Nike Air Band

During last evening's competition of "Nike Air Band" students on campus participated in serious role play. By dressing up to fit the role, as well as lip syncing to various popular songs, they took part in "fandom". Without "Nike Air Band" last evening's role plays would have seemed extremely strange, out of the ordinary, and unconventional. By identifying with celebrities through their performance they were able to find their identity in another role. Through this serious role play, the "celebs" of last evening were also able to develop a sense of belonging(ness) within the community here at Malone because their faces will be recongized on campus by those in the audience. Overall, through "fandom," identity and community are shaped and developed.

Happy Endings

When relationships go wrong and someone walks away with a broken heart, particularly the female, it isn't surprising to find her wallowing in her sorrow for a few days following the "break-up." Taking part in "fandom," she expresses her emotions by setting in front of the television for hours on end with a carton of Ben & Jerry's and a variety of chick-flicks. Through these chick-flicks she is able to slowly overcome her despair and verge ahead by focusing on the happy times and happy endings within the film. By watching this film she slowly renews her identity, searching and longing for characteristics that was presented within the love relationship in the film. This expressing of emotions and renewing of identities also helps the female in releasing her emotions in a positive way.

HGTV

During our discussion on Wednesday in class we discussed the motives of the "Media Effect Theory". I felt that HGTV was an excellent example of the "socialization motive". Within this genre of the media text television, many viewers will watch to learn tips, hints, and get ideas about the home and gardening. By doing this they are able to keep up with the trends, staying in tune with what is popular and what is not. By using HGTV viewers feel they are able to join in a semiotic domain while also keeping up the "Jones'". They are then able to relate to others who are apart of this same domain, maybe even eventually making HGTV and this semiotic domain into a "ritual motive" which is also apart of the "Media Effect Theory".

TAG Body Spray

I'm sure many of you are familiar with the advertisement which involves a male spraying "TAG" body spray on himself and instantly females appear, tackling and almost groping him. At the end of the commercial a warning appears across the screen stating, "The makers of TAG body spray accept no responsibility for any injuries resultant from the wearing of this product." Obviously, this is not exactly how a situation would go down for a user of "TAG" in real life, however the company portrays this as a common or almost automatic occurrence in hopes of alluring viewers to purchase the product. I felt this advertisement went somewhat along the lines of our discussion in class on Monday about pornography. Within this genre of media, pornography gives it's audience a perception that sex is just as good as it looks on the computer screen or television. However, without the airbrushing it would not be nearly as alluring. The advertisements for "TAG" body spray could fall under these same lines. Male viewers may think that with this product they withhold the power of alluring girls upon girls, this almost being a false advertisement. Yet with this strategy of marketing, viewers are convinced that they need this product. Media uses this type of strategy not only in advertisements, but also within various media texts to intrigue and allure audiences, this in turn bringing more of what they hope to be fame and fortune.

Iron Chef America

I've never been a huge fan of Iron Chef America, however I believe it is an excellent example of "hegemony". Within this cooking reality television show chefs compete for "top chef" status by using mystery ingredients which they are unaware of until the battle begins. They then fight or cook until the time runs out and in conclusion their concoctions are judged by the critics, whom are usually chefs or restaurant owners. Hegemony comes into play when viewers who are chefs themselves watch the show believing they are just as good as those competing, however they are not participants themselves which in turn makes them realize they aren't are good as they think. This keeps those who are lower in the cooking domain down, keeping those you are already top chefs on top. Another example of hegemony within this show would be the chefs competing who lose the competition. They may go onto the show with a mentality that they are just as good as the others, however when they lose reality hits making them realize they aren't as good as they thought. This also lowering them on the ladder of top chefs, in turn helping the top chefs keep their status and power. This defining exactly what "hegemony" is , those who are on top striving to keep those lower than them down.

Is Media Taking a Seat "Backstage"?

This afternoon I was reading in my psychology book about how "it is the best and worst times for today's adolescents". But why? Before I continued to read I knew exactly why. In the book it states, "The hazards of the adult world, its sometimes fatal temptations, descend upon children so early that the ideal of childhood is demolished". So what exactly is powerful enough to impact a generation, being a detriment to their childhood? Could it possibly be the media? Obviously, their are other influences in our society, however I can imagine this would play a major role in affecting a child. Take for example the "bizarre versions of reality" that are portrayed on television like MTV's "The Real World", where young so called "adults" party and sleep around as if it is a way of life. Or look at Akon's hit, "I Wanna F*ck You Dirty" (...also known as "Smack That"). It doesn't matter who he is addressing in this song it is simply the fact that he is addressing it publicly in the first place. Adolescents are being exposed to a world full of complex lifestyles and struggle in deciding which ones they are to follow. So, my question is simply what happened to the formality within the media? What happened to the formal role or "frontstage" that was once apparent within the media. Obviously, there were issues in the past with what the media was exposing, but are they beginning to push the envelope? Okay, so maybe they haven't gone completely "backstage" where we are being surprised with every flip of the channel or change of the station and I agree that not all that is publicized within the media is garbage, however where is the civility or decorum? Before too long it may no longer be a surprise or unusual to hear lyrics of vulgarity and obscenity played on America's radio stations, or flip through the channels to find young "adults" being sexually promiscuous on national television. Maybe it is time to bring back the "frontstage" or formal role within media before it's too late.