Virtual or Reality?

We talked in class about whether or not video games promote violence for young children. It was said that these violent games such as Call of Duty and other shooting games could have an effect on how young minds think about shooting and killing. What adults and people from different generations that didnt grow up playing xbox or play station dont realize is that these video games are just that; games. These games were meant for entertainment, not promote violence among our youth. People play and buy games because it keeps them entertained and is fun for them. I am not going to go out and buy a game that does not interest me. After I saw the video of the military officer claiming that because they use video games to help train their soldiers for war, and to kill that it is what everyone uses it for. The military already has to be in a mindset that they need to sharpen their reaction time as well as get used to different situations that cannot be replecated in real life so they use video games or virtual reality. When I play games such as Call of Duty it is because i want to move up n levels, try and beat my friend, or just plain have fun. I dont believe these types of games rubs off on kids and their violent behavior. Yes, I'm sure kids in the back yard can take what they see and make fun games out of it but thats with water guns and other toys. As long as they are not equiped with real guns, like the military is, i can see no way that these video games promote violent acts. The articles we read disproves the military officers theory and does not connect virtual reality for young children with violence.

Beamer Benz or Bentley?

In todays society alot has to do with the kind of car you drive. It gives off a message of your social status as well as about how much income you recieve. The type of car you drive is an adults way to show off what they can afford. People tend to generalize about the type of person you are by the kind of car you drive. For instance if a woman is driving a mini-van it is thought that she has young kids and is termed the "soccer mom". Or you have the people who drive around in Mercedes' or Lexus' and it is assumed that they are very wealthy since they can afford this luxury. The type of car you have is definitely a meidum because like a soccer jersey, or the kind of baseball hat you wear, it is a way for a person to express themselves. People dont buy cars just for the use, even though that is one of the main reasons, they also buy it for the look they are trying to achieve. The type of car you buy brings along many stereotypes and other generalizations about you as a person, so it takes alot of thinking about which car you want to buy. There is definitely a difference in a person who drives a mercedes than the one who drives a volvo. It is just the type of people they are and like any other thing it is a way to show who you are. Show your personality, and your preferances.

Tweet Tweet

The evolution of he social network has changed the way our society functions of a whole. Twitter especially has grown popular of people of all ages and all social classes and back grounds. It has grown to be a large medium that many people rely on today. Athletes and celebrities have found the use of twitter as a great way to connect with their fans on a more personal level. Twitter has also led to fines for NFL players as well as spark large controversies in the celebrity world. It has become so popular in the NFL that players are now fined thousands of dollars if they tweet 90 minutes before or after a game. Twitter is also used by music artists and movie stars to help promote their work. Twitter is used by people on an everyday basis to tell their "followers" what they are presently doing or something they found interesting or liked on the internet. It is another way for people to share their thoughts, feelings, or whatever else they want with a mass group of people. I do not have a twitter because I already have a facebook and think the two are basically the same thing but i do like to sometimes look at the twitters from the likes of Chad Ochocinco, and Shaquille O'Neal because they post some funny things. It is also kind of cool to know what these guys do during their days. Twitter has definitely evolutionized our society and has grown to be a strong medium. Included is a link to Chad Ochocinco's twitter.

http://twitter.com/ogochocinco

Turn It Up

The types of music we listen to and like has changed throughout the decades. From the Beatles in the 1960s to Michael Jackson to Jay-Z. The music industry has transformed throughout the years to coincide with the emotions and styles of its listeners. Music is another way people group others and associate the type of person you are with the type of music you listen too. Everyone went through it when they went through middle school / high school. You had the "goths" who listened to heavy medal and were more melo and shady. Then you had the popular kids who listened to all the new music that was being played on the radio. I feel that people like to generalize people by the type of music they listen too. Like when you listen to country music or rap music or alternative it tells you about the person. The people who go to country concerts are alot different type of people then that you would find at a Nickelback concert. Music has been used as a medium to express yourself or the mood you are in. I know when I work out i like to listen to rock music and up beat rap. Yet when i am hanging out in my room relaxing i like to listen to country or dave mathews. Music has been used as a medium to express yourself and your emotions through lyrics and beats. Music is a source of medium that help defines the person you are.

All Tatted Up

Tattoos have always been a way for an individual to use their body as a canvas. Whether it be remembering a friend, family member, or loved one, with a picture or a quote or saying that effects them or represents them in some way. There are alos people who believe tattoos are stupid and dumb to get. Croteau and Hoynes state that “the meaning of tattoos must be constructed by those observing them” (7). The use of tattoos can definitely be seen as a medium as it is used to represent the person it is on. I feel like getting a tattoo was something that became the thing to do when you turned 18 years old. It was the first way a then newly legal adult was able to do something that represented themselves in a drastic way. Throughout the years I have seen some very interesting and different tattoos. From large eagles on a persons back, to chinese symbols representing a saying or quote. I feel like the type of tattoo someone has represents the type of person they are. Say you have a picture of your mother, you can assume this person was a family man and has strong family roots. Now if you take a quote or saying you can see what kind of standards and values a person lives his life by. The tattoo has been used in recent years as a new way to represent yourself on your body. An interesting way to use your body as a canvas. 

The Youtube Phenomenon

The youtube phenomenom is something that has helped shape our society to what it is today. Many people today aspire to be the new "big thing" on youtube. People do crazy things to express themselves to get the most views on their video as possible. The funny thing is you never know what the new big video is going to be. People try to imitate the already famous videos yet dont reach the fame of others. It's the creativity and uniqueness of people that turn the attention of others. Youtube has been used as a medium by society for the last couple of years. People's lived have changed because of youtube. It has brought fame as well as humility to people for the good and bad. Youtube also has served for a type of entertainment as i find myself watching videos all the time. Youtube has also led to things as the new popular dance such as the "dougie" or "stanky leg" that kind of represent our society today. Included is the "dougie" video as well as another video that is pretty popular among our society today also known as "Hide yo kids, hide yo wife". This video has been the most recent youtube phenomenom today. Youtube is most definitely a strong medium as millions of people use it everyday for either a sense of enjoyment, share their own message, or any other creative way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LrypfofIx4&feature=related (Hide yo kids)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnPJmDc0b_M (dougie)

The Hat

The  hat is a form of media that shows the difference of class and social status as well as breaks the barriers of class as it also represents where you are from. Many people, men and women wear hats daily. They where it as a sign of fashion as well as a tool, or medium, to represent something about themself. Whether you wear a flat brim baseball fitted hat from a certain city, or a faded polo hat can tell someone about your style and about yourself as a person. The faded polo hat tells a story of a preppy kid, while the fitted flat brim hat would lean more towards the urban style as well as athletic. I know as being a member on the baseball team you can always find a majority of our players around campus wearing their favorite teams hat or the team of where they are from. Just like a jersey, the hat resembles the team as well as the person who wears it. Depending on the type of hat, or the team you wear, one can distinguish one self from others as well as bring themselves together with other people they usually wouldn't. This is how the hat breaks the barriers of class because people from all different social and economics class can come together to support one team by wearing their hat. The hat tells a lot about a person and can sometimes serve as a form of advertisement as well as representation.