Media & Me: A Day in the Life

Thursday December 2nd, 2010

My alarm goes off at 10 a.m. I wake up the the soothing sound of Pearl Jam's Just Breath coming through the speakers of my iHome. I am a fan of their new music, their newest album Backspacer was released in September of 2009 and was an instant success. Their new acoustic style has given them much popularity within the new decade. Rock and roll is the only genre of music which "has ever had such a widespread impact on so many cultures" (Media and Culture, 81) specifically in the United States. Pearl Jam proves this with their sound. Though it is quite a change from their grundgey 90's esc, they have come back with a more modern take on rock and roll, attracting a younger audience while older fans have continued to be stay loyal.

Pearl Jam- Just Breath music video (video cred: youtube.com)

I take the next hour to get myself ready for the day, and head onto campus to grab some breakfast before my 11 a.m. class. Coffee and bagel in hand, I arrive a few minutes early to Creative Writing. I pull out the latest issue of CosmoGirl which my room mate let me borrow and dive right into the pages. There, I learned about all the holiday tricks of gift giving and the current celebrity drama. I am introduced to a nation-wide Secret Santa, where I got more information online at Secret Santa Circle. Magazines which target specific genders and age groups like CosmoGirl have gained popularity where "specialized editions such as CosmoGirl have been introduced to the teen market." (Media and Culture, 298) Their attractive covers with popular celebrities attract the average teen and relatable stories and

December 2007 Holiday issue (photo cred: gossipteen.com)

Later that afternoon, I'm feeling bored in my Concepts class. It's about time where I begin Stumbling Upon various web sites which strike my interest much more than the class. By this time I have tuned my concentration off of the discussion and soaked my vision into my laptop screen, stumbling away. On this popular search data-base, you are introduced to various web sites in specific topics of your choice. This site is proof of the convergence which our most modern phenomenon has flourished to use. Whether it's a joke or a new piece of art you have been introduced to admire, this website brings you to some interesting websites which you would be most likely incapable of ever finding unless Stumble Upon had been created. One of my new favorite recipes I've found is the mixture of my two favorite snack dips; guacamole and hummus... hence the creation of guacamummus or hummamole.

What's in the blender to final product (photo cred: gimmesomeoven.com)

Once my afternoon was coming near an end, I go back to my dorm to hang out a little bit before heading off to dinner. On my way there, I pick up the latest issue of The Current, Champlain's student newspaper. I have actually never yet read the paper before, but a friend of mine is an author, so I decide to skim through the pages and see what the paper has to say. There are a few great articles, and one that caught my attention about the cafeteria food and how to stay eating healthy with the repetitive meal choices. It's a great way to keep up with what is going on around campus and staying informed! You're even able to read the issues online at the Champlain website!

Champlain College website (photo cred: champlain.edu)

Ater dinner, my room mates and I headed next door to hang out with a few friends in the dorm next to ours, McDonald. We were all meeting up to watch a movie via Netflix, which has been converged, and give owners of Xbox Live the access of movies through the game system. This is an extremely convenient feature, which was recently added in the summer of 2008. Since then, it has given owners of this specific game system the privilege to play both video games and have the availability to watch TV shows and movies. We decide to watch V For Vendetta, a film which I've never seen before.

"Remember, Remember the 5th of November" (video cred: youtube.com)

Once I'm back in the dorm and ready to begin my homework, I tune onto itunes to hear the latest Champlain Radio, nicknamed The Wave, where my friend Kyle is on the air. The convergence which has taken place, putting live radio stream through itunes is a great quality which gives listeners the simpleness of hopping on their computer and listen away. Though available online, it is easy and accessible from the comfort of your own itunes library, waiting for you to click away, and listen on.

(photo cred: champlain.edu)

Feeling a bit distracted, I wander online to the newest Champlain student body internet craze, Likealittle. This website is a mixture of Formspring and Twitter, where anonymous posts are made to flirt and confess about individuals at their own school. For the past week, once introduced to Champlain, this social network has exploded in popularity. You can hop on and get a good laugh and wonder whom everybody's talking about. It's definitely a good way to keep you procrastinating from doing your homework.

(photo cred: oleville.com)

Once I've finished my homework, it's time to chill out and watch some TV with my room mates. I don't watch much television, but it's nice to relax every once and a while when something good is on the tube. It just happens that my favorite show, Planet Earth, on Discovery Channel, is on! I was first introduced to Planet Earth in my Biology classes back in high school. Since then, I have purchased the DVD's and enjoyed to watch them frequently.

sweet clips from various Planet Earth episodes (video cred: youtube.com)

Before settling into bed, I went to surf the Web and get some Christmas shopping out of the way. By using Amazon, I got my Mom the newest James Patterson novel, her favorite author. Amazon is an easy way to get shopping done without leaving your room. Just the simple lift of a finger, and your new purchases are only a click away. Amazon is an ultra convenience, and a lot of the timewill ship directly to your door for free within just a few business days!

Finally, before hitting the hay, I climb into bed and pick up my new read, Stephen King's The Shining. Though I did view the movie a long time ago, I decided to read the text. I was rummaging through my house before coming back to VT during Thanksgiving break and found the book in my brothers collection. My entire family are huge fans of Stephen King, and I have never read anything written by him, so I thought I'd give it a shot.

cover of orignial book, 1977 (photo cred: illliterart.com)

Media Meditation #4: The Hype of the Cow and the Cream

(photo cred: blogs.citypages.com)

On Family Weekend, my parents, sister, and I took a trip up to Waterbury to see a tour of the Ben and Jerry's Factory. While on the tour, we viewed a short film of the history of Ben, Jerry, and their adventures leading to today's multi-million dollar company. I learned interesting facts about both the company and how it came about, including things about the original owners which I never would have known without going to the factory.

Throughout the seven minute long film, the repetition of the cows throughout the film popped up randomly everywhere in order for the viewer to better understand the incorporation of the cow in the company. The cow is a symbol known world wide, helping to make a connection between the ice cream company and its mascot. Another consistant aspect of the film was the multiple uses of humor which were randomly thrown at you in order to be entertained, but at the same time learning something too.

The productional techniques varied from bright colors in the film that were catchy to the eye, fun, and interesting to look at. This balanced out with the pacing of the film, which consisted of slow motion frames to let the viewer tune in and have ease in paying attention. I believe they did to the show because of the large amounts of young children which tend the tour, they want the entire audience to be able to pay attention, and enjoy the show as well.

the above video is an example of B&J's humor, portrayed in a TV ad (youtube.com)

From watching this short film, I learned about the economic shift which has recently occurred within the company, Ben and Jerry both sold the rights of the company to a larger corporation in order to produce bigger quantities of ice cream and spread the company world-wide. With the help of this new corporation, the company has been able to expand and therefore benefited tremendously.

We ended our tour with the viewing of some of the factory workers favorite Ben & Jerry's commercials, and we got to taste a new flavor, Milk and Cookies! Peace, Love, and Ice cream! Here's another commercial:

(youtube.com)

Media Meditation #3: Supporting Burlington Music Scene

Two weeks ago, I finally got the opportunity to see one of my favorite bands from Vermont! I have been anticipating seeing the local band, Twiddle, for a couple years now, and my dreams finally came true on Friday October 15th when I got to see them live at Higher Ground Ballroom.

Twiddle performing in the summer of '08 (youtube.com)

The quartet of Vermont-natives and UVM graduates have been together since 2005. Their local fame brings them to their 3rd performance at one of the most well-known venues in Vermont. Their truly devoted fans come to show them support. Considering this, the group dynamic is so strong because of the connection the band has with their fans. They goof off on stage and throw in a little humor to entertain their fans that much more.

Twiddle jamming out at Higher Ground in December of 2009 (photo cred: flickr.com)

You can't specify one genre of music that Twiddle plays. They have a unique style where they're gathered different aspects of jazz, funk, blues, and rock. Twiddle has converged the styles of classic music, and by doing so has put a fun, modern twist on the jams that they play.

As the show progresses, the timing which the band uses corresponding to the productional techniques, specifically the lighting, makes for the perfect balance. It keeps the audience connected and intrigued, overall having the performance that more entertaining.

Just as anticipated, an amazing performance! I even got to chat with Micky, the lead vocalist and guitarist a little in between sets. There will be more shows in my near future and I can't wait!

MEDIA REFLECTIONS: We're Half Way There

(majastevanovich.files.wordpress.com)

1. I've learned how the history of radio has converged into new media and helped shape production, news, and even the internet. I've learned that the creation of e-mail was for military use. I've learned the importance of blogging, Facebook, and Twitter for not only recreational use, but or companies and businesses to use for work.

2. I've learned how I can pull out the most important themes and facts in a chapter of a text book from the practice of reading a chapter weekly from our textbook. I've learned to sound more concise and sophisticated with my choice of words and ideas I share as a writer and blogger. As a tinker, this class has given me the opportunity to expand my interests to more media related texts.

3. If I were to take this class over again, I would become more engaged in the reading assignments, because at times I tend to slack off. The information in the text is actually extremely interesting, so if I were to have read it more in depth I would have learned a lot more.

4. If I were to take this class over again, I would like you to have more interaction with the student and media. Although we made a radio spot it would be more engaging to do another interactive exercise, rather than learning about them, it would be fun to have another hands on activity or project to work with.

5. Power tools have helped me in getting a better understanding of how new age media is evolving, and how the government and corporations are involved and more importantly how it is effecting our culture today.

Our course blog is useful to look onto while not in the classroom to refresh what we've learned about already. It's nice to have the assignment always posted. The best part about it is being able to read what other students have found in the book to get a better understanding of the important themes and concepts the reading has give to students.

The in class quizzes have helped me memorize the power tools to a high extent. The quizzes have also given me more ways to applying the power tools to events, issues, and media going on in the world today.

The films we have watched in class have given me a great understanding of how media is evolving in our culture. It has given me an understanding of the importance of the media in society, and a new outlook on what it does to effect the community, and nation as a whole.

While reading the books, I have learned about history in our country and the progress media has gone through, which I would have never learned if I did not take this class before. I've learned multiple interesting facts that I would have never read about if I didn't take this class, even facts about some of my favorite bands!

Camp Champ Radio Spot: Busy Beavers On the Air!

Announcer: Are you suffering from long lectures, boring classes, and professors that don’t know your name? You must be suffering from Unscholarly Violent Mental Syndrome, or UVM Syndrome, a cruel and inhumane condition. Listen to what this UVM inflicted student has to say:UVM Student: It sucks.Announcer: That’s right! It sucks! Your solution? Come to Champlain College! Champlain offers a chance to study abroad, a wide variety of courses, and zero exposure to UVM syndrome. Just listen to what this Champlain student has to say:Champlain Student: It’s awesome! Before and after every class we witness the beautiful view over Lake Champlain. The campus is small and personal, just like all our classes, and there are so many different activities! Go red team dodgeball! GO BEAVERS!!UVM Student: How can I feel real again?Announcer: Come to Champlain. It’s Champlain, or suffer from UVM syndrome for the rest of your life. It’s a no brainer.

Media Meditation #2: Music and Lyrics Redefined

My Creative Writing professor, Jim Ellefson, recently hosted an event called the PoJazz. This event is an incorporation of fellow Champlain students reading their poetry accompanied by a jazz band. It took place at the Red Square Bar and Restaurant located on Church Street in the heart of downtown on Friday, September 24th.

The above image shows the audience of the event enjoying the show. Professor Jim Ellefson on far left. (photo credit: picasaweb.google.com)

What stuck me the most in this media experience was the principle of pacing that the bands music had. Before each poet's performance, the poet would converse with the band and explain to them the emotion they were trying to relay with the poem, as well as the mood and style that was going along with it. So with each performance, the band would exemplify the poem's meaning by accompanying it with a light jazzy instrumental behind it.

Jazz, defined as "an improvisational and mostly instrumental musical form" is able to take in a "diverse body of musical styles." (page 180) Because of this, jazz works so well to accompany poetry. Jazz music in this aspect, is a comprehensive symbol which supports and anecdotes the poet's work.

As overall an appreciated experience, I left the PoJazz with a new outlook on both jazz music and poetry. The combination of the two let good energy float within the crowd and I was left with a positive imprint by the two.

Media Meditation #1: Almost Famous, The Double Whammy

Over the weekend my room mates and I had a movie night. I got the chance to revisit the story of Penny Lane and amateur journalist Will Miller accompanying the fictional rock band Still Water. A rather clever film which depicts the relationship between an up and coming Rock band and their untrustworthy journalist, Almost Famous incorporates both medium of music and print (magazine) which effectively are shown to correspond with one another throughout the film.

The above photo shows the crew of groupies (respectively known as the Band-aids) and youngster journalist Will Miller with the aspiring rock quadruplet Still Water on tour. (hollywoodteenmovie.com)

Throughout the film, Still Water is hesitant of trusting their new roadie Will Miller, the journalist whom is going to give them their first exposure to popular media in Rolling Stone Magazine. There is a cultural shift in the climax of the film where the band goes from being a mediocrely known band to being thrown into the spotlight by the end of the film.

What the band was most worried about was that Will would turn on them as a friend, and use the technique of card stacking and writing the article to make the band look worse off than they are, initially hurting their chances of making it into the spotlight.

While the correlation of Will and the band still stood in the air, they continued with a good relationship on tour. "Aw, man. You made friends with them. See, friendship is the booze they feed you. They want you to get drunk on feeling like you belong." (Lester Bangs, mentor of Will Miller) Still Water had convinced Will with the technique plain folks, that Will was just one of the guys on the road, partying and hanging out. He grew to be one of them.

Still Water at their best, official music video for their hit song Fever Dog. (youtube.com)

My favorite scene of the film is while the whole crew is on the tour bus after a long night. Tiny Dancer is playing on the radio, and the mood the song sets is amazing. The productional techniques that are used in this scene portray the sense of family that has grown within the band and how connected Will finally feels with everyone. The camera angels and slow motions help initiate the moment on the bus and everyones shift of emotion once singing along.

The now family, on the bus singing Tiny Dancer. Truly a bonding experience for them all. (youtube.com)

Ally Mae Russo

~ I was born in Bridgeport, CT and moved to Fairfield when I was 5, which is only the town over so I wasn't going far. I have two older brothers, 22 and 20, a sister who is a junior in high school, and a lab mix puppy who is a little over a year old.

~ Over the summer I went to a couple music festivals. One in Maine called Nateva and the other in Bridgeport, CT called Gathering of the Vibes. I saw two of my favorite bands moe., and Furthur (which is a band with Bob Weir and Phil Lesh of The Grateful Dead). It was definitely the highlight of my summer. I try and see as much live music as possible.

~ One thing that I do like about new age media is the fact that you have access to almost anything over the internet. No need for a TV, you have a laptop to watch movies/shows on. One thing I do not like is the exposure that celebrities are given in magazines/TV/internet and how their personal lives are now available for anyone to read about. It’s not that interesting and people become so consumed in it.

~ I see myself in the future traveling and writing professionally. My major here at Champlain is Professional Writing, obviously. I would love to write for a magazine someday (my dream would be in Rolling Stone), even perhaps a novel. I also hope to become involved in a non-profit organization in either South America or India.