RTF Extra Credit Blog

Prior to this class, I had never written a personal blog, or encountered a situation in my academics that had required me to do so. There were many positive aspects I found when using blogging in this course. One of the most important ones was that if I did not fully understand a topic in class, I was able to go into the blog database and search for different student descriptions of what their interpretation of the topic was. The only difficulty I found with the blogs was sometimes uploading pictures and not having the ease of use being there, although this was fixed normally with just trying different formats of uploading or moving the picture around. The most interesting blog prompts were those that required specific examples, for example the long shot, medium shot, and close up. Most students would include media, like pictures or videos, to express these, so they were much more interesting to view and read, rather than ones requiring only pure text. In the future, I would suggest using the blog format assignments in RTF courses because it allows for students to view the explanations of their fellow classmates on several topics, and express their own creativity. The only improvement I would suggest would be to require more forms of media within the blog, such as a video or more pictures, to encourage a larger difference in the responses, and not just classic dictionary definitions.

Yes, you can use my blog in a paper or report.

RTF 10th Blog Globalization

Globalization is the process in which interconnectedness is increased among nations. This process can effect not only the technology seen in that nation but also the cultures and people present there. There are many good and bad aspects to this idea. For starters, it can help allow greater production to come from the industries in places which would not normally have this opportunity. On the contrary, messing with the cultures in poorer nations could permanently alter traditions there and "westernize" those societies for good. One concept, Hybridization, is also used to spread the theory of globalization. Hybridization is where two previously different cultures come together to form a different style culture. Hybridization is also used to decrease the differences between two cultures. An example of this is through the company Wal-Mart. Although Wal-Mart began in the United States, it has now begun to spread to other countries throughout the world. Although one of the issues that came up was how to make it to where different cultures would be as accepting of Wal-Mart as the United States is. Obviously they cannot purchase all of the same goods nor do they have any need to do so. Wal-Mart began joining with companies in India to insure that they were able to provide the country with the best goods possible, thus creating a Hybridized country, a combination between the Wal-Mart we know, and a Wal-Mart suited for India.

Wal-Mart In India

Old Spice Advertisements

Advertisements can use many tactics, such as sex appeal, to catch the audiences' attention. Recently, several Old Spice television advertisements caught the attention of the public. In these ads, a very fit, well-dressed man, explains how if your partner uses the product, they will become more like him, or in other words they will treat you better. The man uses several examples, such as taking a boat ride, receiving tickets to "that thing you love" and then those tickets turning straight into diamonds, all of this possible by him using Old Spice body wash. He uses repetition of asking questions comparing your man to himself (when using the product) to successfully advertise it. The information on the video itself, according to Old Spice, says, " We're not saying this body wash will make your man smell into a romantic millionaire jet fighter pilot, but we are insinuating it." Although it isn't as blatant as if the person in the ad was a woman, there is definitely a small amount of sex appeal used in the ad. In the ad, the man never wears a shirt, which allows allows for his extremely fit body to be shown the entire time. Not to mention, he starts the ad with nothing but a towel on, standing next to a still running shower, allowing us to assume he was right in the middle of showering before we "walked in". In fact, if you look at almost any recent Old Spice commercial, none of the main actors have shirts on at all, and each of them has washboard abs to show for it. The sex appeal is shown in each of these through the main actor, but it isn't taken as harshly as it is when the sex appeal deals with a women. In fact, many times when this commercial is mentioned by people I know, they seem to find it more humorous than dealing with sex appeal.

View the ad here.

Three Act Structure

Often in Hollywood, a three act plot structure is used to connect the beginning, middle and ending to a movie. These three points are used to introduce, add a complication, and resolve throughout the movie. The first point introduces the viewer to the main protagonist, and involves the user in figuring out a question that has come up. The second point usually gives an answer to the first question, but adds on another (giving it the name "complication"). The third act is a complete resolution of almost every problem which was introduced.

In the Disney Pixar movie Wall-E, the three act structure is used in much the same way. The first act is where Wall-E (the main protagonist) is introduced. Without knowing much about him, the viewer follows him as he goes about his day, which prompts the question as to how his world came to look the way it is now. The tricky part about this movie following the three act structure, is that Wall-E doesn't speak a word until a second character comes into the story, making the question he is asking a little bit harder to discern.

The second point in the movie Wall-E is whenever he enters on the ship. While doing a bit of detective work, Wall-E discovers a video which shows him why his world is full of trash. Whenever trash became too large of a problem on Earth, many of the inhabitants were sent onto a ship for "just a few years" in order to clean up what they had left behind.  The video later informs the protagonist that there was a problem with the clean-up effort and those living on the ship were never designed to return to Earth. The question Wall-E is now presented with is how he can work to fix what happened to his home planet.

The last point in the three point structure is the resolution. Wall-E at this point has started a rebellion on the ship in order to save the last plant found on Earth and use it to bring plant life back to the planet. The film experiences a complete resolution where all of the questions are answered and the protagonist finds himself a hero. The three point structure is used in the movie Wall-E to develop the plot, introduce new characters and connect each aspect of the film.

Serial Plots in TV Sitcoms

The most important point in TV sitcoms is the concept that ideas stream from episode to episode in order to connect to form a broader plot overall. Serial sitcoms, as they are known as, involve having each episode relate to those before it through character development and the flow of ideas. This is the opposite of having an episodic sitcom, which has episodes that can be watched in almost any order without the worry of missing a specific detail. Many long term shows use the serial plot method in order to get a larger viewing base for longer periods of time. Some of the most common include Lost and Glee, each of which has important plot details and character development which carries throughout each episode.

For example, the TV show Dexter, now in it's 5th season, has been continuing the same plot line since day one. Although each episode has it's own individual goals to achieve, in the long run, in order to catch each detail, it is imperative that you watch each and every showing. This example of a serial sitcom can be seen easily through the character development. In many of the episodes, Dexter goes through changes which influences the decisions he makes not only in that episode, but those that follow it as well. Without having seen his change in motives, it can be easy to become confused in why his character is acting a certain way later. In order to prevent serial sitcoms from discouraging viewers to watch (too much commitment to have to see each episode a week, maybe?), many times before an episode, there is a "previously seen" segment so that if an episode is missed, it is easy to catch up on. With this new addition to TV shows, the idea of serial sitcom shows has now become the most important aspect in viewer enjoyment.

Mary's Seventh RTF Blog 10-17-10

In the movie Zombieland, directed by Ruben Fleischer, there are many examples of long shots, medium shots and close shots which add important elements to the overall plot. The first example comes early on in the movie, where the main character (Jesse Eisenberg) leaves his hometown in search of his family. While walking on the highway with a suitcase, the camera pulls away to show exactly how alone he really is. Added to that, is the fact that every car on the road is completely empty, with the doors wide open. As mentioned in the lecture, long shots tend to emphasize on loneliness, and isolation, which is exactly what this particular point in Zombieland is working to stress. Later on in the movie, a medium shot is used to show relationship informatin between the Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson.  The two had just entered in a grocery store and were unaware of what they would encounter. By the way that they are standing, the shot establishes that Harrelson is dominant and Eisenberg is scared of the situation. Medium shots are said to not only to show relationship information but also visual information. The visual information in this shot allows for those viewing it to see the situation between the characters and their relationship with what is around them. In one of the last scenes in the movie, a close up shot on Harrelson at the carnival gives the viewers further information about his character. In order to confront the zombie group fast approaching, Harrelson bunkers himself inside of a booth and uses two pistols to fight off the creatures. The close-up shows (through the metal bars) his "no fear" expression even though he faces a possible death. All three scenes in the movie Zombieland emphasize loneliness, relationship information and crucial character information which help to develop the plot throughout the whole movie.

Sixth RTF Post Early Hollywood

In the "Classical Hollywood" years, from the 1920's to the 1940's, there were many distinct aspects, which aided in helping the studios function properly. The vertical integration system worked well with studios, allowing them to own all the means of production. One of the most important ways in which the studio system worked best was through the star system. Certain studios would contract stars and keep them exclusive to only their studio, which would bring not only publicity, but also a constant source of work for many stars. Certain studios would use the same star for more than one movie a year, and pay the actor to sell their products outside of the studio.

The star system allowed for certain studios to become known for their association with actors. For example, when MGM became associated with Judy Garland. In class, the speaker discussed how many times, she would play the same character but with a different role to fill. This star system deeply effected what kinds of films the company created. If the company contracted a more serious man, they might begin creating mystery or action genre movies. With Judy Garland, MGM was limited to stories based around a girl with a less serious personality. The best example given was of John Wayne, who was used throughout his lifetime to create over 100 films of near similar roles. Although he wasn't directly associated with a certain company, John Wayne became so well known as a western genre character, that many directors would look to him first to create a movie based around his role. Many companies used these contracted stars to their advantage, and would mass-produce quite a few films with the same star as a central character. Through this, moviegoers would hear of the new "John Wayne film" and flock to see it in the theatre. This form of advertising was not used much after the Classical Era, when a few companies got into disputes with stars over what they were asking, and some wanting to be free from their career binding contracts. "Classical Hollywood's" use of the star system brought about some of the best movies to be seen, despite it having a slight downfall in the later years of its use. The importance of this system will not soon be forgotten for its impact on the movies created during that time.

Mary's Fifth RTF Blog 10-3-10

Through the years, many topics, which were considered inappropriate or scandalous to talk about in TV shows, have gradually become more understood and accepted. One example is the topics in the "All in the Family" episode "Judging Books By Covers". In the early 70's, this show probably caused quite a stir when it brought up homosexuality, but this has generally become acceptable to be plots of sitcoms. In "Family Guy", several episodes have been devoted to speaking of just sexuality. These two shows are able to show unique sides of how being of different sexuality is okay. In "All in the Family" a very sensitive man ends up being straight, and a very tough man confides in Archie that he is gay. Similarly, several episodes of Family Guy have had plots centered on homosexuality. Most notably, "Quagmire's Dad" where a war hero who is visiting his son, finally tells him that he is gay. Each of these episodes has a situation where a famously tough man reveals that he is actually not what was thought of him. The two shows differ in how the other characters accept the topic. In "All in the Family", few of the main characters are uncomfortable dealing with being near someone of different sexuality. On the contrary in "Family Guy" the characters move past the initial shock and accept the other as who they are. In each of these shows the "alpha male" of the family has his own way of handling the situation. Archie confronts Steve about his sexuality but still seems a little awkward about the topic. Peter shrugs it off, and in one episode (due to some lab tests) even expresses his own homosexuality. "All in the Family" also showcases the issue of male sensitivity. Roger in this episode is called gay just because he acts more sensitive than the average man, and he visited Europe. This issue has almost never been discussed in "Family Guy" where characters are either gay, or not. In "Family Guy", Quagmire's dad undergoes a sex change to feel more natural. Again this is one issue that "All in the Family" never touched base on. These two shows have their similarities, but each of these episodes showcases how different time periods accepted the topic of homosexuality in a Family-Based comedic sitcom.

RTF Blog 4- 9/26- Government Intervention in Radio

Government intervention has played an important role in continually shaping the radio industry into what it has become today. In the early 20th century especially, the Government used their power to regulate the newly formed radio industry in order to control exactly how it would grow and function.

Throughout history, the Government has used its expansive access to the media to manage exactly what its citizens are allowed to see. Whether it is controlling who has access, or what is being broadcasted, there is a long history of Government regulation in media. The first main act passed in the early 1900's was the Radio Act of 1912, which was used to prevent foreign takeover of the radio industry and to require that sea vessels communicate through it (due largely to the success of the radio in helping the Titanic disaster). Furthermore, the main force in shaping the radio industry in the 1920's came with the Radio Act of 1927. The Department of Commerce at the time was not allowed to deny a license to anyone who requested one. in turn, they sent all the responsibilities of such over to the Federal Radio Commission. This group was given the power to allocate frequencies, and license stations. This act not only limited who could be on the radio, but it was also the first indication of censorship.

This was one of the Government's first attempts at controlling the media, as we know it today. Although it was not too overbearing, the FRC later was disbanded and the FCC was formed, which not only controlled the radio, but also other media industries. The Radio Acts of 1912 and 1927 were just a few of the ways that Government intervention helped mold the radio industry in the 1920's.

Mary's Third RTF Blog 09-19-10

Although most of the current population does not realize it, the Cultivation Theory presents itself in nearly any human being's everyday life. This theory can best be described as the creation of a skewed perception of reality due to prolonged exposure of any false truth. The man who originally came up with the theory, George Gebner, stated that Cultivation had become one of the main sources of "storytelling" in society. Children especially spend mass amounts of time watching TV and on the internet, which can begin to shape their attitudes early on. By viewing a distorted perspective of the truth for so long, we seem to not only believe it, but also apply it to situations which are completely irrelevant. For example, it is not uncommon for a full grown adult to feel threatened when walking by another person, if simply they are of a different race. Females, myself included, often cringe if they are 'threatened', which due to Cultivation, is around almost any race but their own. Even in a crowded area, the thought of the other individual taking on the persona of what has been viewed for so long seems inevitable. Consider being stuck somewhere (say, an elevator) with a man of Asian descent. One would immediately expect for him to scale the wall, climb through the roof, and, impossibly so, ascend to the nearest floor and thus save all those involved. Not very likely to actually happen. Cultivation has caused mass belief in things that are relatively improbable to happen. Walking past someone of a different race does not automatically spell danger. It becomes our job, then, to correct the damage that those before us have caused, which comes of course, not without a few more movies that stereotypically define almost all of America.

Mary's Second RTF Blog 09-12-10

Hegemony enables for me to understand a lot of what is broadcast in the media today by allowing for two separate companies to show two very different sides of a single story. It is important for the public to be aware of the impact that hegemony has on the media industry.

By definition, hegemony is having influence or authority over another group without having any consent from the controlled group. This, for the most part, works because of the fact that many Americans stick to one media source. The government plays a large role in determining what we, as Americans, view in the news and print.

An example of hegemony that can be viewed by the public in this day and age is what we, as students, read in our textbooks. Whichever group of politicians has control over the government also gains significant control over what students read. Recently, a huge debate sparked over whether or not the concept of evolution should be in textbooks and consequently, school curriculum. On one side it was argued that schools should follow strictly to what originated in the Bible's text, and the other that we should further develop the separation of church and state. Although one ruling was recently passed, there are many more which have yet to have any form of legislation. Because these political forces have so much power on forming new laws and text, students have very little control over what they read and are taught in school. In this sense, it is apparent that hegemony can even control the minds of the young students.

NY Times Textbook Battle

First RTF Blog 08-29-10

Hello everyone,

My name is Mary Bonilla, and I'm from Corpus Christi, Texas. I decided to take RTF 305 because it was one of the requirements for my RTF major. Aside from that fact I hope to go into animation for a film company. I have wanted to do this for a few years now, but my driving factor was visiting Walt Disney film studios last summer and seeing the animation department. The man giving us the private tour was one of my main motivators for majoring in RTF and taking RTF 305. I'm hoping that I will be able to learn the history of film from this course, which is something that is often overlooked.

That being said, my favorite blog would have to be Failblog, as it can make me laugh at almost anytime.