Miss Representation

The focus of the documentary was primarily that the media perpetuates a strongly influential and holistically negative influence on women. It begins by showing montages of sexualized, idealized women in movies and other mediums. Young girls in high school reflect on this, and one girl recalls, in tears, how her younger sister has resorted to self-mutilation because her classmates tease her about her body.

The documentary presents the irony that women like Angelina Jolie are held in high regards as above being objectified, yet they pose nude and often portray only temptresses in movies. It is then presented that women in politics, CEO’s of major companies, and other highly influential women are given little to no recognition in the media. In fact, shows portraying such intelligent women, Like “Commander in Chief” usually have little success or focus on knocking the women down a peg, like “The Devil Wears Prada”.

The point Miss Representation that is trying to make is that girls see these examples of objectification and feel that they must obtain such unreachable standards, and ultimately base their self-worth on how men perceive them. This suggests strong media influence, reminiscent of Meaning Theory or even a less extreme version of the Hypodermic needle.

                The documentary proposes that media perpetuates these ideals, and society’s acceptance of it allows the cycle to continue.

The Soundtrack of my Life

Personally, I believe all music is up for interpretation by the listener and can therefore relate to almost anyone. However, some songs, in either lyric or sound, can hold special meaning to us and reflect us more precisely. Some songs remind us of events of our lives, others capture our feelings, and some make us think the artist looked into our minds for inspiration. In the story of my life, 5 songs could play appropriately in the background:

1.       “The Prayer”  by Kid Cudi.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grPfVlj7Go4 . Cudi sings about how being deep makes him feel  out of place, but he believes it’s for a greater purpose. As a child I always felt I couldn’t relate to people my own age, but growing older helped me understand being different has a unique purpose.

2.       “All Hail the Heartbreaker” by the Spill Canvas.  This one can be about one of my old relationships. Lyrics about obsessing over someone who hurt you and romanticizing your relationship may as well been written about one of my old romances.

3.       “Here’s to the Night” by Eve 6. Generally, I mark my life by summers and this song is the anthem to the many crazy, unplanned summer nights growing up in a small town. In fact, this song was playing on the best night of my life, a summer night before the first day of high school.

4.       “Cheryl Tweedy”  by Lily Allen. The feisty, quirky singer sings about wanting to be a different person because of the problems she mostly causes herself. I can relate to the desire to be a better version of myself but not being proactive.

5.       “Scar Tissue” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I always felt this song was about looking at the world through a different, and wider perspective. Thus, it always resonated with any loneliness.  

Epilogue: All Shook Up

In the epilogue of All Shook Up the author reflects the changing meaning of Rock and Roll to American culture. Some things I found noteworthy include the fact that for all the hype and negative press associated with Woodstock the author notes that no murders, rapes, or robberys happened its first year. Further, iconic singers like Janice Joplin used it as a platform for introducing their new work.
Also interestingly, Bruce Springstein, (given special emphasis is ASU) not only promoted hippie values through his music, but did many concerts for Vietnam Veterans and antinuclear protests.
The epilogue also incorporates Rock and Roll's future, discussing how it's had influence on a variety of different music: "In the half century since Rock 'n' Roll got its name,the music has taken many forms, R&B, romantic rock, heavy metal, punk rock grunge rock". Thus, rock and roll is not dead, and is an active force on society.

Gay Rights: Forward or Backward?

It might seem like America has made strides in Civil Rights, including the gay movement, but looking at repeated instances of homophobia in the media undermines attempts to move forward.

The Gay Rights’ movement was sent into high tail forward with Obama’s announcement he opposed the ban on same-sex marriages in 2008. Within the last year, same sex marriages became legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York.

Despite these huge progressions, public anxiety over this openness leaves the movement in a gray area. Controversy emerged over Chaz Bono, transgendered child of Sonny and Cher, being a participant of popular show “Dancing with the Stars”. Critics claimed it would confuse children, while supporters stated it opened grounds for discussion and understanding. Bono was allowed to continue on the show.

The end of “don’t ask don’t tell” in the military by President Obama removed the cloak from closeted service members, promoting further equal rights.

However, homophobia in recent years has not been put to rest by strides in gay rights. In recent years, infamous remarks by actor Mel Gibson provoked him to publically apologize, and actor Isaiah Washington was forced to reprise his role in “Grey’s Anatomy”. Even more recently, Oscars’ producer Brett Ratner resigned from his position after using an f-bomb at a media event. Huge media coverage was given to the Westboro Baptist Church after members’ appearances at funerals of soldiers holding signs that stated “God Hates Fags”. The public mostly reacted with disgust to such extremists, but the church’s beliefs express some backward opinions still held in America.

While anti-gay sentiment in America presents a resistance, the rights of gays and lesbians are still on the rise. It can be hard to predict the future of Gay Rights, but ultimatley the country is moving towards greater rights.

Best Break Up Songs

Okay, let's not lie: we all love a good break up song after gettting our heart broken. While I'm not usually one for whiny songs, some songs hit the note, and the spot, when recovering from a good ol' dumping. While I'm not the girl to run to a Taylor Swift record, these songs always helped me along:

1. "Smile" by Lily Allen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WxDrVUrSvI&ob=av2e. Her voice sounds so sweet, but she gets vengeful. Her anger is so relatable.

2. "Someone Like You" by Adele. This is a good one for when you're still in love with your ex. She keeps her dignity, and hits the high notes.

3. "Erase Me" by Kid Cudi. He sings about how the girl wants him back, so I like this if I'm feeling confident.

4. "3685" by The Spill Canvas. It's about looking back on an old relationship and realizing you did wrong, but appreciating your new relationship because it's so much better. What could be more comforting than the lyrics "The truth is I found something new, and she easily towers over you."

Opinionator 1: Occupy Wall Street?

Images and videos of apparent police brutality in the Occupy Wall Street arouse the sympathies of American citizens, especially middle and lower classes. However, with more reflection the movements’ demands are vague and conflict with the fundamental elements of capitalism.

                Youtube videos of police using force against nonviolent protestors have conjured up to millions of hits on the site. Similar videos are widely used in news media, particularly Fox News. Although such videos create sympathy for the movement, they do not validate the beliefs of the Occupy Wall Street. In fact, they end up stirring anti-government sentiment, which undermines the principles of Liberalism.

                Similarly, the movement claims “we are the 99%” as a catch all for non-rich Americans. However, the demands to destroy Corporate America, don’t benefit all of the “99%”. Government paid workers, including firefighters (besides the now demonized police force) are paid holistically through all Americans paying their taxes, and especially the taxing of big business. Likewise, corporations provide millions of jobs. Thus, the “99%” encompasses small business owners rather than the vastness and uniqueness of all Americans.

                Occupy Wall Street makes many claims on the extremity of corruption in “the corporate state” detailing its robbery of the citizens, pollution of the environment, and overtaking of the government. One must not forget however, that corrupt values of one corruption can’t be used to generalize those of all corporations. If every corporation was not paying its taxes, there would be extreme repercussions, by necessity, in the government.

                Most significantly, one must not forget that the existences of hugely profitable businesses are created from the ground up, the epitome of capitalism. Such fundamentals of Capitalism are what allow for mobility in society. Even if an unskilled worker made more money per hour, what’s the point if he won’t move up in the workforce and make significantly more money?

                All in all, the Occupy Wall Street movement should be advocating modification in the Corporate State, not attempting its destruction.

Music Memories Two

My father, William, and I fit the saying "like father like daughter" to a T in almost every aspect of life. It's no surprise that our tastes in music is similar as well. In fact, I credit the soft, classic rock he plays in the car on long trips to my taste in music. Not to mention, I blame him for the catchy lyrics that he sings that always end up stuck in my head. Much like my personal relationship with music, my dad's taste has had sporadic periods of total change followed by steady devotion.
Like me, growing up my dad wasn't particularly interested in music. During the mellow 50's he was more interested in being a kid then listening to the more mild music of the time. Growing out of adolescence however, he became exposed to more rebellious that matched his own rebellion. As a teenager and college student, The Doors most frequently served as the anthem for crazy, teenager adventures. He went to a concert in San Francisco, but it carried little weight and he felt too overwhelmed by the experience. (To this day he still doesn't like San Francisco).
Gradually, the Doors began to be replaced by a little band called the Beatles. On his exterior, my dad was the epitome of a red neck. But the Beatles struck a chord with their thoughtful lyrics and good-feel beats. He broadened his horizons to more classical, softer rock. Bands like Johnny Rivers entered his musical horizon; and never left. To this day, my Dad still loves his classic rock. More importantly, the tune to "My Girl" by the temptations is as permanently engrained in my brain as my own name.

Happy Songs

While many beats are upbeat,a lot of the time music has sad undertones, often hidden in the lyrics. I've found that most of upbeat artists I listen to are more mainstream. Such popular bands with appeals to happiness are as follows:

1.Katy Perry. Most of her songs deal with having fun and be comfortable as you are. (Not all of her songs follow this general rule though). One example include Last Friday Night (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlyXNRrsk4A.)

2. Ke$ha. The only songs I've heard of hers are shallow, fun and about partying. If she has a dark side, she tries not to show it.

3. Jason Mraz. He once said that people liked his song "I'm Your's" because it was simple and sweet. This statement goes for most of his songs, which veer toward the light, romantic side of life and love.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl88QEll-Xc

4. Colbie Cailliat. Her songs are usually about love and are holistically not heavy. The themes are usually the brighter side of love.

5. The Beatles. Although they're not the first band that comes to mind when thinking of this topic, a running motif of their songs is love, acceptance, and happiness. What could be happier than that?

Songs about Sex and Drugs

Lately, it seems like almost all music has sexual and drug related inuendos. Although most genres allude to it to some degree, some are much more blatant. The most prevalent examples I could see were in rap, and some of the songs following.

1. Milkshake by Kelis. When I first heard this song, I was to young understand any of its suggestions. Its pretty straightforward now though.

2. "Secret" by Maroon 5. This sings about sex, and little else.

3. "Purple Pills" by Eminem. Drugs seem to be a running motif in his songs. This one glamorizes several drugs, particularly ecstacy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC9M_6gW7Yw

4. Peacock by Katy Perry. Its blatantly sexual, but done in a way meant to be funny, not vulgar.

5. Get U Home by Shwayze. "Take me in the bathroom, take my clothes off.." Enough said.

The Evolution of my Taste in Music

As a kid, music carried little weight with me. It was merely a background noise in the car, or something that they put in movies. My parents were a part of this lack of interest; my mom only played the occasional Christian station in the car, and my dad only turned on the Beatles in long car car trips or the Christmas CD's around the holidays.
I felt this lack of interst throughout most of grade school; while my friends were developing interests in the mainstream bands I felt that I couldn't relate to music. This was characteristic with a lot of media for me, especially TV, (I didn't watch tv more than once a week until my junior year of high school).
When I got to high school however, it changed. I started to be more interested in things like boys and romance, a rather big topic in music. Thus, I started to listening to Maroon 5 cause of their easy beat and mushy lyrics. I branched a tad bit by listening to bands with similiar beats, but my taste was overall the same. One day, I stumbled upon The Killers and I was addicted, even though I had little idea what any of their lyrics were about. I was all about the sound that appealed to me, for reasons I didn't care to even analyze. As I got a little older (i.e. sophomore year of high school), the same kind of music suddenly seemed less appealing. I was more interested in examining life than listening to music, and my old favorite bands couldn't really contribute.
One day, my friend sent me lyrics to a band called The Spill Canvas. The lyrics made sense (unlike The Killers, unfortunately), and read like a poem. The lead singers voice is clear, so I could focus on the lyrics when I listened to them. I've been hooked ever since. They don't stop me from branching out though, I've listened to even more bands since I found them. Now when I go to listen to music, I keep a sharp ear for the lyrics, and it's surprising what you can find when you're looking for it.

Five Songs I Hate

The whole reason I listen to music is for the lyrics; I love lyrics with a meaning that isn't directly put out there. Bands like the Spill Canvas have songs that at first glance are about love, but looking deeper there meanings extend far past simple romance. Thus, songs that shallowly advertise their meaning carry little appeal with me. Examples of such songs are as follows:

1. "Story of a Girl" by 9 Days. The beat is repetitive, and lacks any musical complexity. Worse than that, its lyrics lack the poetry that makes some songs so good.

2. "Sadie Hawkins Dance" by Reliant K. Again, the lyrics and beat are droningly repetitive. The lyrics don't even attempt to possess meaning beyond being literal.

3."Dinosaur" By Ke$ha. Horrible. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRW9AM9sGxY

4. "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse.  I love her voice, but she used it as the only focus of the song. RIP.

5. "Never Say Never" by Justin Bieber. His ability to make teenage girls swoon is beyond me. If empty lyrics and high pitched voice equal success, then good music must be more obscure then I thought.

My Five Favorite Songs

Like the times, my taste in music has been  inconsistent and as constantly changing as fad diets. Despite this, some songs went beneath the surface and embedded themselves in my heart and mind permanently (and are still stuck in my head.) They go, in order, as follows;

1. "Saved" by the Spill Canvas. At the height of my pop music faze, the simplisitc beat caught my attention, but the simple, sweet yet somehow deep lyrics struck a deeper note. This song eased me into The Spill Canvas, for whom I now have a love affair. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgIEvn0Xl8Y&ob=av2e

2. "Californication" by The Red Hot Chili Peppers. This song manages to capture all the feelings about the Golden State that proud members feel, even the discord, without even really using very many words. The lyrics evoke nostalgia and reminds of the less glamorous side of  California. Most importantly, the soft rock beat is as quintessensial to me as the Beatles were to my father and other die hards.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlUKcNNmywk&ob=av2e 

3. "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers. I fell in love with this song before I even really knew what its about. The lyrics about intense jealousy (even if its in one's head) manage to capture all of my teenage angst and all the romance of bitterness about young love. The beat is never slow and sad, much like how little actual sadness was present in my angst. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGdGFtwCNBE&ob=av3e

4. "Wasted" by Cartel. The fast pace and high voice of the lead singer is misleading; the song follows stories of people with impending saddness. The message follows how people inapproriately live their lives and diverge from happiness. The message it sends might be reduced to a cliche, but if you listen for the careful sincerity in its simplicity, you've already bought into it by the end.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3weE4Kq7kY

5."Time to Pretend" by MGMT. The beginning of the song uses unusual, weird sounds, then delves into the beat, which is a unique blend of upbeat and randomness. The songs lyrics epitomize the glamour of living fast and dying young, but touches on loss of innocence from it. Like MGMT's other songs, Time To Pretend creates its own pychadelic-esqu world.