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.