Extra Credit!

Had you ever used a blog before attending RTF 305? If so, what was it's focus?

I have to admit, I did use a blog quite frequently back in my Junior High/High School days. I used to let out all of my teenage year adventures and drama onto the social networking site called MySpace. My blogs typically focused really on just my life as a teenager and what my weekend consisted of or what I thought was cool at the time. I would always include a viral YouTube video for my audience to see and comment on as well. I thought I was cool! :D

What were the positive aspects of using the blogs in the course?

The positive aspects were that everything was done electronically. No matter where you were, you could always do your homework in a timely manner since turning it in simply means posting it on the internet. Another positive aspect was that it saved paper. In a world that is trying it's hardest to go green, I believe that doing everything electronically could be a huge benefit in helping reduce waste.

What difficulties did you encounter in using the blogs? (both technical and conceptual)

Some difficulties were that the blog post assignments never went out at the same time. Sometimes I would get them on Wednesday, and sometimes I got them on Thursday. I felt as though even these days were late in the week to get started on a blog post, since I hate doing homework on the weekend.

If you had difficulties in using the blog, how were you able to overcome the difficulties you encountered?

I was able to overcome these difficulties by just toughening it out and staying up late friday or saturday night doing my blog. Sure it wasn't the best start to my weekends, but homework is homework and it had to completed one way or another.

What types of blog prompts were more or less interesting or difficult? (provide an example and rationale)

The blog posts that were most interesting to me were the ones where we got to use our own examples of shows that we watch. This way, we could be able to be graded on our opinion that we felt related to the topic. One of my favorite blog posts was the comparing hegemonies of different eras. For this specific blog post, I compared the show All In The Family to Family Guy. I found it interesting in comparing these two shows, especially because I was able to use one show that I watch regularly and love.

Would you recommend using a blog in future course, either in RTF 305 and other undergraduate courses at UT-Austin? (explain why..)

I would most definitely recommend using a blog post for homework assignments for RTF 305 and other undergraduate courses at UT-Austin. I found this way of doing homework very beneficial and easy to use. In a world where technology continues to grow every day, online homework is becoming more and more realistic. 

What would you suggest to change or improve the blogging experience in the future?

I would suggest making examples be mandatory. I know I always tried to use some sort of pictures of include a video because I know that seeing examples is very beneficial for the audience of the blog. If not for the audience, it is also helpful for the writer itself. If examples were mandatory, the writer of the blog would be forced to research a video on YouTube or a picture on Google images. I believe examples are very helpful in homework assignments such as these, especially in a media studies class.

Yes, you can use my blog in a paper or report.

Globalization!

Globalization can be seen as the mixing of various ideas, languages, cultures, people, an even nations. This bond eventually forms some type of connection globally that creates an impact on various media. Better opportunities for communication are made throughout these places. As we continue to grow in our technological world with a thing called 'The Internet,' we can see how easy it is for the idea of globalization to be seen in full effect. Globalization is usually seen as being driven by a mix of economic, sociocultural, political, and technological factors.

http://www.fusion-comics.com/Promotion/SacAnime_2010/part01/anime%20books01.jpg

One example of Globalization that can be seen is cultural imperialism, which is the idea that with the bonding of different people and nations, many cultures eventually become the same. An example of this is Anime books. These books originated in Japan for all of the Manga fanatics, however eventually over a time a culture formed in the United States, creating a rise in popularity, therefore a rise in demand and supply from Japan. 

http://barbieprincesscartoon.blogspot.com/2010/10/sailor-moon-top-girls-cartoon.html

Today, many can see how much of an impact these Japanese books have had on the United States as we can see many of these books in local retailers and various other stores. The Western World has shown a true love and popularity for this famous comic-style book as many are hooked on reading these 'backward books' that are written about characters that face drama and other various conflicts. Some anime has even taken the next step to being made into television shows here in the Unted States. Some examples of these shows include Pokemon, Sailor Moon, Dragonball Z, and Bleach. This Globalization shows how with the power of money comes to the power to create different media for various countries. There truly is no boundaries when it comes to globalization.

http://www.instantz.net/anime/Bleach.html

Like a Good Neighbor

One of my favorite ads right now is the State Farm commercial that describes how an insurance company is always there for their customers. To establish their claim in a more humorous and appealing way to their audience, they exaggerate their ability to always be there by magically popping up whenever they are automatically needed. Their jingle is "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there," and in this particular case, they magically appear with a sandwich, a girl, and a hot tub to satisfy their customers.


The advertising appeal of achievement prominence and attention is when a company makes you believe that buying their product will be better for you in the long run. State Farm accurately tries to do this by claiming to always be there for you when you need them the most. Unlike other insurance agencies, they feel that they can provide much more personal support for their customers.
 

Three Act Structure

In movies, the Three Act Structure suits many plots with their beginnings, middles, and ends. In the beginning, the movies introduce the setting of the story, the characters, and a little opener to what the movie is going to be about. In the middle, some sort of conflict begins to form. The end is also very important to the Three Act Structure because there we find the resolution to this conflict. Movies have different and distinct ways of showing the Three Act Structure. The movie I decided to use  to show the Three Act Stucture was Finding Nemo because I believe it has the "Happy Ending Structure" Disney loves to use in it's movies that appeal to kids.

http://pixarblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/disney-registers-finding-nemo-sequel.html

In the beginning of Finding Nemo, we are introduced to a certain Clown fish named Marlin who is flirting with his wife Coral as they gaze at their baby eggs. We see the setting in a coral reef under the Ocean in an area called The Dropoff. However, chaos strikes as a Swordfish kills Marlin's wife and unborn babies, leaving only one who he eventually names Nemo. This beginning is very crucial for the movie as it explains who the two main characters are, the setting of the story, and the behaviors of the characters and why Marlin acts so strict and is so paranoid on losing his son.

Eventually we see a conflict unfold in the middle of the movie as Nemo is accidentally taken away by a scuba diving dentist. This action sets in forth the plot by having Marlin embark on the incredible journey coined as "Finding Nemo." Through a series of adventures along with his new slightly confused and forgetful friend named Dory, Marlin heads all across the ocean in search of his son. sharks, jellyfish, underwater bombs, whales, a deep sea Anglerfish, seagulls, or crabs can not keep this determined father from searching for his son at P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney. Meanwhile, Nemo is held captive in an aquarium as we are introduced to new characters, all of which whom are in the aquarium with Nemo, hoping one day to be let free into the ocean.

The ending overall is the best part of the Three Act Structure, being as it involves the resolution to the conflict that arose in the movie. Without an ending, the audience would be left curious and without closure of the problems in the movie. Marlin and Dory receive a tip from a Pelican that his son is in a Dentist office in Sydney.  With heroic actions, Marlin flys to the dentist's office and although he mistakes his son to be dead at first, he soon realizes that Nemo is alive and well. Alas they are reunited as a family again, along with the new additions to the family they made along the journey. This ending proved to be very Disney-esk as it builds up a fluster of emotions right before it hits you with the "Happy Ever After" ending at the end, which typically seems to be the very common Three Act Structure in Hollywood and especially in Disney Pixar movies.

Sitcoms

The sitcoms that are on television play a major part in people’s lives all over the world. They allow for real world situations to be displayed on television in a more comedic way and it allows for a resolution usually at the end of the 30 minute time slots they hold

http://loyalkng.com/2009/05/30/fresh-prince-intro-mixed-cave-story-theme-soing/

Sitcoms typically go about a Three-Act-Structure.

1. The setup introduces the setting and the characters to the audience.


2. The conflict introduces the problem between the characters in the show.


3. The resolution, which includes the climax, resolves the issue that was brought up.




Sitcoms usually follow this method because it allows for a quick and enjoyable episode that involves some life-learning material. These sitcoms allow for the audience to in a way learn a lesson brought up in one’s life and shows way to go about it. This can explain how the same situations are seen throughout different sitcoms. For example, the issues of relationship problems and body issues make for great episodes to a sitcom and can be seen throughout many shows.


Some of my personal favorite sitcoms are George Lopez, Fresh Prince of Belair, and Malcolm in the Middle. These shows all deal with issues within a family but go about it in a humorous way using the three-act structure to go about resolving the issue. These shows all allow for us as the audience to experience problems that are not our own and still enjoy them in a way that makes our lives easier. These shows provide entertainment as we experience what the characters experience in a comedic way.

Iceberg Ahead!

The movie I chose to analyze scenes was none other than 

Titanic

  

 The first shot in the Sinking scene was a long shot. The narrator chose to allow the audience to visualize this massive ship from a distance to perceive how a sinking ship would like in an ocean. The scene is level with the water which allows the audience to compare the actual angle of the ship with respect to the ocean. I would say that this scene is connotative because it focuses on the isolation of the sinking ship out in the middle of nowhere. From the view of the sky, it can be assumed that this happens in the nighttime.

 The second shot is a medium shot. It shows us a closer shot of the characters in the movie. These people are clearly running for their lives as they are realizing the danger of the situation. This medium shot gives us information as to how the people on a sinking ship would react. It is an overview shot I believe to allow the audience to see just how many people this is affecting, almost to give a head count of the passengers on the ship. With the medium shot, we see less of the big picture, but more of the small picture.

 

 The close up shot is considered by many to be the most important shot due. This shot allows for us to connect with the actors as we see their emotions fully and close-up. In the Sinking scene of The Titanic, we can only fear with Rose as she realizes that she is falling into the ocean. Her face captures the pathological connection with the audience as she fears for her life with Jack. The shot is at eye-level which allows for the audience to connect with the characters.

Starstruck

Back in the day, during the Classical Hollywood Film period in history, many movies were judged according to the type of actors in a particular movie. People would want to go see a movie if their favorite actor or actress was the star of it. This system was called the Star System. This specific aspect of the studio system was very important, for without it, the audience of that era would not go to see movies.

According to Wikipedia.com, The Star System way a way of creating, promoting, and exploiting movie stars in Classical Hollywood Cinema. The Film studios would select young actors and actresses and basically create the character they wanted the audience to see by glamorizing them and making them the way the studio wanted them to be. This affected the kind of films the studio made because with such emphasis on the actor or actress, it had a huge reputation to uphold in its many movies.

I see this as the biggest impact of the Studio system because it was around this era that the film studios began to move from caring about the acting to caring more about the beauty and persona of the character. Once a studio had the beautiful and most appealing actor or actress, it would then train them to act and sing. Actors and Actresses had a contract to the studios so they were never allowed to leave a house without the makeup or attitude the studio wanted them to portray. This differs from today because nowadays, casting studios focus much more on the talent rather than the beauty, although beauty seems to come down the road anyways. However, this was the beginning of a studio era where new ideas were being done. With the help of the Star System, many film studios began to have faces being connected with their movies now that their films had reputations to uphold.

One cliche example of the Star System is none other than Judy Garland, who was discovered by MGM when she was just a young girl. Since then, they would create a persona for her and glamorize her as she matured into adulthood. Her stardom rose as she was greatly glamorized for her many film roles in MGM, including her biggest and most reputable role ever, “The Wizard of Oz.” With this role, it was clear just how big Judy Garland’s stardom was and how important MGM’s Star System role was to her career.

http://www.fanpop.com/spots/judy-garland

The Star System can still be seen today, although not as direct. Disney uses it’s own type of Star System by casting children at a young age and allowing us as an audience to see them grow up Disney. Miley Cyrus is a perfect example of the Star System because everything she does has to be associated with Disney. For instance, when she took controversial photos for a magazine cover, it is Disney who had to cover for her since she is so heavily glamorized for the company. Her tie to the system shows the importance that the Star System still has on many actors and actresses today as it did back in the Classical Hollywood film era.