Blog Post #10

      A working defintion for "globalization" is the increasing acculturation among nations, cultures, and individuals. Cultural Imperialism ties in with globalization really well. The Western Culture (i.e. the United States) is without question the main influence in terms of globalization. We see influences of our culture in nearly every corner of the globe, impacting countless societies. Is there any country that doesn't have a McDonald's on every corner? And who hasn't tasted Coca-Cola at least once in their lives? These are just 2 of the countless examples as to why the American culture is imperialistic- one can't escape it! Since the early 20th century, the United States has been making and distributing films, with our ideas and culture embedded throughout every one. As these films were seen  in other countries, many containing strong pro-American messages, the American way of life became very desireable to people in other countries. Suddenly, our culture was seen as the norm, and was being adopted by more and more people each day, who were striving to be like the protagonist of their favorite film. Movies are just one of the media sources that perpetuate this idea of cultural imperialism, and they are (and continue to be) a major factor in globalization as well.

Here is a clip from "Team America: World Police", dubbed here in German. This film crams American Patriotism and ideas down your throat, and is a good example of how the United States is a major agent in globalization. The fact that it is translated into other languages just goes to show you how much our imperialistic American ideas are spread throughout the world:

Blog Post #9

      The advertisement I chose as being very powerful is the risque Burger King ad at left. The picture is overtly sexual, and as if that isn't enough, the caption below, claiming the sandwich will "Blow your mind" only adds to the raciness. It most certainly captures ones attention, and is very unforgettable.
      Obviously the advertising appeal that this ad makes use of is an affiliation with sex. Using sexual images and themes in advertising has prooven itself effective, and is always guaranteed to be the subject of controversy and debate. Typically, people will respond the most to sexual or risque advertisements, which are often the most memorable for pushing the envelope. Therefore, the advertisers achieve their goal.
      This Burger King advertisement caused an uproar when it came out not too long ago. Many claimed it to be too inappropriate. The sandwich is at mouth level, seemingly floating in mid-air, with a female staring wide-eyed and, of course, open-mouthed. The words "It'll Blow" are in a larger font than the rest of the caption; a clever way to once again reinforce the idea of a sexual parallel. As controversial as some ads may be, the sexual imagery in them will always accomplish their goal of capturing ones attention. After all, sex sells!

Blog Post #8

 

     

       In honor of Halloween, I decided to use the chilling 2004 film, Saw, as my example of a film with a 3 Act structure. Act I, the introduction, is used to lay out the scene and the characters in it. We find out that 2 men, Adam and Dr.Gordon, are trapped in a locked room, and chained to a pipe. They have no recollection as to how they got there. With them at the center of the room is a seemingly dead man. The men soon find a tape labeled "Play Me," from their captor, which tells them why they are in the room, and what rules to follow in the "Game", as he calls it, in order to get free. They are given a time limit, and are told it is up to them to find clues within the room as to how to get out. The two men begin talking, which leads to Plot Point #1 at 16'. This occurs when Dr.Gordon has an epiphany as to who kidnapped the two of them. This leads us into Act II.

     

      Act II in a film is the longest in the 3 Act Structure, and presents much of the complication within the film. Several challenges are presented to the characters, and tension continues to build. In Saw, Act II makes use of several flashbacks when the characters talk about who their captor could be, why they were put in the room, and how to get out. Several important incidents play out in this act, including when Dr.Gordon finds out that Adam has known him all along, and when it is revealed that Dr.Gordon's family is being held captive unless he completes his assigned task, to kill Adam. Plot Point #2 occurs at 90', when Dr.Gordon resorts to cutting off his own foot, in attempt to get to his family when he sees that their time has run out. The very end of Act II, its Plot Point, and the beginning of Act III are extremely intense, with a lot of complications (naturally, as is the title of the Act) happening!

     

        As Act III, the resolution, unfolds, Dr.Gordon attempts to kill Adam, and then crawl out of the room. Adam is left there alone, until the man whom he assumes is his captor comes in. Adam wastes no time and kills the man. It is then that he realizes that the man also has a tape on him, which Adam plays. The horror unfolds (along with that creepy signature music) when Adam realizes that the man he just killed was part of the game as well, and was just as innocent as him and Dr.Gordon. As the tape plays out, the man thought to be dead in the center of the room since the beginning of the movie rises, and is revealed to be the captor, giving a pretty satisfying Climax, at 97', to the Resolution in Act III. At the end of the movie, Adam is left in the dark room alone, and the door shuts on the audience... GAME OVER!

Blog Post #7

     The typical format for half-hour television comedies tends to be episodic. This means that the show introduces and wraps up a storyline within one episode. Comedies that are more serial (when the show advances a long-term plot over several episodes) usually have a substantial dramatic component, and are not just solely comedic.
      Sitcoms of the episodic persuasion often contain life lessons being learned by the characters, but they are often contained in the single episode, and the characters never mention that incident again. In the lecture, Professor Tain mentioned how if one episode plot deals with a dog dying, the characters are unlikely to say 3 episodes later, "Hey, remember when the dog died?" Whereas in a serial sitcom, plot lines are revisited in future episodes, and even though the comedy aspect remains intact, drama plays a significant role as well.

      A classic example of an episodic sitcom is one of my favorites, Seinfeld. The main character, Jerry, has a different main squeeze in nearly every episode. And, we rarely ever again hear about his past girlfriends. Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer also always seem to get into various shenanigans that are at the peak of action at the end of each episode, and yet the predicaments and their repercussions seems to be forgotten by the start of the next. Kramer burning down Susan's dad's cabin, George fighting with the bubble boy, Elaine getting into a throw-down with George's father... These are just a handful of the many examples that come and go in the confinements of one episode.

 

    

Blog Post #6

      One film that contains excellent representations of the different shots we spoke of in class is The Shining. The film's director, Stanley Kubrick, was known for being extremely meticulous about every aspect of filmmaking, and the camera shots he chose to use were no exception.
      When I think of a classic example of the use of a Closeup shot, the classic "Herrreee's Johnny!" scene immediately comes to mind. The scene is so chilling, and the effect it serves within the film is to show the audience the full extent of Jack Nicholson's character's descent into madness. In that moment, the audience feels the malevolence, and sheer insanity of the character. The scene also serves to give the audience a glimpse into the unwaivering terror that the other characters responding to this situation must be feeling, thus allowing the audience to empathize with them, and be sympathetic toward their plight.



      A good example of a medium shot in The Shining is when the two characters, Jack and Grady, are conversing in the bathroom. The medium shot, or "information shot" is often used when characters are talking in a scene. In this particular movie, the medium shot within this bathroom scene conveys the awkwardness of the conversation through the characters' body language and facial expressions. The lingering shots without dialogue act to further the awkwardness. ("I corrected them, Mr. Torrance.")
      No film would be complete without making use of long shots, or, "orientation shots." Without them, how is the audience supposed to know where the following action is taking place? Or appreciate the extent of a characters' isolation/loneliness, etc.? A vital long shot in The Shining is the sprawling shot of the hotel where all the action in the film takes place, The Overlook. Showing the audience the entirety of the massive hotel elicits a sense of foreboding and isolation of its mere three occupants inside.

     

Blog Post #5

       

       In the early days of the film industry, the studio system was the means by which Hollywood produced and distributed films. There were several aspects involved in the system, including the contracting of crew members and actors to work on a string of films for a particular studio, and the vertical integration of all aspects of film making and distribution within each individual studio. I think that an important aspect of the studio system was the fact that actors were contracted to work for certain companies, and were known for starring in a handful of films each year. An actor could gain popularity by conveying a certain image in each film they acted in, and accumulate a loyal audience who would see each film they were in no matter the subject matter or genre. Several movies ran on their star power alone.

      Actors would often take on certain personas in each film, and tended to stick with what they were good at. Once the actors had been in enough films, and the public had the oppurtunity to "cast their vote", if you will, as to which role they felt best suited a particular actor, the studios would often tailor their films around that actor and the genre that best fit him or her.

       For example, Jimmy Stewart was often portrayed as a likable, relateable nice guy in his films. As was mentioned in class, he was contracted under MGM, and performed in one of my favorite films, "It's a Wonderful Life", conveying the wholesome, underdog-everyone-roots-for fellow, as mentioned above. As we continue to see in films even in the present, star power can be a very powerful contributer towards the success of a movie. We also continue to see certain actors and actresses in variations of the same role time after time, playing off what the audience continues to respond positively to. The studio system may be gone, but there are still aspects within it that are still influential in Hollywood today.

This clip embodies Jimmy Stewart's typical role of the good-guy:

Blog Post #4

    

       Much like "All in the Family", "Everybody Loves Raymond" is a television show based on the trials faced by a middle-class, somewhat disfunctional family.       

         Though both programs tackle similar issues and dynamics among the characters, there are some differnces as well. For example, the lead male character in "All in the Family", Archie, is very judgemental and gets laughs from making fun of others. The lead male in "Everybody Loves Raymond", Ray, gets laughs based on his unassuming, childlike naivety, and the result of others poking fun at him.

       The two programs are similar in that they portray families who are by no means perfect. Each episode from both series depicts the charcter's struggles with each other and how they deal with certain topics that are thrust upon them; hence the term "sitcom" (Situation Comedy!) 

       "All in the Family", though from the 70's, seems to tackle more controversial issues, like race, gender roles, and sexuality in the episode we viewed. In "Everybody Loves Raymond", the female role of Debra is very outspoken and headstrong. Edith in "All in the Family", however, is portrayed as very ditzy and submissive. The female role has gone from being overlooked to being at the forefront of the action.