Media Controversy

MTV's skins is a show wrapped in controversy.

Skins features high amounts of sexual content (both heterosexual and homosexual) , graphic language, drug abuse, and violence, not only that but the actors are all under the age of 21. The youngest Elanor Rose Zichy who plays Eura Snyder. She was born in 1995 putting her between the ages 14-15.

The show has been receiving complaints by parents in America saying that the show is a watered down child pornography video. Advertisers such as Subway all pulled out of their contracts to advertise Skins.

Although Skins is all the controversy here in the US, the original UK version of Skins has been applauded for showing the raw truth about a teenage delinquent. The UK version featuring topless women, mafia raids involving minors, and major drug uses by even the most protagonistic of characters. And as the above goes all of the actors are under 21.

So a question arises from this. Why is it so acceptable in the UK but not in the US?, even though aside from the minor changes in location and character names, the script of both are almost identical.

Article on MTV's SKINS

Propaganda in Advertising

This is an ad for Converse, Chuck Taylor shoes from who knows when.
This is an ad that uses propaganda.
Which ones??????......Isn't it obviuous?

The Propaganda techniques used in the ad were Flag Waving and Glittering generalities.

-> Flag Waving - using patriotic words or images to persuade people of that nation that "This must be good!". Flag waving is used in multiple ads across various countries for multiple purposes, ads from the military usually use patriotic images to convince young men to join the army.

I'd just like to say that if it weren't for the STAR logo that defines the Converse, Chuck Taylor brand, Flag Waving wouldn't work for this ad... but the whole patriotic look seems to fit well with this particular brand.

->Glittering generalities - using appealing words to make the product seem more attractive. In this ad the propaganda technique is used in the words "most famous athletic shoe in history", although it is found to be true that Converse, Chuck Taylor is the most popular athletic shoe.

Yahoo! 's list of most popular sports shoes

Internet

               Internet is a big part of my life. Im not gonna deny that. As soon as I go home, Facebook is my first priority. Its because of the internet and sites like Facebook, Yahoo Messenger, Twitter, and Skype that I can still play a role in the lives of my friends overseas. The interent is THE MEDIA that allows me to search up what I need to know instantly. Its truly important. with YouTube people can share videos and watch other people's videos...its like being a celebrity without having to go through the whole auditioning process, or getting to know a stranger without having to travel distant locations. Watching videos is what I do to unwind and now Ican watch what I want whenever. Remarkable and facinating. Personally I don't think I'm addicted to the internet but I can say I make good use of it.
   
               On to mobile devices with access to the internet. I recently lost my wallet...debit card, credit card, you know how it goes. But thanks to my Ipod I quickly went to the Bank Of America site using my BoA app and had my funds transffered to keep them safe. Great huh! When I need to know the current news I use the Bay Area News app on the ipod as well. There are many more things I do with my Ipod...too many to enumerate.

                All in all I think that the Internet is great and whether or not I am addicted to it I feel that it has a positive effct on my life!

Music

My favorite recording of 2010-2011, Glee - Loser Like Me. I am a big Glee fan just because its a good show, it makes people from my generation more aquainted with music from before my time through covers and ITS A GOOD SHOW! This song however isnt a cover, its an original song from glee speaking about how you should accept your inner loser and not be ashamed no matter what treatment you get.

For oldies, Christina Agulara's Fighter is my choice. Its an empowering song that is ,well, different than today's pop music where everything is edited and has almost no meaning. I listen to this song even today and it doesn't get old.

I first heared both Loser Like Me and Fighter from the television. On Glee and MTV respectivley.

Magazines

     I'd like to propose a magaine, it's called True Beauty. I know its a farfetched idea and I cant name a magazine that soley focuses on this but hear me out.

Concept? Its a magazine showing real beauty from real people. People the masses can relate to and see themselves in. People with imperfections that make them not only interesting but appealing. You know the non cookie cutter, 1 in a million, type.

Readers? The masses, male and female (although i admit mostly female). They need something real something they themselves can reach and say "Oh! She's breathtaking, and shes like me." "She overcame her flaws without having to alter them."

Advertisers? Opra, Ellen, Tyra, and other talk show hosts that work to help people raise self esteem. Maybe even some psychologists advise as an advertisment of their business.

Articles? Acticles would deal about real life situaions that can be seen in different age demographics and some in all ages. Stuff focusing on school bullying, or peer pressure, and stuff like weight issues, and how you see yourself in the mirror alone as opposed to in comparison to your friend.

.....soooooOOO? what do you think???

Books

Just a look on books I've read and loved!

The Alchemist



The Alchemist was written by Paulo Coelho. It shows the adventures

of a young shepard named Santiago on his quest to find a treasure that

he has been dreaming about for quite some time. The book holds the

Guiness world record for a book translated into the most languages by a

living author.

Gossip Girl Series

The Gossip Girl (book series) shows the hightened reality in

the Upper East Side where everyone parties has sexual relations

and enjoys the life. Personally, I find this an escape from reality

where the reader can dream about a life they want. It was written by

Cecily von Ziegesar.

The Little Prince

Written by Antoine de Saint-Expury, The Little Prince is one of the

best selling books of all time. It shows the adventures of the narrator

after crash landing his plane in the Sahara desert. He meets a young

prince from another world and learns the values that no adult can teach.

Media Impact

           I have to be honest, being born in 1993 when computers were already being used in the household since I was aware of them and could remember...media influence, aside from the obvious things, have been something that I never knew about. Only recently did I know that things so simple, such as comic books, had an engaging story about how they influenced little kids and teenagers to believe they were real...or at least the violence in them. I can't state something as good as that because it wouldn't be of my experience.

         I've been watching a bunch happenings in the news a few months ago about homosexual youth commiting suicide because of the unfair and unjust treatment they recieve from their peers...both in person, through texts, and even on Facebook, Myspace and the like. I was completley devistated about this. Heartbroken to say the least because it was like they were driven to a corner and no place was safe for them. Not outside, not in their home, not online. So they just gave up.

 I NEVER KNEW THAT MEDIA USED BY YOUR PEERS, YOUR PRE-PUBESCENT TO ADOLESCENT PEERS, COULD FORCE YOU TO TAKE YOUR LIFE IN A DESPERATE ATTEMPT OF FREEDOM FROM HARASMENT.

        The people who said "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words would never hurt me." never lived in a world where words can be sent to your phone wherever you are and could be posted online for everyone to read for a lifetime.

Now many people , celebrities and non-celebs, have come together and from The Trevor Project - It gets better. They use media such as youtube and television to spread the word to LGBTQ youth that...as the name says, it DOES get better.