Week 5 Blog You Tube

My journal analysis this week is on a web site called You Tube. This site is a breeding ground for self-expression. Individuals can upload videos of themselves or others for the world’s entertainment.  This was founded in 2005 by Chad Hurley, Steven Chen, and Jawed Karim. They were pay pal employees that had interest in video sharing.  There are massive amounts of information and hours of entertainment that can be accessed for free. There are also paid subscription services isolated to those that are 18 years or older.

There is no cultural delay in the YouTube world. It is available in all languages to anyone who has an internet connection. However, Iran, Morocco, Thailand, Turkey, Pakistan, and the People’s Republic of China have block usage in their countries at one point or another over time.   I personally used it to watch television shows I missed. I also was encouraged to make fun of people that posted video.  This is harmless entertainment to most, however some do suffer from what we are entertained by.

Last year one of my interns got into a fight and her sister uploaded the cell phone footage. This resulted in criminal charges and now she has a record. Everyone was laughing and joking until the issue involved police. This had happened across the country because freedom of speech hinders censorship on a search engine this large.

Others have made a lot of money and got industry breaks by the exposure You Tube provided. The site is broke down into search categories.  Education, science and Technology, Comedy, People and Blogs, Film and Animation, Sports, News and Politics, Music, entertainment, and what’s new are the topics listed on the main page.  This gives the user an opportunity to narrow their search.

There are pros and cons to everything and You Tube is no exception. I believe people should be mindful of what they post because someone is always watching. What may be funny to you may be offensive to the next person.  I know people are going to do and say what they please but the world would be a better place if common sense was put before impulse.

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youtube

Week Three Analysis

This week has been one of reflection for me. I have been thinking about how my life has changed over the years. Food, cartoons, modes of communication, and tolerance has crossed leaps and bounds.  I was watching The Braxton’s last night, which is a series about the Braxton family. The singer Toni Braxton is going to do what she considers a “tasteful” spread in Playboy. This got me to thinking about the topic.  Therefore, the icon I choose to reflect on now is Playboy Enterprises, Inc. or otherwise known as Playboy. 

This magazine was founded in 1953 by Hugh Hefner (Playboy, 2010).  This magazine has taken on a life of its own. It started as a magazine and has grown into iconic television and stimulating entertainment.  This magazine isn’t just about sex and nudity. There are short stories, and monthly interviews of all societal socialites from a liberal standpoint (Playboy, 2010).

Hugh Hefner has a daughter Christie. She was running the company in 1988 but stepped down in 2008 to pursue chartable work (Playboy, 2010). It’s ironic to me that a man that many say exploits women has a daughter with the same views. The playboy mansion is another famous part of the brand. The home is an exclusive party spot for the rich and famous as well as the group of women titled as the Playboy Bunnies (Playboy, 2010). These women were handpicked by Mr. Hefner to share his home. These women are swapped out every couple years but all of them have blond hair and breast implants. I often wonder when Hugh is going to open the bedrooms to a more exotic appearance of women, but I don’t think it’s going to happen.

The belief that sex sells is a common one and in many cases true however, not all countries share the American view of acceptance. Playboy is bared in India, mainland China, Malaysia, Thailand Singapore, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and several others.  It’s ironic to me how prostitution exists everywhere but open sexual content is frowned upon. I guess opinions vary. My belief is that people should live their lives according to what makes them happy. If reading a magazine that happens to have nude content brings you joy then read on my friend…read on.

 Bibliography

Playboy. (2010, May 25). Retrieved June 5, 2011, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playboy

3-2 Contemporary icon

This week’s topic is Contemporary icons. According to dictionay.com Contemporary means “of the present time”. My first thought was that it could be difficult narrowing the icons of our current time to three. As I pondered the assignment I chose Oprah, a series on HBO titled True Blood, and Jesus. The following paragraphs explain my thoughts behind each of the three topics.

The first person I thought about was Oprah Winfrey.  My first memory of her was in The Color Purple. It amazes me how this extraordinary woman literally rose from rags to riches. Oprah battled poverty, incest in the form of molestation, low self-esteem and she still turned her curses to blessings while putting God first. She recently retired but left a legacy of changing the world’s perception of daytime television. Oprah’s most amazing accomplishment to me was her ability to break down racial barriers. She formed a fan base of men, women, and children that fell from all socioeconomic statuses and races.

Jesus is and ancient religious icon however, his name and image is still relevant and of the present time. Christians view him as the son of God and their savior. This is a man who was born to a virgin and lived on earth without sin so he could be crucified for the sins of mankind in hopes they would enter heaven. There is constant controversy around religion and especially this man. His name and story has been a contemporary icon in many generations.  I subscribe to the idea that Jesus is my savior and I love this man with my whole heart. The image of him makes me feel loved and I’m grateful to include him in my list.

My final choice is True Blood. This show has gained so much momentum since the first season began in September 2004. It seems that Americans have become intrigued by vampire and magical based television. I think it plays into a fantasy of the unknown that we all have.  I love watching this show and am counting down the days till the Season 4 premiere. I enjoy the online aspects of entertainment such as spoilers and behind the scenes reels. I don’t know how long this icon will survive but I believe that people will watch as long as the writers write.