To Block or Not to Block?

Looking online at the New York Times website I came across this article that discussed different school systems that chose to either block or not block certain websites, particularly social networking sites.  Many teachers and education advocates argue that the Internet is a major distraction from learning and explain by blocking certain websites they are protecting students from online bullying at school.  The article also talks about a librarian who organized the graffiti debate with the purpose of informing students that censorship takes away a person's voice and privileges.  After this debate, the school that he works at decided to unblock websites like Facebook and Twitter "recognizing that they could provide learning opportunities."  At New Trier High School, blocking websites also stopped because it got in the way of students' research.  The librarian explains that students were blocked from sites about military weapons and then could not conduct research at school.  There are definitely pros and cons to blocking websites in the school atmosphere but it is interesting to read about different people's perspective on this.  Some seem so pro blocking while some seem to have witnessed the negative sides that come with blocking websites within the school computer system.  In this day in age anything on the internet can be pulled up by anyone one way or another.  Just because it's not at school doesn't mean students won't be able to view it when they go home.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/29/education/29banned.html?_r=1&hp

Following in Alyssa's footsteps

After hearing all about the Michael Jackson trial from Alyssa on Tuesday I decided to do some of my own investigating because Michael Jackson was, and probably still is considered by his many fans, a celebrity.  I had the chance today at the gym to watch a few minutes of the trial coverage on CNN.  I was unable to hear what the newscaster was actually saying but I got the sense that the visual was maybe even more powerful to see.  As Janet Jackson walked into the courtroom I could not help but notice the masses of paparazzi there were filling in completely behind her.  She was clearly focused in on and being asked questions before she entered but the coverage of this case is what struck me the most.  As we talked about in class on Tuesday, there is immense pressure on essentially everyone involved in the case. For some follow up research I went to CNN and Michael Jackson was number two on the 'Hot Topics' category.  The first link that came up when I clicked on this was to People and according to this article Michael Jackson died "due to repeated incompetence and negligence by his personal doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray."  Murray's defense argued against this by saying that Micheal Jackson inflicted his own death on himself by overdosing on propofol (a powerful anesthetic).  As interesting as the case is, it seems to me as though it is almost impossible to have a clear focus when dealing with such a high-status celebrity and his family.  Whether or not you are a fan of Michael Jackson the fact of the matter is is that this is a high profile case that is going to be followed by people around the world.  I am curious to see how the actual case plays out but also how the media continues to cover and report on it.


http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20532174,00.html?xid=rss-fullcontentcnn

From 1984 to True Enough

Just from reading the first twenty-five pages of True Enough I feel as though I am on the fast track to learn all about the truth behind the American society.  It is definitely an adjustment from the classic Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell reading wise because True Enough is about the cold hard facts whereas Orwell's novel is more along the lines of a classic story.  I do not consider myself politically savvy whatsoever, however just from reading the first chapter of True Enough, I am definitely interested in learning about how the media has the power to skew what people believe.

1984 Reflection

Thinking back to my reflection from Thursday’s class on what 1984 is really about I still stand with my initial view that it is a novel about finding, or searching for the light at the end of the tunnel.  In a society where everyone is turned one way we are introduced and captivated by a character, Winston, who is trying to do the exact opposite.  This novel focuses on, and makes readers question the true meaning of character.  Winston’s ability to look past what is on the outside, the easy answer or way out, even when society is telling him the exact opposite speaks greatly to his character.  Towards the end of the novel as Winston is being tortured by O’Brien Winston puts up a good fight.  Even though every time Winston said anything O’Brien would shut him down completely Winston is still his own believer. For example, he reflects: “Whatever he said, the swift answer crushed him like a bludgeon.  And yet he knew, he knew, that he was right.  The belief that nothing exists outside your own mind- surely there must be some way of demonstrating that it was false” (275).  As Winston is being tortured, and even though he ultimately knows he cannot win with words, he knows deep down that he is right.  The fact that he is in the most vulnerable position at this point in the novel yet still is able to hold onto his own beliefs exemplifies how mentally strong of a person he is.

Though in the end Winston ultimately loses the battle to the Party, Big Brother, and O’Brien by asking to torture Julia instead of himself, I still am a firm believer that as a whole this novel is about character and finding oneself.  To the outside perspective it appears that Winston lost himself and his idea of character to the society he had been fighting against for years.  However, on the last page of the novel Winston reflects, “He had won the victory over himself” (308).  To me, this does not show that he gave up on himself, but rather he is mentally strong enough to do what he knows he has to do.  This change in thinking does not represent weakness in my eyes but power and strength to fight for oneself.

Jenny Back on the Block

I’ve been following pop culture, and more specifically following celebrities who endorse products or are avid about a certain cause.  When I first began searching for updates on this I had a hard time finding a good article specifically on celebrities and their products/ causes they endorse.  There are a lot of actual advertisements out there with celebrities like Jennifer Aniston posing with her Smartwater or Derek Jeter with a Gilette razor however what interests me is the story behind the advertisement.  Looking online at the New York Times and Huffingtonpost I had a hard time finding articles that go behind the scenes of a celebrity’s relationship with the product or cause he or she supports.  I’m curious to see if there is good information out there that is readily available and reliable for people like me who are interested or if deals and relationships between celebrity and product are kept within closed doors of their business world.  After a little more searching online, I went to Vanity Fair and read their cover story or Jennifer Lopez titled, “Jenny Back on the Block.”  Though this article is not directly related to specific products or causes she supports, I was able to find paragraphs where the interviewer, Lisa Robinson, talks about Jen career wise.  For example Robinson explains, “The day before my visit to her house, I watched Jennifer at work on a street in Los Feliz, near Dodger Stadium, where Ron Howard was directing a public-service announcement for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.” This definitely caught my attention because it is not a product like perfume, or face wash, that she was supporting, though she does, but rather for the Boys and Girls Club of America.  It seems like nowadays big celebrities have built up their resumes wanting to add one thing: community service.  Though most are able to successfully achieve this, their luxurious lifestyles are still in main focus.  Reading the article on Jennifer Lopez is the perfect example of this.  In the opening paragraph Robinson takes a very materialistic approach describing, “She’s furiously texting on her white BlackBerry Torch. She’s wearing a black, beige, white, and jade Diane von Furstenberg romper, and her hair is pulled off her face into a bun. On her feet are black, rhinestone-studded flip-flops, but the diamonds that adorn her ears and fingers are real.”  The mixture between doing good while living the high life is something that definitely interests me in the pop culture realm.  Noted that Robinson was not writing solely on Jen’s “good community acts,” however in the media today there is definitely a notable struggle between celebrity lifestyles and the actions that they make to maybe try to denounce their big house and fancy car.  Going forward, I think I would like to do some more investigating on celebrities and the products/causes they endorse but I think I will need to readjust my sources depending on what I am able to find on a given day.  So far I have found that it is easy to find the actual advertisements but they information behind is a little trickier to locate.

Advertising

When I hear the phrase "Pop Culture" a billion things come to mind.  However, after being an intern at a media company this past summer I realize that one of most important aspects of pop culture is advertising.  Advertising is what drives pop culture because look around- it is everywhere.  In magazines, on TV, on the radio, in newspapers, stores, and even in Mather Dining Hall you will find advertisements.  Because advertisements appear so frequently it is important to understand the major effect that they can have on people on a regular, day-to-day basis.  For this project I would like to focus on advertising, the extent that it is embedded in our society, and the effect it has on people worldwide.  Like we discussed briefly in class, I will utilize the New York Times, Huffingtonpost, Facebook, Twitter, and multiple magazines.

"After Class, Skimpy Equality"

When we were first presented with this article from the New York Times I almost laughed out loud remembering only a few days ago when my dad made me sit down and read this exact same article.  Reading it again, and actually being in college now I see how truly accurate Lisa Belkin is.  She explains the differences between dress between men and women: "When the guys go to the Street they are laid-back, casual, like they are going to class.  But the women come in, in short cocktail dresses, makeup, high heels" (2). She continues by explaining, "sometimes it can be like if you’re a girl and you don’t dress up, there’s a social expectation that you should dress up and you should appear sexually available” (2).  This section of the article is what struck me the most just because of how extremely accurate it is.  As a girl, there is definitely some expectation to go the extra mile to dress up and as Belkin describes, "appear sexually available."  What I have noticed so far from my six-day experience in the college atmosphere that it may be a more direct competition between girls rather than between girls and boys.  Even still, this dynamic isn't much better because it creates unhealthy and unnecessary competition among girls.  It is definitely hard to find the right balance but I think it is worth to strive for.

Mountains Beyond Mountains

Paul Farmer's unique childhood definitely played a crucial role in his adult life.  For example, as he explains, "growing up without running water on a bus" (54) he was not exposed or accustomed to the luxuries that many people take for granted.  Reading about his various childhood experiences throughout the novel, it is clear that Farmer has been affected in such a way that his background is truly engraved into his being as a whole.  On page 55, Farmer's mother recalls: "he didn't get straight A's his first semester at college.  Everything was new.  He was soaking up high culture.”  I think this particular section is telling of Farmer’s personality as it shows how he is able to submerge himself in whatever he is presented with and does it with his whole heart.  Growing up in such a lifestyle where opportunities were not always handed to him I think played a part in how he chooses to react in different circumstances.  Without his experiences growing up, Farmer probably would not have had the same determination and compassion for others has he does today.