Unit 4, Issue 12

"Is Hate Speech in our Media Directly Affecting Our Culture?"

I believe that hate speech is being plastered all over the media. Whether it be through news, jokes/comedy, movies, internet blogs, or on magazines, hate speech has been (in my opinion) undermined for its true meaning and effects. When i think of hate speech, and just as the book stated it, i think of it "demonstrating some level of contempt for other people, but...meaning to convey the deliberate bias towards and discrimination against persons that could be incited because of the form of hate speech" (pg 256). Many people in our culture do get directly affected by hate speech because to those who are talking, there is little to no importance to the effect they are causing. I think hate speech is the cause of so much negative environment in so many cultures; its a lack of respect. 

Although places like the internet or comedy has made hate speech so liberal, it doesn't mean it has no effect on the people.  Hate speech based on race and religion are probably the two most effective ways to get an uproar of group of people seeking justice. Trying to defend using the Amendment "Freedom of Speech" simply adds on to wanting to get back and still has no defense on the line of respect people should have for others. 

Unit 1, Issue 3

"Do Media Represent Realistic Images of Arabs?"

I believe that the first point to this question would be if Arabs, and their image, are stereotyped through the eyes of society. To this questions I would say yes. I believe in many different ways - some good and others bad - it is in our human nature to stereotype people based off our own experience with them. As for the Media, I believe the media plays a crucial role in what is portrayed and most frequently believed. 

Through the reading, I believe the Media does not represent REALISTIC images, but rather images of past experiences with Arabs. The US, or society, has fallen short in exposing themselves learn the specific qualities of the Arab nation. As Jack Shaheen has stated, "Arab in American popular culture is often portrayed as a Muslim, even though Arabs represent a minority of Muslims, and that Muslims live on five continents and represent different languages and histories that defy "lumping" all of them together" (p. 49). Americans may automatically link Arabs as being Muslims because it is the trending stereotype that has been predominately portrayed in America. Through many different religions, race and ethnicity have been stereotyped into being one type. People may thing Christian and imagine the white race, or think Buddhism and imagine Chinese. This is because those religions may have originated in those parts of the world or because it is the stereotyped image that has been displayed. The impact of the terrorist attack of 9/11 also had a negative influence on the image Arabs held in the US. Even if some sort of discriminatory act was help against Arabs before that day, we cannot ignore the fact that it had a very negative but extremely powerful impact on our nation. Were measures taken to the extreme? Yes, I would say so. In many cases, certain comments or actions taken against Arabs, or Middle Eastern looking people, were very unnecessary, but on the other hand, to American's Arabs represented a threat and harm. 

As Beckerman defended his "yes" answer, I felt like saying that they are able to get their message across or have an influence through blogging just wasn't strong enough. Although many ideas and heart felt words are seen through many blogs, being able to really understand what a person represents contradicts itself. They will get to know ONE out of entire group of people, and even though many may hold the same beliefs, frustrations, and feelings, it does not give enough voice to speak for the nation as a whole. 

Stepping into talking about "the Other", I believe there will always be an "other" under any situation we face. We categorize others out of fear of the unknown. Because of this fear, we find the need to defend ourselves and seem like the stronger person...we carry that fear of simply not understanding them. Out of being comfortable and secure where we are, we don't give in to wanting to learn or even try to know, and in many other cases it's simply not possible to understand them. Everyone was made differently, whether it be by culture, gender, race, ethnic group, religion, etc., and we all stand strong to what we believe in. 

Unit 1, Issue 2

"Do Media Cause Individuals to Develop Negative Body Images?"

Through the reading, I felt like Dworkin and Wachs brought up an important point on the portrayal of females, and most recently males as well. The media has, in some way, developed an ideal way that both men and women should look like. They have portrayed the "perfect thing" or "muscular", and in doing so society has picked up this idea and compared their own image to that. The media has also given a set of things that people must do in order to "look taken care of"...things that are necessities, such as going to the spa, buying make-up, wearing certain hair products, lifting a specific amount of weight at the gym, wearing certain clothes, wearing a certain perfume, etc. 

Now seeing Levine's and Murnen's answer to this question, I felt like they didn't really defend their answer. Instead they stated facts on how the media may not be the main factor of why women become anorexic or binge eat. 

Placing both views together, i feel like the media doesn't necessarily develop negative body images, instead it portrays something that is unrealistic - a perfect body - through technological advancements, airbrushed photos, and perfect bone structures. Although the media does constantly portray the "ideal" body, most of the headlines consists of some sort of exercise or healthy eating techniques, and regardless of whether people interpret this as becoming extremely thin, or simply picking up the habit to exercise and eat healthier, i dont think theres anything wrong with shedding some unnecessary fat. Everything is possible in moderation. When people become obsessed with counting calories, skipping meals, too much exercise, etc., then i feel like they enter a self issue - not so much being influenced by the media. I do think there is a fine line between coming to understand the media will always portray entertainment, most of it being "ideal and made up", and its society that needs to draw the line in being healthy and not taking the extreme of having goals for their image that will harm their bodies. 

RA#3 Proposal

            New fashion trends roll in just way seasons do. From hairdos to shoes, and everything in between, females in our society are portrayed on the front covers of magazines as what the “ideal” look is, from head to toe. But what has come to shape the ideal weight, hair color, eye color, and “in style” outfits through the young female generation in our society? From advertizing media - such as magazines, billboards, and commercials, to articles - women are plastered all over them to: first call the attention of women, and then to lure them into looking that way. Through a survey, I’d like to know if seeing all these images have an effect on girls or women in shaping the way they appear or dress. I believe that magazine, particularly fashion magazines, have an influence on the way females dress and appear through the portrayal of constantly changing trends.

            Many researchers, some being psychologist, have studied the influence magazine portrayal of females have had, particularly on teenage girls. Many come to conclude that the results are negative because in trying to look a certain way, they come to force themselves to lose weight, or begin to dress in sensual ways. But I’d specifically like to hear the personal opinions of girls, ranging from the youngest age being in middle school – twelve - to college, and hear how much attention they give to fashion magazines to base their appearance off from. What are the most popular fashion magazines being used? Does it differ in age? Do they pick it up based on whose image is on the front cover that month?

            Through a posting online, I’d like to see how many girls respond to using fashion magazines to follow trends. Some of the questions I’d like to ask are:

1. Are you between the ages of 12 and 26?                       

Yes                                     No

            2. How often do you buy a new fashion magazine?

                        a. Once a week

                        b. Every two weeks

                        c. Once a month

                        b. When I like who is on the front cover

2. Which fashion magazine do you most follow? (May be more than one)

                        ______________________________________________

3.  Do you get new ideas on how to dress from this magazine(s)?  

                                    Yes                                    NO

I feel like through this, and mush more thorough research, I’ll be able to have an idea on how much fashion magazines do come to begin trends in our society. Appearance, to many, is one of the most import aspects – especially for women – and for many different reasons. But I do believe that magazines, and many other forms of media have played a very important role in causing this effect. 

Unit 2, Issue 5

"Do Video Games Encourage Violent Behavior?"

Reading through both answers - yes and no - I would have to say that I agree more with "yes". One of the eye catching things Anderson stated was, "...The active role required by video games is a double-edge sword. It helps educational video games be excellent teaching tools for motivational and learning process reasons. But it also may make violent games even more hazardous than violent television or cinema" (pg 94). Through this statement alone I realized something i had never before. Many people may come to defend video games - such as Jenkins - in saying there isn't an effect on violence in the lives of the kids or teenagers growing up, but then how can educational videos have a positive effect? 

I do feel like "encourage" is a strong word for the effect violent video games have on behavior. I would use more like "demonstrate", "portray", or even "teach", because at the end, most people are visual learners and we retain more information if we SEE it instead of just hear it. If violence in movies and video games - or any form of media - didn't have an effect on the behavior we may pick up, then why are things rated? Wouldn't a child be able to go in and see a "rated R movie for violence" if it didn't have an effect on them? Parents clearly take care of their children and do not want them influenced by watching violent behavior or playing violent video games because, lets admit, most children imitate just about anything as they are learning new things. 

Something that Jenkins pointed out was that the "strongest risk factors...was centered on mental stability and the quality of home life" (pg. 99), which i think is a very valid statement! But although these children may have not been so direct in touch with the media - or violence portrayed in media - through the years, videos do raise stability in their behaviors and encourages them to view the "wrong" as being "normal and right". 

So i would say that violent video games don't necessarily encourage the behavior, but instead it has the tendency to influence the wrong from being viewed as fun and games. Just as many come to learn positive and educational things through many video games, others don't see how serious violence can be in real life, as opposed to what is "played" on the tv screen. 

Unit 2, Issue 7

"Is Advertising Good for Society?"

Through reading Calfee's response to "yes, i really liked how he pointed out the truth about advertising. Although it is a "tool for communicating information...it primarily seeks to persuade...to induce a consumer to do one particiular thing - usually, but a product". Advertising will always reflect something new and appealing to the public; something they are missing and can in some way use...or want! And im glad Calfee is aware that the advertising is meant to lure people in. As he also points out that "seellers focused on the information that favor their own product" to me is common sense, and its not only something that happens in advertising. It is in our nature as people to reflect the positive. People don't go around pointing our their flaws and much less showing their negative attitudes to everyone; to the contrary they may even appear to be something they really are not. Its when you really get to know someone that you can see who they really are. There is competition in all advertising, but there are certain things - such as slogans and logos - that mark them as unique. What has made certain products more successful is the simple fact that people have gone, tried their product, and stayed using it because of its quality. In my opinion, what makes a product successful isn't so much paid advertising, but quality and getting the liking of the people.

Now viewing Godreg's point of view for "no", i would highly agree with his statement, "advertising today has little to do with introducing a new product...it has everything to do with images, dreams and emotions". An advertisements rises in quality or attention through the use of images that engage a person's emotions. When a celebrity is seen using a certain product, it draws people's attention to want to try it or have it because they celebrities are people looked up to. It doesn't make the product any better or worse, it simply is an image to draw the attention and interests of the people. I would have to disagree with the fact that advertising "pins people down" out of causing people to buy and buy, or that it is just directed towards people with money. People in the world are guided to purchase our of self control - if no one had self control in any aspect the world would be a mess! So, although advertising is used to lure people into wanting something, reality is that a mature and responsible adult will simply know better than to buy something out of emotion. 

So to generalize my thoughts, i would come to say that advertising is good to expand business. There will always be competition, but i am a strong believer in honesty...especially of a product. And in this case, i would say its the "small print" that makes all the difference. It might be hard to read, but at the end one needs to pay attention to every detail if they are really interested.