So, I've got a little topic I'd kind of like to rant about.
Justin Bieber.
Anyone who is a fan of Bieber, I apologize if what I write here offends you. Frankly, I'm offended by the little pop wonder himself. I want to tell you a little story about J.B... so bear with me.
A few years ago, before I had my son, I used to hang out at the Stratford Youth Centre with my son's father Taylor. Both of us are musically inclined and Taylor used to play guitar for the other youth sometimes. All of us enjoyed it... all of us except Bieber. That kid used to insult Taylor, insult me, insult all of my friends. He was self-centred and ignorant, and he made everyone feel awful about themselves whenever he came around (which, thankfully, wasn't too often). He told one of my friends that she had "donkey teeth" (amoung other things) and made her cry for a week. Mhm... he's SOOOOO sweet! (sarcasm)
One of my best friends, Samantha Mckiel, competed with Bieber in Stratford Star (run through the youth centre)... I watched him perform long before he got famous, because I was there to support Sam. To be honest, all I could think about when I watched him sing his juvinile boy-band song about Basketball was that I hoped he would fail in his musical career just so he'd be knocked down a peg. The opposite has obviously happened. This kid, who made so many people feel awful about themselves, is now a million dollar star living in the south... and frankly, fame hasn't helped him gain any sense of reality or humilty at all, it's done the opposite.
In some of his interviews Bieber has failed to even acknowledge Stratford at all, or it's role in his climb to fame. In another interview, he finally DID mention Stratford... but had the audacity to say he was the first person to get famous from here! Let me clear that up... here's a list of all the famous people I know of that have come from Stratford (several of which were mentioned to Bieber... he didn't know who any of them were):
Colm Feore (festival actor, has played roles in several films including The Chronicals of Riddick)
Lloyd Robertson (CBC anchor and actor)
Shawn Roberts (actor)
Dayna Manning (musician)
Steve Joles (world famous sound mixer-recorder)
Richard Manuel (musician, from The Band)
Cynthia Belliveau (actor)
Loreena McKennet lived in Stratford, Timothy Findley lived in Stratford, even THOMAS EDISON worked in Stratford for a short time. Tim Taylor got his start here, as did many others. If Bieber honestly thinks he's the first "big thing" to come from this town... someone needs to give him a smack upside the head, or at very least remove the wool (or rather, really AWFUL looking bangs) from his eyes.
(In all seriousness, that kid needs a haircut, he's had that style for years... think he can afford some scissors with his mansions and cars... that he can't drive....)
I take comfort in one thing, and while this sounds terrible I'm being completely honest... in a couple years that kid's voice is going to crack, and that'll be the end of it. Maybe then, just maybe, he'll have the bloody compassion to apologize to all the people he treated like crap back here.
Sorry, end rant.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Language, language!
In several of my peers blogs I've noticed a recurring theme. Language. Some of my classmates agree that the bad language in the media is just "too much," others have resigned themselves to the idea that such language is just a part of our culture and cannot be avoided. I'd like to give my opinion on the subject.
First of all, swearing is NOT a natural part of our language. People have taken words that used to have completely different meanings (i.e. slut used to mean a candle holder) and turned them into insults. It's unnecessary, and half of it doesn't even make SENSE!
Second of all, CHILDREN! Yes, it is the parent's responsibility to sheild their children from R rated films and music written in poor taste... but it's society's responsibility to make that possible for the parents to do! When you drive down the street blasting Eminem on top volume... do you take into consideration the small children walking home from school? Kids are like sponges... I would know. My three year old gets on the bus with me every morning, and we're surrounded by teengers on their way to school. You would be amazed at the words he picks up on a half-hour bus ride from our apartment to his daycare. Can you imagine the embarassment of dropping him off with his teachers one morning and hearing him repeat things like "f***" or "bulls***" when the kid isn't even old enough to spell his own name yet? How does that make ME look as his parent? I can't avoid him hearing those things unless other people help as well.
My opinion is this. If you want to swear, listen to inappropriate music or share a film on your iphone on top volume, do so in an appropriate setting. I'm not going to say that I never let a bad word slip out when I stub my toe at home (or, more recently, spill an entire glass of grape juice on my freshly cleaned carpet), but you're not going to hear me standing in front of a bunch of small children cursing like there's no tomorrow. Respect the people around you! Turn down your music, and turn down the dial on your OWN volume as well. Little kids don't need to hear that, and frankly... it doesn't make you look like you've got a good grasp of the english language when you f**king talk like f**king this about every f**king thing.
End rant.
First of all, swearing is NOT a natural part of our language. People have taken words that used to have completely different meanings (i.e. slut used to mean a candle holder) and turned them into insults. It's unnecessary, and half of it doesn't even make SENSE!
Second of all, CHILDREN! Yes, it is the parent's responsibility to sheild their children from R rated films and music written in poor taste... but it's society's responsibility to make that possible for the parents to do! When you drive down the street blasting Eminem on top volume... do you take into consideration the small children walking home from school? Kids are like sponges... I would know. My three year old gets on the bus with me every morning, and we're surrounded by teengers on their way to school. You would be amazed at the words he picks up on a half-hour bus ride from our apartment to his daycare. Can you imagine the embarassment of dropping him off with his teachers one morning and hearing him repeat things like "f***" or "bulls***" when the kid isn't even old enough to spell his own name yet? How does that make ME look as his parent? I can't avoid him hearing those things unless other people help as well.
My opinion is this. If you want to swear, listen to inappropriate music or share a film on your iphone on top volume, do so in an appropriate setting. I'm not going to say that I never let a bad word slip out when I stub my toe at home (or, more recently, spill an entire glass of grape juice on my freshly cleaned carpet), but you're not going to hear me standing in front of a bunch of small children cursing like there's no tomorrow. Respect the people around you! Turn down your music, and turn down the dial on your OWN volume as well. Little kids don't need to hear that, and frankly... it doesn't make you look like you've got a good grasp of the english language when you f**king talk like f**king this about every f**king thing.
End rant.
Friday, April 30, 2010
"Torture Porn"
The current discussion in our class is about horror or gore films. I'm going to admit something right now... I can't stand horror films. I get scared so easily that I can't sit through 15 minutes of a film like Seven. I threw up when I watched Hostel, couldn't sleep for nights after I watched The Ring. I'm a scardy-cat.
Chances are, you can blame that on my parents.
My parents were very protective of me when I was a child. We didn't have cable, didn't watch television at all. The only time I watched t.v. was while I was staying with my grandparents or at a friends house. When we rented movies they were children's films or family friendly. My Mom threw a minor fit when she found out I watched the movie "Matilda" because it dealt with child abuse.
Of course, they lessened their hold on me as I got older, we watched documentaries about more disturbing events, a few suspense movies, even a couple scary ones... but I never got into horror. It disturbed me far too much, and has always seemed completely unnecessary. My Dad calls films like Saw or Hostel "torture porn," and I agree with him. It's sick. Anyone who can find enjoyment in a bloodbath of violence, rape, etc. is either so desensitized that they forget that murder, rape and other horrors DO happen to people and it ISN'T entertaining, or they're just disturbed. I don't blame my parents for protecting me, and frankly, I'm glad they did. No child needs to see people being torn limb from limb. We're supposed to protect our children from the bad things in the world, not expose them to it all.
This may seem a bit contradictory to people who know me, considering my obsession with the Second World War and the Holocaust. I watch films about the Nazi concentration camps, read book after book and article after article about the horrors that ensued during the years of the war. Make no mistake... I take NO pleasure or entertainment from the terrible suffering of so many people at the hands of the Germans. My interest is purely educational, always has and always will be.
Horror and gore are unnecessary. Sure, make a film with suspense, mystery, even murder... but don't go overboard. Nobody NEEDS to see that (and if you feel you do... you may want to seek some help).
Chances are, you can blame that on my parents.
My parents were very protective of me when I was a child. We didn't have cable, didn't watch television at all. The only time I watched t.v. was while I was staying with my grandparents or at a friends house. When we rented movies they were children's films or family friendly. My Mom threw a minor fit when she found out I watched the movie "Matilda" because it dealt with child abuse.
Of course, they lessened their hold on me as I got older, we watched documentaries about more disturbing events, a few suspense movies, even a couple scary ones... but I never got into horror. It disturbed me far too much, and has always seemed completely unnecessary. My Dad calls films like Saw or Hostel "torture porn," and I agree with him. It's sick. Anyone who can find enjoyment in a bloodbath of violence, rape, etc. is either so desensitized that they forget that murder, rape and other horrors DO happen to people and it ISN'T entertaining, or they're just disturbed. I don't blame my parents for protecting me, and frankly, I'm glad they did. No child needs to see people being torn limb from limb. We're supposed to protect our children from the bad things in the world, not expose them to it all.
This may seem a bit contradictory to people who know me, considering my obsession with the Second World War and the Holocaust. I watch films about the Nazi concentration camps, read book after book and article after article about the horrors that ensued during the years of the war. Make no mistake... I take NO pleasure or entertainment from the terrible suffering of so many people at the hands of the Germans. My interest is purely educational, always has and always will be.
Horror and gore are unnecessary. Sure, make a film with suspense, mystery, even murder... but don't go overboard. Nobody NEEDS to see that (and if you feel you do... you may want to seek some help).
Friday, April 23, 2010
Social Networking Sites
Facebook.
Everybody uses it. Teenagers, adults, even some seniors. It's the most popular social networking site in North America, and for good reason. No site reconnects you with old friends and family the way Facebook does, and it allows you to share the happenings of your day to day life at your convenience.
However, there are a few things that Facebookers don't seem to realize about the site. For instance, every time you upload a photo you are giving the site the right's to that photo. They own it, and continue to even after you delete your account. Same goes for the notes you write, and the information about yourself that you post. Facebook immediately has the right to re-publish all your information for their own purposes (advertising, etc).
So, for those of you who rush home to change your status every day after school, and upload photos from your most recent date night... keep in mind that it's something that won't be deleted for a long, long time to come.
Everybody uses it. Teenagers, adults, even some seniors. It's the most popular social networking site in North America, and for good reason. No site reconnects you with old friends and family the way Facebook does, and it allows you to share the happenings of your day to day life at your convenience.
However, there are a few things that Facebookers don't seem to realize about the site. For instance, every time you upload a photo you are giving the site the right's to that photo. They own it, and continue to even after you delete your account. Same goes for the notes you write, and the information about yourself that you post. Facebook immediately has the right to re-publish all your information for their own purposes (advertising, etc).
So, for those of you who rush home to change your status every day after school, and upload photos from your most recent date night... keep in mind that it's something that won't be deleted for a long, long time to come.
Differences Between Fiction and Film
I recently finished reading the novel "White Oleander" and then followed up my reading by watching the movie at home. What an incredible difference! Amazing, how Astrid's mother changed from an author, a poet in the book, to a visual artist in the film. Not only were the characters altered, but entire sections of the plot were eliminated in the movie. I was honestly dumbstruck by the difference, and disappointed as well.
Having said that, I certainly understand that turning fiction into film is a challenge, and using every detail from the book would ultimately result in a five hour movie (an audience of sore behinds), which is not ideal. The producers and directors of White Oleander certainly did a good job, it's a beautiful film that pulls the audience's heart strings just as much as the written work does. It's simply a shame that so much gets "lost in translation" between fiction and film.
There are many examples of this found in media. Even such works as Dante's Inferno are now being used for movies and video games. The unfortunate issue with this is that the entire story is changed to the point where it becomes unrecognizable. Some people might argue that these alterations are necessary to appeal to the audience, to keep the stories alive, but at what cost? When does it become too much, and when do we recognize that we're simply slandarizing great literary work? Maybe never, but hopefully soon, before every book and poem is an inaccurate film or game depiction.
Having said that, I certainly understand that turning fiction into film is a challenge, and using every detail from the book would ultimately result in a five hour movie (an audience of sore behinds), which is not ideal. The producers and directors of White Oleander certainly did a good job, it's a beautiful film that pulls the audience's heart strings just as much as the written work does. It's simply a shame that so much gets "lost in translation" between fiction and film.
There are many examples of this found in media. Even such works as Dante's Inferno are now being used for movies and video games. The unfortunate issue with this is that the entire story is changed to the point where it becomes unrecognizable. Some people might argue that these alterations are necessary to appeal to the audience, to keep the stories alive, but at what cost? When does it become too much, and when do we recognize that we're simply slandarizing great literary work? Maybe never, but hopefully soon, before every book and poem is an inaccurate film or game depiction.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Students of Tomorrow
The students of tomorrow are going to be even more bombarded by technology and media than we are. More and more courses will be offered online, a big help to students who have difficulty attending a regular school but bad news for teachers who will be put out of jobs. As tools such as smart boards become more popular and accessable, chalkboards and textbooks will be on their way out. These things will benefit those who are technologically literate, but those who struggle with operating computers and other mechanics will not progress to their full capacity. As well, were some disaster to wipe out (temporarily or permanently) the technology being used, students would not be prepared or able to take care of themselves or continue their lives productively because of the reliance they will have built on computers, internet, and other techy gadgets. It's an inevitable disaster, it's just waiting to happen.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Superbowl Commercial Cost
I have no doubt what so ever that the people developing the commercials for the Superbowl, and the companies benefitting from the advertisements, believe that it is worth three million dollars for 30 seconds... after all, hundreds of thousands of people sit on their butts and watch the game, and will be exposed to those advertisements... which definitely impacts the consumer market for the products being advertised. However, I look at things from a more realistic point of view, so I disagree.
Three million dollars for thirty seconds? Three million dollars, if you have to use it for advertising, could go a lot farther than one commercial. You could create billions of flyers, do hundreds of commercials during non-Superbowl time... any number of things. I'm not sure of exact statistics, but I'm willing to bet that doubling your advertising during off-season would gain you just as many customers as one commercial during a football game.
Furthermore, with disasters such as the earth quake in Haiti, I think that there are a lot more important things to focus the world's money on than Budweiser. I guess that's not really relavent to the media though....
It's obvious that the reason a commercial during the Superbowl costs so much is that it is one of the biggest games of the year, and has the largest audience to broadcast to. As well, it's necessary to make the commercials entertaining and eye-catching, to stand out amoung the dozens of other commercials aired during that time. Worth it though? I think not... especially since, not being a football fan, I don't benefit at all from that 3 million... I've got no idea what trendy new products they're advertising and I know a lot of other people who won't either.
Three million dollars for thirty seconds? Three million dollars, if you have to use it for advertising, could go a lot farther than one commercial. You could create billions of flyers, do hundreds of commercials during non-Superbowl time... any number of things. I'm not sure of exact statistics, but I'm willing to bet that doubling your advertising during off-season would gain you just as many customers as one commercial during a football game.
Furthermore, with disasters such as the earth quake in Haiti, I think that there are a lot more important things to focus the world's money on than Budweiser. I guess that's not really relavent to the media though....
It's obvious that the reason a commercial during the Superbowl costs so much is that it is one of the biggest games of the year, and has the largest audience to broadcast to. As well, it's necessary to make the commercials entertaining and eye-catching, to stand out amoung the dozens of other commercials aired during that time. Worth it though? I think not... especially since, not being a football fan, I don't benefit at all from that 3 million... I've got no idea what trendy new products they're advertising and I know a lot of other people who won't either.
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