The Creation of Cultural Imperialism

Globalization is the process through which countries' economies, cultures, and socities become interconnected by trade and communication. Through the concept of globalization, some countries, such as United States, have become dominant global powers. One way in which the United States has shown dominance is by its cultural impact on other countries, what some would call cultural imperialism. 
An example of cultural imperialism is the Americanization of foreign television. Most countries with television access have access to American TV shows. You can even say it dominants program scheduling in some countries such as England. The channel E4 is one of the most popular television channels among British teens and young adults. If you look at their television schedule for Wednesday primetime, you will notice only 2 out of the 6 shows aired are British products, the rest are all imports from the U.S. E4 creates many of its own British shows, but chooses to air a U.S. dominant schedule. The United States has placed its own culture within another society's through its television imports. It could be one way to create a completely Westernized world.


http://www.e4.com/tv/week-commencing/2010/11/20/date/2010/11/24/hour/18/listings.e4

The iPod "It" Item

In Professor Straubhaar's November 1st lecture, he discussed the aspects of advertising and what is required for an advertisement to be effective in promoting a product. One advertisement that came to mind when I thought of successful promotions was Apple's iPod commercial. The commercial featured black silhouettes against a colored background dancing to the music playing from the distinctive white iPod. The ad was so persuasive because it was so aesthetically pleasing; it made viewers think that you had to have an iPod to be cool and have fun like the people in the commercial.


With the bright colors, the advertisement was very successful at grabbing the audiences' attention. The simplicity of the iPod commercial influences the viewer to want to learn more. The advertisement also appeals to a broad audience since the people featured in the commercials are mere silhouettes, eliminating any racial barriers. The aesthetics including the use of color and music, makes the i-Pod product the "it" item and a must-have for consumers. 

























"Jet iPod Commerical'". YouTube.com. 5 November 2005. RevolutionKing2. 7 November 2010 <www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWe7wTVbLUU>.

The Three Act Structure

In Professor Ramirez-Berg's lecture, he explained Hollywood's three act structure and how the climax is built up to at the end of a film. One film which follows this structure and provides a good example is Milos Forman's 1975 film, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
In the first act, we are introduced to the protagonist Randle Patrick McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) who is admitted to a mental institution for evaluation after serving time for statutory rape. With the use of rising action, McMurphy's goal is revealed. He sees the power Nurse Ratched has over the patients and wants to try to loosen her control. His attempt to end the monotony leads to the first plot point. The patients sneaking out of the hospital for a fishing trip leads McMurphy to be informed that he can be kept there indefinitely since he is not a voluntary patient. The plot point implies that there will be a bigger conflict arising and leads us into the second act.

In the second act, McMurphy continues to test the staff and starts receiving some punishment. While undergoing electroconvulsive therapy, McMurphy and Chief become closer as he realizes the Chief is not deaf nor mute. The story continues with more of McMurphy's antics with the hospital party being the point point leading to the third and final act.

With a night filled of drunken debauchery, things turn sour when one patient kills himself. This point turns into the climax of the film. After he finds out the patient is dead, McMurphy, out of anger, chokes Nurse Ratched and is taken away.With time it is revealed that McMurphy has been lobotomized. Chief, not wanting McMurphy to suffer, smothers him with a pillow. The story resolves with Chief carrying out McMurphy's escape plan. Even though the story doesn't have a typical Hollywood happy ending, it still embodies the classic three act structure.


One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Dir. Milos Forman. Film. Fantasy Films, 1975.


Photo Credits:
http://magiclanternfilm.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/cuckoos-nest.jpg

http://www.filmsnmovies.com/media/thumbs/1242233451.jpg

Resolving Conflicts

A situation comedy, otherwise known as a sitcom, is a genre of comedy that is based on every-day situations of a cast of recurring characters.  Sitcoms are episodic and story-lines usually do not carry over episodes. Episodes feature a conflict which causes distribution to the lives of the main characters. The episode's storyline focuses on solving the conflict or providing a revelation at the end of the episode. Most shows end by everything returning to normal, but some choose to have an arching storyline. Sitcoms are usually popular because viewers can tune in without having prior knowledge of the show or storyline.

An example of this could be the television show 30 Rock. Each week viewers witness a new problem to be solved on the set of TGS,  with each problem being resolved and rarely referenced in upcoming episodes. While the conflicts are resolved in each episode, guest stars provide story arches within seasons. For instance, the character Liz Lemon's relationship with Carol and the conflicts that arise are carried throughout the season. Although the show has minimal storyline arches, 30 Rock presents a different storyline and conflict with each episode.

Film Shots

In Professor Ramirez-Berg's lecture on Monday, he went over the three basic shots, the long shot, medium shot, and a close up. Berg went into detail how a shot conveys a certain message during the film. The following are examples of the shots and their intended meaning in the film Dirty Harry.


The Long Shot

The use of the long shot in this scene convey's the isolation of character. Inspector Harry Callahan is singled out since he is a dirty cop.  He doesn't associate with other police officers and is seen as a sort of a lone wolf. The scene of Callahan walking away from the crime exhibits his ability work alone when others fear him for his unconventional tactics.


The Medium Shot

The use of the medium shot in this scene displays the hostility between the two characters. At this point in the film, Scorpio had kidnapped a school bus filled with children and was threatening to not reveal where he was hiding the girl he kidnapped earlier. The shot emphasizes Inspector Callahan's aggression towards Scorpio by putting his gun and clenched fist in scene. The shot is also able to capture the emotion of both characters with both of their faces clear in shot, creating a clear hostile relationship.

The Close Up

With the close up, we are able to see the true emotions of the character. In this scene, Inspector Callahan is showing no mercy towards the Scorpio killer and is completely willing to shoot him. The view of the character's eyes exhibits his lack of fear and aggression. The angle also emphasizes his role as an authority figure as it is shot from below.

 Photo Credits:
http://www.fernbyfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/dirtyharry.jpg
http://images.starpulse.com/Photos/Previews/Dirty-Harry-movie-18.jpg
http://www.fernbyfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/clinteastwood.jpg

Classic Hollywood

Classical Hollywood is often associated with stars such as Humphrey Bogart, Carey Grant, and Katherine Hepburn, but rarely is it connected to the directors who created the iconic films. The Hollywood star system made the actors the main representation of a movie. Advertising for a film revolved around which actors were cast in the film. A set audience was expected to follow a specific studio because of the actors hired.

Just by listing a certain name, the audience could accurately predict which genre the film was. By contract, stars were linked to studios and branded as a certain character. If you saw the name Fred Astaire, you most certainly knew you would see him sing and/or dance. Hollywood studios became associated with the genres their actors appeared in. A star may have been popular enough for their name to appear in the title of the film, guaranteeing a large audience. If Fred Astaire and Judy Garland were with MGM, they would be making as many musicals as possible. Studios profited off of the star system, producing over fifty films a year and managing success even with a few flops.

Photo Credit

All in the Family vs. Contemporary Television

All in the Family's "Judging Books By Covers" episode deals with the judgement of homosexuals and the stereotypes that are common in modern culture. All in the Family dealt with issues far ahead of its time which today still causes controversy. The television show can be compared to contemporary family shows such as Modern Family. Both television shows deal with social issues such as the acceptance of gay people, while using different approaches.

Modern Family is more welcoming to the idea of a gay couple because in society it has become more acceptable. The show depicts how an unconventional family is becoming the "modern" family and the nuclear family is becoming more rare. Even though the main cast includes a gay couple, there is still some controversy over how they are portrayed. It took an entire season and a Facebook group to finally get the show to air a kiss between the two men. While on television gays are becoming more welcomed, there are still social issues over what is aired.

All in the Family takes a different approach to dealing with the issue of gays in society, using satire. Archie Bunker's intolerance is put on display for the audience to hopefully disagree with him and recognize the absurdity of Archie's stance. Archie is portrayed as bigoted and ignorant in the episode in attempts to dissolve stereotypes about homosexuals and tackle homophobia.

While the approaches to the subject are different on the two shows, both deal with the way gays are depicted. All in the Family tried to illustrate the idea that not all gay men are as flamboyant and feminine as they are made out to be, they are just as everyone else. Even though this idea was being spread on TV in the 1970s, gays on TV are still used as a form of comedy and not treated equally. Modern Family also attempts to show the world that stereotypes aren't always true, as one of the gay characters, Cameron, shows off his masculine and hangs out with straight men.

One issue dealt with in All the Family that is not seen as much today is the discrimination of homosexuals. Although it still exists, there are laws that prevent such discriminations as seen on All in the Family. You would not see someone who was suspected of being gay denied service at a bar on television. While All in the Family was revolutionary for its time, the idea of two men raising a child was never portrayed as it is today. Contemporary television shows illustrate the issue frequently, something that could not have happened in the 1970's.

Regulation of Radio

In the 1920's, radio ruled the media; it was the main medium for news and entertainment. With the invention of the popular device, stations were being formed at an alarming rate. Prior to government regulations, any station was able broadcast, which led to a overload of stations on frequencies. Government began to interfere with the Radio Act of 1912, enforcing licensing. Through regulation, government can enforce laws that change how we use a form of communication. Although the government initially did not have much control, through regulation it was able to shape the radio we listen to today.

The Radio Act of 1927 was formed to eliminate chaos on the airwaves as stations were interfering with the frequencies of others. The act gave the government power to regulate which stations were licensed to broadcast. The act also allowed the Federal Radio Commission to revoke licenses and fine those in violation of the act. Some saw the government regulation as a infringement upon the fifth amendment of the U.S. Constitution, preventing free speech in the media. Although censorship did not exist at the time, stations were not allowed to air "obscene, indecent, or profane language." FRC made sure stations operated for "public interest, convenience, and necessity." With regulation over radio, the government would influence the evolution of the device, ensuring the safety of listeners through censorship by the Federal Communications Commission(FCC).

Goodman, Mark. "The Radio Act of 1927 As a Product of Progressivism." Web. 24 September 2010. <http://www.scripps.ohiou.edu/mediahistory/mhmjour2-2.htm>.

Straubhaar, Joseph, Robert LaRose, and Lucinda Davenport. Media Now: Understanding Media, Culture, and Technology. 6th Edition. Wadsworth Publishing, 2009. 608. Print.

Social Learning

The Social Learning theory is the idea that audiences imitate what is seen through the media. The theory further explains "that viewers imitate what they see on TV through a process known as observational learning"(Media Now, 416). Since individuals can identify with characters in media, we are more likely to justify their behavior. By the justification of behavior, lack of consequences, and glamorization of characters on radio, television, and film viewers are more likely to imitate bad behavior.

The media's effect on individuals is brought forward in the film, Radio Days. The following clip (@2.02 mark) depicts the Rabbi's belief that radio shows had an effect on Joe, influencing him to steal the money from the Jewish National Fund to buy a Masked Avenger ring. The Rabbi's stance that "listening to the radio introduces foolishness and violence," is proven by Joe's behavior. Joe wanted the prized Masked Avenger ring so badly that he would disgrace his rabbi and family by stealing. Joe receives punishment, which is rarely portrayed in media, and he is strayed away from a path of discouraged behavior. Radio Days gives a prime example of social learning and its effect on society.


Sources:
Allen, Woody. Radio Days. Orion Pictures Corporation, 1987.

"Woody Allen's Radio Days Clip IV." 20 June 2009. Online video clip. Youtube. Accessed on 18 September 2010.

Straubhaar, Joseph, Robert LaRose, and Lucinda Davenport. Media Now: Understanding Media, Culture, and Technology. 6th Edition. Wadsworth Publishing, 2009. 608. Print.

Media's Use of Framing

The Framing theory, as explained in Media Now, “examines how writers frame or present a story.” Media often uses framing to create public opinion of a news story, by setting the tone with certain words and the way in which facts are interpreted. Although news is supposed to be unbiased, the use of framing allows the media to sway its audience. I believe the major network programs give a clear example of how framing is used to present a bias view of a story.

News programs on major networks, such as Nightline, 60 Minutes, or 20/20 often cover controversial trials as part of their weekly schedule. The coverage of trials by television specials present the major facts, but it is the way in which they are presented and the facts that are left out that make a report bias. One example of bias coverage of a trial is the Mumia Abu-Jamal murder case of 1982.

ABC's 20/20 has been much criticized over their 1998 report of the Abu-Jamal case. The documentary, Framing An Execution, explains how the special focused in on whether Abu-Jamal was guilty or not, instead of whether the trial was fair or not. The special framed the story around the prosecution and presented the defense in a hostile way, using editing techniques to make the lawyer seem evasive. The story told by 20/20 also left out facts and several key witnesses. The tone that the special creates, along with the facts used, leads most viewers to side with those who are depicted to be just. 

The example of the 20/20 Abu-Jamal report helps me understand how media use framing to sway audience. The coverage of the case led many to simply believe the conviction of Abu-Jamal was just. Since the audience was never presented with the idea that the trial was unjust, most people believe it is just another closed murder case.

A link to a clip of Framing An Execution can be found here.

Sources: 

Straubhaar, Joseph, Robert LaRose, and Lucinda Davenport. Media Now: Understanding Media, Culture, and Technology. 6^th Edition. Wadsworth Publishing, 2009. 608. Print.

My Introduction to the World of Film

 From a young age, I have been interested in film and all its wonders. Whenever a friend asks how a movie was, my answer has never been simply an "it was ok" or "it was good," but rather a long rant that most people probably wouldn't want to listen to. I have found myself over analyzing films to the point where I would be thinking, "Are those glasses relevant to the time period?” instead just watching the film for entertainment. 

I can't say there was a defining moment when I realized that I wanted to work in film, but I can say I was certain after seeing the movie, The Dark Knight. The film was not only visually stimulating, but had great depth in all aspects. The impeccable details made it clear that a career in film production was what I must pursue.

In the words of Bob Dylan, "A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do." I decided to become an RTF major to follow a passion of mine. RTF 305 is the stepping-stone for the rest of my education in film. With this course, I believe I will have a grasp on media and how I can one day become apart of it.

Seeing that this is my first blog, here's a link to one of my personal favorites.

http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/