Tony Soprano, Sam Cooke, Martin Scorsese, Chuck Palahniuk, & Kareem Biggs with the Kindle and Netflix on 97.1.

Ryan Klingenberg

Final Examination Part 2

“Media & Me- A Day In The Life” Final Paper

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I have a laptop next to my bed with wireless Internet. I have a computer about a yard from the foot of my bed. I have a Kindle with an Amazon account, in the drawer of my nightstand. Within reaching distance from my bed are many different mediums to enjoy. Today it seems ludicrous to not indulge in cable, the Internet, films, newspapers, magazines, music, and the radio. Some days I use all these eight types of mediums. As a freshman at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont, I take a course called Media and Society. The professor Rob Williams has taught me how to use the techniques media uses on consumers, to analyze a specific medium.

The first thing I did yesterday was listened to music. Every opportunity or time of the day I can tune out to music, I do. I use my Dr. Dre headphones by Monster to listen to my Ipod Touch, using I-Tunes off my laptop, and I also blast songs over the speakers in my room. I am a “hip-hop” head and love soul music even more. “In 2008, I-Tunes became the No.1 retailer of music in the United States” (Media & Culture, 75). I get a lot of my music from I-Tunes but I usually download from websites like www.datpiff.com, www.mixtapetorrents.com, and www.hotnewhiphop.com. I turned the switch on the side of my headphones and closed my eyes as Sam Cooke belted away "What a Wonderful World". I clicked over to Lloyd Banks on my artists list and watched the video for the song "Bomb First." I swung my I-pod to the side and the motion command shuffled to the next song. Andre 3000, my favorite rapper (dudes a monster), began to rap the song “Babylon.” “I came into this world, high as a bird, from second hand cocaine powder, I know it sounds absurd.” Not too long ago for me to remember, I was listening to this same song on my Walkman Disc Player. In my house I have a Record Player and I myself collect Vinyl records. I found it extremely amusing people are starting to get back into buying records for “the quality of the sound.”

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While still listening to music, I clicked the Safari Internet browser tab on the homepage of my Mac computer. My mother had recently asked me to make a Christmas list for myself to give to her. I went on one of my favorite clothing websites www.karmaloop.com. I found about fifteen items I liked and copied all the links. I pasted the links onto another tab that had www.aol.com up. I emailed the list of links to my mother. I went from there to my usual quick browse of www.facebook.com. “Facebook, in particular, has been one of the fastest-growing sites on the Internet” (Media & Culture, 53). I never like spending too much time on the megatron super social network so I went onto www.hotnewhiphop.com. This website has all the newest hip-hop, rap, and R&B singles to download immediately. They also have links to the best mixtape and music news websites. I downloaded two songs by Papoose and closed my computer.

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Being a student in such a class as my Media and Society course at Champlain College tends to spark my thought of all mediums. Sitting there listening to my set list of favorite songs on my I-pod I decided to take the gamble and try the radio. “Edwin Armstrong, who first discovered and developed FM radio in the 1920’s and early 1930’s, is often considered the most prolific and influential invent in radio history” (Media & Culture, 125.) I pressed the FM button on my I-pod dock. Luckily I was in New York and not back at school in Burlington where I would have no idea what station to pick. I click until I’m on 97.1. The song playing is “Miss You” by Trey Songz. I snap my fingers in disappointment, shrug my shoulders and turn off the radio. I guess I’m too picky for regular FM radio. I went to boarding school and never got my license and don’t have a car so I never have to worry about getting stuck with the radio.

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After listening to some tunes I decided to take the magazines out of my drawer I got at the airport and browse through them. The only time I really buy magazines is when I am traveling by plane. I haven’t had any subscriptions to magazines since Sports Illustrated for Kids in elementary school. “Sports Illustrated, Rank #4, Time, INC, A Subsidiary of Time Warner, NY” (Media & Culture, 307.) The magazines I get for the airplane are XXL, Hip Hop Weekly, The Source, and Rolling Stone. Three of the four are hip-hop magazines and Rolling Stone is a general music magazine. I started with Hip Hop Weekly and read an article about Kareem Biggs, one of the co-founders’ of Rocafella Records getting arrested for the possession of 177 pounds of marijuana. For me hip-hop magazines are entertaining even within the ads. They are always for some flashy diamond shop, a liquor company, or a brand of rims. They use rappers and sexy women to stand next to their product and make it appealing.

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www.hip-hop.popcrunch.com

Later I made a nice grilled cheese and sat down in my den. I turned on my TV and flipped up on my IO box through the channels. I always start at channel 36 (ESPN) and stop at every channel till 55 (MTV2). If I find something I like it is most likely on Spike, USA, TNT, Comedy Central or TBS. Today nothing was on these channels I desired so I went up to the 300’s. These are the movie channels such as Showtime, HBO, and Starz. This is where the shows I love are played. HBO has my favorite show, the Sopranos. “U.S. cable companies introduced a new and improved pay-per-view option to their digital customers in the early 2000’s-video-on-demand” (Media & Culture, 200.) I went onto HBO On Demand, the watch instantly program on my television. I turned on episode 8, season 2, of the Sopranos. This episode Tony’s nephew Christopher is shot by two kids he’d run safe heists with. Personally it’s one of my favorite episodes. I relaxed and watched the Jersey crime family led by actor James Gandafini for 50 minutes.

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Still stuffed from lunch and comfortable in front of the tube, I decide to look for a movie. I went from HBO on demand to Movies On Demand. This is where I can watch a large lists of movie, from all different genres for a few dollars a pop. I looked under New Releases and nothing made me intrigued. Instead I went onto www.netflix.com and went onto the “watch instantly” section. “Online DVD rental service Netflix begain offering “instant viewing” of movies and videos by streaming some rentals to customers” (Media & Culture, 241.) This is where I can click play and watch any movie from a selection of thousands of titles. I decided to watch Casino, one of my favorite movies. I plugged a wire that attaches my computer to my TV so I can watch Netflix on a larger screen. I sat and enjoyed Martin Scorsese’s direction on the story of mobster Sam Rothstein played by Robert De Niro. Scorsese is an amazing director famous for his Crime films such as Goodfellas. This movie is always exciting and interesting to me. The cast is sprawled with greats like Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, James Woods and Kevin Pollak. The movie idolizes the life of crime in Las Vegas and all the perks that come with it. It also shows the hardship of deceit between friends and lovers.

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In the late afternoon I was bored and alone so I decided to read. My favorite authors are Fyodor Dostoevsky, Ernest Hemingway, Chuck Palahniuk, and Charles Bukoswki. I also enjoy many other Russian novelists for their style of writing and the gloomy psychological element. Three years ago, every time I would read it would be a paper or hard cover book. Now, after my birthday last year, I have a Kindle. “The Kindle from Amazon is the latest, and arguably the most successful, attempt to transform books from paperbound purchases at a brick-and-mortar store to a completely online experience” (Media & Me, 329). I was too tired to keep open my eyes so I turned it on auto speech. For twenty minutes I listened to the novel Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk. I tend to really enjoy my kindle. I really liked the idea of having a large collection of classic books and such, but the convenience of having them all on one source to read from is excellent. The convergence from physical text to a digital e-book, for me, is extremely helpful for consuming literature. I never use to take books with me on the subway and train to school before I got the Kindle.

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After reading a little I put the Kindle down and got the New York Times. “New York Times, 3^rd rank newspaper, 1,077,256- Average weekly circulation” (Media & Me, 257.) I never read the newspaper. I decided I would take a browse. I flipped through the pages. There was a lot of coverage on murders and crime. I read an article about the increase of armed militias in the United States. After that I looked at the ads because I am always curious how much cars cost. It’s funny the different ways that express how much they are and the options for payments. Following the ads I read the sports section. I checked the football standings and made sure the New York Jets still only had two losses. After reading for a while I thought maybe I should pick up a newspaper more often.

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Recollecting this one-day shows my participation in the eight forms of media. Sometimes I spend hours using a medium to entertain me. On an average day I use at least four of the eight types. Majority of the world use less but some mediums everyday as well. After taking the class Media and Society taught by Rob Williams, it is apparent to me the way advertising and media drag a consumer in and benefit themselves. Not that all mediums aren’t beneficiary, but it is their job to attract people. I am glad I can take seconds of video, or a few words on paper and name the specific ways they are persuading the viewer.

Media Memoir

In the late afternoon I was bored and alone so I decided to read. Three years ago, every time I would read it would be a paper or hard cover book. Now, after my birthday last year, I have a kindle. I was too tired to keep open my eyes so I turned it on auto speech. For twenty minutes I listened to the novel Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk. I tend to really enjoy my kindle. I really liked the idea of having a large collection of classic books and such, but the convenience of having them all on one source to read from is excellent.

Media Meditation Numero 4: Beats By Dr. Dre (Headphones)

Picture by IClassified

One of my favorite gifts I remember getting in the last few years was The Beats by Dr. Dre Studio Headphones. They are some of the best headphones on the market. They are meant to be used in the studio when making music. I appreciate having these every hour of every day.

Dr. Dre is one of my favorite rappers of all time. If not number one, then he is my second favorite producer (next to J.Dilla.) He is famous for revolutionizing West Coast hip hop and instrumentals. The songs of his most known by him are, Nuttin But a G-Thang, Forgot About Dre, and Still Dre. His songs usually revolve around the hood, disrespecting women, and smoking weed. At the same time the quality of the instrumentals, and his flow are highly professional.

The reason these headphones are amazing is quite simple. The headphones were made with powered amplification. They also have amazing powered noise cancellation, allowing you to listen to music in complete serenity. My favorite part is how they are some of the first headphones with bass inside them.

Media Meditation Numero 3: Al Green: Tokyo Live

This medium is one that means a lot to me. This week my dad surprised with my first package in the mail. I'm waiting for a new TV and hdml chord but I was pleased with Al Green: Tokyo Live. Although i usually credit my mother for originating my love for soul, my dad is right there with me. Al Green is a complete monster when it comes to the microphone. He is famous for his songs "Let's Get Married", and "Let's Stay Together."

Image by Amazon. (AKA Kindle King)

The CD started with his version of Nat King Cole's L-O-V-E. That was spectacular. I didn't realize he had a version of this song and he put anything that Cole didn't into it. Next song he played was "I'm So Tired of Being Alone." This happens to be my favorite song. Ever.

1. "L-O-V-E (Love)" (Green, Willie Mitchell, Mabon "Teenie" Hodges)
2. "Tired of Being Alone" (Green)
3. "Let's Stay Together" (Green, Willie Mitchell, Al Jackson, Jr.)
4. "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?" (Robin Gibb, Barry Gibb)
5. "All 'n All" (Green, Reuben Fairfax, Jr., Fred Jordan)
6. "Belle" (Green, Reuben Fairfax, Jr., Fred Jordan)
7. "Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)" (Green)
8. "Let's Get Married" (Green)
9. "God Blessed our Love" (Green, Willie Mitchell, Earl Randle)
10. "You Ought to be With Me" (Green, Willie Mitchell, Al Jackson, Jr.)
11. "For the Good Times" (Kris Kristofferson)
12. "Dream" {Green, Reuben Fairfax, Jr., Fred Jordan)
13. "I Feel Good" {Green, Reuben Fairfax, Jr., Fred Jordan)
14. "Love and Happiness" (Green, Mabon "Teenie" Hodges)

If you know Al Green like I do, you realize these are his most spectacular songs. He is actually often criticized for not raising his voice enough. It's funny cause when he does so, he has one of the best soprano voices in soul. It is sad that he does not have enough CDs' or DVDs' of live concerts. I believe there is a Al Green: Tokyo live DVD so i will look into getting that.

If anyone likes soul music, or good music in general, I recommend this CD. If you have not discovered Al Green yet, get the hell off Mars and go to the record store.

Magazine.

ADBUSTERS

(My copy was personally handed to me by Rob Williams. "In the end, it will be music that saves us")

Thesis:

They want to advance the new social activist movement of the information age. This is a perfect medium for the class Media and Society. The magazine is all images, busting on Ads. The reason for the magazine is to give people a sensible idea of what ads try and do to you. They spread the idea that companies are bad and try and suck things out of you. Ads are a very easy to mock.

Facts:

1. Adbusters is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
2. Adbusters is a non for profit, reader supported, 120,000 circulated magazine.
3. A one year subscription for Adbusters is only $38.
4. Adbusters have different campaigns. One of which is a National Buy Nothing Day. They encourage on November 26th you don't spend any money on purchasing products.
5. Adbusters is referred to as the Journal of The Mental Environment.

Triune Brain:

This magazine uses all forms of the brain. They have pictures that make feelings arise. It has limbic elements because when you see mockery of an ad or symbol you might consume, it might hurt you. Sadness, regret, and humor can easily come from this medium. It is also very Neo-Cortex. The images are meant to have you think about what you consume and what garbage advertising feeds you. The magazine also has aspects connecting to the reptilian brain. Images in the magazine spur fear towards consumers.

Limbic. (What are your emotions towards yourself?)

Neo-Cortex. (Are you really "kool"?)

Reptilian. (Not so cool after you flight.)

Principles:

The most applied principle of this magazine, I would say is Valued message.

The reason we analyze medium is completely demonstrated by this magazine. They are trying to show the flaws in advertisements. Another principle is emotional transfer. Just as it is a limbic using magazine, plenty of feelings come from reading/viewing it. One ad I specifically found very funny. It was for a happiness pill.

Trends:

One trend used is epistemological. They use images rather than words to make strong points. For example, half the magazine are full page pictures. Also the website has an interactive preview of the current magazine. Economic shift is applied. They use symbols of major corporations to mock them.

Persuasive Techniques:

They use plenty of symbols in this magazine. These symbols are ones you see everyday, like mcdonalds, google, and political parties. They use this to mock them. The magazine also uses straw man and scapegoating. They completely attack specific companies and ideas.

Symbols:

Scapegoating & Straw Man:

All images are brought by Adbusters.

A look at Adbuster's job through video.

Hooked on Growth: Our Misguided Quest for Prosperity from Dave Gardner on Vimeo.

Midterm-Mayhem. Mid term Responce

After studying the 21st century media for eight weeks in class, what have you learned? Please be specific.

The things I have learned can be put on paper and only thought out mentally. I learned at this point, a decent chunk if not all the power tools. From media and society class I now have the ability to watch, read, or listen to a medium and analyze it myself. Luckily this class tought me ways media manipulates and takes advantage of people. I can pick out how they do so and why they are.

What is the most important thin you have learned about yourself as critical reader, a writer, and a thinker in this class so far?

The most important thing I have learned has to be viewing media. Before this class I watched every advertisement as a consumer. Now even if I have no interest, I can take a media apart. I learned as a reader how to analyze media, as a writer I can say what exactly a medium is doing, and as a thinker I can decide weather or not a medium is true.

What's one thing you would do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?

If I could do one thing over in class, it was honestly have been to look at the power tools more often from the start. I took them in from class and a little study but did not put enough effort into making them stick.

What's one thing you would like me to do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?

One thing I would do differently is adding more types of media. Until the magazine assignment the only media we have really part taken in viewing have been videos. Maybe we can see a whole movie critically, or read an article for analyzing.

Please comment on the usefulness of the power tools, our course blog, your personal blog, our in-class quizzes, our films, and our book(s) as learning tools.

The power tools for me are personally the most important and my favorite thing about the class. It helps me get a sense of media, and I feel it to be the point of the class. If I have taken anything important from class, it’s the ability to use the power tools. The blogging is something else I am highly interested in. Now that I type it into Microsoft word I can see they haven’t added the word “blogging” yet. I think it is fun to use our own personal web site to jot down thoughts and analyze media of our choice. It gives us a freedom and allows us to be creative. The daily quizzes might be tough sometimes if I don’t stay up on the power tools but it helps me study and know what I should have learned. The films in class are a perfect way to physically see what I have learned. Setting up the 6 box flash card puts to test the power tools, so it is important. The book is not a bad recourse, I think it does a good job at explaining different mediums and I like the images in it.

Media Meditation: Numero 2- Ransom

Last week I woke up with nothing to do, and watched a personal classic, Ransom. This movie has always been exiting and emotion stirring to me. When I was a little kid my only fear was being kidnapped. The movie Ransom is about an airline mogul Tom Mullen (Mel Gibson) and his wife Kate Mullen (Rene Russo), handling their son being kidnapped. Both Gibson and Russo are extremely famous and awards winners, no matter Mel's breakdowns.

"Someone is going to pay." Movie cover from Ahashare.com

In the movie, the character Tom Mullen is told to pay a ransom for his son. They ask him to pay $2 million. He agrees and highers the FBI to help him handle the situation. After the first drop off goes wrong. Mullen starts brainstorming other ways to get his son back. He decides that instead of paying them for his son, when they might not even get him, he was going to make a bounty. He went on television and told the public whoever finds the kidnappers, they would recieve the $2 million.

Personally, I think Gibson did a great job in this film, along with the other actors in it as well. I have always been a fan of movies involving kidnappings, or family revenge. The scene when Gibson changes his mind and flips the bounty over, gave me goose bumps. It would be extremely difficult to make the decisions in a situation as he is in.

I found this video when searching for a clip. After hearing the tapes Gibson has embarassed himself on with racist rants and threatening his wife, I thought this was entertaining.

If you like movies like Payback, Man On Fire, and even Heat, you would probably enjoy this. It is one that anyone could sit down to and stay focused through out. I recommend it for a rainy day that you want to tune your emotions and view sights into.