Thank You

To be honest I took this class as an elective and I didn't think any more of it when I registered for the class, but now I'm so thankful that I did. This class has been eye opening for me about issues I don't even know existed and has made me aware of how much just an ad can effect individuals everywhere. I will never forget watching "A Girl Like Me." I hope that I'm able to carry the knowledge and awareness I've gained from this class along with me in my career and correct the mistakes advertisers are making with stereotypes, gender portrayals and sex issues. Thank you for a very insightful class this semester.

Broken Hearted

After viewing A Girl Like Me on YouTube.com my heart breaks that these girls don't know how beautiful they are. Who is raising or influencing these young girls to make them believe white skin is more beautiful than dark skin? I just want to wrap my arms around them and tell them a million times you are gorgeous! I would love to know how we can reverse the negative portrayals these girls seem themselves as.

GLAAD

Current Issues
http://www.glaad.org/eye/stories.php#ucc_ejector

I think what is so great about our country is being able to have the freedom to believe in what you choose, however in regards to the issue in the above link I believe you must also be kind and respectful of others, even if you don't believe in what they do. I don't believe an individuals sexual preference should have anything to do with being in the army. If someone is willing to put their life on the line and fight for their country they should absolutely NOT be ridiculed, but praised for their heroics.

GLAAD Eye on the Media
http://www.glaad.org/eye/index.php

I think it's a good thing ABC has created this transgender character on Ugly Betty, because I think the more exposure people have to something the more likely they are to accept it. When people aren't exposed to certain things I think they tend to shy away from it, because they aren't educated about the matter, so the more common it is the less foreign it seems and hopefully less people will ridicule. Dirty Sexy Money, a new show on ABC this fall, also has a transgender character. So, I think by having these characters on prime time television shows people will see they're human too and should be treated as so.

The Influence of Hip Hop

Regarding the article For Clues on Teenage Sex, Experts Look to Hip-Hop in the New York Times.

I'm curious to know if the researches took into account the home life of the teenagers studied. My personal belief is the more unstable the home life of the teenager the more susceptible they are to being influenced by any amount of things, in this case hip hop. I have not only wonderful parents who have provided me with the necessities and so much more, but I've always been surrounded by role models. I can listen to hip hop music and not be affected by it - I don't grind up on men on the dance floor, do drugs, or have promiscuous sex. I think teenagers are confused enough as it is and if they don't have a stable home to keep them grounded and level headed then they can be influenced by the lyrics of hip and hip and think something like doing drugs will give them a better life.

So, yes I do think music should be censored and so should the videos that go along with it. And I think if something is illegal then it should NOT be allowed to be shown in music videos, movies, etc., on television.

Responsibility is the word that comes to mind, people have got to start taking personal responsibility for themselves and the people they effect.

Reporting for Ratings

In regards to article "Compelling murder mystery didn't have made-for-TV ending" in the Dallas Morning News by Jacquielynn Floyd.

I understand that people make mistakes, but I don't think this is an issue about making a mistake, but rather an issue about making ratings. This isn't an attack just on Jacquielynn Floyd, but FOX, CNN, Greta Van Susteren, Geraldo Rivera, and all the other media outlets that partake in reacting before investigating. If the media reported there has been a murder and we're unsure of the facts at this time it would be very cut and dry, but by reporting it like FOX did as "[a] bizarre murder mystery in Texas[,]" they've created hype and people become more compelled to hear the story. The more people interested the better the ratings. I think it goes back to the basic principle our mothers taught us growing up think before you speak. Earlier this week I was beyond irritated when NBC and ABC were reporting breaking news about a women in a doctors office holding people hostage - they were both reporting the story, but had conflicting story lines, were showing different places at where the incident was occurring and what was supposably happening. It ended up NBC was correct and it was occurring at my doctors office. I think because media is so determined to be the first to report and to get on the scene they don't actually take the time to report accurately.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/localnews/columnists/jfloyd/stories/101607dnmetfloyd.341673a.html

Lets Talk About Shoes

After viewing http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/11/fashion/shows/11SHOES.html I can't see the pornography that has been suggested is depicted in the shoes. I view the shoes more as a piece of art - it's a piece of sculpture. The shoes illustrate the principles of design I learned in my first art class over a decade ago: balance, proportion, rhythm, emphasis and unity. I do understand the depiction of pornography used in designer ads where the models are reclining back, nude, and only wearing shoes. That I understand, but the shoes themselves they're just shoes. I guess my question may be how do you distinguish between art and pornography?

Interested

In Chapter 8 of Sex in Consumer Culture they report how MTV's "embedded commercials contain a a relatively heavy dose of sexual content." It makes me wonder although MTV has the highest average seconds of sexual content in commercials per program if they took into account MTV also has commercials that promote safe sex. The only commercials I ever see for condoms is when I watch MTV - I've never seen a condom commercial on NBC, ABC, or CBS. So, yes MTV does have a high level of sexual content in both their programming and commercials, but they're also playing commercials about condom use, preventing pregnancy, and negative consequences of unprotected sex. On NBC, ABC, and CBS during prime time it's full of sexual content, I'm not sure I've seen a show without it, but I don't see any commercials promoting safe sex - now granted, in recent times I have seen a commercial for planned parenthood, but I think tip toe around the subject. I also think shows have somewhat portrayed the consequences of unprotected sex in pregnancy terms such as the characters of Miranda in Sex and the City, Rachel in Friends, but I do think they need to make more examples and more in relation with diseases.