Thursday, January 28, 2010

Chapter 4 questioning the media

1. Describe your earliest memories of listening to radio. do you remember a favorite song? how old were you? do you remember the stations call letters? why did you listen?


I can't say that I remember my first time listeneing to the radio, but I do remember I liked a certain type of music as a little boy. I'm embarrassed to say, but Ilistened to music like the backstreet boys and Nsync as a kid. I was into the boy bands at the time because I guess I thought it was the cool thing to do. To the best of my memory I don't think I had a particular favorite song, but I was also probably around ten ot eleven years old then. I have no idea what radio stations I was hearing these songs from back then, but it was probabl something like G105.1. I usually just listened to the stations my parents did in the car.


3. If you could own and manage a commerical radio station, what format would you choose, and why?



If I could own and manage a commerical radio station then I would probably choose the top 40 format. I would choose this format because more people would be attracted to the songs that were top of the charts each week instead of listening to older songs that used to be popular. This format would also allow for listeners to hear a song later in the day that they didnt hear when it was playing earlier because of the rotation idea that would be used with this top 40 format. Each week the songs would change so people wouldn't have to listen to the same songs week after week.



5. How might radio be used to improve social and political discussions in the United States?


Radio can be used to improve social and political dicussions in the United States in several ways. This can improve the social aspect of radio by allowing listeners to call in and give their opinions based on what the host was talking about. Radio can help political discussions in the U.S by allowing the listeners to hear the news over the radio of whats happening now, instead of having to wait til they get home to watch the news. This allows people to stay updated on current events and therefore they could voice their opinions over the radio about the political issues as well.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

chapter 3 questioning the media

2. If you ran a noncommercial campus radio station, what kind of music would you play and why?

If I ran a noncommercial campus radio station, I would primarily play rock and hip hop music. Based on all the students I have been around for the past 3 years on this campus, the majority of them like to listen to rock and hip hop music. Therefore by popular demand, I would choose this type of music so I could get the majority of listeners in the area. Every once in awhile, I would throw a country song into the mix, but never any classical music because I myself would not play music I didn't like.

3. Think about the role of the 1960's drug culture in rock's history. how are drugs and alcohol treated in contemporary and alternative forms of rock and hip-hop today?

I think that alot of times drugs and alcohol are abused in rock and hip hop today because alot of times on the news when there's a musician who got into trouble was a result of drugs or alcohol. Today these musicians are under so much stress and pressure to perform and produce new songs, that they just can't take it anymore and break down. They then turn to drugs or alcohol to try and solve their problems which ultimately ends up getting them in trouble with the media and therefore their fans.

5. Do you think the internet as a technology helps or hurts music artists? Why do so many contemporary musical performers differ in their opinions about the internet?

I think that the internet as a technology can really hurt music artists because of the availability of all the free music downloads. People can simply go to certain websites and download any type of music they like for free even if its new songs. This can cost the music artists money by taking away the money they should make from selling their CD's in stores. I would have to say that these musicians have differing opinions about the internet because sometimes the internet can help get their music out there to people so they would want to purchase it later. Some musicians are just so wealthy already that they could care less if some of their music is being downloaded for free off the internet.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Chapter 2 Questioning the media

1. What was you first encounter with the Internet like? How did it compare with your first encounters with other mass media?

Overall all I would have to say that my first encounter with the Internet was nothing special. I was a kid and I didnt even know how to use it yet or even what I could use it for. I was not on there for long at all. However my first experience with a cell phone was very exciting. I remember I was so happy when I got my first cell phone, which was my Mom's old one. I thought I was so cool because I finally had one even though all my other friends already had one. As a kid I didnt really enjoy music either, so my first experiences with the radio were nothing special either.


2. What features of the information highway are you most excited about? Why? What features are most troubling?

A feature that is my favorite so far in the information highway would have to be text messaging. Its' just so much easier that emailing someone or calling them and using all of your daytime minutes especially if you don't have unlimited minutes. Sorry Mrs. Harris, but text messaging is especially good when I'm in class and have to tell someone something right then. One of the features that troubles me the most are the search engines on the Internet. Whenever I Google some information I need for class, then I expect to get something along the lines of what I entered instead of something that has nothing at all to do with my search.


3. What are the advantages of an electronic-digital highway that links televisions, computers, phones, audio equipment, homes, schools and offices?

There are plenty of advantages of linking TV, phones, homes, schools and offices electronically. A good example of home to school or office, would be if I was working on a paper or project at home and couldn't finish it at home, then I could email it to myself to work on at school and print it out since I dont have one of those either. A good advantage of connecting phones to the internet is that I can go online to my Verizon account anytime I want and check my bill and see if I'm close to going over my minutes for the month. If your not around a TV, but you have the internet, then you can check the weather for your surrounding area or somewhere you might be going on vacation to.

Monday, January 18, 2010

case study, "The Sleeper Curve"

Do you accept Johnson's sleeper curve argument that certain TV progams-along with challenging interactive video and computer games- are intellectually demanding and are actually making us smarter? why or why not?

I do agree with Johnson's sleeper curve making us smarter because people really do get satisfaction out of figuring out the hidden plot of TV shows. This makes people think more in depth as to whats really going on and not only on the TV, but also whats going on around them in everyday life. Video and computer games are also becoming more challenging today because kids want more then just being able to fly through a game and beat it easily. They actaully take some skill and planning to beat nowadays.



Are you more persuaded by Postman's 1985 account- that the word has been displaced by an image centered culture and, consequently, that popular culture has been dumbed down by its oversimplified and visual triviality? As you consider Postman, think about the internet; is it word based or image based? What kinds of opportunities for learning does it offer?
I do believe that nowadays, words are becoming replaced by images more and more frequently. The nature of our culture is all about beauty these days. This means that more and more companies are making their ads shorter, but they have beautiful women on their ads in order to try and sell their product better. Beauty sells really good these days. I would have to say that the internet is still more word based today then image based because the internet is used largely as a means for gathering information and communicating with others.

In thinking about both the 1985 and 2005 arguments by Postman and Johnson, consider other generational differences. Do you enjoy TV shows and video games that your parents or grandparents don't understand? What types of stories and games do they enjoy? What did earlier generations value in story telling
There are a lot of TV shows or video games that I enjoy that my parents don't enjoy. I enjoy shows like South Park, Family Guy and the Simpsons as to where my mom enjoys shows like Survivor, American Idol and the Bachelor. The only video games my mom enjoy are the ones on the Nintendo Wii which are included in the Wii sports package including bowling, baseball, golf and boxing. I enjoy more serious video games like 1st person shooting games like Call of Duty for xbox 360. The TV shows that my mom watch are more realistic and up to date of whats really happening as compared to the ones I like that are mostly animated, but extremely funny. My mom said that she valued the stories themseleves and the seriousness of them in her generation. In my generation, I feel like story telling is more valued for the laughter and if its funny or scary instead of so serious.

The Sleeper Curve

Do you accept Johnson's sleeper curve argument that certain TV progams-along with challenging interactive video and computer games- are intellectually demanding and are actually making us smarter? why or why not?
I do agree with Johnson's sleeper curve making us smarter because people really do get satisfaction out of figuring out the hidden plot of TV shows. This makes people think more in depth as to whats really going on and not only on the TV, but also whats going on around them in everyday life. Video and computer games are also becoming more challenging today because kids want more then just being able to fly through a game and beat it easily. They actaully take some skill and planning to beat nowadays.

Are you more persuaded by Postman's 1985 account- that the word has been displaced by an image centered culture and, consequently, that popular culture has been dumbed down by its oversimplified and visual triviality? As you consider Postman, think about the internet; is it word based or image based? What kinds of opportunities for learning does it offer?
I do believe that nowadays, words are becoming replaced by images more and more frequently. The nature of our culture is all about beauty these days. This means that more and more companies are making their ads shorter, but they have beautiful women on their ads in order to try and sell their product better. Beauty sells really good these days. I would have to say that the internet is still more word based today then image based because the internet is used largely as a means for gathering information and communicating with others.


In thinking about both the 1985 and 2005 arguments by Postman and Johnson, consider other generational differences. Do you enjoy TV shows and video games that your parents or grandparents don't understand? What types of stories and games do they enjoy? What did earlier generations value in story telling?
There are a lot of TV shows or video games that I enjoy that my parents don't enjoy. I enjoy shows like South Park, Family Guy and the Simpsons as to where my mom enjoys shows like Survivor, American Idol and the Bachelor. The only video games my mom enjoy are the ones on the Nintendo Wii which are included in the Wii sports package including bowling, baseball, golf and boxing. I enjoy more serious video games like 1st person shooting games like Call of Duty for xbox 360. The TV shows that my mom watch are more realistic and up to date of whats really happening as compared to the ones I like that are mostly animated, but extremely funny. My mom said that she valued the stories themseleves and the seriousness of them in her generation. In my generation, I feel like story telling is more valued for the laughter and if its funny or scary instead of so serious.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Chapter 1 question the media

1. Using music or television, identify a performer or program you once liked but grew away from as you got older and your tastes changed. why do you think this happened? Do you think early interests in popular music or television have had an impact on shaping your identity?
When I was a kid, I used to watch a lot of cartoons everyday, especially the ones on cartoon network. Dragon Ball Z used to be one of my favorite cartoons to come home from school everyday and watch. This program no longer appeals to me because I grew up from my kid stage and no longer have time for shows like that. It was just so unrealistic back then and now I'm into things that are more realistic and relevant to everyday society. This did shape my identity by allowing me to become more mature and professional and by allowing me to live for the opportunities that are out there for me.

4. Make a critical case either defending or condemning Comedy Central's South Park, a TV talk show, professional wrestling, a hip hop group, a soap opera, or TV news coverage of the U.S occupation in Iraq. Use the 5-step process to develop your position.
I will choose to defend South Park by saying that it is a very humorous and outgoing show, even though its only appropriate for older audiences. There are a lot of curse words in the show, but it all ties into the humor of the show. South Park takes everyday events that happen in the world and makes fun of them in a totally non harmful way with no bad intentions. South Park should continue on the air because it engages the more mature audiences and just tries to make people laugh so they don't have to be so serious all the time.


5. Although in some ways postmodern forms of communication, such as email, MTV, and CNN, have helped citizens participate in global life, in what ways might these forms harm more traditional or native cultures?
These postmodern forms of communication can harm traditional or native cultures in many ways such as editing them to forget about or stray away from the older native or traditional cultures. Say theres a native culture that doesn't have all of the electronics that are up to date in one culture, then to another culture they would more then likely be considered boring. TV does not like for their shows to be boring, so if they did a show on cultures, then they wouldn't use the boring ones.