally, the article emphasized the leaving behind of cellphones and letters that indicated that the 13 members were awaiting the Rapture. 

The Time’s article, on the other hand, called the group “cult-like” in the title.  The article began with the account that the husbands of two of the women claimed that they were “cult-like” and “brainwashed” without any mention of the police asserting these descriptions.  Descriptions of the actual search were very detailed.  The article seemed to implicate the worried husbands as knowing that their wives were actually going somewhere to pray.  It even claimed that the women had asserted that they had left to pray often, implying that the husbands had knowingly created a false scare. 

The Herald Sun again uses the label of “cult” within its title.  Initially, the article offered some details about the search.  It also discussed Chicas’s mental state.  Here, the police used the label “cult-like” instead of the husbands using this description.  A new detail came to light: the word “suicide” was never used within the letters.  So, here the writer is perhaps skeptical of the husbands’ motivations.  Also, the article revealed that the group had been spotted by police before their disappearance and disregarded. 

It was interesting to see differences between reports on the same story once again, especially in the context of topics we discussed last class. 

Potential Serial Killer Captured!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/26/AR2010082605949.html

I read about the suspected serial murderer, Elias Abuelazam, who is suspected of attacking 18 men, killing five of them. 

The article seems to pay equal attention to both the serial killer’s background and the cases he is suspected of perpetrating.  However, his background encompasses most of the beginning of the article while the case descriptions take up the majority of the end.  Some impatient readers may only learn about the suspected killer’s arrest, which is worded to appear un-slanted, but it actually makes his guilt seem likely.

Regarding his background, the article reports that Abuelazam is a 33-year-old Israeli citizen.  It also reports the date he moved to Leesburg, Virginia, a state where he is suspected of carrying out several attacks.  He has been charged with one stabbing in Michigan, and authorities believe he has committed many other attacks in Michigan and one in Ohio.  Much of the other information pertaining to his whereabouts is based on the assumption that he is the killer and attacker, speculating on his motivations and targets. 

There is no mention of other serial killer cases.  Neither are there statistics.  The article deals solely with Abuelazam and the evidence against him. 

Additionally, there is no mention of the FBI.  Leesburg authorities and a Genesee County, Michigan prosecuting attorney are the only law enforcement entities mentioned. 

There is, however, a great deal of description on the victims themselves.  Allegations concern a racial motivation.  Sixteen out of the eighteen victims were black, while one was a dark-skinned Hispanic and one was white.  In Michigan, the victims associated with the suspect were always alone.  Their attacker often asked them for directions or assistance with a broken car before attacking them.  There is more detail with the Virginia assaults, probably because my source is The Washington Post.  One teenager was stabbed in the back, a 67-year-old man was stabbed while sitting on his porch, and another man was helping the attacker repair his vehicle when he was stuck on the head with a hammer.  There are no names, just descriptions. 

The suspected serial killer operated in Michigan, Ohio, and Virginia.  The explanation for the move to Virginia was that Abuelazam had once worked with troubled children in Leesburg and he has family in the vicinity.  They do not mention if he had a job at the times of the attacks. 

It could be noteworthy that there is not a mention of the possibility of Abuelazam’s innocence.  Every quote and mention of evidence points to his guilt.  Readers are supposed to believe he is guilty. 

Obama's Education Speech

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/09/14/obama.back.to.school/?hpt=T2

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2010/09/obama-gets-personal-in-school-speech/1

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jETZSUicKxSQ_0IFsD2cOY9J_FSQD9I7QTQG1

When looking to compare three news stories covering the same event, I found articles about Obama’s back-to-school speech on the websites of CNN, USA Today, and the Associated Press. After examining these articles, it became apparent that although all of them report facts, their selective focus reveals glaring favoritism of different angles of the story.  All of the articles give the basic setting: Obama delivering a speech to back-to-school students, but that is where the similarities end.

CNN’s article details the speech from a retrospective point of view.  The staff writers make sure to point out conservative criticism of Obama’s planned speech the previous year.  Snippets of Obama’s current speech are included sporadically within the article, including a short reference to a recollection about the President’s mother.  Otherwise, the article focuses on comparisons between the political controversy of last year’s speech and the lack of a political agenda in this year’s speech. 

The USA Today write-up is markedly shorter.  It raises no comparisons between this speech and the one last year.  Instead, it highlights the personal statements Obama made about his family and his upbringing as the bi-racial child of divorced parents. 

The Associated Press article seems to combine and condense the previous two stories.  There are quotes detailing Obama’s encouragement of the students along with some of the President’s personal stories.  It also mentions the lack of controversy in this year’s speech, although the reference comes in the middle of the article, while it appears in the very first paragraph in the CNN article. 

  

After reading all the articles, it seems to me that the differences are rather glaring.  Emphasis on certain facts makes the portrayals of the story completely distinctive.  In one, Obama has risen above the previous criticism from the right.  On another, that criticism is ignored entirely in favor of Obama’s personal victories in school.  The last account offers a balance of the two angles. 

These articles provide a clear indication of the media’s ability to construct reality by providing some facts and excluding others.  It is evident that the media can present undistorted facts but still filter them.

STREAKING!!!!

http://www.streaking.org/

Streaking.org is a site dedicated to the promotion of streakers and streaking. Luckily, it comes with a disclaimer asserting the absence of sexually explicit pictures on the website.

The website is obviously intended to benefit users as a forum to share their streaking exploits and post pictures and videos that aim for humor. Links lead visitors to a discussion board boasting posts of streaking stories and descriptions, along with the occasional picture or video. There is also a connection to a yahoo group along with a social network that has apparently been taken offline.

Streaking.org promotes streaking as non-sexual act, something to do for fun or rebellion. Personally, I can see why people would want to avoid it, but it does not make sense to me for streaking to be illegal. People who streak do so for the shock factor. At my high school, a group of streakers ran across the football field in order to protest the strict rules in place (such as a ban on water bottles). Unfortunately, the rules became even more encompassing after that, but the statement remained.

At the same time, streaking can be damaging if done in front of young children and others who might be disturbed by the image. If plagued by poor timing, it could cause accidents and inadvertent death.

Even with those cons, I do not see streaking as deviant enough to warrant harsh punishment. Perhaps it should be discouraged. But perhaps the threat of being caught adds to the fun. In the end, streaking is a humorous form of expression…just one that has the potential of being unpleasant for witnesses.

Glenn Beck Article

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/opn/2010/09/03-24/Plain-Speaking-Beck-rally-brings-out-media-bias.html

An article in a local newspaper, The Capital, based in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, Maryland, gives a new take on the recent concurrent rallies in Washington D.C., which were held during the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous, “I Have a Dream” speech.

Bob McWilliams, the writer of the article, expresses disappointment in the reporting of news provided by The Associated Press, MSNBC, and NPR. These media organizations emphasized the skin color and political affiliation of the people attending Glenn Beck’s event, but they mentioned nothing regarding the same information in relation to Al Sharpton’s supporters. Beck was also identified as a conservative commentator, while Sharpton’s liberal slant was ignored by the three reports. Additionally, the news reports vastly underestimated the number of people attending Beck’s rally by hundreds of thousands in order to make the considerably fewer number in attendance for Sharpton seem comparable.

McWilliams goes on to contend that only twenty-five percent of Americans have confidence in the news media in general, and he calls for a reversal of that trend via political diversity throughout their own ranks.

The critique raises excellent points, even though the article clearly favors the conservatives, at least in this specific instance. It might have been beneficial to point out instances where liberals experience some form of unfair media coverage in order to cover both sides equally.

McWilliams does suggest an interesting remedy in requiring political diversity throughout the ranks of the media. It could work. At the same time, forcing news stations to change the way they cover the news could seriously violate free speech. The media needs the freedom to cover the news in whatever way they want without government interference. Their check must emanate from the viewers. McWilliams asserts that the Internet is beginning to prevent the media from hoodwinking the public completely, and that is partially true. Hopefully, it will be enough to receive truthful, less biased news coverage without resorting to government influence.

AGONY!

On Thursday, September 2nd, I decided to suck it up and resigned myself to the inevitable.


After I recorded all media usage throughout Tuesday, I decided it would be most beneficial to do my fast on the most comparable day of the week. Since Thursday is also the day that I have the most classes, I figured I would have the most distractions from media.

So, instead of waking up to music, I ate breakfast in silence. I found that it was a little more difficult to look over the notes for my Literature quiz that morning due to the clamor of students around me, but I managed.

Walking to class was a bit more trying than usual. Living in Skyline, hills going to and from class are a given, but with music it is usually easier to ignore the burn in my legs. The journey seemed more trying than usual without the distraction of media, but again, I persevered.

I left my phone off, which could have been the most excruciating experience of all, but since I had made plans with my friends for meeting times, lunches, etc., the day before, it turned out to be surprisingly painless.

When I arrived back at the dorm, I immediately hauled my homework to the study room where I would not be tempted by our television. I also managed to hide my iPod and cell phone in a drawer out of my sight in a rare moment of strength.

As time went on, it became increasingly more difficult to concentrate. I found myself wondering about Facebook, itching to turn on my iPod, and longing to check my messages. Abstaining from media grew into something more than just irritating…it became agonizing. More than anything in the world, I wanted to turn on my iPod. I had never studied without it, and not having it seemed to distract me rather than help me. I typically use music to block out the outside noise of my peers when I desperately need to concentrate. Every single sound seemed magnified without my music, but luckily, I found other ways to distract myself.

I visited with friends after I finished the homework I had to do. I avoided my room at all costs…there were too many temptations. To my surprise, abstaining became easier and easier. Homework put my fast on the forefront of my mind, but doing something where I would not normally use media made things less stressful.

I went to bed early, something I rarely do when I have the enticement of media to distract me, but it was definitely refreshing to wake up the next morning without exhaustion.

The only time media was unavoidable for me was in the bathroom where we have a radio. With girls crowded around the sink fixing their hair, cowardice blocked me from turning off the music. That was the only time I cheated, and it was only because I could find no way around it.

I was also much more aware of how prevalent media usage is in our culture. My jealous eyes spied multitudes of earbuds and phones throughout the day. People gossiped about happenings on Facebook, texts they had received, and music they hated. Most conversations I heard at least mentioned some form of media usage. Although I felt jealousy and admittedly like I was experiencing some withdrawal symptoms, the ordeal was definitely eye opening.

Overall, fasting from media usage is certainly not something I want to ever repeat, but it allowed me a brief outsider’s view of what has become the foremost addiction in our country. For that, I am grateful, just not grateful enough to repeat the experience.

Media Galore

I decided to keep track of my media usage on Tuesday, August 31st. Although I have never really considered myself an avid media enthusiast, I was aware that I took advantage of technical goodies often enough.


This assignment certainly opened my eyes.

When I woke up at 9:30, the first thing I did was brush my teeth. In my dorm bathroom, we have a radio, so I listened to music in there for around five minutes. Later, I listened to my iPod as I ate breakfast and as I walked to class. Before, after, and in between each of my three classes I used my iPod to listen to music. I would also check my phone for messages during these times.

Once classes were over at 3:15 and after I trekked through the blistering heat from Memorial Hall back to my dorm in Skyline, I immediately went to my computer and checked my email. This, of course, lead to a perusal of the Internet for about the next hour before I managed to begin attempting homework.

Living in a dorm, I usually need music to concentrate because of the noise, so my earbuds found their way back into my ears. I also found myself checking my phone at regular intervals, whether for the time or for received messages.

 Aside from a break during dinner, I ended up with some form of media usage for the rest of day. Either my roommate or I played music while we did homework, and the radio was still on while I took a shower.

I guess I use media tons more than I thought!