I've Run Just as Far as I Can Run - Media Final

        Media can irk me sometimes. I have issues getting really hyped up about something. I have my exceptions (like Harry Potter) but for the most part, you will never find me freaking out about a book release, or a movie or a new song. That is isn’t to say I hate everything that gets hype because I believe that would make me look like a pretentious d-bag but I find I need to wait a little while before I get excited about it. 

Brian Griffin of Family Guy, one of the most pretentious TV characters of the modern age.

Courtesy of Photobucket

While I don’t love everything about modern media, I will take the time to “explore the cultural context in which the media operate…”  

    Media hits me in the face from the minute I get out of bed (even while I'm cursing the hour). If my roommate wakes up before I do, I am sure to wake up to her country music blasting. She tends to like “rock country” like Lee Brice while I go for the “alternative country (think the Eagles)”.When I get through calling her a hick, I put my own headphones in. There, I find show tunes occasionally mixed with rock and a lot of the Eagles.


                                                                               My roomate and I at a Lee Brice concert.








      I, like many of my college student counterparts, bring my laptop to most of my classes. I would like to assure ANY professors reading this meditation that I DO NOT EVER go on Facebook during class (*wink wink* *nudge *nudge*).  Facebook, of course, “has been one of the fastest growing sites on the Internet”. I personally use Facebook to creep on people or just to cure my boredom (when I’m NOT In class). I may or may not spend way too much time on Facebook. Hmmm.


Courtesty of the Screenshot button



In between, before or after classes, I go to work in the library. When I remember, I like to read the online version of my hometown newspaper, The Sun Chronicle.

Picture courtesy of EmilySinger.com

It’s your typical hometown paper, with features on goings-on in Attleboro, Massachusetts and surrounding areas. I’m lucky that the Sun developed an “online version of their paper” and I, a “reader can search the newspaper’s database from home” (or in this case Camp Champ). I particularly enjoy reading the Letters to the Editor. If there is a hot button topic like teachers’ salaries, there are many heated arguments via the Opinion Page.

After the Sun, I peruse other news outlets like CNN. “All news is biased”, and CNN is no exception but I still like it. I like that the website is organized into categories and the Top Stories are relatively interesting. I remember watching the Presidential Inauguration live streaming from CNN. It’s useful in those kinds of instances.   (in place of magazines)





Courtesy of the ScreenShot Button...Again



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From Youtube



At this point in the day - late afternoon or so, and this in theory would be the time that I would read a book or a magazine or something. However, this is my time to watch a movie or part of a movie. I don't have a particular taste in movies; I like what a like and don't like what I don't like. "Most people prefer the convenience of watching movies at home" and I could not agree more. I enjoy laying on my floor and skipping parts that may or may not scare the living hell out of me.

V for Vendetta Courtesy of Movies.IGN.com

At this point in time, I usually hit my second wind. With that comes me runing around like a chicken with my head cut off. I don't normally listen to the radio because commericals irritate me but if I get sick of the music on my IPod I use Pandora Radio on the Internet (Covergance at it's finest!). However, every day that my Dad used to bring me to school he had on NPR which "provides alternatives to commerical broadcasting".

Courtesy of VentureBeat.com

To end my day , I like to read a little. Some people like to think that the books are a dying form of entertainment but I beg to differ. My favorite series, THe Harry Potter series may even surpass the Bible in number of books printed. But Harry Potter isn't without its' haters. Harry Potter is number one on the Ten Most Challeneged books of the Twenty First Century. Every year " the ALA compiles a list" of these types of books that have been requested to be taken of the shelves of public places. Every time I read them I say a little thanks to the First Amendment.

Image Courtesy of HarryPotterWallpaper.org

This completes my media filled day. It is true that my conformation to the pull of media makes me a little ashamed. However, the media doesn't have a complete stranglehold on me yet. I refuse to read or see any of the Twilight saga. I even join all the "dislike" groups on Facebook. This is a time chock full with media "in such times, how do we demand the highest standard from our media?". Well, I just told you that, on my blog.

Taken by Audrey Coulter

 

When I have gotten my fill of depressing news for the day, I sometimes watch a little TV to unwind. Even though it’s ended, my favorite show to watch is The West Wing. As of now, re-runs are “syndicated” to Bravo. This is known as “off network syndication”.  Luckily for me, it’s on two or four times a day and runs in a specific order. When I catch it, it is sure to be an interesting afternoon of political satire/drama.

Champlain in 60 Seconds: Champlain from the Rooftops

from Youtube
1) My main contribution to the video was the editing. I spent a good chunk of time compiling the shots and syncing the music and voice overs.

2) On an A to F scale, I feel I've earned a solid A. I feel like I spent the most time working on the project in general. That isn't to say that my group mates didn't spend a lot of time on the project but the editing was just a long process.

3) The hardest aspect of the video was the sound. I ran into a lot of trouble with the music going under the voice overs and getting the timing right with the specific shot. 

4)The most rewarding aspect of the video was shooting it. It was a lot of fun going out onto the rooftop of Bader and shooting. Some of the shots of the lake and mountains that we got from the library were really unique with the sunset. It was also pretty funny explaining to people what we were doing up there. 

"The New Yorker?!" All nuts and bolts there"- The Devil Wears Prada - 5 minute Presentation

graphicsoptimization.com

Thesis : The New Yorker is a published magazine that services highly educated class citizens with interests in politics, opinion , theater, movies and books.


Five Facts:
1) The New Yorker publishes out of Iowa.
2) It contains “talk of the town” which is an opinion column.
3) The New Yorker reviews movies books and the theater.
4) The New Yorker writers are called “contributors”.

From Youtube

5) The New Yorker has caption contests and features drawings.
Brain: The New Yorker stimulates the Neocortex with the use of words. The limbic brain is used with its talks of music, it’s art, and its drawings..
　
Shifts : Epistemological shift- The New Yorker utilizes art along with drawings to go along with its written word.
Cultural shift: The New Yorker focuses on many aspect of what could be dying culture such as books and theater.

Principals:
　
Value Messages- Because it is a lot of opinion and criticisms, the New Yorker has a lot of value messages hidden in the opinion.
Ownership- The New Yorker is influenced by an highly educated consumer judging by its content.
　
Emotional Transfer- The different pieces of art or the plot of a book or play can invoke different emotions in the readers.
Techniques :
Testimonial - There is a page in the New Yorker that lists all credentials of their contributors.
Nostalgia - It reviews things that were more popular a while ago like the theater.
Repetition - The exact same sections are in the New Yorker every issue.

Why are you so ugly? Why are YOU so short?

We all like a good laugh! HAHAHAHA <-- See? Wasn't that a great time?

Some people are just naturally funny. At Champlain College there is a bunch of Krazy Kooks who encourage that type of tomfoolery. Champlain College has its own Improv Comedy Troupe; LOS DORMANT VOLCANOS (insert applause here)! The Volcanos, directed by Eric Ronis, get together for three shows a year. They play roughly 21 games per show, some of which require audience participation. The last show they did was at Parent's Weekend. How do I know all this? That's right! I myself am in Los Dormant Volcanos. It's a jolly good time filled with a whole lot of laughs and the occasional "OOOOOO!”

Me playing "Everyday Olympics" at our Family Weekend Show- That's a flattering picture!

Improv Comedy is so much fun! The first rehearsal, I was terrified. It's not actually as hard as people think it is. Thinking on your feet isn't terrible when you learn to trust yourself and block out thoughts of what you think you want to do! If this sounds fun, you should consider participating in our next show or auditioning next year! Viva Los Dormant Volcanos!!!

Come check out our "End of the Semester" Show on Sunday, December 12th at 8 P.M. in the Alumni Auditorium !

"The New Yorker?!" All nuts and bolts there"- The Devil Wears Prada - 5 minute Presentation

Thesis : The New Yorker is a published magazine that services highly educated class citizens with interests in politics, opinion , theater, movies and books.


Five Facts:
1) The New Yorker publishes out of Iowa.
2) It contains “talk of the town” which is an opinion column.
3) The New Yorker reviews movies books and the theater.
4) The New Yorker writers are called “contributors”.


5) The New Yorker has caption contests and features drawings.
Brain: The New Yorker stimulates the Neocortex with the use of words. The limbic brain is used with its talks of music, it’s art, and its drawings..
　
Shifts : Epistemological shift- The New Yorker utilizes art along with drawings to go along with its written word.
Cultural shift: The New Yorker focuses on many aspect of what could be dying culture such as books and theater.

Principals:
　
Value Messages- Because it is a lot of opinion and criticisms, the New Yorker has a lot of value messages hidden in the opinion.
Ownership- The New Yorker is influenced by an highly educated consumer judging by its content.
　
Emotional Transfer- The different pieces of art or the plot of a book or play can invoke different emotions in the readers.
Techniques :
Testimonial - There is a page in the New Yorker that lists all credentials of their contributors.
Nostalgia - It reviews things that were more popular a while ago like the theater.
Repetition - The exact same sections are in the New Yorker every issue.

Oh...we're halfway there, Oh oh, we're livin on a prayer - Midterm Reflection

It's hard to believe we're already at the Midterm point of Media and Society. I've come across a lot of interesting pieces of media in the last eight weeks like Reel Bad Arabs and the radio film. We're supposed to answer five questions as half our midterm so here I go :

1) After studying 21^st century media for eight weeks in this class, what have you learned? Please be specific.
      I think one of the most important things I've learned so far is that nothing having to do with media is as it first appears. Everything has a deeper meaning. I've also learned that media and technology has gone through gigantuan changes in the last fifty or so years with no signs of slowing down. Everything is converging (haha , vocab) into one powerhouse.

2) What is the most important thing you have learned about yourself as a critical reader, a writer, and a thinker in this class so far?
a) As a thinker, I've learned that I am a bit naive. I'm still attached to a happy-sunshine view of everything and that isn't always the way to look at things. For example, I knew about the racism in Alladin but I still sor t of see it as just a Disney movie that I love.

"Where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face...It's barbaric but Hey! it's home".

     b)As a writer, I've learned that I can be brutally and candidly honest if I see fit to be. I learned this after posting about my account of my mother living with MS.

     c) As a critical reader, I need to learn how to grasp the big picture a little better, instead of going after inane facts.

3) What’s one thing you would do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?
      If I were to take the class again, I would study the powertools a little more. I didn't do so well on the last few quizzes because I didn't study enough. I probably would've picked a shorter Blogger URL too.

4) What’s one thing you would like me [Rob Williams] to do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?

I think more in-class discussion would be good. The start of the semester had a lot of discussion but it seems to have dwindled. Discussion, for some, is an easier way to get an opinion out than by blogging. (Side Note: Bring Diki more often!! He's too adorable not to include!)

5) 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.

a) Power Tools - The power tools are useful for the quizzes but some parts like the trends and principals can be difficult to understand.

b) Course Blog- THe course blog is awesome for homework. It's useful but we never seem to look at peoples answers much in class. I love it though.

c) Personal Blog- I love my blog with all my technologically related neocortex/limbic brain.Blogging is so much fun!  It was useful to me, personally, when I needed to get something off my chest.

d) Quizzes- The quizzes are fair. They're useful in keeping us on our toes. We just need bigger index cards (although apparently there is a method to the Williams madness as of Thursday).

e) Films  - The films are useful in getting us thinking. I spend a good chunk of time thinking about them. For example, I've had "TV- the drug of a nation, breeding ignorance and feeding radiation" stuck in my head for about a week and a half.

f) The Book- I honestly don't find it useful.  I just don't find it worth the trouble of getting it and reading it. I really only use it for what is required.

Well, there's my meditation. Namaste.

Felicidad Puro Esta en Chile en Este Semana - Media Meditation #3

Translation: Pure Happiness is in Chile this week.

     It would be hard put to find a person who wasn’t aware of the situation in Chile. Thirty three miners in Chile had been trapped in a collapsed mine for sixty-nine days. After months of effort, a capsule [Fenix 2] was finally ready to go and retrieve the miners, one at a time. The first out was thirty year old, Florencio Avalos.

(Courtesy of Youtube)

Thirty-two men rescued and twenty two hours later, the shift leader, fifty four year old, Luis Urzua emerged from Fenix. He was met with deafening cheers and a handshake and kind words from Chiles president. Chile has seen a mass unification of their citizens and shows of support for the miners are appearing worldwide. But what's next? "The true measure of a people’s strength is how they rise to master that moment when it does [that moment] arrive". (I quote the West Wing a lot. Be Prepared)

The struggle for the miners isn't nearly over. How Chile chooses to proceed to help them from this point will truly measure "their capacity to meet a challenge" (One more time!). This weekend, most miners will or have been released from the hospital. Pardon the pun but the light at the end of the tunnel may be visible for them.

               What irritates me is this. I had always intended to blog about the miners but while I was researching news pieces to embed, I came across something bothersome. Fox News (which I tend to avoid) apparently beat CNN and MSNBC in ratings when coverage for the rescue was taken into account. I saw the same story from a bunch of online news outlets. Well, Fox, CNN and various other outlets, I have a question for you. WHO CARES?!Thirty three men survived in a collapsed mine with minimal light, barely any food (I read a story where a miner said they had to make an effort to avoid the word "cannibalism") and rare contact with the outside and you're worried about RATINGS? So, CNN and MSNBC and various outlets, go join FOX in the dog house.

(Courtesy of David Wenzel)

As for the thirty three miners, I say " Buen Trabajo. Que son los mas fuertes de los fuertes." Translate that yourself!

Camp Champ Radio Spot by :[Enter Incredibly Sexy Group Name Here]: Castles, Yaks and a British Accent

Jeremy:
 Champlain College. With breathtaking views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains, Champlain College is a hidden gem nestled within Burlington, Vermont. While unconventional with its upside-down curriculum, Champlain is one of the most community-orientated schools in the country. Its three-dimensional learning program incorporates community learning, with the unique “Life Experience and Action Dimension.” US News and World Report named Champlain one of the “Top Up-and-Coming” schools in the nation. Champlain is both a progressive and spirited college. Don’t believe us? Ask a student.

Leslie: Camp Champ is amazing. The people, the atmosphere, and the majors are all part of the amazingness. Even the sweatpants are comfy! Everyone is so friendly. The classes are challenging, not brutal. The food is edible, not disgusting. The professors are awesome especially if they raise yaks or have a British accent.
Jeremy: In the few short weeks I’ve been here, Champlain College has given me much more than I could have asked for. I’ve got a wide array of friends from many different backgrounds, teachers who all have their own little quirks, and the coolest dorm I’ve ever seen. That’s right. I live in a Victorian mansion. There is no such thing as a square building at Champlain. The architecture is almost as great as the academics, and, considering the fact that there’s a veritable castle for a dorm just down the street, that’s saying a lot.

Kelly: Transferring to Champlain was the best decision I ever made! I mean what's not to love? The beautiful location, the small, intimate classes, the knowledgeable, easy to reach professors, and the guarantee that there's always something fun going on around campus? For these reasons and countless more are why I chose Champlain. There's no other place like it!

Lindsey: Champlain
A little strange at times
 But they take care of their own and give you the best college experience possible. They are ready and welcoming with open arms. Let Us dare. Audeamus.

I'd commit any sin, mortal or otherwise, to get the hell out of here- Media Meditation #2

The Catholic Church, like any institution, has its good and bad points. I recently finished a historical drama, The Magdalene Sisters. This film documented the lives of three women in the infamous "Magdalene Laundry Asylums".

From Youtube



 The Magdalene Sisters had excellent pacing. It showed how each of the three women documented ended up in the asylum.

Three women, Rose, Bernadette and Margaret being led into the asylum (channel4.com)

It followed the beginnings of their lives there and through one scene, fast forwarded through time. The movie also had many persuasive techniques. It used
1) fear- the nuns treatment of the girls and treatment by their families ,
2)scapegoating- targeting young females for petty "sins", 
3) repetition- a lot of the same situations over and over again,
4)card stacking - the film has a large bias,
5) group dynamics- "we have to go",
and 6) name calling- many uses of the word "whore", and "slut" and "sin".
This movie definitely affected me. It was (for lack of a better word) SCARY! I was born and raised Catholic and never before have I been afraid of that. It affected my reptilian brain because all I wanted to do was fight and flight! Yikes!

 This movie was difficult to watch but if you can stomach it, it's a great film! 





A girl being abused by her father  (howyaplay.com)



"She’s like a fifties movie star, so capable, so loving and energetic." and she just keeps on s'myelin : Media Meditation #1

Every once in a while, a person will stumble across something that will tug at the heart strings a bit. I am no exception. However, never have I stumbled across something that would shake me down to the core so hard that I wouldn't be able to finish it.

         In my Rhetoric class, we were given the assignment to read an essay called "On Being a Cripple".  Nancy Mairs (the author), wrote of her experiences, her fears, her aspirations and her frustrations with (what seemed to be) a progressive course of Multiple Sclerosis. I had been avoiding the assignment all week. One might think I was simply procrastinating but that wasn’t the case at all.
            Thursday afternoon, about forty-five minutes before my class, I sat down to read the piece. Ten minutes later it was safe to say that my limbic brain was fried. Why? The piece used humor to attempt to soften up a bad predicament. It didn't sit well with me.

I was excused from class. When I went to talk to my professor before class, he gave me two options. One: To leave class. Two: to offer perspective on the essay. At the time I was too thrown to offer perspective but I’m not anymore. So here it goes:

Twenty two years ago my mother was diagnosed with a relapsing remitting course of Multiple Sclerosis. In the past four years, I’ve spent a lot of one- on- one time with my mom and in that time, I have felt enlightened, burdened, proud, angry, inspired and scared but never all at the same time. Until now.

(Me with my grandmother and mother : The two women whose lives have been most affected by MS)

I sat down in maybe five different places trying to get a grip on myself to barely any avail. I called my father. I called my grandmother who had to take care of my grandfather when he was diagnosed with a progressive course of MS. However, no one seemed to have the same perspective as me:  a scared little kid away from her mother.

Having a parent with MS is a force to be reckoned with to say the least. The appointments, the chores, the questions, the constant jump in the heart, the loud noises are only a fraction of what it is like. My mother is one of the lucky ones. With her particular course, she should experience a full recovery from an attack. My mom takes each day in stride. She laughs a lot, picks on her kids and can find humor in any situation. She keeps the house running. She cooks and cleans and is really involved in everyone’s life. She isn’t a saint. Her pride can get in the way of asking for help especially when she needs it. We may be too paranoid, especially me but we all try to make it work as best we can. My mother is one of the strongest , willful people I know. She’s as stubborn as a mule and I wouldn’t have it any other way. She reminds me of Jed Bartlett from The West Wing whose character also had MS. He said “All I can promise you is that I will fight with every fiber of my being, with every weapon in our arsenal, and with every ounce of God's grace to keep us strong, and free, and safe.” I’m confident she’ll do the same.Well, I feel better! Imagine how long this post would have been if I had actually read the whole thing!

Clip from The West Wing: Courtesy of Youtube

Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me?

My name is Leslie Duclos, most call me Duclos or (L) Duke(s)(y)etc. I am from Attleboro, Massachusetts.

I decided to change my media experience from over the summer because I thought of a better one. Toward the end of the summer, I took part in a local theater production of Les Miserables. At first, I was a little skeptical about how it would turn out but we ended up selling out all three performances and the end result was incredible. It felt awesome to be a part of it.

Me with Shannon Radford who played Fantine in Les Miserables

(See me at about :50)

What I like most about modern media is that it has the ability to make everyone's life easier but that is also what I dislike about it. I think that staying connected with someone or researching should take a little effort.

I want to be a playwright in the future. I have a few plays written but I would like to expand my horizons.