During our class sessions this week, we discussed how media effects it's audience, especially in regards to ethnic jokes, and why the audience members use or utilize the different forms of media that they choose.
In regards to the first topic, we viewed clips from Katt Williams' stand up and were asked if any of it was offensive. Personally, I didn't find it to be offensive, because I understand there are certain things ( like the elephant in the room, the N-word) that should only be said by certain people, namely people that are comfortable saying it, not even necessarily Black or African American people. Katt is a comedian first and foremost, so if his stand up routine is offensive to you, I can suggest just not watching, because the point of a comedian is to entertain and make people laugh, there are plenty of other willing patrons that will listen to his and any other "offensive" comedians. I can understand if someone was on stage saying racial slurs and being disrespectful on purpose without even the notion that they're trying to be funny, then I can understand, but nowadays it seems like people are so concerned with being P.C and have really gotten "soft" to pretty much everything. The days of Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, even newer comedians like Martin Lawrence, Nick Dipaolo and Lisa Lampanelli seem like they're going to be a thing of the past pretty soon.
In regards to why audiences use certain media, I feel like I'm personally having my cake and eating it too, so to speak. I am an avid fan of writing, sports, and everything to do with Hip-Hop, and those are pretty much my three main forms of media (maybe video games as a fourth) and one of those fields is where I would like to make my future living, whether it be as a sports writer or a writer for a Hip-Hop/R-n-B oriented magazine. It's like I'm learning as I'm enjoying myself, which is a good thing, considering I can kill two birds with one stone, but have a big smile on my face while doing so.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Pro-Social Effects Class Discussions
In class on February 15 and February 17, 2011, we as a class discussed pro-social effects and our Student Activity #2 assisted in those discussions.
One of the parts of the Student Activity had us watch television programs with either children, homosexuals or people with disabilities, or a combination of the three, and then to first give what we felt were stereotypes of that given group and then if the characters on the show fit or went against those stereotypes.
I found this exercise to be not only interesting in the completion of it, but in finding that a lot of my classmates had found that the characters on the shows they watched didn't fit the stereotypes of the given groups as well.
I feel that as time goes on, portrayals of different types of people in the media will become less and less stereotypical. Sure, there are still some evidence of some stereotypical and possible offensive portrayal of certain members in society,but I think the fact that there are more and more roles that don't fit the "norm" in society is hope enough.
But the question I have and pose to my readers is will the trends continue in trying to get away from the "norm" or will they eventually revert to the "tried and true" method of over emphasizing stereotypes on television and film?
Personally I don't know, but do hope that they continue to break the mold... One of if not my favorite television shows, "24" had an African American President and in 2008 we elected President Obama. I know there's no real correlation, but maybe art can continue to become reality, as long as it's positive in showing growth as human beings.
One of the parts of the Student Activity had us watch television programs with either children, homosexuals or people with disabilities, or a combination of the three, and then to first give what we felt were stereotypes of that given group and then if the characters on the show fit or went against those stereotypes.
I found this exercise to be not only interesting in the completion of it, but in finding that a lot of my classmates had found that the characters on the shows they watched didn't fit the stereotypes of the given groups as well.
I feel that as time goes on, portrayals of different types of people in the media will become less and less stereotypical. Sure, there are still some evidence of some stereotypical and possible offensive portrayal of certain members in society,but I think the fact that there are more and more roles that don't fit the "norm" in society is hope enough.
But the question I have and pose to my readers is will the trends continue in trying to get away from the "norm" or will they eventually revert to the "tried and true" method of over emphasizing stereotypes on television and film?
Personally I don't know, but do hope that they continue to break the mold... One of if not my favorite television shows, "24" had an African American President and in 2008 we elected President Obama. I know there's no real correlation, but maybe art can continue to become reality, as long as it's positive in showing growth as human beings.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Social Construction of Gender
During this week's class, we covered both the Behm & Mastro and the Dill & Thill readings, as well as covered what makes a man really a man, and what makes a woman really a woman. The discussions assisted in shedding more light onto not only the topics of the readings, but into the thoughts of the average college student(s.) It was interesting to hear that some students felt that the stereotypical norms for men and women were still accurate, while others felt that they were changing with the times, being based on what society saw as acceptable for that given time period.
I personally agree with the latter, because I feel more and more traits are becoming more acceptable for the non traditional sex to do, like metro-sexual males, taking the norm of a stereotypical woman or homosexual man, while keeping his heterosexuality.
Watching early representations of what makes a man truly a man in the 1960's (tough guy bravado, breadwinner for the home, maybe even a smoker) to now, where men are more inclined to be in touch with their emotional side , but still be (if not the, at least one) breadwinner and head of the household.
But the question I pose is, will these traits keep evolving with the times, or stay where they are now? Is it possible that our views on men and women will revert back to former beliefs? No one can truly be sure, but I think it will be interesting to see if and how they change from how they once were, to now, to the end of my life.
I personally agree with the latter, because I feel more and more traits are becoming more acceptable for the non traditional sex to do, like metro-sexual males, taking the norm of a stereotypical woman or homosexual man, while keeping his heterosexuality.
Watching early representations of what makes a man truly a man in the 1960's (tough guy bravado, breadwinner for the home, maybe even a smoker) to now, where men are more inclined to be in touch with their emotional side , but still be (if not the, at least one) breadwinner and head of the household.
But the question I pose is, will these traits keep evolving with the times, or stay where they are now? Is it possible that our views on men and women will revert back to former beliefs? No one can truly be sure, but I think it will be interesting to see if and how they change from how they once were, to now, to the end of my life.
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