Holy Media

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

TTYL

Our lecture on Tuesday made me a lot more aware of how I use the media in my relationships with others. I've always felt I was more on the conservative side with texting. But now I'm not so sure. I think texting has its place, it can be really convenient. Or the other morning I sent a text to my sister telling her I love her and to have a great day. That's not a bad thing, but would have it been better or more meaningful if I would have called and talked to her? (I guess that technically would still be using media). Ironically, as I'm writing this, my roommates are having a conversation about texting and when it is and isn't appropriate. One roommate brought up the point that texting is kind of like going back to the time of the telegraph with quick, short word answers. I don't know what the bottom line is as far as texting and relationships go, but its definitely something that's been on my mind lately. Also, just minutes ago I got on facebook for the first time in awhile and one of my friends from high school starting chatting with me. I was actually pretty happy (usually I get annoyed by those chat things and ignore them, so everyone probably thinks I'm super rude). It was fun to catch up. But I know I would probably never have called or initiated a conversation with him in any other context. It just wouldn't have crossed my mind. Is this a good or bad thing (or neither)?

The BigMac of Communication

The other day in my multicultural education class, we were talking about youth and young adults of the present day and how we could be summed up as "generation now." We demand instant gratification because that's the society we live in. You're hungry? McDonalds has a Big Mac ready in less than a minute (they even have a timer in the drive-thru line). You need to order tickets to a movie, you can do so online faster than it takes many people to brush their teeth. With text messaging, online chatting, etc you can communicate with others at the touch of a button. But you also expect an immediate response. Which can get awkward. Especially when you involve the opposite sex. I'm not gonna lie, I text and usually I too expect a quick answer back. But sometimes I just don't have my phone on me or want to think about what I going to say or am in a place where I don't get service or I just forget. But if I don't respond right away, sometimes the person on the other end reads into it and things get unnecessarily complicated. Or if a friend who is a facebook addict posts something on your wall, only you really aren't on facebook that often so you don't see it for a week or two (although, I guess it also notifies you through your email, so there's no excuse). It reminds me of that YouTube video someone posted "Everything's Amazing and No One's Happy." With all this instantaneousness, I think we (myself included) forget about the principle of patience. And we also create more ways to make things "complicated" in relationships with others. I guess what I'm saying is these new forms of media are double edge swords (as are most things in life, I find) and though they can be useful, there's something about real, face to face conversation that no amount of texting or "poking" can ever replace.

Latinos Representation

For my Multicultural Education class, we were assigned to research how another ethnicity is portrayed in the media. I choose to look at Latinos and it was pretty interesting. Here's a part of my paper:

The media tends to perpetuate racial stereotypes. For example, in popular movies and TV shows Latin males are often depicted as lazy, domineering, gangsters, drug lords, or criminals. In some films, they are portrayed as mysterious, romantic and astonishingly good at salsa dancing. Latinas are either submissive or feisty, but usually seductive and scantily clad. Unless of course they are older in which case they are cantankerous and stubborn. Sometimes Latinos are used in sidekick roles or as comic relief. Rarely are they the hero unless the majority of the cast is also Latino.
News articles about Latinos seem to focus on a few main topics. Several years ago, there was a lot of controversy about Mexicans crossing the United States border illegally. It’s possible that the news coverage on this occurrence may cause other students to view their Latino classmates as inferior because they may not be official U.S. citizens. Students may also integrate this with the criminal stereotype in films and lead majority students to be distrusting or suspicious. This prejudice may spread to any student of Latin descent regardless of their background and personal history.
The news also highlights the high dropout and pregnancy rates among Latin teens. In doing so other students may perceive their Latino peers as lazy, dumb or promiscuous. Latino students themselves may be discouraged by these findings which could perpetuate a type of self-fulfilling prophecy in the way they view their potential. Rather than have an attitude of meritocracy which encourages all students of their ability to be successful, these articles suggest the deficit theory which implies that those from a minority culture are lacking compared to those in the dominant culture. Fortunately, there are some Latinos who have risen above this notion and proved that, despite race, one can achieve great success. These people help counter negative stereotypes that Latin Americans may face.

The Church and the Media

I know a lot of people already wrote on this, but I am also fascinated by how the media can be a force for good as exhibited by General Conference. How cool is it that we can watch it in our own living rooms, or download it onto our MP3 players, or that it can reach people on the other side of the world!
In the latest Ensign and in other church publications, Church leaders encourage us to share about our church through blogs, chatting, etc.
On the other hand, think back to Elder Bednar's fireside when he spoke about reality versus virtual reality. Or how the General Authorities warn us against pornography of any kind.
The media really is a double edge sword.

"And Then I Looked"

For my art education class, we were assigned to visit the BYU Museum of Art. I love assignments like this because they give me an excuse to do things I like to do but don't make time for otherwise. Currently there's an exhibit of religious art called "Types and Shadows." It was amazing. I liked it because the artwork wasn't your typical Mormon, Greg Olseny kind of work. It was original and symbolic. It really made me think and analyze the way I view the world. It helped remind me of God's hand in our everyday lives. I am a big art geek, so I don't know if everyone will be as moved by this exhibit as I was, but I highly reccomend it. Art has a way of reaching me in ways that few other mediums or even spoken language can. I love being able to interpret what a painting means to me or to feel the emotion the artist is trying to express. To be able to create such a message is, to me, one of the most beautiful manifestations of human identity. Like I said, I'm an art geek. Another thing that really touched me as I was going through the exhibit was a mother and her young daughter. They were looking at the art together and the mother was asking her child questions and explaining the stories behind the pieces. As cheesy as it may sound, it inspired me. I want to do that someday with my daughter. And isn't that how it should be? Parents and their children experiencing the media together, making sure they both understand eachother's point of view? It made me think today in class, when we were talking about how sex sells and is increasing in advertising. This is something I will someday need to address with my family. Becuase if I don't, they just might get the wrong message.

Invasion of the Blog

Blogs are everywhere! I went to a friend's house last night and her mom showed me her blog. Another friend also has to keep a blog for her American Civilization class. One of my coworkers showed me her sister's very detailed, pay-by-play mission blog kept by the mission president's wife. It's pretty crazy how fast they have caught on. But to be honest, they aren't so bad. I kind of like them and think they're interesting. I may even have a real one after this class is over. I'm coming over to the dark side!

So when I'm doing paperwork and data entry at work, I like to listen to music. It makes things a lot more enjoyable. Today, however, Pandora was being really slow and I realized just how much I like having music in the background and how much more monotonous work is without it. I became pretty impatient. I'm also realizing that Pandora plays a lot of the same songs over. Or maybe I just need to create some new stations...

Last night when I came home, my roomates were watching License To Wed. I'd never seen it but it had "Jim" from the Office in it and I like him so I sat down and watched it with them. It was okay, but there were just so many references to sex. In fact the main characters are challenged to abstain from sex until they are married and they are just shocked by the notion. I guess that's just how the world sees it, that's just what you do when you're dating someone. Another thing that bothered me was how vindictive the characters are. It's just painful to watch, I ended up just going to bed after about twenty mintues, it's wasn't worth watching.

I've got to be honest, I always thought blogs were a little weird. I was actually kind of proud of myself for evading the pandemic that seems to have hit everyone from coffee shop poets to Jr. High gossip girls to soccer moms. But alas, it is required for this class and so I will, albeit grudgingly, succumb to this cultural phenomenon. If I really think about it, probably one of my main reservations is the fact that I will actually love blogging and become somewhat of an addict (which will only be reinforced by my grade in this class). Only time will tell...