Late Ch 8 Pastiche, parody and remake

I chose this video to represent pastiche. I really wanted to use some of Dave Chappelle's material but i was not able to find a single clip that i was sure no one would be offended by, although he uses pastiche and parody in most of his clips. In this clip Ben Stiller uses pastiche by playing the character of an ex-con/druggie that is lecturing at a school about the harmful effects of drug use. What makes the clip funny is that he is what i call "perma-fried" that is, the drugs have messed him up so bad he ends up freaking out and jumping out of the window. The kids are like what the heck just happened? And the teacher calmly asks..Any questions? I find that comedians use pastiche and parody a lot in there skits, as they play the role of whoever or whatever they are making fun of which makes a much better show for the audience. This can range anywhere from a full blown costume with props, or just a simple change in voice and facial expression.

Is google making us stupid?

I found the article “is google making us stupid” very interesting and insightful. I know the internet is like having the world at your fingertips, but I never realized it can actually change how we think. I believe what made this story so compelling is that the author, and the people who added there experience showed a great deal of intellectual humility and courage. After hearing them confess they have lost there ability to concentrate on a long story or read a book I found that I can really relate. They articulated exactly why this might be the case and it really makes sense when you think about it. I have had internet access in my home for less than 6 months and I have noticed a difference already. When the article came to the point of “power skimming” I realized that I was power skimming a story about power skimming, it was sad and funny at the same time. This article spoke a lot of truth, but the bias could be that the author pointed out the internet flaws but never addressed the idea that internet itself might be completely unnecessary. Considering we read the article on the internet who can really expect such a statement? Sure the internet has many advantages, but we had gotten by for a long time without it. In the last 6 months I have come across more disgusting, sad, mean, stupid, and twisted things than I ever imagined anyone, including our children would have open access to. This worries me, and to be quite honest I would be more than happy to get rid of my computer if I didn’t need it for school, and that in itself is a sad fact. One part of the article really stood out to me and I will copy and paste it.

Socrates bemoaned the development of writing. He feared that, as people came to rely on the written word as a substitute for the knowledge they used to carry inside their heads, they would, in the words of one of the dialogue’s characters, “cease to exercise their memory and become forgetful.” And because they would be able to “receive a quantity of information without proper instruction,” they would “be thought very knowledgeable when they are for the most part quite ignorant.”

FINAL PRESENTATION

Kristina Terry
JRN131
FINAL PRESENTATION
“SEX SELLS”
I chose the topic “sex sells” for my final presentation. I was really leaning toward the feminine beauty myth as that seems to be the trend in many of my blogs. I figured with this topic I could touch a little on both, because when advertisers are using sex to sell there products they don’t typically use “non-attractive” women to do so. I don’t believe many men, and women alike, can fully understand the effects of living in a culture where half naked bodies are plastered everywhere, it is like having your personhood erased day after day by the images surrounding you. I chose this topic because I believe it is an area in our culture that is denied the attention it deserves. The effect of sexual symbolism in media plays an enormous role in our culture, regarding our self perceptions, and our roles in society.

What I learned about this topic is there are many different ways in which sex is used in media. I became aware of the subliminal messaging and embedding which is subtle use of unrecognizable triggers. Advertisers will intentionally hide sexually explicit words and pictures in the background of their material. We as observers pick up these images and texts with no awareness of the fact. Yet we are still influenced on an subconscious level by the irrelevant correlation between the product and sex. Advertisers like this method because anything programmed subliminally meets no resistance. More commonly used symbols are phallic and yonic. Phallic symbols exemplify male potency. Common phallic symbols are, guns , towers, motorcycles, snakes, fast cars and almost anything that is shaped like a penis. Yonic symbols promote the lushness or allure of feminine sexuality, or have shape of female sex organs. Some common yonic symbols are caves, apples, full bloomed roses, concave, or round objects. In the use of “identification” an advertiser implies that there are certain benefits or scenarios that come with the use of their product. These often include beauty and sex, Axe body spray is a perfect example of "identification". Advertisers use of "identification is very common as sex translates into attractiveness, youth, wealth and power. In media we often see women posed in ways that make them appear as objects of decoration, sexually submissive and/or sexually prone. These poses make women appear available as sex objects to be controlled. Equally disturbing is the models faces are not shown or completely cut out of the image, these women are usually somewhat undressed and posed in a very sexually suggestive way. Their faces are of little importance, and there identity is defined by their bodies. Maya found a perfect image for her week 7 blog that captured this type of advertising http://maya19.blogspot.com/ ( I was unable to copy the image) These type of ads degrade women as they suggest that the women are not consumers, but commodities that can be bought or traded like the product they are advertising. This is not only scary, but down right baffling that this is tolerated in a society comprised of half women.

I don’t believe there is a real clear cut and feasible solution to this problem. Ideally men and women alike would put there foot down and say enough, but I don’t foresee that anytime in the near future. I believe the most important tool we have as consumers is knowledge about the tactics that advertisers are using. Those of us with children at home can limit their exposure to harmful media or materials, as we have the power to turn off the television or video games. I think we as parents need to realize every little bit of effort we put into preventing advertisers from teaching our children the “facts of life” is a huge step in the right direction. For example, if you notice you child’s teen magazine looks like a soft core porn don’t just throw it out inform other parents and write a letter to the magazine. I would like to see stricter guidelines enforced in media but until then we need to know we have the power to change things, and make informed choices.

http://svc003.wic046p.server-web.com/pages/index.asp This is a link to The Advertising Standards bureau
http://www.helium.com/items/385975-sexploitation-ads-that-exploit-women A very powerful article “sexploitation”
http://www.nku.edu/~issues/sexinadvertising/homepage.htm A good bunch of images on this topic
http://www.searchlores.org/realicra/sublimi.htm Best article I have found on subliminal advertising
http://www.searchlores.org/realicra/sublimi.htm This is where I got most of my images for my presentation, its worth a laugh if nothing else.

"scientific looking"

I chose this cialis ad for “scientific looking” because it really interpellate’s both male and female viewers. For anyone who doesn’t know cialis is essentially the same thing as Viagra. I will say that the web-site that I found this image in mentioned it is typically a late night commercial, due to it’s nature. What surprised me is the couple in this image are young, and it appears they would have no problem making love without medication. On the other hand, would having a couple old folks about to get it on be effective advertising?

We NEED this stuff!

This is a good example of consumer relationships. This advertisement implies that drinking diet coke is somehow associated with good taste and boldness. In this ad diet coke is advertising “envy, desire, and belonging” by having this large crowd of thin beautiful women that seem to be welcoming you into their group of good taste. I imaging the intended audience here is women, mainly the ones who don’t feel they look that good in a short red dress. The least likely to purchase diet coke would have to be men, women who are thin enough, or anyone who knows that fake sugar causes cancer.

This is a typical advertising method used by the beer Corona. This commercial is a perfect example of therapeutic ethos, the intent is to make an average viewer feel that drinking this particular brand of beer will be an “escape from the ordinary”. The setting for most of their commercials is a peaceful remote beach, beautiful scenery, and the only sound you can hear is waves crashing on the shore, just before the end of the commercial you see the beer bottle set down in front of the screen with the label showing front and center. The audience members most likely to be drawn in is any average hard working Joe that really needs a vacation….. or a beer. The least likely to be swayed of course is those who just don't drink.


I am sure most of us remember these herbal essences commercials where a woman is literally getting off from her shampoo. I know that sounds bizarre but if you don’t remember watch this clip. This is typical advertisement for “just what you need” and life (or sex life) just “as it should be”. I viewed this clip as well as others that bring unhappy relationship aspects into them. For example, I watched one where the woman was trying to seduce her lover away from a football game but discovered her shampoo instead. I imagine men are not the targeted audience here because most guys just don't like smelling fruity. The intended audience would have to be women of course, most of all the unhappy and deprived ones… need I say more?

Television and mass media

Television has become one of the most essential tools in our modern lifestyle. It is hard to comprehend to what extent it has shaped our society as we know it. For many Americans television is their daily source for entertainment and news. Because the images on television look so real our mind can be fooled into believing what we view is reality. We must constantly remind ourselves that what we view is not necessarily the truth, possibly spoiling the whole experience.

Our economic reliance on television is overwhelming. The heart of the television industry is consumerism, this is not just about seeing new things or ideas, but selling them. The television news industry is also a money making business, they must deliver a good story to their customers to make a profit. The news industry is very biased toward conflict because it draws in viewers. Bad news and tragedy on broadcasts are the center point, making the world look like a more dangerous place than it really is. Often times the most important news can be boring, as we watch the television to unwind we do not want to be faced with real life situations that cause us to think. Instead, reporters will focus on more mind-numbing stories like celebrity news. On an unconscious level sitcoms and reality television can mold what we perceive as normal behavior in every way. This is similar to how children learn to talk by listening to others communicate, viewing a certain situation on television can be perceived in the same way.

Television is nothing without images, and as Americans we can not be good consumers without adequate advertising. Television has changed how we understand the world, and as a result many of us have become less inclined to seek out relevant and valuable information for ourselves. We tend to accept what is spoon fed to us without analyzing possible bias that can be very subtle and easily overlooked. Every aspect of television is intended to draw us in, as a result we must struggle to think for ourselves and understand why we feel inclined to make the decisions that we do.

Charged images

For this weeks blog I chose the use of “In God We Trust” printed on all American currency as being politically, socially, and emotionally charged. The image, idea, and who or what God is varies greatly, and always has. My bringing this subject to surface is not that of ungodliness, atheism, or any anti-religious opinion, I believe it is something we have all grown accustom to seeing without giving it a second thought. All people certainly have the right to relate God in any way they choose, and it is exactly for that reason our government’s actions should not put one belief before another. The separation of church and state refers to the limits our very own Constitution places on the power of the government (both federal and state) to legislate about religion. The First Amendment explicitly prohibits the government from establishing or controlling religion, yet “In God We Trust” was put on all PAPER currency by an act of Congress in 1957. The mid to late 1950’s was a time of terrible racism, religious discrimination, and political oppression in the United States. Following World War Two the fear of communism grew. Adding “In God We Trust” to American currency was thought to be an act of religious and political propaganda to counter the threat of “godless communism”. Aside from all this political hypocrisy what does God have to do with money anyways? I would imagine God would be against it, for what good or purpose does it bring? I am sure we have all heard the saying “money is the root of all evil”, who could argue that? The actual saying appeared in the New Testament; “For the love of money is the root of all evil”, Timothy 6:10. Given this direct opposition from the bible we go ahead and put God on money anyways. It seems mixing God and money could emotionally confuse our younger generation, it is just an advertisement like any other… God is good, he is the creator of all things, and he is on money, so let’s go spend it! (That must be good too). It is the American way, what could possibly be better? J