In order to stay at the top of the charts, it seems as though networks must keep changing. A static network has poor ratings. The ways a network can change are endless. In the future, I foresee content becoming evermore graphic in order to withhold the attention of its viewers. As television has progressed, viewers have become desensitized to the graphic nature of its content. This will continue into the future, and, in order for a network to stay relevant, it will keep up with the trend.
Also, with TiVo and DVRs becoming increasingly popular, advertisements will have to really step to a new level. With the ability to fast forward and skip commercials, they will need to capture your attention in order for anyone to even consider watching them. New inventions and innovations will need to take place in order to keep up with the changing market. Advertising techniques will have to be altered--maybe commercial breaks will need to be cut even shorter than they already are. Embedding advertisements into television shows may also begin to happen.
Only time will tell what will truly happen...
Monday, May 11, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Blog #7
Reflecting on what we've learned so far this semester, I have become a far more informed consumer of the media. I didn't realize how omnipresent the media is in our life and how much it truly affects our day to day happenings. Media saturation has caused us to lose ourselves in the craze. The television unit, which we are working on/wrapping up right now, has really opened my eyes to the effects of this huge mass medium. Because of its accesibility, its reaches are vast and its effects are great (great as in large, not great as in outstanding). It never really hit me that the media has control over our lives. By coming to this realization, I am a more aware consumer. I notice their advertising tricks and the sneaky things (like weasel words) they use to pull us in to their grasp and never let go. I've found myself (sadly) analyzing commercials as I watch TV. I can pick out the target market, propaganda devices, you name it. By being able to do this, I can also catch on to the tricks of the advertisers and it becomes more and more obvious that the media is what it is to make money. You never really realize that all you're getting is ads. The media can do basically whatever it wants and it can make you believe most anything.
"When you trust your television,
what you get is what you got,
cause when they own the information
oh, they can bend it all they want."
-John Mayer "Waitin' on the World to Change"
"When you trust your television,
what you get is what you got,
cause when they own the information
oh, they can bend it all they want."
-John Mayer "Waitin' on the World to Change"
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Blog #6
As much as I would like to say that product placement in television doesn't affect me (or other teenagers), I must admit that it probably does, even more so than we think. Let's say there is a strategically placed "Pepsi" can in a scene of a movie, though a teenager may say, "Wow, they're trying to advertise something," and find the product completely ridiculous, the producer did his job well. He got you talking about his product and helped put the image of the Pepsi can in your head. It's sort of like reverse psychology. Even though we say it's dumb, we're still thinking about it. The producer got his product out there.
Because celebrity appeal is a very successful advertising technique, placing products in television shows and movies is highly effective. When someone associates a product with their favorite movie star, they're far more likely to purchase the product, regardless of if they like or need it.
Overall, I (sadly) think product placement is effective. No matter how much people say it doesn't effect them, I'm sure it does. All the producer needs to do is get you thinking about their product and this gets the job done.
Because celebrity appeal is a very successful advertising technique, placing products in television shows and movies is highly effective. When someone associates a product with their favorite movie star, they're far more likely to purchase the product, regardless of if they like or need it.
Overall, I (sadly) think product placement is effective. No matter how much people say it doesn't effect them, I'm sure it does. All the producer needs to do is get you thinking about their product and this gets the job done.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Blog #4
Option 1:How do the media images & stereotypes of men & women impact how we view each other professionally (at school, at work, in politics, etc.)?Stereotypes like this one portrayed by the media affects the way we view each other. Those who don't know many pageant contestants may assume that all contestants are as unintelligent as Caitlin. The stereotype extends to blonde women in general. This causes unequal treatment of people due to hair color, gender, and countless other physical attributes. People view women as the inferior sex because of the stereotypes enforced by the media. In politics, people fear women are "too emotional" to be in a position of leadership. In the workplace, a driven woman is considered a..."b-word." At school, boys are smarter than girls.
Stereotypes also affect the way men are treated. In politics, men are the superior, because they have led the country from the beginning. This leads to the assumption that the man is always the better choice. In the workplace, the man is supposed to be paid more, because he is supposed to be the breadwinner. If he isn't successful, he's not a real man. At school, boys are either supposed to be smart or athletic, not both.
These stereotypes are scapegoats for the unknown and lead us to make assumptions and jump to conclusions. The media reinforce the stereotypes, making it harder for a person to break out of what is expected of them.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Blog #3
TV Show: The Secret Life of the American Teenager
The Secret Life incorporates these American core values:
Youthfulness: This core value seemed to be the most obvious in The Secret Life. The main character Amy is 15 years old and pregnant. Cherishing youth is a common theme as so many people tell her she's too young to have a baby.
Humanitarianism: There are a few characters in The Secret Life who care greatly about others. Grace is a devoted Christian who looks for the best in people and tries to help them out when they are in a tough situation. She has passion for the well-being of others.
Freedom:Though everyone tells Amy to get an abortion, she stays strong and decides to have the baby. It's her freedom and her choice to keep the baby, and it's no one else's.
Individualism: This core value ties into freedom. Characters like Amy, Adrian, and Ricky like to be their own person. Ricky especially doesn't care what others think and does whatever he feels. He's the rebel of the group who got Amy pregnant.
Conformity: In most all episodes, the characters are pressured to conform, especially Amy and Ben. Ben falls in love with Amy, despite her pregnancy. They want to get married but are told everyday that it's not the time for 15 year olds to be getting married.
Though The Secret Life of the American Teenager sounds as though it would contain so many of the American core values, it only stresses a few, the main being youthfulness. The show presses enjoying your life while you still have it, by being your own person and accepting your freedoms.
The Secret Life incorporates these American core values:
Youthfulness: This core value seemed to be the most obvious in The Secret Life. The main character Amy is 15 years old and pregnant. Cherishing youth is a common theme as so many people tell her she's too young to have a baby.
Humanitarianism: There are a few characters in The Secret Life who care greatly about others. Grace is a devoted Christian who looks for the best in people and tries to help them out when they are in a tough situation. She has passion for the well-being of others.
Freedom:Though everyone tells Amy to get an abortion, she stays strong and decides to have the baby. It's her freedom and her choice to keep the baby, and it's no one else's.
Individualism: This core value ties into freedom. Characters like Amy, Adrian, and Ricky like to be their own person. Ricky especially doesn't care what others think and does whatever he feels. He's the rebel of the group who got Amy pregnant.
Conformity: In most all episodes, the characters are pressured to conform, especially Amy and Ben. Ben falls in love with Amy, despite her pregnancy. They want to get married but are told everyday that it's not the time for 15 year olds to be getting married.
Though The Secret Life of the American Teenager sounds as though it would contain so many of the American core values, it only stresses a few, the main being youthfulness. The show presses enjoying your life while you still have it, by being your own person and accepting your freedoms.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Blog #2
After viewing the video, I came to a few realizations. America's saturation with the media is more tremendous than I had initially anticipated. I forget how omnipresent the media is in our everyday lives. As made evident by the video, children are heavily targeted by the media. When I was little, there was a time when I wanted to buy a certain cereal because it had a Jurassic Park dinosaur on the box. Let me tell you something. I don't like cereal. This video reinforces the effect the media has on children. Although I knew of America's obesity epidemic, I never really drew the connection to the media. Like the time when I wanted the Jurassic Park cereal, children are easily influenced by what they see. From the moment they are born, someone in the world is trying to get them to persuade mom and dad to buy them a certain toy, game, or candy bar. The saddest part about all of this is, I, myself, didn't realize the problem. This proves how truly saturated we are with the media. When you don't realize the effect the media has on your everyday life, that's when you can truly see how absorbed we are by the media.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Blog #1
Compare your Note Card Interview responses. Consider as well the ideas we've discussed in class.
After doing the Note Card Interview, I discovered that my interviewees shared similar views on the media. When asked, "What is 'media?'" their responses revealed that media mostly serves as an information center that allows people to become aware of the world around them. From the in-class notes, "medium" is a Latin word that means "a form of communication." Those whom I interviewed understood this meaning and its many uses in our modern world. Though all had a basic understanding of what the "media" is, they all had different most commonly used media. Television, internet, and the newspaper were the most important to my interviewees. Each interviewee also thought the medium they used most frequently was the most important medium there was, for different reasons. All in all, those interviewed agreed that the media's impact on their lives was huge. It keeps them in the loop, allows them to be informed, and broadens their horizons. This interview helped reinforce the importance of media in a person's life.
After doing the Note Card Interview, I discovered that my interviewees shared similar views on the media. When asked, "What is 'media?'" their responses revealed that media mostly serves as an information center that allows people to become aware of the world around them. From the in-class notes, "medium" is a Latin word that means "a form of communication." Those whom I interviewed understood this meaning and its many uses in our modern world. Though all had a basic understanding of what the "media" is, they all had different most commonly used media. Television, internet, and the newspaper were the most important to my interviewees. Each interviewee also thought the medium they used most frequently was the most important medium there was, for different reasons. All in all, those interviewed agreed that the media's impact on their lives was huge. It keeps them in the loop, allows them to be informed, and broadens their horizons. This interview helped reinforce the importance of media in a person's life.
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