Social Media and Social Currency

In her Ted Talk, Bailey Parnell discusses the effects social media has on mental health, specifically, on a person's social currency. Social currency is something we use to give value, and something that is exhausted when it comes to social media. Parnell explains this phenomenon by describing us, the posters, as the products. The product is given value shown through likes, comments, etc. For example, if I post a photo on Instagram, people show what they think that post is worth through the attention they give through likes and comments. If I do not get enough likes I might take that post down because it does not withhold a lot of worth, the product not selling enough. People are very conscious of what they post, and it is made very clear whether or not others value (like/dislike) it. This is related with an abundance of issues such as anxiety, depression, and self-confidence issues. Many experience seeing others' highlight reel, thinking those whose posts they see are living a better, happier life than them.

Fear of Everything

 This weeks topic discussed companies using fear to sell their products. Advertisements instill a fear in the consumer that they did not have before, they intensify it, then they suggest their product to avoid that fear from occurring. This L'Oreal commercial presents their "anti-breakage" products to "fight dry an brittle hair". A woman with smooth and shiny hair is pictured, to show what a woman's hair is supposed to look like. This might make the consumer self conscious about their own hair, and nervous about what others will think if theirs is silky.

This second advertisement is for a home security system. It suggests that without home security, a person could break into your home at night without you knowing. In most cases it is probably not likely that a house would get broken into, but the ad makes the viewer nervous that it will happen to them.

Tattoo Culture

This weeks reading said, "Unfortunately, many individuals who accept the media's positive redefinition of tattoos decide to get tattooed, only to realize that there is still an entrenched social stigma attached to tattoos." It continues to discuss that people with tattoos enjoy when people like their tattoos, but they are embarrassed when people do not react positively. Some people may feel obligated to hide their tattoos  for fear of judgement and out casting. Employees may feel the need to wear long sleeves or place their tattoos somewhere that can be hidden in case a client or customer disapproves. Although people are still not entirely comfortable with the tattoo culture, they seem to not see them in a negative light. The reading says, "The tattoo has "undergone dramatic redefinition" (Irwin 50) and has shifted from a form of deviance to an acceptable form of expression- at least as far as the youth are concerned". On the surface, tattoos seem almost completely accepted in the younger generations. Tattoos are glorified in social media and by celebrities. People use them to portray memories, express their self, and more.

Consuming Kids

The video "Consuming Kids" made many important points about children-aimed marketing. One was that many products are connected to the kids. These items might be toys that the kids are buying themselves, backpacks that parents are buying for the kids, or a car that a parent is buying with the child in mind. Whatever the case may be, kids are often a factor in the choice of which product is chosen.
Another point is that youth marketing surrounds kids. The video mentions that more than 40 million kids go online every day. With an increase in technology, youth are constantly surrounded by advertisements and product messages. Texts, apps, advertisements, games, and more continuously spread product messages.
A third point made by the video is the lack of regulation of these messages. Since the FTC Improvement Act, the situation worsened. After regulation was denied, the new top ten selling toys were based on shows. With this came themed snacks, toys, clothes, bedspread, cups, and more. Some argue that these children are not able to think critically enough to understand the effect this is having. The video mentions that this effects the youth's "touchstones", making them feeling emotionally attached to products.

Why We Play/ Gaming Can Make a Better World

Two topics discussed in "Why We Play" that stuck out to me were stress relief and personal empowerment. In this story, games are said to relieve stress because the player is not focusing on it. This also works because people have a more positive attitude. Stress relief is portrayed in "Gaming Can Make a Better World" when McGonigal describes how gaming allows players to "escape real world suffering". Gaming rids of negative feelings, and produces optimism and happiness. Personal empowerment is described in the reading as a feeling of control over a person's own world. According to the reading, this feeling can transfer over from fantasy world to real life. Examples of this in the video were included when McGonigal discussed changing the world. Gamers often believe they can change their fantasy world, and she is hopeful that that belief will transfer to the real world. She also mentions "epic wins", in which the player finds out what they are capable of, which would increase confidence.

Sports

Something that is important in both past and modern sports is transportation. The industrial revolution is when a large change came about, with the introduction of trains and subways. This made it easier for teams and fans to attend games. It also allowed teams to travel further to play more schools. Today, fans are easily able to attend games, and students are able to take school buses to schools that are hours away. Students drive to school, stay late for practice, and drive home. Some students even transfer schools to be able to play on a better team.

Another thing is rules. The basics of the way different games are played have pretty much stayed the same, but other regulations have occurred as time progressed. Many rules have developed over time as we learned more and more about the human body and the damages that can be done to it through physical sports. For instance, it is illegal to use your head in football. Schools have established regulations for weather, it is only acceptable to have so many practices, and so on.

Mansome/ Boys Will be Boys

The Mansome video we watch in class and the Boys Will be Boys reading had many things in common. Three main ideas that were similar were:
1. Meterosexual. The term Meterosexual is defined in the video as a word to describe a man who is not gay, but is very into his looks. The reading describes meterosexual as a word to "describe the foppish habits of vain straight males". This is an important factor in both of the pieces' message. This term is the main idea for both the reading and the video, as they both factor on how male appearance, and their increased focus on their appearance, has recently changed.
2. Media. Like magazines, commercials and other media outlets have done to women for years, men are also beginning to experience the expectations of the "ideal" body image. The video focuses on how these images "pay up insecurities". The reading describes the bodies portrayed as fit and muscular.
3. Looks. The video discusses how men are now allowed to "decorate themselves" in terms of appearance. They go to the barber, nail salon, shopping, etc. It focuses on the fact that men do this to attract a partner. The reading mentions that the way men achieve their goals has changed through their fashion. It mentions that 84% of men purchase their own clothing and many of them shop in retail stores. "Clues" in a man's appearance to his sexual orientation have also shifted in terms of clothing, hair, and more. Straight and gay men have nearly swapped their "traditional" looks.

Student/ Porn Star

In the first video we watched, The Young Turks, the hosts mostly focused on the bullying aspect of the story. One of the hosts thought it was ridiculous that the student thought she wouldn't be "outed" since her porn is a public thing. The other host said that there are always "trolls" no matter what you are doing in your life. They also discuss that people are sharing the whereabouts of her location, and she is receiving threats. Overall, they believe that the problem is the occurrence of slut shaming and bullying.

In the CNN video, the host brings on a clinical psychologist, who says that porn is "not that bad". Like the first video, the CNN show did not think the root of the problem was in the porn. This video emphasizes the importance of the porn star owning her sexuality, and that when a woman does own her sexuality, it makes other people uncomfortable. The psychologist says that she tries to get couples to have more sex. In relation, the porn star feels empowered when she has sex, but she is afraid of being slut shamed.

Misconceptions of Marriage

The episode of "Adam Ruins Everything" shown in class gives many examples of myths and misleading information about weddings and marriage. One is the 'tradition' of spending an enormous amount of money. Bridal magazines aim to sway the bride-to-be toward more expensive, glamorous items. People could save a lot of money if they understood that they may not need the accessories which cost the most. Industries profiting off of weddings just want their consumers to think they do. Another cost related myth is that if the couple spends more money on the wedding, that they will be happier. In reality, the more money that is spent on the wedding, the more likely the marriage will end in divorce. This realization could also help save bank accounts as well as relationships. A third important point Adam makes is that "the one" or "a soulmate" isn't really out there. Couples who believe in these types of things are more likely to break up sooner. Understanding that relationships take work, rather than expecting the universe to put in the labor to make the relationship successful, can make a marriage work.

Cultivation Theory

The cultivation theory, an idea introduced by George Gerbnur, explains how something changes our view of our life's aspects. This theory suggests that something can influence a person to the point where their perception of the line between a fictional life and reality becomes blurred. Gerbnur was interested in understanding why people do things they do, especially when those actions were violent. This was perhaps a reflection of his harsh youth. At a young age Gerbnur fled his homeland in Hungary, needing to escape the viscous wave of fascism. After arriving in America Gerbnur became employed with the OSS, which required him to interact with the enemy in foreign territory.

John Oliver provided us with a prime example of this theory at work in the real world. Oliver discussed how television has morphed people's beliefs, especially about torture. He explains that many people would agree that torture is sometimes justifiable, and sometimes useful. People believe this because that is what they see on movies. The bad guy is tortured until he gives the good guys useful information. In real life, torture seemingly never helps.

Moral Panic

People are Scared for Their Lives... of Nothing

A moral panic occurs when a person's fear of something is exaggerated. The worry is much stronger than the possible negative effect that could occur. The person experiencing moral panic believes their life is at risk when it is not. These moral panics are often blown up through media such as momo and Dungeons and Dragons.

Momo is an example of a moral panic because the "challenge" escalated from a simple piece of artwork to a "killer". People were quick to believe that children were in danger, and the topic blew up Facebook feeds and news stories. Dungeons and Dragons had a similar situation. A correlation was made between the game and a missing boy based on the only fact that the boy seemed like the type of person who might enjoy D&D. People caught wind of this and all of a sudden the game was "linked" to the devil. There was no reason for people to think this, yet parents wanted their kids to stay away from the game, and people feared for the lives of those who enjoyed it.

Timothy Caulfield Interview (Post #1)

Our Culture Craves Celebrity Status

Towards the beginning of the interview, Timothy Caulfield discussed the change in culture that has occurred, making celebrity even more popular than before. As Americans we are all effected by the desirability of being a celebrity. We are surrounded with news, advertisements, and stories about them. Caulfield describes how younger people now express the want to be famous when they grow up as a singer, actor, sports payer, or something of the like. 

Another important point which is made during the interview is how many people actually believe that they will become a celebrity themselves. Caulfield conducted his own experiment as he attended an American Idol audition. Out of the ginormous sea of people trying to get on the show, most of them thought they would make it. Many of them also believed that once they did make it on the show that their popularity would somehow "fix" or "improve" their lives. This connects with a third important point made by Caulfield: celebrity status does not equal happiness. 

This may be the most important topic discussed during the interview, as happiness is often intertwined with "making it" as a celebrity. It is thought by many that they will be happier or more satisfied with their lives if they are recognized for something and in return achieve a higher status. Though, the question can be posed whether the (nearly impossible) struggle to fight against the odds within our low socially mobile culture is even worth it. This is related in the way that Caulfield mentions that celebrities have found little correlation between their status and their happiness. They still encounter day to day struggles just like us "common folk", and theirs are even bigger than ours because they are a celebrity. Perhaps their popularity is the reason for their amplified troubles. Last week's reading "Inside the Star Machine" discussed how involved the media and paparazzi are in celebrities' lives. Their every move is recorded, dissected and broadcasted to the world. It is easy to see how the constant judgement and need to please would create/ broaden troubles within daily tasks.