EXTRA CREDIT!!

When we had to post what our favorite blog was at the beginning of the semester, I had no idea where to even look. I used Google to find an interesting looking one, but that shows how much blogging experience I had before this course. Blogging has become another useful form of communication; therefore, it was a pretty positive learning experience for those who had never learned to blog in the past. Also, doing the blogs every week would help us to learn the material for the class. I did not really have any difficulty using the blogs. The more difficult blogs were the ones that were less interesting, but that obviously depends on the person. One that I found interesting and easy to do was the star system blog. I would recommend using a blog in future courses because I feel like it taught me a lot. Whether it was about the reading assignment or lectures that week, or about blogging in general, it had positive effects that should be performed in future courses. I don’t really have any suggestions to improve the blogging. It was annoying to have to come back to reality on the weekends every Sunday, but it was a learning experience, and that’s what college is about!

Globalization

Globalization is when nations, cultures, and people become increasingly interconnected.  Creating media has become easier over time, and also less pricy.  Because of this the production of media has leaked over into other countries, not just the United States.  Globalization is spread through forms of technology like the internet or cellular phones, and in a more modern language facebook and texting.  The uses of technology have beneficial perks like keeping society informed about the world. 

 Cultural imperialism is when the strongest culture blends with the less dominant ones and the effects are noticed.  This process reflects imbalance in global power structure. 

The US remains the dominant country when it comes to music, television, and films. An example of a film that represents cultural imperialism is Slumdog Millionaire.  The film was spoken in English, while the questions asked were Indian related.  Slumdog Millionaire is a global release, and global releases hold a large profit for production companies in the United States.  This could very well be why much of American films, music, and television can be found all over the world.

Gets me every time...

One of the common characteristics of advertising includes grabbing the viewer’s attention.  After reading the assignment and thinking about certain advertisements that made an impact on the way I feel, a particular commercial came to mind.  When the Sarah Mclachlan animal cruelty commercial comes on, it tugs at my heart and makes me want to call the number on the screen without a second thought.

The first thing you see when the advertisement begins is a pitiful looking dog, and then the text “every single hour in BC, an animal is violently abused.” The add then continues to show sad looking animals while playing a very depressing song by Sarah Mclachlan. Sarah gives the number to call for help. By the end of the commercial I’m asking my mom if we can have another pet.

The appeal used in this advertisement discussed by Professor Straubhaar would be the nurture, guidance appeal. The definitions of nurture include: to feed and protect; to support and encourage, as during the period of training or development;   to bring up; and to train.  When the music, pictures, texts, and speech given by Sarah all come together, the viewer is persuaded that the animals need someone to nurture them and guide them to a better life.  Another plus to the add is a celebrity is the one telling us we should make the call. Professor Straubhaar made clear nothing sells like a celebrity.

Not only does this add tug at my heart while it is playing, but it’s even been a topic discussed days later at school; therefore, it definitely grabbed the attention of its viewers.

Sex and the City

The three act structure is widely used over the movie industry according to Professor Ramirez Berg.  It is a structure that the majority of viewers are very familiar with.  It consists of a beginning (introduction), middle (complication), and the end (resolution). The movie Sex and the City has a lot of inner conflicts taking place, but the main issues revolve around a three-act film structure.

The introduction helps establish who the main characters are and what the storyline is about.  The introduction usually last around thirty minutes.  The intro of Sex and the City gives a brief background of the four best friends, the main one being Carrie. Carrie could not live without her three girls, but the film is mainly concerning herself and her lover Big who decide to get married.

During the complication, the audience’s relationship is strengthened with the characters as they see a conflict arise.  The conflict in Sex and the City is when Carrie is stood up by her lover Big at their own wedding.  The complication is Carrie dealing with her grief.  This segment last typically somewhere between thirty and sixty minutes.  I particularly remember this section of the movie lasting a little too long to remain in the audience’s comfort zone. 

The third and final act known as the resolution usually takes up about the last thirty minutes of the movie.  The resolution follows the climax and is the solution to the conflict.  In the end of Sex and the City, Big and Carrie both realize they made mistakes and decide to get married once again and live happily ever after. J

sitcom

The concept I find most interesting and relative to the shows I watch is the mini resolutions concept.  A mini resolution comes to life when the characters in the show face a difficulty.  The characters spend the remaining time of the sitcom trying to resolve their issue, and by the end of the show, the issue turns into a lesson learned.

A sitcom is usually a 30 minute show that gets the audience smiling.  A sitcom is very convenient for someone who is on their lunch break and needs a quick laugh while relaxing for a bit.  A mini resolution fits fabulously into a sitcom because it’s the concept of fitting the moral of an hr long show into a compressed 30 minute one.  Instead of having a drawn out full resolution, a mini one takes its place. 

Just the other day I was watching an episode of My Wife and Kids.  An issue arose where Clair was caught faking sick so she could stay home from school and have her boyfriend come over.  Mr. Kyle is a comical character so I could not wait to see how he handled it.  Though I knew he was going to be mad and make a big production of punishing Clair, I knew that by the end of the 30 min sitcom everyone would be smiling.  Because of Colin Tain’s lecture, I now understand that the ideas behind the happy endings of sitcoms are a part of mini resolutions. 

Cinderalla Story Shots

                          

Before Professor Ramirez-Burg’s discussion, I had no idea of the significance of the different types of shots during movies. I chose to use “Cinderella Story” as my example because it is one of my favorite movies and I can clearly see how the variety of shots makes the emotions clear. The first type of shot discussed was the long shot. The bottom right picture on the collage is the best example of the long shot because it is taken from a distance and gives an overview of how the love story ended with the two main characters riding away together.

The next shot discussed was the medium shot. The tope right photo on the collage is a good example of the medium shot because it lets the viewer know that Carter was Sam’s best friend, her go to guy, also a big part of the movie. Another example of the medium shot would be the sixth picture in the third column. This picture shows the cheerleaders and the two evil step sisters coming together to ultimately bring down Sam. All of the characters in this picture are the antagonists in the movie.

The third type of shot would be the close up. The best example of a close up shot would be the seventh picture in the first column. In this picture Sam’s emotions are expressed so clearly. She is extremely hurt by the skit that was just displayed by the cheerleaders for the whole school to see. It was about Sam and she was shocked, angry, and clearly upset.

SUPER stars

                               

How often do people go see a movie just because a certain actor or actress is a part of it?? I know I catch myself doing it all the time. Take the Twilight Saga for instance. Do millions of girls go see the movie just for the intriguing love story, or do they really just want to see Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson on the big screen? The star system helps describe why directors choose certain actors.

The star system is a method made to promote movie stars in the light where they are most promising. This system puts more emphasis on image rather than on the celebrities’ acting skills. It did have an effect on what types of films were produced because most actors or actresses became associated with certain genres, and directors would shape the plot around those genres to keep the targeted audience coming back for more of what they love from the celebrities. 

Someone who was a part of the star system was Joan Crawford. Joan started as a dancer and one day signed a contract with MGM. After a lot of hard work and campaigning, she found fame. She was constantly playing the role of a hardworking young woman who found fortune and romantic success in the end. Her targeted audience loved what she brought to the screen especially during the Depression- era.