Media Conglomeration Animation

For the media conglomeration animation project, I chose to use Sony. Sony is comprised of a few different business operations including, Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Ericsson, Sony Computer Entertainment, and Sony Pictures Entertainment. The frame shown above is comprised of some of their logos for those business operations, as well as some of their products they have produced. The animation I created starts with Sony, and then adds on each of these branches. Next, products they have created such as PlayStation, laptops, PSP, digital cameras and camcorders rapidly appear on the screen. Then some of the artists that belong to their record labels are shown. These artists are extremely popular and include names such as Leona Lewis, Chris Brown, Alicia Keys, Gavin DeGraw and Jennifer Hudson. The last frame is simply the Sony logo. I did this to show that Sony owns all of the logos and products that were shown, from PlayStation to record labels, they are a media conglomerate that controls a good deal of the mainstream media. As these media conglomerates begin to gain control over the production, distribution, marketing and sales of the media they become more and more powerful. As a result the ownership of mainstream media is decreasing and ending up in the hands of a few powerful conglomerates.

Magazine Cover

For the magazine re-do project I found this image of George Bush and Al Gore from the 2000 election. The image put their two faces together in front of the White House. I thought it would be interesting to change this and put the faces of Obama and McCain together instead. While the 2000 election was said to be the craziest ever, I think this one may have won that debate. I also changed the original headline and made it a point to say that Election day is only 21 days away. While I know many people are aligned with their political parties, I also think that many people are still unsure and there really is not much more time. I also added other pictures of the candidates on each shoulder, each with respective signs from their campaign. Overall, I think that this election is probably one of the most controversial and interesting of them all and with election day approaching rapidly, it's only going to get more crazy.

Blog Quiz-Media Globalization

1) The first main feature of media globalization that I think effects us on a global level is, the globalization of media content has resulted in a greater amount of homogenization and standardization in certain media products produced and distributed by the global media industries. Basically, as a result of the media globalization that is occurring, places that would normally not be as in touch with the world are. Since more places are connected then usual, when a product is marketed, everyone sees it. This means that someone in India can see the same McDonald's commercial as someone in the United States resulting in the fact that now they both want to eat McDonald's. There is little difference in their wants which leads us to this "homogenization and standardization." Another possibility is a singer, who was based primarily in Ireland, songs are leaked onto the Internet. Before you know it she has listeners in 20 different countries and there are 100,000 fans from all over the world who want to hear this same singer. Globalization is creating a "sameness" among many cultures from all over the world. The always available Internet enables this constant connection with people from all over the place and starts this homogenization process. Also, because it is so readily available their is no time for each country to try to make it their own, instead this person, or product becomes the same one that is known in every other country.
2) The next feature that I think effects us on a global level is, the uneven flow of information and communication products within the global system and the different levels of access that global citizens have to global networks of communication. I think this feature is extremely important. Growing up at this time in the United States has proved to be full of technology, communication products and easy access to this networks of communication. For example, right now there are about 20 students in the room, each with their own computers, all connected to the Internet. I think we take for granted what we have and may not realize that it is not like this all over the world. While most of us have access to the Internet whenever we please, and constant flow of information and news, some do not have this opportunity. There are other places in the world that do not have this level of access to these global networks. While we are so used to up to date, constantly changing news and information, many places are still using old media techniques, such as the television and radio. To them, that may not be old media like it is to us. We can compare this to McLuhan's idea of the global village, where he says that anyone can participate. However, this idea may not really hold true, as in some areas of the world they do not have this access to the global world like we do. We can describe these areas as information-poor, and the areas that have this ability to participate in the global village, information-rich, like the book does.
3) The last feature that I think can effect us on the global level is, media globalization is inextricably linked with the promotion of the ideology of consumerism and is therefore bound up with the capitalist project. This is saying that this whole globalization process is being pushed by capitalism. This feature is based on the idea that many of the large,wealthy, powerful conglomerates are using globalization to promote consumerism. The companies are able to do this by pushing the idea of the "ideal life." They use television, commercials, and advertising in general to accomplish this. For example, the axe commercials often show a normal man, but then he uses axe and the girls are unable to stay away from him. They refer to this as the "axe effect." There are many other instances where advertising uses these opportunities to promote this "lifestyle."

While some of these features can be a positive, there are also concerns and worries that are forming. In the global society approach, they explain how this global village is becoming a huge part of how we are informed on many issues that effect the world. Many are using the global village to raise consciousness on different topics effecting us, such as global warming. While this can be a great way to do this, the concerns that arise are the fact that only the information-rich are able to have access to this and not the information-poor. It is also being said that no one is using this global village to show people about third world poverty. This is a problem also because people in third world countries do not have access like we do, so while our stories are flying around in seconds, their stories and issues remain in the dark.
Another issue concerning media globalization is in the world system approach. In this approach the world is broken up into different parts; core, semi-peripheral, and peripheral societies. It is argued that the parts needed to run the global village in the core societies are all being manufactured in the semi and peripheral societies who do not even have access to this village yet are making these parts. I do think that this is unfair to those societies.
Another concern is the issue of this homogenization occurring in the world. Many cultures are unable to stop this phenomenon. Cultures and societies that used to be extremely different, are beginning to become one in the same based on the easy access to this global village. This is obviously an issue as we all come from different backgrounds and have different beliefs which I think is eventually going to cause a problem.

Globalization Remix

For the globalization remix, I chose all Blackberry products. Recently, I have noticed that a lot of people have Blackberry devices opposed to before when I only noticed people using them for work. Now, many of my friends have them and I think they are becoming a trend. The Blackberry's have access to the web and e-mail which I think appeals to many people. They are able to communicate and check their e-mail wherever they are and whenever they feel like it. They have full keyboards that make it easier for users to type. They have Blackberry messenger as well, which is an instant messaging system for Blackberry users only. Also, people can now log on to Facebook wherever they are, and they can be used as GPS systems in the car. I think that because many celebrity's are using them that they are also gaining more and more popularity. There are also all these colorful cases that are meant to protect the device, but I think it's becoming more of a fashion trend. Now, they are designing new models that are smaller and better fit consumers needs which includes creating the pink Blackberry Pearl to appeal to different markets. Blackberry's are taking over and connecting the global community more each day and I do not think that this trend is going to end anytime soon.

Media Globalization

The example I chose is the television cartoon "Family Guy," which is similar to the Simpson's. The show is based on the Griffin family household, which includes Peter, Lois, Meg, Chris, Stewie and the dog Brian. While at first glance they may seem like a normal family, this is hardly the case. Peter, the father is not the smartest and often getting himself and the entire family into trouble. Lois, his wife comes from a wealthy New York family. Meg and Chris, their teenage kids, get made fun of a lot and Brian is a talking dog who drinks martinis. The funniest character in my point of view is Stewie, the youngest child, who is always forming a plot for world domination. His one liners or statements are basically ignored by the family. The show in general always takes things to the extreme while being crude and indecent and involving the dysfunctional Griffins. Many issues and events that are occurring in the world are brought up nonchalantly or in a context in which we would not usually think about them.
The makers of the show are definitely not afraid to include exactly what they are thinking in each episode and are almost always politically incorrect. Shows have been known to include issues such as gay marriage and binge drinking. Like the Simpson's, Family Guy has branched out to DVD's, clothing, bobble-heads, posters, games, action figures and even movies. I remember a few years ago when everyone was quoting the show and talking about it but I never really had taken the time to watch it. It was almost a "Family Guy" craze where everyone became obsessed with the show at once. I think that because the show lacks morals it's a place where anything goes and people enjoy that escape. Also from reading several blogs about Family Guy, people from around the world are beginning to call the Simpson's "too old." People from around the world watch Family Guy, and they have to wait up to 6 months for it to air in the United States before it gets to them.

U2 Questions Applied to Colbie Caillat

Colbie Caillat is a 22 year old singer/songwriter who is probably most known for her song, "Bubbly." All of her songs are light, warm and have a easy feel to them. Colbie writes her songs and also plays the acoustic guitar.

What differences, if any, emerge between female and male fans?
-I think that there probably is a difference between male and female fans of Colbie Caillat. As a girl, her lyrics and beautiful voice first caught my attention. I like to listen to her music when I'm relaxing or just hanging out. A guy on the other hand might want to see what she looks like or if shes pretty. Also I think that girls may be able to relate to her music and lyrics. Although her song, "Bubbly" was played on many radio stations and I saw male and females both enjoying it.

What other kinds of demographic factors such as age, class or ethnicity shape her fan base?
-I don't think that people of a specific age would be more inclined to listen to Colbie. I've heard people my age listen and people my parents age that like listening to her music. I think parents with young kids would not mind them listening to her either, especially compared to other artists these days. Most of her songs are about love so I don't think that belonging to a specific class or people of different race would listen to her music more than others. Many, can probably relate to her lyrics and the the things she sings about.

According to McLuhan's idea of the "Medium is the Message," I chose the television as the medium. Next, I chose television commercials for the "content" of this medium. I specifically picked an image from the i Phone commercial. The commercials showed how the phone worked and its features.The last image shows the mediums "message." In this specific example, it would be the increasing sales that have resulted from the i Phone commercials.