Chapter 16

1. Have you ever had an experience in which you thought personal or public expression went too far and should be curbed? Explain. How might you remedy this situation? 

Have you ever been to Key West? Oh my goodness, if that is not the city for personal expression I don't know where is. Key West in the summertime is full of personal expression. There were drag queens and half naked people wasting the nights away on the top floors of bars. Signs that read "Clothing Optional" was just about enough to keep me from going out at night. I felt that level of personal and public expression was too much to handle. I chose to go out during the day when most of the "crazies" were sleeping and make sure to be inside by midnight. Key West is one wild town during the nights, and the expression levels were outrageous.

3. The writer A.J. Liebling once said that freedom of the press belonged only to those who owned one.  Explain why you agree or disagree.

I think in our 1st Amendment right the freedom of speech should state that this is an incorrect statement. In my opinion, Mr. Liebling was attempting to keep people's opinions to themselves and off the press. This however would violate the freedom of speech. Speech could be spoken or written down. It is all a matter of technicalities. I think by leaving the ability to form press, only to those who owned one is discriminative and should not be allowed. This is absurd and should have been vetoed, per say, by the people who witnessed this statement. 

Chapter 15

1. What are your main concerns or criticisms about the state of media studies at your college or university? 

I feel that the media studies at our University play a key component in the success of all students. I believe that it is imperative for a student's core requirements to take a course in communications. Without communications, students will not receive the tools they need to communicate as they move along in their studies at LR. Media studies offer students the opportunity to learn effective ways to communicate and view media. Media plays a key part in today's society and I think it is important that students understand how to view media in a positive way.

 

2. One charge that has been leveled against a lot of media research-both the effects and the cultural models-is that it has very little impact on changing our media institutions. Do you agree or disagree, and why?

 

I agree with this statement because I feel no matter how much research people conduct in the media field, media will always have an impact on society. There will always be media forms that will always lead the audience to a final problem, issue, celebration, etc. Media in my opinion will not change in the media institutional settings because there is such a demand for their services. Without media there is no way of getting information out to the different audiences and cultures. Media has a strong hand in what is announced into society. 

Chapter 13

1. Are you exposed to popular culture from other countries? Why or why not? Give some examples.

 

As an American, you would think that we would be more exposed to other cultures from countries around the world; however, for myself, this is not the case. I have never traveled outside of the United States and have never been given the opportunity to directly be exposed to another culture other than my own. In middle and high school, I took French as a foreign language and was able to incorporate much of the French culture into our classes each day. Our teacher would also give us the opportunity to bring in french foods to taste. The french culture is so much more laid back, opposed to the United States.

 

2. Do you read international news? Why or why not? 

 

To be honest, I do not typically follow international news unless it is on the television. Shockingly enough, this past Sunday night while I was watching the Phillies baseball game I quickly noticed the caption scrolling across the bottom of the screen, stating that "Osama Bin Laden has been killed". Of course, I immediately knew that this would be one of the biggest accomplishments in American history. Bin Laden has been one of the most wanted criminals for the past ten years and our military men and women located him. This news affects not only the United States but every other country in the world. I will be sure to continue and follow international news for the time being.

Chapter 11

1. What is your earliest recollection of watching a television commercial? Do you have a favorite ad? A most-despised ad? What is it about these ads that you particularly like or dislike?

 

I can not recall my earliest recollection of watching a television commercial. I am assuming it was at a pretty young age since I grew up watching cartoons and children shows. I do remember a lot of toy commercials like Barbie and other types of commercials that would appeal to the young viewer. I think my favorite television ad would have to be the recent "Pass it On" commercials that invite the viewers to "do the right thing" and live life to the fullest. My most despised television ad would have to be the commercials that advertise Viagra and products such as that. I believe that those types of commercials are unacceptable to be on television. There are young viewers that do not need to be exposed to commercials such as that.

 

4. Should advertising aimed at children be regulated? Support your response.

 

Yes. Most definitely. I feel that anything aimed at children should be regulated. A child's brain is like a sponge. Anything they see on television they believe as truth. Advertisements that are aimed at children should be age appropriate and should be appropriate in a parent's eyes. The last thing a company needs is an angry parent upset over what their child saw on television. I believe it is in a company's best interests to regulate what they put on television if they are trying to reach children viewers. Children control their parents spending when it comes to toys so companies should be sure the ads for their products are acceptable.

Chapter Ten

1. What are your earliest recollections of books? Do you read for pleasure? If yes, what kinds of books do you enjoy? Why? 

 

Growing up my parents read books to me beginning at a young age. They both knew the importance of reading and comprehension and made sure my childhood was full of books and reading material. I can remember my parents reading the classics to me such as books by Dr. Seuss and Eric Carle. My elementary school was a magnet school that focused on literature and the arts. There was a strong emphasis on reading and taught students how to enjoy reading. Unfortunately as I have gotten older I do not enjoy reading as much. I like reading in the Summer because I have more free time to leisurely read a novel. When I do choose to read books I, like most girls my age, enjoy reading Nicholas Sparks novels. His stories are usually based out of the South and involve lots of love and emotion. I like reading the books and then seeing the movies.

6. Would you read a book on an iPod or a Kindle? Why or why not?

 

I think if I had the choice to read a book on an iPod or a Kindle I would choose to read it on a Kindle. I do not know much about the Kindle, but it seems they are becoming more and more popular in the education field. Soon, I have heard, that college textbooks will be available for the Kindle. I think the Kindle would be more beneficial to the reader because the reader is able to view the book on a larger screen. Kindles are easy to carry and you are able to read off of them indoors and out. There is nothing worse than trying to read something with the sun glaring on it and making the screen look darker.

Chapter 9, Questioning the Media

1. What are your earliest recollections of magazines? Which magazines do you read today? Why?

My earliest recollection of magazines was the Highlights for kid's magazines. These magazines had games, stories, and puzzles especially for kids. I can remember these magazines as an elementary student. The magazines kept me entertained and I loved getting them in the mail. I would race my younger sister to the mailbox when we were younger to see who got mail on that given day. These days, I do not read magazines on the regular but when I do I chose to read magazines about fashion and beauty. They give me neat tips on different make-up styles and different ways to do my hair. There are many tricks you would never expect would work that do.

7. Do you think the Internet will eventually displace magazines? Why or why not?

 

I do not believe that the Internet will ever displace magazines. This is due to the fact that magazines are very popular depending on the topic and type of audience the editors try to reach. Magazines are popular and have been for many generations. Older generations prefer magazines over the Internet, in my opinion. My mom loves when her Southern Living magazines come in the mail. I do not think she would like having to navigate through a website to find her decorating ideas and delicious recipes. Magazines may be old fashioned, but I feel they are here to stay!

Chapter 8

2. Why do you think people aren't reading U.S. daily newspapers as frequently as they once did? Why is newspaper readership going up in other countries?


In my opinion the reason people in the United States do not read the daily newspaper as frequently as in the past, is because the newspaper is available in so many other formats. Whether the news comes via the television, or by Internet, or even sent straight to ones phone, the news is becoming popular in new forms. It is easier for people to read news on the run rather than sit at the table in the morning while sipping on coffee. I think newspaper readership is increasing in other countries because their news involves information that appeals to their readers. 


5. Will blogs and other Internet news services eventually replace newspapers? Explain your response.


I do not think blogs and other Internet news services will ever replace the good ol' newspaper. I think there are a lot of individuals who prefer a hard copy rather than a virtual copy. Think of the moms that want to cut out a picture of their son's Championship little league team out of the newspaper. If online newspapers were the only news, we would not have the option to cut out clippings of exciting events in our lives. I feel like the Internet is a quicker source for news but for those of you who enjoy sitting and relaxing and reading the news, the newspaper is a great way to catch up on local and governmental issues.

Chapter 7

2. Do you remember seeing a movie you were not allowed to see? Discuss the experience.

I think every seventeen year old has "snuck" into a rated R movie. I began college at seventeen, I turned eighteen the September of my Freshman year. One weekend, I went home to Charlotte and wanted to see the movie "College" with my friends. It was about the "typical" college experience and as a college student I wanted to see it. I was interested in the story line and see if it was anything like what college really is. I went to the theater with some friends who were already eighteen. I told the girl in the box I wanted a movie that was PG-13 and different than the movie my friends wanted to see. I walked into the theater and gave my ticket to the usher, he directed me in a different direction than my friends. I don't know how i managed to sneak past him but I did and followed my friends into the theater for College. I'm sure it was super obvious but it worked. I was a little nervous but the movie was funny and a month later I turned eighteen and have not worried about "sneaking" into any more movies since then.

3. How often do you go to the movie theaters today? How often do you play DVDs on a television at home, or watch movies on a computer? Which experience do you prefer and why?

I never go to the movies! I think it's ridiculous to spend ten dollars on a movie ticket, when I can wait and spend five at Blockbuster a month later. I'm okay with waiting that month. I have a pretty busy schedule so I do not have a lot of free time to just sit around and watch movies. I enjoy watching movies but I am not a movie guru. I don't make a point to go to the theater for the new releases. I probably play DVDs a few times a month. I never watch movies on my computer. If I had the choice to see a movie in my home or on the big screen it would definitely be in the comfort of my own home.

Chapter 6, Questioning the Media

1. How many cable channels do you watch regularly? What programs do you watch? What attracts you to a certain channel?

On a daily basis, I probably watch close to five different cable channels. I watch The Learning Channel, MTV, ABC Family, TBS, and USA. There are some interesting shows that come on the TLC channel. Recently I have seen "My Strange Addiction" where people choose to consume non-edible items. It's very strange. On the MTV channel I like to watch music videos in the morning. I don't usually watch them but I listen to the music. On ABC Family they play a lot of movies I watched growing up so I enjoy watching them sometimes. TBS is the same way, they play a lot of movies also. Lastly, on the USA channel they play a lot of Law and Order, criminal shows. Those shows really pull me in and I enjoy seeing the bad guys/people get busted. I think what attracts me to a certain channel depends on the time of day and the amount of time I have at that moment to watch television.

4. CNN and MTV have changed our society as well as the global culture. Have these changes been positive or negative? Explain.

I think that CNN and MTV have both a positive and negative impact on our society. In the positive sense, I think that these two networks have shown people to be more aware of what is going on in this generation. The generations are beginning to change quicker and quicker. There are young kids getting involved in older activities and MTV is beginning to broadcast them. Shows like "Teen Mom" are showing older generations of the things that are going on in this era and I think by allowing older people to see what is happening, this may be a way to help the teens. By making parents aware of things, it can help young people. These networks are creating a negative impact on society also though. I think when you are broadcasting sixteen year old moms on television, you are giving teens the idea that it is "cool" or "okay" for this to happen. I think the show "Teen Mom" should teach young teens the importance of knowing the consequences for their actions. It should be a more of a learning tool than a reality series, in my opinion. 

Chapter 4

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

I can vaguely remember the first time I ever listened to the radio. I'm sure that I was very young, maybe around the age of 5 or 6 on the way to Pre-School. My mom would always turn it to the contemporary christian station, 91.9 on the way to school in the mornings. I can remember listening to this station even through high school when I would ride to school then as well. I liked all the songs on this station because I heard them at church when I was at youth events. I also thought listening to music like that early in the morning, would give me a good start to my day. I was usually more stressed when I listened to loud music, and this music is more mellow and relaxing.

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

I think one problem the United States faces is the fact that news is usually on the television mostly. If the news of the current events were spoken of on the radio more people may hear it. Most people drive with the radio on and that may give more opportunities to reach listeners. I also believe that politicians in the United States do not cater to everyone's intellectual standpoints. There are plenty of citizens that have not had much education and struggle to understand what exactly politicians have to offer. Radio may help to explain things in a simpler form that some citizens may understand better. Radio has a lot of options and gateways to getting information across. The United States should take advantage of these opportunities. 

Chapter 3

1. Who was your first favorite group or singer? How old were you at the time? What was important to you about the music?

My first favorite group to listen to was the boy band, Back Street Boys. They appealed to young girls because they were attractive and they sang sweet love songs about girls they liked or were dating. Most young boys were not interested in this band. I was probably around the age of eight or nine when I began liking this band. My parents gave me the cassette tape for Christmas and I can remember winding it up to re-listen to it. The important thing about the music was that as a young girl, I could relate to the songs the guys were singing. The songs were sappy love songs and upbeat pop songs that every young girl could enjoy.

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

If I ran a non-commercial radio station, I would play music that college students requested be played. I would give students the opportunity to send in their ideas and opinions on what is being played on the station. If people had issues with the music that was chosen, I would make the appropriate changes. I would also have music that students created be played on the station to give students the opportunity to express themselves through music. I think this would be a neat way to get their voice heard.  A non-commercial station would also keep students from wanting to change the station to something else.

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

In the 1960s, drugs and alcohol use were the norm. It was popular and "cool" to surround yourself with these things. However, in this day and age people associate drugs and alcohol with a negative tag. Artists, especially within hip-hop and rap music often portray drugs and alcohol in a way that makes it seem like the cool thing to do. Artists such as Lil' Wayne speaks of smoking marijuana in just about all of his songs. He is not the only one though, many artists also have lyrics referring to the alcoholic products "Grey Goose" and "Patron". Many teenagers who are not even of the legal drinking age are hearing this and thinking it is the thing to do. I think parents should be sure the music their children listen to is age-appropriate. 

Chapter 2, Questioning the Media

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

I honestly cannot remember the first time I used the Internet. I am assuming it was sometime in early elementary school. I do know that my family had a huge Gateway computer and we had a dial up Internet provider through America Online, also known as, AOL. The noise that was made when the computer began to look for the signal is still fresh in my head. The house telephone was always busy when someone tried to call so my parents always made my sister and I log off as soon as we were done with whatever we were online for. The first encounter online was a lot more in depth than my first encounter with a cell phone or video game. Cell phones and video games are rather self explanatory; however, the Internet could be pretty difficult to navigate if it’s your first time searching for something.

2. What possibilities of the Internet's future are you most excited about? Why? What possibilities are most troubling? Why?

The Internet’s future has been drastically changing ever since it was first created. The most exciting new invention within the Internet is the usage of webcams and video chatting. I have a Skype account and use it often. I am able to physically see my friends that attend different universities in the state, country, and even over in other countries. I find that to be so neat! It’s just like sitting next to the person having a chat. I think these possibilities continue to expand and progress. Some people can even see more than one person on their screen at one time. Something I find to be troubling about the new possibilities on the Internet include all the loopholes predators could use to find online victims. There are a lot of sick and troubled people out in the world and people, especially young adults and teens should not be naïve when dealing with people online. If you do not know someone personally, your best bet is to not try and get to know them online. It could be anyone and you never know what their motive is when they are talking to you. It’s kind of creepy.

4. Do you think virtual communities are genuine communities? Why or why not?

When I think of the word community, I think of a group of people that you are close to because of where you live or the activities you are involved in. An online community may be good for those needing support for something, however I think virtual communities are not exactly as genuine as face-to-face communities could be. There is nothing like sitting in front of someone talking to them. A virtual community would be good for giving and sharing support or sharing information, but I would keep my guard up before giving out personal information to complete strangers you met online in your “virtual community”.

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