Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Mental Implants
There are certain concepts or ideas that we are exposed, sometimes in an everyday basis, that can shape our mentality a long time after we are no longer being exposed to that thing. One high example of this is the movies and their great power to attract audiences of all ages. These audiences are attracted simply because they know they will be entertained, but in the process of being entertained, many times they are being implanted with ideas that like a seed will not grow instantly, but in the future it will produce much fruit. As I have described before in my previous blog, Brave New Word focuses a lot in influencing people through their media and the above quote is a perfect example of what happens to one when an idea or scene has been perfectly implanted in ones memory. A great example of this in my life has been my exposure, by means of my Spanish teacher, to Michael Moore's latest documentary SYCO. This film investigates the idea of free social health-care around the world an why it has not been possible here in the United States. The film trashes republican and shows how great free health-care is with great examples and evidence. However only this side of the story is shown. It is not said what are the disadvantages of this reform or explain why republicans are against it. At first, this movie made a reaction in me of making me look at republicans as the bad guys and democrats as the good guys. Although I later realized that this is not the case, I know that for many young minds who have not been exposed to politics as much, could have the same problem but not realize that this is not so, and perhaps later on in their life this could end up influencing their vote, which could in turn end up influencing the future of an entire nation. Media is extremely influential, but one has to realized what they subconsciously being made to believe and research more about it in order to make true decisions influenced solely by oneself.
Crazy Stunts
Even though the things they did was dangerous and inappropriate, I found most of the things they did hilarious, so I was laughing throughout the movie. They were completely mindless throughout the movie doing outrageous things. For example they would let themselves get stung by bees, hit random people with different objects, bullfight, and pretend to be a old man and walk throughout the city (here is a link to the the things they did in Jackass 2). They would do all these extreme things, but it was still funny and kept me laughing.
For a few days after watching the movie, I was in the mindset that doing extreme things with you friends and hurting one another was funny. That doing some of the things would make my friends laugh and we would have a great time because thats what I got out of the movie. Thats what I was thinking for a few days after I saw the movie, because the movie put me in the mindset of doing these things. Such as in Brave New World, during and after watching the feelies, Lenina and John were in the mood for sexual pleasure. The movie influenced them to the point that they want to do what happened throughout the movie. Lenina and John were in the mindset of having sex.
After those few days I started to think about the movie and the things they did throughout the movie. I realized that the things they did were dumb and dangerous. I'm not going to do a stunt that could result in me breaking an arm or even worse. Everything they did in that movie was crazy and outrageous, and I don't have to do those things to make my friends laugh and have a fun time.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Peer Pressure
Mean Girls
This movie, made me think about my everyday life. When I used to be in public school I noticed that more than half of the school followed the crowd. No one really showed who they really were. When people are being fake like this, it shows that you really can't trust anyone, or it makes you wonder who can you really trust. I remember not wanting to let my emotions out to anyone because I would always be scared to be the next new gossip in school. This does not necessarly just happens in public school, it happens everywhere! And no matter where, with who you are, always stay true to your self and don't pretend to be someone you're not.
My Sister's Keeper
This made me change my perspective in life. The sick sister could have took advantage of the younger sister but she never did. Her sister is really important to her. Even though she was sick she lived a very normal life. She didn't let her sickness put her down. She still went out and enjoyed her life. Even though we might get sick, to the point where we might eventually die we shouldn't just give up on life and be depressed.
16 and Pregnant
Many teenages are pushes into doing things that they never wanted to do in the first place. So they need to understand that NOT doing those things is fine. People won't think you are a loser or lame. Yeah of course they may say you are but I think deep down they are thinking that you are a strong person for not following the crowd. You are your own person and you should act like it.
Money is Respect
El centenario by Los Tucanes de Tijuana is a song with a video that shows the life of man who lives off of selling firewood. He starts off poor and has no or very little respect. He then turns to the wrong lifestyle, selling drugs, and virtually overnight becomes rich and is suddenly respected by all.
The video shows not only because one is poor people don't respect one, but also people show pity for one. Personally, that is one thing I do not like: people having pity for me. Therefore, this video influences me to have this sort of feeling of necessity for money. Thankfully, I have enough self control not to even consider making money by any means. Nonetheless, I am still left craving money and respect, and the media, movies, etc., is not doing anything to pacify my urge.
Movies and Sex
Feelies and the Media: Amerika
- Amerika by Rammstein
Parental Love
Lovely Bones
Lovely Bones changed my mind frame about the world and the people who live in it. It reassured me of the dangers that await me once I leave the comfort of my home. People pretend to be something their not to lure young prey into their domains. My mother always taught me to be alert and pay attention to my surroundings and the people in it, but over the course of years I let that moral slip in between my fingers.
The movie is about a vivacious, friendly, young girl who has been raped and killed by an older man. Lovely Bones was very touching and it brought me to tears, because I saw similar characteristics in the victim that related to me. On a daily basis I'm very friendly and seem to talk to almost anyone I meet, but I never really think about what could happen as a result. There are so many dangerous people out there and it took a movie to actually open my eyes of the real world and the things that go on. Child molesters, kidnappers, and rapist are my biggest fears at this point. Now I'm always looking around to check my surrounds and staying alert. I feel some strangers that treat you the nicest and offer you things might just be the ones that try to manipulate you and hurt you badly. I hate that things like this happen; it makes me feel unsafe in my own environment, but with the advocacy and assistance of my mother's knowledge I'm sure I’ll be just fine.
I noticed that when Lenina and John went to the feelies it had a similar affect on him that changed his mind frame. Naturally, John doesn't believe in having sex just for fun; john felt that he should get married first. This just goes to show how media affects how we feel
about certain things. It can also make you second-guess yourself about your moral beliefs. Although John thought differently for a moment, he is a great example of what people should do; he didn't display the actions from what he thought about the feelies. This only applies and relates when negative media influences you. Do you think good media can be harmful to a certain extent?
Don't let negative television influence you.
http://i.huffpost.com/gen/80500/thumbs/s-FUZZY-TV-large.jpg
Immigration and its Faults
There is a music video in Spanish that describes the point of view of immigrants and of a child who sees her parents hancuffed. This video is called "Estoy Enamorado" by Wisin y Yandel(if you can watch the video click on the hyperlink). Without paying attention to the song of this video you're perspective on immigration should change through the child's suffering. I was affected by this video because it made me reflect on my life and if that was to happen to me I don't know what I would do. My life would change drastically because I would have to start relying on myself as an adolescent.
Turtles Can Fly
The event that, I can relate this to, is when Lenina and John go to the "feelies". After watching the film, John expresses to Lenina that he disliked the film and that he couldn't see how she can like it. The way I relate it, is that John is still to "new" or "unadjusted" to the society in order to like it. For example, when I was younger I found it sad but I really didn't understand the beautiful part of it, because I hadn't experienced or thought about those themes at that age.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Life if beautiful
It was a film based during the Holocaust. A family was trapped, seperated, tortured, and yet life was beautiful. A child was hidden by his father successfully within his sleeping area and was saved. However, the father didn't meet the same fate. Instead, through his struggle to survive and reunite with his wife he is killed in the ending scenes. A son who suffered through the war and survived, who lost his father how is life beautiful?
In Brave New World a very similiar thing happens when Lenina and John go on their date.
"I don't think you ought to see things like that," he said, making haste to transfer from Lenina herself to the surrounding circumstances the blame for any past or possible future lapse from perfection.
"Things like what, John?"
"Like this horrible film."
"Horrible?" Lenina was genuinely astonished. "But I thought it was lovely."
"It was base," he said indignantly, "it was ignoble."
She shook her head. "I don't know what you mean." Why was he so queer? Why did he go out of his way to spoil things?
Lenina is shocked and disturbed that John didn't like the film. And John never really comes to comprehend why the civilized people like it. I experienced something of the same thing. When I was in utter shock at the film, it seemed I was the only one. My classmates understood that the life of the child was beautiful. It was in his eyes that the movie was being told. I remember Michael, explaining to me how the movie was in the eyes of the child. Almost the same reaction Lenina had about John spoiling things. I made the film seem like a horrible thing. However in the movie his father had shielded him from all the bad they were enduring. It changed my way of looking at life. I always thought I had it bad, but you know what, there are so many people that suffer now over small things that I feel I have no right to complain. My life is beautiful and it's my job to make the world a beautiful place. By whatever means are necessary and accessible to me. Purple Pinkie Week is something that is going to change the world. It's something that truly makes a difference and will make life beautiful.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Effects of the media
One way that the media can have a major influence on someone is questioning their weight. Advertisements can show someone who is thin and looks happy, and people will think that the person in the advertisement is beautiful or handsome. This will then make someone think that in order to look handsome or beautiful and be happy, they would have to look like the person in the advertisement. The person will then question themselves whether they are to fat and have to lose weight to look like someone else. Many people try to lose weight, but some do it in an unhealthy way and this can cause serious health problems such as anorexia. The person will be so determined to lose weight that they can become extremely skinny and with health problems and this is the fault of the media because it gives the impression that everyone has to be a certain way.
We should all be aware of this because it can happen to anyone. Next time we see an advertisement in any form of the media, we should figure out what it wants from us and not fall in it's trap that can lead to serious problems in the future. And if we find someone falling in the trap, we should help that person, and not let that person try to impress another someone else by being someone they are not.
Am I good looking or what???
My personal interpretation is appearances and looks aren’t everything, but it is important. In the savage society I get a sense of people running around half-naked with stripped cloth like clothing as if they are a step up from cavemen. Since I’ve grown accustomed to reading about the brave new world society and their outlooks of the other societies, I think about a small, uncivilized community, and a very ambiguous government, which equals no stability. In reality when I think about savages I think about people living in these conditions due to the ignorance of not wanting to become more civilized. I find the complete opposite in the new world society. I have a mind frame of portraying a very civilized and organized people. I picture them being prompt, nice looking and well dressed. As they say, “Cleanliness is next to Fordliness”.
As far as this particular issue goes, in today’s world people have their own definition of being pretty. Magazines and televisions set the standards as far as what you should do to keep yourself looking nice. Just like the people in the brave new world society we have advanced technology such as: make up and surgery to alter our appearances. Sometimes when I’m watching television and I see other people dressed nice I feel like its time for me to get dressed up too, so that I can feel good about myself. These types of things influence me to want to look nice, not only for excitement of others, but for myself.
Am I Good Enough?
People nowadays probably don't notice, we are being conditioned in believing how we're supposed to look physically . Media, like commercials, billboards, influence the way you view things. Most of the time, they promote the "perfect" body structure. In Victoria's Secret commercials, they are always showing slim models and telling you what you're supposed to look like. Many people have different views of what 'sexy' is, and in this comercial they tell you what it is and how it looks like.
When you don't look the same way the person in the add does it lowers your self-esteem, and you try everything in order for you to end up looking that certain way. And this is what the people from BNW's society is, they change their physical appearances in order for them to still look young, and never appear their real age. People in our society will never be satisfied by the way they look, they will never be good enough. In Bryan's blog, IMpossible Beauty he goes into detail why a person would never be "good enough".
The G-force
In Brave New World, there is soma which people drink because it makes them feel happy. Its like a happy pill. The people take it when they see that they are getting sad or unhappy. I think that they are forced to take soma so that they don't have strange or inappropriate thoughts. Everything and everyone have to he the same and if something is different then you make be expelled to another country. I believe that in our world we have something similar but not exactly the same. I'm thinking about gatorade. We see that many professionals drink this and we think that that is what makes them good so we drink it idolizing them. But what we don't realize is that that's just a way to promote it. If we see that Derek Jeter drinks gatorade, people are going to want to drink gatorade so they will be a good baseball player like him. The gatorade commercials brainwash us into thinking that we will become as good as professionals. So just like they take soma to continue being happy, we drink gatorade to be like Peyton Manning. It's all in the advertisement.
Media influnces everyone
Many people think that we aren't conditioned. We say that we are our own person and no one could condition us. But, we are wrong. Media has influenced people to buy certain things by advertising them. We see something on the tv and next thing you know we want to buy it just because we saw it. Like for example if your favorite celebrity is advertising something you are going to want to buy it just because your favorite celebrity has it. One of my favorites celebrities is Drake and he did an advertisment about Sprite. Since, I saw him drinking it, I decided to start drinking it as well. This, is not the only way in which we are conditioned. Everything, that goes on around us conditions us in some way.
Media and it's Influences
I think that, yes, media messes with people's heads. The media influences people of all ages to what clothes to wear, how to look (appearances), and even what you should like.