AHA MOMENTS

AHA moment #1:
I find it really interesting how much editorial pictures in magazines are photoshopped. I knew that each model gets airbrushed and flaws get erased, but I didn't know to what extent, so that really opened my eyes about that industry. And I can't believe that actresses, like Demi Moore, find it okay for their bodies to be modified to the extent that it doesn't look normal anymore.





AHA moment #2:
I knew there was product placement in movies, cause my dad who works for apple always has to point out when they are using laptops from apple. Other than that I never really noticed the brand names that are placed in movies, like in "Talladega Nights", and ever since this class I've noticed product placement in movies and on television.

MEDIA LAW

"First Amendment Rights"
Many governments want to start censoring the internet, preventing people to express themselves and find out more about human rights.
Also 25 countries have blocked Google and Youtube. This is ridiculous, because every person should have the right to get whatever information they want through the internet. It's their choice and not the governments.

PROPAGANDA IN ADVERTISING

Propaganda techniques used in Clairol Herbal Essence ads are:

Slogan: "A totally organic experience" which sounds a lot like a totally orgasmic experience is there to influence people to buy this product, and to make sure that it sticks in their minds.

Beautiful People: In all their ads they either have someone famous or someone really gorgeous, who seems to be enjoying shampooing a little too much, which makes people think that this product will help them achieve the same results in beauty and happiness.

ACADEMIC RESEARCH TOPIC

GOOGLE BANNED IN CHINA

Google has been censoring their search engine in China for years now, but after certain cyber attacks on Gmail accounts, Google has decided to stop the censorship in this country. The hacking in these attacks were successful and affected Chinese human rights activists.
Now the Chinese aren't allowed to use to uncensored version of Google.

INTERNET

SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITES

There is about 180 different social networking websites. Most of them I've never even heard of, like Elftown or Fubar. The sites I do know are deviantART, Facebook, flickr, hi5, imeem, livejournal, Xanga and Myspace.
The one site that is not listed is a German version of Facebook called SchülerVZ.
Another German social networking site that I haven't heard of is called Frühstückstreff (meaning breakfast meeting). This is an international site that allows users to meet up for breakfast and share their thoughts and interests.

I use social networking to keep up with old friends and classmates, even some family members. It's also a nice way to talk to people other than over the phone or in person. I'm mostly on there looking at people's pictures and videos. It's also a nice way to kill time sometimes.
I used to use Xanga and Myspace, but I narrowed it down to only Facebook now.

I haven't really had any bad experiences with social networking sites, unless you count craigslist, where we got our horrible roommate from. One good thing I got out of craigslist is my babysitting jobs. Facebook has also reunited me with people I used to go to German school with in Menlo Park.

TELEVISION

Length: 5:47
Description: This video talks about why censorship is bad
Chapters: 2(Media Impact), 3 (Books), 4(Newspapers), 6(Movies), 7(Recordings), 8(Radio), 9(TV), 10(Internet)
Quiz Question: How can the government decide what materials are protected under the 1st Amendment, and what needs to be censored.
Answer: The government usually censors material that is unsuitable or even harmful to minors, or that presents clear danger to the public (ex: shouting "FIRE" inside a crowded movie theater).

MOVIES

My favorite movie of 2009 would probably have to be "The Ugly Truth".
It was a funny comedy about men and woman and how the truth is never pretty and how women can't except that. The lead characters Abby and Mike are also very humorous to watch together, as Mike tries to help Abby with dating advice. I saw it in theaters like 5 times :]



My favorite movie of all times would have to be "Sleepy Hollow".
I own this movie on DVD and watched numerous times. I like the fact that it is supposed to be a scary movie, but I love Tim Burton's underlying Humor. Plus Johnny Depp is one of my favorite actors.

MAGAZINES

MAGAZINE PROPOSAL

NAME- Deutsche Frau (meaning German Woman)

CONCEPT- This magazine is different from other magazines because there isn't one like this available in the regular U.S. newsstands, since it will be mostly in English with parts of it in German.

READERS- Readers will be German women, who either grew up in Germany or who are from German heritage, who want to reconnect to the German lifestyle a little bit more. The age group will be between 18-35 years. These women are interested in learning about cosmetic tips, relationship tips, what's going on in Germany and Europe, Celebrities etc.

COMPETITION- Our Competition will be other young women magazines like Cosmopolitan, Allure and Glamour, who serve the same demographics minus the German part, meaning that our magazine will be better because it will cover international stuff that these other magazines won't cover.


ADVERTISERS- 1. Cost Plus World Market (in association with Milka and Haribo) to promote German Candy and Chocolates.
2. Esprit German clothing store (shop online for German styles)
3. Germany's Next Top Model with Heidi Klum and you can watch it online at ProSieben (a German TV channel)
4. FIFA World Cup (to cheer on "Die Deutsche Nationalmannschaft" and to sell German articles or clothing etc)
5. Lufthansa/ United Airlines (cheap trips to Germany)

ARTICLES- 1. "Schön im Schlaf" how sleep affects your beauty.
2. "Erotik mit Biss" books about vampire/werewolf fantasies
3. "Deutsches Essen" German recipes and other favorite German foods
4. "Der erste Eindruck" First impressions are everything, how to present yourself
5. "Hartz IV" How unemployment in Germany is changing.

COVER- The cover is going to be the German national colors of black red and gold, on the cover is going to be Heidi Klum, who is a famous German model also known in America. Some of the article names will be on the cover.

BOOKS

Das Parfum: Die Geschichte eines Mörders by Patrick Süskind
Translated into English: The Perfume. I found this book in my Step-mom's book collection and decided to read it. It influenced me in a couple different ways like actually reading a German book, which made me miss my hometown, but also the plot is very intriguing. The way the author uses sensory images in his writing makes you actually want to experience what the main character is seeing and smelling. You learn a lot about fragrances and France in the 18th century.

Flight by Sherman Alexie
Read this book in one of my English classes at De Anza and ended up liking it. It influenced me because it went back into American History and showed different points of view like when the main character ends up in the body of an FBI agent during the civil rights era, and then traveling further back in time in the body of an Indian child during the battle at little big horn. Also this book gives us hope that people can change.

Mary, Bloody Mary by Carolyn Meyer
I've always liked history, and reading about it. This book shows you the other story to King Henry VII and his divorce with Catherine of Aragon for having an affair with Anne Boleyn. This book influenced me because I never heard Catherine and her daughter Mary's point of view of what really happened, and this book goes really in depth with what Mary had to go through, which explains why she was later known as "Bloody Queen Mary" for having more than 300 people burned at the stake for being religious dissenters.

MEDIA IMPACT

McLuhan's theory of "Technological Determinism"

THE PHOTOGRAPH


Enhances: Convenience.
A photograph can be used in business, as art or just for fun, in a way that it is easy and fast.

Reverses: Privacy.
It's easy to snap a photo of someone who didn't want that photo to be taken.

Retrieves: Creativity.
Even non artistic people are able to capture a picture perfect moment.

Obsolesces: Paintings.
With the invention of photography, many people stopped having their portraits painted.

MEDIA AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Books: Books have always been a big part of my life, and I never really liked to read unless it was on my own time. I also don't like reading when I have to read something that isn't of much interest to me, or when I'm being forced to read. Since I'm from Germany, I like reading German books, it helps me keep up with the language, especially with the grammar. Same goes for English books, since English is my second language, reading helps me understand a lot of individual words better.

Newspapers: I have never been much of a newspaper reader. In my opinion they are too difficult to read due to the size of them and they leave black smudges all over my hand, but I do read the front page from time to time, especially when I'm at my parents house, since I do not receive the newspaper at my own home.

Magazines: I love reading Magazines, doesn't really matter which ones. I'm subscribed to Cosmopolitan though. Other than that one, I always read magazines when I'm waiting in line at the grocery store or at the doctor's office. German magazines are always entertaining as well, because they have almost the same exact ones, but their point of view on certain things are a little different. Also since my major is Advertising, I always wanted to design an ad in a magazine for like make-up or perfume.

Movies: Movies are my all time favorite. I watch them on all the time, and I go to the movies at least once a week. I especially like reading a book before the movie comes out, like the twilight saga (yes I'm guilty of liking twilight).

Recordings: Since mp3s are considered recordings, I listen to them all the time. My iTunes is always playing, doesn't matter if I'm sleeping or cleaning my room.

Radio: I used to listen to the radio all the time when I was growing up, but not so much anymore. I usually just listen to CDs in my car or recordings on my computer. But every now and then I will listen to some radio. I just hate when there are commercials playing or when they do too much talking, that's when I switch back to my CD. Sometimes when I get homesick, I listen to this one German radio station on the internet, and I get a sense of feeling at home again in a way.

Television: I used to not be a very big TV watcher. Growing up, I didn't have cable or anything, so there was never a reason to watch it, but ever since I moved out of my parent's house, my roommate has gotten me addicted to TV. I watch it every day for at least 2 to 3 hours. I'm watching it as we speak.

Internet: I use the internet everyday. It's one thing, that I can't live without. I use it to pay my bills, check my e-mail, use social websites and do homework on. I wouldn't know what to do if it didn't exist, because I really depend on it.