I've learned SO much in this class.. I don't think I'll be able to look at another magazine or advertisement the same. Ever. This class truly has rubbed off on me, and now I really want to educate my friends and family on the news they watch, the advertisements they see, and get their thoughts on things as well.
The BEST thing we can all do is EDUCATE. Until we're blue in the face. Sitting around not doing anything is a sure fire way for things to just get consistently worse.
I loved this class, even if it did meet on fridays RIGHT in the middle of the day. It was so worth it.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Mothers
It's funny how at the beginning of the semester, we talked about depictions of mothers in the news media, and how they are portrayed and stereotyped. And yet, today, I talked about this same matter with some friends after a final. Randomly.. it came up.
My mother has been my best friend since I was little. I consider myself a momma's girl in every sense of the word, but am quite close to my family in general.
It's crazy how there are so many different types of mothers out there, and it's sad how not all of them show their kids the love they desperately need.
My mother has been my best friend since I was little. I consider myself a momma's girl in every sense of the word, but am quite close to my family in general.
It's crazy how there are so many different types of mothers out there, and it's sad how not all of them show their kids the love they desperately need.
Presentation
I really feel like my project was an excellent start to researching how the media has negatively affected women all throughout this country- young and old.. and how they are being perceived. The fact is- models are 3 times as thin as the average woman, and yet, images of them are absolutely everywhere.
I want advertising to be honest. Not pornographic. Intruiging and yet tasteful. When is this going to happen?
I want advertising to be honest. Not pornographic. Intruiging and yet tasteful. When is this going to happen?
News Reporting & Responsibilities
News reporters have a responsibility to relay inforation to the public in a non-stereotypical, judgemental way. The public expects just the news-nothing more, nothing less. It's hurtful the way the media has impacted so many people, young and old, about groups of people- regarding skin color, body size, body image, religion.. it's quite scary.
When news reporting is able to be mature.. I think more people will watch the evening news.
When news reporting is able to be mature.. I think more people will watch the evening news.
Jena 6
Although this happened months ago, I still can't quite get it out of my mind. Black people are always seeen as just being the "bad guy" and I find that so incredibly offensive. The news coverage was interesting when it came to the Jena 6, that's for sure. Messed up information, misconstrued facts.. how about some good journalism, people..
Race & News Reporting
As someone who loves watching the evening news, it's sad to me that so many stories have such irrelevant random facts, like the race of the alleged shooter, and mentioning what kind of neighborhood the bad guy lived in.
Whether news reporters are going to come out and say it or not, they are completely biased and as a white girl, I think they still equate the bad people as the BLACK people. There are certain pieces of information that I feel are unnecessary.. like the color of someone's skin. Just say somebody was shot on such-and-such street yesterday @ 5. No need for useless information.
Whether news reporters are going to come out and say it or not, they are completely biased and as a white girl, I think they still equate the bad people as the BLACK people. There are certain pieces of information that I feel are unnecessary.. like the color of someone's skin. Just say somebody was shot on such-and-such street yesterday @ 5. No need for useless information.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Porn in Advertisements
Sex sells. But it's sad that products can't sell without a gorgeous woman half naked holding the product. It's getting more and more intense the older I get. I have to admit, I'm in love with Cosmopolitan Magazine.. and even the occasional Maxim because I read it with my boyfriend. But the half naked women holding fragrances has just got to go.
It's embarrassing. Call me a conservative. But really.
Gross.
It's embarrassing. Call me a conservative. But really.
Gross.
News
I really need to work on watching the news more. I am terrified to say that in a current event quiz, I had no idea what the Jena 6 was. Now, I turned on the news and watched everything unfold that day.. but seriously, how sad is that?
I am really doing a lot better as the semester has come to a close. I check my websites every morning before I get to class, and instead of turning on the CMT music videos as I'm getting ready for class, I am really working on having CNN on so I can be in tune with what is going on in the world.
You'd think that I have been living under a rock, but I just took a hiatus from the news because it's so depressing. People getting shot. Babies being abducted. The war continuing like there is never going to be an end. More skinny models looking even skinnier than ever. And disasters all over the world that nobody can explain.
And that.. is the reason I took a hiatus from watching the news.
But I'm back.
Yeeee-haw.
I am really doing a lot better as the semester has come to a close. I check my websites every morning before I get to class, and instead of turning on the CMT music videos as I'm getting ready for class, I am really working on having CNN on so I can be in tune with what is going on in the world.
You'd think that I have been living under a rock, but I just took a hiatus from the news because it's so depressing. People getting shot. Babies being abducted. The war continuing like there is never going to be an end. More skinny models looking even skinnier than ever. And disasters all over the world that nobody can explain.
And that.. is the reason I took a hiatus from watching the news.
But I'm back.
Yeeee-haw.
Obesity in the media
This is a tough subject. I've been wanting to discuss it for SUCH a long time, and more than anything, before I go off on my soap box, I think it's important to mention that not all fat people are dumb, and not all obese people chose to be that way.
I think the media has almost condemned fat people and has given them absolutely no chance of ever being given any attention.. and whatever attention they get is negative.
I got an advertisement in the mail the other day from Lane Bryant, and they are selling candies and chocolate as a bonus to their plus size clothing. Do all plus size women just LOVE to eat?
No.
But if you go in that store looking for some workout wear, good luck, because you'll walk away empty handed. God forbid a plus size woman be looking for something to workout in. Because we all know that if you're overweight, things will never be as good as they are if you're skinny in beautiful.
I'm not going to say it's healthy. But what about the rest of us who are plus size and trying to take care of our bodies and make a change for our HEALTH? Not for the media. So go ahead. Sell the candies with the fat jeans, because the longer plus size women stay heavy, the more business that store gets.
Am I the only one who thinks this is just a little bias?
It's not like Abercrombie sells candy bars with their low rise jeans...
I think the media has almost condemned fat people and has given them absolutely no chance of ever being given any attention.. and whatever attention they get is negative.
I got an advertisement in the mail the other day from Lane Bryant, and they are selling candies and chocolate as a bonus to their plus size clothing. Do all plus size women just LOVE to eat?
No.
But if you go in that store looking for some workout wear, good luck, because you'll walk away empty handed. God forbid a plus size woman be looking for something to workout in. Because we all know that if you're overweight, things will never be as good as they are if you're skinny in beautiful.
I'm not going to say it's healthy. But what about the rest of us who are plus size and trying to take care of our bodies and make a change for our HEALTH? Not for the media. So go ahead. Sell the candies with the fat jeans, because the longer plus size women stay heavy, the more business that store gets.
Am I the only one who thinks this is just a little bias?
It's not like Abercrombie sells candy bars with their low rise jeans...
Gays
I think it's so healthy the way the media is embracing gay couples. Not only are they featured in Desperate Housewives, but it seems as though they aren't so type-casted. I am completely for gay marriage- I mean, I'm not gay, but I believe that they should be able to find happiness with a person they love, too.
Asians
Yep. It's sad to think that there are stereotypes of every single race out there. When thinking of Asians, many people think of karate. Thai Chi. Squinty eyes and oh, they must be really good at math and love to draw.
I think it's awful. But I'm not going to lie and say that I've never had a stereotype of a group of people before. When I transferred to UNT as a sophomore, I had an asian roommate. She was nice, but we never really got along. I got frustrated with the way she lived, and although I wanted to warm up to her, certain things about her (that I will NOT mention on here.. too much information) really got to me.
When she moved in, I expected her to be really smart, all about school, love to draw, and I figured she had really good grades. Well, I was pretty wrong. Actually, I couldn't have been MORE wrong. The girl NEVER went to class. Hated drawing. Couldn't understand math. Had serious issues with getting up for the day BEFORE 5pm, and wanted to be a theater make-up artist. And by the way, she only lasted one semester @ UNT before realizing that college wasn't for her.
Sadly, our world almost functions around stereotypes. I think that if more students got into classes like this one, maybe they'd think twice. Or three times. Whatever it takes to end it all.
I think it's awful. But I'm not going to lie and say that I've never had a stereotype of a group of people before. When I transferred to UNT as a sophomore, I had an asian roommate. She was nice, but we never really got along. I got frustrated with the way she lived, and although I wanted to warm up to her, certain things about her (that I will NOT mention on here.. too much information) really got to me.
When she moved in, I expected her to be really smart, all about school, love to draw, and I figured she had really good grades. Well, I was pretty wrong. Actually, I couldn't have been MORE wrong. The girl NEVER went to class. Hated drawing. Couldn't understand math. Had serious issues with getting up for the day BEFORE 5pm, and wanted to be a theater make-up artist. And by the way, she only lasted one semester @ UNT before realizing that college wasn't for her.
Sadly, our world almost functions around stereotypes. I think that if more students got into classes like this one, maybe they'd think twice. Or three times. Whatever it takes to end it all.
Portrayal of Dads
I think its interesting that the media has come up with the new term "the dumb dad", the dad who is clueless and has no idea what is going on with the kid's life.
Although my dad is a hardworking radiation oncologist, he always puts his family first. What the media may not see is that although some dads are simply too busy to attend their kid's ball games, they don't see the other types of love they share with their kids.
My dad has always been one of my best friends, has attended every single volleyball game since I was a little girl, and has supported almost all of the decisions I have made as a young adult.
Although my dad is a hardworking radiation oncologist, he always puts his family first. What the media may not see is that although some dads are simply too busy to attend their kid's ball games, they don't see the other types of love they share with their kids.
My dad has always been one of my best friends, has attended every single volleyball game since I was a little girl, and has supported almost all of the decisions I have made as a young adult.
Dove
I really love the Dove Campaign towards real women, but I have a little bit of issues with coming to terms with the fact that they are also owned by the same company who owns Axe body spray for men. Isn't that just a little off-putting?
It was crazy to watch "the metamorphosis" to see what happens behind camera lenses before advertisements are distributed. Even the fact that they change the length of the woman's neck-- that's how important image is to their advertisement and product.
It really just makes me sick that little girls have to see the images of women who are so thin that they look emaciated, but the sad fact is, the images they see in magazines are so completely false.
What kind of message are we teaching our children, especially young women?
However, I think that what Dove is doing is beautiful- showing girls young and old that it's okay to be different. It's okay to be a redhead with freckles and pale skin. It's okay to have a few extra pounds. Being YOU is beautiful. That's the end of my little soap box..
It was crazy to watch "the metamorphosis" to see what happens behind camera lenses before advertisements are distributed. Even the fact that they change the length of the woman's neck-- that's how important image is to their advertisement and product.
It really just makes me sick that little girls have to see the images of women who are so thin that they look emaciated, but the sad fact is, the images they see in magazines are so completely false.
What kind of message are we teaching our children, especially young women?
However, I think that what Dove is doing is beautiful- showing girls young and old that it's okay to be different. It's okay to be a redhead with freckles and pale skin. It's okay to have a few extra pounds. Being YOU is beautiful. That's the end of my little soap box..
A Girl Like Me
It was really sad watching the video "A Girl Like Me" because those girls didn't know how beautiful they really were. It's so sad because media has made it so that young girls don't know what true beauty is all about: being comfortable and happy in your own skin.
It's sad to think that there are millions of girls out there who hate the way they look, hate their bodies, and want to change the color of their skin. But the fact is, the media has completely misconstrued the way a true woman should look.
It's sad to think that there are millions of girls out there who hate the way they look, hate their bodies, and want to change the color of their skin. But the fact is, the media has completely misconstrued the way a true woman should look.
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