Corporations

Today in class we talked about corporations that own several other businesses. Such as Disney, CBS Corporation, General Elective, and WB.

A lot of big named corporations own several other companies.

Disney owns Little Einstein, Magic Kingdom, Disney movies, and many more. While General Elective owns 99% of NBC, many TV stations, Universal Studio Parks in many countries, MSN, Universal pictures, GE Water, every filtration centre in the world, and others.

My group did has already researched cross media ownership, so I wasn't too surprised about this. we did our project on Viacom.

But, the one thing that really surprised me was that The Ontario Teachers Pension Fund owns The Toronto Maple Leafs. I am a huge Leafs fan, and this really surprised me. Who knew that my elementary and high school teachers owned The Leafs?

Thoughts.......

So....I don't have class today because my Mass Communication class was cancelled for the week. Mark thought it would be good for us to have a day off to catch up on any readings and assignments. And, well, I'm just so happy that I don't have any class today! Not, that I don't like this class, because I do, but everyone likes an extra day off.
This class is about half way done now, and it's going pretty well. Lately, I have been really stressing about our big semiotic paper, which is do in a couple of weeks. I have chosen to write my paper on the portrayal of women. I know a lot of people write about this topic so, to make it my own I am going to relate it the show, Mary Tyler Moore. I know it's an older show (1970's) but, the portrayal of the skinny, pretty women compared to the average women is really noticeable. My mom really likes this show, so she has a few of the seasons and I am addicted to it now. There's just something about the show that I really enjoy.
The group tasks are another thing that I am trying to work on. There's just so little time and so much to do. Sometimes I worry about whether I am going to get everything done on time. But, I know will because I work well under pressure and deadlines.
I still can't believe how much freedom we are getting in this class. It still scares me a bit. Like seriously what is up with the, "As short as possible and as long as necessary?" What kind of help is that?? I know, I know...We're supposed to figure out on our own how long we think it should be. But, this paper coming up, is worth a lot and I have no clue how long to make it.

Film/Video Production

For our film/video production my group decided to make a documentary about how students are coping with school and living in residents. It was a fun documentary and we got useful information out of it. We went around interviewing Guelph-Humber students to get their opinions on life as an university student and some of the Humber residences about their transitions. YouTube was being uncooperative with getting our video up so we don't have a copy.But here are some quotes from our video...

"It used to be a ten-fifteen minute drive to get anything and now I just walk downstairs [for food]."-- Tom Bender, first year.

"It [the freedom] doesn't get boring, but the novelty of getting whatever you want, whenever you want wears off, because you feel the direct effect of every decision you make and you end up having to be responsible." -- Ashley Shawongonabe, second year

"It's kind of weird, because I don't have to let anyone know where I'm going. But it's kind of awesome at the same time. I thought I was going to do a lot more with my freedom, but I kind of stuck to the original way I was raised. Honestly, it's really tempting to skip class because nobody is checking up on you. That's the biggest change."-- Julie Franklin, first year

We all came up with ideas for our film, but we thought this would be the most beneficial. It allowed us to see how others were coping and we had fun playing with different angles. Nikki did the filming, and Jen and I took turns interviewing people. Then we all took turns editing it, using iMovie.

From making this video I learned what is involved in making a film. As well, I learned how people are feeling towards school and resident life.

Semiotics/Meaning

Today in class we discussed semiotics and meaning. There are 2 parts that make up signs; 1) signifer, 2) signified. The signifer is the thing that is real and the signified are the mental concepts. For example, in class last week we watched a Gap commercial with Madonna and Missy Eliot. We discussed how Madonna was made to be on top and better then Missy Elliot. And in one shot Madonna was wearing a chain on the left side of her pants, which gives the meaning that she is more dominant. It just exists that Madonna had a chain on the left side but we put a concept to it that the left side is more dominant then the right side. And by her wearing it on the left is creating the affect that she is more important. The signification of everything is the meaning. There are 3 levels of meaning. 1) denotation, 2) connotation, and 3) ideology. They all are different ways people think. We went on to discuss the meaning of reading and the different types of reading. This class was very informative and helped me to better understand semiotics.

Jason Blake In My Prayers

I am a member of the AM640 insider and yesterday afternoon I received a breaking news email from them. I clicked on the email and the headline was, Breaking News: Leafs' Jason Blake diagnosed with Leukemia‏. As soon as I read that headline my heart started to pound. I was so scared, was Jason Blake (the newly acquired Leaf) going to die? I read the whole article and although it said how he was fine and that he is getting treatment, I still didn't feel good. For those of you who don't know I am a huge Leafs fan. I love all the Leafs dearly and I cheer them on through the good and the bad. When ever something happens, good or bad, I always have a reaction to it. Jason Blake is an outstanding player and I was thrilled this summer when he signed with the Leafs. He had his best season last year with the New York Islanders and I was, still am, excited to have him in Toronto. So, now you should understand why this news meant so much to me. The Leafs are like family I don't know. I spend so much time watching them, listening to them, and reading about them that it is like I know them. Whenever I'm stressed or upset I always look forward to watching a Leafs game because for two and a half I can forget about my real life and just focus on the game. I don't know what I'd do with the Leafs and hockey. Jason Blake will be in my heart and prayers and I sincerely hope he will have a full recovery.

The Advantages and Limitations of a Focus on Audience in Media Studies

I just finished reading The Advantages and Limitations of a Focus on Audience in Media Studies, by Philip J. Hanes. This essay explains the relation of the media and the audience and how some people respond to a specific show, article, or radio program. The media effects everyone in both positive and negative ways. Violence and crime in the media create a more violent world because people copy what they see on TV. A news story may emotionally touch someone due to personal experience. Certain shows do better than others because the audience can relate to it or they find it entertaining. The audience, technically, is in control of the media. The media is going to put out things that the public is going to like. If the public doesn't like it, then it won't get watched, read, or listened to and the companies will lose money. The companies want money and so they will give the public what they want.

Here's the link to the web page.
http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/pph9701.html

Semiotics For Beginners

If you want to know what semiotics means and what they are, then you should definitely read Semiotics For Beginners, by Daniel Chandler. In this web page he explains semiotics as a form of encoding and decoding. He mentions several theorists and their models, such as Whilst Saussure's model of oral communication, Shannon and Weaver's model of communication, Roman Jakobson's proposed model of interpersonal verbal communication, and Stuart Hall"s model of mass communication. He explains in detail what each of the models were and gives a thorough explanation of semiotics. If semiotics are your thing, then this is a for sure read.

Here is the link to the web page.
http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/S4B/sem08c.html?

Ten Things Wrong With The Media Effects Model

I just finished reading Ten Things Wrong With The Media 'Effects' Model, by David Gauntlett. This article is a summary of what Gauntlett talked about in his book, Moving Experiences. It is about how the effects model research has taken the wrong approach to the mass media, its audiences, and society in general. He gives ten reasons why the Media effects research is flawed and doesn't work:

1. The effects model tackles social problems 'backwards'
2. The effects model treats children as inadequate
3. Assumptions within the effects model are characterised by barely-concealed conservative ideology
4. The effects model inadequately defines its own objects of study
5. The effects model is often based on artificial studies
6. The effects model is often based on studies with misapplied methodology
7. The effects model is selective in its criticisms of media depictions of violence
8. The effects model assumes superiority to the masses
9. The effects model makes no attempt to understand meanings of the media
10. The effects model is not grounded in theory

Poor Britney :(

Everyone has probably heard the big story of the week. Britney Spears has lost custody of her children and her ex-husband Kevin Federline will be taking care of them for the time being. I think this is so sad and I am totally upset about this. I know, Britney needs help and is unfit to care for her children but so is Kevin. There is no way that he should get them. They should go to a grandparent or an uncle or aunt, until one of them has proven that they are fully capable to care for their kids. So, I do fully understand why they have been taken away from Britney, but it still makes me so sad. I feel so sorry for her. She used to be on top of the world; one of the most popular and successful singers of the time. And now look where she is. She's a mess. A royal, nasty mess. And it is all because of her lifestyle. Hollywood has brought her down and gotten the worse of her. The drugs and alcohol have changed her completely and she is not herself right now. But I know, deep down inside Britney is a great person. I know she can get better and be on top of the world again. It's just a matter of, will she? I don't know if she will, but I seriously hope she does. I'm routing for you Britney! Get well soon! :)

Sources:

http://photos.exposay.com/Britney_Spears/britney_spears_0EsPk.jpg

Vote it's Important!!!

Today in class, Mark informed us on how important it is to vote in the upcoming provincial election. He went on to tell us that only a quarter of young people, between the ages of 18 and 24, actually vote and that it is essential that we do. The campaign this year is about school education and whether the government should fund religious schools.
My dad had already talked me into voting. He basically was saying the same things that Mark told us, that as an Ontario citizen I have the right and the responsibility to vote. And that it is important for me to have my say in what it happening in the government because it will effect me. My parents don't care who I vote for, they just want me to vote.
I think voting is important, and that everyone should vote. Everyone should have their say and be informed about the government and politics. The election effects everyone in Ontario. The one things that gets on my nerves is when people are to lazy to vote and then they go on and on about how they don't like whats happening and who's leading. Well, if they had voted then they could have made a difference. But, no, they had better things to do than vote. That is their fault and they have no right in criticizing and complaining because they did not vote.

Podcasting Our City

For our podcast we decided to do it on Nuit Blanche. For our script we focused on four sites, The Church of Redeemer, two sites at U of T St. George Campus,Osgoode Station, and described what we viewed and our reaction to them.
The first place we went to was The Church of Redeemer. We never expected a church to house art, but it was an ideal setting - a place of respect (for art and religion). And, besides, the church has its own place in art. The only complaint that I had here was it was too crowded. It was really noisy and people were pushing each other, and it really took away from the experience.
The next two sites were located at U of T St. George Campus. The first one was supposedly a UFO crash landing on the field, with smoke, lights, loud music, ‘police’ and emergency vehicles, and news reporters on the scene.The atmosphere was chaotic and it achieved the right affect. Here we entered a white tent and in it we found ET. The second one had metal beams set up, an extremely loud and frazzled mix of sounds, and blinding lights. The idea of this work was also chaotic, resembling our social world. It can also be thought of what a foreign creature or person would experience upon arrival in our city. Both of these works were quite bizarre and introduced us to a non-traditional world of art (installations and computer aids) - the current state of art.
The last site that we visited was around Osgoode Station. It was one of the most popular of the night. It was a giant screen projection set up that asked, “What will you do to stop climate change?” The public was able to text message their responses to appear onscreen. Some people had good answers, while the majority of messages were jokes and love messages. Clearly, people were immature about it, but nonetheless, it attracted a lot of attention.
For the collaborative process, we all participated in the event and on the subway ride we discussed what we saw and we thought of it. Jen wrote down notes of our discussion and our ideas and put it into a script. Then Nikki and I went over it and added what was missing.
From this assignment I learned a lot about different forms of art. I really likes the bizarre, non-traditional art at the U of T St. George Campus. It was something I had never seen before and it
it was just so cool. This was a great experience and encourage everyone to got the next time it comes to your city.
Our intention for this assignment was to experience the world of art. We all have an interest in art and we thought it would be a good idea, and a great way to broaden our world, if we attended Nuit Blanche. It was a lot of fun and I am glad we went.