A Farewell To An Interesting Class

I know we're supposed to "technically" write about a medium, but being as how this is the last blog post for the semester, I figured, "What the heck? I'll say goodbye and reflect."

I will be taking away from this class a lot of knowledge that I previously did not store in the depths of my brain cells. I learned quite a bit of very interesting information that I did not know I enjoyed knowing and also information that I could've survived, and enjoyed surviving, without knowing (some information we took in was a little graphic and a little biased - but hey, technically, all information is biased in some way, shape or form).

My favorite part of the class had to be the chapter presentations by my fellow classmates. I really enjoyed seeing what they found most important and interesting out of the chapters they selected. It is a different way to learn and I think I took away a lot more information away from the class because it wasn't the same technique or process everyday as it would be if just one person, such as the teacher, taught everyday. My least favorite part of the class was the theory project and the amount of homework. I understand that the homework is necessary but I had 21 credits this past semester and all the homework was difficult for me to keep up with. I did not really care for the theory project because it was extremely difficult to find information for especially since we couldn't use the book for a source. I enjoyed working with my group, we had fun, but I did not like the project itself.

The material we learned in class will definitely influence the way I view advertisements, movies, TV shows, music videos, read a paper, magazine or a book. I learned a great deal and will apply it to the rest of my life and my career.

Bashed In On All Sides

Have you ever stopped to think about how many different forms of media there are out there today? I mean, really stopped to think about it; as in, you've sat down, made a list then sat back and uttered a barely discernable: wow! Well, I did today as I worked on homework for 3 different classes. The number of individual "mediums" is astounding. It blew my mind today when I actually focused to see just how much we are having thrown at us and from how many different angles.

First off, here is the list a came up with this afternoon: (I probably should've just kept working on homework, but let's face it...I/we have been doing that non-stop for the past three weeks now and it was TOTALLY a break worth taking--gave me my blog idea didn't it?)

`internet

`advertisements

`television

`commercials

`billboards

`radio

`blogs

`emails

`phone calls

`text messages

`papers

`books

`social web-sites

`magazines

`bathroom stalls

`buttons/pins

`bus and van sides

`airplane banners

I am sure there are many more that could be added to the list but that's all my stretched, taxed mind could think of.  We wake up and media smacks us in the face. The TV, our phones, our books, our drive to and from work or school, our computer, and anything else you could possibly imagine subject us to multiple forms of media every second possible.

With all of the media we consume in a day it is amazing that we do not spew random bits of information at random times. It is amazing that girls even know what the "self-confidence" means; we do not have it, but we at least know that it exists.

Pressure on youth in today's society

Alright, I might be pushing the bill here a little bit because the topic I've chosen to write about for this week's blog is not exactly a medium or about a medium but is more about what really caught my attention while watching one of my favorite shows. I was trying to decide what to write for this week and was having a difficult time figuring out what to do.

To try and trigger my creative juices I started flipping through channels and found that Law and Order: Special Victims Unit was on. Stephen and I started watching it and the episode really caught my attention. The episode was entitled Hothouse. In this episode Detectives Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler discover a 14-year old girl's body in the Hudson River. As they dig deeper trying to discover the girl's true identity, they uncover the world of elite boarding schools and the deep dark secrets the "hallowed halls" conceal. They discover that 14-year old's name is Elsa Lychkoff, the daughter of compulsive gambler, Joseph Lychkoff, who was abusive to both of his daughters until he kicked his oldest daughter out at age 16 because he felt Elsa had more potential and he couldn't waist his time with his oldest anymore. Elsa was offered multiple scholarships and her father was offered monetary gifts just to send her to the boarding school because she is a child prodigy with an incredibly high IQ. The detectives eventually discover that Elsa's roommate, Jennifer Banks, was the one who stabbed her three times in the chest with her pen, bashed her head against the ferry boat railing four times, then pushed her into the Hudson River. Elsa had been ignoring Jennifer and Jennifer just wanted to clear the air and talk to her but Elsa overreacted and pushed Jennifer. Jennifer, having not slept for six days due to taking an ADD prescription in order to stay awake and cram for up-coming finals, was suffering from Sleep Deprivation Psychosis when she committed the murder. Jennifer had the emotions and feelings of a child but the intelligence of an adult. The pressure to be on top, to be the best, pushed Jennifer, Elsa, and every other pupil in that school to go to extreme measures. The faculty and staff of the school, according to Jennifer, even gave students the tools and tricks to get psychiatrists to prescribe medicines that would help them stay awake for days on end and focus for hours on end.

All of this information led me to think about the amount of pressure that is put on today's youth to succeed, to be the best, to be better than anyone and everyone else. The pressure is so great that they/we find anyway we can to cope with the pressure and the stress. Whether it is drugs, prescription or illegal, alcohol, cutting, or yes, even more constructive habits, we will do whatever it takes to impress our superiors and be the individual who comes out on top and is recognized and praised for our work and talents. Think about this: are we forcing our youth into an environment where they are forced to use performance "enhancers" to achieve the goals WE set for them? Or an environment where the focus on one goal so thoroughly that they can lose sight of reality and even lose their sanity?

Being A Refugee

With the flooding and chaos and the sewer system collapsing in our "beloved" Valley City, North Dakota, my boyfriend and I decided to obstain from being a futher burden on the city and it's crews and retreat to our families homes. We spent a week in Washburn with Stephen's family and when he left for Anaheim, California for the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) for the Delta Epsilon Chi competition on this past Tuesday, I headed to my hometown of good ole Portland, North Dakota. He joined me here today after I retrieved him from the Fargo airport and drove through the pouring rain back home. (Like rain is all we need to add to the already existing wonderful conditions right?! Nah, but the snow we got this evening and throughout the night is definitely not asked for.) We're going to hang out here for this week then it's one more trip to Washburn for Stephen's brothers' confirmation and then hopefully home to the wonderful apartment which we have not spent any time in for about a month now. Ok, maybe just 2 1/2 weeks but that's still a long time to be away from your home and the comfort of your own bed.

I love seeing our families and being able to spend time with the people I love, especially since we do not see them so oftern, but I also miss the comforts of my own house. I miss being able to just lounge around without being asked to do something or be in someones way, I miss sleeping in my own bed, and most of all, I miss my own bathroom (sharing a bathroom with my two teenage brothers (who are kind of slobs) is NOT my idea of a "vacation"). At least I do not have to use the porta potties that now occupy the streets of Valley City. I love camping and I love being outdoors but I draw the line at porta potties; they just give me the willies. I have enjoyed spending time with family and friends, but I cannot wait to return to my own home.

My Issue With Today's Society

Stephen and I went and saw "I Love You, Man" in theaters for a date yesterday and I have to say one thing...really?! I mean, is the movie industry seriously that hard up for ideas that they have to resort to such poor content quality? Don't get me wrong, I thought it was hilarious and I enjoy slap-stick comedy every now and then just as much as the next person but I don't think movies need to be that crude or distasteful. When you get embarrassed WATCHING the movie play out, you know it's bad. My dad discouraged us from going to see it, but there wasn't another film showing at that particular theater that Stephen wanted to see. I personally think Hollywood has to reevaluate their morals and the messages they are portraying to the youth and the general population of today's society. When every other word in a film is a cuss word or referring to sex of some sort, I think it's sending the wrong message.

People wonder why violence, sex, drugs and cussing are such major issues in today's society. They should take a gander at the films that the youth and general population are watching today. No matter what movie you choose to see you'll see smoking, drinking, sex, drugs, swearing, and violence. It's ridiculous the amount of exposure we get on a daily basis. Whether from the news or films or video games. We're exposed every second of everyday except in our sleep and it's really quite scary if you think about it. I believe our society and everything in it really needs to be reevaluated and we need to start over fresh.

Why Oh Why?

As I'm writing this blog my beau and I are watching Sweet Home Alabama. I'm sitting here on the couch and a question popped into my head. "Why are all chick-flick lead chick cliques the exact same?" There is always the female lead, who is the most gorgeous female in the film, then there are who two best friends, either a foreign or "abnormal" girl and a gay man. It never fails. There's always the weird, wacky, sometimes foreign, friend who keeps the female lead on her toes and inspires them to live their life to the fullest and the gay guy friend who dresses them, gives them relationship and fashion advice, and keeps their spirits up when the plot line threatens to crush their very existence. I cannot believe that I never realized that before. It's the most often commonality other than the plot lines! I mean the consistancies between in these movies with the character types, the plot lines, and the characters themselves...it is absurd.

I can think of quite a few examples right off the top of my head of films and even TV series that fit that 3 friend commonality.

Sweet Home Alabama
Because I Said So
Bride Wars
Under a Tuscan Sun
Clueless
Devil Wears Prada
Will and Grace
Sex and The City
Greek


Now some of these may deviate a little from the commonality buy adding a friend or two or switching the girl friend to a guy but the character types all remain true to line. I can't help but wonder why? Do you know?

I wish just once that someone would come up with something a little more origional. Something that deviates from the norm and that breaks the ice and opens up the door for films that don't have identical plot lines. I wouldn't care if it started a new trend and that films began following that plot line (for a while anyway) as long as we got to have some variety. Don't you?

Fireproof....life changing...literally

I know I have written about specific movies for the past few weeks but I am going to ask you to bear with me because I am going to write about one specific movie again this week. For one, I really truly enjoyed this movie and two because I am completely out of ideas otherwise and I need one more week to brainstorm. Sorry! I apologize in advance to you guys reading this week's blog because this is truly more of a "chic flick" than any of my other picks so far.

So yesterday, I watched Fireproof with Stephen and we both decided that it is a great movie, as long as you can survive the slightly cheesy acting sprinkled throughout it.

Caleb Holt (Kirk Cameron) is a heroic fire captain cherishes service to others and dedication above and beyond everything. As a firefighter, he knows that you never leave your partner behind, but the most significant partner in his life, his wife Cathryn, played by Erin Bethea, is beginning to spark with what promises to turn into destructive, hate-filled flames. Caleb's father however, is determined to help his son find his way back to Jesus and back to loving and cherishing his wife like he did when they were first married. He sends his son "The Love Dare" which is a 40 day "activity/book" that gives the reader a task and verse for each day. The reader must attempt each task and do so with their whole heart in order for the dare to be successfull. It's a challenging, trying task that really tests the readers heart and motives, especially in the first twenty days. Caleb finds Jesus, his love and his forgiveness on day 21 and from there he truly wants to prove to his wife that he still loves her and wants to be with her and he goes at the remaining 18 days with all his heart. He succeeds but not without thinking he was too late to win back his wifes trust and love. His father, and mother, brought him and his wife back to the faith and to each other.

You cannot give love away to someone that you do not have yourself.