In my final reflection of this class and everything I’ve learned I find myself actually being grateful for the knowledge I have acquired. Unfortunately I can’t cay that as often as I’d like for the classes I’ve taken so far. I’ve learned a lot about the media, I’ve had my expectations met, I’ve seen the differences of how I see the media and how the world sees it and I’ve discovered how it all fits into the Lord’s plan for us.
What have I learned about the media? I’ve learned that you really can’t always trust what you see. After working on the media issue dealing with photographs and the ethics of manipulating them I now know that most pictures you see in advertisements have been altered in some way. I always knew that was out there but I never knew the frequency of it. I’ve learned to be a little more skeptical about what I see advertised. I also learned a great deal about the origins of the media; how it started and who influenced it. It was actually pretty interesting to learn who actually invented the television (Farnsworth) and that he was LDS. I’ve learned that public relations isn’t looked on as favorably by other communication fields but is a very valuable service to businesses. I’ve learned the social value of freedom of speech and the press. I now know the democracy needs journalistic excellence to keep citizens informed. I understand that media has a dramatic impact on society whether it be television viewing by children or hidden messages in adult advertisements. One very interesting lesson that sticks out in my mind is when Dr. Robinson showed the class the ads with the word “sex” spelled in them but not where you see it right away. I couldn’t believe that was actually a method used by companies to get people to buy their products. I now look for that in advertisements.
My expectations coming into this class were not very high considering it is a 101 class. I expected decent discussions in class and tedious projects and homework. I’m taking this class for a minor and I really just wanted to get through it. However, my expectations were not met. They were exceeded. The discussions in this class were all very interesting and I rather enjoyed them. I enjoy when teachers can go on tangents and it is not taboo. Dr. Robinson did an excellent job of including the class and finding out what we were thinking instead of just throwing history facts at us the whole time. My expectations of the projects and papers were also exceeded. I have been very impressed with the group presentations and how professional they are. The students haven’t treated this like a lower level class and I have enjoyed that.
In my comparison with how the world sees the media to how I do I’ve noticed some differences and similarities. I think the world and I are both skeptical of ads. I think we are different in what sells us. For example, sex doesn’t sell me the same way it does the world. Furthermore, after this class I understand more clearly how it all fits into the Lord’s plan for us. I see now that the different forms of media and advertisements give us a chance to exercise our agency, as well listen to the Spirit when something misleading or deceptive is being portrayed as good. The media can be a tool for much good and righteousness as well as being a tool for destruction and evil. It is up to us to think critically about what we see and hear.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
The Good, The Bad, The Ads
Advertisements are meant to get our attention and encourage us to buy a certain product or service. Many ads are very helpful, letting you know where a good deal is and where a certain product can be found. However there are some pretty weird ones out there too. The first bad ad I found is actually one of an advertising company. "Virtus Communications" creates advertisements for companies to help them get noticed. However this particular ad I couldn't even figure out what their angle was that they are trying to portray. Yeah its different. But creepy. The second bad ad I found advertises a funeral home. Not the hardest thing to advertise of course but this one seems to cross the line as well. "Memory Garden" puts the fun back in fun-eral. Now, I don't know about you but I don't remember the last time I had "fun" at a funeral. Also creepy.
On the plus side there are some good advertisements out there. This one from Benetton shows the similarities between the races. I thought it shows that on the inside, we're all the same. The photo of the three kids sticking their tongues out also shows that kids are the same. It shows simplicity. Another great ad that shows how powerful the zoom on a camera is comes from "Kodak". The ad that has a man standing very close to a lion. I liked this ad also because its simple and it gets the point across.
Advertising is very effective. I was influenced to buy a PlayStation 3 because of the games I saw that were available for it on TV. And in contrast, advertising can be very ineffective when I watched an ad showing me that if I used a certain shaving cream that I would get promoted and a beautiful Swedish woman would fall in love with me. I just laughed at it because it doesn't matter what kind of shaving cream you use. It was ridiculous.
On the plus side there are some good advertisements out there. This one from Benetton shows the similarities between the races. I thought it shows that on the inside, we're all the same. The photo of the three kids sticking their tongues out also shows that kids are the same. It shows simplicity. Another great ad that shows how powerful the zoom on a camera is comes from "Kodak". The ad that has a man standing very close to a lion. I liked this ad also because its simple and it gets the point across.
Advertising is very effective. I was influenced to buy a PlayStation 3 because of the games I saw that were available for it on TV. And in contrast, advertising can be very ineffective when I watched an ad showing me that if I used a certain shaving cream that I would get promoted and a beautiful Swedish woman would fall in love with me. I just laughed at it because it doesn't matter what kind of shaving cream you use. It was ridiculous.
TV
After tracking my television watching for a week I've learned that I watch most when I feel like I really need to escape. Sometimes I have a lot f homework or upcoming test that is causing me stress and I just want to stop thinking about it. Really, to stop thinking in general. That's what TV does for me. I learned about television that most of the commercials are aimed at women. I started counting the number of commercials for women vs. the number for men and I was amazed the it was close to an 8 to 1 ratio. Interesting.
Many networks often appeal to the lowest common denominator in order to offend no one. Programs like FOX I think do just that. There are some shows on there that definitely appeal to the lowest common denominator. I think the network CBS and ABC tend to have a little more varied shows to appeal to certain groups of people.
Many people say that television has had a greater impact on society than any other form of media. Whether or not this is true could be a tough argument. I think it has affected modern society more than any other media form. But looking at society broadly, I might say the written word has affected it more.
Many networks often appeal to the lowest common denominator in order to offend no one. Programs like FOX I think do just that. There are some shows on there that definitely appeal to the lowest common denominator. I think the network CBS and ABC tend to have a little more varied shows to appeal to certain groups of people.
Many people say that television has had a greater impact on society than any other form of media. Whether or not this is true could be a tough argument. I think it has affected modern society more than any other media form. But looking at society broadly, I might say the written word has affected it more.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Image Consulting
Is image consulting ethical? To be honest its kind of a grey area question. Some might say sure its ethical, whats wrong with improving the image of a company or a person? Don't we all do that to ourselves every morning before we go out? On the flip side, wouldn't it be considered wrong to change the image and distort the truth of what a company really is and does?
Like most things I would say when you cross the line of distorting the truth is when it could be considered unethical. And in each case that really is a judgment call.
Promotional exaggerations such as Tom Thumb and Jenny Lind do exist today. PR for the purpose of financial gain exists in most every company today. You could consider exaggerated claims in ads that picture models with perfect bodies that are created using airbrush techniques and photoshop. While not the same method as Barnum did for Tom Thumb but the same principle.
Like most things I would say when you cross the line of distorting the truth is when it could be considered unethical. And in each case that really is a judgment call.
Promotional exaggerations such as Tom Thumb and Jenny Lind do exist today. PR for the purpose of financial gain exists in most every company today. You could consider exaggerated claims in ads that picture models with perfect bodies that are created using airbrush techniques and photoshop. While not the same method as Barnum did for Tom Thumb but the same principle.
Censoring CBS
If I had to say there were five things that are inappropriate for television I would have to work very hard to narrow the list down to only five. I can think of many things that I would rather not see on TV each night during prime time. But the five most inappropriate things would have to be:
1. Nudity. There is absolutely no place for nudity on television. Pornography is completely wrong and disrespectful and is actually a disease that breaks up families and destroys the souls of men. There is no place for the filth on TV. Children shouldn't have to have their eyes shielded by parents if ever something is shown that wasn't expected. I would censor that first.
2. Sexual Content. This just about goes hand in hand with the first thing. It is just so inappropriate and unnecessary. What happens behind closed doors should stay there. There are many other ways to make a show exciting and interesting without having to include sex. It isn't needed whatsoever.
3. Swearing. This is one that I'm sure I would have to be careful in fully censoring. Most people swear and "hell" or "damn" aren't necessarily offensive to the general public. While I wouldn't mind not having to hear them I know if I worked for CBS they would think differently than me at censoring every swear word. So I would compromise with them and censor the very offensive words and phrases.
4. Drugs. Illegal drugs should not be shown or portrayed as being normal or accepted. Drug use also has no needed place on television.
5. Excessive Violence. Anything that would require a mature audience probably isn't needed on TV. Gore and bloody violence isn't necessary to get a point across. Children would be a lot less likely to turn to violence if they weren't shown how to do it every time they turn the TV on. I would censor excessive violence as well.
1. Nudity. There is absolutely no place for nudity on television. Pornography is completely wrong and disrespectful and is actually a disease that breaks up families and destroys the souls of men. There is no place for the filth on TV. Children shouldn't have to have their eyes shielded by parents if ever something is shown that wasn't expected. I would censor that first.
2. Sexual Content. This just about goes hand in hand with the first thing. It is just so inappropriate and unnecessary. What happens behind closed doors should stay there. There are many other ways to make a show exciting and interesting without having to include sex. It isn't needed whatsoever.
3. Swearing. This is one that I'm sure I would have to be careful in fully censoring. Most people swear and "hell" or "damn" aren't necessarily offensive to the general public. While I wouldn't mind not having to hear them I know if I worked for CBS they would think differently than me at censoring every swear word. So I would compromise with them and censor the very offensive words and phrases.
4. Drugs. Illegal drugs should not be shown or portrayed as being normal or accepted. Drug use also has no needed place on television.
5. Excessive Violence. Anything that would require a mature audience probably isn't needed on TV. Gore and bloody violence isn't necessary to get a point across. Children would be a lot less likely to turn to violence if they weren't shown how to do it every time they turn the TV on. I would censor excessive violence as well.
Curbing Freedom of Speech
While I was trying to think of a situation in which a personal or public expression went to far I began thinking of the ads against Proposition 8. One in particular stuck out in my mind of a commercial in which two supposed missionaries of the LDS church were portrayed as breaking into a lesbian couple's home and tearing up their marriage certificate and thus officially "stealing their rights".
Now of course freedom of speech means that the Courage Campaign who funded the ad are able to express their views and even outrage for the legal passing of Proposition 8. However, their is a law against slander. The Courage Campaign was smart though, they never mentioned the name of the LDS church only led viewers to understand that was who was being represented. I for one think it's flat out wrong that this commercial would be allowed to be aired. The LDS church as an organization did not spend a single dime on funding the passing of Proposition 8. It did encourage its members to stand up for what they know to be right. And that meant giving time, energy and even money to support the proposition. I would remedy this situation in court. Fortunately the LDS church is a lot better than me and doesn't tend to sue people over wrong doing, instead takes the higher road of turning the other cheek.
Now of course freedom of speech means that the Courage Campaign who funded the ad are able to express their views and even outrage for the legal passing of Proposition 8. However, their is a law against slander. The Courage Campaign was smart though, they never mentioned the name of the LDS church only led viewers to understand that was who was being represented. I for one think it's flat out wrong that this commercial would be allowed to be aired. The LDS church as an organization did not spend a single dime on funding the passing of Proposition 8. It did encourage its members to stand up for what they know to be right. And that meant giving time, energy and even money to support the proposition. I would remedy this situation in court. Fortunately the LDS church is a lot better than me and doesn't tend to sue people over wrong doing, instead takes the higher road of turning the other cheek.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Movies
There are many reasons why one could assume the amount of sex and violence are increasing in the movies today. Perhaps the movies are simply appealing to the masses. Perhaps society is becoming increasingly more numb and we need bigger explosions and more scandalous women to get our attention. Or maybe its just that the values of the movie writers and directors simply just don't match our own. Whatever the reason may be, its obvious that movies just ain't what they used to be.
Many studies have been done on the increase of violent crimes and divorce rates in the recent decades. One might argue that these statistics are a result of the media teaching children lower values. Or is it our lower values that have caused the movies to reflect our own promiscuity? I would argue that this is a case of Hollywood force feeding society and we, as a society, simply accepting what we are given. I know many good people in and out of the LDS faith that have good morals and are offended at the road the movies and the media have taken.
If I were a movie producer I would make a movie that actually had a real story line. How many times have we been watching a movie whether it be action or horror or drama and have been able to predict what would happen and who the bad guy would be? Now I'm not going to be a hypocrite and say violence in movies doesn't belong. Real life is violent. Now is there a line that is more often than not that is crossed by having too much violence? Of course. Can a movie be good without violence? Sure, why not? But to say it has no place in entertainment in my opinion would be going too far. I mean, I am a guy. Explosions have been an area of awe since I first saw fireworks. I don't know why, they're just cool.
Many studies have been done on the increase of violent crimes and divorce rates in the recent decades. One might argue that these statistics are a result of the media teaching children lower values. Or is it our lower values that have caused the movies to reflect our own promiscuity? I would argue that this is a case of Hollywood force feeding society and we, as a society, simply accepting what we are given. I know many good people in and out of the LDS faith that have good morals and are offended at the road the movies and the media have taken.
If I were a movie producer I would make a movie that actually had a real story line. How many times have we been watching a movie whether it be action or horror or drama and have been able to predict what would happen and who the bad guy would be? Now I'm not going to be a hypocrite and say violence in movies doesn't belong. Real life is violent. Now is there a line that is more often than not that is crossed by having too much violence? Of course. Can a movie be good without violence? Sure, why not? But to say it has no place in entertainment in my opinion would be going too far. I mean, I am a guy. Explosions have been an area of awe since I first saw fireworks. I don't know why, they're just cool.
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