Globalization is the active process of technological development that perpetuates the exchange between nations. This sharing can be anything from ideas to manufactured goods. Due to the development of tools like the internet and the diffusion of devices that utilize the net, this interconnectedness has become more and more prevalent.
The idea of cultural imperialism has become an increasing focus of contention. Cultural imperialism is the process of the flow of culture from a main source to other susceptible outlets. Obviously, on the global scale is applies to countries. Communicative technologies are mostly responsible for this phenomenon. Its partner in crime can be any entertainment company that produces internationally. Disney is a prime suspect.
Since Disney's production spans over international borders they influence that culture and make that audience consumer's. But cultural imperialism, though unbalanced, still makes for diversity. Slumdog Millionaire is a perfect example of the reciprocal capabilities of globalization.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
9th blog post
an advertisement that i find to be particularly powerful is the Mcdonald's billboard off the freeway that says "'mvp: most valuable potato' with a picture of a potato carved into a football and a batch of fries. the power in this ad is really just in its wit. considering texas can't do anything on the field, this ad strikes an emotional chord with most of its viewers.
this ad's appeal is in its aesthetic sensations. this type of appeal is typically more ambiguous than the other appeals because it's harder to really quantify someone's taste. any ad that uses this appeal relies on its creativity and exactly how the public views it.
the ad i have chosen exemplifies this appeal because it is clever and funny and especially creative. but it also exemplifies the aesthetic appeal because it appeals to a particular group of people, but since we do live in texas it works.
this ad's appeal is in its aesthetic sensations. this type of appeal is typically more ambiguous than the other appeals because it's harder to really quantify someone's taste. any ad that uses this appeal relies on its creativity and exactly how the public views it.
the ad i have chosen exemplifies this appeal because it is clever and funny and especially creative. but it also exemplifies the aesthetic appeal because it appeals to a particular group of people, but since we do live in texas it works.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
8th blog post
the three act structure has been in use in cinema for decades because of its simplicity in storytelling. its typically used to track the protagonist's development up until a climax. the remake of Dawn of the Dead (holloween theme) employs this system although there is no clear protagonist but rather a group of lead characters. the introduction consists of having the audience in thrown into the action of the movie right from the get-go and proceeds in all its gory glory until the scene where Mahki Phifer's character's wife and unborn baby succumb to the zombification. this ends the first act since it tracked phifer's character for most of the film and many of the other characters come to startling realizations about their survival at this point. this occurs about an hour into the film. it is also about this time that the characters decide they can't stay put for long.
the next act consists of the groups preparation to leave the mall. the characters continue to develop and in some cases die. the complication includes the death of the groups neighbor andy as well as some good zombie kills. in this act the tension is increased for the audience as the group looses more people with closer calls for some of the main characters. by the end of this act when they finally leave and blow up a good amount of zombies with clean burning propane (king of the hill reference)/
the climax of this movie begins when the group finally leaves the mall for their zombie-free paradise. by this time the mall is almost completely overrun by the zombie hordes. more of the characters die along the way but day breaks for the cast and we think that through all this hardship they can start moving on with their lives. although the 3 act structure is supposed to help the protagonist deal with all the conflict of the narrative and typically end on a happy note, this movie ends with their island of salvation populated by zombies.
the next act consists of the groups preparation to leave the mall. the characters continue to develop and in some cases die. the complication includes the death of the groups neighbor andy as well as some good zombie kills. in this act the tension is increased for the audience as the group looses more people with closer calls for some of the main characters. by the end of this act when they finally leave and blow up a good amount of zombies with clean burning propane (king of the hill reference)/
the climax of this movie begins when the group finally leaves the mall for their zombie-free paradise. by this time the mall is almost completely overrun by the zombie hordes. more of the characters die along the way but day breaks for the cast and we think that through all this hardship they can start moving on with their lives. although the 3 act structure is supposed to help the protagonist deal with all the conflict of the narrative and typically end on a happy note, this movie ends with their island of salvation populated by zombies.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
7th blog post
one of the characteristic of the sit-com is the narratives always end in the same manner they begin: everything is resolved and the audience looks forward to next week's shenanigans. whatever the storyline for the particular episode is always able to resolve without altering the main characteristics of the show. this is indicative of the episodic style of a sit-com. this means that the show will be based on individual stories per an episode.
This aspect of the sit-com fits within the genre of the sit-com because it would make the show more reliable to the viewer, its safer. the show wouldn't change in such a drastic way as to shock the audience. this made the show a consistent distraction for the audience. this expectation with a prescribed storyline drew in weekly viewers who could watch a show for half an hour and go about their lives much like the characters in the show would presumably do. this also allowed the writers to continue using the formulas they used to write.
Comparing this to the show Futurama, you can see this formula is still apparent (even in the year 3010). This aspect of the show has even been referenced several times. flat out in an epsiode where aliens want the end of a show and when they try to remake the end Fry explains to everyone how the ending of a show should be like the start where nothing dramatic happens and everything is the same. But what makes this show brilliant is that they adopt this style, but exaggerate it ten-fold: going so far to as to play out the entirety of the universes life... TWICE and end up in the same place the episode began.
This aspect of the sit-com fits within the genre of the sit-com because it would make the show more reliable to the viewer, its safer. the show wouldn't change in such a drastic way as to shock the audience. this made the show a consistent distraction for the audience. this expectation with a prescribed storyline drew in weekly viewers who could watch a show for half an hour and go about their lives much like the characters in the show would presumably do. this also allowed the writers to continue using the formulas they used to write.
Comparing this to the show Futurama, you can see this formula is still apparent (even in the year 3010). This aspect of the show has even been referenced several times. flat out in an epsiode where aliens want the end of a show and when they try to remake the end Fry explains to everyone how the ending of a show should be like the start where nothing dramatic happens and everything is the same. But what makes this show brilliant is that they adopt this style, but exaggerate it ten-fold: going so far to as to play out the entirety of the universes life... TWICE and end up in the same place the episode began.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
666th blog post
The Matrix Reloaded is a marvel of cinematography despite the over use of of CG in my opinion. Many scenes in the movie are absolutely brilliant when it comes to camera shots. The scene near the end when Reeves confronts The Architect is quite the exploration into the nature of all things. The scene begins with with the camera pulling out of shot of the Milky Way which pulls the viewer into the room where this scene will take place. This use of the long shot is a statement about the gravity and universality of the content of the scene, "why are we here?". This conversation will also hold the fate of humanity. It is revealed that the shot of the Milky Way is a television screen of which The Architect is seemingly in control of. The very idea that The Matrix was designed by an architect echoes the ontological perspective of intelligent design that the universe's complexity and 'fine-tuning' of forces has come from sentient being who kind of looks like Colonel Sanders.
The camera goes into a panoramic over view of the room. This compared with the previous shot is supposed to give the audience a general perspective and let them know the setting with Neo in the center. however, this shot, i feel, is supposed to stand in direct comparison with the shot of the galaxy. the audience's knowledge of the cosmos is limited to what we understand as the universe, but room represents a completely other dimension. the shot ends with Neo standing alone surrounded by screens displaying himself. in lecture, the long shot is supposed to give a feeling of loneliness, which is true in this setting in a way, but it also symbolizes the oneness (if such a word exists) that The One is supposed to have. Neo is alone in this room, but he represents all of humanity.
The scene goes on from here with close up shots, medium ranged and long shots of Neo and The Architect as they trade words with each other and get deeper into the meaning and nature of their existences. the first shot that reveals the architect as a representation of a person is in a close up shot giving the audience a sense of familiarity by seeing a human face but conversely shocking the audience with the face of the creator of what we know to be reality.
The entirety of the conversation takes place with all three range shots reserving the long shot for statements the two make in regards to all humanity while the specifics of the dialogue is reserved for close and medium shots.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQSXNq7b8GQ
The camera goes into a panoramic over view of the room. This compared with the previous shot is supposed to give the audience a general perspective and let them know the setting with Neo in the center. however, this shot, i feel, is supposed to stand in direct comparison with the shot of the galaxy. the audience's knowledge of the cosmos is limited to what we understand as the universe, but room represents a completely other dimension. the shot ends with Neo standing alone surrounded by screens displaying himself. in lecture, the long shot is supposed to give a feeling of loneliness, which is true in this setting in a way, but it also symbolizes the oneness (if such a word exists) that The One is supposed to have. Neo is alone in this room, but he represents all of humanity.
The scene goes on from here with close up shots, medium ranged and long shots of Neo and The Architect as they trade words with each other and get deeper into the meaning and nature of their existences. the first shot that reveals the architect as a representation of a person is in a close up shot giving the audience a sense of familiarity by seeing a human face but conversely shocking the audience with the face of the creator of what we know to be reality.
The entirety of the conversation takes place with all three range shots reserving the long shot for statements the two make in regards to all humanity while the specifics of the dialogue is reserved for close and medium shots.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQSXNq7b8GQ
Sunday, October 3, 2010
one, two, three, four, FIF! (Chapelle's Show reference)
All in The Family was a sit-com from the 70's centered around the family. This family, however, is far different from the contemporary family sit-com Two and a Half Men. Firstly the idea of what a family is is changed. The main stars of the show are all blood relatives, but none of them are married and in fact one is divorced. the family in All in the Family is also an extended family with a married couple living at home while it is very apparent in Two and A Half Men the children and the parents rarely see each other. this change in the depicted family structure is indicative of how the definition of what a family is has changed.
The two shows are similar, however, because of the generational conflicts that occur in both shows. Archie Bunker rarely sees eye to eye with his son in law, and it feels like the mother from Two and a Half Men despises her sons. This conflict is the basis for many episodes.
The issues All in the Family dealt with, at least in the episode we saw in class, seem to be more socially aware. the stream of information also seemed to flow from the younger generation to the older in order to inform and enlighten. Two and a Half Men may deal with more risque subject matter, but it rarely has an altruistic agenda. the flow of information also flows from the two men to the son, but it more often then not is misinterpreted by the son with comical results.
The two shows are similar, however, because of the generational conflicts that occur in both shows. Archie Bunker rarely sees eye to eye with his son in law, and it feels like the mother from Two and a Half Men despises her sons. This conflict is the basis for many episodes.
The issues All in the Family dealt with, at least in the episode we saw in class, seem to be more socially aware. the stream of information also seemed to flow from the younger generation to the older in order to inform and enlighten. Two and a Half Men may deal with more risque subject matter, but it rarely has an altruistic agenda. the flow of information also flows from the two men to the son, but it more often then not is misinterpreted by the son with comical results.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
4th post
industry and institution factors influenced the formation of the radio industry by turning radio into a marketing machine.
the capitalist economy we all know and love means that those with the most money get to influence media, if they're willing to spend a little. most industries will sponsor a show in return for mention of their product. These people with the money inevitable control the fate of the shows they decide to pay for.
Before, when point to point interfaces were being used on the first radio sets, radio was primarily used as a means of communicating over long distances. Since broadcasting become the norm, corporations saw a new way to advertise their merchandise right into the homes and ear canals of the masses. sponsors became the driving force behind many of the programming that came onto the popular radio scene. the radio industry became centered around the concept of the sponsored programming.
the capitalist economy we all know and love means that those with the most money get to influence media, if they're willing to spend a little. most industries will sponsor a show in return for mention of their product. These people with the money inevitable control the fate of the shows they decide to pay for.
Before, when point to point interfaces were being used on the first radio sets, radio was primarily used as a means of communicating over long distances. Since broadcasting become the norm, corporations saw a new way to advertise their merchandise right into the homes and ear canals of the masses. sponsors became the driving force behind many of the programming that came onto the popular radio scene. the radio industry became centered around the concept of the sponsored programming.
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