Do you think U.S. culture is overly materialistic. Why or why not? If you do, what role do you think advertising has had in creating this state of affairs?
The U.S culture is overly materialistic. People think that all the material things such as,
expensive clothes, nice cars, and having a lot of money will make them happy. The truth is that money is not everything and having all the nice things its just a way that makes people think they are better than others. Wealthy people do not appreciate what they have and they are the ones that some of us look up to. For example, when teenage girls listen to Paris Hilton talk about her Manolo shoes and how pretty they are, girls will want to be and look like her.
What I mean is that people who don't have a lot of money, will still buy expensive things just for the fact that they want to imitate the rich and they want others to see that they too can have whatever they want. Also, people buy things they don't necessarily need. People say they will use whatever they buy, but the truth is that they really don't need it. I've seen people who wouldn't eat because they want to safe money to buy new rims for their car. People really do this and it just show us that U.S culture cares more about material things than what is essential for their life.
The role that advertising has done in creating this state affairs is that they persuade people to buy whatever they are promoting. For example, they would make something look really good and they will tell you it will work just because they want your money. A good example is Proactive. Proactive is an acne product and they give this commercials with Hollywood stars saying that they used it and that it really works. When you think you think about, they just want you to buy their product because stars already have their skin clear. I think that advertising has a lot to do with how people act. People just want to be better than others and they want to show it buying things that others can't afford.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Essay 3 Radio
RADIO
Are you primarily a commercial AM, commercial FM, or non-commercial FM radio listener? When do you listen to the radio most frequently?
Which are your favorite formats? Why?
I am a commercial FM radio listener. I do not like listening to AM radio because I personally think that it is for older people and for guys. AM radio has mostly sports, news, and weather channels and when they do have songs they are really old. I had never found it interesting. Also, FM radio sounds better than AM because AM always sounds imperfect.
I always listen to radio when I am in my car and also at home, whether it is cleaning my room, or doing homework. I rarely watch T.V. when I'm in my room because I'm listening to radio. Most people do not like to listen to radio. However, I like it because i can listen to a variety of songs that i really like.
My favorite formats on the radio include pretty much everything, except, contemporary, jazz and other adult stations. The one that I really like is Spanish Gospel music. This is because when I'm listening to the songs I can relax and afterwards I feel really good. Also, Spanish music is another favorite and it includes salsa, merengue, reggaeton, and I really like it because is the kind of music that I grew up listening.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Essay 2
NAME: Charisse Colon
OCTOBER 27, 2008 MMC 1000 ESSAY NO. 2
1. Have you enjoyed reading the Wall Street Journal? Explain why you have enjoyed it, or why not.
Answer: I'm kind of in between. I do enjoy reading some of the articles in the newspaper especially those that talk about fashion, Hollywood, film, and some of the articles in the front page that are really interesting. However, sometimes the articles are so long and boring that I really don't enjoy it at all. For me to be interested in an article, it has to be one that I like and the article needs to be fun and entertaining somehow.
2. How has reading the newspaper helped you learn about Mass Communications media? Explain, and give some examples of what you’ve learned.
Answer: When I read an article about advertising, I know that it has to do with Mass Communication. I can see how advertisers try to make something to get people's attention. They advertise on commercials, and on the Internet. Also, I learned how artists want to sell music on iTunes. Everything is changing in the Mass Communications media world.
3. Compared to traditional textbook-based study and learning methods, is reading the newspaper a better or worse educational experience? Expand your answers with details and examples.
Answer: I can't say that reading the newspaper is either a better or worse experience. Sometimes it is good to have the textbook because we can find more history of each topic and we can compare how something was years ago to how it is nowadays. On the other hand, reading the newspaper keeps me updated with current event news and although it does not has the history of a specific topic, one can get important information from the article that relates to each of the topics in class such as, advertising, films, radio and so on.
4. Has the reading assignment changed your behavior, i.e., your daily schedule, your study habits, your desire for news and information?
Answer: It has changed my behavior because now I know that I have to read the newspaper everyday. I always set aside an hour to read the newspaper. I don't think that it has changed my desire for news because,even though i know that if I want to be a news reporter I need to read the newspaper and be informed and read all the current events, I don't really get excited to read
the newspaper.
5. Are the weekly quizzes an effective way to measure what you’ve learned by reading the Wall Street Journal? If yes, why? If no, why? Add suggestions for other ways to measure learning.
Answer: I think that the reading quizzes are an effective way to measure what I've learned. However, sometimes I think its not because I don't always get a five out of five but that doesn't mean that I didn't read the article for that specific question that i got wrong. I do think that discussing the articles in class is also a good method to see what we've all learned. I know that not all of us participate in the discussions but you can make it a game with groups, questions and each person in the group has to answer something different about the question, that way we all get to participate.
6. How likely are you to renew your subscription to The Wall Street Journal after this semester? Give an expansive answer, with reasons.
Answer: The Wall Street Journal is a great paper. However,I don't think that i will renew my subscription for several reasons. First of all, I don't work, so that means that i do not have money to subscribe again. Second, the paper boy sometimes forgets about my newspaper and i don't really like spending my money on something they won't deliver it to me as they should. Also, I've been reading the newspaper everyday but that's because I know that i have to in order to get a good grade on my quiz. I don't really like to sit down everyday and read the whole newspaper. I like looking over it and if something gets my attention I'll read it. This are some of my reasons why I don't think that I will renew my subscription to The Wall Street Journal.
OCTOBER 27, 2008 MMC 1000 ESSAY NO. 2
1. Have you enjoyed reading the Wall Street Journal? Explain why you have enjoyed it, or why not.
Answer: I'm kind of in between. I do enjoy reading some of the articles in the newspaper especially those that talk about fashion, Hollywood, film, and some of the articles in the front page that are really interesting. However, sometimes the articles are so long and boring that I really don't enjoy it at all. For me to be interested in an article, it has to be one that I like and the article needs to be fun and entertaining somehow.
2. How has reading the newspaper helped you learn about Mass Communications media? Explain, and give some examples of what you’ve learned.
Answer: When I read an article about advertising, I know that it has to do with Mass Communication. I can see how advertisers try to make something to get people's attention. They advertise on commercials, and on the Internet. Also, I learned how artists want to sell music on iTunes. Everything is changing in the Mass Communications media world.
3. Compared to traditional textbook-based study and learning methods, is reading the newspaper a better or worse educational experience? Expand your answers with details and examples.
Answer: I can't say that reading the newspaper is either a better or worse experience. Sometimes it is good to have the textbook because we can find more history of each topic and we can compare how something was years ago to how it is nowadays. On the other hand, reading the newspaper keeps me updated with current event news and although it does not has the history of a specific topic, one can get important information from the article that relates to each of the topics in class such as, advertising, films, radio and so on.
4. Has the reading assignment changed your behavior, i.e., your daily schedule, your study habits, your desire for news and information?
Answer: It has changed my behavior because now I know that I have to read the newspaper everyday. I always set aside an hour to read the newspaper. I don't think that it has changed my desire for news because,even though i know that if I want to be a news reporter I need to read the newspaper and be informed and read all the current events, I don't really get excited to read
the newspaper.
5. Are the weekly quizzes an effective way to measure what you’ve learned by reading the Wall Street Journal? If yes, why? If no, why? Add suggestions for other ways to measure learning.
Answer: I think that the reading quizzes are an effective way to measure what I've learned. However, sometimes I think its not because I don't always get a five out of five but that doesn't mean that I didn't read the article for that specific question that i got wrong. I do think that discussing the articles in class is also a good method to see what we've all learned. I know that not all of us participate in the discussions but you can make it a game with groups, questions and each person in the group has to answer something different about the question, that way we all get to participate.
6. How likely are you to renew your subscription to The Wall Street Journal after this semester? Give an expansive answer, with reasons.
Answer: The Wall Street Journal is a great paper. However,I don't think that i will renew my subscription for several reasons. First of all, I don't work, so that means that i do not have money to subscribe again. Second, the paper boy sometimes forgets about my newspaper and i don't really like spending my money on something they won't deliver it to me as they should. Also, I've been reading the newspaper everyday but that's because I know that i have to in order to get a good grade on my quiz. I don't really like to sit down everyday and read the whole newspaper. I like looking over it and if something gets my attention I'll read it. This are some of my reasons why I don't think that I will renew my subscription to The Wall Street Journal.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Essay #1: My Book-Reading Habits.
I am not proud of my book-reading habits. This is because I don't usually read a book everyday. Its not because I don't want to read, is because I don't really take out the time to sit down and read a book. Usually, I have to read if I'm in a reading class, or if I have to read a book for a quiz later on, but I don't really feel obligated to read because I like reading.
I had read a couple of books in the past. The type of books that I've read are the ones that I have seen in movies, such as, The Notebook, and The Secret Window. I read them to see the difference between the movie and the way it is written in the book. I found it very interesting that in movies directors usually try to add new things that are not in the book, to make the movie better. I also think that's good because if they follow step by step what the book says, the audience might not find the movie interesting.
Because of the fact that I'm not a fan of reading books, I don't have a favorite author. Now, that doesn't mean that I don't know about some authors. For example, I know about Stephen King, and I know that his a great writer. He writes about all this mysteries and scary books. Actually, The Secret Window, was written by him. One of the reasons that I read the book, was because in the movie, Johnny Depp was the main character. He did such a great job with the character, that I had to go and buy the book.
There are a couple genres of books that I like reading. For example, I like girly books. I read The Princess Diaries and I loved it because it was fun and it was different. I can always picture myself in her shoes, and its just fun to imagine myself if I had a life as crazy as hers. Also, I like books with a little sense of humor because it relaxes me, it makes me laugh, and its entertaining. I wouldn't like to spend money on a book that its not funny, or its boring,etc. If I buy a book, I like to feel that it was worth it.
I think that my reading habits can get better. Reading stimulates the neurons and keeps the brain active. So by the constant healthy and intellectual stimulation of the brain and mind, reading will help one mentally and physically. It will be really good to read once in a while.
I had read a couple of books in the past. The type of books that I've read are the ones that I have seen in movies, such as, The Notebook, and The Secret Window. I read them to see the difference between the movie and the way it is written in the book. I found it very interesting that in movies directors usually try to add new things that are not in the book, to make the movie better. I also think that's good because if they follow step by step what the book says, the audience might not find the movie interesting.
Because of the fact that I'm not a fan of reading books, I don't have a favorite author. Now, that doesn't mean that I don't know about some authors. For example, I know about Stephen King, and I know that his a great writer. He writes about all this mysteries and scary books. Actually, The Secret Window, was written by him. One of the reasons that I read the book, was because in the movie, Johnny Depp was the main character. He did such a great job with the character, that I had to go and buy the book.
There are a couple genres of books that I like reading. For example, I like girly books. I read The Princess Diaries and I loved it because it was fun and it was different. I can always picture myself in her shoes, and its just fun to imagine myself if I had a life as crazy as hers. Also, I like books with a little sense of humor because it relaxes me, it makes me laugh, and its entertaining. I wouldn't like to spend money on a book that its not funny, or its boring,etc. If I buy a book, I like to feel that it was worth it.
I think that my reading habits can get better. Reading stimulates the neurons and keeps the brain active. So by the constant healthy and intellectual stimulation of the brain and mind, reading will help one mentally and physically. It will be really good to read once in a while.
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