So last week the Lakers played the Miami Heat. It was a pretty sweet game, but I had to leave before it was over to go to a friend's Christmas party. During the party I got a text from one of my friends I was watching the game with telling me that Kobe made an amazing buzzer shot to win the game. To be honest, I kind of wished I wasn't at my friend's party but watching the game instead (sad, huh?) Luckily, we have You Tube for moments like these.
Speaking of You Tube, my room mates and I were set up on triple blind date this weekend and I'd say a good chunk of our conversation revolved around our favorite You Tube videos.
Back to the party. I'm not super into technology, so I've never understood all the hype about Blue Ray DVDs. But at this party they were watching Star Trek on Blue Ray and I have to admit, the clarity was pretty incredible. I felt like such a nerd, but there is a noticeable difference.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Letter to Seventeen
Dear Seventeen Magazine,
Your magazine is a wide reaching publication with over 13 million readers. Though, as the title suggests, it is targeted towards girls in their mid-teens it is also popular among preadolescents. Girls in this age group are in a crucial stage of development. Not only are they experiencing physical but also cognitive, emotional, and social changes. They are seeking to form their own identities while simultaneously trying to fit in with their peers and the latest trends.
Research has shown that teens and preteens are highly influenced by the media (Hogan & Strasburger, 2008). I’ve been there. I’ve waited for the latest additions of fashion magazines to hit the shelves and poured over the pages searching for tips on how to make curls last longer, how to sculpt washboard abs, what to say to guys I like or what to wear to prom. It all seems like harmless fun, but after being exposed to image after image of what an ideal body is supposed to be like, you start to question how well you measure up. Girls at this age are especially venerable to social comparison and will often go to great lengths to ensure they fit what society tells them is desirable. Studies have shown that girls who are exposed to media that portrays a thin–ideal of women feel worse about themselves (Stice, Spangler, & Ag Ras, 2001, Harrison & Hefner, 2006). There is also a correlation between magazine reading among young girls and symptoms of eating disorders.
Of course I realize there are plenty of other factors that contribute to this problem and that magazines are not the sole reason for body image issues. Moreover, I acknowledge that Seventeen is no stranger to marketing strategy and that the content which fills its pages is there because it makes a profit showing that there is a public interest. Ultimately the choice of what to read is in the hands of each individual teen. Yet knowing that so many teen girls do choose to read this magazine places an even greater responsibility on Seventeen’s shoulders.
I draw your attention to the well-known Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. This marketing plan has used real women as models and asked the public to consider what true beauty is. Not only were they successful from a business standpoint, but they have also made a bold stand for the importance of women accepting and loving the way they are rather than encouraging them to fit into some sort of unrealistic cookie cutter ideal.
Seventeen is leader in the teen magazine industry. There is a great potential to lead out in a return to reality. Rather than feature stick thin celebrities with breast implants, Seventeen should show a broader variety of body types and place less emphasis on appearance. Why not fill your magazine with content readers can relate to? Why not fill it with articles that inspire and help them realize that there is more to life than how they look? Lift their sights away from the scale, away from the mirror, away from the toilet bowl. Help them see that true beauty is more than eye shadow that matches their stilettos. It is something that exists apart from being a certain size or age or hair color. These girls are the future, help them discover what is truly important and give them the confidence they need to change our world for the better.
Your magazine is a wide reaching publication with over 13 million readers. Though, as the title suggests, it is targeted towards girls in their mid-teens it is also popular among preadolescents. Girls in this age group are in a crucial stage of development. Not only are they experiencing physical but also cognitive, emotional, and social changes. They are seeking to form their own identities while simultaneously trying to fit in with their peers and the latest trends.
Research has shown that teens and preteens are highly influenced by the media (Hogan & Strasburger, 2008). I’ve been there. I’ve waited for the latest additions of fashion magazines to hit the shelves and poured over the pages searching for tips on how to make curls last longer, how to sculpt washboard abs, what to say to guys I like or what to wear to prom. It all seems like harmless fun, but after being exposed to image after image of what an ideal body is supposed to be like, you start to question how well you measure up. Girls at this age are especially venerable to social comparison and will often go to great lengths to ensure they fit what society tells them is desirable. Studies have shown that girls who are exposed to media that portrays a thin–ideal of women feel worse about themselves (Stice, Spangler, & Ag Ras, 2001, Harrison & Hefner, 2006). There is also a correlation between magazine reading among young girls and symptoms of eating disorders.
Of course I realize there are plenty of other factors that contribute to this problem and that magazines are not the sole reason for body image issues. Moreover, I acknowledge that Seventeen is no stranger to marketing strategy and that the content which fills its pages is there because it makes a profit showing that there is a public interest. Ultimately the choice of what to read is in the hands of each individual teen. Yet knowing that so many teen girls do choose to read this magazine places an even greater responsibility on Seventeen’s shoulders.
I draw your attention to the well-known Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. This marketing plan has used real women as models and asked the public to consider what true beauty is. Not only were they successful from a business standpoint, but they have also made a bold stand for the importance of women accepting and loving the way they are rather than encouraging them to fit into some sort of unrealistic cookie cutter ideal.
Seventeen is leader in the teen magazine industry. There is a great potential to lead out in a return to reality. Rather than feature stick thin celebrities with breast implants, Seventeen should show a broader variety of body types and place less emphasis on appearance. Why not fill your magazine with content readers can relate to? Why not fill it with articles that inspire and help them realize that there is more to life than how they look? Lift their sights away from the scale, away from the mirror, away from the toilet bowl. Help them see that true beauty is more than eye shadow that matches their stilettos. It is something that exists apart from being a certain size or age or hair color. These girls are the future, help them discover what is truly important and give them the confidence they need to change our world for the better.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Real Quick...
So I'm in the SWKT computer lab reviewing slides for a test and as I glance at the screen of the guy next to me, I see a World of Warcraftish game. Really? I know I should keep my eyes on my own screen and that people need breaks (I check facebook every now and then) but I guess I just thought most guys at BYU were beyond that.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Recent Media Encounters
*I really enjoyed our lecture about home videos the other day, it brought up a lot of happy memories. My family is very into home movies. My brother took a film class in high school and is talented at editing them. We often make our own movies for fun and then watch them as a family. It really brings us together and we'll even quote our home movies like we would any other film.
*My roommate is really into netflicks and this week, she got the first season of Doogie Houser Md, a show from the early 90s. I vaguely remember watching this on TV and not really understanding the plot or anything. The episode we watched last night was full of sexual references and it reminded me of when we talked in class about how our viewing experience changes as we get older.
*A few days ago, I saw The Year My Parents Went on Vacation at the International Cinema. Foreign Films are so interesting. I feel like they're either really good or really weird. There plots tend to be a little slower and the content more random than American films. They also tend to be pretty depressing. I wonder why this is or if there are any content analysis studies about foreign films versus American ones and what they say/reflect about our culture?
*My roommate is really into netflicks and this week, she got the first season of Doogie Houser Md, a show from the early 90s. I vaguely remember watching this on TV and not really understanding the plot or anything. The episode we watched last night was full of sexual references and it reminded me of when we talked in class about how our viewing experience changes as we get older.
*A few days ago, I saw The Year My Parents Went on Vacation at the International Cinema. Foreign Films are so interesting. I feel like they're either really good or really weird. There plots tend to be a little slower and the content more random than American films. They also tend to be pretty depressing. I wonder why this is or if there are any content analysis studies about foreign films versus American ones and what they say/reflect about our culture?
Monday, November 2, 2009
Shout Out to Sarah Western
I'm not a big tech junkie. I do like listening to music when I work out sometimes, but a lot of times, I like to just run to clear my mind. When I wanted some tunes, I would bring my old cd player with my "Gym Mix" cds that I burned. That didn't last long though because the cd player stopped working. So I used an old cassette player and listened to a tape of Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. But that got old pretty quick. So I've been without a personal music player for several months now. Until last week when my stinker Mom and brother sent me an ipod shuffle. They are pretty incredible. The thing is this shuffle came with a stipulation- it was only for inspirational music.
See I sometimes have a hard time not listening to voices of negativity and doubt. It's like a runaway train. My mom's hope was that sending me a shuffle with uplifting music would help in some way to counter those negative thoughts.
Don't get me wrong, my mom is babe to do that for me. But at first I thought some of the EFY, Kenneth Cope, etc songs were a little cheesy. Plus I'm not used to having the option of listening to music at my convenience. But this morning I was getting ready and thought, why not? So I pulled out the shuffle and it made a big difference. I know this may sound a little cheesy, but the music really did help bring the Spirit into my day and drown out destructive thoughts. It was a great way to start the day and good to have these songs stuck in my head. I particularly like "The Voice of Truth" by Casting Crowns. It reminds me that we have a choice of what we listen to.
This experience reminds me of one Sarah Western blogged about last week. So I will add my voice to hers in saying that music really can influence us for good and can be pretty powerful if we allow it to.
See I sometimes have a hard time not listening to voices of negativity and doubt. It's like a runaway train. My mom's hope was that sending me a shuffle with uplifting music would help in some way to counter those negative thoughts.
Don't get me wrong, my mom is babe to do that for me. But at first I thought some of the EFY, Kenneth Cope, etc songs were a little cheesy. Plus I'm not used to having the option of listening to music at my convenience. But this morning I was getting ready and thought, why not? So I pulled out the shuffle and it made a big difference. I know this may sound a little cheesy, but the music really did help bring the Spirit into my day and drown out destructive thoughts. It was a great way to start the day and good to have these songs stuck in my head. I particularly like "The Voice of Truth" by Casting Crowns. It reminds me that we have a choice of what we listen to.
This experience reminds me of one Sarah Western blogged about last week. So I will add my voice to hers in saying that music really can influence us for good and can be pretty powerful if we allow it to.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The Chicken or the Egg?
Maybe watching TV does cause ADHD or maybe I'm just weird. This year I haven't watched TV or movies hardly ever because I just don't have enough time to. Last weekend, I did have a somewhat free night and my roommate wanted to watch a movie together. But I could just not sit still and focus through the whole thing. That's not the only time it's happened. It seems like the past few times I have tried to watch a movie or TV show, I just can't make it through the whole thing. I don't know what it is, it might be a good thing. They just don't hold my attention or they get kind of sketchy or I just feel like my time could be better spent doing something else. Is it a phase or is this just the way it will be from here on out?
The Medium is the Message
My little sister and I have been getting closer as she grows older and wants to talk more about boys and school and clothes and teenage drama. It's been really fun to talk to her on the phone or send her a text to wish her a lovely day. Now she's got a facebook so there's yet another way to stay in touch. So in a sense, the media has given us opportunities to stay connected, which is positive.
Last week we had a great talk about approval from others and where to base self worth. I felt like I wanted to express more to her how I feel and what I've learned on this subject. I considered the various forms of media I could use to get this message across. I could call and tell her, I could write her a message on facebook, I could send her an email, I could send her a text, etc. I finally decided to write a good old fashioned letter. I think that may mean more because it seems people don't send actual letters that often anymore. Of course, it won't get there instantaneously, so that's a drawback. But maybe it's not so bad to wait a few days for something. I just think it's interesting how many ways we can communicate through media and the different pros and cons for each.
Last week we had a great talk about approval from others and where to base self worth. I felt like I wanted to express more to her how I feel and what I've learned on this subject. I considered the various forms of media I could use to get this message across. I could call and tell her, I could write her a message on facebook, I could send her an email, I could send her a text, etc. I finally decided to write a good old fashioned letter. I think that may mean more because it seems people don't send actual letters that often anymore. Of course, it won't get there instantaneously, so that's a drawback. But maybe it's not so bad to wait a few days for something. I just think it's interesting how many ways we can communicate through media and the different pros and cons for each.
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