miss representation.

released so soon... can't wait to see this brilliance. reminds me why I love marketing and communications. the sexuality of the woman and the direct correlation with media. amazing.

Miss Representation 8 min. Trailer 8/23/11 from Miss Representation on Vimeo.

scare your kids straight.

In this disgraceful campaign for a martial arts school in Florida, Key Biscayne's Academy Of Martial Arts, they use 'gay panic' to 'scare' parents of young boys into karate lessons. reinforcing there masculinity and keeping them from being 'gay'.

The ad agency to thank for this 'public service' is Zubi. when you go to Zubi's site the first animation is a giant eraser hoping around a city with a banner over head saying 'erase stereotyping'.

Umm... what?!

Just when you think media and advertising are moving forward, heinous campaigns like this turn up.

source: huffington post

the n word.

These two articles outline the debate of the N word and it's uses in the media and in rap music. I find this debate fascinating and though I whole hearted do not agree with the use of the N word in ANY context- I myself am guilty of using slandering words that are offencive to women like slut, and much worse. Yet I find it empowering that I can use them. I would love to hear other's thoughts...

testimonials.

Blogs such as Texts from Last Night and F*ck My Life have been getting a lot of attention lately in popular culture. Another blog that is extremely popular is Post Secret. Unlike the previous mentioned blogs, Post Secret offers a more emotional appeal to a wider audience. Readers of the blog submit their ‘secrets’ via post cards, combining old and new generation’s forms of communication. The interconnectivity of the mediums, allows for both generations to connect with each other’s comfort zones in media communication.
A viral video hit is the series “Fifty People: One Question”, in which one question is asked to fifty people in a random location and they answer. Questions such as “If anything could happen by the end of the day, what would you wish to happen?”, “If you could wake up anywhere tomorrow, where would it be?”. Questions that on the surface seem so simple, but when answers start to flow, the emotional appeal is overwhelming. Maybe I am just a sucker for this kind of stuff but I love the power of such simple questions being able to really divulge into the human heart.


Image Source: Post Secret

name that tune.

TV theme songs are impossible to ignore when discussing television programming. Some theme songs are even more identifiable than the cast or plot of a show. A good theme song does not promise a shows success, however it can definitely help it. Good theme songs create awareness of a TV show and draw viewers to a show, especially when channel surfing. TV show theme songs have played an important part of blending programs into culture. Real World Producer, Jonathan Murray explains our love of TV theme songs, “A lot of generation Xers grew up knowing words to songs better than words to a poem in school. We’re trying to speak to them in their language, which is often music”. A great resource of old TV themes you can’t put your finger on, might be found at this site: http://www.televisiontunes.com/index.php. Some of my favourite TV theme songs include: Weeds, Big Love (old and new), True Blood, The Sopranos. Enjoy this lovely video of 22 different TV themes in seven minutes; it’s really well done and a pleasure to listen to if you are a TV sitcom fan.
Image Source: flickr- sugaroni

why blog?

Why blog, and what does it have to do with pop culture besides being trendy? On the surface, blog sites and twittering may seem very self absorbed and arrogant. There is a soapbox for every Geek, goth, frat boy and drama queen. Everyone has his or her chance to be heard. It appears to be quite egotistical to participate in any of these blogging forums, so why encourage it?
‘Blogs’ and ‘Blogging’ IS popular culture. The popularity of blogging is a result of it being so tangible. Anyone can be a participant and anyone can be a critic. The experts are no longer white collars behind desks, printing articles to make a buck. People blog about things they feel strongly about, for the simple reason of sharing their point. Things that are mentioned in more popular blogs therefore, become popular. If Perez Hilton deems something ‘hot’ it’s hot. If fashionation.com says something is trendy, designers are running to get their version of this trend on the racks. Instead of products and services telling you what is popular- you tell them.

This is an excellent article explaining the success of blogging and it’s effects on trendsetting and popular culture:

Dictionary:
(Source http://blog.urbandictionary.com/ a BLOG where everyone can be the author! Also note I had to carefully comb the definitions to find the one I found most appropriate…why? Because this is MY blog!)

Blog (blogging)- Once considered an 'online diary', has now become a new trendy word created for use on the internet to try and make something old and established look new and interesting and to make those who use the word seem relevant. What used to be called a forum where topics of the same subject or area of interest were discussed via posts are now called blogs. Those participating in these online discussions are referred to as bloggers and the act of doing so is called blogging. Check out these popular sites for examples: Twitter (twittering)- A form of chatline for social media "experts" to add thousands of random strangers and wank off to impress other social media "experts" by posting links to articles about the phenomenon of social media.
Perez Hilton & Fashionation.

Image Credit: http://www.chiangmainews.com/images/ecmn/data/050_soap_box3.jpg

Implicitly put.

with strong encouragement from my professor and inspirer of all things I love, I started blogging. realizing that I have far too many opinions and an interest beyond the surface of all things media related, this blog is now an extension of my past education in all things experienced and wondered. enjoy.