Globalization & Glocalization

Globalization refers to different people and cultures around the world and ways they communicate. One way that globalization occurs is through "glocalization", which is something that is popular in one place and then ends up being popular and "adopted" somewhere else, like music, TV shows, or movies. One example could be the texas-country music group, the Randy Rogers Band. At first the band only played in local areas in Texas such as San Marcos, New Braunfels, and small town festivals in south Texas. Because of glocalization, they are now played on major radio stations, featured on Country Music television and other country TV stations, and famous across the country and continue to become more popular everyday with the support of their fans and the fans spreading their music through communication.

picture from: blogs.pitch.com

Advertising

Axe men products are one of the most influential brands when it comes to advertising, especially in the department of commercials. All Axe commercials have a central theme of guys using their products and getting lots of attention from beautiful, sexy women as a result. One commercial imparticular is the one referring to the "chocolate" fragrance axe. It shows a guy spraying himself with the chocolate scented spray and turning into a man made out of chocolate. It then shows him leaving his apartment, going to the movies, and wandering around the city. Everywhere he goes women are all over him, flocking after him trying to "eat him  up", and doing anything possible to get their hands or even mouth on him. This situation always occurs in these commercials: a guy uses an Axe product, and gets attention from hot,sexy girls in a provocative way. Showing this makes Axe appealing to young men, making them want to buy and use the products to get girls while also making it appealing to girls as well by making them think or want the men they want or are attracted to use Axe.

Three Act Structure

I think a perfect, recent example of Hollywood's three act structure is The Hangover.

     In the first act, the story is introduced. A group of four guys are going on a trip to Vegas for one of the guys (Doug's) bachelor party. All of the characters are introduced and the first act documents their journey to Vegas and what they do when they first arrive, which could be considered the semi-climax. However, they wake up to find Doug missing and no idea or recollection of what happened the night before, and the viewers have no idea as well.

     The second act is mainly the search for Doug. The gang, minus Doug of course, try to do some research and re-trace steps they took the night before. This is the longest part of the movie and basically hte most important. They learn one of the characters, Stu, got married and one of the other characters, Alan, apparently has a chinese man's bag that supposedly had $80,000 in it that he is now violently trying to get it back from the guys and holding "Doug" captive. Surprisingly, they get the money, but the wrong Doug, which is a major part in the second act. So they continue their search, but are running out of time to find and get Doug back in time to get married.

     The third act is finally realizing where the right Doug is and finding him. The huge climax of the movie is when they find him and then the rush of getting everyone to the wedding when no one had any idea what was going on.

 Pictures from:

selectspecs.com

aceshowbiz.com

bye-bye-bicycle.blogspot.com

new-releases-movie.blogspot.com

Blog Post 7-Episodic Sitcoms

There are three types of TV Sitcoms: serial, series, and episodic. Episodic sitcoms usually have a lesson of some sort and minimal character arc. They are usually predictable and viewers know the typical plot of the show. In episodic sitcoms, each episode is different. Something major or little can happen in one episode and then never be mentioned again in the whole season or entire show. Lecturer Colin Tain described this as "limited sitcom memory".

Episodic sitcoms are more popular within the comedic genre. Golden Girls would be an example of an episodic sitcom. Each episode has a new story and lesson that a particular woman in the group learns. In each episode, the four women (Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia) each go through something that teaches the individual, as well as the group, a lesson in life. Even though the issues are dramatic, the characters bring an excellent form of comedy to the show. For example, Blanche is made out to be the "promiscuous" one in the group, Rose is the "dumb" one, Sophia is the old, "wise" one, and Dorothy is the more serious, literal one. Each of these women deal with issues such as work and dating, and each of them bring lots of comic relief to each others' different situations each episode.

Picture from: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://parkersimsinteriors.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/golden-girls-tv-show-071.jpg&imgrefurl=http://parkersimsinteriors.com/blog/2009/07/01/cheers-to-the-golden-girls/&usg=__BQYbB7GO5za5pGZiS6MB17E4noA=&h=297&w=445&sz=50&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=PFj3cj2FbemaRM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=216&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgolden%2Bgirls%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7SKPT_en%26biw%3D1516%26bih%3D634%26tbs%3Disch:1%26prmd%3Divnb&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=125&ei=ubzFTPPBIoK88gan_OGIBQ&oei=ubzFTPPBIoK88gan_OGIBQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:14,s:0&tx=106&ty=98

6th Blog Post-Long, Medium, and Close Up Shots

Long Shot-

This far away scene introduces the characters, known as the "Plastics". Notice everyone in the hallway moving out of the way and looking at the characters because they are "the" girls of the school. This scene shows that they are the dominant group of the school.

Medium Shot-

This medium shot shows more of the relationship between the main characters. In this scene, the characters on the right (Gretchen & Karen), are expressing their confusion of Cady's Halloween costume choice. You can see all of the characters and get a better look at their expressions, rather than you would in a long shot.

Close-Up Shot-

This close-up shot is of one of the other main characters, Regina. In this scene she is "supposedly"talking to the boy Cady likes, when really she is flirting with him for herself. The close-up scene is meant to show a more in-depth look at the characters and their emotions, as in this one Regina George is trying to be somewhat seductive.












**Images from Google**

Post 5-Studios & Stars

The old Hollywood Studio system was set up to where the whole movie-making process was in one place. This made it very convenient for everyone involved from the directors, to producers, and to the cast and crews. One important factor of the Studio System was the star system. This was the system that had certain actors always reperesenting the same studio. The actors/actresses who did this were usually "discovered" by the studio they represented and tended to asssociate with a specific genre. An example would be Humphrey Bogart. He was always depicted as the handsome,detective/war hero who always saved the day and lived up to this role most of his career. Eventually people began to watch movies just because he was in them which is what the star system inteded for, which is to have a certain famous actor/actress give them publicity and make their studio look well represented.

4th Blog Post-"All In The Family"

The sitcom "All in The Family" is both similar and different than a contemporary family-based TV situation comedy. They are alike in the fact that they are a close family but have conflict throughout the show, just like every other show as well in real-life. They also share the common set up of a family with a working father who likes to spend time with the guys and drink, and a mother who stays home and takes care of the family. A difference is that the issues in "All in The Family", such as the ones faced in the episode we saw, aren't really faced in today's shows. You might see them in some, but the degree which it is brought out is not the same. Back when this epsiode was aired, it was probably viewed as being a little to vulgar about the situation because homosexuality was most likely not talked about openly like it is now and more accepted these days. The different issues between "All in the Family" and a show would be things such as dealing with homosexuality, disagreements between parents and their kids, and accepting others as they are which was one of the main points of the "All in The Family" episode we watched.

3rd RTF Blog Post-Radio & Audience Demand

     There are many factors and forces that influenced the progression of the radio industry, but the most influential is audience demand. Audience demand is so important because it was and is ultimately essential for the formation and survival of radio, even though the demand for it has gone down over the years. The media and radio cannot survive if they have no one to listen to them. When audiences listen to the radio, they show the creators and producers of the media/radio what they want or don't want and what they like or don't like and the radio has to adapt to what listeners want.
    
     In the 1920s, radio was the main source of entertainment. It was where the people got their news, music, and other varieties of radio shows. Once radio entertainment was up and running for a while, people began to realize what they liked about radio and what they wanted from it. It was of course a sense of entertainment, but could also bring families together to listen to the news or their favorite show as a family. But when television was created and began to sweep the nation in the 60s, radio seemed to somewhat fizzle out in the news and variety show department, bringing radio's focus to mainly music with some news. Since TV was created, the main function of radio and reason people listen has been for music. Now most people only listen to radio for the purpose of music, if they even still listen. Many people use the internet as their source of music such as iTunes or other legal music download sites, and then listen to their iPods or MP3s in their car. But most people listen to the radio solely for music and it is rarely heard or listened to anywhere else but the car. So even though audience demand is highly important for radio to survive, the demand for it has dropped dramatically because of new advances in technology.

2nd RTF Blog Post-Social Learning

In lecture on the 13th, Professor Straubhaar discussed understanding media's effects onindividuals with both strong and limited affects. A theory of strong effect is social learning which was defined as "users modeling or imitating attitudes or behavior observed in the media". Examples of social learning are teen pregnancy becoming "normal", the idea that all men have to be tough 24/7, or in this case, the media portraying women as all being thin and fit as if it is required to be considered beautiful. In today's society the media portrays models and actresses as being thin and fit, leaving almost every girl in America thinking they have to be like that as well. Every famous actress or model is typically around one hundred to one hundred and twenty pounds and they are always being exposed in the media for their bodies and fashions, almost more than they are for their talent. Photos of them are usually from premieres where they are decked out from head to toe in the lastest fashions, paprazzi pictures, or from attending celebrity/charity events. When a typical girl sees this, an instant thought of "I want to look just like that" is running through their head. The media puts these women out for us to see, but they don't realize it kills most girls self esteem because they automatically wish to be fit and thin just like the women they see in the public eye. Even not-so-thin celebrity women are now starting to make headlines from losing a substantial amount of weight, which might inspire some girls who want to lose weight but might bring down other girls also. Many times the way these women are shown in the spotlight causes girls to act or start to want to look or even become exactly like these starlets. However, it can be negative though due to girls becoming harmful to themselves by becoming anorexic or bulimic because of how fast it seems these celebrities lose this weight.   Video discussing Jessica Simpson's weight gain:                                                                    
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/celebrity-body-image-picture-perfect/60olmz8

Photos from Google

1st Blog Assignment

     Hegemony is displayed through all types of media and influences readers and/or listeners by what is being filtered to them. I am choosing to focus on Obama's Healthcare Reform and the people in all social classes opinions and influences on this issue.
     Hegemony is defined as a "leadership or predominant influence by one group". The leading news networks used this stragegy to receive the public's attention by spreading ideas and reactions to Obama's idea of a new healthcare reform system. Intentionally this new system would benefit the lower and some middle class citizens of America, rather than the upper class.
     Most middle class and all upper class citizens were, and still are, against this idea because it would make their health care costs rise, while benefitting the "not-so-privileged" people of this country. The people formed their ideas and opinions by watching the news about this issue and were influenced by what information the news anchors and thier featured guests provided to the viewers, knowing they had prodominance in the discussion or subject of the matter. Watching and anazlyzing what these anchors,politicians, and other important individuals discuss in the media helps people understand just how strong their opinions and influences are swayed by listening to what these publicized people are saying.

Here's a link.

First RTF Blog Post

                                                                   Hello :)

My name is Leah King and I'm from Luling, Texas. It's a small town of nearly 6,000 people about 45 miles south of Austin known for its barbeque and watermelons. UT is amazing and I love it! The reason I am taking this class is because it was the reason I selected my FIG. I originally wanted to be an RTF major, but changed my mind and I am a PR major. So I figured I could get my fix of an idea of what the introduction to RTF and media studies would be like. I also can receive credit towards my major by taking a class within the communications department, but outside of my major. So I actually get benefits on a personal level as well as and educational level. From taking this course I hope to get a better understanding of the past, present, as well the future of media. I'm very interested in the study of media and the effect and influence that it has on society as a whole. I also hope to learn the impact my generation has had or the one it will have on the world using the media and how to develop a better understanding why the world reacts to the use of media and why it reacts the way it does.

Happy Blogging,

Leah :)