How Oblivious to Media are You?

It’s amazing how when you’re not aware of something in your life you don’t notice it. Yet once someone makes you aware of it, you see it everywhere you go. Then you think it’s a coincidence that it is appearing everywhere, meanwhile it was always there you just never noticed it, and now you are consciously aware of it.
So what does it mean to be consciously aware? Let me give you an example. Last week in class I learned about a guy named Mike Vick. I had never heard of Mike Vick before in my life. Then, on Friday night, I was at work, it was pretty slow so I was just listening to the radio. All of a sudden, a rap song came on KISS FM. It was a song I’d never heard before because I don’t normally listen to that station. Anyways, in the middle of the song, the guy rapped “I can throw down like Mike Vick”. I couldn’t believe it! I had never heard of this guy before, and now I’m randomly hearing about him on the radio.
During this past weekend I didn’t have much time to do anything, so I was in the same surroundings all weekend. It was homework and Adventure Village all weekend. I noticed that my work advertises Pepsi ore than any other product. Between our pop machines and huge Pepsi signs everywhere, there is not much room for anything else. I also noticed that even though Pepsi is advertised everywhere, some people are truly oblivious to it. Everyday, at least one person comes to the snack bar and asks for coke; meanwhile, we all know Coke and Pepsi are never both sold in the same place. People don’t notice the advertisements because they see them so often and they’re not consciously aware of the advertisements around them!
Through out the weekend I also noticed that people automatically look at our signs with pictures of food, instead of reading the list of all the foods and prices because they know exactly what they are looking for. People always come to the counter and say “can I have one of those ice cream cones on the poster over there?” and when I ask them which flavour they want, they respond with “I don’t know the one on the poster,” so they want what they see, they don’t even know what flavour it is!
While I was at home, I looked around my house for things involving media. The first thing I noticed was magazines that were in my living room. It made me laugh when the first words I read on the cover were “back to school must haves” letting us students know that we mush have what’s in style, what everyone else is going to have.
Later that day, I was watching Ellen, and she read an email from a viewer that asked her to change the commercials for her show. The commercial was the “Empire Today” carpet commercial, which I can say I do know off-by-heart. The commercial is ridiculously overplayed.
Personally, I think I experienced a lot of media considering I was only at two places all weekend! On a regular weekend, when I’m out doing things, I must experience a lot more media then I should.

Work Cited

Unknown Artist. "Pepsi Logo". Unknown Date. Online image. Cherryflava - trends and innovation. 12 January 2008.

Different People; Different Technologies

People of different ages or sexes prefer different items because they're in a different state of life. They have different interests, and that is why they use different technologies more often. I tend to use my cell phone the most because I am always texting, meanwhile my mother does not have a clue how to text, all she needs is for the phone to make calls. Although, in my case I use my cell as a form of communication all the time! My father knows how to text, and he does sometimes but he can’t be bothered because it takes him longer to text it rather than just making a quick phone call. I text so much that I am ridiculously fast at it, so I don’t find it inconvenient at all! This is an example of how different technologies are found convenient and useful for different age groups/people. Another example would be the fact that my dad watches a lot of television; he finds it relaxing and enjoys it. This is the complete opposite to my brother; he finds the television a complete waste of time and would rather be doing anything other than watching TV shows. As for the computer my mom tends to use that the most because of her business. She works out of our home so she uses the computer and phone to communicate to her customers. My mom uses the computer more productively than me. I tend to use it for entertainment and homework. My dad on the other hand rarely ever uses the computer, and is an extremely slow typer. This is what makes me believe that people of different ages and sexes tend to use different technologies.

Fulla ! Barbie's New Challenger

My response to "Barbie Meets Her Match" Mark Mackinnon. The Global Mail, October 27, 2005.

1. Who created it and why?

NewBoy created it because Barbie was banned from most Middle East countries because of her clothing,style and message. Fulla was produced because it fit into the cultural realities of the Arab world.

2. Do people want it?

Young girls in the Middle East love Fulla. She has become a hit, the same as Barbie to Americans. You can buy Fulla cereal, Fulla gum, Fulla bicycles, Fulla bikes, etc. Also since Fulla's clothes are all appropriate you can buy life size clothes for girls!

3. What facts or statistics are used?

In the time between November 2003 and October 2005, 1.5 million Fulla dolls were sold. Fulla was also outselling Barbie by a 40 to 1 margin at a store called Spacetoon in Damascus.

4. What do you think?

I think the purpose behind the Fulla doll is to give Arab girls a doll which fits their culture. Personally, I think it was a very smart investment considering how popular Barbie is in the US. I believe the message in which Fulla gives off to Arabs is much better than the message Barbie gives to American children.

Work Cited

Unknown Artist. “Fulla”. October 6, 2007. Online image. Tunisian Authorities Confiscate Dolls Wearing Hijab. November 21, 2007.

Spears VMA's Performance

Britney Spears’ performance at the VMA’s was torn a part as she was apparently ‘drunk, fat, and lip singing.’ No matter what the people are never satisfied. There are always new stories coming out, one minute someone’s gone anorexic, next someone’s addicted to crack because she’s too skinny, or they gain a little weight, now suddenly there pregnant with someone’s boyfriend’s baby. I think it is all ridiculous. Honestly, I like the fact that Britney came out on stage the way she was, as if she wasn't afraid to hide it. She is definitely not fat, nor is she as skinny as she once was. But I definitely think that she is an average size, which most people in the real world are. With all these people making fun of her, I believe it is coming back on us as a community. Before we could look at magazines and be like "wow she’s so pretty, look at her body, she’s so in shape, etc"... and then there would always be someone who said "yah but that’s her job, she’s rich, she stays fit with only the best, they have motivation to stay fit." and then us as girls would realize that is true, we can't compare ourselves to famous models, singers, etc. But now that there making fun of her that is basically making fun of every one of us because she is an average size. I believe that Brittany Spears has become a mess, but she is not going to get better by getting hounded on all the time for every little thing!
The media is never pleased with everyday average stories that show the good. Where was the media in the beginning when Britney was still sane?... where were all the stories telling us about the great things she was doing for her children?... All the media ever talks about is all the bad or shocking stories. People can’t honestly believe that she never does anything good.
Clearly Britney Spears is going through a lot and she is not going to get better by being criticized every time she tries to bring herself back on the scene.

Work Cited

Unknown Artist. “Britney Spears VMA Performance”. September 10, 2007. Online image. Con’s Stance. November 3rd, 2007.