FINAL! Miliatainment inc.

The cost of war should not be determined by dollar signs. it costs us much more than that.

THESIS:

Militainment is War packaged for pleasurable consumption/entertainment.

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The BRAIN:

in all three and the whole video you are asked and called upon to use all three parts of your brain.

Reptilian:

you have a sens of fear, when you see the war scenes and your blood starts to rush if you want it to or not, it is just part of your fight or flight reactions.of course you are not going to jump out of your seat and run, with the processes is going though your brain without you knowing it.

Limbic:

pictures and music. "moving pictures" you are interpreting the movie through your limbic brain. the music is also going straight to your limbic brain. music is always a must in any movie or video, it sets the tone, mood, gives you the perfect setting music is a must. the difference between a good movie or video can easily be pin pointed to the music, and of course the quality of the content. both of these musts are connected to your limbic brain. so use that thing! and use it properly.

Neocortex:

this part of your brain is also being used, not only to read text but to simply be able to understand and comprehend the material. this is not a light topic so a well developed neocortex is a nice thing to have. information and text.

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REALITY

"a boiling point is reached when the ability t wage war coincides with the ability to write a movie about it"- George Gerbner

Jessica Lynch. "saving Jessica Lynch"

"to achieve realism" this allows us as American's to look at the war as just another movie that is fabricated by the media. we soon forget that real humans and people are being killed every minute, even while we are watching a perfectly manufactured war movies.

even the toppleing of the Saddam statue was planned by the U.S. troops.

war seems to look short, abstract , and artistically beautiful. when bombs are shown lighting up the sky people seem to forget that those bombs are falling on people down bellow.

"the clean War"- forget big lie how about Huge lie.

this clip again supports the thesis; the T.V. war. the war becomes entertainment. : a war without victims or bodies.

controlling the war media. "Vietnam Syndrome"

DE-humanize destruction; the clean war uses the view from above,

Diversion! Big LIE! PERCUSSION! and plenty of scapegoating.

soft targets, surgical destruction, assets.

the bottom line is: bombs fall people die. we can not forget that! there is no such thing as a clean war that is impossible and just absurd for that to be used as a way to describe the state of any war.

REALITY

Making it personal, why do we care about the drugs they are using and the alcohol they are drinking out their sex lives.

This has nothing to do with the war and what is going on. Yes it is an insight to some ones character but why is that making head lines? why are we not being told what is happening to the people? this can be seen as a form of :

diversion straw man and card stacking

Riches to rags is another way that it is being made personal.

Value message

also when the video says that they had also found pictures of the presidents daughters,

Maybe was used; language such as might or could were used to add and even more evil feeling to it.

Saddam is no longer his name it is now Sodom:

this is no coincidence. it is a way to very artfully and stealthy way to get a message through to the public. as said in the video he now takes on biblical proportions.

along withto get this point across plenty of repetition is used. Name calling

Metaphors/symbols: animal metaphors are being made such as rats, spiders, vermin all shown in the media and political cartoons, this also a form of

propaganda. name calling is again being used in the propaganda.

reality t.v. was influenced bye war, turning the war into a game. profiles, road rules, war games, boot camp. they even have play by plays and commentary.

REALITY

US military ads, making the war seem like an extreme sport.

this also plays into Techno-Fetishism and obsession with technology. war is seen as playing an extreme video game.

"we don't need a metaphor for war, we have war" why are we trying to find a metaphor for war?

war has become "sexy"

war has just become a marketing ploy. war is a game! playing card collectibles giving weapons a character. they are no longer a tool to kill but they mean much more.

facts and statistics are being used in this clip,

humor is also used very well it is bring the complete absurdity of these toys to the public in a sarcastic manner.

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Epistemological Shift:

from the people being informed about war through news papers we are now informed right to our television and computer screens.

Personal Shifts:

i am doing it right now, blogging about a very important topic that every one should be informed about and i am placing my own personal spin on it.

CONVERGENCE

Political Shift, Economic shift, Cultural shift these are very closely related in terms of delivering war news to the public.

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REALITY :

Media construct our culture and involve trade-offs. Consuming media always involves choices that enhance or degrade our lives.

Ask yourself what are your trade offs and are they worth it?

Militainment is War packaged for pleasurable consumption/entertainment.

Due to this sort of thing we forget why a war is happening and that there are real people there being killed. we are just see war as another form of entertainment.

i would just like to say again that:

The cost of war should not be determined by dollar signs. it costs us much more than that.

"Freedom is not Free" lets not forget to pray for those soldiers, brothers, sisters, husband wifes, friends, and family members fighting for something real, it is not just entertainment it is very real.

reflection Keeping It Green :D

Mullet Productions!


this assignment was a lot of fun. we had a totally different idea at first but the weather took a serious tole on us.

we used a serious of techniques not necessarily on purpose but none the less they still worked they way we wanted them to.

the most obvious one is plain folk, another would be facts and statistics. we also tried to use a fair amount of humor, but in out case i would have to call it sarcasm, because well sarcasm is one of the easiest form of humor. we also added some humor by accident when something goes wrong you just need to improvise, and that is how we got my amazing voice over (which added a a nice touch i might add) it also brings you back into the video because you do not expect that at all.

we also tried to use different camera angles, and shots. we wanted the video to have a good flow and movement to it. we did this to keep the viewers attention the humor i hope also did that.

this was a fun experience and it was not very time consuming and it was not hard to want to put time into it. it turned out well and got the points across. it was fun, informative, and enjoyable

Now don't forget to keep the world in mind, Sustain Champlain!

Media Meditation #5

how on Earth can we spend so much money on military?! we don't even have any money left. we are literally in debt.
the video uses facts, statistics, and common sense to its advantage. another factor that is used is fear and intimidation.

you are not asked to use your Limbic brain it is all about your Neocortex in this video.

there is a lot of ethos, logos, and pathos used.

"Reality, Reality, Reality" are the trade off worth it?

VALUE Message media contain ideological and value messages.

SYMBOLS: used left and right, the war torn dessert, huge green metal tanks, guns and weapons all over the place.

the wonders of media allow us to know what is going on in our country. we can turn the TV on and hear what is going on. or we can head over to our computers and look for what we want to know. the internet and computers have made the news much more interactive. this is called the web 2.0 we are now interacting with our news.

along with being able to go on to you tube and just pull up some video about how much money the military is over spending, we can just as easily talk to other individuals in a different country.

in my core class i participated in Global Modules. i was able to talk to students from Jordan. we had conversations about politics and how politics are intertwined with the economy. we also talked about poverty in each of our countries.

this was possible because of web convergence.

the world is now flat all thanks to the internet and endless opportunities to communicate with others half way around the world.

due to this we are able to make connections with any one that we feel the need to connect to.

the media and the web bringing the news directly to you, and if you don't get it when you want it you can go looking for it and find it 2.0 zero seconds.

heh,heh; get it 2.0? web 2.0 :)

HOLY FREAKING CRAP Media Meditaion #4

Via: Online Schools

i just want you to read over this before i start blogging about it, this is just mind blowing.

BE PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN. is all i can say right now.

Media Meditation #3 SHIFTS

Hudson valley Community College

Over my spring break!:

I spent most of my time in NY with my friend Tana. I was a lot of fun! but i also had to attend some of her classes, because well it was getting boring watching Desperate house wives for hours on end (although i do have to admit it is one of my guilty pleasures). She had to finish her classes before we could go to the City of course.

Well while i was in one of her classes, which are crazy short, the professor had planed to watch a video. But that video wouldn't work... And i guess this had happened in his last class so one of his students signed on to their NetFlix account and they watched the movie that way. but that was not the case in our class. His DVD once again failed to work....So after maybe 10 min of the professor opening and closing the DVD trap..he finally went to the trusty ol' You Tube! and once that was found the desktop computer decided not to work..sooo then a student broke out their lap top and hooked it up to the projector, and FINALLY we were able to watch all of 15min of the video that he wanted to show his class.

i bring this up because this is the most perfect example of all of the technological shifts all working together and bringing media right to our finger tips.

this video went from being on VHS to a DVD then it was then put on to You Tube, the doors of communication are wide open.

although one might not work there are millions of other mediums to choose from.

(i even think one of the kids tried to email the teacher the link from his Smart Phone).

the possibilities are endless.

Spring 201/MidTerm Examination

I Finally got a hold of a computer!

1. After studying media for eight weeks in this class, what have you learned?

I have learned that I have strengthened my media tools. i am more analytical towards media and keepings my eyes peeled for all the techniques that are being used on me

2. What is the most important thing you have learned about yourself as a 1. A critical reader; 2. a writer, and 3. a critical thinker in this class so far?

I am a very critical reader and thinker my skill have been strengthened. I have always enjoyed looking at things critically and not taking much for face value. This class so far has helped me to see that it is a very good thing to look at media the way I always have. As a writer I enjoy it very much and I love to express my opinion.

3. What is one thing that you would do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?

This blog is a perfect example as to why I need to do the blogs the day they are assigned! I do not have a computer and over breaks I do not go home so I need to library to do the blogs. So I should have taken my own advice and done this right after the MidTerm!

4. What is one thing you would like me (Williams) to do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take the class again?

More short films or clips. I really loved analyzing films and looking into what is really being presented. More class discussions! I love class discussions every class should have great discussions.

5. The usefulness of the course blog, your personal blog, our films, and our book(s) as learning tools.

The personal blog is a lot of fun, it is fun to get out there and start expressing my opinion freely but in a scholastic manner. The book was very helpful and accurate. I love the films they open your eyes to things you knew before but never really thought about. I loved the Persuaders and Real Bad Arabs.


come back and check out my media Meditation, it will be aboout my trip to NY and a day at a community college.

media meditation #2

Shutter Island

Parts of this film were shot in the town i went to high school in.
pritty cool hu?



I watched this trailer without the sound so that I wouldn’t be so distracted and I could pay more attention to the frames and production techniques.

Before I get into the trailer itself I am going to cover the

SHIFTS:

Epistemological:

This trailer has been seen on every television screen possibly in America, and even other countries.

Technological:

I have seen this trailer more on YouTube than I have on the television, I have also seen plenty of ads on websites for Shutter Island to last me a life time.

Personal:

Everyone is always talking about what movies are out there. All over Face book are groups and fan pages for movies. And everyone expresses their opinion on whether or not they like that particular movie.

So while I was doing this I was using my limbic brain and in some parts of the trailer my reptilian brain took over because of the frightening shots. But I have found that things are less frightening without the sound. Sound is a huge sensory part of your brain.

Well while I was watching this trailer without the sound I noticed all the different frames.
It starts of with just a few shots and it fades out, it doesn’t seem as if they are talking any ways.

This leads us into

PRINCIPLES OF MEDIA EDUCATION:

“Reality” Construction/Trade-offs:

Should I watch this? Is this too scary? Does this look dumb? Will this be any good? Is this a movie worth my time and money? Those are all questions that will be running through someone’s head if not during but once the trailer is over.

What is happening is the producers are try to not make you think of any of those things they just want to grab your attention and make you want to go watch that movie.

Production techniques:

As I was explaining above; the fames how each of those frames fade out. The lighting is very dim and ominous you feel as if something is going to jump out from every corner. The colors are dark. And I did not watch it with sound so I did not get those extra chills. But I later did watch it again with sound once I had seen everything. The experience was much more intense it is very quiet and gets loud to heighten you senses.

Individual meaning:

My individual meaning was that parts of this film were filmed in Taunton MA that is where I lived the last three years and where I went to high school for three years it was kind of cool to know that as I was watching the trailer.

Now we have out Persuasive Techniques:
Fear:

People LOVE to be scared out of their minds. It is a thrill that does not happen in everyday life. It’s an odd thought that we enjoy getting scared but we do there is a rush and out reptilian brain kicks in making it feel real.

Beautiful people:

In this case I do not know if I would call it beautiful people but more recognizable actors who we feel have credibility.

Group Dynamic:

That group dynamic does not come from the trailer but more the feeling that every one else’s going to see it and you will be out of the loop and won’t be in on the conversation on Monday afternoon.

Timing:

Persuading through the orchestrating of various story elements or production techniques to enhance media’s meaning and power. This is what this trailer was all about. It scares you and even throws in a hint of sadness or a feeling of lost love.

Well that is all I can write about the trailer. I will try and watch this movie over spring break and have a blog all about the whole movie itself.

-Larissa J.

Media Meditation #1

A CLASH OF THE TITANS!


Lets start with a Super Bowl Ad




This Super bowl ad reaches into your Limbic brain like crazy. The whole ad is being sung and a recognizable tune. There are no conversations going on and no reading involved you are just sitting back and watching to pictures go by; and those pictures are saying a lot.

The “thesis” of this ad is you are now all grown up and a real man now you don’t need to hide behind tough body wash you are comfortable with yourself why not treat yourself to the best. I really like this ad I also think that is affective in the sense that you see the man in the ad growing up and becoming that man who is comfortable with himself to use a dove.

Dove took a great approach to getting their product out there and they positioned it in a great way. This is not for that man that needs his soap to tell him that he is macho, he know he is a man he has children and opened pickle jars to prove it.

THE SHIFTS:

Epistemological:
From word to IMAGE. This ad was aired during the Super Bowl and millions watched it right on their TV screens.

Technological:
from analog to DIGITAL. Everything is digital, the game and commercials were watched online.

Personal:
from mass to PERSONAL/PARTICIPATORY. The commercials were talked about on Facebook hardly even a day after. There are Facebook pages for some of the commercials.

THE PRINCIPLES:

Pacing:
this commercial had no breaks it was like one entertaining run on sentence. It was frame after frame after frame. It work well for what the commercial was going for; life moves fast and then you reach a calm where everything comes together and that is when men are now able to use Dove with confidence.

Production Techniques:
the shape of the new product, the colors of the new product, but the font and lettering was kept the same to keep it a “revamped” Dove product.

PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES:

Symbols:
“The American Dream” work get married have children become established then use Dove because you are a real man.

Flattery:
“You are a real man now”

Humor:
it was one big humors advertisement. It starts off with the man’s birth and goes through all the ups and downs that he also went through. It picks out all the funny parts and even the parts that might stink like cutting the grass and makes them light hearted and humorous.

Plain Folk:
this commercial is about the everyday mature man. No one famous or special, because dove is all about the everyday man not the stars they are “The peoples soap”.

Nostalgia:
the target audience can all relate to opening the pickle jars, playing with the kids, doing the yard work.

Warm Fuzzies:
the wedding, the children, and just having a fulfilling life to the point where Dove is now your soap and treating you right.




Now comes a new commercial put out by Gillete




This ad is all Limbic, there are no words until the very end simply saying the tag line.


THE SHIFTS:

Epistemological:
From word to IMAGE.i saw this a few weeks after the Dove commercial was aired. right on my TV screeen.

Technological:
from analog to DIGITAL. Everything is digital, the game and commercials were watched online. From the TV right to YouTube.


THE PRINCIPLES:
Production Techniques: there is only one frame no movement. You are forced to only focus on the object falling as the man is getting clean. There are also two body washes and one is knocked over by the objects or smells that the Gillette body wash is washing off. The background is grey and “manly looking” and so is the packaging.

PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES: '

Symbols:
every single thing that falls has a manly association. The Football, watering hose, nuts and bolts, grass, shovel, tools, and the Lobster Trap; the lobster trap made me think a little that isn’t very every day I don’t think.


Flattery:
“you are a man, and you do dirty manly things. You need to get a real manly clean.”

Humor:
all of the odors are falling objects so it is very straight forward and you can paint a picture of what he has been doing.

Plain Folk:
this is an ad for the very day man doing every day things and “Just being a MAN”


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The two ads are for exactly the same product.

And they both took were different approaches to selling them for obvious reasons.

Gillette is a man’s man brand and dove is just now starting to reaching out the male audiences. But you can see that Gillette is trying to keep its audience and buyers because there is a body wash in the bottom left corner of the screen with a butterfly and what I think of and I’m sure everyone else thinks of is Dove.
So it is like Gillette is saying that Dove cannot stand up to a real mans odors.

But then again I feel like the target audience is slightly different for the two challenging soaps.

For Gillette I see their target market to be UN married men who are still a man’s man working on their lawn and doing man stuff still playing games with the boys not the kids. He is doing his own shopping and wants to stay true to his manly self.

While Dove is for that married man who no longer has to shop for his own soap, who is still doing man stuff but is also smelling good for his little lady at home. His wife is a Dove fan and sees that there is now a Dove product out there for her husband and he is man enough to use it.

When I saw the Gillette commercial all I thought about was the Dove commercial, and it looks as is Gillette is trying to gain its footing back in the men’s hygiene department.

It’s almost like a clash of the Titans!

State of the Union: You ARE Washington

TRIUNE BRAIN:

Obama is trying to appeal to our Neocortex, we areasked to pay close attention to his speech, and to understand what is that he is saying, and plaing to enfoce.

EIGHT TRENDS:

TECHNOLOGICAL SHIFT

I did not even pass a glancing eye to his speech on T.V. or the radio i only saw it on the internet. This State of the Union address has been given by every president was once only herd over the radio now there are so many mediums that it is able to reach.

PERSONAL SHIFT:

I am doing it RIGHT NOW! Blogging about the State of the union is a personal shift. This was talked about I'm sure on Facebook, MySpace, and twitter.

SEVEN PRINCIPLES:

"Reality" Construction/Trade-off :

How real is this? Will anything the he wants to accomplish be accomplished?
we need to keep a filtered and open ear to what it is that he is saying. we can not believe everything that is being told to us.
As said in the film "The Persuaders" advertising MUST tell you the tuth about the product how it works and what it does. But when it comes to polotics it is a whole other ball game, you never know what the REAL truth is.

Value Messages :

This address is filled with values and ideals. you must be lead to believe that these are his values and ideals and we must also be persuades to believe that our president has those appropriate values to lead this country apprpriately.

Pacing :

There are at least three second pauses between statements. Allowing us to take it all in so that weare also able to process what is being said.

TECHNIQUES OF PERSUASION :

Symbols:

The Flag on the presidents lapel the vice president also has one. there is also a huge american flag hanging in the background these are never accidents or coincidences this all artfully placed to get you into a patriotic mind set.

Humor :

Obama tells light jokes here and there. This is not hysterical by any means but it does lighten up the mood and breaks the silence in some of the pauses or to reign the long applauses. it is also used when there is a touchy subject like waiting a year for bugeting to kick in.

Testimonial/Plain Folks :

He talks about the letters that he gets from the people and the letters he gets from children wondering when thier parents can go back to work. He talks about those who have sufferedfrom the sate of the low economy the most and how he wants to help them as much as he can. he is reaching out to the every day person telling them that he is there for them.

Repetition :

He states over and over why he is in the white house. what is that he wants to accomplish and how he is going to make it happen.

Group Dynamics :

He always replaces "I" with "We" and that he too is a part of this, wether he is or is not is another story. He is also sepperating himself from Washington and congress to appeal to the "American People".

THESIS :

He is presenting facts. His thesis is simplay that we as a country have been through this and thing before and made it through and we can and will do it again. We moved forward and now again today we must keep moving forward.

His facts to get us out of this storm :
he states that these struggles are nothing new.

His plan is tho help kids with college, retirement, debt, and lack of jobs. he is going to reward those men on main street and punisg the men on wall street when deserved.

The thing i Hated the most every time that he said it was that he kept referring to Washington as another entity or another apposing party when the truth is

HE IS WASHINGTON!

1st Blog Ever!

hey its larissa Jimenez!

i love my life and here is a super cool song that every one should listen to and enjoy for years to come