Hollywood Simulation

After acting as agent to Miss Gloria Morningstar, I've come to realize I would never survive playing this actual role in Hollywood. I never realized the difficulty that is involved in getting a film on it's feet. In fact, I didn't think it was a difficult task at all, I assumed the actual filming of the movie was the difficult part...what was I thinking? I have a tendency to want to know all my options, however this morning options were coming and going so fast I didn't even know what they were. Before I knew it we were down to the wire and there weren't many options left. Throughout the process of finding the best contract I felt extremely selfish. Sure I wanted the best for my client, however I only got 10% of what she made so I had to look out for myself while weighing the options. Still we had to find something that best fit Faith's, I mean Miss Morningstar's abilities and talents. Obviously, one major goal was to find something that would show your talents, however sticking to the norm wouldn't get us anywhere. Audiences want something new, different, and intriguing, however it must still be familiar and comfortable, kind of like the popular myths within movies. So, we had to find something that wasn't too far fetched, but still showed all the capabilities of this actress, while getting a good paycheck in the process. Finally after the bargining and chaos of signing or not, in the end I was confident with our choice. Yes, maybe we played it safe in a way, and I'm sure in this actual business you would have to take risks, but thankfully today wasn't the real deal :)

Facing the Giants

Lately I've been hearing a lot about the movie "Facing the Giants", so I decided I should check it out and see what all the raving was about. I was a little unsure at first after hearing the story behind how it was made, afraid that it wouldn't be up to par or as professional as other movies, however I was still intrigued. In fact, I was impressed to say the least when the film came to an end. I found the film refreshing, uplifting, and very encouraging, especially after seeing the message being conveyed through a media text so popular in our culture, one where films like these are hard to find. This film also made some correlations with the myth, "A Value of a Challenge." Grant Taylor, the head football coach for the Shiloh Eagles as well as a husband, faces a number of obstacles within the film. These obstacles include the possibility of him losing his job, the possibility that his wife and him are unable to have children, their car dies, the stove no longer works, as well as other issues. However, although many of these obstacles may make others stumble, Taylor reaches for the Lord and is able to face the obstacles by standing firm in his faith and trusting in God. Without ruining the movie, Taylor is able to overcome each obstacle and achieve a challenge others and also himself never imagined possible, along with finding a bigger purpose in football and life. With this theme of faith and determination, as well as the film's connection with the myth "A Value of a Challenge," the movie is a refreshing break from what is the norm in our media culture today.

Deal or No Deal

After class today I decided I definitely wanted to blog about the concept of "frontstage" and "backstage" which has recently become obvious within the television show, Deal or No Deal. If one was flipping through the channels and came across Deal or No Deal without ever watching it, they would find what seemed to be a professional and classy reality game show. With the host, Howie Mandel, dressed in his best which consists of a suit and sometimes a tie, while the models are dressed to the nigh in glitz and glam, "frontstage" and a formal role is portrayed. However, until just recently the producers of the show have started to cater to the interests of it's contestants. For example, a female contestant who was a die-hard Grease fan was just recently on the show and the producers had each model dress as Sandy from Grease during the show, catering to the contestant's interests. Also, another contestant who was originally from some part of Africa or Korea (I don't remember exactly) was on the show simply for the purpose of putting the money she won toward a good cause in Africa/Korea. Since she has now been living in the U.S. for quite some time she has been unable to visit her mother, so the producers flew her mother to the U.S. and she surprised the contestant on the set of Deal or No Deal the night of the show. Now, this may not necessarily be "backstage" or informal, but it is more intimate, letting viewers into the lives of the contestants. Now, if Howie were to show up to the set of Deal or No Deal dressed as a street bum the theme and "frontstage" formal role would be thrown off causing the show to go from order to disorder. This show exhibits what is expected of a television show, however adds a tiny piece of backstage, making things unexpected and maybe a little more interesting to it's audience.

Supernanny vs. The Real World

I chose these two shows because of their characteristics within the Populism and Progressive Myths. First the television show Supernanny, which focuses on "disorderly children" with extremely overwhelmed parents, shows the characteristic of the Progressive Myth. Jo Frost, also known as "Supernanny", steps in and guides the parents as well as the children on a journey of discipline and control, slowing helping to achieve order within the home. Jo Frost would represent the "elite few" within this myth. These changes show the characteristic of disorder to order within the Progessive Myth. As for the Populism Myth, MTV's The Real World is an excellent example of order to disorder. In the beginning seven housemates come together to live under one roof and immediately hit it off, feeling as though they have no worries in the world. They enjoy the freedom for the first few nights and adore each other's company, however personalities begin to clash and things instantly take a negative turn.

These myths may not be apparent in all types of media texts, however they are in everyday real life. For example, when one cleans their room this could be considered disorder to order, yet a divorce in the family could cause things to go from order to disorder like that of the Populism Myth.

What Makes a Genre?

Concerning the media text of television, I believe genres are developed through various concepts and ideas that intrigue and captivate audiences. Things such as occupation, interests, hobbies, and emotions, basically semiotic domains in general, impact what viewers want in a television show or movie, this in turn shaping genres. For example, if someone's interests include history, they may tune into the History Channel, this being a genre. Also, if someone's hobbies include cooking they may tune into the Food Network, this also being a genre. Along the lines of genres, I tend to be a sucker for romance comedies within the media text of movies. This media text of movies is a genre itself, having genres within it such as romance and comedy. I find these genres of movies to be my favorite because they don't confine themselves to one type of genre, such as strictly drama or comedy or suspense, which can tend to get old fast. In conclusion, there may be no real way to truly define a genre, however .

P.S. Friday 12:15 p.m. -Ironically, I didn't realize we would be discussing this in-depth in class today. However, this blog was going off the question Dr. Rudd asked us at the end of class on Monday and my beliefs on what makes a genre --not necessarily on what was discussed in class today, since I'm sure you were just dying to know, haha! :)

Genres

After briefly discussing genres in class yesterday, I began thinking of certain shows that fit into the genres my media squad came up with. Something I found interesting is how many of these shows could fit into other genres as well. For example, America's Next Top Model along with Project Runway are both television shows that definitely fit into the genre of fashion. With fashion icons such as Tyra Banks, who hosts America's Next Top Model, and Heidi Klum, who hosts Project Runway, there is no doubt these two shows belong in this category. However, as females, primarily from across the U.S., battle it out to become "America's Next Top Model" there is also a taste of reality television going on. This also goes for Project Runway, where males and females compete to make winning designs that appeal to the judges and hopefully move them up the ladder toward becoming a top designer in the fashion industry. However, these two television shows first belong in the genre of reality and then in the genre of fashion, this showing that genres can be broken down into various other genres within themselves. For instance, dating reality shows like Parental Control on MTV, reality game shows like Deal or No Deal, and survival reality shows like Survivor. Yet, Survivor brings on yet another genre within a genre because not only is it a reality television show, it can also be classified as a survival reality show and possibly a reality game show because those competing are out to win the grand prize of money. Obviously, almost all genres can be broken down and because of this more viewers are able to become more interested and involved, this adding to the the fame and popularity of that specific television show or media text.

Anna Nicole Smith

With a title like that you'd be crazy to not stop and read! (As I roll my eyes...) However, for the past day and a half I've seen this woman's face more than I can count. In fact to be quite honest, other than knowing her as the woman, 26, who married an 89-year old billionaire because she was supposedly "attracted to his liver spots", I don't know much about her. Yet, any information I may want to know about Smith is extremely accessible due to her sudden death yesterday. Now, I'm not here to harp on her publicity in any way. I believe it is perfectly okay and normal for the media to be covering the story on her death considering she was somewhat of an icon. However, at 10:00 this morning I turned on the television to find eight channels covering this story, including the story being all over the Internet. Was absolutely nothing else as important going on in our nation, or even world that needed to be covered? Because as I turn on the television now, I come across five channels still covering the story. Obviously, I haven't been lounging in front of the television all morning to know what other stories were, which I'm sure, covered, and as I stated before please don't think I'm writing this in regards to her actual death or her as a person. I'm just stunned at how the media has focused in so intensely on it. What triggered my thoughts on this was something Dr. Rudd mentioned in class after viewing the clip of the news from Wednesday morning. Botox injections took the limelight over recent levy issues within education. I truly cannot find the reason for this to be overshadowing education, or even why it is "LIVE" on the news in the first place. I turn on the news to be informed and updated, however I want to be informed on what is truly beneficial to me. Sure Botox may be in 20 years, but I'm interested in knowing of events that may affect me, my life, and the things around me, not watching reality television, if I want that I'll flip to MTV.

Relient K

&

A Value of a Challenge

"Sadie Hawkins Dance"

All the girls in the bathroom talkin'
Who they gonna take to the Sadie Hawkins?
My ears are burning, but I kept on walking
A smile on my face, and an air guitar rocking.

Chorus:

The Sadie Hawkins Dance, in my Khaki pants
There's nothing better.
The girls ask the guys, it's always a surprise.
There's nothing better.
Baby, do you like my sweater?
Sitting in the back of my next class napping,
Gotta give a speech, then bow to the clapping.
Told a funny joke, got the whole class laughing,
I think I got a tan, from the Language Arts basking.

Chorus

Scan the cafeteria for some good seating.
I found a good spot by the cheerleaders, eating.
The quarterback asked me if I'd like a beating.
I said "That's one thing I won't be needing!"
And since I'm rather smart and cunning,
I took off down the next hall, running.
Only to get stopped by a girl so stunning,
Only to get stopped by a girl so stunning.
She said "You're smooth, and good with talking.
"You'll go with me, to the Sadie Hawkins?"


Although I'm sure many of you are aware of this story, my friend Holly Reiber and I were discussing how Relient K's story can be compared to the myth, "Value of a Challenge." This small band, which started off, ironically, here in Canton, Ohio made it's debut at "The Hub." They became known amongst Christians who enjoyed their style of music. "Sadie Hawkins Dance" was the song that made heads turn, which was played on all sorts of radio stations, not strictly Christian. They produced many cd's becoming more and more famous, and before they knew it they were being faced with the challenge of changing their sound. After a while they became noticed so widely that they were nominated for a Grammy award. Grabbing the attention of a well-known record company was the next challenge for them, stay with Gotee Records or go big. Not only was that a challenge, but what would they be losing and gaining if they chose to go big. They wanted to go bigger to affect more people, however in doing so they would risk losing the faithful fans they had from the start. Now being big they face the pressure and challenge of conforming to what media and society wants, while still trying to stay true to their roots and faith. The connection between their story and the myth is how although obstacles were thrown their way, they were still able to overcome the challenges presented and be successful. Thus, making the journey valuable, accomplishing, and worthwhile.

My Media Log

Wednesday:

7:45-8:00 a.m. - Internet: Checked e-mail, news, & blogs

4:00-4:15 p.m. - Internet: Checked e-mail

6:30-7:00 p.m. - Internet

8:45-9:00 p.m. - Car: Listened to 98.1 & 96.5

12:50-1:10 a.m. - Internet: Checked e-mail

Thursday:

11:25-11:35 a.m. - Internet: Checked e-mail, news, & blogs

4:00-5:00 p.m. - Internet & Television

5:30-5:45 p.m. - Car: Listened to 98.1

10:30 p.m. -12:15 a.m. -Television

Friday:

7:45-8:00 a.m. - Internet: Checked e-mail, news, & blogs

1:10-1:45 p.m. - Car: Listened to 98.1

5:35-5:45 p.m. - Internet

6:25-7:15 p.m. - Car: Listened to music

11:30 p.m. -1:00 a.m. - Movie: “The Notebook”