Extra Credit Blog Post

I had never used a blog before my RTF 305 class. All my assignments for classes in high school were papers, projects, and occasionally videos, and I have only been assigned papers for my other classes at UT. I haven’t even used a personal blog, though I think they are a great idea and can be pretty interesting.

I liked using a blog for RTF 305 because it was a nice change from all the papers and essays I am used to writing. I also thought the format was more conducive to describing a topic for a media class; I could include pictures and videos that were relevant to my blog post, something I could never do in an essay or paper.

The only difficulty I had in using the blog was when I first started, and I wasn’t totally sure how to format the post. It was probably just because I had never used a blog before. Other than that, the blog was very easy to use.

I liked the blog posts where we had to provide an example of what we were talking about that we were familiar with. For example, I enjoyed analyzing shots in one of my favorite movies for the blog prompt on film progression. It was hard to come up with an example to use for these posts, but once I had one it was fun to write about.

I would recommend using a blog for RTF 305 and other classes because it is extremely simple to use and a nice change from traditional paper essays. However, it would be nice to know how formal the blog posts were supposed to be. I felt like they should have been very formal because they were assigned for a college class, but the combination of the blog format and ability to use pictures and other media made it seem like the posts didn’t need to be written formally. I suggest that this issue be discussed in class before students start blogging.

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

Globalization and Cultural Imperialism

            According to Prof. Straubhaar’s lecture on Globalization and Media, globalization is the process of increasing interconnectedness among nations, cultures, and people. Globalization is accelerated by technological developments, so it has grown considerably over the past few decades. Globalization is highly connected to the concept of cultural imperialism, or the “Westernization” of other cultures to the point where all cultures are essentially the same.  Without globalization, we cannot have cultural imperialism. Because of the large amount of power the U.S. has, the U.S. exports its culture much more than it imports other cultures. There is a stereotype that Americans know nothing about the outside world, and although that isn’t totally accurate, there is some truth to it; with the world becoming more and more Americanized, Americans have less of a reason to learn about other countries and cultures. And, with increased Americanization, comes increased consumerism in Americanized countries.

            McDonalds is pretty much the poster child for American globalization and cultural imperialism. It has moved from being only in the U.S. to having restaurants in many countries all over the world. The spread of McDonalds epitomizes many people’s fears that American culture is taking over other countries, causing them to lose their cultural identity. McDonalds does make an effort to relate to other cultures, with different menu items such as these:

However, changing menu items does not take away the effect of Americanization in these countries, nor the fears that go along with it.

Advertising Appeals - Old Spice Commercial

 

Old Spice Commercial

As is the case with many people, the popular commercial for Old Spice is one of my favorite ads. I think its immense popularity shows that it is a powerful advertisement. The commercial's creativity and humor caught people's attention and made people think more about the brand Old Spice. It features an attractive, well-built man talking to the viewer, insinuating that he is better than the viewer's man because he uses Old Spice. And although the viewer's man, unfortunately, isn't the Old Spice guy, he can smell like the Old Spice guy if he uses Old Spice body wash, implying that this will make the man a better boyfriend/husband.

The advertising appeal in Prof. Straubhaar's lecture that best applies to this commercial is the appeal of achievement or prominence. While this kind of appeal perhaps applies mainly to celebrity status or a well-known brand, I think it can also be used to make the viewer want to better themselves in some way, whether that be with a famous brand of shoe or trying to better please your woman by using Old Spice body wash. This appeal says that if you use a certain product, you'll gain lots of attention and possibly be more popular. The ability to make yourself better in some way just by buying a product is a highly effective appeal.

This advertisement is super effective at conveying the idea that if you use Old Spice body wash, you will be more attractive, better at pleasing your woman, and more able to care for her needs. Similarly, the ad tells women that if she were to convince her man to use Old Spice body wash, he would be a better boyfriend/husband, much like the man in the commercial. If a man uses Old Spice body wash, he will be at the top of his game; no other body wash could make him as attractive and appealing as Old Spice can. This commercial aims to make the Old Spice guy look like the most attractive, appealing man you could ever hope to be like, and says that it's totally possible to be like him if you use Old Spice body wash.

Three Act Structure: Pride and Prejudice (2005)

The first act of the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice introduces the characters of Elizabeth Bennet, her family, Mr. Bingley, Miss Bingley, and Mr. Darcy. We see that they live in the late 1700s/early 1800s and that Elizabeth's family is relying on the girls getting married because of their poor economic situation. In contrast, Mr. Bingley, Miss Bingley, and Mr. Darcy are very wealthy. The first act develops a relationship between Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley, which makes it look like they might get married. Elizabeth dislikes Mr. Darcy because of his seemingly pompous attitude. Despite this, Elizabeth's family is excited by the possibility of Jane's marriage. The first plot point happens at a ball that Mr. Bingley gives. While dancing, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have a heated debate about his actions toward a mutual acquaintance, Mr. Wickham. This argument intensifies Elizabeth's dislike of Mr. Darcy, but we can see that Mr. Darcy is in love with Elizabeth. This confrontation leaves the viewer wondering who is right about the Mr. Wickham situation, but the main "complication" is the relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. The viewer wonders if the two characters will resolve their differences. This introductory act takes longer than thirty minutes because there is so much to introduce and develop.

In the beginning of the second act, we find out that Mr. Bingley and company have gone to London for an indefinite amount of time. Jane and her family are devastated that Mr. Bingley has left without any warning. Elizabeth blames Mr. Darcy, believing that he didn't want Mr. Bingley and Jane to marry because of their difference in wealth. In a later visit with Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth finds out that this it true. This scene is a "mini-climax"; Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth, proclaiming that he loves her. However, Elizabeth only gets mad at him and finds out that he did indeed deter Mr. Bingley from staying with Jane. After this scene we find out that Mr. Darcy did not act cruelly toward Mr. Wickham as Elizabeth had originally thought; Mr. Wickham was totally to blame. This answers one question that act one has raised. This discovery also starts to change Elizabeth's mind about Mr. Darcy, as do various other events having to do with Mr. Darcy, including him encouraging Mr. Bingley to finally propose to Jane. At the end of act two, we have the second plot point where Mr. Darcy's aunt accuses Elizabeth of being engaged to Mr. Darcy. This event seems to further complicate the relationship between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, as we now know that a marriage between them would be opposed. By now, though, we know that Elizabeth loves Mr. Darcy and would marry him if he asked her again. This answers the other question raised in the first act and provides a transition to the third and final act.

The third act begins when Mr. Darcy finds Elizabeth walking in a field and again proposes to her. We can see here that Elizabeth's feelings have totally changed - that she has fallen in love with Mr. Darcy. She accepts his proposal, which makes up the resolution to the original "complication"; their strained relationship. This final act is very short, less than thirty minutes. After all, there's not much more we need to know other than the fact that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth get married.

Intertextuality in TV Sitcoms and "Arrested Development"

In his lecture on television, Colin Tait described many characteristics of sitcoms, such as intertextuality. Intertextuality is when a show references other shows; a sitcom does not need to do this, but many sitcoms do make use of it. It is also far more common in sitcoms than it is in other shows, such as dramas, because it tends to be a comedic device. Intertextuality is a way to be funny without having to rely only on what's going on in the episode at the time. Most of the time when I see this, it's a character making a reference to a popular movie or actor, not necessarily another TV show. Something related to intertextuality is reflexivity, where a show references itself. This rewards viewers who regularly watch the show through jokes that someone who doesn't normally watch the show wouldn't get. It also allows the writers to use previous material, or to creating a running joke, or "gag". Because sitcoms generally go on for many episodes, intertextuality and reflexivity give writers more material to work with in addition to giving the audience more variety in the comedy they're watching.

My favorite sitcom, Arrested Development, uses intertextuality and reflexivity regularly. Arrested Development likes to make reference to the past work of its cast and crew; for example, references are made to the show Happy Days because of its connection to the producer and narrator of Arrested Development, Ron Howard. In another episode, Buster sings in a car to the same song that the actor who plays Buster did in a Volkswagon commercial. References are also made to movies. In one episode, after being kicked out of the house Tobias dresses up as a British nanny, Mrs. Featherbottom, so he can take care of his daughter, clearly referencing the movie Mrs. Doubtfire.

The show also uses reflexivity extensively. For example, in one episode Tobias and Carl Weathers discuss how great of a restaurant Burger King is, making fun of product placement: they do this because of Burger King's sponsorship of the show. Arrested Development also makes references to future events and episodes. Before Buster's hand gets bitten off by a seal, we see him discover a long-lost hand-shaped chair of his, while exclaiming "I never thought I could miss a hand so much." If a viewer goes back and watches this episode a second time, they will know that Buster is about to lose his hand, which will make his statement even funnier. So, intertextuality and reflexivity are big factors in what makes Arrested Development funny, but they also apply to most other sitcoms and impact them as well.

Film Progression in Sweeney Todd

 Sweeney Todd is a great movie to look at for examples of shots and angles and their meanings. At one part of the movie Mrs. Lovett walks into Sweeney Todd’s barber shop after he has killed a rival of his, Pirelli. This medium shot shows general information like the setting (barber shop) in addition to letting the viewer know that Todd has just killed Pirelli by the blood on his sleeve and the razor he’s cleaning. We also see just who’s inside the room: Todd, Mrs. Lovett, and Pirelli, who we know is stashed inside the chest shown in the foreground. We can also see the faces of Todd and Mrs. Lovett which shows us that Todd is calm and unaffected by the murder he committed, and Mrs. Lovett does not know what has happened yet.

 In this close-up shot of Mrs. Lovett after she opens the chest and discovers the dead Pirelli inside, we see that she is looking at Todd in horror. She cannot believe that Todd has just killed this man, and thinks he has gone crazy. Understandably, she is also frightened by the sight of the dead body, which she did not expect to see.

This low angle shot serves to give Mrs. Lovett power. She is no longer frightened by the sight of Pirelli’s dead body; indeed, she is now quite indifferent to it. She even takes Pirelli’s purse as he won’t be needing it anymore. The low angle is also from Pirelli’s point of view, showing that he doesn’t have power anymore. In fact, Mrs. Lovett even decides later to use his body to make meat pies. That has to be the ultimate example of Pirelli losing power and Mrs. Lovett gaining it.

Gene Kelly and the Classical Hollywood Studio System

One method the classical Hollywood studios used to stay successful was to have actors and actresses on contract with one studio; that is, an actor contracted to a certain studio could only make movies for that studio. According to Colin Tait’s guest lecture on Classical Hollywood, studios saw stars as tangible products of immaterial production. Audiences would recognize an actor that they liked and would go to see his movies. The popularity of an actor helped studios make money; a movie always excited an audience more if it featured an actor or actress they liked. Popular actors were so beneficial that the studios would train them and even pay them to sell the studios’ products.

A big reason why people wanted to go see a certain actor in a movie was because they expected certain things to be the same in each movie he was in. Stars were associated with specific genres, so this caused studios to have actors be in the same kinds of movies over and over again; for example, Humphrey Bogart was always in crime/detective movies. People expected this, so studios responded by making a lot of the same kinds of films with the same actors.

 

One well-known actor in this situation was Gene Kelly. Gene Kelly was associated with musical films such as An American in Paris, Les Girls, Brigadoon, and Singin’ in the Rain. In virtually all of his movies, Kelly would sing and go though intricate dance numbers. MGM, the studio Kelly was contracted with, knew people expected this from Kelly, so the studio made sure to put Kelly in musical films. The few movies Kelly was in that weren’t musicals did not do nearly as well as the ones he sang and danced in. When people saw a trailer for a movie with Gene Kelly in it, they expected to see a musical; this expectation kept people coming back to see more of Kelly’s movies, which brought MGM more and more revenue.