Tough Guise Video

Since we didn't really get to discuss the 'Tough Guise' Video, I felt I needed to get some things off my chest concerning it. It was very strange to see these opinions but at the same time I wasn't surprised by the conclusions that were drawn. Perhaps it is our day and age that has changed the ways boys and men act and consider themselves successful/attractive. It surely does explain the growing violent crimes and domestic violence in the home, but Jackson Kats is right when he says this will be harder than we think to fix.
It is also a problem for our world that we can't just allow people to be themselves, and so we make fun of them in order make them 'fit inside this tiny box' of what we 'expect them to be'. So does this mean all men are supposed to act like Bruce Willis in Die Hard (or any other of his blockbuster hits...)? Are Bruce Willis or Liam Neeson the only real men out there?
Of course not, but I believe (as I think I have said too much in my previous blog posts) that the movies make people think too much about what they do and say. Men believe, perhaps, that in order to 'get the girl in the end' or 'get the most respect from people' that they have to be tough, violent, and strong.
I'm not saying that movies are the only reason...
Mr. Kats brings up girls roles in how men see themselves, and yes, too many girls validate this 'tough guy image'. We need to learn and change our ways also, and try to look deeper than the muscles and brooding. We also need to remember that more often than not, when we go after those 'tough guys' we are almost always disappointed with how much they don't respect us.
So this truly is an issue in our world - and as we can see via crime reports, it is only getting worse (for men and women). This video was very inspirational and even though I had moved past 'falling for the bad boys' years ago ... I will remember this video for the future and for my girlfriends that could find themselves in the same predicament.

Women's Portrayal in Advertising

Jean Kilgore's movie was very inspirational and informational. It really communicated the idea that women are being taken advantage of and objectified into a very clear and concise manner. It was clear even to the men in the room that there was an issue for the women, I think when the men noticed it really struck a cord with me.
When I consider that I am going into the business of advertising, I wonder how being a woman will affect what I do and how others work with me? And I also wonder when something is created or an idea is put out there, that really degrades women and puts them down - will I be able to stand up against the person's idea?
In a fast paced world like advertising, it seems like you either run with it or you get left behind. Maybe that is why so much of the advertising is the way it is now... it has been done so quickly and with a smaller group that no one was around to say, "this is kind of sexist". Still, there are some beautiful parts to advertising and those parts drove me to want to get involved in it... hopefully I will find myself in the midst of that firm / that movement.
What is sad to me mostly about the video we saw in class... is the fact that, most likely this kind of advertising and sex-driven work isn't going anywhere. At least not anytime soon, so are we just supposed to adapt and bear it? Most people are, and I personally can see the changes in the younger generations. The reliance on technology and make-up .. the idea that not having a girlfriend at the age of 7 is the end of the world.
I wasn't anything like the kids are nowadays... and I don't know how much worse it is going to get. It is scary to even contemplate it.

Rap Videos and Hip-Hop Histories

I was very very engaged by the music videos we saw in class, and completely in awe of the histories of all of the artists and rappers of the past. It is interesting to me that many of the past artists had some many negative relations between their producers and signers.
I liked the input from you, about being really careful with who you trust in any job offers you take. Many people aren't careful enough, and can be taken advantage of financially or worse. It was interesting to see the differences in the videos over time and in different areas of the country.
Like I said in class, the video we first saw about 'self destruction' was done in a very New York manner... the surroundings and PSA-type execution. And the video called "We are all in the same gang", was made in a very Los Angeles manner... the way the video was shot looked almost like a movie or a more current video (from today).
Also, those videos were very inspirational.

Same-Sex Marriage Topic from Thursday Class

I guess I should begin this post by saying that I have experimented in my life - with same sex relationships. They didn't work out for me, but that isn't to say that it doesn't work out for many others. I know that the debates and political issues with same-sex marriage are complicated and biased (to say the least). But, I still can't understand the issues and the problems with a man marrying another man, or a woman marrying another woman. How could anyone outside of their relationship think it is any of their business?
I understand that some people are offended because of the religious aspects of the controversy, however, I thought America was founded based on the freedom of religion. Therefore, giving any American the right to choose their religious boundaries. I am a Christian, and it seemed impossible for me to imagine Jesus condemning them for being in love. Especially when today there are far worse things to be concerned with... scarier/life-threatening things.
Maybe this is one of the many reasons why so many countries are surpassing us in business and education matters. We are too focused on other Americans being just like us (cookie-cutter-America) that we can't just work together and unite as a people.
I think that many of the people protesting the matter and the politicians keeping the bills/laws from passing, are afraid of something different - afraid of change. But change happens, time passes and people progress, so, why is it getting so hard to accept?
I rambling now... starting to drift from the subject...
On top of all of those other things, I still firmly hold to the fact (and state openly when someone confronts me), that is no one's freaking business who another person marries.
It just isn't.

Why America is obsessed with being in everyone's faces about their relations... I will never know.

P.S. I love Ellen DeGeneres. (that was really irrelevant... but I was thinking about her as I wrote this, so I felt she needed to be mentioned...) :)

Latino History in Hollywoods Clutches

As an aspiring actress, I was very interested to really see the 'typecasting' and 'stereotyping' I was always warned about. The ever-feared character staple is still present today for all actors; like Jennifer Aniston as Rachel from Friends (or any other romantic-comedy leading lady) and for Jason Bateman (being the super neurotic voice of reason in a comedy set movie).
However these are just some examples, and they are not based on the person's actual demeanor in real life. In the past, especially from 20's to 50's we completely stereotyped the latin actors as only being able to play 'greasers', 'latin lovers', or 'maids'. And sadly, if we were not putting them in those roles... then we were changing their looks to make them more 'anglo-looking' and then put them in leading roles.
Rita Moreno had a very inspiring story when she boldly gave her roles everything she had, and after winning the Academy award for West Side Story she refused to stoop down and take a role that was demeaning or in any way dealing with her race in a negative aspect.
More recently, movies like 'Machete' point out the racial unfairness in Texas (and other border states). It is a farcical - action movie, but has its serious points made with in the absurd madness and gory fight scenes. Robert Rodriguez directed the film and is another person talked about in the video in class yesterday. He grew up with a video camera in his hand (just like Spielberg) and knew what he wanted to do with his career - and he fought and worked hard to get it.
It is sad to me, that many of the actors out there are fighting to be seen and heard... But that, in the past, people were specifically silenced or ignored entirely because of their cultural/racial origin. I do believe we are making great strides toward leaving all racial/gender/religious prejudice behind us for good ... but, with the copious amounts of corruption in Hollywood and Cinema - it may be a while before we sift through the garbage.

"The Other" Discussion

The article mentioned in class brought about a really big discussion about the prejudice and mistreatment of certain races and genders in the media. I was really surprised by the amount of gay, lesbian, transgendered and bisexual issues in television and movies.
It was interesting to see that many men are shown as sissy and very submissive and non-sexual... but I think many women are shown as overly-masculine or overly-sexual in order to conform to a certain demand that television gives them.
Many TV shows and movies have certain stereotypes in order to fill a void or a space in a script or purposeful message.

Soldiers without Swords Video Day

I was really moved by the video, but was more moved (shocked) by my classmates that were unaware of the hardships and history of the time period. Movies and medias definitely taught me a lot of the detailed history .... but how could the schools not be accountable for some of that, too?
It is scary to me that even now, schools 'forget' to include that in the lesson plans of our junior and high schools... to be unaware of the history of the african-american history until you are well into college is scary. (and really says something about our cultural teachings and learning..)