One of my favorite books I've read has to be Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. This book was very inspiring and beautifully written. It contains life lessons told by an old professor who has been diagnosed with ALS to a former student. This book contains knowledge about life through the value of love and fear and about acceptance through detachment in whatever situation you may be in.
Another favorite is The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. This book was orignally written by a Spanish author and became a worldwide bestseller. The book is about a young boy who stumbles across a secret library and chooses one book he needs to protect. The story involves mystery as the boy prevents the book burning of forgotten books.
The Da Vinchi Code by Dan Brown was a really interesting read. As a Christian and for someone who is pretty religious, I felt that many things in this book contained aspects I did not agree too. However, the book was so incredibly well written and clever that I could not stop reading. I felt a sene of thrill and mystery nonstop as I read this book.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Week 2: Media Impact
The impact media has made in our society today influences us in ways that we don't even realize it. There are many positive and negative ways it can make us feel or think about ourselves, others, and the social society as a whole. Reality television shows have gained popularity throughout the years on many television stations. On MTV, a well known television station that caters to mainly teenagers and those of a younger crowd, brought upon a reality show called "Jersey Shore". I've seen the first two seasons of this reality show and it was very entertaining to watch. However, the show has brought up a number of problems on stereotypes and vulgar behavior shown in the area filmed. As a viewer of the show, I can see where it can be offensive to a certain group of people. The show focuses on a couple of Italian Americans and their lifestyle. The show itself was made to be entertaining to the public but have offended many viewers. Italian Americans have shown their outrage on how their behavior now stereotypically reflects Italian Americans to many viewers who have seen the show. The media impact of how one television reality show has on our society can prove to us on how powerful the media can be in ways that can change our views or offend us.
This youtube clip shows the effects of MTV's reality show "Jersey Shore" had on the residents of the shore that was filmed in, as well as Italian Americans who have seen the show.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Week 1: Media Autobiography
The Mass Media and Me.
The media is everywhere in our society today. It has gained a great amount of power throughout the years and have impacted and influenced our culture. Books, newspapers, magazines, movies, recordings, radio, television, and the internet are some of the main eight types of mass media. My personal relationship with each type of media varies as technology advances and how I may apply it into use in my life.
Books: I love to read books. I love spending any free time at a bookstore and just browse around and look for new books to read. I do have a bad habit of buying almost every book I think I want to read at the time. These books usually end up on my bookshelf untouched due to my busy schedule. When I do have some free time, I pick up a random book I haven't read yet and start reading.
Newspaper: I haven't really been much of a newspaper kind of person. I occasionally pick up one and skim through at coffee shops when I have nothing else to do. Any type of news I'm informed of, it's usually through the news on television or the internet.
Magazines: Vogue, Nylon, Cosmopolitan, Vanity Fair, and other fashion magazines are usually stacked up neatly in order from oldest to newest in a separate area on my book shelf. I love skimming through pages of the latest fashion magazine or just reading articles about the latest hot topics. Sometimes I even buy Vogue magazine editions from Italy or France. I can't read the articles because they are written in another language, but rather I buy it to look at the newest fashion from the designers in Europe. I became interested in journalism because I was such a fashion magazine addict that I really wanted to learn more and pursue a career in the field. It would be amazing to end up becoming the next Anna Wintour.
Movies: My boyfriend and I watch at least one to two movies every week. AMC should give us one of those best customers of the year deal, just kidding. I love watching movies whether it's inside the theaters or renting it and watching it at home. Lately, I've watched almost all the newest movies that came out and today I actually I saw "Hanna" in theatres. Of course at times, we watch movies that we don't end up enjoying but it's part of the experience. You love some, you hate some. Every movie leaves a message to the audience depending on whatever genre it may be. Movies are one of the main sources for entertainment in our culture. New movies come out almost every month with different plots and story lines.
Recordings: Music recordings are a big part in my life. I listen to music almost anywhere. I used to learn/teach dance when I was younger so I constantly listen to music recordings on my ipod or computer. My boyfriend is also an audio production major so he's always listening to music and recording beats. I think it influences me in a way that I'm constantly listening to the newest recordings of any track or beat in the music industry.
Radio: I occasionally listen to the radio at times when I'm driving. I used to listen to the radio a lot many years ago but lately, I listen to music on my ipod instead. The radio plays new songs but most of the time they tend to overplay songs so much that I end up just turning it off.
Televsion: T.V. shows, news, and almost everything else can be seen on the television. I spend time at home watching t.v. shows, the news, or the cooking channel. It's time consuming and relaxing to just sit back and watch the televsion. Many advertisements can be seen through commercials between the shows and there's even shopping channels that allow you to shop at home.
Internet: What would I do without the internet? Almost everything is accessed through the internet in our generation today. When I was younger, I didn't use the computer or internet as much but as I grew older, almost everything I do or see is through websites on the internet. Blog sites, Facebook, and online shopping websites consume much of my day when I have time to browse the internet. E-mail is one of the biggest form of communication used today all thanks to the use of the internet.
The media is everywhere in our society today. It has gained a great amount of power throughout the years and have impacted and influenced our culture. Books, newspapers, magazines, movies, recordings, radio, television, and the internet are some of the main eight types of mass media. My personal relationship with each type of media varies as technology advances and how I may apply it into use in my life.
Books: I love to read books. I love spending any free time at a bookstore and just browse around and look for new books to read. I do have a bad habit of buying almost every book I think I want to read at the time. These books usually end up on my bookshelf untouched due to my busy schedule. When I do have some free time, I pick up a random book I haven't read yet and start reading.
Newspaper: I haven't really been much of a newspaper kind of person. I occasionally pick up one and skim through at coffee shops when I have nothing else to do. Any type of news I'm informed of, it's usually through the news on television or the internet.
Magazines: Vogue, Nylon, Cosmopolitan, Vanity Fair, and other fashion magazines are usually stacked up neatly in order from oldest to newest in a separate area on my book shelf. I love skimming through pages of the latest fashion magazine or just reading articles about the latest hot topics. Sometimes I even buy Vogue magazine editions from Italy or France. I can't read the articles because they are written in another language, but rather I buy it to look at the newest fashion from the designers in Europe. I became interested in journalism because I was such a fashion magazine addict that I really wanted to learn more and pursue a career in the field. It would be amazing to end up becoming the next Anna Wintour.
Movies: My boyfriend and I watch at least one to two movies every week. AMC should give us one of those best customers of the year deal, just kidding. I love watching movies whether it's inside the theaters or renting it and watching it at home. Lately, I've watched almost all the newest movies that came out and today I actually I saw "Hanna" in theatres. Of course at times, we watch movies that we don't end up enjoying but it's part of the experience. You love some, you hate some. Every movie leaves a message to the audience depending on whatever genre it may be. Movies are one of the main sources for entertainment in our culture. New movies come out almost every month with different plots and story lines.
Recordings: Music recordings are a big part in my life. I listen to music almost anywhere. I used to learn/teach dance when I was younger so I constantly listen to music recordings on my ipod or computer. My boyfriend is also an audio production major so he's always listening to music and recording beats. I think it influences me in a way that I'm constantly listening to the newest recordings of any track or beat in the music industry.
Radio: I occasionally listen to the radio at times when I'm driving. I used to listen to the radio a lot many years ago but lately, I listen to music on my ipod instead. The radio plays new songs but most of the time they tend to overplay songs so much that I end up just turning it off.
Televsion: T.V. shows, news, and almost everything else can be seen on the television. I spend time at home watching t.v. shows, the news, or the cooking channel. It's time consuming and relaxing to just sit back and watch the televsion. Many advertisements can be seen through commercials between the shows and there's even shopping channels that allow you to shop at home.
Internet: What would I do without the internet? Almost everything is accessed through the internet in our generation today. When I was younger, I didn't use the computer or internet as much but as I grew older, almost everything I do or see is through websites on the internet. Blog sites, Facebook, and online shopping websites consume much of my day when I have time to browse the internet. E-mail is one of the biggest form of communication used today all thanks to the use of the internet.
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