Class Literacy

From my time spent in this class, I feel as If I have honed my media literacy skills.  While I don't consider the knowledge I learned specific to a concentrated focus of mass communication, I believe my basic understanding of how journalism, media, and mass communication blend together.  From this class, I now have a broadened perspective of my surroundings, as my extensive use of the internet has almost hard fixed itself as a permanent aspect of my life; this creates an enormous window for mass communication techniques to be applied to me while I'm indulging in my time spent on the internet.  I am now more conscious of the media I am absorbing while I'm surfing the web.
 

This is a talk show that is bases now through YouTube due to the popularity of the convenience of watching new and entertainment online instead of using television.  I think it is interesting that there is a huge amount of people who use the internet for all their sources of media.

-Keir

Media Law: Hong Kong Protest censorship

Hong Kong Protest

Individuals have been protesting in Hong Kong for a more Democratic government system, mostly due to education I believe.  In an effort to contain the citizens' demands, the government is desperately trying to censor all media that is related to the protest.  The government has deleted a huge amount of content from Chinese websites as well ordered all forms news to ignore the protest as a whole.  It saddens me that the government in Hong Kong is so set on keeping its citizens contained rather than listening to their wants and accommodating to them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/01/world/asia/chinese-web-censors-struggle-with-hong-kong-protest.html?_r=0

Three Sources

Inëz Chambers, S. (2012, September 1). Anime: From Cult Following to Pop Culture Phenomenon. Retrieved November 17, 2014, from https://www.elon.edu/docs/e-web/academics/communications/research/vol3no2/08ChambersEJFall12.pdf

Samantha's paper on the progression of the popularity of anime in recent years has to be one of the closest topics to that of my own.  While my topic has to do with the affects of mass communication on the recent popularity spike of anime, Samantha's work is more simply about shedding light on how it has risen from a cult following to a mainstream form of entertainment.  Her work seems legitimate as she has a plethora of sources and doesn't take a specific side on the topic.

Rise of cosplay helps drive popularity of Japanese anime. (2014, June 12). Retrieved November 17, 2014, from http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/rise-of-cosplay-helps-drive-popularity-of-japanese-anime-20140613-zs58i.html

From the Sydney Morning Herald is an article trying to take a specific approach on searching for the cause of the rapid rise of the popularity of anime.  This article talks about how the popularity of cosplay is helping propel the Japanese monster known as anime reach mainstream popularity.  

Bennett, C. (2011, August 30). Americans to anime: 'You've changed' Retrieved November 17, 2014, from http://geekout.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/30/americans-to-anime-youve-changed/

From a branch off of the CNN website, this article was published a few years ago on the rise to popularity of anime.  Covering from the start of the introduction of Japanese animation to the US shores, the author talks about how it slowly creeped its way in the households of Americans and then proceeded to rapidly take over as one of the most dominant forms of entertainment in the US.

-Keir

Propaganda

In this piece of propaganda, the creator is trying to compare Bush to Hitler which would be generally be seen as a negative statement.  He uses the phrase "Same Shit Different Asshole" in an attempt to captivate his audience through a witty phrase.  While also comparing Bush to Hitler, the author is connecting a negative association to the former president in an attempt to slander his name.  

On the other end of the spectrum we have a piece of propaganda attempting to mock our current president.  The author uses a previously effective format and color pattern that Obama's face has become famously recognized for, however instead of utilizing it in a positive manner, the author uses said format to take a jab at our president.  He uses the phrase "Its an elitist thing.  You wouldn't understand" in order to influence his audience to see the president in a negative manner.

#4: Movies

Favorite movie of 2013/4:  Pacific Rim

While I've always been more a fan of drama/thriller movies, Pacific Rim captivated my interest in a way that no other 'mecha' movie has done before.  The animation is beautifully crafted to an extent that made me develop a plethora of surreal feelings as I was watched the story unfold.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pacific_rim_2013/

(One of my) Favorite movie(s) of all time:  Donnie Darko

It's difficult for me what to exactly pick from this film that draws me to it so much, but I can say that this movie evokes an eerie sensation in me every time I watch it that no other film is able to do.  A perfect Halloween film actually, Donnie Darko is a thriller/mystery movie that is somewhat of a (popular) cult film that stars one of my favorite actors, Jake Gyllenhaal.  I first watched this movie about five, or six years ago as it was recommend to me by one of my closest friends; since then it has stuck as one of my favorite films.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/donnie_darko/

Magazine Proposal

Name: Career Insider

Concept: Provides readers with first person accounts/reviews of specific fields of work/Shows what is 'hot' in the job market pertaining to the time of release.

Reader Demographic: Anyone who is interested in the ever-changing job market/is curious about uncommon fields of work/as well anyone who is seeking a job.

Competition: I know of no other magazines serving the the same purpose as mine.  I researched the title of my magazine and the only thing that came up was an accounting magazine which is entirely different as it is a trade magazine that only appeals to one field of work.

Advertisers: Advertisers for a plethora of products would be able make their way in to Career Insider.  Companies such as Barney's, Nordstrom's, Microsoft, Apple, and Intel would all be relevant as the magazine dabbles in both tech AND  professional aspects of the business world.

Articles:

What tech companies provide employees with the best working environment/experience.

The ten most in-demand jobs of 2014.

Working abroad?  Worth it?

Bizarre job of the month.

Safe vs. high paying jobs.  Which makes more sense? 

Three Relevant Books

American Psycho~

Recommended to me by my brother a few years ago this book is not only a hilarious satire of the yuppie movement of the 80's, but also a gruesome/smile inducing novel.  Centered around a late 20's Wall-Street investments banker, Patrick Bateman describes his every day struggles with coping with the trivial task of living life as beautiful/well off twenty-something year old.  Not many books have sucked me in quite as much as this specific novel, but I can safely say that it has had a positive impact on my perspective of literature ensuring me that there ARE books out there that have the ability to catch my genuine interest.

The Accidental Billionaires~

Before I knew anything about the creation, or relevance of Facebook, my father recommended me this book imploring that it has quality information regarding the establishment of the most popular social networking website as well contains quite an interesting story behind it.  Surprisingly it hooked my attention enough that my eyes were glued from page to page wondering what was going to happen next in Mark Zuckerberg's wild adventure of creating Facebook.  Although this book didn't necessarily connect to me on a significant level, nor inspired me to do something of similar nature, it revealed quit the bitter nature that went on behind the making and establishing of Facebook.

Frankenstein~

While this may seem like a shocker as this novel was written nearly 200 years ago, I can safely say that reading Frankenstein has greatly added to my overall knowledge of classic literature as well shed light on the mysterious figure every child connects Halloween with.  Contrary to popular belief, Frankenstein's creation (or correctly named "the monster" as well a plethora of other vague names with negative connotation) was actually quite the knowledgable creature being able to speak fluent French as well having an impressive insight on life.  Reading Frankenstein was somewhat challenging as the text dates back two centuries ago, but regardless of the difficulty, the outcome was incredibly rewarding as it is quite the sensation to have read a piece of literature that is so implanted in our society and instantly recognized by everyone.

-Keir