Literary Theory: Ruining Sit-Coms for Students

It is really interesting that this is the topic of our blog post today. Over Thanksgiving break, I discovered that my mother had purchased seasons 6-10 of the television show Friends. This was my absolute favorite show growing up, and I was heartbroken when it ended. Thus, naturally I brought the seasons back with me to watch during my super busy ending of the semester (smart, right?). Anyways, I am currently on season 9, and my viewing of this television show has been quite different than it was when I was in high school. Literary Theory has RUINED Friends for me! I began after the break mindlessly watching the show, but found after the first couple of episodes that I have been watching it with a more theoretical eye. I found myself watching the episodes through the gender lens, and would walk away completely offended at some of the comments made.

I think that television episodes are a great way for students to get acclimated with reading texts through literary lenses. For example Deborah Appleman came and spoke to our class this past Tuesday and showed us this commercial:



At first, the class laughed...and she too admitted that she found it hilarious the first time she watched it. However, after viewing it a couple of more times she said that it started to trouble her and asked us to answer why we thought it troubled her.  Points that were brought up in class were the the idea of infidelity being taken lightly, male baby represented as a wolf, female baby being portrayed as needy, the other being represented as simple-minded and promiscuous, to name a few.

I think that the television show Friends is a great show to introduce literary theory to high school students. First of all, it is accessible to them. It's funny, modern, and the themes explored are relatable to the students' lives. The Marxist (Social Class) Theory would be a great way to look at this television show. Some questions to ponder would: be how does this series distinguish class relations, and one that I often think of is how do the characters in this show afford the lifestyle they are living (in an affluent city in a nice apartment) when their jobs (which are rarely mentioned) may not allow for them to realistically do this?  We can also talk about class and race relations within the television show that are portrayed to the society as attainable and normal.

We could also talk about this show in terms of the gender lens.  There are many situations (that unfortunately Youtube does not have examples of) where questions of sexuality are brought up in the show. For example, Ross and Rachel are talking about how they are going to bring the newborn child into Rachel's work so that her coworkers can see the baby. Because the sex of their baby has been misperceived before, Rachel decides to put a pink bow on the baby to clear up any misconceptions. Right before they leave for the office, Ross makes some comment about the the fashion designer that Rachel works for, Ralph Lauren, and the new line of clothing that is coming out.  He then says something a long the lines of, "Maybe I should be wearing a blue bow,"  of "I swear I am not gay."  In this instance, they have gendered fashion to be a female interest, and that guys who are interested in or talk about fashion are considered to be gay.  There are other scenes in the show where the male characters need to assert their masculinity by going to football games or watching sports and pornography.

I think it would be interesting to watch this show through different lenses to teach the students that there is not ONE correct way of looking at a text, and that one text can be read many ways that introduce new issues.

Breaking Down Them Indie Bands

When I listen to music, I usually identify deeply with the meanings of songs, and am interested in the messages that they convey, and how it makes me feel.  I CONSTANTLY ask my boyfriend what our song is (mature, I know), only to be dismayed at the choices he presents. This is because the aspects that he appreciates about a song are different than the ones that I do, as he is more interested in the auditory pleasures of a song, rather than what its lyrics convey.  He once told me that our song was one that began with the lines, “girl, I know you got issues…” and I was like, "Uhhh....Really?!" However, the offense that I took was simply due to conflicts of interests since he chose the song to be ours because of the way it sounded (which is nice, I must add). I, on the other hand, could not believe that he picked a song about a man loving a woman despite the depressing issues she had. It is clear from my experience that in addition to the way a song sounds, I am also interested in what it has to say.

I guess if I had to be categorized into a certain type of genre of music that I enjoy, I would probably most identify with the Indie category; most specifically the indie folk/rock genre including artists such as Mumford and Sons, Avett Brothers, Iron and Wine, etc. and also artists that are more eclectic such as Yeasayer (although I swear Justin Timberlake will always have a place in my heart (marry me!?)).  I am obviously a little more inclined to be interested in an artists production when I am at a show as opposed to simply listening to their music by myself. At these times I recognize that I do both appreciate an interesting production and a simplistic one.   For example, I am totally down with the band Local Natives. I saw them at First Avenue, and not only did my debit card get stolen, but these wholesome hunks also stole my heart.  Their music is beautiful, and the simplistic set up of the stage and their presence was a great addition. For them, it is not about the production.  They find ways to get the crowd going that does not involve glitter, and mostly involves their music.  As I look back on the shows I have seen, I recognize a trend that is sans a huge production.  I went to 89.3’s Rock the Garden production 2 years ago (and not this past year because I was out of the country) and the atmosphere of the stage was more the same; simplistic, with the band, their instruments and some microphones.  However, I do recognize some shows that I have seen that do involve a large production. I saw Phoenix and also Ratatat at First Ave and it was all about the light show that accompanied the music.  I guess a good way to put it is that I appreciate a band whose production and music go hand and hand. When one outdoes the other it takes away from the focus of the music.  To demonstrate both ends of the music spectrum that I enjoy I will show two videos: one with a more simplistic setting (simplistic setting only referring to the stage, not intricacy of the music), and one with a mind-blowing light show (that was better in person, obviously). 

Ratatat       

Local Natives

Since the above videos are live performances, I will also look at some music videos by the same artists, and try to come to some sort of conclusion about indie music videos.  I think one thing that I most frequently notice about music videos of this genre is the high possibility that the artists are barely shown, if ever, in their music video, and are most definitely are not the focus.  Videos like this, and also others by groups such as Animal Collective, and Ratatat present an obscure and abstract artistic music video, rather than a Lady Gagaesque type where she is the focus. Sometimes, the art also carries some sort of message, such as the one in the Ratatat video that portrays human destruction of Earth.  Because indie music artist are the self-proclaimed anti-christ of corporate record labels, they generally enjoy more freedom in their artistic expression.  In addition, videos included in this genre generally invite their viewers to become engulfed in some sort of trance, or so  I've noticed.    

Local Natives Music Video

Ratatat Music Video 

Animal Collective Music Video

Analyzing Documentaries: Food Inc.

            In the documentary Food Inc., directed by Robert Kenner, the unsanitary, unethical and unjust routines of the food production corporations are unveiled in an eye-opening and shocking presentation.  Since the demands of the fast food industry are growing, food production corporations are forced to come up with more effective means to supply the product that fast food industries desire. However, how this gets accomplished is by brushing aside the ethical and sanitary components in order to produce product more efficiently.  The government institutions, such as the FDA and USDA that are supposed to protect Americans from the potentially harmful food look the other way in order to keep the profit afforded by production alive.  The main message of this documentary is that the quality of the food produced, and treatment, safety of animals and consumers, and the preservation of environment through healthy means of production are at an all-time low due to the high demands of the product.  These elements are over-looked by the greedy eye of the government and powerful companies that own the food industry in order to keep producing cheap, disgusting food for the unaware American.  In addition, the food the American’s consume is genetically modified by science to achieve the goal of maximum production for the cheapest cost. 

            The way that this documentary makes this statement is by taking an inside view to the companies that fall below the standards. For example, viewers witness a Purdue Chicken company farmer unmask the maltreatment of the animals and also the unsanitary and unreasonable living conditions that are overlooked by the corporation. Subsequently, she looses her job for the bad reputation that she causes the industry. This documentary also makes viewers aware of the fact that the E Coli that some Americans are falling ill to has its origins with cattle. How, then, are Americans receiving this bacteria from vegetables such as spinach? The unsanitary conditions and close proximity of cattle farms to vegetable fields make it easy for runoff (feces) from the cattle to come in contact with the produce.  The lack of urgency and agency that this problem deserves is reveled to the audience by showing how this bacterium has come to affect all of our food.  

In order to preserve authenticity, directors of this documentary extended an offer to food corporations to share their side of the debate. This is done to give both sides an equal opportunity to share their story in order to avoid biases.  However, this offer was generally turned down, most likely to maintain some sort of underserved dignity.  Furthermore, large food corporations probably do not have a reason for the terrible conditions and means they use to produce food other than the efficiency and cheapness.   

Teaching Idea:

I think one of the main issues with documentaries is the validity and authenticity of the material presented.  Documentaries that attack a certain institution are oftentimes biased in the way they are presented to completely vilify the object of their dismay.  Although I do feel that the information in Food Inc. is presented in a genuine manner, I feel it is near impossible to not have biases on the subject of the quality of our food produced in America.  This documentary presents the shocking information, but also tries to allow big food corporations to have their say as well. I think it would be difficult to argue that there is not a problem with the food industry in this county even without watching the documentary.  That being said, there are documentaries that do skew information to fit a certain purpose. To help students engage in a critical look at media, I could do an activity that asks them to analyze the validity of certain documentaries and note why or why not they are biased.  We would then compare and contrast the components of authentic and inauthentic documentaries--the techniques they use and how information can be altered.  

Ethnography: Deer Hunting Culture

I really struggled with what to do my ethnography blog post on.  Options that popped into my head were things like Justin Timberlake Fan Club websites and musical concerts, but I decided that those were too accessible to me. I decided to go with something I like to refer to as “Deer Hunting Culture.” A couple of weekends ago my boyfriend’s family was in town.  The conversations that consumed a large amount of our time revolved around the activity of deer hunting because the season opener in Wisconsin over Thanksgiving weekend is a time when all the men in my boyfriend’s immediate and extended family head up to the cabin (or man cave) and participate in this activity. To me, this means waking up early, and sitting outside in the cold for hours upon hours for the opportunity to possibly see one deer. But, alas, it is much more than that, as I have learned through listening to their conversations.  First of all, during this conversation, my boyfriend stated that he was nervous for deer hunting because of the drama that would ensue. That’s right, DEER HUNTING DRAMA. Who knew? In addition, there is also deer hunting etiquette, which I will delve into more deeply later.  Now, my boyfriend has told me many a time that I can be a little dramatic at times- I fully own and accept this accusation, however, he has always FAILED to tell me that his life can get a little dramatic at times too.  One might ask, “What could possibly cause deer hunting drama?” According to my boyfriend, it is always a fight for which deer stand each person gets.  Should it be based on family ties (my boyfriend’s father is not directly related to the uncles that own the cabin they hunt at) or should it be based on who sets all of the stands up, the person that happens to be my boyfriend’s father?  I would say in my oh-so-dramatic head of mine that it should be based on who takes the time to set all of the stands up, that person should get first choice.  However, this is not the case.  Apparently during decision-making time these rough and rugged men turn into emotional creatures that whine and complain about something as simple as a deer stand.  Furthermore, there is a set of rules, or “etiquette” involved in the activity of deer hunting. As I have been informed, sometimes the DNR regulates on if you have to shoot a doe first before a buck.  This, in addition to the deer stand dilemma, is another source of drama for the crew.  Apparently, sometimes you can cheat the system if you see a buck that is within range and shoot it and then call to your comrades to hook you up with a doe when they see them.  Some men in the crew though take this responsibility lightly. They see a buck, shoot it without getting a doe first, and then call it a weekend and wait for someone else to get them a doe.  Unfair as it may seem, it is the truth of what goes on at deer camp, and I have valiantly uncovered the hypocrisy.

I decided to take this observation one step further and really immerse myself in the culture I have been speaking about.  The next weekend, I joined my boyfriend in a pheasant hunting expedition. I was more of a spectator/backpack carrier/complainer, but I was interested to witness the interactions between him and the other hunters. One thing that I noticed is that you always want to “one up” the individual you are talking to in regards to one’s own hunting experiences/knowledge.  It is sort of like a fight for the alpha-male position, a fight that I find absolutely hilarious.

In conclusion, I find it interesting the differences between what my boyfriend and I find dramatic. I may consider a comment that a friend made to another completely mind blowing whereas he thinks it is nothing. This also works the other way as well, with him and his doe dilemma and all the other drama and etiquette that surrounds deer camp.  

Genre Analysis: Reality TV and my Favorite Housewives

 After moving into my house this past summer, I thought I was doing myself a favor by not getting cable…or even having a TV for that matter. Then I found out that there is this little thing called Hulu that allows for me to watch all of that trashy television without cable OR a TV.  Nevertheless, I have been able to keep up with my favorite housewives--The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Don’t let the title deceive you; there really is nothing real about them.  From plastic surgery to their moral values, they display a fake body as well as a fake personality. To be honest, I think I subconsciously watch this to feel better about myself, and I am interested in why other people get sucked into this trend. 

I recently just watched episode 5 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s season three.   I have included the hulu link in this post if there is a chance that one would want to see with their own eyes what I will be talking about in this post. I first want to talk about this show’s authenticity.  Its main goal is to keep its viewers engaged and interested; that being said, there are times during this show (and other reality shows I am sure) where editing is necessary to do this. For example, in this episode, at 41 minutes and 20 seconds, we see one of the housewives talking about her marriage.  At exactly this time, her lips are the only part of her body shown in the screenshot, but they do not go along with what she is saying.  They have voiced over what she actually was talking about to make the story most likely seem cohesive and entertaining.  In addition, there are other times throughout this episode that the gestures that are shown do not go a long with what is being talked about.  The show uses the shots taken by the camera and then includes a storyline that is implemented at a later time in some scenes. 

The value system of these women is also very interesting, and in my opinion, an incorrect representation of this so called “real” factor that they claim to possess.  It seems to be more about money than anything else. Who can have the best house, who can have the most lavish parties, who can wear the nicest clothes and drive the nicest car.  Most of these women have married into money, and if not, they are in pursuit of finding a man with money rather than being in love. This is displayed to the audience when one of the women speaking of a man she just met. She was very displeased when she found out that the next date he was going to take her on was not at a five star restaurant. Rather, he was going to cook dinner for her.  She also first makes the claim that a relationship is a 50-50 split between money and love but then ups it later on to 65-35. 

In another scene in this episode, a woman (the same woman that was complaining about her marriage) goes to get plastic surgery because she was feeling unhappy. I don’t know about you…but when I am feeling unhappy I eat cookies and ice cream, and watch romantic comedies. I don’t go get a tummy tuck because someone is ruining my day. This also relates to the viewer what happiness to them is founded on. It is founded on being skinny and pretty. That is what makes these women happy, or cheers them up.    

Also, in this particular episode, another one of the housewives takes her daughter shopping to buy new furniture for her bedroom. The daughter continually expresses interest in having a sports themed bedroom to which her mother vehemently disregards and implies that there will be none of that in her little girls room.  This show also reinforces gender roles.  There is nothing wrong with a little girl who is interested in sports, and for a mother to disregarded those interests in her ploy to create a perfect girly daughter who displays femininity is apparent. 

So after analyzing this show, and others like it, it is clear to see that there really is not that much that is real about the Real Housewives of Atlanta.   You can bet that in every episode there will be a blowout between 2 of the characters, and you can also bet that one of the housewives will find out via text that a different one of the housewives is talking trash about her. Reality TV is interesting.   It allows for the viewer to feel distanced and loose feelings of sympathy and empathy toward what they are watching. Although I semi actively participate in the viewing of reality TV, the motives behind some of the people who watch these shows can become problematic.  

THE EPISODE

Analysis of Advertising

Some of my favorite advertisements are the Miller Highlife commercials where they go into social functions that are too classy to be serving Miller Highlife (and oftentimes at a VERY expensive price) and take back all of the beer.  Not only are these hilarious, but they are also targeted toward a specific audience--The middle class, beer-drinking American.  

The particular Miller Highlife commercial that I am analyzing for this assignment is posted in this blogpost.  It shows the 2 Miller Highlife guys going into a dog show and seeing that their product is being sold . They are immediately shocked and one of the guys actually says "It's making me queasy!" The ad makes it very apparent that Miller Highlife is NOT to be served at high class social functions. It is a good beer for cheap that is supposed to stay that way.  This ad is targeted at the Middle Class American and is targeted AWAY from upper class society.This is interesting because they are relying on the fact that beer is a middle/lower class drink.  This commercial also plays on the stereotype that uppity people do not drink beer, and they have "sports" such as the dog competition portrayed in this commercial, where Miller Highlife beer is not acceptable. 

 I think that Miller Highlife also likes to keep the "good beer for cheap" image, as portrayed in the Superbowl advertisements  where instead of creating a normal 30 second commercial, they created a 1 second, and much cheaper, commercial.  Miller Highlife advertisements have a humor factor that I think intrigues and interests the audience rather than sells the audience the product based on the facts presented in the commercial. I think that this ad sells the lifestyle to the idealized common folk that this beer was made for them, and I think it achieves its purpose. 

THE COMMERCIAL

FACEBOOK!

I go on facebook... A LOT. Too much one might say, and I have been making a conscious effort to limit my time using it, and my boyfriend makes the joke saying, "Nicole, you know the newsfeed on facebook is not the  REAL news, right?" He is just hilarious........


 I think that facebook is a great way to stay connected with friends, and family, but at times it is a huge distraction that keeps me from being productive. In addition, it can be dangerous to share personal information, and can promote online bullying.  On the plus side, my brother is over seas right now and in addition to the time change factor, getting to a phone can be an equally as difficult piece to overcome.  I have been fortunate to have many more facebook conversations with him than I have phone conversations. For that, I love facebook.  


As I stated, however, facebook is a public website. Employers, parents, and students can all view your information depending on what security settings you have set up....and even then it gets kind of dicey. Therefore, I am very careful with what I put up on my facebook. I do not share my telephone number, my address, or any other contact information that could lead to harassment or other problems.


Going a long with the notion that facebook is accessible to the public, I do believe that there is a sort of etiquette that one should acknowledge when communicating with others.  Knowing that other people's grandparents, siblings, parents, etc can check their facebook walls, I makes sure that everything I post on there is something that I would show my grandmother. It has to pass the grandmother approval:)  


Facebook would be a great tool to use as a teacher if I were to create an alternate persona (other than my personal one) to allow for students to add me as a friend and use as a classroom resource...Facebook is a good tool to use with students because it is something that most of them use on a daily basis.  Why not make it productive, right?

Top 5 Sitcom Moms! Voice Thread Activity

The video

Video Annotation

I annotated a clip of the movie Inception for my Media Literacy class. Check it out!

Video of Australia Using Imovie

Here is my amateur attempt at making my first movie.  I TRIED to put some of the pictures I took in Australia in a sequence that would tell a story...A shot from afar conveying our arrival, then images of me surfing, and then a closing evening picture.  Using Imovie would be a great way to get student's engaged in my future classroom.  We live in a world of technology and students can turn out some really great work when a teacher lets them show off their knowledge and talents in using technology!!

Watch out Steven Spielberg

Viewing Ads Through Literary Lenses:

I chose to focus this assignment on analyzing two different Dolce and Gabbana advertisements: one for wristwatches, and one for male’s cologne

First, the social class lens:

Dolce and Gabbana Watch Commercial

 I think that the aim of this commercial was to connect with as many male and female social class representatives as possible.  Although I do feel that there are certain class levels played out in this commercial, they are certainly all portrayed in a very glamorized manner.    For example, the commercial begins in a deserted part of town with graffiti laden walls and a beat-up car that stops to ask a man carrying a case of beer (who just happens to be wearing 2 Dolce and Gabbana wristwatches) for directions.  The audience can see that while directing the lost vehicle, (with his watch hand, of course) the woman in the car notices and admires the man’s watches.  The commercial then progresses to an intimate conversation of three friends in a seemingly more up-scale venue where the woman who received directions in the car is now wearing 2 Dolce and Gabbana wrist watches, like the gentleman who previously gave her directions.  Like her, a young man notices her wristwatches and then is shown dancing in a young adult dance club dancing with a woman who then notices his 2 wristwatches. As you may have guessed, she goes out and gets the 2 wristwatches, following the trend of the others who came before, and is noticed by a man. Up until this point, the audience has viewed 2 very different settings with 2 different social class presences.   The first setting being the vacant, underdeveloped street, and the second as a combination of a more up-scale dance club and a restaurant.  Third, the audience sees these Dolce and Gabbana wristwatches being shot for a very prestigious advertisement by a wealthy looking photographer (who was the man who noticed the previous woman).  In my opinion this jumping from lower class to upper class was done deliberately.  This commercial relays to the view that people EVERYWHERE are wearing Dolce and Gabbana watches. From deserted alleyways, to upper-middle class dining and dancing venues, to prestigious advertising agencies, everyone at these levels is able to afford the watches.  I also think it is interesting how this trend gets started in the lower class alleyway. I think this shows that you don’t have to be rich and famous, or come from Hollywood to start a worthwhile trend.   

Second, the gender lens:

Dolce and Gabbana Cologne Commercial

This advertisement portrays to viewers the image of an ideal man. He is polished, handsome, rich (judging by his outfit and vehicle) charming, and desirable.

When viewing this through the feminist perspective however, one might argue that this commercial unravels in a way that shows the world revolving around the male character. What’s more, the “world” is revolving around this male character by photographers that are relentlessly snapping photos, although he has seemingly done nothing picture worthy besides get out of his car.  Now, I know that the man in the ad happens to be a movie star and that could be the source of the picture snapping, but I think the commercial portrays something greater when viewed through the gender/feminist lens. 

How to include Steven Spielberg's Minority Report into the teaching of George Orwell's 1984:

For my film teaching activity, I have decided to use the introduction of Minority Report to show to the students during their reading George Orwell’s 1984.

I came up with idea on one of the first days of class after Professor Beach showed us the introduction to Minority Report and told us to study the techniques the director uses to portray certain things. While viewing the movie, I could not help but think that it was showing exactly what Orwell had predicted in his novel about government control in citizens’ lives.

Step One: Show first 10 minutes of clip (10 minutes)

I think that this would be a good clip to show to students after reading the first chapter in the book. This book can be very dense, and I think that showing this after the first chapter will spark their interest, and give them a visual representation of government control, and a way to understand the sentiments that Winston is feeling towards his particular situation. To begin, I would show the clip and ask the students to take note of context questions such as, when they think this movie is taking place. In addition, I will want for them to include in their personal notes what they perceive to be happening in the introduction of this movie, and to be prepared to discuss it after the clip.

Step Two: Discuss clip (10 minutes)

Step Three: Small group activity (25 minutes)

After discussion, I would ask students to do meet in groups of 3 or 4 to talk about the following prompt: In what ways is the introduction to the movie Minority Report similar to how Winston feels as he nervously writes in his diary in chapter one? How are the Thought Police similar to the Pre-Crime Police in the movie? Include specific examples/quotes from your reading and parts of the introduction that you watched.

Each group will respond to this prompt with ONE hand-written group copy in no more than TWO pages to turn into me for credit.

To Brighten Your Day...

I know that talking about the weather is an pretty good indicator of not having anything else to talk about...but seriously HOW NICE IS THIS WEATHER!? I have learned that my mood is somewhat (if not completely) dependent on what it is like outside. And, as of late, I have been the happiest person in Minneapolis...if you beg to differ...wait till January;)

On another note, one of my friends showed me this, and I found it absolutely HYSTERICAL. So here's to your Tuesday morning, you have to learn to laugh at yourself sometimes!

Why everyone should own a Mac

Please stop.

So I seem to have bad luck with where I move. This isn't because I always have a personal vendetta for my roommate, or that my shower is leaking and causing a big mold fiasco...It is simply because of ONE reason....My upstairs neighbors at my past two residences always seem be Beliebers...That is, HUGE FANS OF THE CHILDHOOD SENSATION JUSTIN BEIBER. While I think it is great to be super dedicated to your favorite artists, what I don't appreciate is hearing Justin's voice BLARING from the upstairs at 6 am in the morning when you are getting ready for middle school. So until this discontinues...Yes, I will continue to bang on my ceiling with a broom like a crazy lady. Yes, I will continue to leave passive-aggressive notes in places you "might" see, and to be quite frank, the only Justin that I Belieb in is Justin Timberlake! Ahh nothing like a blog to get out my frustrations!

The better Justin

My Vid

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Well, here it is!

Wow! I completely am not up on my "A" game with this technology stuff. However, I think I finally got the hang of it, and HOPEFULLY (fingers crossed) my video will beautifully appear after I press the "publish post" button! I am really excited to have started a blog...It is something I have wanted to do for a while.

Disclaimer: I in no way intend this video to entertain you:)

Hasta luego, clase.