Dear Dolce & Cabana Representative,

My name is Brynn A. Longenecker, a 22 year-old college female who, like any other person, get’s bombarded on a daily basis with thousands of advertisements.  Now, I’m not the type of person to take offense to things very easily, and I make it a point to ask myself several questions regarding the material to ensure that I am not jumping to any irrational conclusions.

However, on this occasion, even after trying to understand the rationale behind your advertisement, I have failed to see or understand any good reason behind the purpose of it and have come to the conclusion that it is beyond offensive.

Your ad that I am addressing reveals a scenario evoking a gang rape, not to mention its subliminal message of violence against women.  It is bad enough that you’re advertising clothing on models who have unattainable body types, but it is an entirely different thing to take those models and block them in such a way that it depicts what would normally be a horrific and traumatic event and attempt to glamorize it with your product and label.

I also don’t understand how you insisted that “the ad was never meant to be controversial and that it represented an erotic dream; a sexual game.” I am not sure from what “study” you may have conducted that would have brought you the impression that men and women have erotic dreams or play sexual games like the one represented in your advertisement, but I would strongly encourage you to re-conduct that study because you are highly mistaken.

I am dumbfounded as to how this idea even made it to print.  Granted I understand that to break through the collage of all the other advertisements you must be original and unique, you should have done so in a much more tasteful way, verses making a mockery of a very tragic and realistic scenario.

Because your company sits on such a high pedestal and are known by much of the world, you must remember to ask yourself: “Is breaking through the clutter by posting such an advertisement really worth offending people who are victims or family members and friends of victims of rape?”

By allowing an advertisement like this to make it to print, you are not only encouraging and condoning such behavior, but also saying to the world that it is normal and okay.  This is not the way to draw attention to your product, and certainly does not speak well of your ethics.

I hope you have taken serious considerations to the points I have brought forth to you, and remember to use better judgment for future ads.  Remember what you represent and how your advertisements, even if you don’t mean it to send across a certain message, will in fact appear as a “vote” for the action you are portraying.  Your advertisements influence the world, whether you intend them to or not.

Help create better consumers and not ones who are increasingly becoming more immune to violence such as gang rape and violence against women.

Sincerely,

Brynn L.

Prior to watching Consuming Kids, I was aware that children are being used by the multi-billion dollar marketing businesses to sell products.  What I was not prepared to learn about however, was the twisted and extreme lengths to which marketers and companies go to target our youth.

The film explores the, in my opinion, unethical practices of the industry as they try to sell children (and their parents) everything from unhealthy foods like McDonalds to extremely violent video games and even the family car.  With the help of health care professionals, children’s advocates, and industry insiders, the film reveals how these youth marketers are using the latest in advanced psychology, anthropology, and neuroscience to mold America’s children into the ultimate consumer.  What is concerning about such a practice are the ethics in children marketing and its direct impact on their health and overall well-being.

Now, I understand that these people’s jobs are to sell the product.  If it’s a child’s toy, it obviously needs to attract and be targeted towards the child.  But the use of manipulation to attract is completely unethical.  Children are young and fragile and not able to comprehend this technique, therefore; by creating an advertisement, be it a commercial or print ad, targeted toward the child in a manipulative manner is indeed wrong.

Their practice of filming a child as they go on shopping trips, while they pick out an outfit, how they handle the shampoo bottle as they are bathing, or using the restroom is completely inappropriate and, for lack of a better term, creepy.  Although scientifically it makes sense that if we are to learn about whom we are targeting our products for; in this case it is the children, that by watching them interact with different products we will be able to better understand how and what they are thinking, and how to make them want our product.

But there is a very large distinction between manipulating a child to want junk food or unnecessary and age inappropriate material things like clothing or video games; to manipulating them to want educational or healthy products.  Unfortunately, today children are being heavily manipulated by companies like McDonalds and Pizza Hut and Magazines like “Seventeen Magazine” who put their logos on school property and products and via deceptive ads and commercials to brand them and keep them for life.

Now, although I’d like to be able to convince myself that these companies’ top priories are the health and well-being of the children, it would be equivalent to saying the tobacco industry wants people to quite smoking because it will in fact lead to lung cancer or some other atrocious disease, and even death.  But that’s not the world we live in.

Today, it’s all about the money; as shallow and unfortunate as that is.  And as consumers, we too are to blame because we’ve enabled these companies to stay in business and keep up this type of business practice.  Think about it, if people simply stopped buying cigarettes, they’d go out of business.  It’s that simple.  All those truth ads, although extremely well done, are targeting the wrong people.  The tobacco company will continue to make a product so long there is a demand for it.  Stop the demand, then “hasta la vista baby!” to the product.

This same mentality applies to the companies targeting children.  Throughout this video, as fingers were being pointed and blame named on these advertisement companies, one question continued to circulate itself around in my head; “where are the parents”.

On several occasions throughout the film, the people being interview explained that techniques such as “nagging” are used to get the parents to purchase the products.  But I’m left curious; are the parents now-a-days so weak that they give in to a little nagging?  And why on earth are they allowing their children to act this inappropriately in the first place?

I know when I was young, nagging was not an option.  I was allowed to ask once, my parents would give their answer which was usually followed with an explanation so that I understood why I was not getting what I asked for, and then that was it.

It is the parent’s responsibility to control what their child consumes.  Yes, we are bombarded by hundreds of ads a day, but it is the parents who have the power to make the purchase, not the children.  Parents are here to educate, support, and build the beginning of a path that the child will spend the rest of their life traveling.

It is the parent’s responsibility to be the smart consumer and teach the child to do the same.  These companies are only succeeding because we let them.  If we all simply took a stand toward what we feel is morally or ethically right or wrong, then these companies would be forced to change their strategies.

I know perhaps that this example for change is easier said then done, as I do not have children so I don’t understand what it is like to have someone young and naive wanting all the time.  However, I do know that if my parents were capable of “laying down the law” with me, because as I stated before, there was no room for backtalk or nagging with them, then so is every other parent out there.

Ultimately, I am in no way condoning the actions of these companies.  Fact of the matter is, they are driven by money and their goal to sell the product.  It is our jobs as consumers and the parent’s responsibilities as their children’s “gatekeepers” to educate and filter the products their children will obtain and use.

At the 2009 Video Music Awards, Kanye West found the opportunity to deliver yet another one of his infamous rants.

Minutes after the first award was announced for Best Female Video to young singer Taylor Swift, West made his way onto center-stage along side Swift.  Cutting her off and taking hold of the microphone, he protested; “I’m sorry, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time!”

Unfortunately, this is not the first incident in which West has made his voice and opinions heard.

At the 2007 VMAs in LA, he made it very clear that having him perform in a hotel suite rather than on the show’s main stage was extremely displeasing.

At the American Music Awards in 2004, he took the stage yet again exclaiming the he was “robbed of the Best New Artist nod”.

Although all these incidents have brought him some negative attention, it wasn’t until the 2009 VMA’s that people really took a stand.  Upon his comment on stage regarding Beyonce, the entire theater fell almost into a dead silence.  As West made his way off stage, people began clapping and came to a standing ovation for Swift.

Based on reports from inside the house, as soon as the cameras cut, West flipped off the crowd and returned to his seat.  After the commotion, Wale said to the crowd, “You can’t blame a man for speaking his mind.”  A wave of boos followed his comment, and Wale look to West and said “Kanye, I tried.”  During another commercial break, Pink walked by West shaking her head in disapproval, security came to escort her away.

Our plan to bring Kanye West back into a positive light will be a three step process:

1. Kanye West will make a public apology to Taylor Swift. He will do this by creating a viral video, posted initially on his blog page. It will be sincere and without any excuses.

2. Kanye West will ask Taylor Swifts producers and managers if he can work with her on a new single, or together on a project of some sort.

3. And finally, we need to get Kanye West out of hiding and involved in or attending something. The last thing anyone remembers of West is the “Taylor Swift diss”, so he needs to attend an event that will have people discussing that event and not the VMA slip-up.

Now, as with any PR Campaign, there is plenty of room for backfire.

If Taylor Swift rejects his apology and publicly dismisses him rude and unkind, we lose out on the chance of him making amends and forever losing listeners he shared with Swift.  However, at least he will have tried.  We also run the chance of him becoming enraged over her rejection and/or public dismiss, as he is obviously someone who becomes angry quickly, and again repeating his mistake of “speaking before thinking” and causing more self-image damage.

All three of the steps meet the PRSA Ethics Code, including truth, accuracy, fairness, and responsibility to the public.  This issue is really more personally directed towards West and Swift, and does not directly affect the public other then sheer curiosity.  Although his actions were wrong and inappropriate, it was indeed a mistake.  So long he follows the three steps, his actions should be redeemed and his self-image as an artist brought back into a positive light.

For this particular assignment, I’ve been asked to watch the film closely and write down every recognizable product I see that have been placed strategically in the film.

They included:

1.

"Think" brand of car

2.

"Chanel" logo on a bag

3.

Maragaret Bourke White book

4.

"Adidas" logos on clothing and attire

5.

"Apple" computers and software

6.

A Borders Bookstore in the mall

7.

The skateboarding website Spohnranch.com on the skateboard half-pipe

8.

"Crocks" in the shoe store

9.

A 'Woman's Fitness" magazine

10.

A green convertible VW Bug

11.

"hp" equipment

12.

"Jansport" backpacks

13.

"Lacoste" clothing worn by the frat. boys

14.

"Lincoln" car driven by the "Dean"

15.

"Mountain Dew" beverage on passerby's tray

16.

"Nikon" cameras used to take fake I.D's and gift to "Monica"

17.

"Oakley" shirt worn by student

18.

"Panasonic" equipment

19.

"Pepsi" drank by student

20.

"T-Mobile" phone used by "Sherman"

21.

"UHaul" truck outside of school

22.

"Escalade" driven by Frat. boy

Of all these products, the ones that had the most success of being noticed and remembered by the audience includes:

Pepsi, Mountain Dew, the Nikon camera, the Jansport bags, the Apple computers, the VW Jetta and the Escalade.  These products were either held on longer by the camera in either a close-up or pan, or were actually being used in the scene by the actors.

Why, you might ask?:

-The Apply computer; it was being used in the scene to make fake I.D’s and during the creation process of the College, not to mention any other time someone was on a computer.

-The Nikon camera had a close-up shot on the character “Monica’s” bed, then rack-focused after a couple of seconds.

-The Jansport bag was worn by not only the protagonists but also many of the extras and minor character roles, and had several seconds of screen time.

-The VW Jetta and Escalade were driven by two of the minor characters.

-The Mountain Dew was the first thing focused on after a cut to a scene in a food court, and we paned left with it until the camera stopped on the focal point of the scene and the Mountain Dew on the tray continued off-screen.

-The Pepsi was being drunk by a student, “Glen”, who was speaking during the scene.

These products are all targeted towards an audience whose age range for this film is 18-35.  A majority of these products appeal to young college-bound adults, such as the Apple computer.  A large number of students have turned to using Mac’s over PC’s, not to mention the protagonist for this film is also an iconic spokesperson for Apple Commercials; Justin Long.  Soda beverages, Jansport backpacks, even Chanel products all appeal to the young adult, college bound age group.

By doing this product placement, the producers can cut costs on making the film, make money back, as well as get free advertisement!

Through product placement, advertisers can advertise their products to their target audience.  Granted, we as consumers are bombarded on a daily basis with thousands of advertisements, this is a more subtle, less annoying approach.  We see the product, relate to the character, and think “oh I want that Chanel purse” or “that VW Bug is adorable, I want one to commute back and forth to school”.

Product Placement is smart, subtle and successful!  So what does Apple Inc., Chanel, Jansport and Adidas have to do with “Accepted”?  Product Placement baby!

Check out this website for more cool product placements in films you may have seen!

But it was in my sixth grade class with Mrs. Hain, I remember it well, when I was given a book that literally opened my mind.  She was a wonderfully artsy teacher who loved reading to us extremely clever and thought provoking books.  One morning she handed out to the class a book written by Lois Lowry titled The Giver; a science fiction; fantasy; dystopia genre novel.

The cover of the book, (which, if I can cut myself off for a moment, to a fifth grader is of extreme importance as it often tells us visually whether it may be boring or not), was black and white, with the face of a sad looking old man whose beard appeared un-kept and matted covering it.  His face looked withered and aged as he peered down to the bottom left corner of the cover revealing what looked like dawn or dusk amongst some forest trees.

To a sixth  grader I quickly assumed, based on the cover and title, that this would be a boring read.  But when we turned to the first page and Mrs. Hain began reading out loud, I immediately became enveloped in the story.  The book was about an eleven-year-old boy named Jonas,  (this, by the way, was my age at the time), who lived in a sort of futuristic society where pain, hatred, fear, and war are non-existent.  It is a world of perfection where there is no such thing as prejudice, and everyone is more or less the same.

The freedom of choice has been eliminated, and at the age of only twelve the people are assigned careers based on their abilities.  When it comes to love, you either apply for or are given a spouse, where then each couple is provided exactly two children.  When they have reached the last years of their lives in this perfect society, they are “released”, which in this community is equivalent to death, but is never described that way.

Those who retaliate against the society’s codes or break rules are also released, however in this sense, it is not celebrated, but rather shamed.  This society is one revolving around strict planning and organization to ensure that life is as simple and pleasant as possible.

It was truly unlike any story I’d ever read.  Just the thought of living in such a world was at first so appealing.  To have no fear, no pain, to know no hatred or prejudice.  But the further we  moved into the story, the more I began to understand how, as wonderful a world without such negativity would be, that without it, we lack an appreciation for life.  I remember discussing many themes in class that the book reflected on, a very important one being “The Importance of Memory”.

Without memory, there is no pain.  In The Giver, the community eliminated pain all-together from their lives.  In order to attain peace and harmony, the members do not partake in activities and relationships that may conclude in suffering or conflict.  Memory however, is still important.

The Committee of Elders in the novel understand that if we do not remember our mistakes in the past, history will be bound to repeat itself; so they assign a member of the community to be the Receiver, and it becomes that persons burden to remember history for the entire community.  As Jonas takes on this new role as Receiver, he comes to understand that in the same way that there is no pain without memory, there is also no happiness.

This was only one important message touched on in the book.  We must continue to grow, learn, and do better then the past.  We cannot simply forget something because it caused us a great deal of pain or hurt, but rather remember it and be sure that we do not encounter such an event again.  This will also allow us to appreciate the good: love, laughter, and happiness.  Although I wish we could truly appreciate the good without the bad, I guess we are creatures of experience.  After all, how can we truly appreciate the feeling of being in love if we didn’t know what it felt like to lose it.

I think perhaps the next most important theme I took with me in life from reading The Giver was the concept of diversity.  I remember spending so much time trying to fit in and be like everyone else, I was forgetting to be myself.  This novel does a wonderful job at portraying a community in which every single member shares the exact same experiences.  It is like one giant science experiment in which the climate of the community is controlled and competition between the members has been eliminated to ensure that everyone is working for the common good.

But if I risk losing my unique ways for the sake of being a cookie cutter image of everyone else, who do I end up becoming?  Is it really worth the loss of my diversity?  I learned through reading this book that I am me, and no one else, and to appreciate what I as an individual bring to the table, no matter how different from anyone else.

It is because of books like this that I am a more open-minded person.  I want to produce and create thought-provoking films that touch on more then just the stereotypical obstacles we find in love or crime, but rather the true meanings behind them.  I want people to really think about their choices and what impact those decisions have on not just themselves, but all living beings.

Although, as I stated earlier in this blog, I do not read the way I should; books I have recently opened include Tuesdays with Morrie or The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Album.  These are all very influential and inspiring stories that teach us to live like there’s no tomorrow, love unconditionally, and laugh till your stomach hurts and you’ve got tears rolling down your cheeks.

Life is simply too short and we never know what tomorrow might bring.  Appreciate all that we have; don’t risk having nothing to compare it to to understand that what you had was so good.  And respect all life, because we are all unique beings that make our world special and diverse, whether human or animal, we are all important.

It’s fair say that a majority of American children grow up watching Disney animated films, I know I did.  But what may come as a surprise to many is that, from movies like  “The Little Mermaid” (1989) to “Cars” (2006), Disney has been creating stories that do not only entertain, but also envelope children (and adults) with cultural themes and characteristics, whether we realize it or not.

I remember when I was little, sitting in front of the TV, my eyes glued to the moving images and enjoying so much the pretty princesses and their handsome princes fall in love.  I don’t think I honestly understood what other messages were slowly absorbed into my brain; molding me into a person that would feel the need to follow certain societal expectations.

Looking back now 17 years later to when I was a small, naive, 5-year-old girl, I know that while I was watching Ariel swim gracefully through the ocean, or Aurora singing beautifully through the forest with her animal friends, and Jasmine flying on a magic carpet ride, my subconscious was sculpting an image of myself; taking parts of these beautiful, thin, young women to create a model of what I need to be and look like if I want to fit in to this world.

Even when it comes to societal classes, although we like to pretend that in today’s world we don’t practice a hierarchical system, we still have lower, middle, and upper classes.  In many of the early Disney films that I grew up watching, the main characters usually came from a lower class and only succeeded when, by the end of the story, they’d become a princess or prince.

Such examples include “Aladdin” (1992), “Cinderella” (1950), and “Beauty and the Beast” (1991).  Although a majority of the time it was the prince saving the damsel in distress and making her a princess, these characters all needed to be rescued and then finally topped off with some sort of crown in order for them to live on “happily ever after”.

Even amongst some of these arguably bad messages, there are many good messages that can be found in Disney films too.  Being kind and caring (“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, 1937), not judgmental (“Beauty and the Beast”, 1991), respect for all life (“Pocahontas“, 1995), or unconditional love regardless of class or status.

Regardless of all these subliminal messages, bad or good, when the credits rolled, I came back into the real world.  I don’t think it’s fair to hold full accountability on the Disney films for creating these images that may encourage young children to sculpt themselves in a certain way.  Granted it would be nice to see a heavier, curvier, less-perfect princess on the big screen, it is still up to the parents to provide a healthy environment for their children to understand what’s real and what is not.

I lived in a household where my mother was not a non-working, amazing-singing, gown-wearing, tending to my father kind of lady, nor was my father the stereotypical prince charming, (however to my mother I’m sure he is!)  Although they let me escape into these films as a young child, never was my vision blurred by what underlying messages those stories were telling.  I was taught to work hard and to rely on no one but myself.  I don’t need rescuing to succeed when I can simply brush off my knees and try again.

Although my own self-image didn’t really hit me until I was in middle school, my parents were always sure on keeping me on a healthy diet and plenty of exercise.  I know very well that because of these early habits,  although I would be lying if I’d said I wish I’d had a fruit-roll-up in my lunch-bag instead of an apple, I am actually a smarter and healthier person.

I understand what it takes to maintain a healthy image, and what a healthy image really looks like, all thanks to my parent’s guidance and support.  Because of them, I know that the images created by Disney of these princesses were not the same as the normal women I see on a regular day-to-day basis.  I learned what a healthy body should look like and, in fact, many of the princesses bodies would be considered, if they were real people, unhealthy.

Unfortunately however, not everyone’s parents provide their children with such a learning and growing environment.  And like I said before, I do not place all the responsibility on Disney for creating such themes and characteristics, however  I do hope they understand that, because we are such a visual and impressionable culture, that what they place before our eyes does impact the way we choose to grow and live.

I will give Disney credit, as they have created many new stories where even the princesses are kicking some major butt!  In 1998, Disney came out with “Mulan”, a young Chinese girl who joins her country in war.  Although she still falls in love in the end, at least this time it was him who came to her seeking love, and not her looking to be saved.  In fact, there is even a scene in the film where she rescues him!  What improvement, go Disney!

We are seeing more ethnicity, more role-reversal, and more bi-racial relationships then ever before.  I can only hope they’ll take a stand and create one that speaks to Gays and Lesbian’s too.  Our culture is finally becoming more accepting of this lifestyle, one in my opinion that we’ve never had the right to judge as they are not infringing on the rights of others nor are they harming others; it is merely love, how can that be wrong?

I think Disney would be taking a big step in creating two characters of the same sex that are partners.  Hey, the kids will learn about it sooner or later, why not introduce it to them when they are young and impressionable, I can only see it making them more caring and more open-minded people.

As far as I’m concerned, I genuinely love Disney.  I have very fond memories connected to the films, and hope that other people can say the same.  Although I agree that it is time to take some steps forward and include more themes that apply to people of all races, genders, and sexual orientations, I still feel that it is the responsibility of the parents to provide a safe and educational learning and living environment for their children to grow up.

I truly feel that, at the end of the day, Disney’s ultimate goal is to keep children imaginative and yearning for experience, love, and happiness.

Now, although I am a total Facebook addict, when I read through the New York Times article Is Facebook Growing Up Too Fast? I found myself agreeing on so many levels.

From the magnificent ways in which Facebook has reunited families and friends to the unfortunate ways in which employees have been terminated; the article examines how this form of social networking technology is impacting our society and how it will continue to do so for many more years down the road.

The article opens by discussing Facebook’s rapid member growth in a matter of months, but in doing so, they have to continue to work hard to keep their numbers rising as they compete on a daily basis with many other social networking sites such a Twitter to stay on top.

One very important way they set themselves a part from others is by “promising to change how we communicate even more fundamentally, in part by digitally mapping and linking peripatetic people across space and time, allowing them to publicly share myriad and often very personal elements of their lives.” This promise has been personally kept to me as I’ve been reunited with countless family members and friends.

From cousins I’ve never been able to meet, to kids I went to school with in the 2nd grade, Facebook has successfully connected me to people I may have never been able to find again, people I hadn’t seen or spoken to in over ten years! It’s simply fabulous!

Another wonderful perk of this social networking site is that it’s free: no more long distance calling.  Connection is instantaneous: you can share pictures, videos, and information in mere seconds! This is something we could never do with someone over the phone or through letters, heck not even email! We can essentially catch up on people’s lives in a matter of minutes by merely navigating through their Facebook page, and it will be like we never missed a day!

Per Mark Zuckerberg, the company’s 24-year-old co-founder and chief executive, Facebook’s mission is “to be used by everyone in the world to share information seamlessly.” He says,” Two hundred million in a world of six billion is tiny, but it’s a cool milestone. It’s great that we reached that, especially in such a short amount of time. But there is so much more to do.”

Although it would appear that Facebook is successfully pushing along, it still has a lot of work to do to make amends for the injured feelings of users like Liz Rabban, 40, who has been turned off by Facebook due to its design changes.

“The changes just feel very juvenile,” Ms. Rabban says. “It’s just not addressing the needs of my generation and my peers. In my circle, everyone is pretty devastated about it.” But Facebook executives argue that the changes are intended to “make the act of sharing — not just information about themselves but what people are doing now — easier, faster and more urgent.”

Although even I was against the initial layout changes, I have grown to like them, or perhaps, I’ve just become content with them since my first priority with Facebook is to stay connected.  I understand Ms. Rabban’s frustration, however I understand also how hard it is for the Facebook executives to keep all two hundred million of their users happy.  They are doing their best to keep us enabled and connected and I personally feel they are doing it very successfully.

On a much more serious note however, amongst all the good that Facebook has enabled, there comes some bad, not by the fault of the site, but rather how its members use the site. Everyone we add on Facebook is put into a “friend” list; however what we have to ask ourselves is this: how many of these “friends” are truly friends? Facebook connects us with true friends, family, networks, acquaintances, teachers, co-workers and even employers.

This article discussed Philadelphia Eagles star safety Brian Dawkins when he left for the Denver Broncos. Gate Chief at Lincoln Financial Field, Dan Leone, vocalized his disappointment to the issue by posting an obscenity regarding the situation on his Facebook status update. Unfortunately, Mr. Leone’s boss, who was his Facebook “friend”, sent the update to an Eagles guest services manager, who then fired him.

This is not the only incident of a Facebook member losing their job over something they posted on their personal profile. However Facebook is strongly encourages its members to practice good privacy settings which are available to help moderate who from our friend list has access to what we post.

There are even videos that discuss privacy issues as well as websites available to  social networking site users that will teach you how to make sure your facebook profile doesn’t lose you a job.

On a brighter note, Facebook is an absolutely wonderful place to network with people that share common interests. I for example, being an active animal rights activist, have participated on petitions like to end factory farming and boycotting animal testing, to supporting groups like the Humane Society of America and Maryland Votes for Animals.

I guess what I love most about Facebook is that it has enabled people with common interests and goals to come together from all over the world to take part on a movement and really make a difference in the world.

I honestly can’t imagine my life without Facebook.  Although I know and understand that it is a luxury and not a necessity, it has played such a huge and important role in my life that it would be hard to continue on without it.

Although I see how Facebook has perhaps turned us into a less-personal society, I also see that it has brought millions of people together.  Whether it is for an important cause, a sport, or creating new friendships, I know I have become a more social and active person because of it.

My ability to connect with family in Luxemburg, classmates in Hawaii, professors at Towson University and friends is instantaneous.  If I want to spread word for an important cause or event, I can do so in a matter of seconds.  The connectivity between me and the rest of the world is jaw-dropping, and one I can’t live without.

Facebook has given professions of journalism, advertising, and public relations a new tool in which they too can connect their ideas, thoughts, and messages to the world faster then before.  They can include written words, pictures, and video all on a single page.

Their viewers can quickly and easily navigate and get the information in so many ways; it really is a revolution of technology and one I can’t imagine any person, regardless of profession, would want to go away.

Thank you Facebook, for making me an addict!

Entourage: witty, funny, tastefully vulgar, and all kinds of sexy; is my guilty pleasure!

As I sat in front of my TV Sunday night at 10:30pm, salivating over “my boys”, I did as directed by my Mass Communication’s professor and quickly navigated myself via the internet to Entourage’s homepage on HBO.

As the screen changed from Google’s homepage to HBO’s, large still shots of the character’s filled the frame dividing it neatly into sections that clearly allow even the novice internet user around the website.

We start at the top of the page with perhaps one of the most important features any website promoting a show should have; a video preview for the TV shows next episode.  For Entourage’s entourage, (that would be me and all the fans) a feature like this keeps you pumped up and waiting for the shows upcoming episode.

The next big entertaining feature on the website is character Lloyd’s combination of blogs and vlogs titled  “Lloyd Tells All”.  Here, he reflects from the most recent of episodes by posting a blog or vlog about an event that affected him in the show; such as becoming an agent and leaving the Miller-Gold Agency.  For any Lloyd fan, this is a great way to feel as though your interacting directly with him and that you are a part of this lavish yet crazy Hollywood lifestyle.

In a more informational context, we can then navigate to HBO’s The Buzz to get “the inside story” on Entourage and other HBO shows, stars and events.  This is a great way to promote other shows and connect Entourage to its HBO cable family.  Although a little too “E.T.” [Entertainment Tonight] for me, it does the trick by bringing stories and news to Entourage fans.

Organized neatly at the top right corner of the page are links that, in a very specific order, will navigate the viewer to more information pertaining to the show.  Everything from cast and characters to video and even shopping Entourage are available for us to look through.

My favorite link is community where, true die-hard fans such as myself can stay connected to Entourage by adding them on Facebook and Myspace, participating in contests, sharing our thoughts on the Entourage Bulletin Board and even downloading flashy screensavers to help us remember to stay connected!  This really adds to the websites participatory value, especially when we consider the contests, as it encourages its followers to continue following.

I think the editors of this page have done a wonderful job at keeping the page visually aesthetic yet not too overwhelming.

There are too many cases  when I go to another TV show websites that it’s cluttered and overwhelming.  Take for example Animal Planet’s, It’s Me or the Dog, there is a lot going on in a little space.  Now take another look at HBO’s Entourage, much less going on but still the same quantity of information.  I guess it’s true when they say “less is more”.

If there is one recommendation I could offer to the editors it would be to have more selection of TV show merchandise and other character vlogs and blogs.  Not that Lloyd isn’t wonderful, but the cast is so incredibly diverse and every Entourage fan has their own favorite character.

Take me for example; I’m completely obsessed with Ari and Turtle, so I’d really like to see more of their involvement on the website to make it feel like I too am staying connected with them.  Having seen EVERY episode including this weekends sixth season finale, I would truly appreciate a little more “one-on-one” time with my “boys”, especially since we are living in the day and age where technology is “all mighty”, I think it would be great to have the characters take advantage and really use it to its fullest potential.

Other then that, the site is almost as amazing as the show!  The season finale was a hit, or as Drama would say, “Victory!”

   Per an assignment from my Intro. to Mass Communication class, we were to keep track of how much mass media we are exposed to on a daily basis.

Drum roll please…..

   I spend close to 75% of my day consuming mass media.  That’s right, I said it, 75% (if not more)!  When I reviewed the list of media I was exposed to hour-by-hour in my daily diary during the last two days, my lower jaw literally hit the floor!  Almost every minute of my day, every day, I am consuming some sort of mass media…and more then likely, so are you!

   Let’s start by saying that my cell phone might as well be an extra limb on my body.  There is not a moment in my day, even when I am sleeping, that my cell phone is not by my side.  Its primary use is for texting; I use this method of communication because I have unlimited text and it ends up being cheaper then actually talking on the phone.  Music is on as I prepare myself for the day, and yes, the texting begins!  As I’m brushing my teeth, mumbling the lyrics to the song, and texting my friends “good morning”, I am turning on my laptop so that I can check email and of course my facebook.  That’s three different types of mass media all taking place in less then thirty minutes!  Its okay, you can say it; “Oh…My…God!” 

    From there I enter my car to leave for school and I don’t even have to hit the “radio/CD” button as it has the same broadcast “turn off/turn on” effect where, the moment my key turns on the car, the music continues from where I left off.  As I drive to class I see advertisement after advertisement, billboard after billboard promoting an event, product, business, etc.  Even in the classroom my professors are using the internet or computer to assist them with their lectures.  My work at Falls Road Animal Hospital has three TV’s in the waiting room; one playing Animal Planet (or a channel of our choice) and the other two promoting and educating our clients of Dr. Hammond’s work in Africa with the Gorillas.  I also use the phone and computer for my work, as the business would simply not work without it.  I finish my day driving home again to music, and generally walking into the apartment with the TV turned on, and my laptop with facebook waiting to be checked!

TO MEDIA’d the most:

    I was extremely surprised to learn that, of all the mass media I am exposed to on a daily basis, a majority of it is consumed by choice.  That included my use of the internet and cellular phone, and I can only imagine if I owned an iPhone or Blackberry, I’d be on the internet non-stop!  I gather so much information from the internet; from news, weather, homework, and social networking; it is a world all it’s own and one that upon entering, time passes so quickly it’s as though someone has a remote control to my life and is holding down the fast forward button. 

   I truly enjoy surfing the net.  I becoming visually fixated by the things that interest me, and if I find something that interests me a lot, I can instantly share it with others by linking it to my facebook.  This is an activity I engage in quite frequently, especially regarding animal issues such as animal abuse in factory and fur farms.  I can post educational and creative videos/links that help inform people and open their eyes to these issues, and it’s very successful at that!  Although these two forms of mass media pretty much consume my life, reflecting back on it I have no regrets and truly cannot imagine my life without it…

…Can you guess what the second half of our Mass Communication assignment was?  I bet you know, but just like me, it’s too cruel to believe right?     Next, we had to do without all forms of mass media for two consecutive days and record our feelings about the experience! 

“NOT TO MEDIA”:

  I am a creature of habit.  Both mornings I woke up and immediately took hold of my cell phone.  My boyfriend looked at me and said “no no no!” and as he took my cell phone away from me, laughing, I pouted on the floor like a two year old, crying.    There was no morning melody to sing to as I brushed my teeth and my laptop and facebook were probably panicking that I had not made my annual appearance.  Although I would be lying if I said I managed 48 hours without my “extra limb” (cell phone), I tried my hardest to go without it.  The lack of music in my car only bothered me when I got stuck in Glen Parking Garage as I waited over twenty minutes for a parking spot, forcing me to be late for class.  Music definitely, during the horrible moments every commuter student knows and feels just sitting in the parking garage, keeps my cool.  

    I was still subject to such things as billboards and advertisements as I drove to class and work, as well as music playing from fellow driver’s cars.  Even in class my professors used music and the internet.  When I was at work I did not take a moment to watch the TV in the waiting room.  When I got home I ignored the TV that was on in the living room and tried my hardest to keep my time on the internet to a bare minimum.  Not checking my facebook was torture, and I found myself, out of habit, typing that website instead of what I was supposed to be on there for.  Needless to say, it was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to to.  I realize how dependent I’ve become for mass media, and how extremely difficult it was for me to go through just two days without it.  I’m not used to picking up a newspaper to gather information on the world, but I did.  I still prefer the internet.  Life suddenly slowed down, because my mass media/communication was no longer instantaneous. 

  If I had to rate my level of success at avoiding all forms of media, I’d give myself a 50%.  There were simply times during the day when I had to use my phone and the internet, and I confess I snuck a quick peek at my facebook account…1…2…5 or 6 times.    Going without it was very difficult; however I got so many other things done.  During the second day of this assignment, my apartment complex lost electricity, so I was absolutely forced to go the entire day without my normal forms of mass media.  I had no TV, no internet, and believe it or not my cell phone died (as did a part of me).  But my boyfriend and other roommate Mike brought up a very interesting point; we all sat together in the living room, lit by candlelight, doing our homework, talking.  I mean really talking.  Not that we don’t have normal conversations, but normally we’re watching TV or engaged in something else mass media prompted, and we’re talking about that.  It was nice.  And when 7pm came around, over 18 hours of no power, the electricity finally came back on.  We all looked at eachother, and without saying a word, agreed to continue our pilgrim-like mass-media-free day spending time just enjoying eachother’s company. 

So, TO MEDIA or NOT TO MEDIA?  I say we make time for both!