Make That Money

It is sometimes said that wealth equates to power.  Those with money will influence others by offering them bribes and/or giving them gifts.  It is money that acts as both the medium and the procurer which allows man to obtain objects and these surges of power.  Supposedly we live in a nation where all men were created equal and that justice shall be applied to the same extent to everyone.  However, it infrequently seems as though this is the reality of our nation.  Instead it seems as though those with power write the rules.

                These two ideas introduced above work together with one another:

1.       Money is power

2.       Power dictates the rules

Essentially the conclusion that can be made is this, those with money dictate the rules and how they are applied.  In a sense those who have money have no reason to act just because they can use this wealth to get out of it.  Goethe summarizes this idea well by explaining, “Money’s properties are my – the possessor’s – properties and essential powers. I can be ugly, but I can buy the most beautiful women. Therefore, the effect of my ugliness is nullified by money.”  The parallel that can be drawn here to the previous point about wealthy people not needing to act justly is because it will always be possible to buy or bribe those who are supposed to act as disciplinarians.  Money and wealth ultimately act as a medium which aids man’s own self interest over those things and beings who wish to possess it.

Sexual Preference and Porn

                The pornography industry acts as a catalyst for teens, young adults, and even middle aged adults to truly explore their sexual likes and dislikes.  Those who are ignorant will simply say that pornography consists of people taking off their close and having sex on camera.  On a very basic level this is true about porn, however the industry as a whole does so much more.  It does a fantastic job at recognizeing the differing demands and produces a style of pornography that will appeal to a specific group.  This business in some ways can be all things to all people.  Individual companies within the industry will pick one type of niche and target it aggressively.  The people working behind the scenes of these companies are true geniuses.  The reason I say this is because as stated before we all have different tastes and preferences.  The idea men/women of these companies continue to find ways to satisfy different sexual fantasies that our population demands.  The pornography industry did $13 billion dollars in revenue in 2006 and consists of approximately 12% of all online websites (Ropelato).  It is a business, like it or not that is expanding at an incredible rate.  Unless legislation places restriction on the types of pornography that can be released on video or streamed via internet, this is not an industry that is endanger of slowing down any time soon.  The only thing I could see happening in the future is that market share will continue to diversify as more competitors enter the industry since it is so easy to make a website, film a video, and charge a membership fee to those who want to view the site.  It is these emerging websites that allow individual sexual fantasy to become somewhat of a reality.

References:

http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/internet-pornography-statistics-pg2.html

Body Art

Imagery at times can speak louder than words.  Those with tattoos for whatever reason are often associated with a certain social stigma that they are either dirty, slutty, or labeled as a “badass.”  I think that those who make external judgments about body art simply do not take the time to think about the true meaning that these body images may represent.  Instead we become judgmental based upon the location of the tattoo and graphics that are involved in these works of art.  I believe the majority of people who decide to wear ink do so to fulfill their own self interest.  They are much less concerned as to how the external world will perceive the message they are sending and instead focus more on what the tattoo means to them. The vibrant colors and intricate patterns contain emotion, display individuality, and even help to relive memories from the past. 

            There is emotion that is tied to certain tattoos that an external viewer may never truly understand.  It is important that we refrain from being too critical of body images treat them with sensitivity.   It is common for people to get a tattoo depicting a date or an image of a loved one who was lost.  These tattoos serve as a reminder of the past as well as a way to keep someone with your forever.  It is extremely rude not to honor one’s deep emotional ties with a loved one even if it comes in the form of a tattoo.  So whether you are for or against body art, it is pivotal that our judgments remain objective because the true meaning behind the message may never be known by outside observers.

Selective Hearing

Our generation compared to others may be the biggest offenders of selective hearing in history.  It is almost impossible to get one’s undivided attention during the age of multitasking.  This point is especially true when an uninteresting topic is brought up because it encourages us to tune the speaker out.  Kevin Smith wrote a blog about today’s power of caller I.D.  I would like to slightly tweak some of the points made as well as draw some parallels between caller I.D. and selective hearing.

I would argue that caller I.D. makes us more socially selective but not necessarily more anti-social.  When our phone rings we first check to see who is trying to reach us.  We are then able to make a decision whether or not that person is worthy of holding a conversation.  Having the power to accept or decline a call is similar to having the power of who we choose to talk to on the train.  If we deem that the stranger sitting next to us is not bring much to the table then it customary to sit there in silence.  I think we most often choose to initiate conversation with those who are either approachable, attractive, or interest us in some way.  If the characters on the train do not hold any of these qualities then why not hit the ignore button and be selective as to who we talk and listen to?

Why Isn’t History Criticized?

Do we learn more from media which consists of events that have occurred in the past or the events that occur in “Grand Theft Auto” and “The Hitman” which are forms of media that are only representative of reality?

It seems as though movies like Gladiator and Braveheart which are loosely based on historical events escape the criticism that is received by books like, “The Hitman” and video games like “Grand Theft Auto.”   It should be clarified that I am not an advocate for unnecessary violence of any type when it comes to theatrical productions, however, I do believe that historical movies should be held accountable or at least to the same standards as the other types of media out there.  Especially since the images displayed on the big screen are seen by millions of viewers across the country, the majority of which consist of teenagers who can be significantly influenced by mass media and pop culture.  If this is in fact the case then why don’t we hear complaints accusing Russell Crowe and Mel Gibson of being the bad guys?  If we are going to hold all forms of media equally accountable then they too should receive some of the blame for the random acts of violence committed by our youth.

I truly think that the reason media is too afraid to criticize these films is because they are based upon events that actually happened.  These events are so incredibly realistic that would rather believe that we learn from past mistakes in which case these historical films are not to blame.  There is a definite flaw here that exists yet I cannot comprehend how we can go about to break the mold.

Absolute Truth? Absolutely Not!

Blog viewers, radio listeners and tabloid readers follow mediums without a desire for the truth.  Instead they thrive off the entertainment level provided by each of these separate mediums and care very little about the legitimacy of the content.  Most of the time what is said or written in the media is mere speculation or opinion. 

I think the reason the validity of the input from these sources are rarely questioned is because they usually do not cover matter that the overall majority considers important.  When I read a tabloid, I care very little about the issues or gossips that are raised in the magazine.  If the publisher is able to shed a bit of humor or entertainment on an existing celebrity scandal or political policy even if the information regarding the story isn’t completely valid, then in my mind the magazine has served its purpose.  I read blogs and tabloids not to acquire an abundance of knowledge or absolute truths but instead to kill some free time in my day and hopefully bring a smile to my face.

Cell Phone Sexting

                Our generation should be convicted of sexually abusing technology.  The internet is cluttered with easily accessible pornography, forums are created where mythical creatures intimately interact with one another, and as if that were not enough we have even trended towards exploiting our cell phones. 

                Cellular devices are being used as a tool to facilitate casual encounters, random hook-ups, and even the exchange of naked pictures.  The question I would like to raise is, does the convenience of the text message improve or hinder one’s love life?  The potential embarrassment of an overly aggressive text/sext not only leaves the sender feeling foolish but also can permanently ruin future chances with the receiver.   Yet, given the consequences this practice still occurs.

 I couldn’t tell you whether the majority of inappropriate text messages are sent while the offender is completely sober or intoxicated, but my assumption is that it would be the later.  People like to place blame for their embarrassing text messages and poor decision making on alcohol because it, “impairs their judgment.”  However, we should be held accountable for our actions regardless of our level of sobriety.   Instead of recognizing the inappropriateness, we are taking full advantage of sending these explicit messages via cell phone.   One of the reasons why this practice is so easily adopted is because it does not require us to be present while the text message is being read by the receiver.  The potential awkwardness of the situation is nonexistent until the next face to face encounter with one another.  If this practice continues without holding people accountable then it will slowly be deemed acceptable.  My guess is that it is only a matter of time before the cell phone acts as the leading medium for sexual exploitation.

               

Image over Substance

True love comes in the form of long dark hair, radiantly tanned skin, and beautiful clear blue eyes.   I probably couldn’t paint a picture of my ideal soul mate, but from this less than detailed description, who would be opposed to cuddling up next to that image for the remainder of their life?  Now I understand that we all have different preferences and what works for one individual does not work for another.  So some of you may be reading this right now and saying, “Who is this guy, with such skewed taste?  I like deep brown eyes, like blonde hair and fair skin.”  The fact of the matter is that our individual preferences are irrelevant to the argument and the point I am trying to prove.  Instead I would like to argue that both men and women are trending towards pairing themselves by looks instead of by substance.

                How often do we hear someone say, “Oh she’s way to cute for him” or “he’s so hot, way out of her league.”    These comments and side remarks are being made strictly based on physical attractiveness.  It’s rare that someone will comment on how two people’s personalities compliment one another’s so well.   I’m not here to argue whether this is right or wrong, I merely would like to point out that this issue is prevalent in society. 

                Chapter 7 discuses how political figures utilize media in order to manipulate public image.  In 1960 a nationally televised debate was held between Nixon and Kennedy.  Polls showed that viewers who watched the debate thought Kennedy had won, yet those who listened by radio agreed Nixon made the better argument.  I think the reason Kennedy’s team was so incredibly focused on making him telegenic (synonyms with photogenic except on TV) is because mental images seem to stick longer in people’s minds yet words are soon forgotten.

                Now whether the issue at hand is running for presidential election or running for the top spot in someone’s long term love affair, if your biceps aren’t as big as your brains… then you may as well count yourself out of the race. 

Social Interaction

            Where would we be without text messaging, skype calls, and facebook chats?  People have become so dependent upon these pieces of media that without social networks we would all be lonesome!  The reason I say this with such conviction is because the time spent texting, skyping, AIMing, and facebooking far outweighs the time spent actually interacting with one another face to face.  We are losing our ability to initiate simple face to face contact.  Introductions are now being executed via friend requests and wall posts. 

            It’s ridiculous how many friends I have on facebook that I have literally never talked to.  I will admit that I am and will continue to be an offender of facebook friending colleagues that I have said fewer words to in person than the number of words in this blog.  I have however become much more in tune with this habit so many of us have developed and am making a conscious effort to reduce this tendency.  When I go to class now and when I go out at night, I have concentrated on meeting and learning about my classmates and peers by talking with them instead of effortlessly friending them on The Book.

            I like to think that I would be fine without these pieces of media in my life.  But I know at the end of the day I would be lost, disconnected, and feeling lonesome.

Life without Wires

Living life entirely without restriction is truly impossible.   When we were children we had parents who would tell us when we had to be home or how much milk we had to drink per day.  Upon getting our drivers license there were intersections indicating when we can go and when we need to slow down.  Prior to wireless cell phones we were even restricted as to where we could make phone calls.  The rotary phone which will soon be classified as an ancient antique is a perfect example of a medium whose wires restricted our daily lives.

                The location of the rotary phone in the home could make or break your social life.  Privacy was almost nonexistent depending on the length of the cord because usually the rotary phone was located in the most highly trafficked room in the house.  This made talking with friends extremely difficult.  Parents and siblings knew more about your life than you would normally care to share with them.  It almost wasn’t worth making a phone call unless you were home alone by yourself.   

                Technological advancements were made so that phones no longer had cords.  Meaning people were free to walk talk on the phone around their home at their own leisure.  Being able to avoid nosey listeners was a lot easier once phones were not longer connected to the wall.  Our society was taken a step further upon the introduction of the cell phone.  No longer were telephone conversations restricted within the walls of our own homes.  Telephone conversations could now be held while one ran errands down the street or in a different neighborhood.  The only restrictions we have to deal with now is cell service.  I'm not sure if its appropriate for me to complain considering technology has come so far but, when are we going to make dropped calls a thing of the past?

Defining Media

            Medium is the platform in all things which allows for change.  A change is something that implies movement from one specific position to another.  This movement does not necessarily imply physical motion; movement can be as simple as the alteration of thought, light or sound.  Sir Newton Isaac said that an object at rest will remain at rest unless acted on by an external force.  If it were possible for everything in this world to be at rest and remain at rest then there would be no need for a medium of any type.  However, external force in this case shall be synonymous with both movement and change because they are necessary in order for our world to exist and continue to exist.   Media, the plural of medium can be qualified as the intermediary emotions, objects, or tools that facilitate movements and change.

            Humans for the most part are in tune and can identify their own feelings.  We understand that these feelings can fluctuate due to certain events and occurrences. An example of this fluctuation is how a warm sunny day can elicit happiness and joy yet our mood can change to gloom and frustration if that sunny day is then tainted by bitter rain.  The medium that assists these types of mood swings can be identified as emotion.  Although the weather acts as the external force which stimulates our change in feelings, internally our emotions act as the medium which allows for this change.  

             McLuhan states in, Understanding Media, The Extensions of Man that, “The electric light is pure information. It is a medium without a message” (8).  McLuhan is correct by identifying the light bulb as an object in which acts as the medium.  However, he is incorrect by stating that electric light is a medium without a message. The emitted light which is produced is the change or message in itself.  A light bulb by itself serves very little purpose.  Yet, when acted on by an outside force such as electricity, together they can generate light.  The light bulb in this situation is the object that acts as a medium and facilitates the movement from dark to light. 

            A musical instrument by itself is an example of a tool that when at rest, will remain at rest until acted on by an outside force.  This tool when at rest cannot produce noise, movement, or change of any kind.  However, silence can be changed to sound once external force is applied to the musical instrument.  It is at this point that the tool is acting as a medium and facilitating the organized noise.  And it is this beautifully organized sound that is sending a message out to all those who are able to hear.  The interesting yet complicated part about this form of medium is that although the instrument provides the same unified tone to all those able to hear, the message or the interpretation of that message will be received quite different by each of its individual recipients.

            It was proposed by McLuhan that “medium is the change of scale or pace or pattern” (McLuhan 8).  I can agree with this statement to some extent although I believe that it needs to be revised.  Medium acts as the intermediary platform which allows for change of scale or pace or pattern.  The changes or movements that occur in our everyday life are produced by external forces not by the media themselves.  Without media in our lives we would not be able to experience these changes and life as we know it would be nonexistent.